Read Online Buccaneer (Dane Maddock Adventures) by David Wood - Free Book Online Page A

us, ” White said. “ I can tell you, though, if you don ’ t, our orders, ” he nodded toward the boat, “ are to make sure you don ’ t leave the island until the sheriff obtain warrant s for your arrest.
    “ All right, ” Dane said. “ Can I ask what you ’ re going to question us about? ”
    White shrugged and forced a sympathetic smile. “ It ’ s not allowed. Sorry. ”
    It was a short ride to the sheriff ’ s department, but it felt longer thanks to Bones ’ need to fill every silence with annoying snatches of song or conversation. When he broke into “ Achy Breaky Heart, ” Deputy Boudreau whirled around and promised to gag him and put him in the trunk if he didn ’ t shut up. Bones winked at Dane, clearly pleased he ’ d gotten under the deputy ’ s skin, but Dane was grateful for the peace and quiet.
    They were taken to separate rooms, and left to simmer for a good twenty minutes before a man in slacks and a blazer, a single button straining to hold back his paunch, entered.
    “ I ’ m Detective Williams of the Kidd ’ s Cross Police Department, ” he said, dropping heavily into a folding chair on the other side of the table where Dane sat. He paused, perhaps waiting for Dane to introduce himself in turn, but gave up after ten seconds of silence. “ I understand you know a Rodney Meade. ”
    “ The name sounds familiar, but I can ’ t place it. ”
    Williams raised his eyebrows. “ The two of you had a fight two days ago. Ring a bell? ” He folded his arms, rested them on his belly, and leaned back in his chair.
    “ The sheriff ’ s son. Sure, I remember. ”
    “ I understand the two of you were fighting over a girl. ”
    “ Are you telling me you haven ’ t already reviewed the incident report and the security footage? ” Dane took pleasure at the sight of the man ’ s obvious discomfort . “ Or did the sheriff sweep it under the rug? ”
    “ He declined to make a report due to a lack of evidence. ” Williams cleared his throat and sat up straight. “ I ’ d like to hear your version of the events. ”
    “ What did you hear from the sheriff? ”
    “ I already told you what I heard... ” Williams bit off the sentence, his face now beet red. Clearly he ’ d just realized he was answering Dane ’ s questions instead of the other way around. “ I ’ m investigating a crime and I ’ m asking you for an answer. ”
    “ I ’ ll be happy to give you one, detective. ” Dane folded his hands and rested them on the table. “ But you ’ d do better to forget fallible eyewitness testimony and simply get a copy of the security tape from the owner of The Spinning Crab. I ’ ll be happy to wait while you go get it. ”
    “ I want to hear your version of events. ”
    “ Detective, I ’ m sorely tempted to say nothing at all and make you do the detective work you should have done already, but I know how small towns operate and I ’ m sure you ’ re doing the best you can, so I ’ ll indulge you. Rodney assaulted a young woman, and one of his friends put his hands on another young lady who was part of my group. ”
    “ And you decided to beat him within an inch of his life for it? ” Williams snapped.
    “ Actually, my friend fought back against the guy who was trying to manhandle her, and that ’ s when Rodney and his other buddy started swinging. Like I said, ” he raised his voice and held up a hand to forestall the argument he could see Williams was about to make, “ don ’ t take my word for it. Check the video and decide for yourself. ”
    “ So he messed with your girlfriend... ”
    “ Acquaintance, ” Dane corrected.
    “ ...and started a fight. I suppose you were pretty mad at him. Maybe wanted to get back at him? ”
    “ For what? ” Dane couldn ’ t stifle a laugh. “ Detective, I ’ m sorry for how this sounds, but those guys got what was coming to them and they didn ’ t leave a scratch on any of us. As far as any of us are concerned, it was over