Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [41]
And Kelby couldn't have Melis Nemid either. The more Archer came in contact with the woman, the more he realized that his relationship with her must continue to give him this exquisite pleasure. There were so many ways to twist and hurt her.
He had to explore every single one before he brought her to the end.
It was the middle of the night when Kelby's cell phone rang.
“I've found the stakeout,” Nicholas said when Kelby answered. “Black-and-white motorboat. He's in a cove on an island two miles from here. Close enough to keep an eye on Melis, but not too close to be noticed. My boat's about half a mile away, masked by some overhanging trees.”
“You're sure he's the one?”
“I'll ignore that insult. I'm breathing down his neck. He'll see you as you leave the island. You'll have to head toward Tobago and then double back. Are you coming?”
Kelby swung his feet to the floor. “I'm coming. Give me directions.”
The man in the black-and-white motorboat was tall, gray-blond, and was using a pair of high-powered binoculars to observe Lontana's Island.
Kelby lowered his own infrared binoculars and turned to Nicholas. “Can we expect someone to relieve him?”
“Probably. I've been here since midnight and I didn't see anyone but him. But sitting out on a boat in the middle of beyond isn't too comfortable.”
“Maybe he's on the night shift.” Kelby glanced at his watch. “It's still a few hours until dawn. You go back to the island and I'll take over here.”
“You're going to follow him when he's relieved?”
“You know it. If Archer was here the other night, then he may still be in the area. He evidently has a hands-on mentality.”
“And so do you,” Nicholas said. “Why don't you delegate this one to me?”
He shook his head. “I really want this bastard. Go back to the island and keep an eye on Melis. But I don't want her to know about this in case it doesn't pan out.”
Nicholas shrugged. “Whatever you say.” He started the engine of his boat. “Keep in touch.”
Kelby settled back in his own boat and picked up the binoculars again.
Dawn had barely broken when Dave Cobb tied his boat at the pier at Tobago and strode to his hotel on the dock.
The shabby lobby of the Oceanic Hotel smelled of some kind of cleaning solution and the tropical flowers in the vase in the center of the reception area. The odor was as distasteful to him as everything else connected with this town, Cobb thought as he took the elevator up to his room on the third floor. He'd wanted Pennig to set him up downtown, but the bastard had wanted him available at the dock.
He called Pennig as soon as he got in his room. “Nothing much important to report,” Cobb said when Pennig answered the phone. “Like I told you, Lyons left yesterday evening and took off in the direction of Tobago. Kelby left the island about three this morning.”
“Same direction?”
“Yes, Tobago.”
“That's not unimportant, Cobb. I told you yesterday that Lyons's movements were very important.”
“But you won't let me leave to go after him. Dansk is going to let you know when they come back to the island. I'm getting in a hot shower and going to bed. How much longer are we supposed to sit out there staring at that damn island?”
“Until Archer says you can stop. You're getting paid.”
“Not enough,” Cobb said sourly. “Twelve hours in that damp, moldy boat is too long. I'm a city boy.”
“Would you like to tell that to Archer?”
“I'm telling you.” Shit, maybe he'd better backtrack. Archer was a sadistic son of a bitch, and Pennig wasn't much better. He'd heard too many stories for some of them not to be true. “I'm doing my job. Just get me out of that boat as soon as you can.”
“When the job's done.” Pennig hung up.
Screw him. Cobb crashed down the receiver and headed for the shower. He wouldn't have taken this job if he'd been in the money. He'd been a little flattered that a big player like Archer had picked him, but he liked action, not sitting around on his ass.
He turned