Part 45 (1/2)

What was DeSalliers expecting? He was expecting her to run scared, back off, wait for him to make all the moves. All right. Dar took the basket back to the couch, then sat down cross-legged and retrieved the laptop. She opened her mail and started typing.

KERRY EASED OUT of the cabin and spotted Charlie sitting on the stern bench they used for gearing up. She walked over and took a seat next to him, resting her arm on the back of the boat and gazing out across the marina.

”Y'know,” Charlie spoke first, ”that's why Bud never could stand Andy, I'm guessing.”

”What do you mean?” Kerry asked.

”He had everything. Everybody liked him; he was real good at what he done; he had a good marriage, had a kid he was proud of...

He made it seem like everybody should be just like him.” He glanced at the door. ”She's just like him.”

Kerry thought about that. ”I wish more people were like him,”

she remarked. ”I wish my father had been.”

Charlie s.h.i.+fted and looked at her.

”When I first met Dar and we were getting to know each other, every time she talked about her father, deep down in my heart, I found it hard to believe what she was saying.” Kerry spoke softly.

”Because my own experience had been so different.”

”Dar got off lucky,” Charlie said. ”Most of us don't.”

”True,” Kerry agreed. ”But then I met Andy.” She turned her head and met Charlie's eyes. ”He gave me something my family never had, and I cherish that, and him, more than I can tell you.”

The ex-sailor leaned back and rested his arm on the stern 264*

railing. ”I'm not gonna apologize for us doing what we had to do to keep our heads up,” he said. ”I got a kid to take care of.”

Kerry regarded him. ”I'm not into judging people. I've been on the receiving end of that too many times myself,” she said. ”I think the important thing right now is just to get Bud out of that nutball's clutches and resolve this.”

One of Charlie's eyebrows twitched. ”Thought you weren't inta judging,” he drawled. ”Calling that sonofab.i.t.c.h a nutball like that.”

Kerry produced a faint grin.

”Anyhoo...” Charlie shook his head. ”Dar's just like Andy, got that same att.i.tude. Reminded me of him real strong there for a minute. I know she's right, a little, but sometimes you just ain't got no choices in life except the bad ones.”

Kerry tipped her head back and looked up at the sky. ”I know,” she said. ”I've made some of them.”

Charlie studied her. ”You ain't old enough to make that case, lady,” he told her bluntly. ”Come back here in twenty years and we'll talk.”

Kerry merely smiled. ”Dar has a very strong sense of right and wrong, and you're right- she got that from her father.” She propped her foot up against the railing. ”I, on the other hand, only got a sense of wrong from mine. But no matter who was needing what, those guys were pointing guns at us, and let me tell you something, they're lucky I wasn't pointing one back.”

Charlie sat up. ”Huh?'

”Mm.” Kerry looked steadily at him. ”I would have shot them.”

”They never hurt no one,” the ex-sailor said. ”No one. Them guns were just for show.”

”I don't care.” Sea green eyes took on a cool tint. ”They were threatening the only thing in the world that matters to me.” She leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. ”So that's the way that is.”

Charlie scratched his jaw thoughtfully. He studied Kerry's profile for a few minutes in silence as the boat rocked gently under both of them, the rigging clanking softly in the warm air. Finally, he half smiled. ”Feisty thang, huh?”

Kerry glanced up at him with a wry grin, acknowledging the unlikeliness of it all. ”Don't look it, huh?”

Charlie managed a chuckle. ”Get your point, Kerry,” he added, suddenly turning serious. ”Think those guys maybe got into something we don't know about. Wasn't that serious before.”

Kerry pondered that. Could it possibly tie in to what was going on with them? Was it coincidence the pirates had come after them right after they'd gotten away from DeSalliers? ”Could be.”

Hearing footsteps approaching down the dock, Kerry c.o.c.ked*265 her head. She got up and leaned over the side of the stern, spotting a familiar figure moving toward them. ”Ah.” She exhaled. ”Bob.”

Charlie got up and joined her. ”That little a.s.shole.”

”Mm.” Kerry climbed up onto the side deck and jumped to the dock just as Bob trotted up to the boat. ”Hi.”

”Oh! Hey!” Bob seemed a little out of breath. ”Glad I found you. Listen, the cops are after me. Can I hide out in there for a while?” He glanced behind Kerry and spotted Charlie's glare. ”Oh.

Ah...okay, maybe not.”

Kerry sighed. ”C'mon. We need all the help we can get.” She paused. ”Even yours.”

”Huh?”

Kerry took hold of his s.h.i.+rt and pulled him after her as she jumped back onto the boat. Left with a choice of following or losing his clothing, Bob joined her. ”Our friend DeSalliers has been busier than you think,” Kerry told him.

Bob hid behind Kerry as they moved onto the stern. ”Listen, Kerry did explain to you what happened the other night, didn't she?” he asked Charlie hopefully.

”I know what happened the other night, you p.i.s.sant,” Charlie told him. ”You ran out and left us. C'mon over here and let me pop your d.a.m.n little...” Charlie limped toward them.

”Uh... uh...” Bob started moving backward.

”Hold it!” Kerry stepped between the two of them and held up her hand. ”C'mon, guys, we don't have time for this.” She raised her voice when Charlie kept coming. ”Stop it!”

One, two, three, four... Kerry counted silently, feeling the boat s.h.i.+ft a little under her as something started moving.

The door to the cabin slammed open and Dar bounded out onto the deck, her eyes immediately taking in the situation. She pounced on Charlie, grabbed his s.h.i.+rt, and unceremoniously hauled him backward. ”Hey!” she barked. ”Cool it!”

”Let go of me!” Charlie yanked against her grip. ”I owe that b.a.s.t.a.r.d a big right one.”

Dar got in front of him and blocked his way. ”I said, cool it.”

She bristled. ”We don't have time for this c.r.a.p. Like you said at the hospital-you made the choice to trust him. No one forced you.”

Charlie tried to brush by her. ”Dar, get out of my way.”

”No.” Dar didn't budge. ”Don't even think about trying to move me.”

He stopped and stared at her. ”You think you're Andrew? Get your a.s.s out of my way, girl.” He put his hand against Dar's shoulder and pushed.

Dar didn't budge. She lifted her hand and closed her fingers around Charlie's wrist, tightening her grip with sudden explosiveness. ”Charlie,” she gazed steadily at him, ”this is my 266*