Against the Tide by Kat Martin Read Free Book Online

get him.” Ivan sauntered toward a door leading to the back of the building and disappeared. A few minutes later, Sam King walked up behind the service counter.
    Half Alaska Native, half Russian, Sam was only a couple of inches shorter than Rafe, with thick arms and a muscular body. At twenty-five, with his gleaming black hair and handsome face, he was a favorite of the ladies, pretty much had his pick during tourist season.
    Spotting Olivia, he removed the bloodstained white apron he wore, a sign of the job he did in the fish-packing operation.
    The first words out of his mouth were, “Have they caught the bastard yet?”
    â€œNot the last time I called the station, which was about half an hour ago.” Rafe tipped his head toward the slender woman in black standing beside him. “Sam, this is Olivia Chandler. She owns the Pelican Café.”
    â€œHi, Sam,” she said. “We’ve spoken a couple of times in the restaurant.”
    Sam, being the ladies’ man he was, let his gaze travel over Olivia in a far-from-subtle appraisal that made Rafe’s jaw go tight.
    â€œI remember.” His eyes dropped to those long dancer’s legs. “Hard for a guy to miss. Or maybe I should say you just make it har—”
    â€œSam—” Rafe warned, cutting off the rest of the sexual innuendo the kid was about to deliver.
    Olivia said nothing, but Rafe didn’t miss the faint thinning of those amazing X-rated lips. Apparently Rafe wasn’t the only guy who got the cold treatment from Liv Chandler. He almost smiled.
    â€œSo what’s going on with the case?” Sam asked.
    â€œFrom what I know, Chief Rosen has officers out knocking on doors all over the area. They’re checking the RV parks, the harbor, and the roads leading out of town. Ben Friedman called the cops and told them Scott was at the poker game last night.”
    â€œHe was there. When he left, I thought he was going home. What was he doing at the harbor?”
    â€œI was hoping maybe you’d know. You were one of the last people to see him alive.”
    Sam blanched, his face going pale beneath his dark skin.
    â€œScotty didn’t say anything about going back to the boat?” Olivia asked.
    â€œNo, never mentioned it.”
    â€œThe police haven’t talked to you yet?” she asked.
    â€œActually, Lieutenant Scarborough was here about an hour ago. He asked me about the poker game. I told him we wound things up about midnight.”
    â€œDid the lieutenant ask where you were between midnight and two?” Olivia asked. “That’s when Scotty’s body was found.”
    Sam’s black eyes darted away then sharpened on her face. “I went home and went to bed. That’s what I told Scarborough.”
    â€œDid anyone see you there?” she pressed. “Can anyone verify your alibi?”
    Sam’s jaw subtly tightened. “Why would I need an alibi? I was home in bed when he was killed. You aren’t trying to pin this on me?”
    â€œOlivia didn’t say that,” Rafe soothed. “We’re just doing a little digging, seeing what we might turn up. If you were home, then you were home.”
    Sam tossed a hard glance at Olivia. “That’s right.”
    â€œIf you think of anything that might help us catch this guy,” Rafe said, “I’d really appreciate a call, Sam.”
    â€œHey, no problem.” Sam turned to Olivia. “You know, you really need to work on your pancakes. They’re too thin. A man wants his cakes nice and thick.”
    One of Olivia’s dark eyebrows arched up. “I’ll look into it,” she said dryly, clearly not meaning it.
    Since Rafe liked her pancakes just the way they were, he bit back a smile, walked to the door and pulled it open. “Time to go,” he said, figuring he was doing Sam a favor getting her out of there.
    Olivia cast the kid a final disapproving glance