Lace felt a certain sense of justice fill her chest. It served the man right. Even though he’d apologized, sort of, he was still a dishonest prick, and she’d already gone above and beyond for him, keeping his head above water by giving him that life ring.
She certainly wasn’t obligated to waste another second worrying about him, nor would she ever trust him again.
“Give him a towel and put him in zip-ties,” Vince ordered his brothers, issuing the command without moving from her side.
He then snarled at Macleen as the man was being secured. “Give us the code for your helm lock,” he demanded.
“I…I…” the captain prevaricated.
“Don’t even think about saying you forget,” Vince barked. “Because if that’s the case, I’ll have the Coast Guard pick up your crew, after which we’ll scuttle theWater Wrestlerand send her to the bottom of the ocean.”
“You wouldn’t,” the captain spluttered.
“Try me.” Vince’s voice came out cold, authoritative, and Lace knew he meant every word of what he threatened.
Apparently, the captain did, too.
“Six, five, seven, nine,” the defeated man grumbled.
“Spence,” Vince hailed. “This is Belle.” Vince spoke over the invisible comms she now knew he wore. “We have confirmation of the helm lock release code.”
He repeated to his brother what the captain had said.
“Cutter Bunyan,” he followed up. “Tail that boat back into port. I’ll be notifying the local police, and we’ll let them take charge from there. They can sort out who was complicit and who wasn’t, then decide what they want to do with all involved. Stand by for any more information I’ll be getting from their captain.”
“I’m not saying anything until I have a lawyer,” Captain Macleen whined upon hearing that.
Vince barely afforded him a glance as he signed off with Spence and the cutter before turning his attention to the captain.
“Would you like to wait for your lawyer, back in the water?” Vince responded conversationally, but Lace could hear the steel undertones in his voice. “Because we can put you back where we found you, and see how long it takes for him to get to you.”
“You wouldn’t,” the captain raged, his face contorting.
“Try me,” Vince returned icily. “You have no leeway here. You attempted to kill the woman I love.”
The captain’s gaze darted to Lace, then shifted to note the chill in Vince’s eyes.
He must have seen the truth in what Vince said, because he shivered as Vince went on.
“You should be relieved I didn’t order Trask to take that life ring away and leave you to drown,” Vince reproved fiercely.
“If only,” Trask mumbled.
“Now spill, Captain Macleen,” Vince continued. “We already know you’ve been dealing in black-market tuna. I need to know what time were you meeting your buyers today, and where?” Vince questioned.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the captain sniveled.
“You do. And you’ll tell me, or…”
Lace just knew there was a gleam in Vince’s eyes.
“Did I mention that two of my brothers work for the local police department? And that I have an uncle who’s a judge on the district court? They can make sure that every charge possible is thrown at you. But if you cooperate with us, I’ll let them know, and maybe they’ll go easier on your punishment.”
Lace wasn’t sure Vince could really make that promise, but he sounded very convincing, even to her.
“I’m not saying anything,” Captain Macleen whined.
Lace turned and whispered to Vince. “Do you need to get up, to look…intimidating?”