Silver Linings

pushed it aside. Mattie would be okay out here. He would see to that.
    On the way out the door Hugh ripped the nearest girlie calendar down from the wall and tossed it into the trash can.
    Ten minutes later Hugh pulled the Jeep off the road and parked it a discreet distance from the abandoned warehouse on Lily Cove. He walked silently through the jungle to the edge of the clearing, where the sagging structure crouched like a dinosaur carcass in the pale moonlight.
    Trust Rosey to pick a suitably picturesque spot for the deal. Hugh frowned as he scanned the clearing for signs of life. Something like this was better handled in the loud, noisy, well-populated environment of the Hellfire. But Rosey obviously preferred scuttling around in the shadows. Once a rat, always a rat.
    There was one vehicle parked near the precariously tilted loading dock, a small, rusty compact Rosey had probably picked up at the airport.
    The gaping dark opening above the loading dock was the obvious way into the building. Hugh considered it briefly and then decided to enter the warehouse through a side door that hung on its hinges.
    There was no sound from the black interior. Outside the rain was starting to fall more heavily. It swept into the building through the wide-open loading dock entrance.
    Hugh eased the revolver out of his belt and edged through the doorway and into the shadows. Knowing how swiftly aging wood rotted in this climate, he slid one booted foot along the floor.
    The toe of his boot found thin air. Hugh yanked his leg back and glanced down. He could see almost nothing in the shadows but he knew his suspicions were correct. The floorboards had rotted away in sections. He would have to move carefully or risk breaking a leg.
    “Rosey?”
    There was no response. Hugh kept his shoulder in contact with one wall as he worked his way silently around the building to the loading dock entrance. The rain was thrumming on the roof now, hiding any small sounds that he or anyone else might make.
    Something was wrong and Hugh knew it. If all had been well, Rosey would have made his presence known by now and demanded his money.
    The figure lying in the rain on the loading dock looked like a heap of old clothing at first. Hugh crouched in the shadows, gun in hand, and stared at the too-still bundle. He swore silently.
    Rosey, you damned fool. Why didn't you meet me in town? Why play games ?
    He waited another minute or two, but his senses told him the warehouse was empty except for himself and Rosey. Hugh straightened and went reluctantly over to the rain-soaked body.
    Very gently he reached down and turned the bundle over. In the weak light Hugh could see the dark, wet stain that soaked the front of Rosey's shirt. Hugh checked for a pulse.
    Rosey groaned softly.
    Startled, Hugh hunkered down beside him.
    “Rosey?”
    “That you, Abbott?” Rosey's eyes fluttered.
    “Yeah, Rosey, it's me.”
    “Son of a bitch got me. Thought I was being so careful. Tell Gibbs, will ya, if you see him. He'll wonder.”
    “I will. Rosey, who did this?”
    “Rain…” There was a curious, wondering tone in Rosey's voice before the single word ended in a choking, bloody gargle.
    “I know it's raining, Rosey. I'll get you out of it. Who was it, man?”
    But Rosey was gone.
    Hugh got slowly to his feet and looked down at the little man who had died in the pouring rain.
    Two deaths in less than a week. Damn , Hugh thought in disgust. Life had been going so well lately, too. And now this.
    Just like old times.

    Mattie poured another cup of green tea for Silk and watched as he polished off the last of the sweet potato pie she had made for dessert. He had eaten nearly the entire pan.
    “So how long have you lived here on St. Gabriel?” Mattie asked.
    “Couple of years,” Silk said around a mouthful of pie.
    “About as long as Hugh, then?”
    “Right. Me and him moved out here together.”
    “Really? Where were you before you arrived here?”
    “Here and there.” Silk grinned. “No fixed address, I guess you'd say. Hugh was doing odd jobs for Vailcourt, and I just sort of drifted around with him, helping out sometimes.”
    “Fascinating. Did my aunt know you were on the payroll?”
    “Nah. Hugh figured why bother her with the details. She's an executive type. Folks like that only care about the bottom line. He just put me down under petty expenses when he sent his bills into Vailcourt Accounting.”
    “I see.” Mattie hid a smile. “I take it