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

out safely, while we can. Here’s the rest of what you need to do.” She explained her plan for extracting themselves from the organization. She wanted little or no trail left to be followed. “Now, precisely, where are you?”

“Been waiting for you to get back in country,” he said. “I’m keeping a low profile here at the ranch, in one of the out buildings. I agree with your assessment, babe. Marino’s on his own schedule. I’m pretty sure he’s hiding here on the ranch someplace. My only contact with him has been a burner phone. He thinks going after McGowin for killing my brother’s crazy. I won’t let either of them off the hook for that.”

“It’s a damn crazy idea, Hans. Everything’s on the line now. You can blow our chance to disappear before the hammer falls. The ranch is going to become the center of attraction very soon. I have our passports and everything else we’ll need from here on. It’s all on board the boat in West Palm Beach. All you have to do is drive there. I’ll be waiting for you. Do it now.”

“No! I want one more try at that McGowin guy. You can help me find out where he’s hanging out. There’s something else we ought to do, hon. Take some of the cash from that big safe here on the ranch property.”

“Hell no, Hans. That would be suicide. Half of Mexico would be chasing us for the rest of our lives. You know that. We have to be smart, not get greedy or bogged down with small grievances. You could blow up any chance we have for a clean disappearance.” She heard no reply. “By the time the dust settles, we’ll be kicking back with our twenty-year-old island identity. You haven’t forgotten that, have you?”

“Not likely. Is everything still in play, the way we set it up?”

“Damn right. I’ve had a couple people on St. Croix, using and living our official family identity. They’re looking forward to moving on with a half-million bucks in their pocket. The money will be released once we’re settled into things there.”

“That all sounds good. When can I expect you back here at the ranch?”

“I have no intention of going back. I was in St. Croix for several days. I’m in the Bahamas now, be back in Miami by tomorrow afternoon. My Escalade’s at Miami Airport. I plan to drive straight to the boat in Palm Beach and wait for you. Law enforcement’s kicking over every stone on the west coast. The business end of things is out of our hands, finished. Listen, don’t hang around the ranch too long. The crap’s going to hit the fan immediately after you finish the few chores we talked about. And, Hans, our partners aren’t stupid. They’ll be after that money.”

“I know. They’ve used us long enough. Taking their money would give me great pleasure. How much is there, anyway? They’ll be rushing in here to see who can empty the safe first.”

“There’s approximately four million in the box. The goods stored there are much more valuable than the cash. That’s not a good reason for us to risk our lives. Let them take their chances.” She thought for a moment. “Listen carefully, Hans. The attorneys who handle the ranch have been notified of the abandonment. It was part of our plan. I submitted a thirty-day notice, dated three days ago, advising them we needed the entire month. That should avoid suspicion, allowing us a small amount of time. So, I’m forced to use my old established name from here on out, wherever I go.”

She thought for a moment, then decided. “There’s something else, Hans. Don’t be surprised if McGowin and Samantha show up at the ranch. They’re already in the area because of that stupid episode you and Marino pulled with that girl. They’ll hear it from the trust attorneys and want to hear from me. They’re most likely pissed because I didn’t let them know I held the lease on the ranch in my name. You might consider that a second chance to nail them, but I don’t recommend it. I suggest you forget about revenge and leave before they get there. Everyone’s been outed. The dominoes are going to fall fast.”

He’s thinking about the money too much. Hans is over confident. He’s been lucky in his association with Marino. It’ll take more than luck to get away from there if he confronts Marino and his partner. He’s on his own if he tries to steal the money.

Chapter 39

Hunt kicked his chair back with some difficulty, and managed to stand. He’d been walking with a cane since the attempt on his life put him in the hospital. “Run that by me again, Margie.”

“There’s a woman on the phone with information about an offshore bank account. She said she has important details about personal bank accounts for several people who may be laundering drug money through a bank in the Bahamas. She admits she’s on a burner phone and doesn’t mind staying on the line. She’s willing to provide the first bit of information for a small deposit made into her offshore account. If that’s satisfactory, she will offer up more. The price will increase with each bit of information.” Margie looked down at her notes. “We’ve traced the call to the Grand Bahama Island. Would you want to take the call? Each time she calls she’ll be using a different phone. She sounds awfully confident.”

Hunt scratched his head and nodded. “Is this the first time she’s called?”

Margie said, “She called the Sheriff’s department earlier and they gave her this number.”

Hunt picked up the phone. “Whom am I talking to?”

“If you insist on a name, just call me Bernice.”

He said, “How old are you, Bernice? You sound young enough to be skipping school today.”

“Old enough to know what I’m