Free Secrets in the Lowcountry--The River by Janet Cooper Page A

or at least move the iceberg that had floated bet w een them.
    He slo w ed the boat to just above idle.
    “I don’t see anything exc ept a small hammock type island or perhaps a peninsula. ” She squint ed attempting to see the connecting piece .
    “ W ith th is tide high, w e can get near the bank.”
    A car w hizzed by on the road t w enty feet a w ay . T hey eased the skiff closer to the sandy strip.
    “I’d forgot ten the road. And I thought this an island, s trange. W hen w e w ere kids, I guess the only thing w e w orried about w as not letting you kno w about our secret place .” He turned to look at Taylor. “Forgive me speaking out of turn?”
    “Yeah. You’re still my best friend. ” To herself she added, Y ou’re right, Rod’s reason and mine for going along don’t sound like a couple de eply committed. Yet, the decision seemed right at the time.
    “I’ ll drive the boat up on the sandbar and look around.”
    “You and Rod may have found this spot, but since I’m here, I’m exploring, too. I haven’t played Roberta Caruso for a long time. ”
    “Roberta? His name w as Robinson,” Jeff challenged.
    “Not for a w oman.” As soon as the skiff scraped on the sand, s he jumped off, landed on the sand, and started inland.
    “H o w am I supposed to get off?” Jeff queried her.
    “Put the anchor lin e over your shoulder and jump. Or if you ask nicely, I can catch the line, hold the b oat, etc.” She tried to laugh .
    He appreciated her attempt at humor and smiled.
    After fifteen minutes of surveying the area , Taylor said, “I’m not sure w hat w e should have found, but w e haven’t discovered anythin g except a blackened fire-pit. Evidently, your hideout has been discovered by others.”
    Jeff nodded. “I could have s w orn this w as an island. ”
    “There’s only a small pa th leading to the street. B ig enough for someone to park a car, fish, or go for a s w im. ”
    Still in disbelief, he said, “ Ho w could I have forgotten a road?”
    “Ho w many years ago did you discover this spot?”
    He paused, trying to remember. “Fifteen, maybe sixteen years.”
    “ You and Rod didn’t have your licenses then, so you probably came by boat. W e have almost t w ice as many people in our cou nty and more cars. The beach is nice. T he road ’s accessible if a bit remote . Since the beautiful, w hite, sandy section is on the far side a w ay from the street , most w on’t discover it .” H e w atched he r scan the rural high w ay . “The trees hide the site until one comes on top of it, d efinitely h ard to fine and very secluded; great hideout for a couple of teenage boys escaping from reality . ”
    “ Or for a couple w anting a little privacy, ” h e said scuff ing the sand w ith the toe of his sneaker . “Nice. Maybe, w e could come here for a s w im. ” Jeff forg ot for a moment their reason for being here.
    She stared in disbelief .
    “Sorry, Taylor. My mind … ” He shrugged as his neck and face gre w w arm.
    “ If you’ve seen w hat you c ame for, I suggest w e head back. ”
    Reluctantly, he agreed. W hat had he hope to find here?

C hapter Four
     
    W hen they w alked i n the door, Sara greeted them. “Some strange w oman has been ca lling every hour. She left her name, but no message.” Sara handed Taylor the paper.
    Ms . Ella Mae Lee’s name jumped of f the page at Taylor. “I don’t need this right no w .” She tried t o hand the paper back to Sara. “Could you please call her? T ell her that my mother has died, my fiancé is missing, and I can’t w orry about anything else.”
    “I told her . She didn’t care. She said you must call her.”
    Jeff took the paper from Taylor’s outstretched hand. “I’ll handle this . Is there any other ne w s? ”
    Sara shook her head.
    He nodded. “Taylor, I’m headed home. Call if you need me.”              
    She gave his arm a squeeze. “Thank you for everything.” Turning to Sara, she said, “Have