Read Online Dawn Patrol by Jeff Ross - Free Book Online Page B

hut.
    â€œThere’s no one in Delagado’s,” Alana said.
    Kevin looked at me. “Luca, where did they take her?”
    I didn’t want to say anything, but it was hard not to point out the obvious. “I have a feeling Delgado isn’t telling you the whole truth,” I said.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œIsn’t it clear? He needs your inheritance to finish the hotel for himself, to run on his own.”
    â€œNo, he’s protecting my parents. He’s hiding them from the investigators and helping them finish the hotel. He’s keeping them safe, that’s all.”
    â€œSo why would he take Esme?”
    Kevin sat down on the bed and put his head in his hands. “I don’t know. Maybe he thinks Esme is here to turn in my parents.” He looked up at us. “We have to wait. He’ll be back. He wants to run the hotel with my parents. It means everything to him.”
    â€œSo much that he has taken your parents and Esme hostage?” I said.
    Kevin shook his head and scowled. “Not hostage,” he said. “They’re hiding in case someone comes down here to investigate. He’s protecting them, covering for them.”
    â€œIt sounds dodgy,” I said, but he didn’t seem to hear me. “Have you even seen any paperwork for the hotel? Are you sure Delgado’s name is on it?”
    â€œThey’re at the hotel!” he said. “That’s where Delgado would take Esme. He’s probably just making sure she isn’t a federal investigator or something.” Kevin was up and out the door without another word.
    â€œThis is crazy,” Alana said.
    â€œWelcome to my life,” I said as we ran after him.
    The hotel was empty. Kevin ran from room to room calling out Esme’s name. He had been camping out in the hotel.
    â€œWhat now, Kevin?” I said.
    â€œWe wait until Jose and Delgado bring Esme here. That’s what will happen,” said Kevin. “They aren’t criminals. They wouldn’t do anything to her.”
    â€œAre you sure?” I asked.
    â€œYes, Delgado’s not…he’s not like that.”
    â€œWell,” Alana said, “I’m hungry. I’m going to get us some food. You know, just in case they don’t get here for a while.”
    She disappeared down the beach toward the village. Kevin and I sat and watched the waves roll in, one after another, in that slow, mesmerizing way they do. It was easy to see why someone would build a hotel here.
    â€œYou’ve been living here?” I asked.
    â€œYeah. In one of the more finished rooms. Jose brings me water and stuff.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œWhy does he bring me water?”
    â€œNo, why are you living here? Why not stay at Delgado’s?”
    â€œI wanted to be here in case someone came to look at the hotel. Like a federal investigator or whatever. Then we’d know if anyone was onto it. But no one has shown up yet.”
    â€œI still don’t get why you can’t just be with your parents if they’re hiding out.”
    â€œWe have to make sure no one is watching me.”
    I looked around at the swaying palm trees and barren beach. If anyone was watching Kevin, they were doing so with an incredible amount of stealth.
    Alana returned with a lobster, mahimahi and fresh fruit. We started a fire and cooked everything together in a pot. The sweetness of the fruit blended with the lobster meat and fish. We ate quickly, starving after the energy we’d used on the waves.
    â€œWe’ll wait for Jose,” Kevin said every few minutes. “You’ll see, everything will be fine.” I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to say something. “Jose. The same Jose who cut me off in a wave and drove me onto the reef yesterday? He almost killed me. Plus, I trashed my board. That’s when I saw you on the beach.”
    â€œJose had nothing to do with it,” Kevin said.