Gina Cresse - Devonie Lace 01 - A Deadly Change of Course--Plan B (17 page)

“What’s going to happen now?” I asked.

“No doubt you’ve seen the news of the Senate investigation. 
Turns out Frank Eastwood, one of the FAA investigators who was presumed dead, has turned up
alive, and
with some very interesting information.”

“Frank Eastwood?  So, he’s the chat-room informant.  That explains how he knew so much about the crash.  What will happen to him?  Can you protect him until this is over?”

“We’ll do our best.  Eastwood doesn’t put much trust in the Bureau.  In fact, we still don’t know where he is, exactly.  The reporter from the
L.A. Times
has him hidden away someplace
and won’t tell anyone where.”

“How long before we’re safe?” I asked.

“Good question. 
Could take months, or even longer.
  Hobson and some other pretty significant players are likely going to be indicted.  Charges have been filed against people in the CIA, FAA, FBI, and even the White House
—
and that’s just concerning the murder of the two DEA agents.  Then there’s the whole issue of the Mexican drug cartel being financed by U.S. banks and investors and that whole conspiracy.  It’s going to take months to sort through this mess and until it’s all over, I’m not sure you’ll be completely safe to walk the streets.  I would highly recommend you let us take you into the witness protection program until this goes to trial.”

“Let me think about it.  I need to talk to some people first
before I make a decision.”

“Don’t think about it too long.  In this world, it’s a short trip from being safe and sound in your cozy little boat to being fish food for hungry sharks.”

“Believe me, I know,” I said.  I thought of starting a new life again, just as I had when I bought the
Plan B
. 
All alone, once more.
 
Safe, with no one to threaten my own little world.
  I thought of the people who had helped me through
that
ordeal
—
Uncle Doug, Aunt Arlene, Jason, and of course, Craig.  I had a lot of thinking to do.

Chapter Twenty-two

I
t didn’t take long to make my decision.  I opted for my own w
itness protection program.  It was
called
Plan C
—
formerly known as
The Jewel
.  After making some sizable donations to a few of my favorite charities, I went directly back to Del Mar and bought the sixty-foot luxury sailing yacht.  Uncle Doug made a very nice commission on the deal. 

I had a few loose ends to tie up before I could set sail.  I bought Jason a new car since his was destroyed in the accident.  Also, I
bought him a brand new laptop computer
.  Then there was the matter of
rebuilding
Doug and Arlene’s dock in Del Mar
, which came to
way
more than I ever dreamed
,
plus the repairs to
their vacation house in Tahoe.  Those FBI guys busted the front door
and
three other windows.  What a bunch of animals. 

I also set up large trust funds for Joe’s wife, Sarah, and for Amanda and Emily Powers.  It would never replace what they’d lost, but at least they would never have to worry about finances for the rest of their lives. 

One thing I
’d
forgot
ten
to consider when I
’d
purchased my sixty-foot dream
—
even with auto pilot, it was not quite the same as sailing a little thirty-five foot sloop around the harbor.  I would require a crew to help sail her.  How would I find someone who could pick up and leave for several months to island-hop around the Caribbean?  And more importantly, who could I stand to be around for that length of time, confined to a sixty-foot living area.  That would be tougher than I first thought.  But with Uncle Doug’s assistance, I put together a crew that was up for the challenge.

So for my thirty-sixth birthday, there I was, floating somewhere in the middle of the clear blue waters of the Caribbean, sipping on some exotic drink with a pink flower and umbrella sticking out the top.  The sun was warm on my bare legs and the big floppy sun hat I’d picked up in St. Thomas kept the sun off my nose.  I spent the morning being entertained by a school of porpoises that decided to clown around off the stern of the boat.  I hadn’t read the legal section of a newspaper in weeks and I hadn’t looked at a computer in just as many days.

The crew consisted of only two people.  There was me, whose duties included cooking and deciding which island to visit next.  I believe that made me the skipper.  Then there was my first mate,
who
was something of a Jimmy-Stewart-type character.  He was tall and handsome, and oh yeah, he also doubled as the ship’s doctor.  That would be Craig.  He didn’t cook at all, but
he always warned me when I was about to be hit in the head by the boom.

Plan C
—
I think that may have been the best idea I’d had yet.

Books by Gina Cresse

Colton P.I. – Second Unit

Sinfandel

A Deadly Change of Course—Plan B

A Deadly Bargain—Plan C

A Deadly Change of Heart

A Deadly Change of Power

A Deadly Change of Luck

Find out more at
www.GinaCresse.com