Free Cloaked in Malice by Annette Blair Page B

and able to captain a boat,” Paisley said.
    “We Feds need the occasional fast getaway, which means we can pilot just about any vehicle known to man. But no, I’m not a secret astronaut.”
    “He can give us a ride on a hot air balloon, though,” I quipped. “He has hidden talents, my Fed.”
    Paisley turned toward the port quarter. “What in the world is that ?”
    She sounded so traumatized, I went to see. “Look, Nick, it’s a submarine.”
    Paisley sort of yipped in surprise. “A real, live submarine? In these waters? Why?”
    “It’s on a test run,” Nick said. “They’re built near here. And the only live thing about it is probably the test crew. I’m ninety-nine percent sure they’re not packing live ammo, or if they are, they’re not planning to use it.”
    “Then why is that Coast Guard speed boat following it—with a man up front pointing a freaking machine gun? Are we safe?”
    There she went, using the word “safe” again.
    “This is normal for around here,” I promised her.
    She pointed. “So what’s that for?”
    “Off the starboard quarter? That’s the Eagle , a Coast Guard cutter used as a training ship for the Coast Guard Academy. She also takes part in tall ships parades, and sometimes she’s a goodwill ambassador in foreign ports. It’s all quite normal; we just passed a government boatyard.”
    “You sure?”
    “I grew up around here. I’m sure. My neighbors work at the boatyard as pipe fitters, welders, and such. You name it.”
    Paisley crossed her arms. Not a sign of total security, but she nodded. “Okay then.”
    My phone rang and caller ID said, Werner . “Detective,” I said, picking up. “Just seeing your name on my phone inspires me to say uh-oh instead of hello. What’s up?”
    “Good news–bad news,” he said. “We found Dolly.”
    “Thank goodness. At a local bed-and-breakfast, right?”
    “No, Mad. You don’t think our Dolly would do something so simple, now do you? She’s actually in Paris.”
    “France?”
    “Well, it’s not Paris, Texas.”
    “Is she all right? Does she have amnesia or something?”
    “I talked to her and to the physician’s assistant she hired as her traveling companion,” Werner said, “and they both assured me that she’s fine. She’s royally pissed that she was picked up by the gendarmes, on my orders, and she said to tell everyone in town that she’s old enough to make her own damned decisions.”
    “Did you at least ask her why she was there?”
    “Don’t tell me how to do my job, Madeira. Of course I asked her. She said it was none of my business, and she’ll be back when she’s back.”
    I winced. “How did Ethel take your news?”
    I thought I heard a throat-clearing chuckle at that. “She’s being sedated as we speak.”
    “No kidding. No, wait! She’s supposed to be minding my shop.”
    “Eve and her mother are doing fine. Ethel’s here at home resting. Where are you anyway?” he asked. “I hear a strange noise.”
    “Oh, somewhere in the middle of Fishers Island Sound. Nick’s playing captain. We’re having a boating picnic. Paisley’s with us.”
    “Eve’s mother said you were looking for Dolly.”
    I huffed, because I knew what was coming.
    “You’re sleuthing again, aren’t you, Madeira? I just can’t figure out what crime you think you’re investigating.”
    “Let’s just say that I’m trying to connect some dots, and Dolly’s one of them. I promise we won’t step on your jurisdiction, if it comes to that.”
    “I’m so glad you’re Nick’s problem now,” Werner said, as if to himself, and then silence.
    In my experience, a person only ever says that to convince themselves . “I miss you, too, Lytton. Talk to you soon.”
    He hung up without saying another word.
    “You’d better not miss him,” Nick mumbled.
    “I miss having a good working relationship with him.”
    “That’s okay then.”
    “I know it is. He’ll always be a friend.”
    Paisley pointed out