AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Call me right away, here’s my information.”
Reaching into the back pocket of his slacks, the man pulled out his wallet and produced a card, but as he handed it over, Scott noticed a Rolex Submariner wrapped around his wrist.
“What makes you think she’s here?” Scott asked, stuffing the card into his wallet.
“I have my reasons. Where’s that small hotel again, Mr. Schmidt?”
“Excuse me, I need to get something to eat,” Scott interjected, moving away. “I just docked and I’m starving. Catch you later, Jack.”
“Sure, Scott, later.”
Reaching the takeout counter, Scott turned and studied the man calling himself Detective Miller. His clothes were loose fitting, but looked expensive, and the timepiece on his wrist would have cost a detective six months’ salary.
He was either corrupt, or he wasn’t a cop at all.
Lifting his phone from his pocket, Scott opened a web browser and typed in the name Elizabeth McKay…
Waiting in the small cabin, invisible to the outside world, Beth could finally take off her wig, stand under a shower, change her clothes, then stretch out and nap. But much as she wanted to relax, there was an important task that couldn’t wait. She needed to hide the money…
CHAPTER TWO
Dumbfounded by what his internet search revealed, Scott slid onto a barstool, placed his food order, then bought a beer. As he took a drink, he found it hard to believe the capricious young woman on his boat would be capable of committing the heinous crimes described in the news reports.
“You want another beer, Scott?”
Jack’s voice snatched his attention. Glancing at the bottle, Scott discovered he’d been so lost in thought he’d almost finished it off without realizing.
“No, thanks. I’ve ordered dinner and I’ll be taking it back to the boat.”
“Why don’t you stick around? I’m about ready to eat. I want to be done before the happy hour rush.”
“I’d like to, but I might have company and I need to get back,” Scott replied, picturing Beth in her sexy sundress. “Nothing’s definite, but I’m getting enough just in case. I might even take off for a few days.”
“Sounds promising,” Jack said with a grin.
“Here you go, Scott.”
Turning around, Scott found Mandy, Jack’s perky waitress, placing several plastic bags on the counter.
“And here’s your receipt,” she continued. “Do you want to check it’s all there?”
“No, I’m sure it’s fine,” Scott answered, reaching into his pocket for the fifty-dollar bills Beth had given him, but thinking about what he’d just read, he abruptly changed his mind. Retrieving his wallet, he handed over a credit card.
“Are you having a party?” Mandy asked hopefully as she ran the charge.
“Nope, just a friend over, and I’ll probably take off for an evening cruise so I wanted a bit extra.”
“Rough life you lead, Captain Scott,” she quipped with a wink, handing him the credit slip.
He paused.
It was a phrase he often heard, and he’d usually reply with, Hey, it’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta to do it, but caught between a questionable cop and a woman in distress, his cheery quip rang hollow in his head.
“Mandy, sometimes things are not always what they seem.”
The bed took up most of the cabin with a narrow shelf between the mattress and sides of the hull. Climbing on, and dragging her bag up to the pillows, Beth had studied the decorative cushions.
Elated to find they were zippered, she quickly opened them, removed some of the foam fill, replaced it with wads of bills, then put back as much of the padding as possible. Emptying the few items of clothing she had with her, she pushed the leftover stuffing to the bottom of her bag and repacked it.
