Read Online Fire Water by Jaye Wells - Free Book Online Page A

the bullet hit the side of the building. My first thought was that I was okay. My second was that that had been way too close. My third, that this asshole meant business.
    From my crouch, I crab-walked to the edge of the house. Lanky was on the port side of the boat, bent over the lines. A flash of metal told me he was cutting the rope.
    Gripping the gun in my left hand tighter, I forced myself into a standing position. My pulse was thumping in my ears. My hand shook. I told myself it was adrenaline, but I knew that was a lie. I was scared. That bullet that almost hit my head marked the first time I’d been shot at. Sure, I’d seen plenty of guns and violence, but no one had ever tried to shoot me before. It’s not like you see on TV. There’s no commercial break for you to catch your breath. Right then, the boring days floating down the river suddenly sounded pretty good.
    â€œGet your shit together, Prospero,” I lectured myself. I sucked in a lungful of air and blew it out slowly. Marginally calmer now, I pivoted toward the side of the boat. “Put the knife down!”
    I pointed the Glock at the guy. He froze for an instant and then raised his hands. A snake’s smile spread his pale lips. “Too late, bitch.”
    As if on cue, the boat slowly began to float away from the shore. My shock only lasted a split second, but it was enough time for Lanky to dive through an open window on the side of the boat.
    â€œShit!” But before I could follow him back inside, a loud splash sounded from near the front of the ship. I looked over the edge in time to see Shorty bobbing up from under the water. Black sludge coated his face and bald head. He sputtered and his eyes went wide as it occurred to him that with his arms cuffed he couldn’t swim.
    â€œHelp!” he shouted.
    Realizing that sooner or later he’d realize he was only like eight feet from shore, I dismissed him in favor of going after his partner, who was inside the house with Cap’n.
    More carefully this time, I approached the house. Crouching next to the door, I held my gun to my chest and turned my head to look inside. I couldn’t see Cap’n, but I did see Lanky in front of the lab setup with his back to the door. He was cursing out loud and holding a gun pointed at Cap’n, who was sitting on the floor next to him.
    I rose from my crouch and stormed the room. “Put down the gun and step away from the lab, sir,” I said, projecting my voice. “You’re under arrest.”
    Lanky turned sideways to look at me. He held my eyes and with deliberate movements knocked over a glass flask filled with bright green liquid. The movement tipped over the Bunsen burner, as well. My eyes flared a split second before the chemical caught fire, which crawled rapidly over the table.
    â€œOh shit!” I yelled. “You stupid son of a bitch.” Lanky had decided to destroy the lab in a vain effort to hide the evidence of his crimes.
    Lanky cuffed Cap’n on the head with his gun on the way to the door. He burst through the back door and dove over the edge of the boat.
    Stopping Lanky took a backseat to getting Cap’n and me off the boat before it blew. I ran past the rapidly spreading fire and knelt next to my partner. The blow on his head had rendered him unconscious. With strength born of fear, I grabbed Cap’n under his armpits and bodily pulled him toward the door. Loud popping noises signaled that fire was causing the tubes in the lab to burst. I tugged and cursed and yanked toward the door.
    I was almost at the threshold when Cap’n snorted and shook himself violently. “Kate?”
    â€œI need you to move!” I yelled. Tugging him by his collar, I pulled him the rest of the way out the door as the fire gave chase. Sweat poured down my forehead and trickled down my back. “Come on!”
    He stumbled in my grasp toward the railing. I tried to urge him over the side, but