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〃How's it going？〃 Lamar said to the man。
〃Fine。 You？〃 the voice was similar。
Lamar paid for his chips and returned to the parking lot。 He calmly dropped the bag in a garbage can next to a phone booth and quickly walked next door to a souvenir shop to continue his search for the McDeeres。
40
〃ARKNESS brought a cool breeze to the beach along the Strip。 The sun disappeared quickly； and there was no moon to replace it。 A distant ceiling of harmless dark clouds covered the sky； and the water was black。
Darkness brought fishermen to the Dan Russell Pier in the center of the Strip。 They gathered in groups of three and four along the concrete structure and stared silently as their lines ran into the black water twenty feet below。 They leaned motionless on the railing； occasionally spitting or talking to a friend。 They enjoyed the breeze and the quietness and the still water much more than they enjoyed the occasional fish that ventured by and hit a hook。 They were vacationers from the North who spent the same week each year at the same motel and came to the pier each night in the darkness to fish and marvel at the sea。 Between them sat buckets full of bait and small coolers full of beer。
From time to time throughout the night； a nonfisherman or a pair of lovebirds would venture onto the pier and walk a hundred yards to the end of it。 They would gaze at the black； gentle water for a few minutes； then turn and admire the glow of a million flickering lights along the Strip。 They would watch the inert； huddled fishermen leaning on their elbows。 The fishermen did not notice them。
The fishermen did not notice Aaron Rimmer as he casually walked behind them around eleven。 He smoked a cigarette at the end of the pier and tossed the butt into the ocean。 He gazed along the beach and thought of the thousands of motel rooms and condos。
The Dan Russell Pier was the westernmost of the three at Panama City Beach。 It was the newest； the longest and the only one built with nothing but concrete。 The other two were older and wooden。 In the center there was a small brick building containing a tackle shop； a snack bar and rest rooms。 Only the rest rooms were open at night。
It was probably a half mile east of the Sea Gull's Rest。 At eleven…thirty； Abby left Room 39； eased by the dirty pool and began walking east along the beach。 She wore shorts； a white straw hat and a windbreaker with the collar turned up around her ears。 She walked slowly； with her hands thrust deep in the pockets like an experienced； contemplative beachber。 Five minutes later； Mitch left the room； eased by the dirty pool and followed her footsteps。 He gazed at the ocean as he walked。 Two joggers approached； splashing in the water and talking between breaths。 On a string around his neck and tucked under his black cotton shirt was a whistle； just in case。 In all four pockets he had crammed sixty thousand in cash。 He looked at the ocean and nervously watched Abby ahead of him。 When he was two hundred yards down the beach； Ray left Room 39 for the last time。 He locked it and kept a key。 Wrapped around his waist was a forty…foot piece of black nylon rope。 The gun was stuck under it。 A bulky windbreaker covered it all… nicely。 Andy had charged another two thousand for the clothing and items。
Ray eased onto the beach。 He watched Mitch and could barely see Abby。 The beach was deserted。
It was almost midnight； Saturday； and most of the fishermen had left the pier for another night。 Abby saw three in a small cluster near the rest rooms。 She slipped past them and nonchalantly strolled to the end of the pier； where she leaned on the concrete railing and stared at the vast blackness of the Gulf。 Red buoy lights were scattered as far as she could see。 Blue and white channel lights formed a neat line to the east。 A blinking yellow light on some vessel inched away on the horizon。 She was alone at the end of the pier。
Mitch hid in a beach chair under a folded umbrella near the entrance to the pier。 He could not see her； but had a good view of the ocean。 Fifty feet away； Ray sat in the darkness on a brick ledge。 His feet dangled in the sand。 They waited。 They checked their watches。
At precisely midnight； Abby nervously unzipped her windbreaker and untied a heavy flashlight。 She glanced at the water below and gripped it fiercely。 She shoved it into her stomach； shielded it with the windbreaker； aimed at the sea and pushed the switch three times。 On and off。 On and off。 On and off。 The green bulb flashed three times。 She held it tightly and stared at the ocean。
No response。 She waited an eternity and two minutes later flashed again。 Three times。 No response。 She breathed deeply and spoke to herself。 〃Be calm； Abby； be calm。 He's out there somewhere。〃 She flashed three more times。 Then waited。 No response。
Mitch sat on the edge of the beach chair and anxiously surveyed the sea。 From the corner of an eye； he saw a figure walking； almost running from the west。 It jumped onto the steps of the pier。 It was the Nordic。 Mitch bolted across the beach after him。
Aaron Rimmer walked behind the fishermen； around the small building； and watched the woman in the white hat at the end of the pier。 She was bent over clutching something。 It flashed again； three times。 He walked silently up to her。
〃Abby。〃
She jerked around and tried to scream。 Rimmer lunged at her and shoved her into the railing。 From the darkness； Mitch dived head first into the Nordic's legs； and all three went down hard on the slick concrete。 Mitch felt the gun at the Nordic's back。 He swung wildly with a forearm and missed。 Rimmer whirled and landed a wicked smash to Mitch's left eye。 Abby kicked and crawled away。 Mitch was blind and dazed。 Rimmer stood quickly and reached for the gun； but never found it。 Ray charged like a battering ram and sent the Nordic crashing into the railing。 He landed four bulletlike jabs to the eyes and nose； each one drawing blood。 Skills learned in prison。 The Nordic fell to all fours； and Ray snapped his head with four powerful kicks。 He groaned pitifully and fell； face first。
Ray removed the gun and handed it to Mitch； who was standing now and trying to focus with his good eye。 Abby watched the pier。 No one。
〃Start flashing；〃 Ray said as he unwound the rope from his waist。 Abby faced the water； shielded the flashlight； found the switch and began flashing like crazy。
〃What're you gonna do？〃 Mitch whispered； watching Ray and the rope。
〃Two choices。 We can either blow his brains out or drown him。〃
〃Oh my god！〃 Abby said as she flashed。
〃Don't fire the gun；〃 Mitch whispered。
〃Thank you；〃 Ray said。 He grabbed a short section of rope； twisted it tightly around the Nordic's neck and pulled。 Mitch turned his back and stepped between the body and Abby。 She did not try to watch。 〃I'm sorry。 We have no choice；〃 Ray mumbled almost to himself。
There was no resistance； no movement from the unconscious man。 After three minutes； Ray exhaled loudly and announced； 〃He's dead。〃 He tied the other end of the rope to a post； slid the body under the railing and lowered it quietly into the water。
〃I'm going