THE PERFECT TEN (Boxed Set)

out of the way and rooted around for a good spot to hide the coins. A safe deposit box in the bank would be the best place, but since this was Labor Day weekend the banks were closed until Tuesday.
    The least likely area to be disturbed by an intruder was under the anchor rope stored in the very front compartment deep inside the nose of the bow. He lifted several layers of rope and slipped the plastic bag containing the coins between the loops.
    Zane quickly snapped the side curtains into place and closed up the boat. He had large brown envelopes in his truck under the back seat. Ben had given him the envelopes on the outside chance he ever found evidence he’d need to turn in.
    He’d drop the coin and plastic sleeve, along with the cup Angel had touched, at Ben’s office on his way to the airport. Ben hadn’t called with news of a baby yet, so he wouldn’t be in the lab today, but Zane didn’t know when he’d be back home and wanted Ben to be the only one privy to this.
    There was no way he’d let anyone else in on it until he knew the origin of the coins.
    Angel might have a reasonable explanation.
    He might believe pigs could fly.
     
    Chapter 33
     
    The balmy tropical weather was threatening to turn downright mean pretty soon, but CK welcomed the low depression hanging off the coast of south Florida. He stretched his shoulders, pulling on the long sleeved gray T-shirt he wore. He’d have to replace it soon with a Triple X. Staying in shape came with a cost.
    Thunder rolled overhead, offering the perfect cover for what he had to do this morning.
    He lifted his SkyHawk binoculars and studied the woman walking around inside the pilot’s apartment. Angel carried a mug of coffee to the sofa.
    He’d been in this spot all night, and knew exactly when lights had come on in the apartment and the minute the pilot had left. Talk about timing. CK’s cell phone vibrated against his hip. He lifted it up to his ear. “Speak.”
    “We followed the pilot to the marina,” Joe reported. “He messed with the ropes on the boat and put some covering around the cabin. Couldn’t see much from where we were, but no female with him. He just pulled out and turned in the direction of Sunshine Airfield.”
    Was Angel’s boyfriend called away on a Saturday morning to fly? That’d be too good to be true. The rest of CK’s operation would turn into child’s play with the pilot out of the way.
    “If he flies out, find out where he’s going. I want to know the minute he’s airborne.”
    “Got it.”
    CK thumbed the end button and shoved the phone back into his pants. He lifted his field glasses.
    Angel had stood up and walked to the glass doors and stared out as if she had seen something, but she couldn’t see CK. No one could when he wanted to disappear into the landscape. The red nightshirt she wore clung to her plump breasts and narrow hips.
    Mason had said to keep the damage to a minimum, but he hadn’t dictated any specific parameters.
    CK lowered the glasses, letting them lie against his chest. He leaned back into his dark cubbyhole. He lifted his phone and sent a text to his man in charge of accessing the power feed for the apartment complex. The text reply came back immediately. All set. The longer he watched her, the more he appreciated the occasional pleasure offered by his line of work.
    Angel stepped to the side and drew the drapes closed.
    CK grinned. That would only work in his favor.
     
    Chapter 34
     
    Angel had showered and dressed in her running shorts and top when Trish tottered out of the bedroom to the kitchen.
    “Morning, Trish. Want some coffee?”
    “Is the Pope Catholic?”
    Angel smiled and poured her a mug. “Cream or sugar?”
    “No, the blacker the better.”
    Trish swigged a drink. “Well damn, Sug, this is much better than that sludge Zane makes. Speaking of, where is he?”
    “He had a job to fly or something. He didn’t really tell me much.”
    Trish half smiled and nodded. “Mystery man. You aren’t mad at me for last night are you?”
    “No.”  The counter didn’t have a dust molecule left after Angel had cleaned earlier, but she grabbed a rag to wipe anyhow. “Trish, your brother and I are, um, friends.”  Friends? Why did that sound so lame? “He’s letting me stay here for a few days. That’s all. I don’t want to give you the wrong impression.”
    “Friends, huh? Sure. If you say so.”  Trish snickered quietly then lowered her gaze to study her coffee as if