The Whole Truth (A. Shaw 1)

“Well, you are not in the United States,” the policeman retorted. “You have no jurisdiction here.”

“Actually they do.”

All heads turned as Shaw came down the steps from the bridge.

Creel stared up at him. “I’m listening.”

“The kidnapping of an American citizen,” Shaw said.

“Who?” snapped the Italian police officer.

“Katie James!” Frank bellowed. “I suppose you’ve heard of her, Katie James?”

“She is here, you are saying this?” the officer exclaimed.

“She is not here,” Creel said smugly.

“Really?”

They all turned again as Katie stepped onto the deck. Now Creel paled and he looked out to the water in bewilderment.

“Your guys took the woman who was killed, I guess your wife, in the body bag after Shaw made the switch,” Katie said. “They didn’t bother to check that it was me in there. We were about the same size and weight.”

The Italian policeman looked at Creel. “Your wife is dead?”

“Of course she isn’t. She’s not here. I had her taken back to town. You must have seen the launch pass by.”

“And then how did Katie get here?” Frank said.

“Same as he did,” Creel said, pointing at Shaw. “Obviously, they’re trespassing.

Katie held up her broken arm. “The tracking device wasn’t in the cast. It was in me.” She pointed to the wound on her arm. “They cut me open at the same spot as my compound fracture to put the transmitter inside me.” She looked over at Shaw. “It was a technique I recently became acquainted with.”

“That is how we followed her here,” the FBI agent said. “And then we got a distress call from Shaw and came charging in.”

“I am confused,” the Italian policeman said. “What is all this about?”

“This man-” Katie started to say before Creel interrupted.

“She’s been making these outlandish accusations on the Internet. Now I suppose she’s going to say that I’m some criminal mastermind, Officer. Which is absolutely preposterous.”

“He kidnapped me,” Katie said.

“And I’m saying I didn’t. It’s your word against mine. Hardly the stuff of a successful prosecution.”

“Mr. Creel is building an orphanage in our town,” the Italian said.

“I don’t give a shit if he’s gold-plating every road you got,” Frank exclaimed. “We are taking his ass with us.”

“I do not think so.”

Creel said, “Officer, I will remain here, on my yacht. I’ll call my lawyer and these things will be dealt with in an orderly, legal fashion.”

“He also has a submarine on here,” Shaw pointed out.

Creel rolled his eyes. “Oh, yes, let me escape in a submarine. Very James Bond.” He studied Shaw closely. “But I believe the facts will show there is a violent criminal on board. This man murdered my personal bodyguard. Look at the blood on his hands and shirt.”

Shaw was indeed covered in Caesar’s blood.