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

ready to deflect whatever he threw at me. But after a brief stare-down, he turned away.

“The hell’s that all about, man?” Lenny said. “What kind of shit you into now?”

“You don’t even want to know, Lenny.”

Ray was no longer smiling. “What’s the plan, Buck?”

I let out a long breath. “We need to flush this situation out. As of now, there’s a whole bunch of theories as to who might be opposed to Adoption AID, but little more than that.” I swallowed. “I need to meet with these guys to see what they’ve found out, but they’re up to their eyeballs in… a competitive beat-down—”

“The gang war we been hearing about?” Lenny said. “That dude ain’t exactly a Good Samaritan type, man.”

“You three discuss the final logistics for tomorrow afternoon, while I—”

“I’m going with you—”

“No, Crystal—you need to help these guys hold things together and let me see what I can learn, okay?”

It was the first time since I’d known her that she gave me a fuck-you look. And for that, I liked her even more.

DOWN THE BEACH I found Diego smoldering in an open-air restaurant, flanked by Brass Knuckles and two empty chairs.

“Nobody keeps me waiting, Reilly. I’ll stuff your ass back in that trunk and take you on a one-way trip to Fish Bay.”

“Nice to see you too, Diego. How’s business?” I glanced at Brass Knuckles, who gave me his best scowl.

“I need you to get me out of here.” Diego delivered this statement in a quiet yet chillingly clear voice.

“I can do it but not quite yet, Diego. I’m sorry—”

“Sorry?” His mouth twisted into a sneer. “I’ll pay you, big-time. I’ve got crates of cash and—”

“Not until the day after tomorrow.” I nodded toward Brass Knuckles. “And not unless the information he gave me amounts to something.”

Diego sat back and looked me up and down.

“You haven’t been over to Guana Island yet?”

“Haven’t had the chance—”

“That’s your own fool fault. I delivered. In my business I produce the goods, and my clients pay. What about Baldy Baldwin?”

“I’ll help you the day after tomorrow, Diego. All the shit will hit the fan when this concert goes forward, and the only way I can find that woman’s husband is to be there and hope to see something.” My voice was nearly a whisper.

Diego rubbed his cheeks and closed his eyes.

Brass Knuckles leaned forward, ready to clobber me if his master gave him so much as a wink. At this point, I really didn’t care. I’d been cold-cocked, hijacked, arrested, imprisoned, threatened at gunpoint and knifepoint—

Knifepoint—that’s it!

The face I saw holding the binoculars when the helicopter flew over us—it was Slicked-back! The guy who’d tried to grab Crystal in Key West in front of the Casa Marina Hotel.

“Want to hear something funny?” Diego said. “I like your conviction. Most guys’d jump at the money and ditch the honey. But I still need—”

I stood up and the chair’s legs screeched on the concrete floor. “Like I said, Diego, I’ll keep my word if your information’s helpful. Otherwise, good luck with your new rival.”

Diego’s stare was a slow burn.

“I’ll have people at that concert, Reilly. And I’ll make damn sure you’ll be here when I need you.” His head twitched like a pit bull with somebody’s leg clenched in its jaws. “We have a deal.” He stabbed a finger at me, started to walk off, then turned back. “Remember, I’ll be watching you.”

I almost laughed. Like he thought I was going to forget that?

I WENT TO THE beach bar and found my little threesome talking with Scott Kirby and Matt Hoggatt.

“Buck Reilly, sure,” Matt said. “Jimmy’s mentioned you.”

Scott gave Crystal a hug, said he’d see her tomorrow on Jost Van Dyke.

“And I heard you rocked your debate, Lenny,” Kirby said.

“Should of been there, man,” Lenny said. As they walked away, he turned to me. “What the hell we supposed to do now, man?”

“Don’t be hung over tomorrow,” I said. “You two have to get all the talent to Foxy’s, per the schedule.”

I couldn’t think of anything else—fatigue hit me like a sucker punch. Last night in jail, all the running around, the dead ends, everyone wanting a piece of me… I was out of gas. Crystal’s eyes sagged, and the circles under them made her look like a zombie.

“I’ll try to save some energy for tomorrow,” Lenny said.

“I’m asleep on my feet, so I won’t be worth a dime if I don’t get some shut-eye,” I said.

We rode in the back of the open-air truck taxi without saying a word. Once at the Westin, we were told the hotel was full. Crystal asked for a cot to be sent to her husband’s room which she had kept in the hope that he’d show up, then walked out of the lobby without waiting for an answer. I caught up with her.

“Sorry, Buck. I’ll sleep on the cot.”

We disagreed about that all the way to the room and I decided I’d go back and sleep in the Beast. When we entered it she became very still and just stood at the opened door, staring in. John’s briefcase was in sight, and I assumed his clothes still hung in the closet.

Damn. I hadn’t even thought how she might react to seeing all that.

“You okay?” I said.

She let out a long breath and continued into the room.

“It’s just weird seeing John’s things here.”

She sat on the bed. I felt awkward, uncomfortable. The walls moved in on me and the air seemed thick.

“I’m going to the bar for a drink,” I said. “Why don’t you relax? I’ll come back later to say goodnight.”

“I could use a shower,” she said. “And I’m starving, but I don’t want to go to the restaurant.” Her eyes turned to John’s briefcase.

“Order from room service,” I said. “I’ll eat at the bar.”

Our eyes met and held for a second. I headed out and pulled the door closed, fast.

I needed rum. Lots of rum.

Once seated at the