Page 65 of Wild Escape

She shrugged.

"If you can't prove a source of income, the county will have to confiscate it.”

She scowled at me. “You just want my money.”

“I have no interest in your money.”

"I just needed a little something to cover operating expenses.”

"I don't think you have to worry about that anymore. The county is more than happy to cover your living expenses moving forward.”

Daphne's face twisted. "You're not taking me back to jail, are you? You still haven't gotten what you want."

Jack pulled alongside in the Raptor.

"I'm not sure you can give me what I want," I said.

"Honey, I've got everything you need," she said with a sultry grin.

"I'm immune to your charms, so don't even try. Where's the dagger? Is it down there?”

Daphne shook her head. "No. I don't like to keep all my eggs in one basket.”

I regarded her with a healthy dose of skepticism.

The boats swayed with the swells, and the waves lapped against the fiberglass hulls. The sun had disappeared, and the sky had turned to gray.

"Kind of dangerous to be diving out here alone, don't you think?”

Daphne shrugged. "Sometimes you have to take risks."

"Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”

"Really?”

"Really!”

She huffed but complied. I slapped the cuffs on her.

"What are you going to do with the money?”

"It will get logged into the property department. You can make a claim to get it back.”

"Or we could forget all about it and split it.”

"I don't need the money.”

"Sugar, everybody needs money.”

I escorted her to a seat. "Don't move.”

"Where am I going to go?”

"You’re going to tell me where I can find the dagger.”

Daphne said nothing.

I climbed aboard the Raptor, did safety checks on the gear, then prepared to go for a little swim. Jack kept an eye on Daphne while I plunged into the water with a tactical flashlight and swam to the depths.