He choked and released her, reaching down in pure reflex to protect himself. Dar took the opportunity to duck past him and whirl, then turn sideways and kick out, catching him in the buttocks and sending him hurtling into the wall head first. She whirled as she sensed someone else coming, and her hands came up into fists at shoulder level as she spotted another man close by.
He held up his hands, but they were palm out. “Whoa, tiger.”
Dar glared at him. “Don’t you know when the fuck to leave people alone?” she asked. “What the hell does it take, DeSalliers? A damn court order?”
“Well, damn it, Roberts. You keep showing up in my business; what the hell am I supposed to do?” DeSalliers answered. “If you’d mind your own, and get the hell out of my way, I’d be glad to never set eyes on you again!”
Dar put her hands on her hips. “You’re nuts,” she stated flatly.
“You wanted your spot on the ocean? Fine. We left. We came over here, and haven’t thought about you all the damn day long. So what are you talking about?”
DeSalliers eyed her suspiciously. “You’re searching the shops for what I’m after.”
Dar rolled her eyes. “We were searching the shops for pearl earrings. You into that? I never woulda guessed.” She backed a step to keep her attacker in her sight, since he was now getting to his feet.
“You’re lying.”
“You’re a jerk. I guess we’re even,” Dar shot back. “Now get the hell out of my way before I call the cops.” She pointed at him.
“We don’t want any part of whatever the hell you’re after.”
“How much did he offer you?” DeSalliers countered, as though he hadn’t heard a word she’d said. “I’ll double it.”
Dar glared at him. “You’re really pissing me off,” she warned.
“Triple it. What will it take?”
It got to the point where it became, oddly, funny. “Okay.” Dar held up her hands. “I give.”
DeSalliers folded his arms. “I knew I could find your price.”
“English isn’t working,” Dar went on. “What language would you like me to tell you to fuck off in next, one you’ll understand?”she asked. “Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Habla Español?
Parlez-vous Français?” She held up her left hand, middle finger extended. “American Sign Language? What?”
With a sudden motion, she closed on him and grabbed his shirt, twisting her hands in it before he could jerk away. She lifted up and Terrors of the High Seas 201
pushed him against the garbage dumpster, surprising him with her strength. “I DO NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU OR
YOUR BUSINESS!” she bellowed at the top of her lungs. “DO YOU
UNDERSTAND ME, MISTER??”
His eyes were as big as saucers, Carvel flying saucers, in fact.
“Roberts, I don’t think you want to do this.”
“All I want to do,” Dar’s voice dropped to a low rumble, “is go get some clothes, go back to my hotel, and spend the night necking in the moonlight with my partner.” She got nose to nose with him.
“And you, mister, are all that’s between me and what I want.” She shook him. “You…are the one who doesn’t want to do this. Trust me.”
“Boss, you want me to shoot her?” The thug behind her spoke in a voice that was a touch hoarse.
“Put that away, you idiot,” DeSalliers snapped nervously. “She can probably catch the bullet.”
Dar snorted. She released the man’s shirt and let him up off the dumpster. She looked over her shoulder at the thug, who was uncertainly juggling a small handgun. With a shake of her head, she returned her eyes to DeSalliers. “What will it take to convince you I don’t want any part of this?” she asked in a normal tone. “We got involved by accident; I got uninvolved on purpose.”
He studied her. “All right,” he said. “Explain why you had your people jump my men out on St. Richard last night, and maybe I’ll believe you.”
“My people?” Dar stared at him.
“Pity we had to hurt them.” DeSalliers gave her a thin smile.
“They didn’t get what they were after. Maybe you,” his long finger poked Dar in the chest, “should take a lesson from that.” Now his tone turned dark. “You listen to me, Roberts. Keep out of my way.
If you get in it again, I’ll take you out. Permanently.” With that, he turned and stalked off, his thug trotting behind him.
Dar stared after him. “My people?” she whispered. “What in the he…” Her mind went back to an empty restaurant and a quiet, still home that morning. She pulled out her cell phone and recalled Bud and Charlie’s number from memory, then dialed it. It rang three times, then went to voice mail. Dar waited for the beep, then spoke. “Hey. It’s Dar. Give me a ring when you get this. I need to talk to you guys.” She hesitated, then hung up, closing the phone and tapping it against her chest. “This is getting to be like a bad episode of Twilight Zone,” she muttered. After a moment of indecision, she headed toward the boat. She’d pick up their clothes, then go back to the hotel and let Kerry in on what had happened.
And then? Christ. Dar shook her head in honest bewilderment.
Who the hell knows what then?
202 Melissa Good KERRY DIDN’T REALLY remember falling asleep. One moment, she was looking at the little area guidebook she’d found in the inn room, the next moment she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She rolled over and blinked up at Dar. “Oh, Jesus. Did I conk out?”
Dar sat down on the bed next to her. “Apparently.” She smoothed Kerry’s hair back and felt her forehead. It was cool.
“Might have been better if I’d stayed here and joined you.”
“Uh oh.” Kerry gazed up at her, seeing the turmoil in Dar’s expression. “Now what?
“DeSalliers.”
“Again? What the hell is it with that guy?”
Dar collapsed next to Kerry and spread her arms out across the covers. “He’s a self-absorbed, megalomaniacal moron.”
“Well, yeah, but besides that.”
“He and one of his goons chased me down on the way to the boat. He still thinks we’re part of this stupid game he’s playing.”
“Chased you down?” Kerry sat right up, wide-awake, her eyes going big and round.
“Easy, slugger,” Dar drawled, faintly amused at the always surprising ferociousness Kerry displayed on her behalf. “Yeah, we yelled at each other, and he left.” She sighed. “Problem is, he also hinted that he’d run into friends of ours, and they’d gotten hurt.”
She lifted her phone. “I left a message for Bud, but there’s been no answer.”
“Yikes.” Kerry became concerned. “Dar, this isn’t funny. I think it’s time we called in the cops.”
Dar nodded. “Me, too,” she said. “I stopped by the police station on the way up here.”
“And?” Kerry settled back down next to her.
“It’s Christmas Day.” Dar gave her a wry look. “There was only one man in the place, and he was cleaning it. I think the rest of them are out on patrol.” She paused. “At least, I hope so.”
“Crap.” Kerry frowned. “Is there anyone else we can call?”
“All the US offices are closed.” Dar drummed her fingers on the covers. “I don’t know if there is anything we can do before tomorrow. I wish Bud would call me, though. “
“Stupid jerk.”
Dar’s eyebrows lifted. “He’s not that bad.”
“I meant DeSalliers.” Kerry scowled. “Should we go back to Bud and Charlie’s island? What about Rufus?” She eased over onto her side. “Dar, this sucks.”