Risky Business

at the other side of the coin. “Yes.”
    In silence, he backed away to give Jonas the time he needed.
    It didn’t seem possible. Jonas knew he could have stood for hours staring down at his brother’s face and it would never seem possible. Jerry had always looked for the easy way, the biggest deal, and he hadn’t always been an admirable man. But he’d always been so full of life. Slowly, Jonas laid his hand on his brother’s. There was no life there now, and nothing he could do; no amount of maneuvering or pulling of strings would bring it back. Just as slowly he removed his hand. It didn’t seem possible, but it was.
    Moralas nodded to the attendant. “I’m sorry.”
    Jonas shook his head. Pain was like a dull-edged knifethrough the base of his skull. He coated it with ice. “Who killed my brother, Captain?”
    “I don’t know. We’re investigating.”
    “You have leads?”
    Moralas gestured and started down the corridor. “Your brother had been in Cozumel only three weeks, Mr. Sharpe. At the moment, we are interviewing everyone who had contact with him during that time.” He opened a door and stepped out into the air, breathing deeply of the fresh air and the flowers. The man beside him didn’t seem to notice the change. “I promise you, we will do everything possible to find your brother’s killer.”
    The rage Jonas had controlled for so many hours bubbled toward the surface. “I don’t know you.” With a steady hand he drew out a cigarette, watching the captain with narrowed eyes as he lit it. “You didn’t know Jerry.”
    “This is my island.” Moralas’s gaze remained locked with Jonas’s. “If there’s a murderer on it, I’ll find him.”
    “A professional.” Jonas blew out smoke that hung in the air with no breeze to brush it away. “We both know that, don’t we?”
    Moralas said nothing for a moment. He was still waiting to receive information on Jeremiah Sharpe. “Your brother was shot, Mr. Sharpe, so we’re investigating to find out why, how and who. You could help me by giving me some information.”
    Jonas stared at the door a moment—the door that led down the stairs, down the corridor and to his brother’s body. “I’ve got to walk,” he murmured.
    Moralas waited until they’d crossed the grass, then the road. For a moment, they walked near the sea wall in silence. “Why did your brother come to Cozumel?”
    “I don’t know.” Jonas drew deeply on the cigarette until it burned into the filter. “Jerry liked palm trees.”
    “His business? His work?”
    With a half laugh Jonas ground the smoldering filter underfoot. Sunlight danced in diamonds on the water. “Jerry liked to call himself a free-lancer. He was a drifter.” And he’d brought complications to Jonas’s life as often as he’d brought pleasure. Jonas stared hard at the water, remembering shared lives, diverse opinions. “For Jerry, it was always the next town and the next deal. The last I heard—two weeks ago—he was giving diving lessons to tourists.”
    “The Black Coral Dive Shop,” Moralas confirmed. “Elizabeth Palmer hired him on a part-time basis.”
    “Palmer.” Jonas’s attention shifted away from the water. “That’s the woman he was living with.”
    “Miss Palmer rented your brother a room,” Moralas corrected, abruptly proper. “She was also among the group to discover your brother’s body. She’s given my department her complete cooperation.”
    Jonas’s mouth thinned. How had Jerry described this Liz Palmer in their brief phone conversation weeks before? A sexy little number who made great tortillas. She sounded like another one of Jerry’s tough ladies on the lookout for a good time and the main chance. “I’ll need her address.” At the captain’s quiet look he only raised a brow. “I assume my brother’s things are still there.”
    “They are. I have some of your brother’s personal effects, those that he had on him, in my office. You’re welcome to collect them and what remains at Miss Palmer’s. We’ve already been through them.”
    Jonas felt the rage build again and smothered it. “When can I take my brother home?”
    “I’ll do my best to complete the paperwork today. I’ll need you to make a statement. Of course, there are forms.” Helooked at Jonas’s set profile and felt a new tug of pity. “Again, I’m sorry.”
    He only nodded. “Let’s get it done.”
     
    Liz let herself into the house. While the door slammed behind her,