Free BLACK COBRA (Aaron Quinn thriller series, No. 2) by John Avery

straight back to the Caymans once we arrive in San Diego.”
    This all sounded a bit crazy to Aaron. He really didn’t know how to respond. “How long do you figure the trip will take?” he asked.
    “The Cayman Jewel ’s cruise speed is eighteen knots,” Jason said, “with a top speed of twenty three knots. So in terms of international travel, we’re not that fast. I’ve never made the run myself, but I’m figuring two weeks, maybe three. There’s a welcome party in San Diego in twenty days that I really want to attend.”
    Aaron recalled his original trip to the Cayman’s with the retired couple. It had been quite an experience, but he wasn’t sure he was ready to do it again . “I’d like to think about it,” he said.
    “Of course,” Jason said. “But we leave Friday.”
    “ This Friday?” Aaron said.
    “I’ll have you meet me at the marina Thursday afternoon,” Jason said. “To help with the final preparations.”
    “That’s not much time,” Aaron said. “Can I let you know?”
    “I’ll know you’re interested when you show up,” Jason said.
    He stood up to leave, giving Aaron a thumbs up. “ Carpe diem , Aaron,” he said.

Thursday

Chapter 23
     
    Thursday afternoon, as scheduled, Aaron showed up at the marinawith his duffle bag. He had been granted a leave of absence by the manager at Earl’s Reef Dive Shop and had every intention of returning to his job on Cayman Brac immediately after the trip.
    He helped Jason load the last of the provisions on board the Cayman Jewel, then they walked up to the marina office to square up with the manager.
    ---
    The marina manager was a native islander with a heavy accent. “Good afternoon, Mr. Jason,” he said. “I am sad to hear you are leaving us for a while.” He had some papers ready and slid them forward.
    “Just for a few weeks,” Jason said. “If I can I’d like to keep my same slip.”
    “No problem ...” the manager said, checking the marina rules in his head. “We’ll hold the electric, water, and phone for you, but the slip rental accrues, of course.”
    “Of course,” Jason said, and he began filling out the paperwork.
    “Two men were just here looking for you,” the manager said.
    Jason looked up, surprised. He’d been dreading hearing those words again, words he hadn’t heard in a long time.
    “Just now? he said. “What did they want? You didn’t tell them anything ...”
    “No, sir, Mr. Jason,” the manager said. “I would never do that. You are my friend.”
    ---
    Brandy sat alone on deck enjoying a nice garden salad. In honor of another beautiful day in paradise, she wore nothing but a thong bikini with a very skimpy top.
    “Ahoy there,” a man’s voice called from the dock.
    Brandy looked over the railing and saw two men in Hawaiian shirts approaching the Cayman Jewel .
    “ Coming, ” she called. She wiped her hands on a towel and headed over to the gangway to investigate.
    “Pardon the intrusion, miss,” the shorter man said. “I was hoping you could answer a couple of questions.”
    Brandy could spot a shoulder holster a mile away — even under a baggy floral pattern.
    “You guys cops?” she said, glancing up toward the marina office. She wondered why Jason hadn’t seen them first.
     “I guess you would consider this a social visit,” the man said. “I’m James Harness, and this is my good friend Larry Holt.” Harness had thought of using fake names, but he knew this lead was a long shot anyway, so he didn’t bother.
    “Pleased to meet you, ma’am,” Holt said, nodding politely.
    Brandy looked up at him. She had never seen a black man both that huge and that good looking. You should take up acting, she thought.
    “I’m Brandy,” she said, shaking their hands.
    The men struggled to maintain their composure. Standing that close to a half-naked woman as stunning and fragrant as Brandy without dropping their pants was proving difficult, if not impossible.
    Brandy sensed this, of