Kevin raked his fingers through his hair. The scene was all too familiar. But he wasn’t thinking about why it was familiar. He wasn’t thinking about Billy and the five long days of searching the lake for his body. Instead he was thinking about Jo when she was sixteen years old. He had been standing on this same dock under the hot sun. Jo had been sitting alone on the back steps that led to the upstairs bar. Her dark hair glistened in the sunlight. Her head tilted to the side as though she were deep in thought.

When she looked his way, he lifted his hand and waved. At first she didn’t acknowledge him and he had been hurt. He considered walking away, heading back to his parents’ cabin—to do what? Sulk? Listen to his dad berate him, how he wasn’t tough enough, how he was a pansy for playing his guitar all day long, how he’d never get lucky with a girl? Not like Billy. Now there was a boy who would grow to be a man’s man.

While he debated his next move, she started walking in his direction. His pulse quickened. He knew Billy was gone for the day, off with his sister, Dee Dee, to visit family in New York. The closer Jo got, the faster his heart raced. By the time she stepped onto the dock, he was sure his chest would burst wide open.

For a moment neither of them spoke. Kevin had never been alone with Jo before. In all the summers he had been coming to the lake, Billy had been a permanent fixture between them. As for Eddie and Sheila, he wasn’t sure where they were nor did he care.

Although, now that he had Jo alone, he realized he had no idea what to say to her.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Nothing.” He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

She touched his hand. Her skin was soft and warm. “Come on,” she said.

He walked alongside her, aware of her body next to his, the curve of her hips, the rise and fall of her chest, the casual swing of her arms. He supposed he knew where they were heading. He shouldn’t have been surprised. The last few days they had stared at each other, sometimes for long stretches of time. He’d catch her watching him, going out of her way to brush up against him. And once, she ran her fingers through his hair while he was playing his guitar. Billy had laughed. “Careful, Kev,” he said. “She’ll steal your heart.”

Billy had never felt threatened by Kevin. Why should he? Why would Jo want Kevin when she had him? Every girl at the lake had wanted Billy. And Jo had never shown the slightest interest in Kevin.

Until now, he reminded himself, walking so close to her, their hips bumped. So what had changed? Or maybe it was wishful thinking on his part. He owed it to himself to find out and Billy, be damned, because it was too late. She had stolen Kevin’s heart a long time ago.

Kevin followed her lead and, as he suspected, or rather hoped, she wound her way around the bend on the opposite side of the lake to the private beaches far from the crowd. She slipped behind Hawkes’ cabin, Billy’s cabin, sly and surefooted, and crept through the woods. He followed, pausing briefly when he noticed the painted rock with the initials J+B. He felt the first pinch of guilt, but not enough for him to stop and turn around. He had to be alone with her and if not now then maybe never. He had to know what she was thinking, feeling.

Neither one spoke. They stepped onto the private beach in front of the only cabin that wasn’t rented for the summer. Jo turned to face him. He opened his mouth to say something, but what? He didn’t know. Jesus, he thought. She was Billy’s girl. What was he doing?

“Jo,” he said.

She touched his lips with her finger. “Don’t say anything,” she said.

He longed to put his arms around her and kiss her. God, the things he wanted to do to her. It took all his strength to keep his hands at his sides. She was his best friend’s girl.

She leaned in close. She smelled like suntan lotion and bubble gum. He closed his eyes when she whispered, her breath hot in his ear, “Do you want me?”

He swallowed hard. “Please, Jo,” he begged. “Don’t tease me.” He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to stop himself, that is, if she ever let him start.

“Answer the question.”

“Don’t.” His voice trembled. “Don’t do this to me.”

“Just answer the question. Do you want me?”

“Yes,” he croaked.

She tossed her head back and laughed. “Oh, Kevin.” She stepped back, pulled her T-shirt off, and slipped out of her shorts, revealing the red bikini she often wore that summer. He would dream about her in that bikini, waking up drenched in sweat, his erection bursting in his shorts.

She stood still, allowing him to soak up every inch of her, the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. She reached around her back and untied her top, letting it fall to the ground. She slowly edged the bottoms down her hips until they dropped at her feet. She moved to within an inch of him. Her body was so close, so close. He couldn’t stop from trembling.

“Jo,” he groaned.

*   *   *

The sound of a car door slamming jolted Kevin from the memory, bringing him back to the dock, the hot sun, and the fishing boats on the lake. The sheriff had gotten out of his patrol car, and he was looking out at the water. Heil emerged from the Pavilion, hand outstretched to greet him. The two exchanged words and made their way toward the dock.

The sheriff tipped his hat as he approached. Kevin gave a terse nod.

“Stick around,” the sheriff said to him as he walked by. “Something came up, and I may have a few questions for you.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Caroline hopped on her bicycle and sped down the dirt hill. She paused briefly to check for traffic before crossing onto Lake Road and making her way toward the Pavilion. The doors were wide open for business, but the place was deserted by summer standards. Johnny and his gang weren’t sitting on the steps like they normally did. She wondered for a moment where they might be. She continued on through the parking lot and stopped at the dock, spewing pebbles when the back tire of the bike kicked out from under her, almost throwing her off.

In a glance she knew she was too late. Stimpy and his men were already on the lake along with the underwater recovery team, although they didn’t appear to be working together. Several other fishing boats crowded the area around the floating pier as though they were waiting for orders. Ducks milled around the dock, honking at all the commotion.

The hot sun scorched her shoulders and back as she surveyed the scene. She felt a tightening in her chest, thinking about her dream, somehow feeling as though she had let Sara down. She had overslept, having been awake much of the night. It was well past noon. She vowed not to make the same mistake tomorrow if given the chance, although exactly what her plan was to help Sara still lingered somewhere in the back of her mind, not fully formed as of yet.

She pedaled back to the Pavilion and dropped her bike beside the stairs. Inside was dark and cool and quieter than usual. A family of three sat at a booth near the snack stand. The jukebox finished playing a record. Two men racked balls for a game of pool. A scraping noise came from the side wall near one of the pinball machines. She looked behind it and found Adam.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“I’m looking for something.” He shrugged.

Caroline smiled. “You’re still hoping to find the horse’s bit, aren’t you?” she said. “I’m sure Heil got rid of it. And even if he didn’t, I doubt he’d hide it behind a pinball machine.”

“I know.” Adam shrugged again. “But it was worth a shot,” he said. “Besides, I’m not going out there.” He pointed outside. “My folks are sitting on the beach. Heil made them. But he can’t make me. Not with that girl still out there. No way.”

Megan stomped through the open doors. “God, it’s hot,” she said, and smoothed her blond hair. She was in full makeup, but it looked subdued in the dim lights or perhaps most of it had melted in the heat. “This sucks. What are we going to do?” she asked.