Covert Pursuit. Terri Reed

of another boat approaching grabbed Jason’s attention. A deck boat, illuminated by high-powered lights attached to the sides, sliced through the choppy water.

      Jason abandoned the dive equipment to stand beside Angie. “Is that the same boat?”

      “I don’t think so. The one I saw was bigger with a higher top deck,” she said. “Who do you think they are?”

      Trepidation slithered over him as the boat closed in. “Not sure. Help me put this stuff back into the cargo hold,” he said, not wanting to advertise their purpose in being out on the water.

      Together they made short work of restoring the scuba equipment. “Let me do the talking,” Jason said as the boat slowed.

      “They’re armed,” Angie said in a tight voice.

      “Yeah,” he acknowledged as a hard knot formed in his chest.

      Men carrying submachine guns stood at the fore and aft positions. Another man, flanked on either side by two more armed guards, called out instructions to the driver.

      Apprehension tethered Jason’s feet to the deck. He swallowed back a prayer for help. No need to waste hope that God would come through for him. Jason would just have to make sure he and Angie got through this alive on his own.

      The boat drew abreast of the Regina Lee.

      TWO

      Forcing himself to relax, Jason worked his cover persona, deepening his Southern drawl. “Island Charters at your service.”

      Two armed men wearing jeans and black T-shirts jumped aboard as the wake of the other boat rocked the Regina Lee.

      “What in the world?” Angie said, reaching for her gun.

      Jason caught her hand and held on tight even as she jerked to free herself from his hold. He pulled her slightly behind him to keep her out of the men’s line of vision. In a low voice meant for her ears only, he growled, “Stand down.”

      She stilled. He didn’t have to see her glare; he felt it, but he stayed focused on the men with the guns.

      “Hey, not cool to board a man’s boat without permission,” Jason said.

      Ignoring him, the men scrutinized the interior of the boat, going so far as to open the cabin door and peer inside. What were they looking for?

      The man who seemed to be in charge stepped closer to the railing. Jason didn’t recognize the tall, muscular Hispanic man. Could he be Picard?

      No. Felix wouldn’t be so careless as to show himself. Still, Jason memorized the face. Angular jawline, dark eyes slightly rounded at the edges, wide bridge across the nose, scar over the right eye. Jason would have an ID on the guy in no time once he returned to his rented condo near the marina.

      Were these Picard’s men? Or was there another illegal entity working out of Loribel?

      “What are you doing out here?” the man asked in a thick Spanish accent.

      “I’m taking the lady on a night cruise around the island.”

      “Why’d you stop here?”

      “She thought she saw a dolphin.” Jason shrugged. “You know tourists. Easily fascinated.”

      “There’re no dolphins. Move along.”

      “Sure, whatever you say.” Ignoring Angie’s low growl of disapproval, Jason turned to the two men who’d boarded his boat. “You coming with us?”

      The two looked to their boss for direction. With a flick of his hand, the boss indicated for the men to return to the other boat.

      Relieved not to have the unwanted guests, Jason practically dragged Angie to the helm with him, careful to keep her back to the men.

      Thankfully, she remained silent, but the faint moonlight revealed the fiery expression that said she wanted to confront the situation head-on. Not a good idea when they were outmanned and outgunned.

      He started the engine and pushed the throttle forward, easing the boat away from the other craft before letting the throttle out and speeding back toward the marina.

      He glanced back only once. The deck boat was now only a bright dot in the dark. He hadn’t seen dive equipment on board but that didn’t mean there hadn’t been any. In any case, he would return to the spot in the morning before Decker and dive down just in case the bag was still there.

      Angie brought out her cell phone. “I don’t have a signal yet. Not even roaming.”

      Jason took the phone from her hands, noticing again the strength in her long tapered fingers. “You don’t want to call this in. Just let it go. You’re on vacation. You should act like it.”

      “I can’t let it go.” Her voice held an incredulous note. “I can’t let those men get away with intimidation. Not to mention those weapons. They were there to get the body. I have to tell Chief Decker.”

      Jason shook his head. “I don’t think you saw a body being dumped.”

      “You don’t believe me?”

      The hurt in her tone unexpectedly twisted inside Jason’s chest. “I believe you saw something. Something worth sending out armed men to retrieve. And the less people who know you saw anything the better. Believe me—you don’t want to mess with those men.”

      “If it wasn’t a body, then what? Drugs? Weapons?”

      “Hard to say,” he said in a dismissive tone. The woman wasn’t going to relent, was she? “The Colombian drug cartel has a pipeline to the U.S. through the Keys. Arms dealers are a dime a dozen, especially around the Gulf of Mexico.”

      “But wouldn’t the salt water ruin drugs or weapons?”

      “Not necessarily, if they were secured in airtight, waterproof packaging.”

      She peered at him with suspicion in her eyes. “You’re not a simple boat captain. Who are you?”

      Her hand rested on her hip, where her holstered weapon was concealed beneath her waistband. There was no doubt in his mind she wouldn’t hesitate to draw on him if she thought he was a criminal. But for her own good, he couldn’t reveal his identity.

      “You don’t think I’m simple?” He placed a hand over his heart. “That warms me. It really does.”

      She rolled her eyes and pushed a stray curl out of her face. “Be serious. Who are you?”

      “I’m always serious.”

      Irritation gleamed in the swirling depths of her eyes. “I want an answer.”

      “Bossy, much?”

      She stared him down, hard. A look meant to intimidate. He’d bet she’d used that look on suspects and witnesses. Probably got people talking. He enjoyed baiting her. But he really needed her to take the situation seriously. If she kept pushing, she’d find out how dangerous things could get.

      The image of Garrett, dying in his arms, shuddered through his consciousness. He banked the memory and sobered. “Look, I’ve been at this a long time. These waters are infested with sharks. The human kind. Trust me, you’ll be safer if you pretend you didn’t see anything.”

      “No can do.” She relaxed her stance slightly. “I’ve sworn an oath to uphold the law.”

      He let up on the throttle and slowed to the minimum speed as the boat entered the marina limits. “Honorable. But down here, you don’t have jurisdiction. Besides, once Chief Decker searches and finds nothing, you’ll have lost credibility.”

      “Exactly why I am going tell him about the men now,” she argued. She held out her hand. “My phone.”

      Easing the Regina Lee into her slip, he cut the engine before handing over her phone. “Your funeral.”