Dory Simpson climbs into the front seat of the Lincoln as the girl starts the car. The blonde backs the car down the gravel driveway, then heads southwest toward the island’s main road.

Dominique reaches beneath the wig to scratch her itching scalp. “I always wanted to be a blonde.”

“Leave it on until we leave the dock.” Dory hands her the small stun gun, which is the size of a butane lighter. “Edie said to keep this on you at all times. I promised her I’d make you do it. Now, are you sure you feel comfortable operating the minisub?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Because I can come with you guys.”

“No, I feel better knowing you and Karen are here to look after Edie for me.”

It is late by the time they arrive at the private dock in Captiva. Dominique hugs the older woman good-bye, then walks across the wooden deck to the awaiting twenty-four-foot Grady-White motorboat.

Sue Reuben directs her to untie the stern line. Seconds later, they are racing across the Gulf.

Dominique removes the wig before it blows off, then pulls back the gray tarpaulin.

Mick is lying on his back, his right wrist handcuffed to the bottom of the passenger seat. He smiles up at her, then cringes as the bow bounces along the two-to-three-foot seas, smashing the back of his head painfully against the fiberglass deck.

“Sue, where’s the key?”

“I think you ought to leave him right there until we get to the boat. No sense taking any chances—”

“At this rate, he’ll be seasick by the time we get there. Give me the key.” Dominique opens his shackle, then helps him onto the seat. “How are you feeling?”

“Better. Nurse Ratched here has done a fine job.”

They arrive at the forty-eight-foot trawler. Sue cuts the engines, allowing the boat’s wake to push them in close.

Mick climbs aboard.

Sue hugs Dominique. “You be careful now.” She shoves the Magnum into the girl’s hand.

“Sue—”

“Hush. Don’t make a fuss. Blow his head off if he tries anything.”

Dominique slips the gun into the pocket of her windbreaker, then climbs on board, waving as the motorboat races away.

Now everything is quiet, the trawler bobbing in a black sea beneath a starlit sky.

Dominique looks at Mick, unable to see his eyes in the dark. “I guess we ought to get going, huh?” Relax, you sound nervous as hell.

“Dom, there’s something I need to say first.”

“Forget it. You can thank me by helping me find out what happened to Iz.”

“I will, but that’s not what I wanted to tell you. I know you still have doubts about me. You need to know that you can trust me. I know I’ve asked a lot, but I swear on my mother’s soul that I’d sooner hurt myself than allow any harm to come to you.”