Night Moves (Doc Ford) - By RandyWayne White Page 0,62
him to do. Mack didn’t mind helping out marina neighbors, but he would draw the line at breaking and entering if it put a fat weekly rental fee at risk. I couldn’t let him or anyone else at Dinkin’s Bay see me break into that boat.
Tomlinson didn’t process it, though, because he was still talking about Cressa. “Women with a body like hers, and that face, she meets very few men who won’t jump through hoops, then roll over and show their bellies. That’s gotta get old after a while—which is why she’s got smoke eyes for you. Crescent’s never had an alpha male in her life.”
“I wouldn’t bet on that,” I told him.
Tomlinson was two more sentences into his theory before he stopped and refocused on me. “You can’t be talking about her husband. Rob almost had a hissy fit when he saw what the dog did to his couch.”
I checked the porch—Cressa was still inside—then looked to make sure the retriever was within whistling distance before I said, “Here’s what I think. Rob’s brother, Dean, is as alpha as they come—according to what Cressa says, anyway. I think she was sleeping with Deano up until he started having mental problems a couple years ago—head trauma after an accident. Afterward, maybe they kept the affair going, but then the guy started getting too weird. Even scary, but who could she go to? Tell her husband, ‘I’ve been screwing your brother, now please make him go away’? I don’t think so. Meeting you was the safety net she needed to cut herself free from the whole family.”
Tomlinson said softly, “Hmmm . . . the crazy brother who tried to kill us,” as if presenting the idea to his brain for consideration.
“He was learning to fly planes until he hit a hangar,” I continued. “He’s been seeing shrinks, in and out of twenty-four-hour-care facilities, ever since. Plus, abusing pharmaceuticals, maybe some other drugs, too. When the crash happened, Deano was trying to get into the film business. Documentaries.”
A light went on behind Tomlinson’s eyes. I’d told him about my visit from Luke Smith and he now made the connection. “Jesus Frog. Did she show you a photo or something? The crazy brother’s got some balls if he showed up at your doorstep.”
“See if you can talk her into showing you a picture of Deano. You’ll have to borrow it or set it up so I can get a quick look.”
Tomlinson’s face took on a wilted expression as if he’d been slighted. “Cressa never told me any of this. And I didn’t pick up on it, man! Makes me wonder if my precognitive powers are on the fritz.”
“You figure out how to work it. But don’t tell her too much. Last night, she tried to cover for the brother-in-law. I think she’s been feeding Deano details about Flight 19. I think the guy stays in touch—possibly even stays with her some nights.”
Tomlinson was having a tough time coming to terms with what I was suggesting. “I can’t picture her doing harm to anyone—not intentionally—but you sound like you’ve made up your mind.”
“Nope, not even close. Like I said, it’s a possible explanation. This one, at least, we can take to the cops. The brother-in-law tried to kill us, but we don’t have to involve Dan and his plane. I can call Moonley or Lieutenant Brett and mention we know a lady who’s being stalked. Blindside the brother with a lesser charge but still get him out of our hair.”
“I don’t know, man, I think you’re headed down the wrong road. Crescent is covering for a guy who tried to kill us? That’s a pretty heavy accusation.”
Tomlinson didn’t want to believe it, so I humored him by saying, “There is another possibility. Which brings us to a second favor I need—if you’re willing.”
My pal’s expression replied Aren’t I always?
It was safer to wait until dark to search the Brazilian’s boat, but Diemer and Hannah would be back before sunset if it was a standard fishing charter. Plus, I was too antsy to wait. In my mind, a question kept repeating itself: Why did an elite assassin hire Hannah?
“See that big Lamberti on A-Dock? The owner just left on a charter, and I want to go aboard alone and have a look around.”
“Why?”
“It’s better if I don’t share the details. I don’t want to be seen, so I need someone to keep Mack busy and stand watch. You—that’s the favor I’m asking.”