Read The Wolf Witch (The Keys Trilogy Book 1) for Free Online

hand was thin and rough in hers. She hesitated, trying to think of some explanation that didn’t make her sound bugnuts or burdened with so much baggage that any sensible man would run screaming. You’ll laugh, but I was actually getting rid of a body.
    She never got to try out the line, because right then a loud, horny shriek floated downwind towards them. Gabe raised a thick black eyebrow as the scream died away, giving way to the usual chorus of ‘I’m coming’ and ‘yes, yes, yes’.
    “I’m right next door,” said Blue.
    He laughed. “Holy shit.”
    “I know.”
    “Well, someone’s been watching too much porn.”
    Her own laughter surprised her. She felt weightless, impossibly young. “I’ll have to get some earplugs, I guess,” she said. “Although I can’t do a damn thing about the heat.”
    “Yeah. I’d say you get used to it, but...”
    “...you don’t?”
    He laughed. “Nope. The heat’s one thing, but the humidity is the real killer.”
    “Tell me about it,” she said. “I’m bringing the afro back here.”
    Gabe’s almond shaped eyes glinted in the dark. Even in this low light she could see he had one of those clever, mobile faces which meant the wearer would never be any good at poker; his curiosity was immediately obvious. “Hee-yah,” he said, mimicking her. “Now there’s an accent. Let me guess. Texas?”
    “Nope. I was only in Houston for a year; I don’t think that’s long enough to pick it up.”
    He cocked his head to one side as he listened to the sound of her voice. “Oh wait,” he said. “New Orleans?”
    “Born and bred.”
    “Interesting,” he said. “So what brings you to the Keys?”
    Blue crumpled the plastic in her pocket. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?” she said, deflecting.
    “Because,” he said. “You’re fresh meat. Our little tourist trap can be pretty goddamn boring once you’ve worn out swimming with dolphins and drinking things with umbrellas in them. You’re the most exciting thing that’s happened since The Saga of Greg’s Leg. Sure, it’s a funny story, but I promise you’ll be sick to death of hearing it by the end of next week.”
    She pulled the robe tighter around her body. “Funny?” she said, conscious of her own guilt in the matter. “You think a man having his leg amputated is funny?”
    “No,” said Gabe. “Of course not. That part’s as sad as hell, but you have to admit that’s kind of a picture. Some big old stray dog padding through the town with a foot stuck in his mouth, like he was looking for someone to play frisbee with it.”
    Blue pressed her lips together, trying not to giggle. “Okay, you got me. I did nearly laugh at that part. With Renee standing like six feet away.”
    “Oops.”
    “Yeah. I guess some things are just so sad and disgusting that your mind searches for the funny side. Just to keep you sane.”
    He gave her another curious look, one she was used to by now. Once they knew she was from New Orleans people tended to guess her age and do the math. Some asked straight out. But he didn’t. He was smarter than that. Or kinder. Whichever one it was, she appreciated it.
    “Wait,” he said. “Is your last name Beaufort?”
    “Yes. Why?”
    Gabe smiled. “Ah. There you go. You’re the one my...um...Gloria was talking about. Stormy Blue, right?”
    “Is Gloria a relative of yours?”
    He shook his head. “No. But she’s kind of like everyone’s grandma. We look out for her.”
    “That’s nice.”
    “The least we can do,” he said, with a short sigh. He scraped his fingers through his hair. There was a blond streak at the front so light that it had to be artificial; the rest of his hair was jet black. “It just really fucking sucks that it had to happen to her, pardon my French.”
    “No, it’s very sad. I met her just this afternoon.”
    “She makes these weird connections in her head,” he said. “Like you’re Stormy because Beaufort is a scale for measuring wind,