Chapter 17
Surfland, Florida
Hutch had not seen Mike since the day Luke and Laura got on the boat. It was unlike him to stay away so long. He decided to go look for his friend.
He spotted him getting into a cab. Hutch got a cab and had the driver follow him. He got out at the hotel where Jennifer Smith had been staying.
He followed Mike inside and get on the elevator. He watched the elevator as the numbers increased. It stopped on the seventh floor. The floor Jennifer's room was on. Hutch began to get a bad feeling that his friend had betrayed him.
He pushed the elevator button and went immediately to the seventh floor. He went into the supply closet and removed the grate from the air vent. He crawled through it till he got to Jennifer's room. He heard voices.
"I hear you have a report for me," said Jennifer.
"The bomb I put on the boat wasn't powerful enough. It severely damaged the boat, but it didn't destroy it," said Mike.
Hutch's eyes widened with fear as he realized that they were talking about the boat Luke and Laura had been on.
"It was powerful enough to kill Luke and the girl, wasn't it?"
"I'm not sure Miss Smith. My men recovered the remains of the boat, but there were no sign of them. It is possible that they survived."
"Charles, find out! If they are alive, make sure they don't stay that way," she said.
"Yes boss," said Charles.
Mike turned to leave. Hutch crawled quickly back to the supply room. He followed Mike outside. He caught up with him as he turned the corner.
Hutch grabbed him and threw him against the wall.
"Hutch!" he exclaimed.
"What did you do Mike? What did you do to Luke and Laura?"
"I.. I didn't do…"
"Don't lie to me! I know you put a bomb on their boat. I want to know why. There were…are my friends. Why did you turn against me?"
"I needed the money Hutch. That lady offered me five thousand dollars to put a bomb on the boat. I'm sorry."
"Sorry won't bring them back!"
"I think they may still be alive. There was no sign of them in the boat"
"They had better be. If they are dead, I will kill you myself. Until I find out, you are not getting out of my sight. We are going to go look for them."
"Just…just the two of us? We wouldn't stand a chance against Miss Smith's men."
"Don't worry, I plan to call for reinforcements."