“Madelyn,” Jack said. “I enjoyed spending the day with you. I leave you in Deputy Wild’s capable hands.”
“Should I be worried?” she asked, lifting a sassy eyebrow.
“You should be reasonably safe,” Jack said.
He left us alone on the sky deck and trotted down to his stateroom.
“Do you need a refill?” I asked, noting her empty glass.
“I believe that would be in order,” she replied with a smile.
I grabbed the bottle of wine and filled her glass with Merlot.
“Thank you,” she said, the moonlight sparkling in her eyes. “A girl could get used to this, you know.”
“Merlot?”
She laughed. “No. Good food, good company, round-the-clock protection. Anything after this could be a letdown.”
“I’m sure you could buy a nice yacht and hire a security staff.”
“It wouldn’t be quite the same, would it?”
“No. I guess not.”
“I really appreciate what you two have done for me. That was really kind of JD to run me around today. I know you both have lives.”
“This is what we do.”
“Protect rich tech types who get into international trouble?”
I chuckled. “The job description is broad and varied.”
“I bet.”
“Have you talked to your brother?”
“No,” she said. “And I don’t particularly want to. You haven’t told him I’m here, have you?”
“I haven’t told anyone.”
"I think that's for the best," she said.
"I don't mean to pry, but…”
"You know, when people say they don't mean to pry, they mean to pry.”
I chuckled again. "You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to.”
"Trust me, you couldn't get anything out of me that I didn't want to share.”
I lifted a curious eyebrow. "Sounds like there are secrets in there.”
"Everyone's got secrets," she said. "I'm sure you have more than your fair share. I mean, this boat, the restaurant… You two aren’t your average deputies. And despite appearances, you both are disciplined, and I suspect well-trained.”
My eyes narrowed at her.
"I had a lot of time to kill at the station. I talked to the sheriff for a little while. He's a good guy. Speaks highly of you two. Says I couldn’t find better bodyguards on the island. Or anywhere for that matter.”
