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

He signaled Mike to come in closer. “Hey, buddy, you’ve got a bullet hole in the forward chamber of your RIB. She’s going flat.”

Chapter 50

Samantha sat in the tender, listening to Dammit deal with the harbor patrol officer. She stood up for a moment, hoping to get a better look at the two shooting victims. She had a bad feeling about this. Dick grabbed her arm and pulled her back down.

“Sheriff McDill’s on his way,” the harbor officer said. “He asked that you give him five minutes. He’s walking over with the coroner and his investigator. Paramedics will be here shortly to care for the wounded man.” He leaned down for a close look at the dead man and stood up shaking his head.

Dammit passed him the two service weapons he’d taken from the men he’d shot. “The man with the bloody head was driving the boat. His weapon’s wrapped in the hand towel. The head wound isn’t serious enough for much more than a cleanup. The dead man was the shooter. The weapon used is lying there, beneath his body. His handgun is the one wrapped in a paper towel.”

Mike examined the bullet damage to the RIB and returned to face Samantha. “I hope this trouble’s over for you and Dick, Sam. You’ve had a rough go of it. I believe the sheriff will go easy on us, knowing you as well as our family. Hopefully, we can give our statements and continue on with the cruise to San Diego.”

Samantha recognized Sheriff Dickson and the coroner. She didn’t know the man with them. “Doctor Peyton and I have socialized with these men.” She hoped they didn’t feel she was somehow to blame for the terrible trouble descending on the island community.

She raised herself again to see the coroner turn the shooter’s body face-up. She gasped with obvious surprise. It looks like him but he looks different. She glanced around at Dick. No one said anything. Oh God, please let it not be him.

Sheriff McDill looked from Dammit to Mike. “Are you absolutely positive this man was holding the weapon when you shot and killed him?”

Dammit said, “Absolutely positive, Sheriff. His prints should be all over that combat weapon. You can see damage to the RIB and superficial wounds to Mike from fiberglass chips. The console took two of the bullets and saved his life. You can also see that one projectile deflated the forward chamber of the RIB. Thank God for the safety feature of multiple chambers.”

Mike responded to a look from the sheriff. “We were lucky to survive that first burst of fire, Sheriff. Preparing for the attack after seeing that man with a weapon is what saved our lives. We didn’t recognize him as your long-time assistant. Neither man’s in uniform. Dammit fired only after shots from an automatic weapon slammed into our vessel. I’ve always had respect for that man. The driver’s unknown to me.”

“The man driving the boat is relatively new with the department, Mike. Money and drugs, a bad combination. Even a fine man like Officer Bennett couldn’t resist. DEA has insisted we were penetrated for some months now. The department’s under investigation by the FBI. They’ll get to the bottom of it.”

Samantha spoke up. “I’ve known Officer Bennett as long as I’ve been on the island. I liked him a lot, even considered him a friend. He has always been friendly and helpful.”

“You never know how many rotten apples you have until you get deeper into the barrel. Our small island will never get over this mess. First, Doctor Peyton, then his long-time associate, Angel Mendoza, now my own deputies. That club owner, Marino, was in a different class, always under suspicion. We may find out that he poisoned all the others with his damn drug money.”

He made eye contact with Sam. “I’m pleased that you held yourself above the temptation, Samantha. Finding you involved in this mess would have been a great disappointment. I’m speaking for all your local friends here, as well as myself. The harbor patrol will take care of your beautiful little racing sloop until you can decide what’s to be done with it.”

“Thank you, Sheriff. I know Dick will help me find a way to have Ipswich settled with us when we land, wherever that may be.”

He waved his hand in a dismissive gesture toward the McGowin men. “I’ve known this family for forty years. Tell Mark McGowin I’m looking forward to a chat. There’s nothing better than his good cigars and fine brandy. I’ll stop by with a full report before you pull the hook. Our investigators will be on board, taking detailed statements. You’d better plan on hanging around here one more day while we clear things up.” He grinned at Samantha. “You stack up well with this family, Sammy. Whenever they show up on our little island they’re always accompanied by beautiful women. Just prepare yourself for a bumpy ride.”

He slapped Mike on the shoulder and laughed. “You people come in here for a few days of fun and leave me buried in official paperwork for months. Then, you’re gone again, in the blink of an eye.”