Her Very Strict Captain by Carpenter, Maggie (best book club books of all time TXT) 📗

cop was hunting her down. He had no doubt her life was in danger, but her problems could probably be resolved. He just needed to know what he was dealing with. Pouring coffee into his mug, he was about to take a drink when his phone buzzed. Lifting it from his pocket and checking the screen, he saw the caller was Jerry, one of the captains who worked for him.

“Hey, Jerry, what’s up?”

“Didn’t you see it?”

“See what?”

“The cat you brought in last night was broken into.”

“Dammit, I’ve been busy and I didn’t check the footage last night. Was anything taken?”

“Not that I can see, but I’m standing in cabin two and it’s the craziest thing. The cushions are unzipped, and the stuffing’s been pulled out. Not only that, a new package of toilet paper that was in the bathroom cabinet has been ripped open, and the rolls are lying around on the floor. It looks like someone rifled through the salon too, but there was no mess there, not like the cabin and bathroom.”

“Have you been approached by a cop out of L.A.—Detective Dan Miller?”

“There was a guy here last night asking for you, but he didn’t give a name.”

“Tall, long dark hair, bizarre mustache?”

“Yep, that’s him,” Jerry replied, “and I got a bad vibe.”

“I know what you mean,” Scott muttered. “What did you tell him?”

“Just that you’d left and wouldn’t be back for a few days. What’s going on? Do you think he’s the one who broke in? Sorry, that was probably a stupid question. If he’s a cop, that’s unlikely, or is it? Do you know why he’s looking for you?”

“I’ve already spoken to him,” Scott replied. “He was interested in someone I took out a few months ago, but it was a case of mistaken identity. I don’t know why he needs to see me again, but regardless, report the break-in to the local police, and also tell the marina. They need to stay vigilant, and make sure our office alarm is set when you leave.”

“Will do. Speak to you later.”

“Yep, I’ll be in touch. Thanks, Jerry,” Scott said, ending the call, then turned to face Elizabeth. “Looks like Dan broke into the catamaran. Strange though,” he continued, scrutinizing her expression. “He pulled the stuffing out of the cushions that were on the bed in your cabin, and ripped open a package of toilet paper.”

“Toilet paper?” she breathlessly repeated.

“That’s what I said. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

“I… uh…”

“Start talking, Elizabeth, before we run out of luck—and time!”

Chapter 8

But Elizabeth didn’t speak.

Wordlessly jumping to her feet, she hurried from the salon back to her cabin.

Surprised by her sudden retreat, Scott stared after her.

Deciding to give her some time, he cleared the table and washed the dishes. When she still didn’t reappear, he walked to the cabin and knocked lightly on the door.

“Come in.” Her voice sounded weak.

Stepping inside, he found her perched on the edge of the bed gazing at the floor, her bag buckled up and ready to go.

“Hey,” he said casually, walking in and sitting beside her. “Why are you so rattled?”

She turned to face him with bloodshot eyes, and her cheeks wet with tears.

“Problems, even big ones, have a way of working themselves out,” he said softly, putting an arm around her. “I’ve been in dire circumstances, really dire, but here I am on a yacht in paradise with the wench from my dreams.”

“This isn’t a joke,” she sniffled.

“No, but a little levity can help, and who knows, maybe you are that wench.”

“You don’t believe that for a minute.”

“Miracles can happen.”

“I’m glad you said miracles,” she muttered with a heavy sigh. “I need more than one.”

He paused. “Is this about the money?”

Jerking back, she stared at him, shock in her red-rimmed eyes. “M-money? What money?”

“Elizabeth, I know about the cash in your bag.”

“You went through my stuff?”

“You left me no choice,” he said gravely. “You’re running from a cop and you refused to talk to me. What was I supposed to do?”

“I told you I was set up,” she retorted. “What else do you need to know?”

“Everything, and that means every sordid detail. It’s the only way I can help you. Surely you must understand that.”

“Actually, I do,” she admitted with a sigh, “but I’m surprised you’re still willing to after finding that money.”

“I don’t care if he is a cop, there’s no way I’d let Dan Miller get his hands on you.”

“The way he used to stare at me there were times I thought he was an evil psychopath,” she muttered, “but then he’d go out of his way to avoid me.”

“That evil psychopath broke into my boat,” Scott said grimly, “and when you heard about the toilet rolls on the bathroom floor I saw you freak out. Now I walk in here and find you in tears. I need to know why. Please, Elizabeth, tell me what happened—what is happening.”

“Okay,” she said, her shoulders slumping with resignation. “I’m freaking out because now Dan thinks I have the rest of the money that disappeared.”

“I don’t understand. What do rolls of toilet paper have in common with stolen money?”

“I hid rolls of cash inside the cardboard tubes.”

In spite of the drama, Scott broke into a grin. “That’s pretty damn clever. Most people wouldn’t give a package of toilet tissue a second look.”

“Dan isn’t most people. He’s crazy smart, and nothing will stop him now. He’ll hunt me down for the rest of my life.”

“But didn’t he already know you had the cash? Isn’t that one of the reasons he’s chasing you?”

“He didn’t know for sure, and he thinks he does now, but he’s wrong. I only have a very small chunk. It’s a long story, but a great deal of money was in a sports bag. Someone must have been interrupted when they were stealing it. I only have a small amount that was left.”

“Which I assume you hid in the cushions when you first came on board?”

“Yes, but after stuffing