High-Speed Showdown Read Free Page B

Dennis said. “That was just to help you feel important. You’d better believe that I always checked everything out afterward.”
    â€œSusan, Dennis,” Magnusson said. “May I—”
    â€œIn a minute,” Susan said, without looking around. “ ‘Feel important’? You pig! Have you happened to notice who’s been winning races since I had the good sense to dump you? And I’m going to take the cup this weekend, too, don’t worry.”
    Dennis said, “Worry? Fat chance! I’ve got nothing to worry about if you’re the competition. And the only hope you have to win is if you mess up my boat. And don’t you worry, I’m going to be on the lookout for that.”
    â€œWell, look out for this!” With a sudden movement, Susan put both hands on Dennis’s chest and shoved. Taken by surprise, he stumbled backward a few steps. His ankle caught on the mooring lineof the nearest boat. Off balance, he fell back over the edge of the dock. His arms flailed as he tried to grab something to break his fall. Frank heard a distinct thump as the back of the man’s head slammed against the pointed bow of the boat.
    As Frank watched openmouthed, Dennis tumbled limply into the oil-slicked water of the boat slip. Bubbles rose to the surface as he began to sink out of sight.

3 Just the Fax, Ma’am
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    â€œDennis!” Susan cried, clapping her hands to the sides of her face. “Oh, no! What have I done? Somebody, please, help! ”
    Frank had already ripped off his T-shirt and was yanking at the laces of his running shoes. Next to him, Joe was doing the same.
    â€œNo! I’ll go in after him,” Frank said quickly. “You get ready to pull us out.”
    Not waiting for Joe to reply, Frank slipped out of his shoes and ran to the edge of the dock. He made a lightning-quick judgment of distances, then jumped. He landed in the water less than a yard from Dennis, who was obviously still dazed by the blow to his head. He’d slipped just below the surface, and his eyes had rolled upward.
    Two powerful overhand strokes took Frank to his side. He hooked his elbow under the drowning man’s chin and took a quick glance around. Joe was lying flat on the dock half a dozen feet away, reaching out his hands to help. Frank rolled onto his back and used the frog kick to make his way toward Joe. A few more powerful kicks got him and Dennis close to the dock.
    â€œOkay, Frank, I’ve got him,” Joe said.
    â€œGreat,” Frank replied as he felt Dennis’s weight being lifted from him. “Watch his head. One bump like that is more than enough.”
    Frank swam out of the way and saw that Joe wasn’t alone. Dave Hayman, the young blond guy they’d met a little earlier, was helping lift Dennis onto the dock. A moment later Frank heard Dennis cough loudly, then gasp, “It’s okay, I’m all right. Just give me a second to catch my breath.”
    Relieved, Frank glanced around. He could have hoisted himself directly onto the dock, but he knew better than to try it. He really didn’t want to go home with a crop of ferocious splinters. On the other side of the slip, a wooden ladder extended down into the water. He started swimming toward it, which wasn’t easy with sodden jeans clinging to his legs.
    Gerald Magnusson was waiting at the head of the ladder. “Well done, Frank,” he said, offering his hand. “Would you like me to find you some dry clothes?”
    â€œThanks, I’m okay,” Frank replied. He picked his T-shirt up off the dock and pulled it on over his head, then slipped his feet into his shoes. He felt incredibly grungy after his plunge in the harbor. All he wanted at the moment was to go home to take a long, hot shower.
    Frank saw that Dennis was on his feet, though he kept one hand on Dave’s shoulder for support. Susan, still pale, hurried over to him.
    â€œOh, Dennis,