Red After Dark (Blackwood Security #13) - Elise Noble Page 0,64

from the days when Daddy Devane’s crony ran the department. Probably bought and paid for.

Hence the members of the dive team were constantly on their guard, and Alaric hadn’t complained when Emmy insisted Beth stay at Lone Oak Farm with Harriet and Barkley.

And the third possible reason why Ridley had made himself scarce? That was to do with Syria. Alaric didn’t yet know the full story because a nurse had confiscated Judd’s phone, but the upshot was, the witness had arrived in the US with Logan yesterday while Nada and Judd were back in the UK. Their roles had been reversed, and now she was sitting at his bedside in the hospital while the doctors sewed his arm back together. Apparently, Logan had offered Nada a job, but Judd said Sirius was keeping her and he’d marry her for real if necessary. Damn.

And the best part? Following a preliminary interview with the witness, the NCIS was very keen indeed to talk with Ridley and his men. The three still on active duty had been rounded up already, and it was possible that word had gotten out to Ridley that he was a person of interest. Even though he’d left the Navy, he was still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice because he received retirement pay from the government.

Emmy took the weight of Alaric’s air tank while he wriggled out of his BCD. The lake water smelled vaguely fishy, and duckweed clung to his regulator.

“Fuck, it’s cold down there.”

“There’s coffee waiting in the van. I might see if I can get us drysuits if we’re gonna be here much longer.”

If only. Kentucky wasn’t known for its scuba diving. They were having to get their tanks refilled in Lexington, but the centre there only had a basic range of equipment. In early June, the water temperature was in the mid-seventies near the surface, which meant wetsuits were fine for recreational diving but got damn chilly during a time-consuming underwater search.

“After that dive, I deserve bourbon.”

“I need a beer,” Knox said. “Did you see that fish?”

“What fish?”

“Was it a catfish?” Emmy asked, flicking the duckweed away. “A massive one came out of nowhere earlier, and let’s just say I’m glad I’ve got a knife.”

“You had to use it?”

“No, I punched the damn thing and it swam away, but I felt better knowing the knife was there.”

“And you didn’t think to warn us?”

“I was worried you might chicken out if I did.”

Seriously? “It’s a damn fish, Emmy, not a great white,” Alaric said.

“Don’t you watch River Monsters? A catfish can kill a man, and they grow to ten feet long. Oh, and sometimes they’re venomous.”

“You’re not really selling tomorrow’s outing.”

“Ah, yeah, sorry.” She pulled a vicious-looking knife from a scabbard strapped to her thigh. “Want to borrow this?”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass.” Alaric had his own knife, albeit a smaller folding one. “Have you seen my towel?”

Nick appeared with towels for Alaric and Knox. “Here you go. Look on the bright side, we’re halfway done.”

Halfway done with the lake, but they only had three full days until the election. Alaric wouldn’t need a knife at this rate, he’d need a flashlight, because those promised to be very long days indeed.

“I thought you were never coming back,” Beth said. “You look exhausted.”

Alaric tried not to let on how tired he was. “I’ve had better days. Did Harriet bring you home?”

“No, Dan picked me up. She was on her way here from Lexington.”

“Where I…” Dan gave them jazz hands. “Found the dude who fixed Kyla’s car.”

“Really? He remembers?”

Alaric had been convinced that lead would pan out to nothing.

“Yup. And you know why he remembers?”

“Why?”

“Because Kyla complained about the cost. Said there was no way a new bumper should cost that much, but it was a German import, and those things are never cheap. Plus he had to knock out the dents and respray the hood, and the cherry-red was a custom colour.”

“He’s certain it was Kyla?”

“He recognised her from the TV. Said he and his wife are voting Republican no matter what Mr. Carnes says.”

“Did he get curious as to why we’re asking about Kyla?” Emmy queried. “We don’t want the news getting out too soon.”

“I told him my dad recognised her on the TV too, and he swears she was the woman who ran into his beloved truck all those years ago. Even now, he grumbles about it every Thanksgiving, and he’s determined she’s gonna pay for the damage. Walt recalls Kyla claiming a