Page 73 of In Cold Blood

He took out his phone and set it behind some of the docking equipment.

Then, moving fast, he lowered himself into the frigid waters. Even though they were in the peak of the summer months, the water was still cold. He slipped down, his head lowering to the water as the men entered.

“I’m thinking we should be getting a pay raise.”

“Best of luck. I’ve already asked.”

“We’re the ones taking all the risk,” the other said.

“You’ve had one fall. That’s it.”

“That’s one too many.”

Noah slipped below the docking platform, gazing upthrough the slats. Water wormed off his face. He noted multiple cobwebs and large dock spiders. He grimaced. He was confident they wouldn’t see him as it was too damn dark but that didn’t stop his heart from racing.

The other two came in.

“All right. Let’s go.”

They hopped into the boat, and one of them untied the boat and landed in it with a thud on the bow. The engine roared to life. They backed out and then did a sharp turn, sending a wave of water back into the boathouse, washing over his face.

“Son of a bitch!” Noah said before climbing out, shivering like mad. He snagged some rancid cloth hanging from a nail inside the boathouse and ran it over his body but it did little to dry him. He was drenched. He collected his phone and hightailed it out of there, slinking back into the shadows and trudging back to his boat.

Ed and Axelwere there to meet him when he returned. Axel barked a few times. Ed was all wide-eyed and eager to know what he’d found. As soon as he saw how soaked he was, he couldn’t resist laughing. “Now I know where the expression ‘wet works’ in spy novels comes from.” Ed roared with laughter.

“Hilarious.”

“So, what did you find?”

“Nothing. A few people restocking the place with alcohol. That’s all.”

“Yeah. Probably getting ready for another one of their drug-fueled parties. I expect the drugs arrive later.”

“Or maybe, Ed, it’s just a legitimate business.” He shook himself like a dog. Water droplets shot off in different directions.His shirt leeched to his skin, making him feel even more uncomfortable. He shivered.

“That’s not what your brother thought.”

Noah glanced back across the water. “I know he never showed you the contents of the bag. But do you remember when he found that bag?”

“Yeah. It was the night before he died.”

“Would you recognize the bag if you saw it again?”

“Of course. It was dark blue with an orange band across it. Reebok, I think.”

He nodded, glancing away up toward the house. He caught movement. Someone was coming down the slope toward the dock. Noah shone his light that way.

“You know skinny dipping usually involves taking your clothes off?” she said, squinting and lifting an arm to block the glare.

“Another comedian.”

It was Alicia.

19

“So, I guess you know by now they found Keith Erikson’s body,” Alicia said loudly while Noah was upstairs changing out of the wet clothes. As he ran a towel over his head in the bedroom, he glanced out the window.

“Yeah,” he replied, distracted.