Evil's Root

Chapter 17

Barry slumped down onto a chair and stared at the deck. He remembered getting shot. He remembered the fight on the other boat and the gun. He closed his eyes and swallowed hard. "Oh Jesus, I killed Hollinger."

"Yes, and he killed that other little man, Ernest or something, who killed Sandra, accidentally I think, but nevertheless."

"But Gwen? What happened to her?" He pictured the little sailboat and choked back a dry heave.

Heidi removed her arm and lowered her glasses. "I suppose that could be my fault. I was going to use the bookend on the Ernest fellow but things just got out of hand, we all bumped together." She trailed her fingers up her thigh and over her stomach. "I thought something like that would have more effect on me, emotionally I mean."

"Heidi, where are we?" He waved a helpless hand at the surrounding sea.

She sat up on the lounge and turned on one hip to face him, her nude figure glistening in the bright sunlight. "Since you are up and aware, we are at what I call our point of negotiation, Mr. Stein."

"Huh? What the hell are you talking about?"

"I have the much sought after briefcase and the contents, Mr. Stein."

"You got my money back! Fantastic, Heidi, I love you. Where is it?"

"The briefcase is somewhere safe, don't worry."

"Safe? I don't understand."

She shifted her body and Barry's eyes locked. "You intimated a sum to me of well over half of one million dollars when you invited me to help you spend it."

He coughed and nodded, flipping his hand.

"The briefcase holds three hundred and fifty thousand and the transfer you made at the beginning was for one hundred thousand to our joint account, which means, Mr. Stein, that the balance, of the well over one half of a million, is still outstanding."

"Outstanding? What the hell are you talking about? That's my money, and it's in my - I've got it where I need it to be. right now." He was looking at her differently, hard as that was at the moment, Barry felt a sliver of doubt creeping into his chest.

She swung her legs around and stood in front of him, smiling at the sudden intake of breath. "Barry," it was the first time she used his name, "I'd like to show you something."

He couldn't imagine what else there was as he watched her walk to a cooler by the rail and take out what looked like a handful of liver.

"What the-?"

"Watch." She tossed it over the side and wiped her hand on her towel. After a moment, Barry stood very slowly as his eyes locked on the large fin cutting through the water. He gasped as the head appeared, jaws opened and the spot where the liver went in became a seething mass of frothy bubbles, then just as quickly returned to the gently swelling waves.

"But you were swimming out there!" He staggered back feeling for the security of the cabin wall; his fingers jarred the clasp on a tool rack and a gaff hook bounced onto the deck under the lounge.

"But I offered nothing attractive. they sense blood in the water." She turned and leaned her bottom on the rail with her hands at either side. Barry stared at the water and at Heidi. Nothing attractive? "This I have shown you because I want you to understand your position."

"My position?"

"I am not a woman who likes to be kept, Barry." His name again. "I prefer being in control. You understand?"

He glanced at the water and sat back down. "I understand that I don't understand a goddamn thing, Heidi."

"I will make myself perfectly clear then, I want the rest of the money transferred to our account today. Remember, Mr. Stein, I witnessed your cold-blooded shooting of that Ted fellow. I think it would be prudent of you to do as I ask or . . ."

"Or what?" His eyes widened as she reached down and took another handful of gunk and lobbed it over the side. "Heidi?"

"It can be as we planned, Barry, just do as I ask."

He stared, too shocked to respond. What the hell had happened? How did all this come about and be so far from his original plans? And what about the killings? Was he about to be added to the list? He regained his mental focus and at the same time his visual focus, and as a result his thoughts turned to jelly.

"I need an answer, Barry. There are decisions to be taken."

"Listen, just a minute. How the devil can we just sail away from a quadruple murder scene like it never happened?"

"I said that was all behind us. There was a terrible fire at the marina after we left. I radioed the Coast Guard and told them that after trying to extinguish the blaze I had to take my own boat to safety, and they agreed, thanking me for my gallant effort.

"Unfortunately, the fire was so intense the boat sank before they could secure it to gain any evidence. Divers will of course examine the remains and likely will discover that there were people on board, but beyond that there will be little of any value to examine. Of course, I could always change my story."

"Are you saying you--?"

"Barry, I have said all I am going to. It is now your turn."

He clenched his fist and banged it slowly on his leg, considering all his options  -none it seemed.

"If I agree, what- how does that affect our uh- you and I?"

"In the best of all possible ways, Mr. Stein." Her grin spread along with her arms and she strolled toward him, all her naked Nordic beauty exposed to his scrutiny, and engulfed him in a warm, satiny wrap of smooth flesh.

"I'll make the call."