Page 15 of Shark Bait

I nod and help her kneel in front of the safe.

Big green eyes framed in dark lashes gaze up at me. “What else do you think is in there?”

I’m trying to concentrate on the subject at hand and not on how cute she looks down on her knees. “Besides money?”

“Yeah.”

I shrug. “Maybe diamonds.”

Her eyes brighten, and her face beams. “Oooo, I like diamonds. And money.”

I check my watch. “Money likes you too. It wants you to get it.”

“I will. I will in a minute. How much do you think is in there?”

I shrug. “Your guess is as good as mine.”

She balls her hands into fists and squeals. Just when I’m sure she’ll open the damn safe right away, there’s another delay, it seems. I check my watch. Time’s ticking away. I can already hear the chopper blades as the rescue crew approaches the yacht from above.

Finally, she rubs her hands together, and slowly, ever so slowly, peers inside the safe. She rears back with a gasp and presses her hands over her red cheeks, which seem to be heating up more and more.

I bend to look inside the safe. Yup, full to the brim. “I’ll grab the bedsheet.”

“There’s a backpack in the closet.”

“Won’t fit.”

“I’ve never seen this much money,” she says.

I strip the bedsheet from the bed and lay it in front of the safe. “Start shoveling the money onto the sheet.”

She’s still kneeling, seemingly in shock, but then she says, “It’s dirty money.”

“And?”Lord, please don’t let her be one of those self-righteous idiots who walks away from cash.

“It should sink with the yacht.”

“Baby, the yacht isn’t sinking, Once the radioactive stuff is cleared out, I’m keeping it. Take the money. You’ve earned it.” I wince. Shouldn’t have said that she’s earned it, but she’s not easily offended, and if she is, I expect her to understand mymeaning, but just in case she doesn’t, I add, “For all they’ve put you through, you deserve a paycheck like this. Don’t you think?”

“Not sure. Now that I look at it, I don’t think I want their dirty money.”

I crouch beside her. “You’re taking the money, and I’m going to clean it so it won’t be dirty anymore.”

She winks. “Got ya, Shark. Of course I’m taking it.”

I curse. “You got me good.”

“When you say you’ll clean it, do you mean you’ll wash it for real?”

Ordinary folks don’t know much about money laundering. “In a manner of speaking, yes. A friend of mine runs the best laundromat in the world.”

She narrows her eyes. “Why do I have a feeling you’re not talking about actual washing?”

“Oh, I am. Very much so.”

She tilts her head. “What’s that noise?”

“It’s the chopper. Our cavalry is here, and we have three minutes to show up on the deck before they blow up the yacht.”

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