The Dead Series (Book 3): Dead Weight Read Free Page A

seconds the heavy machine gun was secure. The ammo can was already attached, so Tick-Tock grabbed the slide handle, wrenched it backward and let it slam forward, chambering the first round.
    “They know something’s up,” Heather called out. “They’re turning.”
    But it was too late for the pirates. Tick-Tock triggered off the first burst even as the words left her mouth.
    The hammering noise of the .50 filled the air , causing Sheila to let out a sharp scream. Except for her, Cindy and Mary, the others had all fired the weapon and were prepared for the noise of the heavy gun. They were all good shots with it too, having had plenty of time to practice while at the radio station, but Tick-Tock was its master. Despite the pitch of the sailboat, half of his rounds struck their target.
    The men in the cigarette boat knew they were walking into a trap when they saw the heavy machine gun and three men appear from nowhere. The pilot tried to turn to the left, but at such a high rate of speed, this caused the bottom of their boat to be exposed. Ten of the heavy .50 caliber rounds smashed all the way through the hull and out the other side, as the few rounds that missed sent geysers of water shooting into the air. Chunks of fiberglass and wood flew from the craft. It shuddered visibly as it came back on an even keel and slowed, its forward momentum causing water to pour into its hull.
    Tick-Tock triggered the .50 again, this time sending eight rounds into the engine compartment. He was rewarded with a sharp crack as flames burst from the rear of the stricken boat. Oily smoke poured out as he raked the hull from bow to stern. Two figures could be seen jumping overboard seconds before the boat exploded in a ball of fire.
    His ears ringing from the noise of the .50, Tick-Tock could barely hear Steve say, “Good shooting, Tex.”
    Nodding grimly, he traversed the machine gun back and forth as he searched for another target. Nothing was in sight except for scattered, burning wreckage and the sinking hull of the modern day pirate ship.
    ***
    Brain steered The Usual Suspects through the remains of the cigarette boat. The waters of the Gulf had extinguished most of the flames, but a few pieces here and there still smoldered. A body, blackened and barely recognizable as human floated by on the right.
    “There he is,” Heather said and pointed. “I knew I saw someone jump overboard before it blew.”
    Twenty feet away , his back toward them, a man treaded water.
    “I saw two of them,” Sheila added. “Maybe the other one was the crispy critter we just passed.”
    Heather shook her head. “Whoever jumped got away before it blew. I know because I saw two people un-ass that boat. Where’s the other one so we can finish this and go?”
    Steve laughed and motioned toward a piece of hull bobbing in the water. “Or maybe it was a person and a dog.”
    Everyone looked and saw the distinct shape of a medium sized dog crouched on a large piece of floating wreckage near the man in the water. As they watched, he tried to climb up, but the dog snarled at him. Dropping back, he said, “Come on Pep. It’s me, Jimmy. There’s room for the both of us. What the hell’s gotten into you?”
    Tick-Tock laughed and said loudly, “Looks like you got a mutiny on your hands, Captain Bligh.”
    The man spun around in the water. At first his face showed fear , but it quickly turned to relief. “Thank God you came back. I wasn’t with those guys. They grabbed me off a boat a couple days ago and were using me as a deck hand. You’ve got to help me.”
    Heather exchanged a glance with Sheila and Connie. Jimmy’s voice had a distinct , reedy tone to it, one they’d recently heard before.
    Sheila looked down at him and said with contempt, “I want you to say something for me. Say, hey little chickies, I see you. Big daddy’s got something for you.”
    The relief on Jimmy’s face turned back to fear.
    “That’s what I thought,” Sheila