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He thought about Teddy Folger tied to a kitchen chair and stopped laughing.
Back in the main cabin, he found a mess. Contents spilled from cabinets. Drawers left open, clothes tossed and scattered. He heard Je
He opened the galley’s little refrigerator and was delighted to find a six-pack of Tecate. But the fridge was off, the beer warm. Instead, Co
He cast about the cabin, took in the interior of the boat. She was a good craft, sloppy now from Je
Co
Je
Je
“So what?” She reached across the table, took the bottle out of Co
“How are we supposed to get back?”
Her eyes widened, mouth lolling open. “Oh, shit.”
“Yeah.”
She snapped her fingers, face brightening. “There’s an inflatable dinghy in the forward storage area.”
“If you tell me I have to blow it up, I’ll cry.”
When Je
They pumped up the dinghy and lowered it over the side. It was a tight fit for the two of them and precarious. They settled in and began paddling, arms moving in numb routine. Keep stroking, Co
“Only thing I don’t get,” Je
And Co
11
They left the inflatable dinghy on the riverbank and parted ways. Neither Co
Je
The sun was just yawning and stretching over the horizon when Co
Co
The day was hot and bright, and the sun glittered on the bay like a picture postcard. Co
As Co
Hell.
James sprawled on the floor, arms awkwardly beneath his own body, legs twisted, with the knees pointing at one another, mouth slack, eyes glassy and lifeless. A pool of blood the size of a pizza spread from his head.
The cop noticed Co
“Sorry.”
“What’s your name? What are you doing here?”
Co
A young girl burst into the shop. She looked panicked. Co
“Crap.” The cop moved to intercept the girl. She started crying and shaking, grabbing hold of the cop’s arm.
Co
Shit.
He looked over his shoulder. The young cop looked distressed, the girl sobbing on his shoulder.
Co
He flipped open James’s humidor, grabbed a fistful of cigars, and shut it again. He stuffed the cigars into his pocket, left the office, walked past the cop and the still-weeping girl.