Part 51 (2/2)

”Sure.” Dar untied the craft and tossed the end of the rope up onto the Dixie. The waves were pitching up and down severely, but*303 apparently she'd gotten used to them because they didn't disturb her much. Kerry, however, sat down on one of the hard seats and wrapped her arms and legs around the stanchions.

Andrew aimed the boat toward DeSalliers' craft, visible as a brightly lit outline against the rain. ”Here we go.”

Dar held on with one hand and put her free hand on Kerry's shoulder. She leaned close to her ear. ”Scared?” Kerry turned, and Dar knew she was looking up at her even though the darkness made her features invisible.

”Yes.”

”Me too,” Dar replied. ”My knees are shaking so badly I don't want to sit down in case I can't get up again.”

Kerry laughed faintly. ”Are you trying to make me feel better?”

She squeezed Dar's hand. ”If you are, it's working.”

Dar pressed her cheek against Kerry's. ”I love you.”

Kerry smiled, a motion Dar could feel against her skin. ”That works even better,” she admitted. ”I love you too.”

”We're gonna be fine,” Dar went on. ”But if you want to stay in the boat with Dad, it's okay, Ker. I'm not joking. I know this is scary as h.e.l.l, and it's no reflection on you if you want to stay here.”

It was so tempting. The thought of staying at Andrew's very, very safe side was so enticing, Kerry could almost feel the agreement tickling the back of her throat. However, the image of her waiting in the darkness while Dar went into danger alone was far more horrific. ”Thanks for the offer,” she turned her head and kissed Dar, ”but where you go, I go. I'd croak from anxiety if you left me here.”

Dar nodded, as though she had fully expected Kerry's answer.

”Okay.” They watched the boat grow larger and larger in front of them. ”I need to play tough with him, because of the twenty five thousand.”

Kerry nodded. ”I know.”

”So, if I sound like I don't give a d.a.m.n about Bud, it's for a reason.”

Kerry patted her hand. ”Honey, I know that. If you didn't give a c.r.a.p about Bud, you wouldn't be here,” she said. ”I'll back you up, whatever you do or say. I trust you.”

”Even if I walk out?”

Kerry drew in a breath. ”I'm with you, no matter what.”

As the motor slowed its rhythm, Dar straightened up.

DeSalliers' boat swam in her vision, armed men visible on the stern deck.

”Paladar, those fellers have rifles,” Andrew said suddenly.

”I know, Dad,” Dar acknowledged. ”We'll be careful.”

”Ah do not like this,” Andrew objected. ”Ah do not like this one bit.”

304*

Dar clenched her hands on the grips that lined the edge of the boat. ”Neither do I, Dad, but I can't leave Bud there. What else can we do?”

Andrew frowned at the approaching vessel. ”You listen here,”

he said, suddenly. ”I signal you duck, you do it, hear?” He took hold of Dar's arm. ”Ah am not fooling, Dar.”

Dar could see the utter seriousness in his eyes. ”I hear,” she repeated. ”Be careful.”

The big ex-SEAL snorted. ”You all be careful or else ah'm going to be spanking the both of you for a long time.”

”We'll be okay.” Kerry stood up as they neared the back of the boat, which was pitching up and down nauseatingly. ”We'll keep their attention, Dad. See if you can cause them some trouble while we do, okay?”

”Ah will give them trouble,” Andrew muttered, pulling the boat even with the deck and holding his position. ”Ah will blow that G.o.d d.a.m.ned thing up and out of this here ocean if that feller so much as tweaks any of your toenails.”

Dar took a deep breath. 'Here we go.”

”Paladar Katherine, you be careful,” her father said suddenly.

”Please.”

Dar felt a little warmth spread in her guts. ”I will, Dad.” She reached for the ladder hanging down from the stern of the huge boat, ignoring the armed men watching her from above. Now that it was happening, she felt some of her nervousness drop away as it was replaced by adrenaline. Her nerves steadied, and she felt her heart rate slow as she climbed up to the pitching deck.

She put her hands on the top railing and pressed her body over in a swift, easy motion, forcing the guards to move back or else be slammed into. Dar took a step forward, her body blocking access to the ladder in order to give Kerry time to climb on board.

”Only one of you,” the man nearest her said suddenly. ”Tell the other one to get lost.”

Dar turned as Kerry's head emerged over the top of the ladder.

Ignoring the guard completely, she offered Kerry a hand over,.

”I said-”

”Shut up.” Dar pinned him with a hard stare. ”Either we both come, or we both leave. You choose.” She watched him hesitate.

”Pick!” she added in a loud bark.

He backed up a step and Kerry climbed down and joined Dar on the deck, brus.h.i.+ng off her rain slicker. Dar took a breath. ”All right.” She caught her balance on the heaving stern. ”Let's go.”

The guards looked over the side as the engines on the watercraft gunned and it backed away from the yacht. The guard captain regained his att.i.tude. ”Who is that?”

”My canoe paddler,” Dar told him. ”Now, are we going inside,*305 or should I just call him back?”

The guard gazed at her. ”I didn't forget you from last time, b.i.t.c.h. You'll pay for that before you leave.” He gestured with the gun barrel toward the door to the yacht's cabin. ”If you leave.”

Dar and Kerry walked past him. Three guards fell in behind them, guns held at the ready. It was too late to turn back.

ANDREW RAN THE watercraft back to the Dixie, and fastened it to the line he'd left in the water for that purpose. He slipped his slimline tank on, adjusted his mask, and entered the water in barely the time it took to think about it.

Under the surface, the conditions were a lot easier. He could feel the pull of the waves above him, but they didn't impede his progress, and he finned quickly toward the other boat. The sound of the hull breeching the water guided him, his light left unlit on his belt. No sense in advertising.

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