Jack Beale 00 - Dangerous Shoals

grabbed her right arm and twisted it behind her back. Then, the same cold, hard steel was clamped onto that wrist. He jerked the chain once and she cried out in pain as the cuffs dug into her wrists. The knife was instantly pressed against her neck again.
    “I said quiet. Don’t move an inch. I’ll be right back.”
    Behind her, she heard the sound of rattling pills being shaken from a bottle. Then he slowly reached around with the bandaged hand and stroked her cheek. She could feel his breath on her neck, and the combination of her fear, the smell of his bandaged hand, and his hot breath on her neck made her gag. Slowly he slid his hand down her neck, and traced his fingers across her breasts. She inhaled and became rigid. He retracted his hand and leaned into her ear again. He whispered, “Don’t worry, it’s not time yet. Be patient.” His tone left no doubt that he was stating another fact.
    Removing the knife from her neck, he reached into his bag and pulled out the roll of duct tape. A piece was pulled off and placed over her mouth. He then wrapped her ankles together with more tape. Satisfied, he picked up his knife. Leaving her on her knees, he stood up behind her and said, “Now, we’ll wait.”

CHAPTER 97
    JACK PARKED BY the end of the pier. In his haste to get back, he had forgotten to buy ice, so he walked over to Ben’s to mooch some. As he walked in the door, he heard Patti call out, “Hey, Jack. Max is already down on the boat.”
    “Thanks, Patti,” he replied. “I forgot ice. Can I grab some?”
    “Of course. You know where it is. I’ve got a table. Have fun!”
    Ten minutes later, Jack stood at the top of the ramp with the ice and the grocery bags. Kurt heard him beginning to clomp down the ramp and he looked over at Max. “You behave yourself and everything will be okay.” His voice didn’t seem quite as clear as it had been when he first grabbed her.
    “The pills?” she wondered. Then she nodded, but somewhere deep inside, she knew that his idea of okay was probably very different from hers.
    The boat rocked gently as Jack placed his packages on the deck and then climbed aboard. “Max,” he called out.
    In her head she screamed, but all she heard was the crying of a gull. Jack, assuming that she was out of earshot below, called out again as he transferred his packages into the cockpit. There was still no answer.
    As he moved into the companionway and looked down into the cabin, what he saw stopped him cold. A flood of emotions washed over him: fear, anger, frustration, panic, hatred, resolve. Max was kneeling on the cabin floor, a piece of tape over her mouth. Her arms were pulled behind her back and Kurt was standing behind her. He was pulling her forehead back with a bandaged hand while pressing a knife against her throat. “Hello, Jack.”
    In a whisper, Jack exhaled, “Kurt.”
    Jack looked into Max’s eyes, hoping that she understood that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Then, he looked straight into Kurt’s eyes, ignoring the knife at her throat. “Can I come down? What do you want?”
    “Stay right where you are. And you know what I want.”
    “What?”
    “Don’t play cute with me, Jacko. I want what Daniel gave you.”
    “What makes you think I have it?”
    “I know. You do. And if I don’t get it, you will have the privilege of watching her die before I kill you. I may have missed with that cat, but I won’t this time.”
    A wave of anger washed over Jack. He didn’t move. He couldn’t breathe. He just stared, frantically trying to think of something, anything. He needed time and that was exactly what he didn’t have.
    “Give it to me,” demanded Kurt.
    “I can’t.”
    “You can and you will.” Kurt sneered as he pulled back on Max’s forehead, stretching her neck. Max moaned a scream.
    “I didn’t say I wouldn’t give it to you. I said I can’t.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because it’s down below.” He didn’t know why he said that; it just came out.
    “What do you mean?”
    Jack could see him relax his grip on Max’s head just a bit. He was about to drum up an explanation when a voice from up on the pier called down to him. “Hey, Jack.” It was Courtney’s voice.
    He froze for a moment and then looked at Kurt. “I have to answer her.” He tried to keep his voice calm, but his mind was racing frantically. If nothing else, Courtney was buying him some time without even knowing it.
    Kurt’s reply was silent, but direct. He