Part 14 (2/2)
”He couldn't have made any trips today. The next one is tomorrow morning. He may be on that one. It's the next one out.”
”I'm going.” Sarah was adamant, and her partners looked at her curiously.
”Okay. But you're going in wired. You get in, see what he's up to, and let us know if you find anything. You'll be under constant surveillance,” Ian said.
Sarah shook her head. ”A transmitter's too risky.”
Ian grinned like a kid. ”Not the one I can get for you to use. Give me a few hours. Call and book yourself on tomorrow morning's boat.”
Ian loved new toys, and she knew he was always keeping up with the latest in surveillance equipment. With his connections Ian often got his hands on things that few police departments could afford. He left E.J. and Sarah together and she reached for the phone, eager to get going.
It took her less than five minutes to make the arrangements for the cruise. Hanging up, she caught E.J.'s stare as he lay back in his chair, legs stretched out, his arms crossed over his chest, pulling the material of his suit a little tight at the shoulder. E.J. always wore suits to work. Expensive suits.
”What?”
”How did you find out about what Logan was up to? Doesn't sound like he was exactly forthcoming, and he obviously doesn't want our help.”
Sarah closed her eyes and sat back in her own chair.
”He had some pictures. They fell out of an envelope when I accidentally knocked it off the table in his room. They were p.o.r.n, and I nailed him, thinking he was either a consumer or a producer. He told me then why he had them. The rest is history. I told Ian, didn't he fill you in?”
”Why were you in his room?”
”What are you, my father?”
”Do I look like your father?”
”Maybe, thirty years ago. Especially around the eyes.”
”You are such a smarta.s.s. So, you're involved with this guy?”
”E.J.-” Her address took on a warning tone, but he interrupted again, leaning forward.
”I'm just wondering. I'm concerned. You get a strange look about you when you say his name. When you talk about him. Not a look I've seen before.”
”G.o.d, have you been watching Dr. Phil? Dr. Phil? I get a I get a look? look?” She pursed her lips, repressing a grin. ”Or are you just jealous?”
He rolled his eyes at her and she knew she wouldn't get him off the scent until she told him something. Once E.J. honed in on something, he rarely let go until he was satisfied. She threw her hands up.
”Okay, fine. I was in his room because, yeah, we had a little fling. That's all.”
”Then it's over?”
”There wasn't any 'it' to be over. It was just a...thing.” Her voice was flat and convincing, but it didn't stop the little dull ache the lie brought with it.
”I think it was more than a fling. You don't do flings.”
”Why? Just because I didn't 'fling' with you?” She sat back, feeling p.i.s.sed. E.J. had made a move on her shortly after he'd broken up with his fiancee. They'd just finished a case, she was a part of the team and they'd gone out for a beer together. He'd asked her if she'd be interested, and though she knew he wasn't looking for anything serious, she'd said no. Emphatically. She'd had no interest in getting involved with anyone, especially not someone she worked so closely with.
”Man, you get nasty when someone hits a nerve. But no, not because of that. Because I've never even seen you on a date. And now you're in this guy's room.”
”Yeah, well, shows what you know. You have no idea what I do in my free time.” She was fussing with things on her desk, wanting to escape, when she felt E.J.'s hand on her arm.
”Sarah, if this guy means something to you-if there are complications-it could make the job dangerous. You know that. That's the professional reason I asked. The personal one is that I do know you, and I know that whatever happened out there, it's changed things for you, hasn't it?”
She acknowledged his question with a curt nod, but avoided eye contact. E.J. turned her around, made her meet his eyes. She hoped he couldn't see any more than she wanted him to, though somehow, he always did.
”Maybe you shouldn't be doing this.”
”No, I am absolutely the one who should be doing this.” She grimaced. Didn't anyone think she was capable of doing her job these days?
”I'll be fine. You and Ian will be hooked in the whole time. It's just reconnaissance, anyway. There won't be any action.”
”You never know, Sarah. You know that.”
”Okay, fine. Are you done poking around in my business now?”
E.J. leaned in to kiss her on her cheek. He was never put off, no matter how p.r.i.c.kly she got. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it.
”You just be careful.”
”I plan on it.”
LOGAN MADE the tail before they could really know what he was up to, but it burned his a.s.s anyway. He'd shaken it by slipping out of the motel through a back exit he'd located, and drank coffee for the three hours he had to waste until he caught a taxi to the docks. It wasn't like he was born yesterday. the tail before they could really know what he was up to, but it burned his a.s.s anyway. He'd shaken it by slipping out of the motel through a back exit he'd located, and drank coffee for the three hours he had to waste until he caught a taxi to the docks. It wasn't like he was born yesterday.
Not only had Sarah gone over his head and reported his case to her superiors, but apparently they'd decided they were going to horn in on the case whether he cooperated or not. In the s.p.a.ce of a day they'd gone from lovers to adversaries.
He was most definitely not cooperating. He had a good lead on them, and he'd used a fake ID to sign up for the cruise. As far as any of the ledgers showed, Karl MacKenzie was headed off for blissful two days of gambling at sea. He took just one bag with him, and most of the contents of his bank account. He didn't count on actually gaming all that much, but he had to appear like the genuine article, and that meant emptying his paltry savings to bring on the boat.
One phone call was all it had taken to find out which s.h.i.+p Mel had been on. He'd gotten the right person on the phone. She sounded young, and he'd put on his cop voice and asked for the information-which she never should have offered-but in two minutes he knew what he needed to know. One more call had him on board the same boat.
Reaching the boarding dock, he took in the s.h.i.+ning sides of the sleek, white yacht. Its name, The Gem, The Gem, was painted in gold-and-black script on the stern. Small satellite dishes were placed at inconspicuous angles, and video cameras were everywhere. State-of-the-art security electronics, no doubt. And a sizable vault. was painted in gold-and-black script on the stern. Small satellite dishes were placed at inconspicuous angles, and video cameras were everywhere. State-of-the-art security electronics, no doubt. And a sizable vault.
He walked forward and was greeted cheerfully by an older man dressed in a very expensive suit. Vince Valente, the boat's owner, most likely. He was then directed to a friendly young staff member who welcomed him aboard and offered to take his bag. Logan declined. He was directed toward his cabin, and Logan muttered his thanks, finding his own way.
It was a small boat, only accommodating up to a hundred pa.s.sengers at any one time, but it was the top of the line in luxury and style. A very cla.s.sy operation, at least on the surface. He wanted to find proof of what might be going on here under the glitz and gloss. And he had to work quickly. He'd only been able to afford the overnight package, and who knew if Sarah was on to him by now.
Walking down the narrow pa.s.sageway, he skimmed past the ornate crystal hurricane lamps on the bulkheads and the artwork on the walls. He found his cabin number, slid his key card into the slot, and entered. It was a small cabin, smaller than your average hotel room but more luxuriously appointed. The bed was a double and took up most of the s.p.a.ce. No television, no phone, no computer connections-no way for anyone to pa.s.s the time except for sleeping or gambling. He looked at the soft bed, and his thoughts went back to Sarah.
He knew she wouldn't give up. And part of him admired her for it, while the other part couldn't accept that she wanted to place herself in harm's way just to help him, or even to make peace with her painful past. He couldn't live with being party to putting her in danger.
He had nothing against women cops-Mel had been one of the best-but he hadn't been intimate with Mel. He hadn't cared for her in the same way. It hurt bad enough to have lost a friend, and Sarah promised to be much more than a friend. When she'd walked out of his room he'd nearly called her back, but he had nothing to say. He wasn't about to change his mind.
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