Page 21 of Erase Me
I strolled down the dock like I owned the place.The sound of water slapping against the hulls provided a rhythmic backdrop to the laughter coming from some very young women on the deck of the boat.Vaughn was right about that.From this vantage point, I could see the bodyguards that he’d warned me about.Despite being forty yards away, they already had their eyes glued to my every move.I pretended to ignore them.
I stopped at a Sea Ray 400 Sundancer, two slips from the end of the dock, and turned down the narrow walk between boats.This boat was as good as any.The deck area in the stern was open, so I stepped onto the wide swim platform and went aboard.
The deck had bench seating and a fold-down table.Beneath one of the benches was a space with two coolers.Forward of this area was a compact galley and salon with a table for dining, and an L-shaped couch.The sliding door was unlocked.I went through and tried the door to the left of the helm.I knew it led down to the forward cabins, but it was locked.
Since I clearly owned this beauty, I must be living the good life.
I went back out to the stern deck and opened one of the coolers.A dozen beers.Perfect.They weren’t cold, but it didn’t matter.I didn’t plan on drinking it.I pulled one out and sat on a cushioned bench where I could see the stern section of Volpe’s yacht.Voices drifted toward me.
“I told you,” a young woman complained loudly.“We can’t stay all night.”
A persuasive male voice droned some objection.
“Nuh-uh.My mother will fucking kill me,” another girlish voice chimed in.“I’m late getting home already.”
Definitely underage.
“Youstay, then.”He was talking to one of the girls, and his voice carried an air of confident authority.“You and I can party.”
“No way, man.”She had a laugh in her voice, but I could hear the nervousness beneath her tone.She was not about to be left alone with this guy.
“But we’ll be back,” the first girl chirped.“We can all party together.Promise.”
“When?”
“Tuesday?”
“Yeah, Tuesday,” the other two said in unison.
“This wolf won’t be around on Tuesday,” I muttered to myself.
Just then, one of the bodyguards must have decided that I was a little too close and needed checking on.As he dropped onto the dock, I popped open the beer and waited.In less than a minute, I heard his heavy tread on the walkway next to the boat.
I nodded to him as he came into view.He was squarely built with an ugly face and an even uglier haircut.When he came off the yacht, I’d seen the bulge in his windbreaker in the small of his back.He had a pistol.I had a beer.Seemed fair.
“Hey,” he said.Civil, but not too friendly.
I half-turned on the bench and stretched my arm along the cushioned stern rail.“Hey back.”
“Yours?”His eyes swept into the galley and dining space.Making sure there was no one else here.
“I wouldn’t be sitting here if it wasn’t.”
“Haven’t seen you around.”
“Haven’tbeenaround.”
He looked me over and then decided I wasn’t worth worrying about.“This baby is sweet.How big is it inside?”
“Two cabins, a master stateroom, and a head.”I looked at him coolly.“Wanna buy it?”
His eyes narrowed, unsure if I was kidding him or not.But he didn’t like it.I was certainly not making a friend.
“I’ll give you a good deal.Four hundred K and it’s yours right now.”
He stared, but I turned my head at the sound of voices.The three girls were helping each other onto the dock from the yacht.Quite the display of high heels and short dresses.Giggling as they hung on to each other, they appeared to be drunk or high.
The bodyguard glanced at them and then back at me as his partner on the yacht called for him.
