That evening found them back at tournament headquarters, examining another threatening note.

Murray slid the paper into a plastic bag with a pencil eraser then examined it carefully. "You say this was found by Steve Jeffers in his hotel room?"

"Not just his hotel room, but taped to the mirror in his bathroom."

Cody blew out a long breath, "That means whoever's doing this has reach."

Nick nodded, "Yep. That far inside the room sends a message that there's nowhere safe. The intended receiver just feels violated and scared."

Reed looked worried, "He and his partner brought it right over. They're thinking of leaving. I didn't know if we should tell them that other teams have received threats, too. I don't know what to do."

Nick sighed, "We've gotta call Quinlan."

Cody winced and shook his head in regret. Murray shrugged slightly, looking resigned.

Reed dialed the phone to make the notification while the rest of them continued to discuss the case.

Cody looked at Olatidoye, "You know these guys. It's really your decision about whether to tell the other teams. How do you think they'll take it?"

Nick rolled his shoulders, loosening his neck, "We might be alerting the guilty party if someone in the tournament is involved."

Olatidoye looked alarmed, "Surely you don't think another team is responsible for this."

Murray shook his head slightly, "We're not ruling out anything yet. Someone might be desperate for that prize money. Like Eduardo Carritas. My research shows that his family in Brazil has some sizable debts. And there are several players who owe quite a bit in child support. Two are going through a divorce, one is getting married. There's any number of reasons why someone might need ten thousand dollars quickly."

Jace looked at Reed in dismay, "I just can't see that as a possibility. We're all a big family."

"Families can have a falling out. And sometimes panic can produce unpredictable actions."

Shortly thereafter, Quinlan breezed in. When he spotted Cody and the guys, he stuck on a bogus smile and sauntered over. "I should have known the whole volleyball team would be here. This is right up your strand of sand, isn't it?"

Reed bristled, "We hired them to investigate when you refused to do so, Officer."

Quinlan bristled and focused on Reed. "That's lieutenant. And while I'm sorry that I couldn't be more helpful when you called the first time, I couldn't investigate the whole beach, now could I? Perhaps you'd prefer that I shut down your little tournament while I figure out what's going on?"

Jace stepped in front of Reed, halting his aggressive move against Quinlan. "Sir, someone suggested these gentlemen might be of assistance, so we hired them to help. And I think they have."

Quinlan threw his hands up in sarcastic surrender, "Well, they're the best bums on the beach; I'm sure you got yourself a bargain. Now, did you get me down here to play games, or do you have something I can work with?"

Murray held up the plastic bag, "Lieutenant, here's the latest threat that was received. This one came to another American team, Anson and Jeffers. It was found in Steve Jeffers's bathroom, so that would indicate a possible illegal entry, right?"

Quinlan dropped a little of his typical attitude, reaching to take the bag. "I've not received any reports from the hotels."

Jace shook his head, "I don't think they told anyone. Jeffers said he found the note, showed it to his partner, and they came directly here."

"We'll need to investigate the room, the lock. Check with hotel security. Talk to this Jeffers guy and his partner. Get fingerprints."

Nick folded his arms, "We were just discussing whether or not the other teams should be told about these threats. If it's someone on the inside, we might be informing the perpetrators that we're on to their game."

"Are you asking my opinion, flyboy?" Quinlan put his hand to his chest in sarcastic delight.

Nick was working hard to keep his anger in check—never an easy accomplishment when he was around Quinlan. "You're in charge of security."

Quinlan dropped the act. "Yeah, but this ain't my tournament. That decision is up to Misters Reed and Oh-lahty-dahty here. I don't know these other volleyball players like I know you clowns." He turned to leave, taking the note with him. He stopped at the door, serious now. "But if it was me, I'd want to know if my butt was on the line. Now, where can I find this guy, Jeffers?"

Reed glared at Quinlan, "First office on the left."

"Gotcha." A cynical smile and then he was gone.

Jace shook his head slightly, "Is he always like that?"

Cody just felt tired and said the first thing that came to mind, unsurprised when all three detectives answered in unison, "Yeah."

About that time, Tim and Rusty stuck their heads in the office. "Did I just see Lieutenant Quinlan come out of here?"

"Has there been a break in the case?"

Cody eyed his friends, "No. Another threat."

"Who was it this time?"

Reed dropped to the seat behind his desk, "Anson and Jeffers."

Nick spoke up, "Hey, Tim. These gibrones, they threatened McAvoy's wife. Your mom could be in danger, too."

Tim's eyes lit up in worry, and he stared in panic at his partner.

Murray looked sympathetic, "Maybe you should tell her."

Cody nodded, "Or have her stay with family."

After a second to think, Tim shook his head sadly, "She's been looking forward to this tournament for months. Can't wait to see us on home sand. I can't send her away."

Nick looked concerned, "But don't you think you should at least tell her? Give her the choice?"

Tim seemed torn, "Even if I did, I don't think she'd leave. She's a tough lady. When my dad split, she never asked for help from anyone. She's independent and stubborn."

Cody answered, "Then she needs to be on the lookout."

Murray nodded in agreement.

Tim studied all three detectives and then turned to Rusty, "You agree?"

"I know you don't want to scare her, but…"

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right. She deserves to know. I'll tell her tonight."

That night when Nick was in the shower, Cody did a careful search of the closet and under Nick's bunk, looking for the stash of cookies. Then, because he knew Nick was devious, he did the same under his own bunk. Still no cookies. Before they'd left that morning, he'd check the most likely place he could think of—the cookie jar. It was an old, half-gallon pickle jar he'd brought to the Riptide from when he'd lived with Byron Monk. Cody figured there was a fifty-fifty chance Nick would put the cookies in the most obvious place simply because it was too obvious. But they weren't there—nor anywhere else in the galley.

And it didn't appear that Nick had secreted them in their cabin either. But there were lots of other hiding places on the boat. Cody wasn't even close to giving up.