Read Volcano for Free Online Page B

already purchased the land for the development, so the account currently had only start-up funds in it.
    Charlie figured the money was only an added attraction. The thief had some other goal in mind. Charlie had deliberately set up the corporation so few people knew of his involvement. Raul had flown down here and acted in his place. He couldn’t imagine anyone using the corporation to get at him unless his identity had leaked somewhere along the line.
    If he made the further assumption that his identity remained unknown, then the target could only be Raul or the development. The latter seemed most likely. There were conservationists here who had protested any further encroachment on the rain forest. He sympathized with their cause and hadn’t intended harming the environment, but fanatics didn’t always listen. Still, Charlie couldn’t believe they would be crazy enough to kidnap Raul and steal the money.
    He knew there were other developers who coveted that land. Charlie had pulled a lot of strings and called in a lot of favors to win that particular site, one that would have highway access and utilities. Now that all the dirty work had been done, it would be just like someone of Jacobsen’s ilk to decide to move in. Raul would have been in the way.
    Charlie almost preferred to think Raul had absconded with the money. At least then he could believe his friend was alive.
    Taking a seat at the phone table in the tiled, outdoor lobby, he punched in a few numbers and waited for the connection. He wished he could figure Jacobsen into the equation for certain. The man had lain low since Charlie had agreed to act as star witness against him for construction fraud, but it was mighty suspicious seeing him at the airport. The last he’d heard, Jacobsen’s construction company was facing bankruptcy. The last project Jacobsen worked on had collapsed, injuring half a dozen good workers. Raul’s brother had been one of them.
    The call connected and his secretary answered, practically jumping on him through the telephone. “Mr. Smith! We’ve been waiting for you to call,” she whispered in a tone that froze icicles in Charlie’s veins. “There’s a man outside waiting to serve papers on you. It has something to do with the St. Lucia project.” She took a deep breath and added in muffled tones indicating she cupped the receiver with her hand, “They’ve put a lien on your bank accounts. We can’t write any checks.”
    A trickle of perspiration crawled down Charlie’s neck. This couldn’t be happening, not now, not when he finally had it made. He had too many balls in the air. They’d all smash to the ground at once without those bank accounts. He’d just deposited the advance money for the Orlando project and bought supplies. The payroll was due. All those checks would bounce.
    The only consolation Charlie could summon as he hung up the phone was that he’d found the connection. Jacobsen had planned his revenge well.

FOUR
    â€œTrouble, Mr. Albright?”
    Lost in thought, Charlie didn’t immediately recognize the name, but sensing he was no longer alone, he looked up and decided he must be exuding high-energy vibrations for the busy manager of a resort to notice. Wondering if a cable call could be picked up by radio waves or tapped electronically, he forced a smile to his face and greeted Roger Henwood.
    â€œJust business. Can a water taxi into Soufriere be arranged at this time of day?”
    The Englishman nodded affably. “Of course. They’ll run until dusk. Does your wife like the cottage?”
    His wife. Right. He had to remember he was “married.”
    â€œShe loves the cottage, but the airlines didn’t feed her and she’s about to expire of hunger. I thought I’d take her into town.”
    Henwood beamed approval. “Of course. You can catch the water taxi down by the beach bar. Do you know how to