“Who’s Catalina?” Paige asked.
“His current mistake,” Jack muttered.
I shot him a look.
JD sped back to theAvventura, and we prepped our gear—assault rifles, extra magazines, flash-bang grenades, the works.
“What’s the plan?” Paige asked.
45
The bow of the Raptor carved through the swells as we headed out to sea. The briny air swirled, and mists of salt water sprayed. The twin outboards of the aggressive tactical boat howled, spitting white water.
The sun angled toward the horizon, glimmering the water. Gulls drifted on the breeze.
Isabella kept tabs on Silas's phone and updated me on his position. It didn't take long for us to catch up with the sleek gray 70-foot sportfishing boat. With Arctic trim and graceful lines, its elegant form floated on the swells. They were out here waiting for something. Possibly a rendezvous with Rory’s men. They certainly weren't fishing.
Jack pulled to the stern, and I shouted through a megaphone. "Coconut County! Prepare to be boarded."
We had the right to board any vessel on the water for a routine compliance inspection. It was an excuse to get on board, and anything in plain sight was fair game from there.
“Stay here,” I said to Paige.
She frowned at me.
With an M4 slung over my shoulder, I boarded the boat and stepped into the cockpit. A big guy stepped out of the salon. With black hair, a square jaw, a few days’ worth of stubble, and a pistol in a shoulder holster, there was no mistaking his role. Carved by hours in the gym and a cycle of steroids, his biceps bulged, and inflated pectorals stretched his shirt.
I flashed my badge and smiled. "Good evening. Is this your boat?”
The deck pitched and rolled with the swells.
“No.”
“What’s your name?”
He hesitated. “Dex.”
“Where is Silas?”
His brow knitted with curiosity.How the hell did I know Silas was on board?“He’s in the salon. Is there something I can help you with?”
I maintained my smile. “Just a routine compliance inspection.”
Silas stepped out of the salon to join us. He was a thin guy with short curly blond hair and long bangs that blew with the evening breeze. A forced smile pulled his narrow face. But that faded as soon as his eyes caught sight of Paige.
Only an ex-lover could hold such disdain in his eyes for this beauty. “Working with law enforcement now, are you?” he shouted to her.
“I want that data drive,” Paige demanded. “It’s mine.”
“It’s not your drive. I found it fair and square. It was in a public place.” Silas looked at me. "Deputy, you'll find everything is in order. I have all the paperwork, life preservers, flares, you name it. Please make your inspection, then kindly leave.”
"Have you even looked at the footage on that drive?" Paige said as she boarded the boat.
I glared at her, having told her to stay on the Raptor.
Paige was the kind of headstrong woman who didn't listen to authority. I don't think she listened to anybody.
"Spare me the morality lecture," Silas said. "You were more than willing to sell the drive to Rory yourself."
