by Amie Denman
I almost didn’t recognize her wearing jeans and a NASCAR baseball hat. In the shadows of the cuddy cabin, I could make out two figures who appeared to be hiding. Sisters Mary Doris and Mary Alice gave me a finger wave.
Kurt recovered his voice and tried to shake some of the anger out of it when he addressed Clark. “You don’t know what she’s going to do,” he said. “And what the hell are you doing here anyway?”
Sister Mary Alice gasped at either his language or his tone, but Clark didn’t look even a little put off.
“I sure as hell do know what she’s doing,” she growled. “Miss Shepherd is about to get on that boat with the son-of-a-bitch who killed my niece.”
Good thing it was almost dark in the marina. Me with my mouth hanging open wasn’t the most attractive thing on earth. I also couldn’t imagine what Cerberus would think if he saw this display—first Kurt and now a crazy lady on a boat. At least the nuns in the cuddy cabin were camouflaged by their black habits.
“We’re going to follow you,” Sister Mary Doris whispered. “And we prayed a special rosary for you earlier this evening.”
“Thank you.” My lip trembled and my resolve started to slip.
“Get a hold of yourself, Shepherd.” Old Lady Clark’s dragon voice of authority was just what I needed to hear.
“Your niece?” I asked.
“How do you think he got possession of the boat factory that’s been in my family for a century? Bastard. Time for the whole story later,” she said. “You know what you have to do now. Bring down Cerberus and drag that miserable mayor along too. This town is a disgrace.”
I squared my shoulders. I had the power of right behind me. And a whole rosary.
“You know about the mayor? The embezzling? The murder?”
“All of it,” said Clark. “I recommended you to Balcheski.”
“Why?”
Clark grinned. Actually grinned. “Because any woman who can stab her ex-husband in the ass with safety scissors gets an award in my book.” She locked eyes with me. “You’re a smart, strong cookie, Jazz Shepherd. And you might as well put your…endowments…to work.”
Kurt swiped a hand over his eyes. “No, it’s too dangerous.” He reached out one hand toward me. “You don’t have to do their dirty work, Jazz. I’m not letting you go.”
“Uh, Mr. Reynolds,” Sister Mary Alice said. “I’m afraid you don’t have a choice. We own you for a day. And that day starts now.”
We all looked at her in disbelief. She held up the contract from the auction.
“We want our three hundred bucks worth,” Mary Doris added.
I took advantage of the confusion to make my retreat. Plenty of time later to think about all the crazy details. If I lived.
“Sunshine.”
I was far enough away that I could have pretended not to hear, but also far enough that my powers of resistance were stronger. It wouldn’t do any harm to listen to what Kurt had to say. I half turned around and looked at him. It hurt to see that perfect body silhouetted against the last rays of the sun. I couldn’t see his face, but I could hear him loud and clear.
“I’ll be there when you need me.”
I nodded so that he’d know I heard, and then I stepped onto Greenback. The dark glass door slid open before I could even knock and I moved inside without looking back.
Chapter Twenty-seven
It was dim inside the cabin’s luxurious living room. Cerberus had lit a few candles enclosed in hurricane globes and placed a bottle of wine in an elegant ice bucket on the table. Two glasses sat waiting. I hadn’t eaten dinner because I thought it too risky. Combining sheer terror and a boat ride would have me hugging the ship’s head before we cleared the harbor. Not the way I wanted to die tonight. Alcohol on an empty stomach was even worse, though, and I regretted my decision already.
“Was that man giving you trouble?” he asked, sounding less concerned than territorial. I guess he figured he’d bought and paid for my time. And more.
“Old boyfriend,” I lied. “I told him to get lost.”
“I like a woman who can handle herself. Women who’ve got a little fight in ’em turn me on.”
I’d have to remember that. Fight and turn him on, or give in and let him kill me. Tough call.
“Make yourself comfortable while I throw off the lines and get us out of here.”
“Need any help?” I asked.
“No, thanks. I’ve seen your skill with lines. I want you all in one piece. I’ve got plans for you.” He laughed.
While not exactly sinister in a James Bond villain way, it sent cold chills down the back of my neck. It wasn’t too late to run off the boat. Even if he chased me, Kurt was only half a dock away. I knew he’d fight for me and win. Old Lady Clark would be a formidable foe too. I was still reeling from what she’d said about her niece. Why hadn’t Chief Balcheski told me Cerberus’s wife was Clark’s niece? Maybe he hadn’t thought it relevant.
What the hell was I doing putting myself in this position? I glanced down at my outfit and wondered if it would be good for swimming. Best-case scenario would be to get him to say something, anything, incriminating and jump off the boat. I’d take my chances in the cold, dark water of the lake.
The tinted windows allowed me to see out, but people outside couldn’t see in. Damien must have gone up to the fly bridge to steer us out of the marina because I didn’t notice him stirring on deck. I looked out the glass door as we moved away from the dock. Kurt still stood where I had left him, like a statue against the evening sky. Clark was at the wheel of her boat. I also caught a glimpse of Bling. The three guys on the back of the boat still appeared to be having a party.
I reached under my sweater, turned on my wire and said, “Raise your glasses like you’re having a toast if you can hear me.”
All three men instantly leaned toward each other and clinked glasses. To a casual observer, it looked like a drunken moment of camaraderie. To me, it proved someone was on my side and listening.
“Thanks.”
We cleared the marina and headed out into the lake. It was nearly dark now. Cerberus hadn’t said anything about where I’d be spending the night, but it didn’t take a genius to figure out that it was probably on this boat. With him. Unless I did something stupid. Then it would be at the bottom of the lake.
Cerberus appeared suddenly in the cabin. “I’ll drive from here so we can spend some time getting to know each other.”
He turned on some electronics—autopilot maybe?—and walked away from the steering wheel. The splendors of modern navigation were going to free up the mighty captain for more important jobs. Like opening champagne and seducing foolish women. I wondered what would happen if another boat crossed our path. Dying in a boat accident was only one of my many opportunities for deliverance tonight.
He popped the cork, poured a glass and handed it to me. He poured one for himself and said, “What should we drink to?”
“How about a successful boat show?”
“I like the sound of that.”
We sipped our drinks and sat on the sofa.
“Maybe you should tell me more about what you want me to do,” I said.
“Tempting, but I don’t want to show my whole hand just yet.”
“I mean, at the boat show.”
Cerberus looked me over from head to toe as he sipped his champagne. “The reason men buy boats,” he began, “is because they’re sexy.”
He put his hand on my thigh and I had to fight my instinct to slap it or pull away.
“Boats are beautiful.” He leaned close. “Expensive.” Even closer. “And powerful,” he concluded, moving his hand higher.
I cleared my throat. “This is a beautiful boat.”
“You get noticed with a boat like this.”
And I noticed he was a total jackass. Apparently he considered any attention to be positive. Truthfully, though, that had not been my first impression of him. A seriously attractive man with an incredible bo
at, the surface shined on this guy. But it covered a thick layer of dirt.
“That’s what you have to sell at a boat show. You have to sell the sex and the power.” He shifted his hand to my breast, making me glad Harry had anticipated that move and taped the wires out of the way of the goods. I wondered if John Johnson and Chief Balcheski could hear my heart racing.
“Maybe you should show me around your boat so I know a little more about it,” I suggested. “I don’t want to mix up the galley and the head when I’m talking rich men into parting with their money tomorrow.”
I hoped he’d stay busy pointing things out and keep his hands off my girls. I wasn’t sure how far I was willing to go to get information.
He withdrew his hand. “Okay, there’s no hurry tonight. We’ll start outside while there’s a little light left.”
He opened the sliding door and we went out on deck. The cool air was refreshing and being out of the confines of the cabin made me feel braver. We stood by the rail for a moment, then Cerberus grabbed me and kissed me fiercely on the mouth. I tolerated the kiss without shoving him overboard and forced myself to be calm.
I pulled away when the time seemed right. “Better finish the tour before we get too distracted.”
“I’ve got all night,” he said.
“So, what’s this part of the boat called?”
I continued to feign ignorance and interest as he showed me around the outside of his boat, telling me the names for everything. I kept him talking, asking as many questions as I could think of about features and costs, pretending to be getting well-informed for the show. I was also looking for an opportunity to get him to say something about his wife. Or the mayor. Or the million dollars. Anything.
“I’ll bet you have women falling all over you to get on this boat,” I said. “I guess I’m pretty lucky to be here.”
“You have no idea,” he said, obviously flattered. This was in my favor.
“I’m surprised no one has snapped you up.”
“It’s been tried.”
“And?”
“Didn’t last.”
“Well, if she’d seen this boat, she might have stuck around.”
“She saw it,” he said flatly.
“And she left you anyway?” I asked, feigning astonishment.
“No one leaves me, baby. I decide when I’m done with them.”
Feeling brave and thinking I was on to something, I stepped close to Cerberus and put my arms around his neck. I planted a kiss on his lips.
“What if they don’t want to leave?”
“Then I have to show them who’s boss.”
“Hmm. I like the sound of that,” I said. “How would you do that?”
“I’d show you,” he said, “but I don’t want you to leave right now. I have plans for you first.”
“Like showing me around the rest of your boat?”
“That too.”
I had exhausted my string of questions and it was pitch-dark anyway. Going inside was the only option left. Even though we were in the middle of a lake, it didn’t feel as if I was alone with Cerberus as long as we were outside. The solitude inside was terrifying, but I had to do it. I didn’t have anything solid on him except for some vague innuendo about getting rid of women he didn’t want around.
Before we stepped inside, I searched the darkness of the lake for any other boat lights. Johnson had told me that they had to stay within a certain range of me in order for the wire to transmit. This meant that they were following our boat from a distance. The FBI had also put a tracking device on Greenback, so it wouldn’t be too hard to find us. I couldn’t see Bling, but I knew it had to be out there somewhere.
There were several rooms to explore on the boat, and I hoped to avoid the bedroom as long as possible. I pretended to be terribly interested in the instrument panel and how the GPS and sonar worked. John Johnson had probably gone to sleep if he was still listening because I was boring even myself. When we moved to the kitchen and dining area, the opportunities for prying opened up a little.
Cerberus showed me the cabinets stocked with cups and dishes.
“You must entertain a lot of important people on this boat.”
“A few,” he said.
“Seriously, a rich, influential man like you probably has visiting dignitaries every weekend.”
“I’m never lonely. But some guests have more benefits than others.”
“Like what?” I poured him another glass of champagne and watched as he downed it rather quickly. I got myself one too, but sipped cautiously. I served him another and hoped he didn’t notice that I was one behind.
“I think you know what I mean,” he said. “Although you might be surprised how useful it is to have friends in high places.”
“I wouldn’t know.” I tried to look pouty. “Our marina doesn’t attract a lot of money or influence. We don’t even see the mayor unless he’s visiting you.”
“Your marina is a touch…”
“Shabby?” I hated to say such a mean, disloyal thing, but I figured it was what Cerberus was thinking. I’d never seen his marina, but I understood from Marlena that it was a lot glossier than hers.
“You could say that.”
“I guess that’s why anyone with money, power or good taste docks at your place,” I said. “Not to mention excellent champagne.” As if on cue, he downed his third glass. The bottle was getting low, but I poured the rest of it for him.
“It’s a rich man’s world,” he said.
Yuck. He was filled with clichés that justified his own supposed superiority. I just hoped he couldn’t hold his booze.
“Something you gotta learn, Jazz. Go where the money is.”
“Isn’t that what I’m doing right now?”
“Play your cards right and I’ll show you money you’d never see working at that crappy marina.”
He finished his fourth drink and slammed down his empty champagne flute on the hard counter. It shattered under his hand. My nerves were like cut glass already, but I played it cool.
“So, you own a casino, right?”
“You bet, baby.”
“Tell me, what would the smart money be betting on right now?”
“Give me a kiss and I’ll tell you a secret.”
The FBI better appreciate this. I moved in on Cerberus and tipped up my head.
“How about two kisses for two secrets?” Damn. I hated myself right now.
“Quality not quantity,” he said.
Maybe a glass and a half of champagne on an empty stomach was a good idea after all. I could at least convince myself later that it had been the alcohol talking. I kissed that snake long and hard. Imagining myself a glorious martyr for justice, I put plenty of tongue into it for good measure. I hoped the combination of alcohol, testosterone and blood flow headed south would make Cerberus spill his secrets sooner.
“Can’t argue with the quality of that,” he slurred. “I may just have to find you a permanent job working for me.”
Gee, so tempting.
“I’d hate to leave Bluegill.” Maybe he’d buy this lame reason. He seemed pretty drunk.
“Wouldn’t have to,” he said. “You can work at my new marina and casino there.”
I took a steadying breath. Holy cow. There was only one place I could think of where he could build a new marina and casino. The construction at the old boat factory flashed into my mind. The surveyors on the property adjacent to it. But how was he going to pull it off? The boat factory was landlocked by the park, which was public property.
The phone call.
The “project.”
The mayor.
Pieces started falling into place so rapidly it felt like champagne bubbles exploding in my head. Man, I hoped Johnson and Balcheski were getting this.
“Bluegill is a town of fuddy-duddies. How are you going to pull off a casino there? And where would you put it?”
“How about right across the river from that shabby marina where y
ou used to work?”
“Great idea, but the park’s in the way.” I kissed him playfully on the nose and then planted a long one on his lips. I wanted to drain the blood from his brain so he’d say something really stupid. I had a powerful set of DDs on my side in this battle.
“Sweetheart, you still have a lot to learn about money and power.” He closed his hand over my breast. “You can buy anything with enough money. Even if it’s not for sale. Mayor Ballard owes me a favor. Turns out, he was in a position to let me acquire the park from the city at a very attractive price. You might call it a fire sale.”
“So you’re friends with the mayor. Very impressive.”
“I loaned him a million bucks a while back in exchange for some of his supposed credibility.”
“I hear he’s a very powerful man.”
“He’s a moron. I’ve got him wrapped around my finger. He gave fake testimony to keep me out of jail.”
Cerberus was even drunker than I’d thought.
“I hope he paid you back the money he owed you,” I said as I stroked his back.
“With interest. A million bucks he bilked out of that piss-poor town and now the park property too.”
“You’re a genius.” I continued to kiss his neck and let him fondle me. “I can’t believe you didn’t do this a long time ago.”
“I had to convince the co-owner of the old factory that it was a good idea.”
“I’ll bet you can be very convincing when you want to.”
“I don’t think I’ll be hearing any complaints from her again.”
“How’d you shut her up?”
“You ask a lot of questions, Jazz.”
Shit. I flipped my hair and tried to look sassy. It was smarter than throwing up. “I just like to know how a brilliant mind like yours works.”
A smug smile crossed his face. “We killed the bitch and got away with it.”
“We?”
“Ballard and me. We ran across another girl who got too nosey and took care of her too. We made a good pair for a while, but his usefulness has about worn off.”
I made a mental sign of the cross for Old Lady Clark’s niece and that poor clerk from the mayor’s office and tried to pull myself together. I hoped Cerberus would misinterpret my full-body trembling as passion.