There is a selection of controlled substances here, Molly said. Some weed. Some, I assume, coke. Couple of other things I'd need help with.

Pack it up, Jesse said.

We going to arrest them for possession?

I might find it useful as leverage, Jesse said.

In the night table of the master cabin, Jesse found a Browning Hi-Power and a box of shells. He took the pistol and left the shells. In the crew quarters he found a shotgun. He left it. Most boats had a long gun aboard. He didn't think it would do much for him. They confiscated a video camera. They found sex toys in most of the staterooms. There were several vibrators, some anatomically correct. Molly turned one over in her hands, looking at it from all angles.

When I was in parochial school, Molly said, we weren't allowed to wear patent leather shoes, for fear someone might look up our dress in the reflection.

I was always hopeful about that, Jesse said. But I never saw it work.

But it probably kept you alert, Molly said.

I don't want you sneaking home with that thing, Jesse said.

Molly rolled her eyes at him, and put the vibrator back where she found it.

Ah, the stories it could tell, he said.

What exactly is this, Molly said.

That's a ball gag, Jesse said, and those are restraints. Fetish toys. You can order them on the Internet.

Ick, Molly said.

You and hubby don't use those? Jesse said.

There are times, I think, he might want to stick that gag in my mouth, Molly said. But not during sex.

Irish Catholic girls have sex? Jesse said.

When we go bad, Molly said, we go way bad.

When they were through the search it was midway through the afternoon. Jesse made an inventory of what they'd confiscated, in duplicate, and signed it. Then he called Hardy on the cell phone.

What did you take? Darnell said, when they reached the deck.

Stuff, Jesse said. Uncuff him, Suit.

Simpson unlocked the cuffs on Darnell. Jesse separated the two sheets of his inventory and handed the carbon sheet to Darnell.

You can't take the tapes. They're private property.

We'll need you to come in and do a lineup, Jesse said. All of you. Crew as well. We'll arrange a date and get back to you.

Those tapes aren't even mine. Somebody left them on board. I don't even know what's on them.

We'll take a look, let you know. Meanwhile, if you leave the harbor I'll have the Coast Guard impound the boat.

I want a lawyer, Darnell said.

Sure, when you get one, tell him you are suspected of forcible rape. In fact, all of you are suspects.

Those aren't my tapes, Darnell said again.

Have a swell day, Jesse said, and waited at the rail while Molly climbed down to join Suit in the harbor boat.

Can the Coast Guard impound his boat? Molly said as they headed back through the moored boats toward the town pier.

I don't know, Jesse said. I probably ought to ask somebody.

Chapter 30.

Kelly Cruz sat at the bar of the Boat Club, at the marina, near the causeway in Fort Lauderdale, sipping a Diet Coke. The bartender was maybe twenty-two, and red-haired. He wore small blue oval sunglasses with blue lenses. He had on big shorts and a white tee shirt that said big red on the front. There was some sort of choker around his neck.

Why you wanna know about Mr. Ralston? the bartender said.

What is your name? Kelly Cruz said.

Brick, he said.

I'm Kelly Cruz, she said, and showed him her badge. Tell me about Mr. Ralston.

You're a cop?

I am.

What'd he do?

I understand he lives on his boat in this marina, Kelly Cruz said.

I don't know where he lives, Brick said. But he's in here a lot.

Seen him lately?

No, I think he went up north to some boat racing thing.

You remember all your customers? Kelly Cruz said.

The ones tip like Mr. Ralston, Brick said. Plus he's a really cool dude, you know. I mean, no offense, but he comes in here with some of the most bodacious-looking women, hoo hah!

Hoo hah? Kelly Cruz said.

You know, Brick said, bada-bing! Excellent.

The bar was mostly empty. There were a few people scat - tered at tables in the glass-walled room with the turquoise light from the ocean coming in on two sides. Outside on the deck, several other tables were occupied. A waitress moved among them with her tray.

Know any of them?

The babes that hang with Mr. Ralston? Just to say s'hap- penin'.

Are any of these women here now?

No.

Does Mr. Ralston have anyone, like, steady?

Naw, Brick said. Guy like that doesn't do steady. He just hooks up, you know? Blonde one night, brunette the next. No flames, no games. No hellos, no goodbyes. No aches, no pains. Just slam bam alakazam.

Brick grinned.

You admire Mr. Ralston, Kelly Cruz said.

You bet. He's leading my life, instead of me.

Brick slid a saucer of mixed nuts within Kelly Cruz's reach.

But I'll get there.

Everybody needs a dream, Kelly Cruz said.

Want me to freshen up that DC? Brick said. Wedge of lime, anything?

Kelly Cruz shook her head.

Know what Mr. Ralston does for a living?

Brick grinned wider.

I think it's maybe just slam bam alakazam, he said. You ever been on his boat?

I have, in point of actual fact, Brick said. Worked a private party for him one night, tending bar. That was tough, baby. That was an absolute groove.

Wild party? Kelly Cruz said.

I mean, I don't want to cause anybody any trouble, he said.

Just gathering information, Kelly Cruz said. I don't care if there was a little blow being snorted.

Blow? Yeah, I guess so, and booze, and mara-joo-wanna, sure. But it was the sex thing, man, everybody doing everything with everybody and the video cameras rolling, and ... whew! I was afraid for a time there, I was going to lose my cherry.

He smiled broadly.

Know any of the people on the boat? Kelly Cruz said. Not really, you know, 'hi, howya doin'. But Courtney does.

Courtney, Kelly Cruz said.

The waitress, Brick said. Right over there. I know she hangs with one of Mr. Ralston's girls. You wanna talk with her?

I do, Kelly Cruz said.

Hey, Court, Brick said. Come talk to the nice lady for a minute.

The waitress came to the bar.

I got half a dozen tables, you idiot, she said to Brick. Nobody's at the bar, Brick said. They need something I'll cover it.

Courtney frowned. Her face was so blank that the frown looked as if it had hurt to perform.

No offense, ma'am. How can I help you?

Kelly Cruz showed her badge.

Kelly Cruz, she said.

Courtney said, Yes, ma'am.

Call me Kelly. Just a couple of girls gossiping. Yes, ma'am.

You know Thomas Ralston? Kelly Cruz said.

Mr. Ralston?

Un-huh.

Everybody knows him, Courtney said. He comes here a lot.

Do you know any of his, ah, girls.

His girls?

I heard, Kelly Cruz said, you hung with one of Mr. Ralston's girls.

Courtney made her frown face again, and looked at Brick. He grinned at her.

You know, Court, the one with all the hair, he said. Mandy.

Kelly Cruz looked at Courtney and waited.

Mandy, Courtney said. Yo, I know Mandy.