Read Online Gina Cresse - Devonie Lace 01 - A Deadly Change of Course--Plan B by Gina Cresse - Free Book Online
Authors: Gina Cresse
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hugged close to my body like a bag of groceries. It was nearly dusk and the sunset on the Pacific was particularly breathtaking. I made my way down past the marina office when I noticed two men stepping onto my boat. I quickly sidestepped behind the office and peered around the corner to see what they were up to. They were too far away to see any real details, and I couldn’t hear them at all. One was tall and slender and wore a ponytail. The other was shorter and stocky, with a shaved head. My heart pounded. What were they doing? I could see the tall one trying to get down below. The other man appeared to be searching around the deck for something.
For a brief moment, I contemplated taking the gun from its case, marching bravely down the dock and confronting the pair. Luckily, Mr. Cartwright appeared on the scene and interrupted the intruders before I mustered up the courage to play policewoman. I couldn’t hear the conversation, but I could see my neighbor pointing in the direction of the Grille restaurant, and then toward the marina office. Quickly, I ducked back behind the wall before they spotted me. I counted to twenty, then slowly peered back around the corner to see what was going on. The two men were climbing off my boat. Mr. Cartwright watched as they made their way back up the dock toward the marina office. I slipped behind a tall bush growing in a planter next to the front door. As the pair passed, I could hear bits of their conversation.
“We’ll have to come back later, when the nosy old guy is sleeping,” the taller one said.
“I don’t see why we didn’t just taken him out.”
“You idiot. It’s broad daylight.”
“But — ”
“Just shut up!”
Those were the last words I could hear clearly. I stayed behind the bush and watched as the pair got into a black BMW with tinted windows. They sped off, out of my view in less than a minute.
I hurried down the dock and stopped in front of Mr. Cartwright’s boat. “Good evening, Miss Lace. A couple friends of yours were just here looking for you. They seemed a little insistent on staying on your boat, but I convinced them to come back later — when you were here. They just left. In fact, I’m surprised you didn’t pass them on your way in.”
“Really? Did they say what they wanted or who they were?” I asked.
“No. Just that they were friends of yours from way back, and they wanted to invite you to some sort of party or reunion or something. Funny, they didn’t exactly look like the type of fellows you would associate with. Very rough looking. You know?”
“Hmm. Doesn’t sound like anyone I know. Thanks for getting rid of them.”
“Any time, Miss Lace.”
I smiled and tried to appear unfazed as I stepped onto my boat with my case and mystery box in tow.
Everything seemed to be where I’d left it when I departed that morning. The other case and the computer were still sitting safely in my closet. I stowed the second case and the U.E.B. in the closet next to them and shut the door. It would to be dark soon — I had to act quickly.
I checked my fuel level. The tank was nearly empty, and I didn’t have time to stop and fuel up. I had to get out of the marina before it was too dark. I started the engine and checked my gauges. Quickly, I scooted along the rail toward the bow and untied the line s to the dock. I pulled up the fenders as I made my way back to the stern and liberated my boat from the confinements of the dock. Slowly, I backed out of my slip as Mr. Cartwright watched with undivided attention. I waved and smiled as I carefully made my way around all the obstacles in the marina and headed out toward the open sea.
I could still see the lights of the marina by the time the sun was completely down, but I felt I was out far enough to be safe that night . I didn’t dare go any further with my fuel situation the way it was. I
For a brief moment, I contemplated taking the gun from its case, marching bravely down the dock and confronting the pair. Luckily, Mr. Cartwright appeared on the scene and interrupted the intruders before I mustered up the courage to play policewoman. I couldn’t hear the conversation, but I could see my neighbor pointing in the direction of the Grille restaurant, and then toward the marina office. Quickly, I ducked back behind the wall before they spotted me. I counted to twenty, then slowly peered back around the corner to see what was going on. The two men were climbing off my boat. Mr. Cartwright watched as they made their way back up the dock toward the marina office. I slipped behind a tall bush growing in a planter next to the front door. As the pair passed, I could hear bits of their conversation.
“We’ll have to come back later, when the nosy old guy is sleeping,” the taller one said.
“I don’t see why we didn’t just taken him out.”
“You idiot. It’s broad daylight.”
“But — ”
“Just shut up!”
Those were the last words I could hear clearly. I stayed behind the bush and watched as the pair got into a black BMW with tinted windows. They sped off, out of my view in less than a minute.
I hurried down the dock and stopped in front of Mr. Cartwright’s boat. “Good evening, Miss Lace. A couple friends of yours were just here looking for you. They seemed a little insistent on staying on your boat, but I convinced them to come back later — when you were here. They just left. In fact, I’m surprised you didn’t pass them on your way in.”
“Really? Did they say what they wanted or who they were?” I asked.
“No. Just that they were friends of yours from way back, and they wanted to invite you to some sort of party or reunion or something. Funny, they didn’t exactly look like the type of fellows you would associate with. Very rough looking. You know?”
“Hmm. Doesn’t sound like anyone I know. Thanks for getting rid of them.”
“Any time, Miss Lace.”
I smiled and tried to appear unfazed as I stepped onto my boat with my case and mystery box in tow.
Everything seemed to be where I’d left it when I departed that morning. The other case and the computer were still sitting safely in my closet. I stowed the second case and the U.E.B. in the closet next to them and shut the door. It would to be dark soon — I had to act quickly.
I checked my fuel level. The tank was nearly empty, and I didn’t have time to stop and fuel up. I had to get out of the marina before it was too dark. I started the engine and checked my gauges. Quickly, I scooted along the rail toward the bow and untied the line s to the dock. I pulled up the fenders as I made my way back to the stern and liberated my boat from the confinements of the dock. Slowly, I backed out of my slip as Mr. Cartwright watched with undivided attention. I waved and smiled as I carefully made my way around all the obstacles in the marina and headed out toward the open sea.
I could still see the lights of the marina by the time the sun was completely down, but I felt I was out far enough to be safe that night . I didn’t dare go any further with my fuel situation the way it was. I
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