In the Blink of An Eye by Jerry Baggett (ebook reader for surface pro TXT) 📕

Just get a whiff of that rich coffee smell.” He leaned back and sighed. “We’re going to stir the pot some and see what floats up from the bottom, at the Happy Huntsman. You have any ideas?”

“Not off the top of my head,” she said.

Hunt said, “Let’s have one of our undercover guys start hanging out around the bar there, asking questions about that poor girl that washed up on the island. Have our guy drop her name and we’ll see if it creates waves around any of the clubs where we have people watching. I hope like hell this plays out right and doesn’t get somebody killed.”

Hunt called Dick’s cell number. “Hell, it’ll probably go to voicemail.”

“You speak, Agent Hunt. What can I do for you this early in the morning?”

“I suspected you were an early bird, Commander. You’re escorting our lady friend to the clinic, where she’ll stay until you meet her for lunch, right?”

“That’s the plan. I’ll take Sam and the other nurse there to lunch; Fran’s Over the Water. Any problem with that?”

“Not likely. I would like you to meet with Grant Davis after you drop our Miss Brooks at the medical clinic. She should be reasonably safe there until you pick her up for lunch. Grant’s expecting your call around eight this morning. You two should talk. You can help moderate Samantha’s distrust. Also, Grant and Samantha are both in danger from the same dark source. Get as much general information as you can, about he and his brother, before his brother was killed. And, Dick, anything can happen, at any time, so, be careful.”

Dick stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist, ready to shave. He turned toward the mirror. Samantha was standing there, fresh from her shower too. Her blond hair, dark with water. She had stepped out ahead of him and donned one of his oversized t-shirts. The shirt barely did the job intended. Her legs were long and smooth, her feet bare.

He turned toward Sam. She looked even more slender, naked under the shirt, except where the shirt stretched over firm breasts. He caught his breath. Her swimming and running regimen certainly worked miracles on that body.

She was, a foot away from him, reading the fine print on a jar of cream. He wanted to take her in his arms and crush her against his body. She saw his image in the mirror and turned to face him. He tipped her face up and kissed her gently, starting with her lips, then her neck. He could smell her skin.

She reached up and gently touched his face. “We have to get dressed.” She bumped a hip against his and turned away. He knew they had to go.

Dick opened the door and turned to Sam before she was ready. “You heard my conversation with Kevin Hunt, so you know I’m meeting Grant after dropping you off at the clinic. He believes it’s important that we share information and work together. He’s convinced you and Grant are facing the same enemy.”

She smiled and held his gaze for several moments. “There is something uncannily familiar about that guy. I want to hate him but, to tell you the truth, I’m more eager to know him than hate him. Isn’t that strange?”

He laughed quietly. “I see some of you in that man, sweetheart, even the same eye expression when you’re concentrating. For that reason alone, I trust him. Let’s give him a chance.”

She said, “I hope everything turns out well for all of us. I may have found a precious member of a family I only dreamed of.” She placed her hand on his knee. “I’m so grateful you came into my life, Dick. And now, I have an uncle.” She mumbled something, then spoke up. “Dick! Are we going to survive to enjoy a good, long life together?”

Chapter 24

Marino shot out of his chair to stand in front of Mack. “Damn it to hell. That guy’s with Drug Enforcement. There’s no other way he’d connect that bitch from San Diego to this club. Go back to the bar and alert the bartenders to report any more curiosity-seeking bastards asking questions about that woman.”

He walked back to his desk, kicked the trash can across the room and sat down. He cupped his hands over his eyes and put his head down on the desk for a moment, seriously concerned. We’ve screwed up somewhere, now what’s next? This stepped- up activity from DEA can’t be taken lightly.

Marino called Hans, intending to bring him in for a conference. “What’s going on down there, Hans? Have you heard anything more about that drugged out bitch that ratted out our people at the club there?”

“Not lately. She was well known here at the club and all the clubs here in town. The local cops were investigating her death here for the DEA but turned up nothing that I know of. What’s stirring that up again?”

“We had an undercover snoop in here asking questions about her. That’s unusual since she was not known in this area until her body washed ashore here. From now on, remove the intestines before you dump trash at sea.”

“I was about to call you. Word out of Frisco is that guy, Davis, was released from prison, and can’t be trusted cause he’s tight with law enforcement.”

“No! Not Thomas G. Davis?”

“That’s the one,” Hans said. “You want me to track him down and put a stop to the problem before he gets started causing trouble?”

“Not until we know what he’s up to. The whole organization’s under scrutiny. Don’t forget, you’re hot, yourself, right now, because of that careless red truck deal. You’d better stay low until the heat cools down some. I may have to bring you home to plug some of the leaks here once