Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [29]
And she hadn't drawn back from it.
The realization stunned her. There had not been the usual instinctive rejection. Perhaps it was because she was still in an emotional vacuum. Though she had been emotional enough to feel panic when she thought he was refusing to help her.
Forget it. She'd try to persuade him again in the morning. He would have all night to think about Marinth and all it would mean to him. Sex was only a temporary lure for a man anyway. Ambition and the hunger for riches were solid and permanent and swept everything else away in their wake. Who should know that better than she?
The moon was coming up, and the light was clear and beautiful on the water. She would stay here a little while and maybe she'd become more calm before she went to bed. Right now she felt as if she'd never sleep again. Her gaze went to the net across the inlet. So much evil beyond that net. Sharks, barracuda, and the vermin who had killed Carolyn. She had always felt safe here on the island, but not now.
Not now . . .
Christ, he was hard.
And stupid, Kelby thought in disgust. Bonehead stupid. Why walk out on her? He wasn't usually into self-denial. Sex was there. Take it.
It had to be the unexpectedness of the offer that had thrown him for a loop. She'd never indicated she'd been aware of the underlying sexual tension he felt. Hell, she'd been in an emotional tailspin since the moment he'd met her.
And that was the damn problem.
Okay, forget sex and concentrate on what was important. Could he believe her when she said she could give him Marinth? She was obsessed with finding the men who had killed her friend. She could be lying about knowing where it was located. She could also be lying about fulfilling her part of the bargain. It was a loaded situation.
And one he couldn't view objectively without a cold shower.
Kelby's phone rang as he was heading for the bedroom.
“I've found out who leased the Siren,” Wilson said as soon as he picked up. “Hugh Archer. He was accompanied by a Joseph Pennig. It wasn't easy. I spent a hell of a lot of your money. Spiro, the owner of the rental company, was scared shitless to talk.”
“Why?”
“I gather there were some ugly threats involved. Spiro's a tough old bird and not above renting his boats to the drug runners out of Algiers. So the threats had to be very nasty. He said that Pennig threatened to cut off his dick if he didn't forget he had ever seen them.”
“Yes, I'd say that would give any man pause. Did you get any background information on Archer from Spiro?”
“Well, he didn't make him fill out a credit application,” Wilson said dryly. “But he asked a few discreet questions after Archer paid up front in cash for the lease.”
“Drug runner?”
“Not currently. He's into buying and selling arms. Very big player. He's rumored to have smuggled nuclear components into Iraq.”
“Then he'd have had no problem getting the plastique that blew up the Last Home.”
“But why? Unless Lontana was involved in transporting some of his merchandise.”
“I don't know why. Marinth could be enough of a draw. Maybe Lontana was helping Archer, then got in the way. Though dredging up a lost city is never get-rich-quick. You have to invest time and a hell of a lot of money before you see the bonanza. But I'm still leaning toward Marinth. Carolyn Mulan was kidnapped because they wanted to get their hands on Melis. And Melis knows about Marinth.”
“And Lontana tried to contact you to talk about Marinth. You want me to try to get a background on Archer and find out where he's coming from?”
“You know it. Try to find out if he was in the Bahamas in the last week. How long do you think it will take you?”
“How the hell do I know? I don't have any contacts with Interpol.”
“Then make them. I don't know how much time we have.”
“Talk to Lyons,” Wilson said sourly. “I'm sure he's been on an intimate footing with the police on several continents.”
“Intimate maybe. But not exactly friendly.”
“Melis is giving you a lead on Marinth?