Chapter 10
“What the hell do you want to do about this storm?” JD asked when we returned to the Avventura. “I think we need to move the boat.”
It was the smart thing to do, given the current weather models.
“We’re in the middle of a case,” I said.
“Tell that to Adrianna.”
He had a point. “Look, I’ll call my guy in Miami, rent a slip. We can have the boat up there by the end of the day. We can stay up there for a few days, hit the clubs, and get away from the chaos here. With those assassins running around, it might not be a bad idea.”
Jack called his guy, and I rang Teagan. She was at Diver Down, tending bar.
“Hey, do you mind looking after Buddy and Fluffy for a few days?”
“Not at all. What’s up?”
I told her about our plans to move the boat. “Just as a precaution. I think it would be easier if they stayed here with you. We could get up to Miami, and the sheriff could need us here. Then I’ve got to wrangle them.”
“You know I’m down anytime. Just bring them by the bar, and I’ll take them home with me.”
“You’re a doll.”
“Don’t forget it,” she said in a cutesy voice.
After I ended the call, I grabbed Buddy’s leash, found Fluffy’s travel case, which she did not like, and hustled down the dock to Diver Down.
“You think it’s going to get bad?” Teagan asked when I joined her at the bar.
“You’re the psychic. You tell me.”
She sneered at me. “I don’t know. The news gives it 50-50, but what do they know.”
“It could turn,” I said, being optimistic. “Hopefully it does.”
She frowned. “We’ve gotten lucky the last few storms. Maybe it’s our time.”
“Don’t say that.”
Harlan sat at the end of the bar, sipping a longneck. “It ain’t gonna amount to nothing. That’s what I say.”
“I hope you’re right,” I replied.
“What do you want to do about the bar?” Teagan asked.
“We’ll keep an eye on this thing and board up if we have to.” I paused in thought. “I’d stick around, but Jack will need a hand with the boat.”
“I can manage,” Teagan assured. “It’s not a big deal. Alejandro is around. He can help, and I can always hire out whatever I need, at your expense, of course,” she said with a grin.
“You manage the place. It’s at your discretion.”
Teagan smiled. “Consider it handled.”
I took Buddy and Fluffy up to the loft above the restaurant, then hustled back to the Avventura and packed a bag.
I shared my thoughts with Jack.
“That’s a lot of boat. And I’m gonna need help getting it up to Miami. I say we run up there and re-evaluate. If it looks bad, we’ll catch a flight back and help Teagan secure the bar.”
Sounds like a plan.
I called Paisley to check on her before we left. “Are you behaving yourself?”
“If you’re asking me if I’m bored out of my mind, the answer is yes.”
I chuckled, then told her about our run up to Miami.
“I want to go.”
“I don’t think that’s the safest option for you. But we’ll be back soon.”
“What if I need something in the meantime?”
“I’m a phone call away.”
“What about this hurricane thing?”
“We’re keeping an eye on the situation.”
“What if I need to evacuate?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“Yeah, but if you’re not around, what am I supposed to do? I don’t have a car, remember? I’m kinda stuck here.”
I sighed. “Ok. I’m going to pick you up, and you’re going to Miami with us. You can stay on the boat, or we’ll find a hotel for you.”
“Yay! What kind of boat?”
“A nice one.”
“Now this is starting to sound like a vacation.”
I left the Avventura, hustled down the dock, hopped into the Wild Fury van, and sped over to the Seven Seas.
I collected Paisley from her room, checked out of the hotel, and escorted her into the van.
With my head on a swivel, I pulled out of the parking lot and drove back to the marina at Diver Down, making plenty of unnecessary twists and turns to make sure I wasn't followed.
I found a place to park, locked up the van, then showed her to the superyacht.
Paisley's eyes rounded with surprise. "When you said boat, I didn't know you meant cruise ship."
I laughed.
"This isn’t a boat. This is a mansion on the water."
"Glad you like it.” I escorted her across the passerelle to the aft deck.
"I could really get used to a place like this.”
"It's just temporary.”
She frowned at me as I slid open the door to the salon and gestured her inside. She took a step in and soaked in the luxurious accommodations.
"You have really good taste," she said.
"Thank you.”
"And you work for the county?" she said with skeptical eyes.
"No. I volunteer for the county.“
I escorted her across the salon, past the formal dining area, into the foyer, and down to the below-deck state room. At the moment, she had her pick.
I put her in a queen birth with a private en suite.
"There's a fold-down TV if you get bored, galley’s on the main deck, make yourself at home.
The refrigerator is fully stocked. Unlike the hotel, I don't mind if you get into the minibar.
Just don't get drunk and fall overboard.
You are old enough to drink, aren't you?”
She gave me a flat look. "Yes, I'm old enough to drink. I'm old enough for a lot of things," she said with a sultry eyebrow.
She was a good-looking woman, but that was a headache I didn't need at the moment.
"We’ll be underway soon. If you think you’re going to be seasick, I've got some Dramamine and some sea bands. Let me know well in advance."
"I don't get seasick."
"Good to know. We should be in Miami later this evening. Same rules apply. No phone calls, don't tell anybody where you are."
"What if you're abducting me?” she said with a mischievous smirk.
"You're free to go at any time. But if you want to go, I suggest you do it soon.”
She frowned at me. "I'm just playing with you. I kind of like the accommodations. It’s nicer than my apartment.”
I left her to get settled in, then hustled back up to the main deck. I disconnected shore power and water, and Jack took the helm. I cast off the lines. He navigated us out of the slip, and we cruised past the breakwater. I joined him on the bridge, and he throttled up.
He plotted our course on the nav screen, and I sat back and tried to unwind.
We'd take turns at the helm to avoid fatigue over the next nine hours.
Like Jack had said, it was a lot of boat to manage, but doable.
We were plenty used to puttering this thing around Coconut Key.
Taking it on a transoceanic voyage would require an entire crew.
With the amount of fuel we’d burn, this would be an expensive trip, but it was better than letting the boat get ravaged by a hurricane.
The Avventura sliced through the teal swells, heading north. She sure was something underway. A real head-turner. So was Paisley. She decided to take up residence on one of the forward sun pads au natural. With skin glistening with oil and mouthwatering curves, she was hard to ignore.
“She can stay on the boat as long as she likes,” JD said.
“I figured you might say that.”
JD and I tried to keep our eyes on the horizon. Paisley was quite the distraction, but we managed to get to Miami without hitting anything or running aground.
It was a little after 10:00 PM when we arrived at the marina. Jack navigated the boat into the slip, and deckhands helped us tie off. We might see a little wind and rain up here, but nothing major. Still, we secured the boat as best we could.
We weren't the only ones who had the idea. The marina filled up fast. Every available slot they had was taken. We were lucky to get in when we did. If Jack hadn't known the guy who ran the place, we’d have been out of luck.
By the time we got the paperwork filled out and the slip paid for, it was definitely time for a cocktail.
We sat on the sky deck under the stars and raised our glasses.
“Mission accomplished,” Jack said.
“Since this is a completely different city, and no one knows we’re here, we should go dancing at a club,” Paisley said.
I chuckled. “We are not going dancing at a club.”
"Well, you don't have to go,” she said with a sassy smile. “I can go and tell you all about it later."
"I don't think that's a good idea. You do what you want, but…"
She frowned at me. "Okay. I'll be a homebody. But nobody knows we’re here, right? You weren't followed. You're good at what you do.”
"What if somebody sees you?”
"I don't know anybody here.”
"I can’t keep you safe if you’re not gonna play by the rules."
She raised her hands in surrender. "I'll play by the rules. I'm just saying. At least I’m out of that hotel room.”
We had a few drinks under the stars, then called it an early night. Possibilities swirled, but I decided not to pursue that for now. No need to complicate the situation with Paisley. She was a witness in an investigation. That was complication enough.
Two days later, the sheriff called with bad news. It looked like we just couldn’t catch a break.