Part 15 (2/2)
Three hundred yards from the dock, he turned off his lights and stopped the Jeep. The air was still around them.
”There's a dirt parking lot on the side of the road,” he said quietly. ”From there, a footbridge takes you out to the boats. Ours should be the only one there. I'm going to park and leave you while I go check things out. Any questions?”
”No.”
Her voice was low and tight. Fearful. He didn't spare her a glance. He pressed on the accelerator. They drove down the road. Once in the parking lot, Jeff turned the Jeep so it was pointing the way they'd come, then backed it under several low tree branches.
”Stay here,” he said. ”At the first sign of trouble, get the h.e.l.l out of here. If it's a false alarm, I'll find my own way back to the house. You understand?”
”Yes.”
Without glancing at her, he grabbed his pistol and climbed out. The low rumble of the engine disguised the sounds of the night.
”Get behind the wheel,” he said, then turned and disappeared into the brush.
Slowly he inched his way closer to the bridge. There were a few faint lights along the dock. They cast murky pools that couldn't penetrate the jungle undergrowth. He moved steadily toward the sea, stopping every few seconds to listen. Gradually the sound of the engine faded behind him. He could hear the surf, some insects and the local variety of frog. The night noises told him he was alone.
He continued to walk through the brush, breaking free of the plants about twenty feet south of the dock. He could see the cabin cruiser rocking in the ocean. The starboard light had been broken, so there was only a bare bulb burning in the darkness. Just like he'd arranged.
From where he was standing, he could see down to the beach. Nothing stirred. At the sea end, the bridge was tall enough for a man to walk under. It dropped lower as it neared the sh.o.r.e. The incoming tide swirled around the rocks. Nothing looked out of place.
He hurried back to the Jeep. Andie was sitting in the driver's seat, her hands clutching the wheel. When he came up the path from the bridge, she turned toward him.
”Everything looks fine,” he said.
”Thank G.o.d.”
”Don't relax yet. You're not on the boat. I want to go down and check it before you board.”
She frowned. ”I thought that's what you did.”
”You can't see the boat from here. I want you and Bobby to stand at the top of the path. I'll go down to the dock. If everything's okay, you follow me. If it isn't, I want to be able to signal you to get the h.e.l.l out of here.”
”I don't like this.”
He reached past her and turned off the ignition. ”I know.”
She scrambled out of the vehicle, then leaned in the back and shook her son. ”Bobby, honey, wake up. We've got to go.”
”Huh?” The boy squirmed. ”I don't wanna wake up.”
”I know, honey, but we're going to ride on a boat.”
That got the kid's attention. His eyes opened and he grinned. ”Now?”
”Yes, now. Come on, get up.”
He sat up sleepily, rubbing his eyes. When he stood up, she lifted him over the side of the vehicle and set him on the ground. Jeff opened the trunk and pulled out their suitcase and Bobby's bag of toys.
”I want you two to wait up there,” he said, pointing to the top of the path.
Andie nodded. She adjusted her purse, then the weapon at the small of her back. She handed her son his toys, then took the suitcase. ”We're ready.”
Jeff led the way. There was a large sign at the end of the parking lot. In the dim light he couldn't read what it said. He paused there.
”Can you see the boat?” he asked.
”Sure. It's not very big.”
He grinned. ”Big enough to get you toFlorida. The captain will have motion-sickness medicine on board, just in case.”
”Great. I hadn't even thought of that.”
He felt a tugging at his pant legs and he looked down. Bobby was staring up at him.
”Aren't you coming with us?” the boy asked.
”Sorry, sport. I've got to stay here and take care of some business.” His stomach clenched. He was going to kill the kid's father. That was his business. But he wouldn't think about that now.
”I thought you were coming with us.”
”We'll be fine, Bobby,” Andie said,then touched her son's shoulder. ”We're going on an adventure.”
”But I want Jeff to come, too.”
”He can't.”
Jeff squatted down so he was close to eye level. ”You're going to have to be real brave for your mom. Can you do that?”
Bobby nodded solemnly.
”Good.” Jeff held out his arms. ”Why don't you give me a hug?”
The child dropped his bag of toys and flew into his arms. Jeff stood frozen for a moment, unable to respond.He hadn't thought, he'd just reacted. He was being a.s.saulted by a battalion of memories. Bobby was bigger than J.J. had been when he'd died but the little-boy hug was almost the same. Thin arms pressing so hard, the narrow back, the scent and sounds. Jeff's heart ached. Slowly he wrapped his arms around Bobby. They clung to each other. He hadn't expected to care. He hadn't expected to miss the kid.
Bobby sniffed once,then stepped back. Jeff didn't want to let him go, but he released him. ”I'll be good,” the child promised, then picked up his toys.
Jeff stood up. Andie tried to smile. ”I still don't know your last name.”
”I know.”
”I wish-” She shook her head. ”It doesn't matter.”
He stared at her, at her perfect face. He wished it, too. That it could have been different. That she could have been someone else. He thought about kissing her, but he was afraid of what they would feel and say. Better to just move on.
”I'm going down to the boat,” he said, stepping away from them. ”If everything's all right, I'll click on my flashlight three times. Walk quickly to the boat. Don't run on the dock. Once you're there, get on and get down. Is that clear?”
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