Page 83 of Hard Luck (Blackstone House)

“Have you ever been there?”

“I’ve never set foot on the island, but I’ve sailed past it.”

“And? Did you see any ghosts?”

“No, but I swear I heard a scream. The place just feels bad. No real beach, just jungle, waves crashing off rocks, and you can see the remains of the old prison at the south end. It gave me the creeps, not enough that I’d refuse the job with Dr. Blaylock, but I wouldn’t want to spend the night there.”

“Dr. Blaylock isn’t superstitious?”

“He’s a scientist. He thinks the myths of pirate ghosts are a load of old hokum.” Cole ran a hand through hishair. “How about you? Do you believe in the supernatural?”

“No.”

“Not even a little bit?”

“The only monsters are humans. And I know, I know, not all humans, but enough of them that it’s a problem.”

Cole thought back to the man who’d tried to run down Lucy in the parking garage. Bella wasn’t wrong.

“I’m still not getting any closer to Skeleton Cay than I have to.”

“And how close is that?”

“Slightly closer than I’d like. The last of Dr. Blaylock’s survey sites is half a mile from the shoreline.”

Bella patted him on the cheek. “That’s quite a distance, and ghosts are a myth. You’ll be fine.”

“I’ll be tired. Delroy’s hand better be serviceable by next week.”

“What all does he do on the boat?”

“Cleans, tidies, assists with meal prep, refills scuba tanks, ties off the boat when we dock, takes the helm when I need a break. That kind of thing. The boys don’t mind helping out, but they’re paying customers. I can’t ask them to spend their trip working.”

Bella took a sip of coffee, cursed as it burned her mouth, and put the mug down on the table. Seven a.m., and the sun was already high in the sky. Cole was due to meet Dr. Blaylock at eight thirty, and their first job was to load the submersible. It had been shipped from Florida to Ilha Grande in a container, then ferried to Bishop’s Landing on its custom-built trailer. Good thing the first owner of theCrosswindhad over-engineered the A-frame on the stern because theTide Podweighed over three tons.

“I don’t know much about boats, and I can’t cook either, but I’m good with a knife. In the kitchen, I mean,” she clarified. “I can chop stuff up pretty fast.”

“Are you saying you’d come with me?”

She shrugged. “It’s only for a week, right?”

“What about your pot of coins?”

“It’s half full at the moment. Must be something invigorating in the sea air.”

Cole kissed her forehead. “Not the sex?”

“The sex might have helped,” she conceded.

“I don’t have condoms on the boat.”

“I still have a hundred and ninety in my suitcase.”

“Sheesh, are you trying to make my dick fall off?”

“When I said my friends were Team Cole, I meant it.”

“I should send them a thank-you card. If you’re coming, you’d better pack a bag.”

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