Free Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts Page B

you’d be?”
    â€œSteve Hickman.”
    Boston accent, Zack concluded. Upper-class one, almost Kennedyesque. “Okay, Steve, here’s the deal. Lobster poaching carries a thousand-dollar fine. Reason for that is that while it’s a kick to sneak out and empty the traps, boil up a couple, some people depend on the catch for their living. An evening’s entertainment to you is money out of their pocket.”
    As he lectured, Zack saw the boys shiftuncomfortably. The one who’d answered the door was flushing guiltily and keeping his eyes averted.
    â€œWhat you had out there on the porch last night would’ve run you about forty down at the market. So you look up a man by the name of Carl Macey at the docks, give him forty, and that’ll be the end of it.”
    â€œI don’t know what you’re talking about. Does this Macey put a brand on his lobsters?” Steve smirked again, scratched his belly. “You can’t prove we poached anything.”
    â€œTrue enough.” Zack glanced around the room, skimmed faces. Nerves, a little shame. “This place rents for what, about twelve hundred a week in full season, and the boat you’ve rented puts another two-fifty onto that. Add entertainment, food, beer. You guys’re shelling out ’round about a grand apiece for a week here.”
    â€œAnd pumping it into the island economy,” Steve said with a thin smile. “Pretty stupid to hassle us over a couple of allegedly poached lobsters.”
    â€œMaybe. Even more stupid not to come up with ten bucks each to smooth things over. You think about that. It’s a small island,” Zack said as he started for the door. “Word gets around.”
    â€œIs that a threat? Threatening civilians could result in a litigious action.”
    Zack glanced back, shook his head. “I bet you’re pre-law, aren’t you?” He strolled out, back to his cruiser. It wouldn’t take him long to hit the right spots in the village and make his point.

    Ripley walked down High Street and met Zack in front of the Magick Inn. “Lobster Boy’s credit card got hung up at the pizza place,” she began. “Seems the circuits were down or whatever and he had to dig for cash to pay for lunch.”
    â€œThat so?”
    â€œYeah. And you know, every video they wanted to rent was already out.”
    â€œHell of a thing.”
    â€œAnd I hear all the jet skis were already reserved or out of order today.”
    â€œThat’s a shame.”
    â€œAnd continuing in a series of bizarre coincidences, the AC in their rental just up and died.”
    â€œAnd it’s a hot one today, too. Supposed to be muggy tonight. Bound to be uncomfortable sleeping.”
    â€œYou’re a mean son of a bitch, Zachariah.” Ripley rose on her toes and gave him a quick, smacking kiss on the mouth. “That’s why I love you.”
    â€œI’m going to have to get meaner. That Hickman boy’s a tough nut. The other three’ll fold fast enough, but he’ll take some more persuading.” Zack swung an arm around Ripley’s shoulder. “So, are you going into the café for some lunch?”
    â€œI might be. Why?”
    â€œI thought you could do me a little favor, since you love me and everything.”
    The long whip of her ponytail bobbed as she turned her head to look up at him. “If you want me to talk Nell into dating you, just forget it.”
    â€œI can get my own dates, thanks.”
    â€œBatting zero so far.”
    â€œI’m still on deck,” he countered. “What I washoping is that you’d tell Mia we’re handling the lobster boys, and not to . . . do anything.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, ‘do anything’? What does she have to do with it?” Ripley stopped, her temper flaring. “Damn it.”
    â€œDon’t get riled. It’s just that Carl said he’d talked to