Read Online LC 04 - Skeleton Crew by Beverly Connor - Free Book Online

over the line
in Florida."
    She sat down and watched the shore go by. There was still a lot
of daylight left and she could see the beach and the flora of
Cumberland Island, the island next to St. Magdalena. Lindsay
squinted her eyes to see if she could catch sight of one of the wild
horses on Cumberland, but the only fauna she saw were birds. She
turned her gaze to John's classic Indian profile, remembering their
previous encounter at the dig and wondering about his asking her
to dinner. He couldn't consider her too much of an enemy if he
was willing to take her out.
    It took only about thirty minutes to reach Fernandina Beach.
John slowed the boat as he entered the intracoastal waterway and
motored to a dock. As they shed their life jackets and climbed out,
John stared into Lindsay's eyes for just a moment.
    "It's just a few yards up here," he said finally, and walked armin-arm with her to the restaurant.
    It was a popular place. The patrons looked like mostly tourists.
Lindsay and John got a window seat where they could see the
water several yards distant.
    "So tell me about your business," she said, after John ordered a
surf and turf and she a fisherman's platter. "I didn't realize it was
so big."
    "This is my biggest project. I've built cofferdams before, but for
smaller projects-all bridge repair. Before I started West Construction, I was one of the engineers for the Third Harbor
Tunnel in Boston. We built the largest cofferdam in North America.
I've done some oil rig work and some underwater construction in
the navy. So, do you think that qualifies me to do this job?"

    "I wasn't questioning your qualifications."
    "But they surprised you."
    "You aren't going to pick a fight with me, are you? I kind of figured as long as I'm not digging up your ancestors, we can be
friends and not enemies."
    John grinned and took her hand as she was about to reach for
her iced tea.
    "I'm not going to pick a fight with you."
    The waitress came carrying their dinners, and John let go of her
hand.
    "That's a lot of food," Lindsay said.
    "You work hard, you need to eat more than those little sandwiches they give you. You still seeing that guy-the one with the
name like a piece of machinery?"
    Lindsay laughed. "You mean Derrick? We see each other occasionally. No commitments."
    "What does that mean?"
    "It means we enjoy each other's company. Occasionally. Tell me
more about your business. You must have been excited to have
won the bid."
    "That's an understatement. I stand to make a pot of money and
gain a lot of reputation with this project. It means a lot to me and
my family."
    "I remember your sister and father well. Who else is in your
family?" Lindsay tasted her stuffed crab. "This is good."
    "That's why I brought you here. I have a son, Jason, twelve, a
daughter, Shelly, in high school, and an ex-wife in Oklahoma."
    "Your children live with you?"
    John nodded. "They're with my father and sister while I'm here."
    "Well, if it isn't the redskin."
    Lindsay jerked her head toward the gravelly voice. It came
from a stout man who looked to be in his early forties.
    "Hardy Denton, don't you have some place to be?" John
replied. His voice was calm, but Lindsay could see his hand was
tight around his glass of iced tea.

     

Chapter 8
    "LOOK, Torrro, I know I was the low bid. You know that, too, don't
you?" Hardy Denton's words were slurred and he smelled like
beer. "You got it because you're a damn Indian."
    Lindsay looked beyond Denton and spotted Eva Jones sitting at
a table with another couple, calmly looking in their direction, as if
waiting for a movie to start. John saw her, too.
    "I see you have a lady with you," John said. "Why don't you go
back to your dinner with her?"
    "Don't you patronize me, boy. I've got something to say. You
got a job that's supposed to be mine. You ain't ever done a job like
this before. You don't have the experience. I do. Don't tell me it
wasn't rigged." Denton started