Chapter 46
"Considering the nature of your predicament, you’re in no position to bargain," Red said.
"The book is useless to you," I replied.
Our jaws dropped, and our eyes bugged out. It was insane.
"I don't have that kind of cash," Mickey said.
"Consider it a 10% finder’s fee.”
"I can pay you on the back end.”
Red scoffed. "There's no such thing as the backend. Cash upfront, or no deal.”
"There's no way to get that kind of cash today," I said.
“That sounds like your problem, not mine.”
"Katie, don't you think you’re being a little unreasonable?" Kylie said.
Katie glared at her. "I'm being perfectly reasonable.“
"That was Dad's book. Half of it belongs to me.”
"Your dumb ass was going to sell it for five dollars. There's a reason that Dad didn’t trust you to make financial decisions."
Kylie glared at her.
“Keep your mouth shut, and you'll never have to work again for the rest of your life,” Katie said to her.
“How can we make this work?” I asked. “A life is at stake.”
“Come up with $15 million.”
“That’s not going to happen today.”
“Then you’re not getting the book.”
“We just need to look at it.”
“Did I mention we’re willing to throw in the lizard?” Flynn said.
“I don’t want the lizard.” She glared at him.
“The lizard talks…” Flynn sang, trying to entice her.
She gave him a look of disbelief.
“Please, I’m begging you,” Mickey pleaded.
“Well, you know what it’s going to take to get this deal done.” She moved to another table, set the box down, then pulled out the copy of Treasure Island. “You know where to find me when you’ve got the money.”
She smiled and waved the book as she strutted away. Katie stepped out through the pedestrian door, taking shelter under the covered breezeway as she walked to the back door and stepped inside.
Kylie scrunched her face. "I'm sorry about that. Katie can be… difficult at times."
"It’s not your fault.”
She looked at Flynn. "I don't think you're a has-been."
He smiled. "Why, thank you."
"Actually, I kind of liked Fool’s Paradise."
"I appreciate that.”
"Did drug dealers really kidnap your daughter?" she asked Mickey.
He nodded.
Kylie made a sympathetic frown. "I wish there was something I could do.”
"You can go inside, get that book, and let us take a few pictures of the pages," Flynn said, trying to charm her.
Kylie thought about it and squirmed for a moment. "I know Katie. She’s probably hiding that book right now.”
"My daughter's life is at stake," Mickey said.
Kylie's face wrinkled with sadness and torment. "I’ll see what I can do. How can I get in touch with you?”
I dug into my pocket and handed her a card.
"We would so appreciate it if you’d come through for us," Flynn said.
Kylie nodded. "I’ll try. I promise.” She looked back at the house, then said, “You guys should leave now, so she doesn't get suspicious.”
We thanked her and ambled back down the driveway. The rain had lightened up.
Flynn called for a rideshare.
We hung out with the psychonauts until the car arrived, then we followed them back to the Avventura.
At Diver Down, Jack parked the car, and we hopped out and strolled the dock back to the boat.
"Kylie was sweet," Flynn said. “But her sister’s got a bad aura. Did you see all that shit swirling around her?" he asked Mickey.
Malibu nodded.
We crossed the passerelle and stepped to the aft deck. Buddy waited eagerly at the salon door. I slid it open, knelt down, and petted the little guy. He greeted me with a wagging tail and a slobbering tongue, then took particular interest in Augustus.
He didn't bark, he just surveyed the Lizard King with curiosity.
"You guys really need to let that lizard go," I said.
"He's free to leave at any time," Flynn said. "He'll let us know when he wants to go.”
"I suppose he told you that?”
“Ask him yourself," Flynn said.
I just shook my head.
Shafts of sunlight broke through the clouds as the storm moved out.
We gathered in the salon, trying to come up with a game plan in case we were unable to get the money. At this point, it wasn't looking good.
I said to Mickey, "You were able to see a glimpse of your map, weren't you?"
"The cipher. That’s in ink. But I need to decode it.”
"What type of cipher did you use?"
“Just a simple shifted numeric one. I drew the map in invisible ink.”
“So we need the actual page,” I said.
“I wrote detailed instructions. If I get access to the cipher, we should be good.”
“Can you decipher it?”
Mickey gave a confident nod.