Before she could finish, he added in a much lower voice, “There’s a guy in the parking lot watching Travis Carson’s boat.”
The look of shock that bloomed confirmed his suspicion. She’d been heading for theFar Horizon. And she wasn’t in league with the watchers.
“We have to go down to the Main Street dock,” he continued, taking her arm and leading her away from the water. “That’s where we’re supposed to meet our charter.”
She allowed herself to be led along for a few moments before trying to jerk her arm away. He held firm.
“He’s watching. Bend your head. I think he’s going to take our picture.”
“Who’s watching?”
“A guy in a dark green T-shirt, black baseball cap, jeans. He was here when I arrived.” When she tried to look, Gabe held her back. “Don’t.”
Emotions chased themselves across her face. “How do I know...?” She stopped and started again. “Who are you?”
“I could ask the same questions.”
As they talked, he led her to the far side of her van so that Mr. Slouch’s view was blocked.
In the shade of the vehicle, she raised her head and asked, “Who are you?”
“I was hired by Carson’s aunt to find out what happened to him.”
“What’s her name?”
“Lydia Wilder.”
“Why should I trust you? You could be one of the men who killed him.”
The moment the words were out of her mouth, her skin went white, and her features turned sick.
“Killed him? You think he’s dead? What do you know?” He was tempted to grab her and shake her, but if Mr. Slouch came around the side of the van and saw, that wouldn’t jibe with the story he’d been working hard to establish.
She made a moaning sound. Panic flashed in her eyes. “I...don’t know...anything. Let me go.”
A bolt of satisfaction shot through Gabe. Maybe he was finally getting somewhere.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Olivia yanked open the van’s door and then slammed it shut, making sure to click the locks. The man who had accosted her on the pier had to jump out of the way as she started the engine and barreled out of the parking lot.
When she looked behind her, she saw him standing next to where the van had been and holding a fishing rod like a flagpole. She also saw a man in a dark green T-shirt and an Orioles cap, which kept her from getting a good look at his face.
Her heart was pounding, and she wanted to press the accelerator to the floorboard, but she kept her speed under the town limit as she headed for the Bay Bridge. Travis had warned her not to go poking around his boat. And he’d been right.
She filled the car with curses. She hadn’t listened to him, and now...well, she didn’t exactly know what now.
“Shit. Shit. Shit.” She hadn’t even gotten Fishing Pole’s name. She should have, so she could check him out. In their brief encounter, it had seemed like he was trying to protect her. Or maybe that was a ruse to get her to trust him.
At least he hadn’t gotten her name, either. Could he find it out? And what about the guy who Fishing Pole had said was staking out the marina? That could be true, or it could be part of the fake scenario. She bashed her palms against the steering wheel. She hadn’t handled that right at all. But she hadn’t been expecting anyone else to show up at the marina. Maybe she should have.
Still feeling like her insides were being churned around in a washing machine, she headed for home.
* * *
Gabe hurried backto his car, threw his fishing gear inside, and headed after the van, hoping that the guy from the parking lot thought they were just going to meet up again at the town dock.
He was tempted to follow her and find out where she was going. But he didn’t have to do that. He had her license plate. As he drove away from the marina, he glanced in his rearview mirror. Mr. Slouch was not following. Probably he had orders to stay in position, but had he phoned someone to pick up Gabe’s tail?
