Second Chance Gold (Buck Reilly Adventure Series Book 4) by John Cunningham (best novels to read for beginners txt) 📕

the hell out of our way. Jack and I got bigger fish to fry. It’s second chance time for me and him—got it?”

I unclenched my teeth.

“Likewise, Gunner. And stay the hell away from Jerry Atlas’s family.”

He laughed again. Truck took a step forward.

Gunner gave us a mock salute. “See you boys around. Not.”

I watched him amble back through the terminal.

If my world had started going downhill when I saw Jack in New York, it had just fallen off a cliff.

I couldn’t make it all the way back to the hotel without a pit stop. I pulled over in St. Jean, my hands shaking on the wheel, and parked across the street from Eden Rock. Truck pulled me out of the Jeep and practically had to carry me to the hotel’s bar. After a shot of rum—Matusalem from Cuba seemed appropriate—I found my voice.

I explained how Gunner and I had clashed when he was on the hunt for the missing Atocha treasure that Truck had been accused of stealing. After I rescued Truck, I’d been shot down and crashed on a beach in western Cuba. Gunner followed me, convinced I had the treasure with me, which was why Gutierrez had shot me—Betty— down in the first place. After Ray and I gutted Betty to restore the Beast, I’d been able to capture Gutierrez and drag him back to Key West to face justice.

And the government set him free to get Gunner out of Cuba.

Who was now here.

After another Matusalem, this time on the rocks, anger finally started to overcome the shock. While Truck went out to the beach to search for sunbathing celebrities, I pulled the cell phone from my pocket and opened the contacts. I found the name I wanted and pressed Call.

“You better have something good if you’re calling on my cell.”

I exhaled. “Don’t worry, Booth, it’s good. Amazing, in fact.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“I just found out that Manny Gutierrez was traded for Richard Rostenkowski, a.k.a. Gunner.”

“That’s Top Secret! How did you learn—”

“What the fuck were you thinking?”

“I said how did you—”

“Because Gunner just told me! Here on St. Barths! And he’s now partnered with the Cubans, which makes sense because he’s got my old Widgeon! What the fuck—”

“What do you mean ‘partnered with the Cubans?’”

“He’s here hunting for treasure—with Jack Dodson. Recognize that name, Booth?” Spittle shot out of my mouth.

“He’s in a federal pen—”

“You’re behind the times, Mr. Special Agent. Jack got out a few weeks ago and picked up right where we left off.”

Booth was silent for a long minute.

“And where do you fit into that little cabal, hotshot?” he said finally,

“I fucking don’t! In case you forgot, I’m here looking for Jerry Atlas, who as it turns out is at the center of not only Jack and Gunner’s treasure hunt, not to mention the focus of a couple of guys from the Dominican Republic who likely beat Jerry’s widow to within an inch of her life.”

The bartender stared at me with his mouth opened wide. I pulled myself together and walked outside.

“Does that mean Jerry Atlas’s death wasn’t an accident?” Booth said.

“How the hell would I know? But there’s a hell of a lot of interest in him, I can tell you that.”

“Simmer down, hotshot—”

“Don’t tell me to simmer down! You find out what the fuck’s going on with Gunner—Rostenkowski—and call your gendarme friends here and check into these Dominicans—”

“What’re their names—”

“I have no freaking idea, dammit. That’s your job.”

“I have no jurisdiction in—”

“How’s it going to look when the press finds out you swapped Gutierrez for Gunner—and that Gunner’s flying a Cuban plane with Cuban backing? You have any jurisdiction over that?”

Silence. I checked the screen to make sure he hadn’t hung up, but it was still connected. So I waited.

Since I’d attracted the attention of some of the hotel guests, I took the outside stairs up through Eden Rock, past the restaurant, and up more stairs to the top.

Finally, Booth spoke.

“I’ll look into all of this—”

“And get back to me?”

A loud exhale. “Yes, I’ll call you back.”

“And hurry up,” I said. “This is a shit-show!”

I hit End, my mind still swirling. Gunner was just as big and scary as I remembered—the guy I’d vowed never to get into a fight with. Trickery worked once, but I doubted I’d be that lucky again. Both he and Jack had warned me to stay out of their way—my best option given the evidence Jack held over me. Second chance, my ass.

My surroundings finally came into focus. I’d sought privacy at the top of Eden Rock, which had a spacious outdoor seating area with a panoramic view back over the beach and down toward the airport. The patio itself contained small decorative cannons and sculptures of nude women bathing, in contrast to red lacquer lounge furniture and tables. The business offices for the hotel were also situated up here, as far away as possible from the guest activity down below.

Enlarged black and white photos covered the walls inside. And that gave me an idea.

There was no receptionist inside, but an administrative assistant sat at one of five cubicles. I asked to see the manager. She was only gone a moment when a man in his fifties with gray hair combed stylishly back came out with a ready smile. He said his name was Monsieur Toussard and asked how he could help me.

My mind raced through all the people I’d spoken to so far and chose a name that would help me here.

“Nicole de Haenen suggested I come see you,” I said.

A big smile brightened his blue eyes.

“Mademoiselle de Haenen was just here yesterday. Before that I had not seen her for a long time. And now here you are.” He clasped his hands together and waited to for me to respond.

“We’re doing some research on her grandfather, Remy, specifically related to when he sold the hotel to Jerry Atlas.”

“Oui, she told