Текст книги "Jack Taggart Mysteries 7 - Book Bundle"

Автор книги: Don Easton

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Текущая страница: 18 (всего у книги 141 страниц)

chapter thirty-seven

Jack’s first stop was his own apartment. He immediately checked a voice-activated tape recorder that he had hidden under the sofa. The footage indicator was unchanged. He looked at his stereo. Do they plan on leaving the bug in there forever?

He showered, changed his clothes, and headed out the door.

It was just before noon on Saturday when CC and Charlie Wells entered the motel lot. The units were individual cabins well spaced from each other, but as Charlie had commented upon their arrival, they were not the type to be recommended by the travel bureau.

They entered the office and CC asked the proprietor if he was Mr. Burnside. When he said he was, she showed him her badge and introduced her partner.

“You called our office and said that you had some information concerning the murder of those two children?” she asked.

Burnside looked nervously past them. “I don’t want anyone to see me talking to you.”

“What are you afraid of?” asked CC.

“Bikers,” replied Burnside. “Let’s go in back.”

Moments later, Burnside explained. “Bikers started bringing this creep to my motel,” he said, nervously glancing out the door. “Then they bring him young girls. Real young. A biker would always sit outside in a car and wait. It’s none of my business. I just rent the rooms.”

“What does this have to do with the murder?” asked CC.

“I was warned last night by one of the bikers that I should get out of the city for a couple of weeks. Can’t do that. Lose too much business.”

“Why? What biker?”

“Dunno. I think he’s with Satans Wrath. He told me this guy who likes little girls has flipped out. He says the guy is gonna start killin’ anyone who can identify him.”

“You still haven’t said what this has to do with —”

“The biker says to me, you heard about those two kids in the farmhouse? I says, yeah. He says that this weirdo was gonna do somethin’ to the girl but her little brother came in and he ended up killing ’em both. Guess he told the kids to stand on one side of a door ’cause he didn’t want to look at their faces when he did it. Then he blasted away with a shotgun from the other side. Apparently he missed the little boy and had to do him later. Don’t know if this is all bullshit or not, but thought I should tell ya.”

CC exchanged a glance with her partner. The information on how the kids were killed had never been released to the public. This was the lead they had been waiting for.

“Who is this guy? Can you identify him?” she asked.

“I don’t know. Only saw him for a second. Like I said, he’s weird. I went past this cabin one night. I could tell he was takin’ pictures because of the flash. The curtain wasn’t completely closed and I saw him stark naked except for wearing a mask of George Bush.”

“You sure it was a George Bush mask?” asked CC.

“Yup. And it wasn’t Halloween. But this other night was different. I think that the girl he was with slashed his back with a knife. The biker wanted me to bring a first-aid kit. I only saw his face for a second when I brought the kit. I think the guy was angry that I saw him.”

“How often does he come here?”

“Maybe once a month. The biker rents the room and pays cash. Another one of the Smith family. I did write the weirdo’s licence plate number down once.”

“You’ve got his licence plate number?” CC could barely conceal her excitement.

“Yeah, but it was a couple of weeks ago and now I can’t find it. It might still be around someplace. I was lookin’ before ya came over.”

“I’ll give you my card,” said CC. “I want you to keep looking and call me immediately if you find it or if this guy shows up!”

Wizard waited until Burnside was alone before walking out of a nearby unit.

“They believe ya?” he asked.

“Hook, line, and sinker!”

At noon, Jack called Natasha. She was perturbed that he had slipped away without waking her. He apologized and said that there was some work he had to take care of but hoped the restaurant he had made dinner reservations at would make up for it.

“I know the place,” said Natasha. “Was there once, years ago. Right on top of Burnaby Mountain. It’s beautiful. Has a panoramic view of Vancouver. You’re forgiven!”

Thumper crept through the bushes and then dropped to the ground. He adjusted his binoculars and saw Ben walking to the barn. An hour ticked by before he saw Elizabeth come to the door and holler that lunch was ready. Moments later, Ben and Marcie walked from the barn to the house.

Thumper went back to a small dirt road where a van was parked amongst the trees. Rolly, T-Bone, and Booger were waiting inside. All three had sawed-off shotguns on their laps.

“Well?” asked Rolly.

“All three of ’em are in the house havin’ lunch right now. Give Wiz a call and tell him we’re ready to rock an’ roll.”

Jack glanced at Natasha as he took the exit off the main highway and onto Capilano Road. She was wearing a new dress and looked particularly ravishing. “Have you ever been here before?” he asked.

“The Capilano Suspension Bridge? No, but I looked it up on the Net once. The view looked beautiful.”

“You’re right about that. Stretches out over 450 feet and hangs 230 feet above the river. Hope you’re not afraid of heights.”

“No, it sounds like a fun place for a walk. Just make sure we don’t miss our dinner reservation. I’ve been looking forward to that all afternoon.”

“The park closes at five. That gives us lots of time to get to the restaurant.”

“Only gives us half an hour here, though,” said Natasha, looking at her watch.

Jack didn’t respond. With what he had to say, she might decide never to see him again. He parked the car and adjusted his tie and straightened his suit jacket as he walked around to open her door.

After passing a cluster of totem poles, they made their way onto the suspension bridge. There were few tourists this time of year. Jack noticed one solitary figure carrying a cooler in one hand and a large bag in the other hand as he trudged across the bridge far ahead of them.

“My God, it’s high!” said Natasha, putting one hand on the railing.

“Are you scared?”

“No … not with you here. Just excited! This is absolutely breathtaking!”

Jack held her hand as they walked toward the centre. He found himself unable to appreciate or study his surroundings. He looked at Natasha and knew that her excitement was waning as she glanced periodically at his face. They stopped to admire the view from the centre of the bridge, and Jack stood with his arm around her.

“Look! Someone left a cooler,” observed Natasha.

“I saw someone ahead of us leave it there a moment ago,” replied Jack. “Probably heavy. Bet he plans on picking it up on the way back.”

Jack glanced around. They were alone on the bridge. He didn’t see the figure hidden amongst the trees at the far end of the bridge. The man used binoculars to spot his cohort hiding on the opposite side. A portable radio hanging from his belt crackled. “Got your charges set?”

“All set,” he replied.

Out in the middle of the bridge, Natasha turned to Jack and abruptly said, “Okay, what is it? You’re not looking at the view and when you look at me it’s like you’re someplace else. What happened? Something this afternoon? What’s going on?”

Jack’s mind went numb. His carefully planned words escaped him. He felt like someone had ripped his tongue out.

“Jack! What is it?”

He reached in his suit pocket and handed Natasha the small velvet box.

“Oh … Jack,” whispered Natasha.

She carefully opened the box and looked at the engagement and wedding rings. The engagement ring was made of yellow gold with three small diamonds imbedded in a V at the top. The V fit into the wedding ring, which had a large diamond in the centre with three smaller diamonds in an opposite V behind the centre diamond.

“I take it you’re asking me to marry you?”

Jack nodded his head. He knew he had a goofy grin on his face, but he was so consumed by anticipating what Natasha’s response would be that he was at a loss for words.

Tears welled up in Natasha’s eyes, but she chose her words carefully and spoke firmly. “Jack, you know I love you, but I want more out of life than that. Someday I want to have children.”

“I want children, too. That’s why —”

“Let me finish. I want someone who will be around to be a husband and father forever.”

“You’re doubting my loyalty? I can’t believe that you would think —”

“I’m not doubting your loyalty! I believe you keep your promises. Which is what I’m afraid of. I’ve seen your eyes when you talk about Maggie and Ben Junior. It’s that loyalty that scares me! I can accept that your job is dangerous. What I can’t accept is you committing … some act that would see you taken away from me. I’d make a lousy pen pal!”

Jack felt his eyes water. “Give me a minute, please.” He turned and walked to the opposite side of the bridge and stared out over the abyss. He wondered if he would ever be able to sort out his thoughts. After a couple of seconds, he realized that the answer was really very simple. The most important thing in my life is standing right behind me.

He turned to face Natasha. “I promise you that from this moment forward, I will not do anything that … that would jeopardize my future with you.”

Natasha was silent for only a moment, and then she started to cry. “In that case, I would be very pleased to marry you.”

They kissed and hugged for several moments before Jack remembered to take the champagne from the cooler.

“What? This is yours?” Natasha asked, as Jack popped the cork and filled two glasses.

Neither one had time to say a toast. Explosions at both ends of the bridge lit up the evening sky over their heads with fireworks.

“Jack!”

“Danny is at one end. A good friend by the name of Louie is at the other.”

Natasha looked in awe at the fireworks and said, “This is so beautiful.” She raised her glass and said, “To spending the rest of our lives together.”

“As long as we both shall live.”

chapter thirty-eight

On Sunday morning, Jack felt the warmth from the sun shining through Natasha’s patio doors as he ate his breakfast.

Natasha smiled at him and said, “You’re a man full of surprises, Jack.”

Jack swallowed the last of his toast and said, “You didn’t see it coming?”

“No. I didn’t see any of it coming. Yesterday was like a dream.”

“I’m glad it was a dream and not a nightmare. I was pretty nervous.”

“You also must have been pretty busy! We barely stepped inside the restaurant last night before they played The Marriage of Figaro. For the maître d’ to be that attentive, I suspect you must have been more than generous.”

“Yesterday was a little hectic, but you know something?”

“What?”

“You’re worth it.”

“You’re damn right, I am!” Natasha laughed.

Jack checked his watch and said, “If you’re going to take Marcie out for lunch, you better get going.”

“You’re sure she doesn’t know?”

Jack shook his head. “Marcie was in the barn when I called. Liz is really excited but she won’t say anything to her until you break the news.”

“Good.”

“I’m really pleased that you want to do this for Marcie.”

“You don’t feel left out?”

“Not a bit. Especially shopping for clothes. The two of you will have a lot more fun without me tagging along. Besides, I need to get back to my own apartment and change.”

From his hiding place, Thumper watched as Ben towed the fertilizer spreader around the field on his tractor. Thumper unzipped a sleeping bag as the late-morning sun sucked the dew from the ground. Then he saw Elizabeth and Marcie come out of the house and start hanging clothes from a clothesline that ran from the back porch of the house.

Thumper glanced behind him as Rolly crept through the bush to take his turn at watching.

“They movin’ around?” asked Rolly.

“Doesn’t look like they’re goin’ anywhere. Couldn’t be a better time to pop ’em. The guy is out in the field on a tractor and the bitches are doin’ laundry. If we whack the bitches first, farmboy shouldn’t hear the noise.”

“Haven’t heard from Wiz.”

“Give him a call. Tell ’em the three fish are in the barrel. I think it’s time.”

Jack was excited when he arrived back at his own apartment. Too excited to remember to check his voice-activated tape recorder. It was a mistake he would soon regret.

After taking a shower and changing his clothes, he reached for his telephone. There were a lot of people to call and share the news with. Danny would stand beside him as best man, along with Louie and Paul, his previous partner. He would need six more to form the honour guard.

Marcie was ready on time and got in the car as soon as Natasha arrived. They went to a mall and shopped for about an hour before having lunch. Marcie was polite and seemed appreciative that Natasha bought her some clothes, but she was not overly friendly.

Natasha took a second bite out of her shrimp croissant before realizing that Marcie was staring at her without eating. “Something wrong with your lunch?” she asked.

“What’s going on?”

“Can’t I buy you lunch?”

“I feel like somethin’ is going on. Like you’re not telling me something.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. I know you’re back with Jack. Where is he? You’re not breakin’ up with him again, are you? Is that it? Is that why you brought me here? To tell me that?”

Natasha put down her fork, smiled, and said, “Quite the contrary. You’re right, something is going on. I invited you here to ask you something that’s really important and very special to me.”

“What is it?” asked Marcie seriously.

“I wanted to ask you if you would be my bridesmaid.”

It took Marcie a couple of seconds to grasp the situation, then she squealed and said, “You’re getting married!”

“Jack proposed to me yesterday … well, sort of proposed.”

Marcie bounced around in her seat as she said, “And, and … you want me to be your bridesmaid?”

“It was you who brought Jack and I together. After playing such an important role in my life – our lives – of course I would like you to be my bridesmaid. If you don’t mind?”

“Don’t mind! You bet I will! Oh, Natasha, this is great!”

An hour later, Natasha and Marcie were loading parcels into the trunk of Natasha’s car when Natasha heard the door of a van parked next to her slide open. She glanced up as three men moved in behind them and stuck guns in their backs.

A voice hissed, “If either one of you talks, screams, or tries to run, we’ll kill the other one.”

Seconds later, Natasha and Marcie lay face down on the floor of a van as it silently drove out of the parking lot.

Natasha felt the tears roll down her face. She had never been so afraid in her life. She stared into Marcie’s face. She had a look of resignation about her. It was as if she had already resigned herself to her fate.

Jack was making a list of the people who would be in the honour guard at his wedding when his cellphone rang.

“Taggart! This is Sid Bishop! I need to see you and O’Reilly now!”

“What is it, Sid? If you’re still concerned about bikers, I’m sure you’re not in any danger.”

“It’s about the wiretap application for Homicide. I just received an interesting phone call from someone about the real identity of a person identified in the application as an Edward Trimble!”

Jack felt his heart sink. “I don’t understand. Who called you? What does —”

“I believe you understand fully! I haven’t mentioned this to anyone else yet, but I will not allow justice to be put into disrepute! I suggest that you and Mister O’Reilly come to my house immediately and start telling me what is going on!”

“I’ll pick up Danny and we’ll be there as soon as we can,” said Jack quietly. “It will probably take about an hour and a half.”

Moments later, Jack called Danny and then left his apartment. He was barely a block away when Wizard and Booger entered his suite.

Forty-five minutes passed before the van came to a stop and the side door slid open. Natasha heard the roar of the ocean. She looked up and saw three bikers standing at the door, looking down at her. Then another face appeared, someone who didn’t look like a biker but was definitely in charge.

“Taggart and O’Reilly took the bait. Should happen within the hour,” he said.

Natasha’s panic increased. None of the men had bothered to hide their faces. She also saw that at the sound of the man’s voice Marcie squeezed her eyes shut and began to shake.

“Put them in the boat,” he ordered. “Thumper, you stay with them, then the rest of you set up around the house.” He looked at Thumper and added, “Remember the plan. Don’t leave any marks on them. With the sound of the waves, even if they yell they won’t be heard, but if they do try to cause any problems, snap their necks, or, if need be, slash their throats immediately. We’re not taking any chances!”

“Not a problem,” said Thumper, stepping from the van.

Moments later, Natasha and Marcie found themselves face down on the bunk of a cabin cruiser. The bunk was covered in plastic sheeting.

Natasha heard the men leave, except for one. She could hear his breathing and knew that he was standing close, watching over her.

CC and Charlie Wells were in the Homicide office when CC received a call. It took her a few minutes to calm Mr. Burnside down.

“I got another warning from the bikers! Told me to get out of the city now! This time I’m doin’ it!”

“Why? What did they say? Did this guy meet you in person?”

“Yeah. Same guy as before. Big guy with a goatee. He said that the pervert has really gone berserk. Thinks he’s murderin’ people right now!”

“Who?”

“I don’t know. The biker just told me that after this guy molested one of the girls, he buddied up to her later without her knowin’ it was him. You know, like I told ya, he wore a mask.”

“You told me.”

“Yeah, well anyway, I guess he gave this girl a place to live with his sister someplace.”

“Why did he do that?”

“I don’t know, but now he’s going to kill ’em.”

“He’s going to murder this girl and his sister?”

“Not quite. I guess the girl is meetin’ with the pervert’s lady friend. Got him paranoid that the girl has clued in and is talkin’.”

“You don’t have any idea who? Anything at all to help?”

“Remember I told ya I once got this creep’s licence plate number?”

“Yes.”

Well, I found it.”

She motioned for Charlie Wells to come over to her desk. “Quick, run this! It’s the pervert’s plate from the motel.”

Moments later, Charlie walked back into the office as CC hung up the telephone. She noticed he looked ill and appeared to be at a loss for words. “What is it?” she asked.

Charlie shook his head and waved a printout of the registration in front of him. “You’re not going to believe it. The plate. You’re not going to believe it.”

“Damn it, Charlie! Out with it!”

“It’s registered to Jack Taggart!”

“Bullshit!” CC looked at the registration, then quickly looked through her notebook.

“What are you doing?”

“I’ll tell you in a sec. I’m calling the Anderson parents.”

CC’s worst fears were realized moments later, when she spoke with Elizabeth and learned that they were looking after a girl by the name of Marcie. A girl who was having lunch with Jack’s girlfriend, Dr. Natasha Trovinski. Elizabeth didn’t know the name of the restaurant, but she did know the name of the mall. CC told her that she had some routine questions. Nothing urgent. No need to bother Jack on his cellphone.

CC hung up the phone and leaned back in her chair. “Oh, God! No!”

“What is it?”

“The sick bastard felt guilty for killing his sister’s kids so he found some street kid to live with them. Now he’s going to kill her and some doctor that the kid’s talking to!”

“So we come clean with him?” asked Danny.

“Wait to see what Sid has to say,” replied Jack. “One guess as to who called him!”

“Turn right,” said Danny, as he studied the map.

“Depending on what he says, I might admit that I was Trimble. He told me that he hadn’t told anyone, so that’s a good sign.”

“You feel you can trust him?”

“I don’t know,” said Jack, “but how much could Wigmore really tell him without divulging stuff about himself?”

Jack parked the car in front of a triple-car garage that protruded from one end of Bishop’s estate, and then he followed Danny on the slate-stone path that meandered alongside the garage and up to the main entrance. Plastic sheeting was draped over the porch and onto the steps leading up. Bishop stepped out the front door carrying a can of paint and set it down. He looked startled when he saw them approach and said, “I didn’t expect you this soon. Come on in!”

Natasha turned on her side and looked at Thumper when he sat on the edge of the bunk. He leered down at her and said, “I have to admit, your pig boyfriend has good taste in women.”

“You won’t get away with this,” replied Natasha. “Jack will find you. You hurt either one of us and I can guarantee that it will be nothing compared to what he will do to you,” she said, matter-of-factly.

Thumper chuckled, then said, “I hate to break it to you, lady, but your pig boyfriend is a pussy. I kicked the shit out of him last Sunday. Took me all of about twenty seconds, and that was without really trying.”

“You’re the one who did that?”

“The pussy told ya? Of course! He’d go crying to you to fix him up.”

“You know something? As a doctor, I’ve discovered that men like you, who like to fight, are really compensating for the fact that they have a penis about the size of a peanut. Jack is much more of a man than you could ever dream of being.”

Thumper stood up, and his voice was menacing. “Talk like that, bitch, and you’ll find out how big my peanut is!”

“Really? You think you could get it up enough for me to quit laughing!”

Thumper stared down at her for a moment, then sneered and said, “Naw, I know your little game. You figure if I drop my strides and fuck you, it will give you a chance to escape.”

Natasha stared sullenly back, shrugged, and said, “Something like that.”

Thumper chuckled, then considered her for a moment and said, “Maybe you’re in luck. I like games.” He reached inside his jacket and pulled out a hunting knife. “There is a little thing that The Suit has about DNA … but you know something?”

Natasha stared back without responding.

Thumper reached into a pocket and held out a condom. “I’m not too worried about DNA!”

Natasha edged farther back on the bunk, pulling her knees close to her chest.

“No, don’t, mister,” said Marcie. “Leave us alone.”

Thumper looked at Marcie and said, “I’m not talking to you, you little whore.” He opened the bathroom door beside the bunk and said, “Get in there and wait. If you speak again or try to open this door, I’ll kill the doc immediately and you right after!”

“Do it, Marcie. Do what he says,” said Natasha quietly.

Natasha saw the tears running down Marcie’s face. She slowly eased herself down off the bunk and went inside the bathroom.

“I’ve already searched in there, so you might as well sit quietly until I tell you to come out,” said Thumper, closing the door.

Natasha sized up the situation. Even if Marcie did decide to run, she couldn’t open the door without it banging into Thumper … unless she got him completely up on the bunk with her.

Thumper looked at the bathroom door and then back at Natasha. He smiled and said, “I’ll tell you how this little game will be played. I’ll give ya a chance to escape. A real good chance. But if you take that chance and lose, then you fuck me and you fuck me hard. Understood?”

“You’ve got the knife,” Natasha said. “Is that what you call giving me a chance?”

“I said I’ll give ya a good chance. Here it is!” said Thumper, tossing the knife down beside Natasha’s hand and stepping back.

Natasha grabbed the knife and pushed herself back on the bunk, expecting him to attack. He stood where he was, then faked a yawn and turned his back toward her and gazed toward the exit.

Natasha leapt from the bunk in a flash, lunging toward his kidneys. Thumper sidestepped with ease and grabbed Natasha. Her scream was muffled as her face hit the floor and the sudden pain in her bent wrist caused the knife to clatter onto the floor.

Thumper kicked the knife away, then picked her up and tossed her back onto the bunk. “Guess you just lost your chance, bitch. Time to see if your peanut theory is all that funny!”

Natasha got her breathing under control, then begged, “Please … don’t hurt us.”

“You don’t wanna get hurt? Then fulfill your end of the bargain. Or should I take it out on her?” said Thumper, gesturing toward the bathroom door.

“No … not her. I’ll … I’ll do it.”

Natasha sat on the bunk, took off her jacket, and laid it beside her. Then she slowly unbuttoned her blouse and slipped it off. Thumper ogled her breasts, which were only partially concealed by her lacy black bra. Natasha used her hands to push herself slightly back on the bunk before undoing the top of her slacks. She stared at Thumper as she slowly pulled the zipper partway down, then stopped and gestured for him to come up on the bunk with her.

Thumper smiled and gave a nod toward the bathroom while taking hold of Natasha’s ankles. “Not up there, sweetheart.” He pulled her legs down off the bunk so that she was straddling his waist, then he undid his jeans and let them drop to the floor.

“I’ll be good,” whispered Natasha. “Just let us go after.”

“Yeah … sure. If you’re real good, maybe I will.”

Natasha sat up and slowly undid the buttons on Thumper’s shirt. When he tossed his jacket and shirt on the floor, she placed her hand on the back of his head and guided his face into her cleavage as she fell back down onto the bed. Thumper felt her clutching his hair while slowly pushing his head toward her stomach.

He watched her face as he kissed and licked her navel, while pulling down the rest of her zipper before sliding off her slacks and panties. He continued to lick and taste the salt from her body, slowly working his way down to her thighs. He felt her fingers massage and scratch his head and shoulders. She took her hands off him briefly as her body twisted and she moaned. He glimpsed her fingers as she clawed and raked the bunk beside herself like a cat in heat.

“Time to put this on,” he said heavily, reaching for the condom.

“Not yet,” whispered Natasha. “You said to be good. Make it last. Do what you’re doing a little more.” She massaged his back with increasing intensity then grasped his head, urging him upwards. He licked and kissed his way back up her stomach while arching her back with one hand and pulling her bra aside as his lips searched for her nipples. He felt her fingernails rake his upper back and neck as she pulled his face deep into the side of her breast while wrapping her legs around his.

“Back off with the scratching, bitch! That…” Thumper didn’t finish the sentence. He suddenly realized that he was lying in a warm sticky pool. He pushed himself upright as a torrent of blood flowed from the carotid artery in his neck like a severed garden hose. He grasped at the thin cut running lengthways up his throat and stared in horror at Natasha. She sat looking up at him, a bloodied scalpel in her hand.

“Consider yourself fucked,” she said. “Fucked hard.”

Spots of blackness swept over him as his brain starved for blood. He staggered back a step, then lost consciousness and fell backwards onto the floor. His heart continued to beat momentarily before it, too, accepted death.

Natasha dragged his body aside and opened the bathroom door.

Marcie saw Natasha’s body awash in blood and opened her mouth to scream. Natasha clamped her hand over her mouth.

“I’m okay. This isn’t my blood. The guy’s dead. I killed him. We’ve got to be quiet,” Natasha said, taking her hand away.

“What happened?” whispered Marcie. “What’s going on? How did you kill him?”

“I had a scalpel in my jacket pocket,” said Natasha, while putting her clothes back on. “Put it there one night when I went to the clinic to help Jack. Save the talk for later. We’ve got to get out of here.”

“That man. The one who told them to put us on this boat. I recognize his voice. He’s the one … the one who…”

“The one who molested you in the cabin?”

Marcie nodded, then said, “Why would they take us?

“I’m not sure, but they didn’t hide their faces, so that’s not a good sign. I’m guessing it must be a trap for Jack and maybe Danny. Come on!”

Natasha crept forward and peered out the exit. She saw two bikers standing at the back of the house. They were both carrying rifles and talking to someone through a window.

“Two of them are in the backyard with rifles. They’ve got their backs to us, but I can’t tell if someone in the house is looking this way or not. Are you a swimmer?”

“No,” said Marcie.

“See if we can find any keys to this thing.”

Both Natasha and Marcie searched for keys. There weren’t any.

“I’ve got to chance it,” said Natasha. “They could come back any second. You wait at the top of the stairs while I slip across to the boathouse on the other side. Maybe I’ll find something.”

Natasha peeked out the exit and saw the bikers disappear, one around each side of the house. She scrambled off the cabin cruiser and scooted across the dock to a small boathouse. She cautiously opened the door and saw a high-powered speedboat parked inside. She climbed in and frantically searched for keys.

She abruptly froze when the door to the boathouse opened, then realized it was Marcie.

“You should have waited!”

“I was afraid. Did you find any keys?”

“No.”

“Maybe we should make a run for it down the dock!”

“It’s too long in the open. We’d never make it. I think —”

Natasha was interrupted by the sound of gunfire.