Crystal Blue (Buck Reilly Adventure Series Book 3) by John Cunningham (novels for beginners txt) 📕

much bigger than the others, and had a shaved head. He wore sunglasses even though it was pitch black, which matched the tone of his skin. He reminded me of the alien in Predator, who stalked and killed everybody but Arnold Schwarzenegger, who outsmarted the creature and lived to become governor of California.

A high-pitched giggle escaped my lips.

“Something funny?” he said.

One of the three-dreadlocked men who had brought me here spoke in their undecipherable argot, then nodded toward me with a chuckle.

“Aha,” the big man said. Big yellow teeth glistened in my direction.

Chastened, I sucked in a deep breath.

“Not really in the market for a partner—”

“Listen, I know all about your work as a for-profit Indiana Jones wannabe.”

Damn, had everyone in the USVI researched my past?

“Which is why I’m guessing you’re either the new Big Man that’s rumored to be moving into town, or you’re connected to him.”

The new Big Man?

“Um, not really sure what you’re talking about—”

His smile remained in place, but fewer teeth were showing.

“I understand, brudda, not exactly neutral ground here, but you need to know my network’s the best in the islands. I’m the biggest importer, have the most control, and can deliver quality product in a steady pipeline.”

I swallowed. He thinks I’m—

“And if it ain’t you, which wouldn’t surprise me since you came here all by yourself, than you need to tell your boss we should meet.” He held out his hand. “Boom-Boom Burke.”

“Swell.” I took a steadying breath. “Look, I’m here for the thing at Foxy’s—the charity concert. To promote adoption.”

The yellow teeth disappeared.

It all came back to me in a muddled rush—the phone calls, the threats, the kidnappings. Getting caught up in the middle of the local gang leader’s desire to expand his business wouldn’t help, nor would it do much for my health.

“How do you feel about adoption?” I said.

My question caused a sudden mental image of Dr. Ruth, the tiny little sex therapist who used to be on television, and I had to bite my lip not to laugh again. I couldn’t read his expression in the darkness, and my direct question was less than crafty, but under the circumstances I felt like I was doing okay.

“How do I feel about it?” he said. “Sounds like a good cover to me, that’s what I think.” He laughed. “And that plane of yours is ideal for inter-island deliveries, so I’m telling you, we could do some serious business together. From what I’m hearing on the street, you, or whoever you work for, are diversified, big time, all over the world. I want to partner with you and grow.”

El crappo.

“Here’s the thing, Boom-Boom, starting tomorrow I’m balls to the walls trying to run celeb—um, movie stars and singers around the islands to help with this charity concert. And, well, all the others—the logistical help—It’s all been cancelled ‘cause of bomb threats and other challenges, like the promoter, John Thedford, disappearing. And Stud Mahoney’s been kidnapped.”

I couldn’t believe I’d gotten through all that. Boom-Boom was staring at me like he couldn’t believe it either.

“The hell you saying?”

“This concert, it’s only to promote adoption,” I said. “It’s a charity, know what I mean? In my personal opinion their goals are way too lofty, but hey, nothing ventured, nothing—”

“You’re starting to piss me off with this bullshit,” Boom-Boom said.

“—gained. So, my question for you, before we talk about any partnering with, ah, your group, is…” What was the question? Oh. “My question is if you know anything about phone calls, challenges, threats to the Thedfords—”

Book-Boom reached out like he wanted to grab me by the throat but stopped short, hesitated, and dropped his island-sized paw.

“You need to say no to weed, brudda, makes you talk crazy.”

That I couldn’t argue with. But my head was clearing.

“I know all about that concert, yeah, and about that dude disappearing.”

“You know where he is?” I said. “Or Stud Mahoney?”

Everyone stood motionless, all their eyes fixed on us.

Stay off the ropes…

“How about this.” I squinted at him in the darkness. “All bullshit aside, you help me find Thedford and Mahoney, I’ll make the connection you’re asking about.”

“Aha! Knew you was bullshitting me, Reilly.”

“But this is all tied together—I can’t tell how, but if I don’t hurry up and find John Thedford and the actor, bad things are going to happen. So I’ll help you, but you need to help me first.”

Boom-Boom stared at me a long moment.

“Wait here,” he said finally.

A couple of his men followed after him and entered the building. The rest milled about and kept an eye on me. A shooting star tore across the night sky only to vanish into the blackness. I could relate. I’d gambled by telling him what he wanted to hear, which could either blow up in my face or create an urgency that might actually help.

A cell phone rang and one of my minders answered. I couldn’t be sure, but based on his incomprehensible accent and mouth full of marbles, I thought it might have been the driver of the SUV that brought me here.

He glanced at me, grunted something, and walked down to where the SUV was parked. He got inside and turned it on but kept the lights off. An electrical jolt ran through my spine and down my limbs. I looked around in the darkness, my eyes having adjusted, but saw nothing except natural walls of dark undergrowth that surrounded the perimeter. Had Boom-Boom seen through my con? Should I run? Scream?

A shaft of light illuminated the building entry, then Boom-Boom and his men fanned out toward me. I sucked in a breath and held it. He moved through the darkness like a panther.

“I have your number,” he said. “And I have eyes all over these islands. I’ll see what I can find out.”

I exhaled.

“But you tell the Big Man about me too, all right, brudda?”

I was tempted to mention that Diego Francis had referenced some new opportunity too but figured that would be pushing my luck. I was