Romance on the Edge 01 - Hooked

wouldn’t get many. They were all operating on no sleep and too much caffeine. Garrett knew he was probably not in the best shape to interrogate Kendrick. Not that it would stop him. The man had proved elusive and Garrett wasn’t letting the opportunity pass him by.
    He managed to get a grumbling Judd out of bed and an energy drink down him just as Skip pulled alongside the Albatross .
    “ Albatross , prepare to be boarded,” Garrett yelled over the loud speaker. Never had the words been so satisfying to say.
    “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?” Skip asked not needing an answer. He regarded Garrett and frowned. “Maybe I should question Kendrick in your place.”
    “Kendrick’s mine.”
    Skip shared a look with Judd that Garrett didn’t even pretend not to see.
    “You boys have a problem?”
    Judd slowly shook his head. “Nope.”
    “You aren’t in your right head,” Skip added.
    “Let me do my job.”
    “Good enough for me,” Judd said, stretching his arms above his head. “Let’s go catch us a bird.” His comment had the desired effect of cutting the tension.
    “Just keep it by the book,” Skip said.
    Garrett nodded, itching to get aboard the Albatross and make Kendrick squirm like the worm he was.
    Kendrick stood on deck, his beefy hands fisted on hips that were overshadowed by a robust belly. A scraggly beard mottled his face in calico colors. What hair remained on his head blew like tufts of goose down in the biting breeze. His sharp gray eyes screamed mean. They told Garrett Kendrick had long since buried his soul somewhere in the dark, deep ocean.
    “What the hell do you want with me now?” Kendrick hollered as Garrett swung over the rail onto his deck.
    “I want answers.” Garret stood in front of Kendrick, not intimidated by his size as Kendrick loomed over him. Garrett had taken down bigger men. Judd followed and stood quietly behind him to the left.
    “Answers?” Kendrick asked. “Did you have to board my boat for that? We’re getting ready to fish.” Kendrick’s Brutus-arms swung wide, indicating his crew.
    Two other men stood nearby, one thin as a rail looking like a tough piece of jerky, the other average, non-descript, except for the tattoo of a skull on his forehead. The guy obviously had no imagination. The three looked like a trio of schoolyard bullies.
    “Day before yesterday,” Garrett began, “just after two in the afternoon, the Double Dippin’s window was shattered and her captain injured. You were in the vicinity.”
    “Is that a fact? Hurt, was she?” A gleam snaked through Kendrick’s eyes, turning them an eerie pearl. “How bad?” He gave a sinister smile, showing a row of front teeth badly needing an introduction to a toothbrush.
    Garrett wanted to wipe that black smile right off Kendrick’s face with an ache so great it made him shake.
    Kendrick relaxed against the large fishing reel wrapped with net, and folded his arms across his bulky chest. “Is this what your visit’s about? Sonya Savonski? The woman’s a looker…at least, she was.” He made a clicking sound with his tongue. “That little girl’s gonna end up fish food, if she’s not careful.”
    “Is that a threat?”
    “Why don’t we call it an observation.”
    Judd grabbed Garrett as he lunged for Kendrick, and held him tight. “He’s not worth it, man.”
    Garrett struggled to shake off his need to retaliate. He clenched his jaw and planted his feet on the deck. He knew better then to let a suspect provoke him. What the hell had gotten into him?
    “Ah, personal is it?” Kendrick taunted, obviously enjoying Garrett’s momentary loss of control. “I didn’t think Sonya would sink low enough to fuck a fish cop.”
    Fury gnawed at the thin thread of control Garrett hung onto. He wanted to kill the son of a bitch. How had this asshole lived as long as he had without someone doing exactly that?
    Judd stepped in. “Did you take a shot at the Double Dippin’ ?”
    Kendrick buffed his nails on his dirty shirt. “Did anyone see me do it?”
    The man was rubbing their noses in it. Kendrick knew if they’d had a witness, he’d already be charged with criminal mischief and assault. For the first time in his law enforcement career, Garrett wanted to go vigilante.
    “Do you have a slingshot onboard?” Garrett asked, taking over the questioning. He wouldn’t let this bully get the better of him.
    “Sure. I’ve got a slingshot aboard. There’s also a gaff hook, a few