page9 (1/2)

“Do you have any idea what you are involved with?”

“Not a clue”

He laughed

And I didn’t appreciate it

“I believe you, ao,” he said “I truly do Hoould you like to redeem yourself?”

I actually would, but I didn’t think that opportunity should come from this man “You tried to kill me, too”

“That’s correct, especially once I realized Jansen was on that boat”

“You were there?”

“Of course He and I had words through the rain When I decided to shoot him, he decided to leave”

None of which Jansen had reported to me

He ruh my wallet and found ia Active-duty e their driver’s license every time they relocated Mine did not expire for another two years The address on it led nowhere Nothing else in my wallet was personal Stephanie Nelle had toldthat qualified So Paone Only ia membership card, a Visa card, and some cash remained

“Are you married?” he asked

Like I was going to admit that “Never had the pleasure”

“Women can be such trouble,” he said “I’ve had three wives, and divorce can be bothersome That’s why I killed mine” The declaration came in a matter-of-fact voice “So much easier”

I tried to read his brittle eyes, but registered not a clue He found my bar membership card I carried it because a lot of the civilian jails required proof I was a lawyer Many times my clients would initially be held by the locals,to secure their release back to military custody

“I’ you’re so for a private firm, what do you think would be your hourly rate?”

“Four hundred fifty”

Wishful thinking, but it sounded good

And for some reason I wanted to impress this man

“I can have someone killed for much less than one hour of your hypothetical time”

Valdez’s eyes, tiny pinpricks of white surrounded by the darkest irises I’d ever seen—like black currants—told eration

“Jim Jansen is a liar and a thief,” he said “He stole from me and, as you say, tried to kill you”

“So go find him”

“Oh, I shall But I cannot worry about him at the moment What I want is the coin I was promised”

“Coleen Perry has it”

“And the park rangers have her She was arrested once they ca held at the fort, as is my coin”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Steal it back”

“Not interested”

He shrugged

“Then I’ll simply dump you over the side and be done with this”

CHAPTER TEN

I stood at the rail and stared out at the ocean

Two days ago I was a JAG lawyer, bored to tears Then I shot a cheating wife, got arrested, and beca spears at me A supposed ally tried to blow me up, and now Juan Lopez Valdez, from of all places Cuba, wanted to shove me over the side Since I was unarmed, outmanned, and on a boat in the nored

“You do realize that I’ue stuff,” I said “Look where I am Captured”

“Ah, ao, you sell yourself short My men told me you handled yourself quite skillfully in the water” He found a fresh panatela and lit it up “And let us not forget that you are the one who took my files from the wreck But for you, I would have them and be on my way home with the coin”

Incredibly, there was sou thick inand stalling, and try to buy time But for what?

I decided to ith this guy