Caribbean Rescue (Coastal Fury Book 16) - Matt Lincoln (reading tree .TXT) 📗

“That was Diane.” Holm returned at just the wrong time. “She said that they managed to track down the owner of the boat.”

“Already?” I asked. “That was fast.”

“Well, they didn’t have to do much digging,” Holm replied, “since it was apparently reported stolen about a week ago. It popped right up. Guess where the owner lives?”

“Turks and Caicos,” Olivia and I both answered at once.

“Bingo,” Holm confirmed. “Diane wants us back at the office. She wants us to fly out tomorrow.”

“Guess I’ll take a raincheck on that drink then.” Olivia smiled at me a little sadly before leaving the kitchen.

Holm watched her leave with a wide-eyed look of disbelief on his face.

“No,” he balked as he snapped back around to look at me. “No. How? When? She was ready to kick your ass like an hour ago. How are you already flirting and making plans to go out for drinks?”

“I’m just a likable guy.” I smirked at him.

“Yeah, right,” he deadpanned. “Anyway, come on, let’s get back to the office to get briefed. I want to head home and pack before it gets too late.”

I snickered as he continued to grumble all the way out of the house, my blood already pumping at the thought of a new adventure.

10

Ethan

The next few hours passed by in a whirlwind. Diane had come to an agreement regarding jurisdiction with the FBI. As we’d previously discussed, MBLIS would take over the Allison Newark case, while Eddy’s case would remain with the FBI. Specifically, it would remain under the authority of Agent Hastings, who would travel to Turks and Caicos with us. Not that I minded that particular detail.

As I was packing, I spotted Grendel’s journal sitting on the coffee table where I’d left it the previous day, after going through everything with Holm. I felt just a twinge of regret at the timing of the case. After spending days wishing we’d land a new case, we’d finally gotten one right as I was beginning to get excited about delving back into my search for the Dragon’s Rogue.

After thinking it over for a moment, I plucked the journal off the table and tucked it into my carry-on bag. I’d already looked through every page of the journal at least once, but I still carried it around everywhere I went.

Even though I’d already looked through the entire thing, it felt as though I discovered something new every time I leafed through the pages. Some of the entries were so disjointed and full of Grendel’s paranoid ramblings that it often took a second, or even a third or fourth reading before I understood what he was trying to say. If nothing else, it would give me something to do on the flight down there.

After a quick final check to make sure I had everything I might need, I left my boat and headed over to my car. I tossed the single duffle bag into the trunk of my car before getting inside to head to the airport.

Really, I didn’t need much. My years in the SEALS had taught me to pack quickly and efficiently. A few changes of clothes and the journal were all I really needed, and it was better to travel light, in my opinion. I never knew when I might suddenly have to move, so it was better not to be burdened down.

I rolled the windows down again as I headed to the airport. I honestly loved Miami. The ever-present sun, the sea breeze that you could smell from anywhere in the city… with my job being as crazy as it was, there was something calming about going for a drive with all the windows down, even if it was just for a few minutes.

Holm and Olivia were both waiting for me by the main entrance when I got to the airport.

“There you are.” Olivia smiled as I approached them. “We both got here at the same time and happened to run into each other. We were wondering what was taking you so long.”

“You didn’t have to wait for me,” I replied as the three of us headed toward security. “There was a lot of traffic.”

“That would have been rude.” Olivia shrugged. “Might as well stick together if we’re going to be working the case together.”

We were flying commercial again, but considering the flight was less than two hours long, I didn’t really care.

“Dibs on the window seat,” Holm called as the three of us boarded the plane.

“I call the aisle then,” Olivia replied without missing a beat, much to my dismay. We actually hadn’t planned to book our seats right next to each other. Looking at how crowded the plane was, though, it was likely they might have been some of the only seats available.

“My legs are longer than yours,” I protested as she began to stow her bag in the overhead compartment.

“And that’s my problem, how?” she teased before plopping down into the aisle seat.

I was a pretty tall guy, so the idea of sitting in the cramped middle seat for two hours actually wasn’t very pleasant, but then again, it was only two hours. Compared to some of the international flights Holm and I had been on, it was nothing.

“Fine, but I get the aisle coming back,” I grumbled.

“We’ll see.” She shrugged before flashing me an impish grin.

The next two hours passed by in a flash as Olivia and I chatted and traded barbs back and forth.

“So, they were actually looking for the exact same ship?” she asked. “Not just to mess with you, but honest to goodness trying to find it as well?”

I had just finished telling her about my search for the Dragon’s Rogue, as well as our hunt for the Holland’s and how they’d been wrapped up in everything.

“Yeah.” I nodded. “Well, at first, it was honestly just a coincidence, but then they deliberately started going for it after they found out I was searching for it, too. They even went as far