Arrow's Rest by Joel Scott (best books to read all time .TXT) 📗

“Yes. Well, we can’t have that now, can we? Have the boys bring him out for a little conference,” he said.

He ended the call and turned back towards her, all charm once more. “Sorry about that, slight change of plans, something has come up that requires my immediate attention. The selfless life of a politician in public service.”

Again she saw that slightly mocking smile.

“No problem. I should be getting back soon anyway,” Cat said. “I have to catch a ferry to Vancouver Island this evening.”

“Listen, how about this?” Albright said. “I just learned that two of my crew are bringing out a guest in a bit. I’ll have them run you across the Strait in the tender after they drop him off. Only take an hour or so to get to Nanaimo, the weather’s laying down quite nicely now. We can talk some more, get to know each other a little better over a drink. Please. I’d really appreciate it.”

Cat hesitated for a moment, and then rebuked herself for her timidity. It was the suddenness of everything, she thought, the whirlwind tour and then the unexpected boat trip that had unbalanced her. She was not the type of woman prone to sudden fits of what used to be called the vapours.

“That’s very kind of you,” she said. “I’ll just call my friends and tell them when to expect me.”

Albright caught her arm as she reached into her purse for her cell phone.

“Why don’t you just hold on for a bit until my company gets here?” he said. “That way you can be more definite about your time frame. No sense in worrying them unnecessarily.”

Two hours later Albright stood watching, still undecided, as Cat climbed into the big Zodiac inflatable, the brothers carefully handing her aboard. He wondered if letting her leave was a mistake and went to call her back at the last second, but then the twin Yamahas screamed and the bow lifted as the stern dug in and the boat sped off and the moment was gone. Things were happening fast now.

He’d learned more about her boyfriend, Kane, and his partner, MacLean, but needed more time to assess any immediate risk they posed and calculate the best way to handle it. Bill Lacey had told him the two men had moved their sailboat to the yacht club docks in recent days and were spending a lot of time hanging out in the bar talking with members and asking questions. He needed to slow them down, focus their attention somewhere else. Taking them out right now would just lead to more questions and increased pressure from that cop Clarke they were friends with. He needed to buy some time.

Cat had mentioned Danny MacLean’s mother and grandfather in their chats. They lived in an old house in the East End where Kane had roomed before he inherited his sailboat. It sounded like he was pretty tight with them. Maybe there was room for something to be done there, create a distraction to get some space and slow things down a little. He’d get Travis to make a call to that French bunch he got the roofies from. He’d been considering all of this when the call had come in from the brothers, and that had taken precedence over everything else. So much for slowing things down.

He stared over the rail as the Zodiac disappeared from sight and the wineglass stem snapped in his hand. He stood there unaware and felt the anger building.

A man approached and he turned to face him.

“You’ve cut yourself,” the lawyer said.

“It’s nothing. A scratch. Good to see you again, Richard. Listen, I’ve planned a little surprise for you. I’ve had the crew set up a boxing ring in the lounge. I thought you and I could have a couple of light rounds of sparring before dinner to build up a bit of an appetite. I’ve fooled around with some of the men, you know, just for a workout, a little exercise, but I’ve always wanted to go a couple of rounds with a pro. Get to feel something about what it’s really like in the ring. I’m fascinated by the whole business, as you’ve probably guessed.”

“Well, I’m hardly a professional, but I might be able to show you a couple of things,” Richard Sullivan said.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Albright said with a genial smile, and as the lawyer stared at him it was clear the man was uneasy.

Chapter 25

“It’s hard to describe,” Cat told Jared. “He’s clever, charming, and well spoken, and he has this way of making you feel as if you’re the only person in the room that matters, even when you’re in the midst of a large group.”

“It’s a politician’s trick. Like the eyes in those paintings that always seem to be watching you no matter where you are in the room.”

Cat considered this. “That’s not bad, you know,” she said. “Sometimes you surprise me, Jared.”

“Of course it’s all complete bullshit. The beguiled eye of the beholder.” Jared ducked away as Cat swung the pillow at him. They were lying in bed in Arrow’s aft cabin, working on their second cups of espresso made on the little Bialetti in the galley. Cat had arrived back aboard Arrow the previous evening after an exhilarating forty-five-minute trip across the Straits. The wind had dropped, and they’d flown across on the remains of the southeast swell, cresting the waves with Cat wrapped in a wool blanket tucked tight under the canopy and the two crewmen in rain gear and Sou’westers for the spray.

“Are you going to take the job with Albright?”

“I haven’t made up my mind yet, but probably not. The money is excellent, over half again what I’m making now, but there’s something about the man that makes me uncomfortable.”

“What is it?” Jared asked.

“It’s hard to know when he’s sincere; or if he ever is, for that matter. I spent over ten hours up close with him yesterday,