Jack Beale 00 - Dangerous Shoals

could almost feel its softness through his gloved hand. Then he took a deep breath and pulled ever so gently on that tiny corner of lace.
    He closed his eyes as he inhaled the sweet fragrance from those panties.

CHAPTER 59
    “SO JACK, IT’S been a while. What’s the story?” Dave asked. Max and Patti had gone to the ladies room, and this was the first chance Jack and Dave had had to talk alone in weeks. Dave’s work schedule had changed and Jack had been tied up with all that had gone on.
    “You know that we found Daniel dead, under the boat up in York a coupla’ weeks ago.”
    “Patti told me. But she begged me not to bring it up in front of Max.”
    “Did I tell you we had talked with him several weeks before?”
    “No, you didn’t,” said Dave, his attention now completely focused on Jack.
    “We were out on the boat―pretty far out. There was no wind and we had just motored out east toward Jeffries. It was strange because it seemed there were no other boats out that day. Then out of nowhere this cigarette-type boat rushes up to us with Daniel on board.”
    “You’re kidding me.”
    “No, I’m not. They pulled up alongside and Daniel climbed on board.”
    “Max must have shit a brick.”
    “That’s putting it nicely. Anyway, after the initial shock, he told us why he faked his death in Belize. He was convinced that his boss had sent some men after him, and that he had something on his employer and we could be in danger too.”
    “That’s nuts.”
    “Tell me about it. Then he got back onto the other boat and left as fast as he had arrived.”
    “So what did he have?”
    “Files, he said.
    “And he gave them to you?”
    “No. But he’s now dead and there’s been no evidence that he ever did anything with them. Except …” Jack paused.
    “Except what?”
    “Except that when Tom and I went to pick up the boat, we found that it had been trashed.”
    “I heard that.”
    “So, why break into and trash Irrepressible ?”
    “Good question.”
    “My guess is that whoever killed him somehow got the idea that whatever Daniel had might have been on the boat. “
    “Was it?”
    “If it was, I never found any trace of it and he never gave anything to us.”
    “So, let’s assume it was on the boat. If the guy found it, then you might be in the clear.”
    “But what if he didn’t?”
    “Then you’re probably screwed. Do you have any idea who this guy is?”
    “Maybe. I think I’ve seen him around.”
    “So, can’t Tom pick him up?”
    “For what? We don’t know if it’s really him and it’s not like he was real conspicuous. At best I just got glimpses of him. And it’s possible I was just seeing things.”
    “I don’t know. If I were you, I’d watch my back until you’re sure this guy is gone for good.”
    “I intend to.” Then, looking up, Jack said, “Shhh, the girls are coming. We didn’t have this conversation.”
    “Okay, but …”
    Before Dave could say anything else, Max and Patti rejoined them at the table. Nothing more was mentioned about the predator or Daniel.

CHAPTER 60
    KURT CONTINUED TO lose patience. Daniel hadn’t talked. It wasn’t on the boat. He wasn’t even sure that Jack had it. The new bug was working, but it had not yet revealed anything except the sounds of sex. He was used to resolving issues quickly and efficiently but now it had been nearly three months and he felt he was no closer to completion than when he accepted the job. It was one thing for a job to take so long in a large city. Here, people were beginning to recognize him, and even if they didn’t, they were always starting conversations with strangers. A perfect example was that crazy old birdwatcher lady. He didn’t have time for that.
    As he sat in his room he considered his options. He spent each night listening, but he got nothing. They just wouldn’t talk about it. He was beginning to worry that they truly didn’t know anything. Either that or they were on to him and were just being overly cautious. Then there was that damned cat. Whenever it seemed that their conversations might become fruitful, that cat would make so much noise he couldn’t hear a thing.
    “Soon,” he kept telling himself. Soon something would happen that would let him finish the job so he could leave. He was sure of it just as he was sure that they had it. They had to. He just had to get it from them. It was time to end this job. He sat back, lit a cigarette, and inhaled deeply. A kind of calmness