Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 125140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125140 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“Congratulations, man.” I smile. Elsa is his high school sweetheart; he has loved that girl since he was twelve years old.
“You going to be my best man?”
My face falls as I am overcome with emotion. “Really?”
“Really.”
“I’d be honored.” I pause. I can’t believe he asked me. “Thank you, it means a lot.”
Chris knows I have fallen on the wrong side of the track, and yet his loyalty has never wavered once. He doesn’t ask questions and I would literally lay my life down to protect him.
Justin, my brother, and he and I were inseparable all though school. The things we got up to.
God, we wreaked havoc.
“The wedding is next year in April. Make sure you are home.”
I smile. “Okay.”
“You still on that ship?”
“Yeah.”
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m doing good. Have you seen Mom?” I ask.
“Mom has said she is doing okay. Missing you, of course.”
Guilt fills me. I should be around for her. “Listen, man, I need a favour.”
“What?”
“I met this chick—”
“No, I can’t fuck her. I’m taken,” he interrupts.
I laugh. “She wouldn’t have you anyway, you fat prick.”
“Anyway.” He laughs. “Go on.”
“Something is not adding up. Can you run a background check on her for me?” I hold her licence up and read the details.
“Yeah, no worries. What’s the name?”
“Roshelle Myers.”
“How do you spell it?”
“R.O.S.H.E.L.L.E,” I spell out. “M.Y.E.R.S.”
“Date of Birth?”
“14th of October 1993.” Her birthday is in four weeks. I do the maths. She’s 24 turning 25.
“Address?”
I read her address out.
“So what’s the deal with this chick?” he asks.
“I hooked up with her a couple of months ago and we have been chatting online, but I get the feeling she is not who she says she is. I just want to check everything before we go on vacation together to save myself some hassle later.”
“You think she’s married?”
I screw up my face. “Yeah, maybe.” I try to think what else I need. “I want all the details. Job, current and past relationships, convictions. Memberships, stuff like that.”
“I’m on it. I will put it through now but it takes about 24 hours to come back.”
“So if I ring you tomorrow night you should have it?”
“Yep.” He pauses. “It’s good to hear from you, man.”
I smile sadly, I wish things could go back to the way they were. “You, too. Take care of that beautiful girl of yours.”
“Any luck she will be pregnant and horny this time next year.”
I laugh and rub my eyes with my hand. “Oh God. I can’t even imagine your poor kid dealing with you as a dad. Poor fucker.”
He laughs. “Speak tomorrow.”
“Bye.” I hang up.
And silence falls in the office again. Soon, Roshelle Myers, I will know who you really are.
I put my hands behind my head and inhale deeply as I lean back on my chair.
It’s going to be a long twenty-four hours.
* * *
Rosh.
I walk along the deck of the ship in between the containers as the light fades. Dusk is the quietest time of the day here as everyone goes back to their cabins to prepare for dinner. Stace is still working and something is going on with him. He’s different to the first night we slept together. Something changed yesterday morning when he went to get me breakfast. Did he see me hit Stucco?
Fuck. Why did I do that? I nearly blew my cover.
I’m going to have to take Stucco out before he kills Stace or the plan is out the window.
I don’t need this shit.
I smile softly to myself as I get an image of Stace—beautiful, sexy Stace. The only regret I have is that we didn’t meet under different circumstances like he said. If he wasn’t a murderer connected with this ship.
We are so good together. We could have had something. Damn it.
Right now, though, I need to focus on my task. I continue to walk slowly through the deserted deck. The sun is just dipping below the water line and light is fading fast. I look up at the numbers on the top of the containers as I walk between them all. Where is it?
I keep walking and walking. I thought I saw it over here the other day. I stop on the spot and look back from where I came, and then forward. It’s like a puzzle memory game. Everything looks the same. I thought it was over here near this red one and I go back over toward that direction. There it is.
1140
My eyes glance around to see if anyone has spotted me, but I don’t think they have. I quickly dart across the alleyway in the shadows and pick up the padlock and inspect it. It’s just a normal key.
Right.
I narrow my eyes as I think. I need to get into the control center to find that key cupboard. But how will I do that?
Stace is in there now.