Emerald Fire (11 page)

She hugged the books to her chest and released a pent-up breath. Lisa Banks almost had won this round. Ironically, Chloe suspected the woman knew about the emeralds. Nothing outright, just the calculating look in her eye or a casual comment that had double meaning. Uncle Jon knew, but the existence of the royal jewels was their sworn secret, and he’d never break her trust that way.

Owen also knew. He didn’t believe, but that never stopped him from interfering. Owen had visited her at Uncle Jon’s in the days before college, the days before Lisa. But Chloe had seen him leaving there recently. He had given a lame excuse of looking for her. Combine that with her suspicion that Lisa was seeing someone on the side, and the idea of Owen and Lisa working together became all too real. Or worse, what if they were in a
relationship?
Chloe shuddered at the thought. Those two deserved each other. But it was what the knowledge would do to her uncle when he found out that bothered her the most.

The floorboard outside her door creaked, and she snapped to attention. It was a familiar sound, but out of place if she were truly alone.

“Uncle Jon?” she called out. Her breath hitched as she waited, but nothing came from the darkness beyond the partially open door. The hair on the back of her neck tingled, and Finn’s words came back to haunt her.
It was too easy. They let us go.

She gave herself a mental shake and quickly wrapped up the journals. She stashed them back in place, grabbed her flashlight, and peered into an empty hall. With one last look behind her, she headed for the galley.

* * * *

Finn couldn’t believe they’d done it. Sure, he had anticipated success, or he wouldn’t have taken the chance, but one bounty hunter and two civilians going up against a dozen or more pirates should’ve been suicide. Luck played a heavy hand tonight, and though the worst of it had passed, he still had an itch, a lingering suspicion that it wasn’t over.

He joined Chloe’s uncle at the navigation console, taking in an instrument panel that made his heart sing. “You’re a hell of a pilot, Jonathan,” Finn said as he checked out fuel and water tank gauges. Fuel was low, but it wasn’t a concern yet. “Those were some amazing maneuvers you pulled.”

“I learned a few things back in the day,” Jonathan replied. “But I’ve never put the
Fire
through anything like that before. She handled the stress like a champion.”

“She deserves a medal after that run.” Finn would give a week’s pay to activate the ship’s dream displays. Sonar, weather radar, chart plotting, and autopilot, the yacht had it all.

“And a rest,” Jonathan replied. “God knows, I’d love to anchor down and sleep a solid eight myself, but we should run all night.”

Finn couldn’t agree more. He pushed the backlight on his watch. One-fifteen a.m., and they had a long way to go before he’d feel completely safe again. “I can take first shift at the helm.”

Jonathan scrubbed a hand over his face. “I need sleep, but I’m too keyed up.”

“It’s nerves and will fade,” Finn said with a frown. “What gets me is how we actually pulled that off. I don’t trust that it’s over.”

Lights on the navigation console blinked, and Jonathan checked the readings. “We’re making good time. The Turks and Caicos should be off our port side by noon tomorrow. We’ll need fuel by then. We’re burning it fast at this pace.”

“We can get supplies, too.” Plus he needed to make a phone call to Sam Brady.

“No police, though,” Jonathan declared. “Don’t think we can trust them yet. Too close to the damage we’ve already caused.”

That statement brought to light something that had bothered Finn from the start of this escapade. They’d have to bring the authorities in eventually, but where? Jonathan was right about one thing—there wasn’t enough distance between them and the pirate lair. Turning the
Fire
over to authorities here risked his bounty money. No. They had the yacht, and Finn planned on keeping it that way.

“I say we just stock up and keep moving,” Finn said. “Miami or Ft. Lauderdale is a better option.”

“Why don’t we sail her all the way to Boston ourselves?” Jonathan responded.

Finn warmed to the idea. A nice relaxing sail up the eastern seaboard would be a perfect anecdote to rattled nerves and itchy suspicions. The fact that it suited his ill-advised desire to get to know Chloe a little better had nothing to do with the idea’s appeal.

“I like it. Sounds like a plan,” Finn agreed. “It’s settled then.”

“What’s settled?” Chloe asked as she entered the bridge carrying an ice bucket filled with three longneck bottles of beer, the scotch, and a tray of snacks.

Finn cleared his throat. “Our destination.”

She looked inquiringly at him. When he didn’t answer, she turned to her uncle who just stared out the front windshield like they were in jeopardy of hitting an iceberg.

“Where are we headed?” she asked.

“Boston.” Finn braced for the argument.

“Okay.”

That was it? No protest, no indignation over a long drawn-out sail? She argued over everything else, and now she decided to become agreeable? He didn’t believe it for a minute. “What do you mean, okay?”

She just shrugged. “It’s a good idea, that’s all.”

So he got what he wanted. And again, it was too easy. All this success was making him nervous. It usually came with a price.

Chloe slid the tray onto a table and handed the cold beer around. “Here’s to the
Emerald Fire
,” she said as she lifted her bottle for a drink.

“Here’s to NorthStar,” Finn said in response.

Jonathan choked on his beer. After a brief coughing spell, he set the bottle in a cup holder and brushed a hand over his face.

Chloe stepped up beside him and clapped him on the back. “Finn owns a boat repair shop in Mystic. It’s called NorthStar.”

Her uncle nodded, but shot a strange look Finn’s direction. That was two for two with this family. Why did the name of his shop cause such a shocked reaction?

“Boat repair, eh?” Jonathan asked. “What’s up with the insurance gig?”

“A side business that pays the bills for now.”

“Well, I can see why Sam hired you to do the job,” Jonathan said. “Having the balls to steal a ship from pirates probably puts you at the top of his must-hire list.”

“It’s not my preferred method of recovery, but there weren’t many options.” And NorthStar had to have that wood lathe. Without it, they lacked the ability to work on bigger ships, something the company needed to stay viable. And stay on track to expand into the niche market of tall ship restoration. For that, he needed real money.

“Have you called Sam yet?” Jonathan asked.

“Yesterday, when our plane landed in Santo Domingo. I contacted him to let him know we’d located the
Fire
. He doesn’t know we’ve found you or the plan to steal the yacht from pirates. I’ll make contact again when we dock for fuel. Let him know we were successful.”

“Don’t tell him yet.”

“Why not?”

Jonathan didn’t answer, but the tight set of his jaw spoke volumes. Chloe set her beer down and stepped behind her uncle, wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and rested her cheek against his back.

“You don’t want her to know you’re alive, do you?” she asked softly.

He reached up and patted his niece’s hand. “I want the element of surprise when I confront her.”

Finn understood that sentiment and completely sympathized with Jonathan Banks, but his paycheck depended on Sam being in the know, along with returning the
Emerald Fire
safe and sound.

“I can’t hold off telling Sam for long,” Finn said. “If he doesn’t hear from me soon, he will send in the cavalry. Didn’t you say he’s your friend?”

Jonathan nodded. “Known him for twenty years.”

“So you know he can be discreet. He’ll keep this quiet until we get back.”

Chloe released her uncle, but stayed close, leaning back against the console beside him. “Lisa wouldn’t have been able to hide her true colors for much longer, Uncle Jon,” she said with a sad little shake of her head. “I’m just glad you didn’t fall victim to her greed.”

“Mike and Brett did.” Anger glittered in her uncle’s eyes. “And for that she’s going to pay.”

Finn agreed wholeheartedly. If the woman hired pirates to commit murder, she needed to face the consequences of that crime. But accusing her was easy, proving it not so much. “So far Lisa’s actions only look incriminating,” Finn stated. “We know first-hand her ultimate goal, but proving it in a court of law will take planning on our part. We need to build a case against her.”

Jonathan swiveled his chair toward Finn. “What do you have in mind?”

Finn set his half-empty beer down, taking a second to consider the best move. “Our goal is to gain more incriminating evidence and keep the upper hand. To do that we need to fly under the radar, give her room to dig a deeper hole.” He stared hard at Jonathan. He hadn’t known the man long, but if his niece was any indication, this request wouldn’t go down easy. “It’s important that you stay hidden. Out of sight. Out of contact. She needs to think she’s winning.”

Jonathan didn’t react, just sat there. Chloe was frowning, which probably wasn’t a good sign either. Lisa Banks needed to be behind bars, but arresting and prosecuting were two different things. Whatever the plan turned out to be, it needed to happen after he surrendered the yacht to Boston Marine, not before.

“What if she tries to run?” Chloe asked. “Won’t the pirates tell her their plan failed?”

Finn shook his head. “Not if she’s paid them. They won’t volunteer that information unless they have to.”

She nodded, accepting his logic, but didn’t look thrilled about it.

“Let’s get to Boston,” Finn said. “We’ll sit down with Sam Brady and figure out our next step. They have attorneys who will press charges against her for insurance fraud. Until then, radio silence. Agreed?”

“The worry and uncertainty will probably give her heartburn,” Chloe said with relish. “I like it.”

“Remind me to stay on your good side,” Finn said.

Chloe arched an eyebrow at him before turning to face her uncle. “He’s right, Uncle Jon. To get justice for Mike and Brett, and see Lisa get what she deserves, we need to play this smart.”

Good to know she had common sense. He was still in total shock at her continued agreement with his plans, but he wasn’t about to question his good fortune, not with so much at stake.

Jonathan’s jaw worked. “I want to be the one to confront her, to tell her that she failed.”

“You deserve that right,” Finn said. “But right now you’re the trump card. The last thing she’ll expect. We can’t waste the advantage that offers.”

Chloe laid a hand on her uncle’s arm. “We’ll bring her and everyone involved down. And you can lead the charge. Finn can make that happen. Right?” The last she said with a pointed gaze in Finn’s direction.

“When I talk to Sam, I’ll insist on it.” He met Jonathan’s eyes. They were full of anger and a burning need to dish out payback.

“If you promise me that I get to deal the winning hand against her,” Jonathan replied, “then it’s a deal.”

“That settles it,” Finn stated. “Tomorrow we bring Sam into the loop. He’ll be our eyes and ears in Boston until we decide how best to proceed.”

Jonathan scrubbed a hand across his face. “I can’t believe it’s come to this.” He grabbed his beer and took a long pull.

“I’m so sorry, Uncle Jon,” Chloe said softly. “I know you loved her, but she’s incapable of returning the emotion. It’s all about the money for her.”

Finn frowned and looked away as a splinter of guilt assailed him. Finding the
Emerald Fire
and risking their lives against pirates was all about the money.

What did that say about him?

Three a.m., and they still ran dark. Finn had slowed their speed considerably, concerned over the hazards of running at night. Other ships, marker buoys, unexpected sandbars, and even with state of the art navigation, accidents could happen. And the
Emerald Fire
came equipped with a dashboard panel that inspired poetry. It was a boat nerd’s wet dream, complete with enough gauges, switches, and control systems to make an aircraft cockpit jealous. Too bad most were turned off in an effort to keep lights at a minimum.

Still, between the glow of the instrument panel and low-level floor lights, the bridge was illuminated enough to see what was what. Outside the windshield, a waning moon hung low on the horizon, and its meager light, together with a GPS system in operation, they had enough guidance to keep putting distance between them and the pirates of Boca Chica.

Finn scrubbed a hand across the back of his neck, pulling on tight muscles. He shouldn’t still be so tense. They had possession of the yacht and the bounty money was all but in his hands. He should be elated. Instead, a nagging itch wouldn’t leave him alone.

“Want some company?” Chloe asked softly as she stepped onto the bridge.

At her sudden appearance, he curbed the unexplainable worry. “Why aren’t you sleeping?” he asked as she joined him at the console.

“I can’t,” she said and settled into the co-pilot’s chair. “Something doesn’t feel right.”

So she felt it, too. That wasn’t good. He glanced her way with a frown, but one look, and he ditched all thought of menacing pirates and irrational concerns. Chloe wore the rumpled look of someone who had just climbed out of bed, and it was sexy as hell. Her hair lay in soft waves around her shoulders, and one wayward lock curled just above her breast. He wanted to touch it, hold it in his hand, and feel the silkiness glide through his fingers. He reluctantly squashed the impulse and forced his attention back to the ship’s navigation panel.

“How’s our heading?” she asked as she peered into the darkness outside the windshield.

He gathered his thoughts and gave a coherent answer. “We’re in open waters, halfway to Turks and Caicos.”

“I’ve always wanted to explore the Caribbean.” She swiveled her chair his direction. “But this isn’t really what I had in mind.” Her lips curved into an appealing smile.

He smiled back. “I don’t know why you’d say that. Surely everyone dreams of beating pirates at their own game.”