Wilmington, NC 05 - Murder On The ICW

about that so-called ATF agent who's been prowling around in the background and who followed you into the park? There's something fishy about that guy. Walt was never able to confirm that he was legit and that there was an ATF agent here on special assignment. So maybe he's not who he says he is," Melanie speculated.
    "And maybe some one flashed a phony badge and lied to the gardeners to get inside the park," I reasoned. "They're gardeners, what would they know about whether a badge is authentic or not. I didn't."
    "But why attack you? What could you possibly know?" she asked. "Listen, it's time for us to leave. We've got to meet Cam and Jon at the boat so we can get in the parade. Those sweet guys have spent the whole day decorating the boat and I can't . . . What? What's wrong? Do you see someone?"
    I had come to an abrupt halt. One of the vendors was flattening boxes and I flashed back to dreams I'd been having. Dreams about boxes. On the sides of the boxes words had been stamped but when I focused on them to read them, the letters got all blurry and I couldn't see what they said.
    I turned to give her a puzzled look. "Melanie, David says Crystal is redecorating the lower deck of the yacht and that's why the staterooms were filled with boxes and why he didn't want us going down there."
    "Yes," Melanie said pensively, picking up on my strange vibes. "And . . . ?"
    "Well, it just doesn't make sense."
    "Tell me what you're thinking," she said. We had stopped walking and were face to face, her eyes looking questioningly into mine. Crowds milled around us.
    "It's just that the staterooms are furnished with built in's. You can't just rip them out on your own and replace them with loose furniture. You're going to have to take the ship back to the manufacturer or to a yacht servicing company. It's not like replacing the furniture in your home. And the shades and headliners are all custom made articles. Crystal just can't set up a sewing machine and run up a pair of draperies for the guest stateroom."
    "You're right about that, little girl," David Boleyn said with a sneer from behind Melanie. "I've got a gun in her back. So turn around and start walking. My car's right over there."

31

    "Oh , my God, what have you done to Crystal Lynne! " Melanie screamed, dropping her shopping bags and racing to the king-sized berth where Crystal lay sprawled.
    "Gave her what she deserved. Little tramp," David sneered. "You two are next, soon's this stupid parade is over and we can break out of this carnival."
    "What are you going to do to us?" I asked.
    David detected the fear in my voice because he said, "I knew this experience would take you down a peg or two, little girl."
    I never realized before just how ugly David Boleyn really was. Mean, with cold beady eyes, and that constant sneer.
    "This boat is sea worthy and we're going out to sea soon's I can pilot her out of this damn line-up. Once we're out at sea, well, accidents do happen at sea. You three little girls are going to end up as fish food." He threw back his head and snorted.
    " There's two of us, Ashley!" Melanie screamed. "Let's rush him."
    She started for him across the stateroom. I ran at him from the other direction. He just grinned and fired a warning shot into the padded headliner. That stopped us. "Not a good idea," he said flatly.
    We could only look helplessly at each other.
    David marched across the stateroom and yanked the telephone out of the wall. "Okay, now hand over your cell phones. I've already got Crystal's."
    He held out his free hand and took the cell phones Melanie and I dragged out of our purses, then stuffed them in the pockets of his baggy pants.
    "What's in those bags?" he asked suspiciously.
    "Christmas presents," I said in a whisper.
    He turned to leave. "You girls have fun in here," he laughed as he stepped into the companionway. He closed the bi-fold doors behind him and locked them shut from the outside. I heard the distinct sound of a key turning in the lock.
    Melanie was staring down at Crystal. "Look at her. He really beat her up bad. I think she's got a broken jaw."
    Melanie sat down on the bed and felt Crystal's neck for a pulse. Then she began to pat Crystal's wrist. "Crystal Lynne, wake up, honey." To me she said, "She's alive but she's out cold. Ashley, go into the bathroom and run cold water on some hand towels and bring them to me."
    Melanie used a wet towel to gently wipe the dried blood from Crystal's nose and lips. She draped the