Redemption Key (A Dani Britton Thriller) (29 page)

Dani peered out from behind the thick hedge of sea grape to watch the fight escalating in front of Jinky’s. She and Choo-Choo had
slipped behind the rental units and made it all the way to Dani’s shack at the edge of the water. The plan had been to sneak back to grab a few necessities and the rest of her cash and haul ass out of Jinky’s parking lot as soon as possible. Where they hid, the wind off the water made hearing Bermingham’s conversation impossible, but they could both make out the angry tones and read the body language. The guns helped drive the point home.

“They’re not going to let us just drive out of here.” Choo-Choo leaned his head back against the shack wall.

“Maybe we could steal the boat, after all,” Dani said. “Both the Wheelers are on shore. If we could get to the boat without them seeing us, we could climb up. Do you know how to hotwire a boat? Is that possible?”

“How would we get out there unseen? The boat seems to be the focus of attention. They’d see us in a kayak or a rowboat.”

“We could swim. I swim farther than that every day.”

Choo-Choo made a soft sound and Dani turned to see him staring at her. He pulled the collar of his T-shirt down to expose the edge of his scars. “Let’s just say the days of holding my breath are behind me. I can barely light a cigarette. Maybe we could just lay low?”

“That’s probably a good idea.” She heard the putter of a small motor. “Who’s this?” Peering through the sea grape again, she swore under her breath. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

3:03pm, 106° F

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Oren muttered when he saw the little boat overloaded with Australians puttering up to the dock. Dreadlocks and beach towels hung over the edge as the suntanned group laughed and sang, oblivious to the scene awaiting them. They pulled into the
slip beside Juan, throwing the lines out toward the cleats, followed by two coolers that clinked with empty bottles.

Ned stepped closer to their boat, putting a heavy foot down on the line. Nigel/Rigel tossed a heap of wet towels over his foot, squinting up at the big man. “Tie us off there, would ya? That’s a good man.”

“You should go,” Ned said.

“We just got back, yeah. Good day out there. Got some pics of your little deer and some amazing shots of heron.” He helped two of his buddies up onto the dock while the one Oren was mostly sure was a woman tied off the boat. “Now we’re ready for some nice frosty ones, right?”

Oren didn’t think he had ever seen any group of living creatures so oblivious.

All but the girl fished phones from their pockets, laughing as they showed each other photos. Ned gave Bermingham a questioning glance, stepping aside as the taller man approached Nigel/Rigel.

“You should go,” Bermingham said, physically blocking the dreadlocked boy from moving past him. Finally the kid thought to look up.

“Yeah, yeah, we’re going. Heading up to get us some of your shit beer. Gotta do what you gotta do, you know?”

Bermingham didn’t move. “The bar is closed.”

The kids laughed. “Nah,” the maybe-girl said. “We’re staying here. We’re regulars.”

“Is that right?” Bermingham smiled and stepped closer to the three holding their cell phones in front of them. Faster than they could react—which Oren had to admit probably wasn’t all that fast—he snatched all three phones, one after another, and tossed them into the water. At their cries of outrage, he drew his weapon from his shorts pocket, pressing it between the eyes of the closest boy.

“Maybe you didn’t understand what I said. Maybe it’s the accent. I said the bar is closed. Which room are you staying in?” When nobody spoke he pressed hard, making the boy’s eyes water. “If you can’t say the number, stomp it out with your feet. What room?”

“Six! Six!” Nigel/Rigel sputtered.

“Good boy.” Bermingham smiled. “Now unless you want me to start shooting into the empty space my gun’s pointing at, you’re all going to go back to your room, shut the door, and keep your fucking mouths shut. Ned, get that kid’s phone. Toss it in the water.”

Nigel/Rigel didn’t resist and Bermingham nodded. “Very good. Are we clear now? You go into your room and you stay there. If I see you, I shoot you. If I see cops, I shoot them and then I shoot you. If I see anyone at all walking around out here, I shoot everyone, but it always comes back to me shooting you too. Understand? Get out of here.”

Nigel/Rigel finally found a shred of nerve. “Welcome to fucking America.”

Ned laughed. “We’re Canadian.”

3:15pm, 106° F

They watched the Australians hurry back to their room. Choo-Choo whispered into Dani’s ear. “They’re not worried about witnesses. Why do you suppose that is?”

“Is it just me? Us? Does shit like this happen to everyone?” She stepped backwards, pushing him with her out of the shrubbery and back around her shed. It took all of her self-control not to kick over the stand of paddles leaning against the wall. “They’re not going to let anyone walk away from this. Even if Bermingham leaves with his cargo, the Wheelers are going to blow those kids away. They’re not going to leave them to be witnesses. Maybe they’ll let Mr. Randolph go. Maybe. And only then because they’ll be able to use him again.” She stopped her rant. “What?”

Choo-Choo shrugged. “Maybe that’s not the only reason they’ll let your boss live. Maybe he’s not just your boss.”

“Don’t go there. Mr. Randolph is scared of these guys.”

“But still does business with them.”

“He doesn’t have a choice.”

“Oh.” His tone told her just how much he believed that. “Well, regardless of who is working for whom, nobody is working for us. What do you want to do? Think they’ll just leave us alone? Let us ride this out? That Bermingham guy seems to favor you. And you’ve already told me about the delightful rapport you have with, what’s his name? Joaquin?”

“Shh.”

Heavy footsteps approached on the wooden walkway. “Dani?”

She didn’t recognize the voice. Yanking Choo-Choo by the arm, she jerked him toward the laundry carts pushed up beside the paddle stand. “Tell them I’m not here.” She ducked down between the bins, pulling her feet up close, and shooed him away. Fortunately nobody could assume a look of bored insouciance quicker or more effectively than Choo-Choo and when Bermingham’s thug, Ned, looked around the corner to the back of the shed, Choo-Choo leaned against the paddle stand as if he’d been planted there. He didn’t even bother to arch an eyebrow.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Sinclair. Hi there.” He made his tone just lurid enough to make the larger man pause. “Something I can help you with?”

“Where’s Dani?”

“Running. She’s always running.”

Not a second’s hesitation. Dani smiled.

“Damn it,” Ned muttered. “Tell her when she gets back to get her ass to the bar ASAP.”

“Can do.”

Ned still didn’t walk away. “No, you’re staying with her, right? You’d better come with me. Come on.”

“To the bar? With you? Maybe you should tell me your name first, soldier.”

“Save it for the health club, pal. C’mon.”

Choo-Choo didn’t move. From where she sat she could just make out his rear profile. From what she could see, if he got any more relaxed he’d collapse. “Quick question. If I’m with you, who’s going to tell Dani to hurry back to Jinky’s? She usually showers after her run, sometimes naps. She might miss all the fun. How about we do this? I stay here and wait for her and the instant her little feet hit this doorway, I’ll hustle us both over to your party. It’s not like I’m going to be able to sneak away, not in this shirt.”

She could hear Ned scuffing the gravel. “Give me your phone.”

“Don’t have one.”

“Bullshit. Everyone’s got a phone.”

“I don’t. But if I did I’d give you my number.” Choo-Choo took a step closer. “You’re welcome to search me if it would make you feel better.”

“Knock it off.” Dani heard him mutter to himself for a moment. “Okay, look. Here’s what we’re going to do. You are going to sit in front of this, this—what is this? A cabin?”

Dani could hear the smirk in Choo-Choo’s voice. “Home.”

“Whatever. You sit there in front where I can see you. You keep that shirt on and stay out in the open until Dani gets back. Then you two double-time it to the bar. I’ll tell you the same thing we told those morons on the boat: If I see you or I see any signs of anyone you called doing anything other than what I told you to do, I’ll shoot you. And I promise you this, blondie. I will be the one that shoots you.”

Choo-Choo sighed. “I’ve heard that before.”

Footsteps away across the gravel and Dani risked leaning forward enough to see Choo-Choo’s profile. His high cheekbones glowed with a blush that hadn’t been there before. He didn’t look down at her but stared out at the hedges and the water beyond. He stayed where Ned could see him but turned enough to hear Dani’s whisper.

“You okay?”

His mouth worked in that tight way she’d come to recognize. She knew those high spots of color on his cheeks. Choo-Choo was pissed.

“If he had put a hand on me . . .”

“I think your come-hither act put the kibosh on that.”

Choo-Choo snorted. “Don’t kid yourself. That’s exactly the kind of guy who’ll come sneaking around the back door after a few too many brewskis with his buddies.”

Dani stood and moved closer behind him. She kept her voice low and even, knowing she was stoking the fire that already burned within her. “Just another ham-fisted jack-off with a gun. Another bully who gets to pick and choose who lives and who dies.”

“Another fucking authority. Another little despot.” He stared straight ahead, his eyes shining with anger. “I don’t want to get shot again, even if my scars get the bar their twenty-fourth round of fucking drinks. But if I do get shot, I’m not going to be the only one paying. I’m not. I’m not going back to that place.”

She knew what he meant. She knew that place. It was the place of her nightmares.

“Then we need a plan.”

“We need a gun.” He chewed his lip. “No other way off this island?”

“That bridge is it. I can’t see us kayaking our way out.”

“Then we need a distraction.”

They stood there silently, thinking, listening to the faint sound of angry voices drifting across the water. Dani smiled.