Page 103 of Water's Edge

I drive down the pier with the headlights off and park. TheIntegrity’s cabin light is on and I can see movement. Just shadows. I try to take a deep breath before I get out, but it’s impossible, as I’ve tightened the armored vest so much. At least it holds my ribs and chest together so I can finish what I have to do.

I get out and wince when the damn car’s dome light comes on. The car is far enough away from the boat that I hope the light wasn’t noticed. I shut the door as quickly and quietly as I can and extinguish it. Moving bent over is excruciating, but I make it to the ramp and from the ramp to the boat. Lights along the deck play on the water. I can hear the soft beat of music coming from somewhere. Maybe one of the other boats nearby. The Sheriff’s Office has a separate mooring area for the Marine Patrol. A smaller boat I don’t recognize is docked right next to theIntegrity. No one is aboard it, but the cabin light of theIntegrityis still glowing.

I move carefully, quietly, my hand gripping my .45 tightly. My finger isn’t along the side of the trigger guard like they teach at the academy. It’s on the trigger. I’m playing bymyrules. I won’t be shot again.

The rope stairs are just ahead now but my foot hits something and it clatters across the boards. I keep my eyes on the cabin. The light goes off.Crap!I rush to the boat and put my back against the hull, holding the .45 in a two-handed grip, muzzle pointed upward. I’m hoping he’ll look over the railing. He doesn’t. I can see what I kicked about ten feet ahead. It’s Ronnie’s cell phone. I’m motionless, barely breathing, not by choice. I stay that way longer than I like, but I want to let him make the first move so I can make the last one.

My shoulders are on fire from holding my arms above my head, and my chest is throbbing. I’m going to have to move. I switch the .45 to one hand, turn toward the ladder, and begin climbing. I stop after each rung and listen. With a boat the size of theIntegrity, I don’t think my movement will rock it and give me away, but I’m not sure. I guess it really doesn’t matter. The light went off, and if Ronnie is in there, he could be doing anything to her.

I climb until I see the boat’s rough deck. It’s deserted. The boat is rocking gently against the rubber bumpers. I climb onto the deck. This is where I’ll get ambushed if he’s waiting for me. But I don’t think he is waiting because he thinks he has already killed me.

I put my back against the outside wall near the cabin door and risk a peek through the door glass. There’s a half-moon out. Just enough light to see Ronnie slumped on the floor against the far wall. She’s not moving. I can’t tell if she’s alive or dead.Please!I can’t even tell if she’s hurt. I try the handle. The door is unlocked. It clicks and opens an inch. The muzzle of my .45 opens it another inch. There’s no sound but the rubbing of the hull against the bumpers.

When I was young I was impetuous. I become that girl again now. All I can think about is Ronnie and my brother. I promised Hayden I’d protect him. Never leave him. I left to protect him. He’ll never understand that. I made myself a promise to find Ronnie. I’ve found her. Now I have to bring her home.

I should never have let her get mixed up in this. I should have known the killer would come after us. Particularly her. She has the perfect profile. And she is dangerous to him. He had to know what we were doing tonight. What we did today. Who we talked to? What we know or have guessed. He’s been a step ahead of us the entire time. He killed Boyd and Qassim to cover his tracks and put us on the wrong scent. He is ruthless. But I am too. I’m not afraid anymore.

I use the muzzle to push the door open and I go in low. Something hard and cold presses against the side of my head.

“Drop the gun.”

“Hello, Little Italy,” I say, and take my finger off the trigger. I can see Ronnie. Her chest is moving slightly.She’s not dead.

“Where’s Captain Marvel?” I ask.

“Marvelous Martin?” He laughs.

“Is he still alive?”

“You should be dead.”

I’m scared, but I try to make a joke. “Yeah, I’ve heard that before. I think we should talk about your marksmanship.”

The joke doesn’t land where I hoped.

The muzzle of the gun presses harder into my temple. “Drop the gun, hotshot. I mean it.”

“Or what? You’ll kill me? You’ve already tried that once.”

I can sense him putting pressure on the trigger.

“Okay,” I blurt out. “I thought you Italians had a better sense of humor.” I lay the gun on the floor. “Now tell me where the captain is.” My voice is shaking, but not with fear. I’m too angry to be scared.

“Slide it backwards to me with your foot,” he says. “And if you value your friend’s life, you won’t be stupid.”

Don’t worry, asshole, you’ve got stupid covered nicely.I use my foot to slide the gun behind me. He is smart. He doesn’t bend to pick it up and instead kicks it off in the dark.

“Now that you’ve got my gun, can we sit down and talk about this?”

He chuckles. “I heard you was a smart-ass. It’s good that you can joke when you’re going to be dead—again—in a minute. Too bad. I think we could’ve been friends.”

“I thought wewerefriends,” I say. “Tell me where the captain is. Did you kill him too?”

“He’s down below,” Jimmy says. “You think you’re tough. He thought he was tough too. Gets me excited. Know what I mean.”

“The captain got you excited? Okay. To each his own I guess.”

He moves the muzzle of the gun around to the back of my head and presses it into my scalp, forcing my head forward.

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