Dead in the Water by Lesley A. Diehl Read Free Book Online Page A

could get me in touch with Mr. Napolitani, who knew more about mob stuff than anyone. Maybe that was because he was the only gangster in my life, and I sure didn’t need more. Again I got voicemail. And again I decided against leaving a message. My current boyfriend, a private investigator named Alex Montgomery, was away on a case in the Panhandle. I should have called him sooner, I chided myself, but things came up. I wondered if he would buy that excuse when he found out I was again at a murder scene, this time of someone I loved.
    I sighed so deeply I felt as if my diaphragm would reposition itself somewhere near my Adam’s apple. My gaze left the road, and I focused for a moment on the last rays of the sun reflected in my rearview mirror. It hid behind a cloud bank, reappeared for an instant, then dropped beneath the horizon, leaving a streak of silver over the water. As beautiful as the sight was, I knew I couldn’t put off calling Alex a moment longer. I swiped his name in my list of contacts and raised the phone to my ear.
    Something hit me from behind. The wheel was almost ripped from my grasp. The cell flew from my hand onto the passenger’s seat. I struggled to get control of the car as it headed toward the right side of the road and the small canal at its edge. I glanced in the rearview mirror and saw the grill of a large black pickup behind me. It roared up closer as I wrestled with the wheel, then it hit my rear end again, pushing me closer to the water. I stood on the brake and jerked the steering wheel hard left. The rear tires spun on the gravel but held. The truck stopped several feet behind me and sat there for a minute, then I heard its engine rev, and it headed for me again. I stomped on the accelerator and fishtailed back onto the road. When I rechecked my mirror; the truck was still there and gaining on me. This time it popped me with such an impact that the car shuddered for a moment and slid sideways across the road. I saw the palm tree coming for me, but I couldn’t do a thing. The front end hit. The airbags deployed and enveloped me in white plastic. I heard the truck drive up behind me and worried he might again ram my car, making me the bologna in a tree and truck sandwich. It didn’t happen.
    I heard a door slam and footsteps on the gravel. What new hell is this?
    â€œ You stay right there,” a voice commanded.
    Like I could move. I was so wrapped in airbag I couldn’t see or speak. When I turned my head to try to look at my visitor, a hand reached in and pushed my head toward the passenger’s side of the car. And damn, that hurt my neck.
    â€œ Where is it?” The words were muffled as if he or she was holding something over their mouth to disguise the voice.
    â€œ Wha—”
    â€œ This is just a small taste of what can happen if you don’t tell us where the money is.”
    â€œ Ugh … guff.” I tried to tell my interrogator I couldn’t talk, but how could I? I had a mouth full of airbag.
    The hand pressing against my head let go. Thank God. When it returned, I felt something cold and steely against my jugular. A knife.
    â€œ Maybe some persuasion will help.”
    The blade touched my neck. Yikes. The pressure against my throat increased, then disappeared. That felt better. Or maybe I was dead and couldn’t feel anything. In case I was still alive I waited for my life to flash before my eyes. All I saw were shoes on sale followed by an image of my credit card being cut in half.
    â€œ Let’s get you out of there.” Someone reached in as the airbags deflated, and a strong hand on my arm jerked me from the car.
    Okay, so I was still alive and now the guy would kill me. And why not? I had no idea where any money was. Did he mean Uncle Winston’s money? Must be.
    â€œ Open your eyes.”
    â€œ No, just do it. I don’t want to watch.”
    There was silence for a moment.
    â€œ You are one strange