Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 90685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90685 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
The minute we get back to the docks, I’m on alert, watching and assessing every block of limestone being loaded onto the boat. But all I’m hired to do is stand watch. If I’m seen inspecting the merchandise, Carter’s crew might figure out we’re not just ex-military goons. We’re a team of four, but Carter has ten guys working to load everything up.
When the job is done, we’re told to go back to the hotel again and wait until midday when we’ll set sail for home, but I need to get back on that boat and figure it all out.
I’m one of those type A personalities that needs to know everything and can’t leave anything unfinished. “I’m going in.”
“That’s what he said,” Domino replies from where he lies on his bed and scrolling on his phone.
“Mature.”
“Always.”
“I have to go back to the boat. I left my cell phone somewhere and need to find it. See if my girlfriend has called.”
“I’ll go with you. It’ll give me something to do.”
“Let’s go.”
We head back toward the docks, and Domino texts the guys to keep an eye out at the hotel for any of Carter’s crew while we snoop.
By the time we reach the ship and look back, they’re both casually hanging out on the balcony and overlooking the whole area.
None of Carter’s crew are around, so they’re either at the hotel or on board.
Domino stops in his tracks. “The gangway’s up.”
“That makes it more fun.”
Domino laughs. “Have fun swimming when your ass doesn’t make the jump.”
I stand back and rub my chin, assessing the height. “Eh, it’s totally doable. What is it, maybe ten feet?”
“I think it’s closer to twenty. You really think you can sneak on board without making a scene when you have to jump that high?”
“Just looking for my phone, remember?” I pull the most innocent face I can … which isn’t very innocent.
“I don’t even think an Olympian could jump it.”
“You underestimating me?” There are a couple of portholes toward the stern I could hold on to before propelling myself over up to the railing on deck.
I back up enough to get a decent run-up and take a few deep breaths to prepare myself.
“Please fall in the water. Please fall in the water,” Domino chants.
“Not likely.” I take off at a run, hit the side of the dock, and launch myself up the side of the ship.
My hand grabs onto the porthole while I use my upper-body strength to reach with my other to grip the railing up the top. Then in one swoop, I swing my right leg up and pull myself up.
I solute Domino with my middle finger and then haul my ass over the railing.
A quick check shows no one’s on deck, so I make my way to the cargo hold. It’s a hard decision between trying to be stealthy and acting casual. In stealth mode, I’m not likely to get caught, but there’s a chance, and then there’s no explaining why I’m being so cagey if I’m “looking for my phone.” On the other hand, if I act casual, there’s more chance of being discovered and the small chance of them not believing my phone story.
When I get to the cargo hold, there are voices coming from the starboard side, so I slink down the port side and stop at the first block of limestone.
This is the closest I’ve gotten to an actual block, having only watched cranes loading them onto forklifts to drive into the cargo hold.
I run my hand over it. It’s rough and has the grainy texture limestone should have, but … something doesn’t feel quite right with it. And it smells … like paint?
Feeling around the block, I find a spot that’s soft, which limestone shouldn’t be. The top edge crumbles away in my hands, revealing a small hole.
Bingo.
It’s inside the limestone. They’ve carved out the blocks, patched them back together with spackle, and painted it to make it blend in with the different colors and shades of the natural limestone. Organic matter can be dark, and limestone can also contain iron or manganese, so the color changes and is unique with each block, and by the time we get back tonight, everything would be dry and hardened to the point no one would be able to tell the difference.
Anything could be inside. The blocks are only a few feet long and wide, so it could be weapons, but my gut tells me it’s something else. The body of any assault rifle wouldn’t fit in there, and they’re big money compared to smaller, compact guns.
Jason Carter doesn’t seem like a man to waste his time dealing in smaller profits.
I’m about to poke around further when the voices from the other side of the ship get louder.
I’m out of time.
I flatten myself against the limestone and tell myself to control my breathing. The voices grow, my heart rate kicks up, and I’m fully expecting someone from the crew to head down this row any minute. If they find me in here, I’m as good as dead.