The Girl on the Yacht (29 page)

Two days later, the party was in full swing on John’s yacht––the bar, open, and the music, loud. Bailey was underfoot greeting anyone willing to rub her ears. John never saw people so animated and happy. He stared at his friends and wondered how he and Marin survived. They were lucky. He felt alive like never before.

The big screen television interrupted with news of the incredible chase through the harbor two days earlier. It had all been captured on video by hundreds of people. Every angle, every leap, every moment.

The E-Dock team had gotten their fifteen minutes of fame for the past forty-eight hours. It had gone viral. John’s phone echoed a familiar tune from the counter. While he picked it up, he reached over and shut off the TV. John hit the speakerphone icon on the iPhone.

“Hey, Teddy, you’re on speaker. Where are you? You’re missin’ a good party.”

“Can’t make it––I’m back at Langley. Is Marin there?”

“Hey, Teddy,” she said.

“I just wanted to say thanks to you and Cameron.”

“Not me?” John sounded disappointed.

“You were just playing with your computer.”

“What do you mean? I took the guy out––in the face of lethal danger.”

“That’s not what I hear,” Teddy had a tinge of humor in his voice.

“He was fearless,” Marin interrupted. “Teddy you should have seen him charge that monster.”

“Okay, thanks goes out to you too, buddy. The offer is always on the table––you two come and work for me, and I guarantee there won’t be a dull moment.”

“I heard that line before from an FBI Director. No thanks,” Marin said.

“Marin,” Teddy became serious, “you bring out the best in John. Just make sure you take care of my buddy. John, I love you, but remember what your sister, Beth, already told you––don’t screw it up with Marin this time.”

“I didn’t screw it up last time,” John stated.

“I have to go. Call me, anytime.” Teddy disconnected before they could say goodbye.

Marin turned to her friends and raised her glass of wine. “Here’s to all of my heroes––John, Cameron, and the E-Dock posse.”

“Posse, I like that,” said Jackie, the district attorney.

“Especially you, babe.” Marin gazed into John’s eyes. “Remember when we were in college,” she put her arm around him, “you used to kid me that you’d sacrifice your life for me. Well, you passed the test.”

“You’re mistaken. I jumped him because I thought he was trying to steal my boat.” John winked at Marin.

All their friends laughed, and she gave him a gigantic hug.

“Hey, man,” Rob addressed John, “jumping in front of a bullet––you sure make life tough on the rest of us mortals. What were you thinking?”

Cameron looked at Mitch. “You don’t have to worry. I can take my own bullet.”

“No problem. You’re the one carrying the gun.” Mitch responded with a smile. “I’m expecting you to take one for me, though.”

Cameron smiled at him and turned back to John. “Your E-Dock friends were unbelievable––relentless in the chase. When they went under that short bridge and through the Coast Guard blockade, I cringed.”

“Nate was incredible at the wheel,” Jackie said.

Nate raised his beer bottle to acknowledge the compliment.

Dan Douglas walked solemnly over to Nate and held out a check for one million dollars.

“Here you go. It was worth it.”

Nate beamed a big smile, took the check, and held it up to see.

“Wow, a million bucks.” He tore up the check. “No way you’re taking my boat––it’s the fastest in Newport Harbor, and famous, too. Danny, here’s the deal––pay for the repairs, and we’ll call it even.”

Dan held his hand out to shake Nate’s.

Instead of a hand shake, Nate threw his arms around the big guy and whispered, “I’d do it again in a heartbeat––for you and Laura.”

Dan nearly crushed his friend.

Marin glanced over at John.

“I don’t know what to say to Dan.” She started to cry and headed for the stairs leading down to the staterooms. “If I hadn’t been working on the bank crime, she would still––”

“Where are you going?” Dan’s voice was heard above the group.

She stopped, not turning around.

He put his hand on her shoulder.

She looked up at him.

“I’m so sorry,” she sobbed.

Dan shook his head. “Laura would have given her life to save anyone. She risked it everyday with that CIA thing.” He wiped the tears from his cheeks. “That’s how we will all remember her––saving your life from that killer. She’s my hero.” He took Marin in his arms and gave her a teddy bear hug like he had done so many times to his Laura. “Make it count.”

John put his arms around the two of them. “Laura’s our hero, too.”

“This is supposed to be a life affirming party. That’s what Laura would want.” Dan forced a smile.

Homicide Investigator Cameron West clanked her glass with a spoon. She addressed the E-dock group. “I’ve recommended each of you for a citizen’s award for valor.”

“Rob, what do you think of that?” his wife, Jackie, asked.

“Sweet,” exclaimed Rob.

“I’m satisfied with getting that creep,” Nate added.

“Right,” Rob said and then turned to Cameron. “When do you think we’ll get it?”

“Rob!” Jackie exclaimed.

“Just want to be ready for all the media attention,” he said.

“I dodged a bullet, and you get the reward?” John shook his head.

“Oh, you’re going to get your reward,” Marin said in a sensual voice.

“Do you two want some privacy? The windows are starting to fog up,” Jackie said.

“Expectation is half the fun.” Marin smiled.

Rob turned to John. “What are you going to do about the bullet hole above the door?” Rob asked.

“It’s a cool memento.”

Marin responded, “Who wants to be reminded?”

“The day I almost took a bullet for you? How soon they forget.”

“I thought you were trying to save your boat.”

John noticed that Marin suddenly fell deep in thought.

“What is it?” he asked.

“I just thought of a name for my
boat
. What do you think?
The Adventure Continues?
”

“
The Adventure.
I like it.” John smiled.

“
Continues
.”

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Copyright

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the imaginations of the authors and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

CLIFFS OF LAGUNA BEACH: A RYAN-HUNTER MYSTERY THRILLER, BOOK 1
Copyright 2011. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the authors. ISBN-978-0-9835541-4-1