Page 5 of Stone Cold Bad
COLT
The rest of the bar patrons had stood by without interfering as we smeared the place with the three assholes.After one had said something harsh to the girls sitting with Slade, my mouthy brother had told them to go home and blow each other.That was all it took.
Hunter had walked in just as Slade was being dragged out of the booth by all three of them.That was the beginning of a really bad night for those three.The other people in the bar seemed to know the guys, and no one felt the urge to help them.It would have been the same for Hunter, Slade and me if we’d been at our local bar and someone had come in and beat the shit out of us.Of course, I didn’t see that happening anytime soon.
The three men were about as wrecked as they could be, so we left the bar, figuring it was time to get back to the boat and back home.As we walked out of the bar, a man who looked vaguely familiar and who was holding his crotch and cussing as if someone had just kicked him in the balls, staggered past us.He seemed to be looking for someone.
“If you’re looking for three pussies who think they know how to fight, head inside.”Hunter pointed back with his thumb.
The man stopped to stare at us for a second and then hobbled inside with his sore nuts.
“I know that guy,” Slade said.
“He’s a bookie.I’ve used him for laying down bets on fights and football games.Haven’t used him for awhile.He’s a real suave piece of shit.”Hunter pulled out a cigarette.“Shit, my knuckles hurt.Is there still some ice in the chest?”
“Probably.Speaking of ice, it’s cold as hell out here.”I looked around wondering where the girl had gone.It wasn’t a great night to be out.That’s when it occurred to me, the bookie must have been looking for the girl.He might even have been the one to leave the bruises on her arm.He was lucky he was already out of my reach as I put those little puzzle pieces together.I would have loved to have left his face print on the bar counter.
“Visibility is pretty bad out there,” Slade said.“You think the light is going to be enough in this pea soup?”
I jumped onto deck first.“Should be fine because we’ll be the only people stupid enough to be out in pea soup.”
Hunter hopped onboard and went toward the pilot house for ice.He stopped at the tool box.“Who left the tool box open?”
“Wasn’t me,” Slade said as he untied the line from the cleat.
“Don’t look at me,” I said.
“Shit, my fillet knife is missing.”Hunter leaned down and fished through the box.He straightened and looked around.“Someone must have climbed onboard and robbed us.Good thing we got rid of our cargo before we stopped for drinks.”
“We might be stupid enough to take the boat out with zero visibility, but if we’re ever stupid enough to leave twenty thousand dollars of cocaine on our boat while we slip into a bar for beer—” Slade started, but Hunter held up his hand to silence him.
My gaze followed Hunter’s.A line of wet puddles led from the stern and disappeared behind the pilot house.I looked at him and he nodded.Slade climbed onboard.The three of us rounded the pilot house ready to take on our stowaway.
A small figure was huddled down in the shadowy pile of nets.The person didn’t move or flinch, even with our heavy footsteps making the deck creak.I walked over and kicked the bottom of the person’s shoe.
Our stowaway jumped up with a gasp of terror.The sharp, gleaming blade of the fillet knife arced around as she swung her arm wildly at me.
I leaned back away from the tip of the blade and then snatched the girl’s wrist.“You’re going to hurt someone with that thing, darlin’.”
She kicked toward my knee but missed.The sudden movement had pushed the hood from her sweatshirt off her head.Her light blonde hair nearly glowed white in the weak moonlight.
“Hey, it’s number fifty-three,” Slade said from behind me.
The girl’s blue eyes darted back and forth as if she had no idea where she was.She held the knife firmly in front of her, but it was obvious she hardly had the strength to stand, let alone stab someone.
I stepped closer.She backed up.“Hey, it’s all right.We’re not going to hurt you.”
She seemed to recognize my voice.“It’s you,” she said in a weak, sad whisper.A violent tremble started in her hands, and she dropped the knife.She swayed on her feet, and her long lashes fluttered down.Her knees gave out.I lunged forward and caught her.
“Do you know her?”Hunter asked.
“This is the girl those assholes were looking for.”I lifted her into my arms.“Need to get her up to the pilot house and under a blanket.Her skin feels like ice.”I glanced back at Slade.“Are we about ready to shove off?”
“Yep.”
“Good, let’s get out of here before they come looking for her.”
I carried our beautiful and very cold stowaway up to the pilot house.Hunter followed.The girl was shaking hard as I pressed her against me, hoping my body heat would help.
