Part 38 (2/2)
”Yes, it is,” Kerry said with a wry chuckle. ”But you know, that's the first time I've been able to talk about that since he died, so maybe it's okay to be a chickens.h.i.+t for a while.” And it was, she realized. It was as though she'd taken a step back and gained at least a tiny measure of perspective. Was it part of some healing process? Maybe. Kerry felt obscurely better all of a sudden, and she picked up her fork and went after the remainder of her breakfast.
”I've got to go to the bank and get that cash out,” Dar suddenly remembered. ”d.a.m.n, I forgot about that.” She took a mouthful of eggs and chewed them. ”Get that done before we go hunting for information.”
”I can't believe you got Bud and Charlie to agree to let you do that.” Kerry smiled. ”I'm glad you did, though.”*227 ”Well, it's going to be a loan. They won't let me get away with giving it to them as a gift,” Dar said. ”But the terms'll be a h.e.l.l of a lot better than they had.” She shook her head. ”Want to come with me?”
”You bet your b.u.t.t I do.” Kerry finished her fruit juice and stood up. ”Be right back.”
Dar watched her duck into the bathroom, then concentrated on clearing her plate as the sound of running water filtered through to her. The decision to do some data mining before confronting their putative adversary was, she thought, a good one. They might find some facts. Dar liked facts. She put them in her pocket and used them like darts, flipping them out and nailing people with them when they least expected it. Facts were good.
Dar drained her coffee cup. She didn't mind bluffing, but bluffing was always easier when you had something to fall back on.
She stood and wiped her lips, then dropped her napkin on the table.
Her backpack stood mutely in the corner. She went over and lifted it, then slipped it over her shoulders. Kerry came out and joined her at the door and they left the room, heading off to find some facts.
Or some trouble. Or maybe both.
DAR HELD OPEN the door to the Chase Bank, waiting for Kerry to enter and then following her inside. The bank was on the way to the police station and courthouse, so they'd decided to stop there first. Dar pulled off her sungla.s.ses and looked around, then walked across to a small desk with a receptionist behind it.
”Good morning.” The receptionist greeted them with a professional smile. ”What can I do for you ladies today?”
”I have a wire transfer I need to pick up,” Dar explained. ”It was generated last night.”
”Sure.” The woman glanced behind her to a single desk with a young man at it. ”Mr. Steel? Are you free?”
The man looked up. ”Yes, I am.”
Dar and Kerry walked over and sat down at the man's desk.
Dar removed her driver's license from her wallet and handed it to him. ”I requested a wire transfer last night,” she repeated. ”From Florida.”
Mr. Steel took the license and put it in the desk, then typed Dar's name into his computer. He waited, then nodded. ”Yes, Ms.
Roberts, we have it.” He leaned closer to the screen. ”For... ten thousand American?”
”Yep.”
”Would you like that as a draft, ma'am?”
A draft. Dar considered her memory of Cheapside Guido and sighed inwardly. ”Cash,” she replied. ”Gimme it in hundreds.”
228*
The bank officer frowned. ”Ma'am, it's not a good idea to carry that much currency on your person,” he objected. ”Really.”
”I know,” Dar agreed. ”But I won't be carrying it long, hopefully.”
The man still didn't like it, but he tapped in a request and hit enter. ”Okay, let me just get that for you.” He stood and walked to a locked door, keying in a code and disappearing.
Kerry looked around at the empty bank with its one remaining teller. ”Quiet.”
”Mm.” Dar leaned back. The bank's outer door opened and two men came in, bypa.s.sing the receptionist and heading for the teller.
They were tall, and there was something vaguely familiar about one of them that set Dar's mind to itching.
The man was dressed in typical island fas.h.i.+on-surfer-type shorts and a loose print s.h.i.+rt. He was wearing deck sandals and a red baseball cap, and carrying a worn bank deposit bag.
Dar frowned. A lot of people on the island looked just like this guy. So what was it? The walk? The att.i.tude...
”Dar.” Kerry's voice broke into her concentration.
”Yeah?”
Kerry lowered her voice to a whisper. ”I think that's one of the pirates that attacked us yesterday.”
Oh. Duh. ”Guess that's why he seemed familiar,” Dar whispered back.
They watched the man push several things across to the teller, seemingly relaxed and at ease. The teller took them and processed them, smiling at the man, apparently familiar with him.
”What are we going to do?” Kerry murmured. ”If we recognized him, he'll probably recognize us.”
Dar gauged the distance between them. ”He didn't on the way in,” she said. ”Let's just turn around and see what happens.”
Kerry s.h.i.+fted in her chair and looked at Dar. ”Okay, but what are we going to do after that?”
”Maybe we can find out what his name is.”
”And report him to the police?” Kerry glanced quickly behind her, then back. ”Dar, he's obviously a known quant.i.ty here.”
”Uh huh.” Dar didn't seem surprised.
The inner door opened and the bank officer reappeared. He was carrying a small box, and he looked around as he crossed back to his desk. His eyes fell on the two men. ”Ah. Morning, Mr.
Chasiki.”
The man turned at his name and smiled, then his eyes slipped past the banker and focused on Dar's face.
Uh oh. Dar thought fast, meeting his eyes briefly, then moving on, hoping she was projecting an air of profound disinterest. She'd seen the recognition as he looked at her.*229 ”Yeah, yeah,” the man answered the bank manager. ”Great holiday, yeah?” His voice was tense.
”Very good, thanks.” The officer sat down and put the box in the center of his desk. He pulled over some paperwork and filled out a few forms. ”All right, Ms. Roberts, let me just fill this out and you'll be all set.”
”Thanks.” Dar rested her elbows on the desk and resisted the urge to turn and look at the pirate. Next to her, Kerry was leaning back with her arms folded, her back mostly toward the teller. The blonde woman looked tense, a furrow creasing her brow.
”Here you go. Please sign here” Mr. Steel indicated a s.p.a.ce on the form. ”I've made a copy of your driver's license, and here's that back.” He handed her the card.
Dar picked up the pen and studied the form, her ears c.o.c.ked as she heard footsteps approaching them. They stopped just behind her, and she watched the officer's eyes from the corner of her own, seeing them go up and over her shoulder curiously. She signed her name on the form.
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