Gray Ghost (The Bill Dix Detective Series Book 1) Read Free

Cohibas were worth fifteen dollars each.”
    Shortly after they left the main house, Dix noticed a red Subaru station wagon speeding toward the lodge. It was occupied by two men. The vehicle leaned heavily to the right, almost hitting the ground on the passenger side, and it had some minor front end damage.
    As the car passed, Dix saw it was also missing a rear bumper. In Miami, this type of vehicle screamed, “Please pull me over.” In the Bahamas, it was known as a “work vehicle.”
    The Subaru skidded to a stop a few feet beyond where they stood, and the driver quickly exited. He was handsome, probably in his forties, with a dark complexion, about Petersen’s height, but leaner. He immediately approached the men.
    “ Hello, mon. My name is Wilfred Jones. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He spoke with a subtle British accent.
    Dix and Petersen shook Wilfred’s hand.
    Their attention was drawn back to the vehicle. The distinctive tilt had Dix curious about the person who occupied the passenger seat.
    A loud creaking noise emanated from the beat-up car as the door swung open. One leg emerged, and the whole vehicle began to clank and bang. As the man stepped out, Dix could almost hear the car whisper, “Thank you.” Dix figured the guy was about six feet six inches tall, with a muscular build, probably weighed over 250 pounds. He seemed to be a local, and bore a faint resemblance to Wilfred.
    “ Wow!” exclaimed Petersen.
    “ I hope this guy’s a friend of Wilfred’s,” said Dix.
    The passenger slowly and deliberately walked over to them, said something to Wilfred neither American could understand. He spoke in the thick British dialect of the island. Then the new arrival extended his massive hand to Petersen.
    “ Nice to meet you, sir. My name is Bobby Jones, but you can call me Bubba.”
    Bubba shook Petersen’s hand, and then Dix’s. Dix wondered if he’d ever regain feeling after the vise-like shake.
    Martin said, “Gentlemen, these are two more of my friends. They’re experienced fishing guides. I have asked them to take you on the world’s greatest saltwater fly fishing adventure. They’ve guided for me as side work from time to time over the years.”
    Dix reached into his pocket and offered each of them a cigar, which they both accepted. As they lighted up, Dix asked, “Which species of fish do you think is the most difficult to catch?”
    They answered in unison, “Permit, mon.”
    Dix smiled. “Then let’s go after them last. How about it, Petersen?”
    “ Let me finish this cigar and see if Martin has some whiskey. Then I’ll agree.” The Jones brothers and the detectives discussed arrangements for the next day’s trip while they puffed away.
    “ We’ll pick you up at the lodge dock at eight in the morning,” said Will. “Bubba and I will take you to Fresh Creek first, then explore the rest of the east side of Andros.”
    Dix and Petersen shared a grin. “That sounds awesome,” replied Petersen.
    Martin returned with glasses of whiskey, and the men sat on the dock overlooking Elliott Creek, watching the sun dance on the ripples.
    After they finished their cigars and said their goodbyes, Dix headed back to the cottage to discover his friend swinging in a hammock.
    Dix obviously startled Petersen with his approach. “Hey man, you shouldn’t have smoked that cigar. You know those things make you sick.”
    “ I know. But I haven’t had one in so long. I figured I could treat myself.”
    Dix noticed his friend looked somber and a bit shaken up. “You okay, buddy?”
    Petersen didn’t answer right away. He gazed out toward Elliot Creek and shook his head. “I can’t get my mind off my ex. It’s terrible what she did, but I miss her.”
    Dix nodded and knew he needed to tread lightly here. “That’s totally normal, Steve. No matter what happens down the road, I’ve got your back. Now, let’s hit the sack so you can sleep off that Cuban and we can get some rest for a kick ass