Page 35 of Wild Fever
Sheriff Daniels didn't look thrilled. "Want to tell me what's going on?"
"It's a long story," I said.
"I've got time. What were you doing here?"
"Well, it's a little complicated."
His annoyed eyes burned into me. "Out with it.”
I pulled him aside and filled him in on the situation in a hushed voice, trying to make it sound as reasonable as possible.
It didn't sound reasonable at all.
"Let me get this straight. You’re palling around with a suspect, aiding and abetting a potential felon. Does that about sum it up?”
"That might be a harsh characterization, but…”
The sheriff's glare persisted. His eyes flicked to Kara and JD. Then he muttered, "If I condone this nonsense, I'm as guilty as you two are.”
"I don't think she killed Mr. Yan. She's the only link we have to finding who did. Clearly, somebody doesn't want her talking. We are on the right track, and you know it.” It was obvious. “The perfume girl at the mall gets assassinated just days after she poisoned Kara?”
"Allegedly poisoned. You've got no proof of any of this.”
"Well, all the proof you need is right there on the floor," I said, pointing toward the remains.
“She’s not telling anybody anything.”
“You’re right,” I said, not hiding my sarcasm. “This is probably all some random coincidence.”
A tight breath escaped his nostrils. After a long pause, he hissed, "Get outta here, and take her with you. Since you two discharged your weapons, you’re both on leave, pending the outcome of an investigation.”
It was a matter of procedure.
Daniels continued in a hushed tone, “I don't want you to let that woman out of your sight. Get the data she stole, find out what this is all about, and figure out who killed Mr. Yan. If the shit hits the fan, I'm going to deny we ever had this conversation. And I tell you this, Wild. If it turns out she's guilty, you two can kiss your asses goodbye. If you're not careful, you might be volunteering somewhere else, like a federal correctional facility.”
23
We took Kara back to the marina at Diver Down. I'd figure out how to handle the paperwork about this mess later. An anonymous tip led us to Lori's apartment. From there, the rest is history. It sounded plausible. Figuring out how to massage a report was the least of my concerns at the moment.
We pulled into the parking lot, and Jack parked the Porsche. We all climbed out and strolled the dock toward theAvventura. That's when I noticed something concerning. A couple of guys in suits and dark sunglasses sat on the aft deck, along with Piper. It took a little longer to get back to the boat than expected. We had kept the impatient hacker waiting, and by the expression on her face, she didn't look too pleased about it.
The guys in suits were feds. We crossed the passerelle, and they flashed their credentials. I recognized the two from Zheng's cabana at the Seven Seas—Special Agents Stratton and Ward. They reintroduced themselves.
Buddy barked up a storm in the salon, his nose against the glass.
I forced a smile. "Afternoon, gentlemen. What can I do for you?"
They surveyed Kara.
"Who's your friend?" Stratton asked me.
"Is that any of your business?”
"You want to tell me what you boys are doing?"
I shrugged. "I think we’re about to go have lunch. Would you care to join us?”
"Who is she?" Stratton asked, pointing at Piper.
