Page 66 of Wild Escape

Shark Reef had earned its name for a reason. It was popular with bulls. But for the most part, if you kept to yourself and didn't look like a dying fish, the odds were good.

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Ifinned below, pulling myself through the inky depths, my flashlight slashing the darkness. I swam around the reef, scanning the nooks and crannies in the colorful coral, looking for a place to stash a dagger or more loot.

It was a popular dive spot with tourists. You’d have to hide something pretty good in a place like this. But it wouldn't take much to bury a dagger below the silty bottom.

I must have swam around the reef for 20 minutes before giving up. I didn't find any more cash and certainly not a $30 million dagger.

I returned to the Raptor, and JD helped me aboard. I slipped the tank from my shoulders and rested it on the deck.

I was tired and over it. I wanted to go home, have a drink, eat dinner, and unwind.

"I told you it wasn't down there," Daphne said.

"The games stop now," I growled. “You're going to tell me where it is."

"It's not here. I can tell you that much."

I toweled off, climbed aboard her boat, then weighed anchor. At the helm, I fired up the engine and headed back toward Coconut Key.

JD followed.

The moon hung low in the sky as we crashed across the inky swells.

"You're going back to jail," I said. "That ought to give you some time to think about cooperating.”

She made a pouty face. "You don't have to put me back in there. I'll tell you where it is.”

"I'm listening," I said.

"Tomorrow, I will take you to it.”

I scoffed. "How about you take me to it right now?”

"It's an involved process, and you look tired. You really should get some rest. I know you've been trying to keep up with me, and that's not an easy job."

I glared at her.

"Besides, this could be an opportunity for you.”

"How so?”

"Brock and Dane will want their cut. I can try to get word to them and set up a rendezvous to give them their share. Fair is fair, right? Bury the hatchet. When they show up, you snag them."

"I don't need the dagger to do that. I just need you to get in touch with them.”

"That's easy enough to do. I guarantee you they are not leaving this island without their cut. They’re probably staying in a crappy motel, on a boat, or at one of those tramps’ apartments. I'll bet if I start calling those bitches, one of them will get the word to Dane or Brock.” She paused. “Whatever I tell Rick at the Dutchman will get back to Dane.”

“If he thinks you’re working with law enforcement, he won’t show up to a rendezvous.”

“Why would he think I’m working with you?”

“And just how did you get out of prison?”

“I escaped,” she said with a proud smile. “I cooperated just to get out of jail and bailed at the first opportunity. It’s not a lie. Totally believable.”

We headed back to the station, and panic filled Daphne's eyes. "Whoa, what’s going on? I said I’d cooperate.”