Read Online Dark Moon Walking by R. J. McMillen - Free Book Online Page B

again.
    Even sitting neglected at the dock, the boat they found was perfect. She had wide decks, a high bow, and a graceful sheer. A conversion from fish packer to pleasure boat was more than half finished, and it had added bronze ports below deck, a wide teak cap rail, and an extended cabin. And there was even a faded For Sale sign tacked on her hull.
    Despite his depression, Dan could not resist her. He and Susan had dreamed of sailing down the coast to Mexico. This boat would have been perfect. He bought her that same day, and two days later he moved the few belongings he still owned aboard. Mike checked in on him every few days, brought food, and stocked the galley. On days off, he brought some of the other guys from the squad to help with the work.
    Dan threw himself into finishing the conversion. He used the money he got from the house to equip her the way he wanted. Only thirty-seven, his sixteen years on the force had given him a small pension. That, plus his savings, would be enough to live on. The rest he put into the boat.
    Eleven weeks after he bought her, he carefully painted her new name on both her bow and stern. Two days after that, he let go the lines and pointed Dreamspeaker north.
    A wave smacked the bow, and Dan shook off the memories that threatened to engulf him. Now was not the time for reminiscence. There was work to do. A missing girl who was being hunted by gunmen. Sunken containers to check out. A strange boat to investigate. He shook his head at the irony. He had given up police work, but here he was, doing it again—and at the request of an ex-con!
    He steered Dreamspeaker into the tiny cove using the depth sounder and GPS as well as the chart to guide him. There was not enough room to swing at anchor, so he took a stern line ashore and tied it to a tree. Even if a wind came up, he was protected by a hook of land that almost closed the entrance. In fact, if the black ship passed right outside the cove, there was a good chance its crew wouldn’t notice him. As soon as the boat settled her bow into the wind, he headed for the bridge and the radio.
    Walker answered his call immediately. “She was here. I found her trail.”
    Dan breathed a sigh of relief. So the girl had not been on her boat when it sank. She had gotten away. But if Walker could find her trail, maybe others could too.
    â€œHow easily? You think the guys in the dinghy could find it?”
    â€œProbably not. It’s just scratches on the rocks and some crushed barnacles and stuff.”
    â€œYou sure it was her?” Dan regretted the question as soon as he asked it. Of course Walker would be sure.
    â€œYeah.”
    Dan shook his head as he considered the amount of knowledge wrapped up in those simple answers. “Any idea when she left? If she’s out on the water, she’ll be pretty easy to spot.”
    â€œShe left at low tide. That was the middle of the night. Maybe two o’clock in the morning. The current would push her southeast.”
    Dan pulled the chart toward him. “Where are you now?”
    â€œStill here. Gotta wait for the next low.”
    â€œYou see those guys in the dinghy?”
    â€œNope. Heard it a couple of times though.”
    Dan nodded to himself. That was good. It meant they hadn’t found her yet. But they were still searching, and he didn’t like Walker being out on the water alone in daylight any more than the girl.
    â€œYou might want to keep to the dark hours too.”
    â€œYeah.” There might have been a hint of amusement in Walker’s voice.
    Dan ended the call. He knew Walker would be cautious, but there was something going on with the black ship that spoke of a level of planning and sophistication he had not seen for a long time. Something that could easily overwhelm simple survival skills.
    He reached over and lifted the satellite phone from its cradle. It was time to talk to Mike. He just hoped he had enough to convince