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The men continued to move around on the boat, stowing lines, shutting down the engines, and tightening ropes. One of them walked to the front of the boat and looked out to where Theodosia and Drayton were hiding. Then he shook his head and went back to work.
Finally, they watched as one of the men—Theodosia was pretty sure it was Lewin Usher—backed his Lexus SUV as close as he could to the dock. Then he and the other man, who’d changed into jeans and a plaid shirt, hoisted a wooden crate into the back of the SUV.
When the back hatch was secured, the SUV pulled away. Nearby, the roar of a motorcycle pierced the air.
“I think Usher’s driving the SUV,” Theodosia said. “And the other guy’s on a motorcycle.” She hesitated. “We have to follow them.”
* * *
Theodosia and Drayton watched as the two vehicles pulled up to the gate. Then, under cover of darkness, they quickly ran back to the hole in the fence. As they popped out, the SUV roared past, followed by the motorcycle. A trail of dust followed them.
“Hurry!” Theodosia shouted as she raced for her Jeep. She jumped in and cranked the engine just as Drayton jumped in a split second later. Eyes on the retreating SUV and motorcycle, Theodosia hurried to catch up.
“Don’t get too close,” Drayton cautioned as they wound their way along Pritchard Street and crossed over East Bay Street.
“Where do you think they’re going?” Theodosia wondered. “To the Granville Mansion?”
But no, the SUV turned right on Cumberland, with the motorcycle following behind.
Theodosia tailed them down Earl Street, past Brett’s Pub and Bobo’s Lobster Shack. They passed a few more retail shops, closed now for the night, then followed them into a more industrial area. Theodosia slowed when she saw the SUV’s brake lights flare and turn down an alley. She cut her lights and coasted to a stop at the mouth of the alley. A sign read randy’s self storage. They watched as the motorcycle pulled up alongside the SUV and one of the garage doors rumbled open, casting a spill of bright light.
Yes, Theodosia thought with a blip of excitement. That’s for sure Lewin Usher.
Usher and his coconspirator talked for a few minutes, then the motorcycle driver gave a wave and took off while Usher pulled his SUV into the garage.
“Usher’s alone now,” Theodosia said. “This is almost a perfect scenario.”
“Shouldn’t we call the police?” Drayton asked.
“Let’s hold off for a couple of minutes. Maybe we can get a look at what’s inside that crate.”
“If I subscribe to your logic—and I think I do—it’s going to be purloined marine artifacts,” Drayton said.
“Purloined sounds so much nastier than stolen,” Theodosia said. She eased her car over to the side of the alley, close to a stand of scraggly palmettos. Then the two of them climbed out and tiptoed down the alley, sticking to the shadows, headed for the garage.
This is it, Theodosia thought to herself. This is how to solve a murder. Probably two murders.
She felt almost giddy as she stood just a few feet from the open garage door, ready to sneak in and see for herself what was in that mysterious crate.
And that’s when Theodosia felt the business end of a pistol pressed coldly against the back of her neck.
31
“Don’t make a sound or I will pull this trigger and blow your brains out through your ears,” a voice hissed. “Then I’ll do your partner.”
“I won’t. I’m not,” Theodosia said. She tried to remain calm even though inside she was shrieking like a banshee. “But please let Drayton go, okay?”
“Not okay,” said a second voice. Theodosia turned slightly to find Lewin Usher also pointing a small, ugly-looking gray pistol at them. He took a few steps forward, smiled crookedly, and said, “You really think I’d let him go?”
Theodosia didn’t have an answer for that.
“Get inside,” Lewin said, gesturing with his gun.
Not having much choice, Theodosia and Drayton marched into the garage.
“You two just love to meddle, don’t you?” Usher said in a chiding tone. “Have to stick your noses where they don’t belong.” He let loose a deep sigh. “I’m guessing you’ve figured out most of the story?”
“We don’t know anything,” Theodosia lied.
