Free The Body of David Hayes by Ridley Pearson

because radio contact could be problematic given all the steel.
    Boldt added in a whisper, well aware of the many passengers surrounding them both, “If she heads
downstairs
to the vehicles, get word to me somehow, because that’s the deal.”
    “Got it.”
    They split up, both aware of the difficulty of having only a two-man surveillance team. Boldt watched Hendersen head outside only yards behind Malone, the two visible through the passenger deck’s large windows. Like watching a silent movie.
    Boldt noticed the horizon shift as the ferry corrected course. The dispatcher came onto the radio, announcing that personnel would be deployed on the ground at the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal in the event Malone disappeared onboard or later disembarked. The island’s law enforcement quickly proved itself ill prepared for a spontaneous undercover operation. An officer was currently racing home to change into civilian clothes and to switch cars with his wife. Boldt asked that this man and his car be available to him in the event Malone left the ferry. Hendersencould follow on bike, if necessary. It wasn’t a great plan, but it was all they had.
    Malone completed a full circle of the outside deck, and Boldt called off Hendersen with a simple command sent over the radio. Bainbridge Island drew closer. The sun sank lower, finally slipping behind the dramatic mountain range and delivering a thickening twilight. Boldt took over, following Malone to the ship’s stern, where she reentered the enclosed passenger deck. Boldt stopped outside rather than enter behind her. He glanced over the rail at the ship’s bubbling wake and the ruffled feathers of a group of hungry white seagulls riding the wind. Facing away, out to sea, he called over the radio to Hendersen and made a second handoff.
    “Stairs!” came Hendersen’s blunt reply. “Ascending. Repeat: ascending.” Boldt reentered in time to catch a glimpse of Hendersen’s colorful bike uniform disappearing through a metal exit door.
    The ferry sounded its loud horn. Boldt felt a jolt with the unexpected sound. Dusk settled, softening edges, blurring the horizon, running color to gray. Boldt reached the upper level with its small cabin and larger deck. Malone’s back was turned to him as she passed outside.
    Hendersen and Boldt met eyes, exchanging a look as Hendersen retreated down the stairs and Boldt took over.
    Malone, Liz’s phone pressed to her ear, nodded faintly as she listened.
    A family of four headed past Boldt, down the stairs, leaving only him and one other man, who sat alone with his back to Boldt. Outside, Malone joined a line of others pressed against the stern rail. A chill wind blew.
    It took Boldt a change of angles to spot the black wireleading from the seated man’s ear—the same kind of handsfree cell phone wire that he himself wore. Talking to whom? he wondered.
Malone?
    Boldt edged closer, excitement pounding inside his chest.
Ten feet
…
Five feet
…
    On the edge of his peripheral vision, Boldt saw Malone’s movement as she glanced back over her shoulder at him. Boldt paused, instinctively knowing something was wrong.
    The seated man turned, and Boldt saw his face. Not David Hayes, but a man in his sixties with poor skin.
    Malone threw the briefcase off the side of the ferry with all her strength. Its brushed aluminum spun in lazy loops as it tumbled and then disappeared, out of sight.
    Boldt stood paralyzed. The ferry was nowhere near landfall. Five thousand dollars in marked bills had just been tossed overboard. No matter how tempted, he could not give Malone away—could not compromise her. Instead, he casually reached inside his jacket pocket and tripped the button to speak to Riz’s dispatcher.
    A moment later came the response: A helicopter would be dispatched, though it wouldn’t be airborne for at least thirty minutes. Boldt was to secure a GPS location from the ferry’s captain ASAP.
    A trickle of dread swept through Boldt as he