a deep breath. And explained.
chapter twenty-three
I spent the rest of the day looking for Judd Warner. I finally saw him leaving the dock in the late afternoon.
It was easy to stay out of sight. It was a Friday evening. Lots of people on the streets.
I followed him back to Uncle Gordâs dive shop. That shouldnât have been surprising. After all, Judd Warnerâif that was his nameâworked for Uncle Gord.
It wasnât surprising, either, that the dive shop was empty. With me and Sherri out of work, only Judd and Uncle Gord still worked there. And I knew Uncle Gord was getting ready for another night trip on the
GypSea
.
What was surprising was that Judd broke into Uncle Gordâs office.
I was watching from a window near the back of the shop.
Judd snooped around for a few minutes, and when he stepped outside the office again, he had a pistol in his hand.
I crouched farther down behind the window. I waited for him to walk past. I held my breath and hoped he couldnât hear how loud my heart was beating.
Judd stepped past the counter. He didnât look behind him. He didnât see me.
He was wearing black pants and a black T-shirt. As he walked toward the back room, he folded a piece of paper and stuck it in his back pocket. He lifted his shirt and put his pistol into his belt. He dropped the shirt to cover the pistol.
I kept holding my breath. I watched his shadow. It took a step toward the front, then was gone. He stepped outside. A few moments later, the door at the front opened and closed. I heard the turn of the key. Judd had locked the front door behind him.
I stood up.
What should I do?
If I called the police, what would I tell them? It didnât look like Judd had robbed Uncle Gord. It seemed like the piece of paper had been important. The police would ask me what was missing, and I wouldnât be able to tell them. Plus, it would be Juddâs word against mine.
I wanted to let Uncle Gord know about this. But then Iâd have to tell him I had not left Key West.
I stood for a while longer. Flies buzzed against the window. Other than that and the street noises, the dive shop was very quiet.
I thought it was strange that Judd was wearing black jeans and a black T-shirt. Although it was early evening, it was stillvery hot. Why wear black in this heat? I had never seen Judd wearing black before.
I grinned at how smart I was. If you were going to follow people at night, wouldnât you wear something dark?
It was Friday night. Judd knew that Uncle Gord would be going out in the dive boat tonight. Judd was probably going to follow them. Maybe even go on board the dive boat. There was plenty of room to hide on it.
There were two ways to find out if I was right.
I could tell Uncle Gord. He and his three friends from Miami, whoever they were, could watch for Judd. But if they stopped him, it would be easy for Judd to come up with an excuse for being near the dive boat. Worse, if I was wrong about Judd, Iâd look stupid.
Or I could keep my mouth shut and follow Judd myself. If he really was doing something wrong, Iâd know it by watching him. Iâd already waited behind the dive shoptoo long to know where he had gone. How could I catch up to him?
I slapped my forehead. If Judd was going to spy on Uncle Gord tonight, there was only one place Judd would go. To the
GypSea
.
The sun was almost ready to set. It wouldnât be too long before Uncle Gord and his friends would be on the dive boat, getting ready to leave. If Judd was following them, heâd be there too.
But I still had a little time. I ran to the beach house that Uncle Gord rented. My stuff was still in a suitcase in the truck. But Iâd be able to fit into Uncle Gordâs clothes. All I needed to do was find dark clothes.
Then I would be ready to hunt the hunter.
chapter twenty-four
I reached the docks just before sunset. I had on a dark summer jacket and a pair of dark track pants.
I
chapter twenty-three
I spent the rest of the day looking for Judd Warner. I finally saw him leaving the dock in the late afternoon.
It was easy to stay out of sight. It was a Friday evening. Lots of people on the streets.
I followed him back to Uncle Gordâs dive shop. That shouldnât have been surprising. After all, Judd Warnerâif that was his nameâworked for Uncle Gord.
It wasnât surprising, either, that the dive shop was empty. With me and Sherri out of work, only Judd and Uncle Gord still worked there. And I knew Uncle Gord was getting ready for another night trip on the
GypSea
.
What was surprising was that Judd broke into Uncle Gordâs office.
I was watching from a window near the back of the shop.
Judd snooped around for a few minutes, and when he stepped outside the office again, he had a pistol in his hand.
I crouched farther down behind the window. I waited for him to walk past. I held my breath and hoped he couldnât hear how loud my heart was beating.
Judd stepped past the counter. He didnât look behind him. He didnât see me.
He was wearing black pants and a black T-shirt. As he walked toward the back room, he folded a piece of paper and stuck it in his back pocket. He lifted his shirt and put his pistol into his belt. He dropped the shirt to cover the pistol.
I kept holding my breath. I watched his shadow. It took a step toward the front, then was gone. He stepped outside. A few moments later, the door at the front opened and closed. I heard the turn of the key. Judd had locked the front door behind him.
I stood up.
What should I do?
If I called the police, what would I tell them? It didnât look like Judd had robbed Uncle Gord. It seemed like the piece of paper had been important. The police would ask me what was missing, and I wouldnât be able to tell them. Plus, it would be Juddâs word against mine.
I wanted to let Uncle Gord know about this. But then Iâd have to tell him I had not left Key West.
I stood for a while longer. Flies buzzed against the window. Other than that and the street noises, the dive shop was very quiet.
I thought it was strange that Judd was wearing black jeans and a black T-shirt. Although it was early evening, it was stillvery hot. Why wear black in this heat? I had never seen Judd wearing black before.
I grinned at how smart I was. If you were going to follow people at night, wouldnât you wear something dark?
It was Friday night. Judd knew that Uncle Gord would be going out in the dive boat tonight. Judd was probably going to follow them. Maybe even go on board the dive boat. There was plenty of room to hide on it.
There were two ways to find out if I was right.
I could tell Uncle Gord. He and his three friends from Miami, whoever they were, could watch for Judd. But if they stopped him, it would be easy for Judd to come up with an excuse for being near the dive boat. Worse, if I was wrong about Judd, Iâd look stupid.
Or I could keep my mouth shut and follow Judd myself. If he really was doing something wrong, Iâd know it by watching him. Iâd already waited behind the dive shoptoo long to know where he had gone. How could I catch up to him?
I slapped my forehead. If Judd was going to spy on Uncle Gord tonight, there was only one place Judd would go. To the
GypSea
.
The sun was almost ready to set. It wouldnât be too long before Uncle Gord and his friends would be on the dive boat, getting ready to leave. If Judd was following them, heâd be there too.
But I still had a little time. I ran to the beach house that Uncle Gord rented. My stuff was still in a suitcase in the truck. But Iâd be able to fit into Uncle Gordâs clothes. All I needed to do was find dark clothes.
Then I would be ready to hunt the hunter.
chapter twenty-four
I reached the docks just before sunset. I had on a dark summer jacket and a pair of dark track pants.
I
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