Chapter 45
Jacuzzi time with Daphne was a tempting offer.
"You are a prisoner in my custody,” I said. “That is not going to happen."
"I guess you could get in trouble for that kind of thing, right?"
"Just a little bit," I said in a sardonic voice.
"A back rub isn't against the rules, is it?”
"What are you trying to do?"
"Help you relax."
"You're trying to get me in trouble."
"No, I'm not. But I’ll stop, if that's what you want.
" She pulled her hands away, moved around the table, and took a seat.
Daphne grabbed her drink and wrapped her full lips around the martini glass, taking another sip.
"You know, I'm not always going to be a prisoner.
As soon as I help you catch Dane and Brock, I'll be a free woman. "
"You better hope this leads to results. As it stands, you’re a prisoner who escaped once and is a flight risk.”
She scoffed. "I’m here now, aren’t I?"
She took another sip. "You know, that Jacuzzi sounds good. You don't mind if I hop in for a minute."
"Knock yourself out."
She stood up, pulled the string of her bikini top, and let the taut fabric fall away. Her perky endowments bounced free, and suddenly my heartbeat elevated.
Daphne took her glass and sauntered toward the Jacuzzi. She turned on the jets, set her glass on the edge of the water, then shimmied out of her jean shorts and bikini bottoms at the same time. They fell to the deck, and she made that ankle bracelet look good. Daphne slipped into the water.
My God, that woman was a sight.
I tried my best to ignore her. She was just looking to start trouble. And she was good at it.
Daphne reclined amid the bubbling water, sipping on the martini, enjoying a temporary life of luxury. "Hey, do you think you could grab me a towel? Or should I just drip-dry when I get out?”
I grabbed her clothes from the deck before I went down the steps to find her a towel. I didn't think she was a flight risk in her current state.
I returned a moment later with a fluffy towel and set it beside the Jacuzzi.
She smiled. "Thank you. You're a doll." She batted those long lashes at me. "Are you sure you don't want to join me? I won't tell anybody. Your secret’s safe with me."
"Maybe some other time."
I bused our plates and left the sky deck. I figured she wasn't going anywhere.
I needed to take a cold shower.
Instead, I cleaned up the galley and tidied up the boat. Anything to channel that energy.
It was about 10:30 PM when Isabella buzzed my phone. “You might be interested in this. I've been tracking Rachel Bancroft’s cellular. Looks like she's at a party at the Kappa house right now. If you hurry, you might be able to catch her.”
I thanked her, ended the call, then texted JD.
By the time I got back up to the sky deck, Daphne was out of the Jacuzzi. She had a towel wrapped around her torso. She lifted a curious eyebrow at me. "Did you change your mind?"
"No. Get dressed. We've got to go.”
"Where?" she asked, intrigued.
"A frat party."
She smirked. "This sounds interesting. Is this work or pleasure?"
"Work."
"It's all work with you.”
I left her clothes on the table. She peeled off the towel before I left, teasing another glimpse.
Daphne joined me in the main salon a few minutes later with her now brunette hair pulled back into a ponytail. With a clean face and no makeup, she still looked adorable. She'd fit right in on campus.
I said goodbye to Buddy, and we hustled down the dock to the parking lot.
I grabbed Daphne’s door, then hurried around and slipped behind the wheel.
We drove across town to campus. The Kappa House was a few blocks over from Alpha Epsilon Beta Theta.
It wasn't unusual for the sorority to have joint functions.
Wild Fury had played several shows at the Kappa house throughout the years. We’d been made honorary members. Let’s just say there were some wild times, and JD had gotten into a little trouble with the campus police. Long story short. He is not allowed near the beer pong table.
Music pumped, and college students came and went. Beer cans and trash littered the lawn of the red brick Georgian mansion. A low perimeter wall, topped with wrought iron, surrounded the property. The gate was wide open.
A cab dropped JD off in front of the house.
Daphne and I climbed out of the Porsche and joined him. The three of us strolled the walkway, climbed the steps, and pushed inside.
The place was packed. The Kappas were one of the top fraternities on campus. Together with the Thetas, this was the place to be for the popular kids.
We scanned the area, looking for Rachel.
The house wasn't on campus, so alcohol was allowed. I’m sure there were plenty of underage kids drinking at this party. Red plastic cups dangled from manicured fingers. The trashcan punch around here was pretty stout. Best not to drink it. It could be adulterated with other substances.
We drifted through the crowd, looking for Rachel. Frat boys drooled over Daphne’s curves. Their girlfriends got pissed.
The midnight deadline loomed, but I figured we had plenty of time for a quick word with Rachel before heading to the Mega Mart for the drop.
I spotted the social queen flirting with a guy in a cozy corner. Her eyes sparkled, hanging on to his every word. The guy had chiseled features, brown hair, dark eyes, and a muscular physique. It looked like he played some kind of sport.
He was definitely into Rachel.
His eyes drank in her form. She was easy to look at. The petite brunette had all the right curves. In short-shorts and a crop top, she could certainly elevate heartbeats.
I approached the couple and flashed my badge. "Rachel Bancroft. Deputy Tyson Wild with Coconut County."