Jack Beale 00 - Dangerous Shoals

him?”
    “That was never proven. And remember how sure Jack was that he had seen him leaving Belize.” Finally she looked toward Jack. “Right? As sure as I am that I saw him today!” Her mind was clearly made up.
    “Max,” said Jack. “At the time, yes I was sure. But we searched, the police searched, and a lot of effort was put into finding him with no success. Eventually, I accepted that those guys probably did kill him and I really saw someone else.”
    “But now I just saw him. He’s here,” she insisted.
    “Max, maybe you did, or maybe it was just someone who reminded you of him. Remember, you were dealing with the results of last night.”
    Max simply glared at Jack. Finally, he caved in.
    ”Okay Max, I give up,” said Jack. Then, in a soft, resigned voice, he found himself putting shadowy thoughts and feelings into words. “It’s possible.”
    “It’s possible! What’s possible? That I saw him or that you were wrong.”
    “Max …”
    “Don’t Max me. I did see him.”
    “Fine. You saw him.”
    “You’re saying that to shut me up, aren’t you?”
    “No. Actually, when Court and I were just talking, I was beginning to think that you might be right.” Courtney flashed him a look that said, “You what?” but remained silent.
    “What? Now, all of a sudden you agree with me?” Max was getting a little testy.
    “Sorta.” He hesitated. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around the possibility that he is here, but I guess it’s possible. You might be right. When you called me, some things began to make some sense.”
    She was now completely focused on him. “What things? What are you talking about?”
    “I realize this is a real stretch, so bear with me. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. Your call got me thinking about the letter Daniel left you in Belize. Specifically, what he said about his employer. Do you remember the guy who was after him?”
    “How could I forget?”
    “Remember how you described him: cold, lifeless eyes like a raptor. Well, I saw him, or at least someone like him, in the park the day we were having our picnic. Courtney had already noticed a guy like that in town, and then again last night out behind Ben’s. I never made any connection, but now with you seeing Daniel, maybe …” He paused. He had barely heard the words he was saying. It was as if his subconscious was channeling through him and he had no control over his words.
    “Stop. Jack. What are you talking about?” Max’s voice broke the spell.
    Courtney chimed in. “Jack, that’s a real leap you’re making. I only saw him briefly. He was probably just some schmuck who was having a bad day. And the guy last night, I can’t be sure.”
    Jack continued his monologue. “No, I don’t think so. Not now. I know what I saw in the park. I saw those eyes. I’m sure it was him. Why else would he be hanging around? I didn’t say anything when I first saw him because I hadn’t made the connections, but now it’s different. Max, you say you saw Daniel. Court and I have seen the same creepy guy. Throw in all of those hang-up calls you’ve been getting at the bar―well, it all makes sense.” His voice tailed off.
    When Max finally spoke, there was an edge to her voice. Her eyes darkened, and the look she gave him seemed to bore right through him.
    “Why didn’t you ever tell me about seeing him?” She looked back and forth between them.
    Jack spoke for both of them. “I don’t know. It didn’t seem necessary. I didn’t want to worry you. We each only got brief glimpses of him, and it took us this long to make the connection, if there even is a connection. This is all speculation, remember.”
    “You bastard,” she spit the words at him, then looked at Courtney as if to say something, but didn’t, instead she just shook her head in disgust, then returned her attention to Jack.
    “Max, there may be a bigger problem,” he said softly, not answering her question.
    “What?” she said sharply.
    Courtney remained silent.
    “Look, before he was just some creepy looking guy Court and I had seen. We didn’t give it a whole lot of thought. Now with you seeing Daniel, it’s different, and besides, I didn’t want to upset you, you know how you get.” As soon as he uttered these words he regretted them.
    “No Jack. I don’t. How do I get?”
    “Max, come on. You know you get all conspiracy theory with things like this and your imagination goes wild.”
    “And you’re