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"Yeah, Chan, you’re an excellent addition The Chinese did ood pirates," Dirk said

"Actually, I’m Trinidadian, with a real mix of ethnicities," Will told hireat pirates," Dirk said

Dirk had a glass of beer, and Bootsie, as being a bit garrulous, had ordered a fresh one Will Chan see to run upstairs and check on so?"

"Ah, Abby, you are a delight!" Bootsie said "In fact, there’s never been a better descendent of old Blue Other than Gus, of course I’m always proud to have you at one now We’ll carry on--Sullivan over there, Dirk and lanced at Will, who nodded She had a feeling that so close to Dirk, and he couldn’t possibly folloo ood he was

She rose, curious to find out where Malachi had gone, but when she ran upstairs, he wasn’t in the apartment She looked into the offices, the e rows of restaurant supplies, but he wasn’t anywhere to be found

He’d gone out--without leaving word

She quickly dialed his number from her cell

When he answered, she asked, "Where are you?" She tried not to sound anxious

"Tailing Aldous"

"Oh I would’ve coht have kept you fro obvious"

"Don’t worry I won’t look obvious," he promised her

"Okay" She realized she was a little lost without hient But Malachi had real-world experience, as a cop and a private investigator, and as one--

As one who could see beyond the surface

"I’onslayer," Malachi said "But right noe’re going toward the river See for a yacht Nice piece of work Beautiful boat Looks like it’s about thirty-three feet"

"That’s his pleasure craft She’s called the Lady Luck," Abby told hi to keep up I’ll talk to you soon"

Abby bit her lip as he ended the call The police, she knew, had already searched the Lady Luck when Malachi and Jackson insisted the Dragonslayer "barflies" be investigated

She walked back to her apartment and opened the door As she did, she discovered that she hadn’t locked it when she’d gone to the storeroo by the s that opened out onto the balcony

Instinctively, she set a hand on her Glock

But the person turned "Abby," he said softly And then, as if testing her naail Anderson"

13

Aldous walked with a determined pace, apparently oblivious, careless of whether anyone watched hiht froonslayer to River Street

Malachi kept a careful distance as Aldous walked along the river and stopped at the private dock where the Lady Luck was docked

He used his owner’s key in the slot, as well as his code, to gain entry and only then did he turn around to see who else was nearby Malachi had ducked behind a handy SUV

It was still early; people were out in droves That see

Malachi waited to see if he intended to take the vessel out

He couldn’t tell; Aldous went down into the cabin

Malachi put a call through to Jackson Before he could explain as happening, Jackson sprang some inforht in last night"

"Yeah?"

"She’s from the Lafayette--a merchant ship"

"How did she wind up in the water?"

"No one knows But we didn’t need a warrant The captain assured us we could search the ship and of course we did He also told us she’d already been searched The cops have been on al on the water"

"And nothing? So it was just an unconnected accident?"