Chapter 39
Ihopped on the bike and tested it out. The front wheel wobbled a little. I certainly wouldn't be going fast on the way back to the marina.
Pedro and Francesco followed me on scooters of their own. I felt like a dignitary with an escort, flanked on either side by the two gentlemen.
I kept a wary eye on my surroundings.
Several car lengths back, the bike bandits appeared.
I signaled Pedro and Francisco.
With tire irons at the ready, they were prepared for anything.
The bandits followed us until we neared the marina. Then they turned off.
We pulled into the parking lot, and I returned the bike at one of the kiosks. I thanked Pedro and Francisco.“You saved my life. Literally.”
They both smiled.
Francisco said, “It is a life worth saving. I hope you find your friend.”
We said our goodbyes, and they waited until I walked down the dock toward the Vesper. I know Tyson had demanded I return to Coconut Key, but I couldn’t let this go now. I was too close.
Sportfishing boats, superyachts, and catamarans floated in slips. I turned and waved goodbye to Francisco and Pedro. They waved back, then zipped away. As I turned around, heading for the Vesper, a guy ripped my tote from my grasp.
His sneakers slapped against the dock as he sprinted toward the lot.
“Hey, asshole!” I shouted.
Another guy pulled up on a scooter, and the thief hopped onto the back. They zipped away and disappeared.
I clenched my jaw and growled. My phone was in the tote, along with my wallet and keys.
I had some reserve cash and a spare credit card back in the cabin, but this was not good.
I limped back to the Vesper and crossed the passerelle, feeling deflated.
When I hit the aft deck, Vanessa greeted me with wide eyes. “What happened!? Are you okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Little accident. I rented a scooter—“
“You need to be careful on those things.”
“It wasn’t my fault,” I said, glancing around. There were a few deckhands disconnecting shore power and water. Then they cast off the lines.
“And this asshole just ripped me off.”
She lifted a surprised brow. “I’ve been trying to get in touch with you. Declan’s ready to leave. He wants to get to Mar Azul by morning. A pretty massive storm is coming in, and Declan wants to get ahead of it, if possible.”
I bit my bottom lip, trying to decide what to tell her. “I was attacked.”
“Just now?”
“Before my tote was stolen.”
“What!?”
I told her the details.
Her jaw went slack.
“It wasn’t long after I went to the police.”
“You went to the police?”
I nodded. “I wanted to find out more about Kate.”
“What did they say?”
I shook my head. “They didn’t care.” Then I added. “I talked to Kate’s agent.”
Her brow lifted with surprise. “You did? What did he say?”
"We need to talk about a few things," I said, looking around again to make sure no one was eavesdropping.
"Sounds like I'm going to need a drink for this. You want one?”
"No. Thank you."
Vanessa dashed into the salon and slipped behind the bar. I waited on the aft deck, watching the crew cast off the lines. I had more than a little trepidation about staying aboard, but I wanted to see this thing through.
Vanessa returned a moment later with two frozen margaritas and handed me one. "Take it. You look like you could use it.”
I figured it might take the edge off, but I needed to stay sharp. My elbow and knee ached. I’d hit my knee on the handlebars, and it was pretty bruised. I took a sip of the margarita, and it tasted pretty good. "I thought you weren’t feeling well.”
She groaned. "I felt terrible. I took some stuff for my stomach, lay down for a while, and I feel much better. I'm absolutely confident this margarita will kill any germs I may have picked up in this shithole.”
"How long have you been dating Declan?" I asked.
Vanessa shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe a year.”
I frowned. "Don't shoot the messenger.”
Her eyes narrowed at me. "What?”
I cringed. "I don't… I don't know if I should say it. You’re going to get mad at me. You’re gonna yell.”
"I won't yell. I promise. What is it?"
I gathered my strength and said, "Kate had been aboard this boat numerous times," I said in a hushed tone.
"What!?”
"It was arranged through her agency.”
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed. "What are you saying?"
After a hesitation, I said, "She was an escort."
Vanessa's eyes bulged, and her face went long. The color drained from her skin.
"She was on this boat," I said. "I can all but prove it." Then, in a whisper, I said, "Has the FBI interviewed Declan?”
Vanessa swallowed hard, her reality collapsing around her. "I don't know. Not that I'm aware of.”
"They had to question him. Her cell records would have indicated she was on the boat. He's been gaslighting me this entire time.”
It was at that time that Declan walked through the main salon and stepped onto the aft deck to join us. With a beaming smile, he said, "You made it back! We were starting to get worried about you.”
"Anya," I said.
Declan's face went pale.