Loyalty Read Online Free Page B

an opportunity for revenge, and you couldn’t put a price on that.
    Unlike Carl, Elaine had no interest in the water, so it was a way for Fina to have some family time with less drama. Her brothers started buying their own boats once they had the houses and fancy cars covered, and all of them were docked at the Boston Harborfront Marina across from Quincy Market.
    Fina walked down the ramp leading to the slips and stopped at the stern of Rand’s boat,
Guilty Pleasure
.
    “Your father send you down, Ms. Ludlow?” It was Bob, the dockmaster. He’d been at the marina as long as Fina could remember and looked like Burt Dow, deep-water man, from the children’s book. As far as Fina could tell, he’d been born seventy-five years old.
    “Yeah, but he didn’t give me any details.”
    “There were a couple of cops here earlier.”
    “What did they want?”
    “Wanted to know when Mr. Ludlow, Rand, was last on his boat, and if I’d seen anything unusual.”
    “What did you tell them?”
    “Said he was here a few days ago with the usual gear, some duffel bags and a cooler.”
    “Did they go on the boat?”
    “Told them they’d need a warrant for that.”
    “My family’s rubbing off on you,” Fina said, and pulled two twenties out of her wallet. She folded them up and slipped them into Bob’s hand. “If you see anyone else hanging around, give me a call.” She held out her card between two fingers.
    “Will do.” Bob pocketed the card and started walking toward his office.
    “And Bob? If anyone asks, I was here getting a sweatshirt that I left on my dad’s boat.”
    Bob smiled.
    Fina climbed onto the dive platform of Rand’s boat. She found the key wedged between some life jackets under one of the seats in the stern and let herself into the cabin. She looked around the main space that housed the living room, dining area, and inside bridge, but nothing looked out of place. Downstairs, the beds in the staterooms were tightly made, and the bathrooms were spotless. Two duffel bags full of towels and sweatshirts sat on one of the beds, but Fina didn’t see the cooler anywhere.
    Back upstairs, she locked the cabin behind her and climbed the narrow stairs to the flybridge. The heavy canvas-and-plastic cover was snugly snapped in place, trapping the warm May sun. Downstairs, Fina edged between the cabin and the side railing and made her way to the bow. A slight breeze stirred her hair, and as she looked down toward the ripples on the water’s surface, something caught her eye. Next to one of the cleats there was a small smear. Fina knelt down and looked closer.
    Fuck.

    She was unlocking her car when the cavalry arrived. Cristian and another cop got out of an unmarked Crown Victoria, and a second unmarked sedan arrived thirty seconds later. Cristian slammed his door and raised an eyebrow in the direction of the second car.
    A short woman with frizzy, curly red hair got out of the passenger’s seat and strode toward Fina.
    “Fina,” she said. “What’re you doing at my crime scene, woman?”
    Lieutenant Marcy Pitney stopped next to Fina and pulled a pack of gum out of her purse. It was Fruit Stripe gum with the colorful zebra on the pack. She unwrapped two brightly striped pieces and popped them into her mouth.
    “Don’t you need a crime for a crime scene?” Fina asked.
    “I’m pretty sure I’ve got a crime.” Pitney smiled. “And it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Actually, I would have been happy with any of the Ludlow men, but Rand’s always been my least favorite.”
    “Not that you’ve rushed to judgment or anything.”
    “Of course not. I may be enthusiastic, but I follow the law.” She was wearing an orange pantsuit that made her look like a habanero. Her boobs formed a shelf, and Fina wondered if she had to dig crumbs out of the chasm at the end of the day.
    Fina didn’t say anything. Carl had taught his kids that the worst clients were the ones who couldn’t keep their mouths