Sunken Shadows: Shadows Landing #2

by Kathleen Brooks

  Darcy looked at it, but it was hard to tell. Diving knives all looked the same. “Is that the one I gave to Wade?”

  “Don’t say another word.” Olivia cut in. “Detective Chambers, we can dance around this all afternoon. Lay your cards on the table, and we will try to help the best we can.”

  Detective Chambers’s eyebrows rose over his honey-colored eyes. “That’s a first. Are you ill, Olivia?”

  “It’s a one-time offer that’s on the table for ten seconds.” Olivia sat back and crossed her legs. She looked serene while Darcy’s heart pounded.

  “Fine. This was found on your boat. Can you take a look at it?”

  Darcy leaned forward. “Can I pick it up?”

  “Yes.”

  Darcy picked up the clear evidence bag and immediately saw the blood on the tip. She wanted to hurl it as far away as she could, but this was important. She turned it onto its hilt and looked at the bottom. Darcy then let out a sigh as her body relaxed even though she was still shaking with nerves. “No, it’s not mine.”

  “How do you know?” the detective asked, leaning forward to take the knife back from her.

  “Because I mark all my knives with my initials. It’s hard to see because of the black handle, but I cut them in. Most diving knives look exactly alike, so I make sure mine are marked.”

  “Why bother doing that?” the detective asked.

  “Sometimes I hire help or I take people diving for extra cash. I don’t want our equipment getting mixed up. Take a look at all my knives. My initials are on everything I have. Oxygen tanks, knives, flippers, masks . . . everything.”

  Chambers turned to the mirror and gave a nod. Someone was going to check.

  “My client has been truthful. Now it’s your turn,” Olivia demanded. “Where was this knife found?”

  There was a knock on the door and a second later a young detective hurried in and whispered in Chambers’s ear before leaving again.

  “It appears you are correct, Ms. Delmar. You do mark everything. We found DD on the bottom of every knife out there, including the one you turned over to the Coast Guard. Every knife except this one, and this is the one used to murder Leon Snife. It was found in your bench storage hidden in a flipper.”

  “That’s . . .” Darcy began, but Olivia put her hand on Darcy’s arm, and Darcy immediately closed her mouth.

  “I think we can both agree my client wouldn’t leave something like that out in the open where it could be found. It’s clear to me it was planted and someone is trying to frame my client.”

  “Mr. Faulkner and the rest of the responders all stated that the boat was locked down tight when they got there. Mr. Faulkner pulled your client from the water after searching the boat and finding it locked. Ms. Delmar, was that bench seat locked?”

  Darcy shook her head. “No, I never lock it. I have flippers and some quick access stuff in there. A couple masks, some emergency oxygen, nothing worth much money. I keep it open in case I need to reach it quickly.”

  “Who would want both you and Mr. Snife out of the picture?”

  Darcy almost passed out from conflicting emotions. Relief set in as it sounded as if the detective believed her, but then fear hit. Did someone want her out of the picture also?

  “I don’t know. W-well,” Darcy stuttered as her mind went in different directions. “I mean, I don’t know anyone who wants me dead.”

  “But someone wanted Leon dead?” the detective asked as Olivia put her hand on Darcy’s arm, quieting her.

  “I need a moment with my client,” Olivia stated before leaning in close and whispering to Darcy. “Do you have any actual knowledge on this?”

  Darcy nodded and Olivia sat back. “My client will help you, but we require a little help in return.”

  “What kind of help?” the detective asked as he let out a sigh and Darcy felt pretty sure Olivia was about to get her way.

  “Why don’t you bring the district attorney in here so we don’t have to waste any time?” Olivia said with a smooth grin that was anything but kind. It was more like a cat that’d just eaten a mouse.

  Darcy expected to wait for the DA, but the door opened just seconds later and a man in an expensive suit with perfectly swept and cut brown hair walked in. “Olivia,” he said, sounding none too pleased.

  “Gerald, darling, how are you?” Olivia grinned in a way that made Darcy think that the mouse she’d just eaten was especially tasty.

  Gerald shifted so slightly. Darcy would have missed it if she weren’t examining the new person in the room. He looked to be in his late thirties, possibly his early forties. And while he was an attorney, he had the air of a politician. Must be the district attorney. Why was the actual DA here and not an assistant?

  “I assume you’ve examined the evidence and know the case against my client is weak. And by now, as much as you are hoping for a splashy headline about already having the murderer in custody, you are realizing my client didn’t kill Leon Snife. Am I correct?” Olivia asked with a little cock to her head.

  Gerald’s lips thinned a little, but he said nothing as Olivia continued.

  “So, here’s what we’re going to do. My client is offering to help you by telling you everything she knows, and in return, you will grant her immunity for any harm done to Leon Snife as a guarantee you don’t take what she gives you and try to use it against her.”

  Darcy’s eyes went wide. They’d do that? She looked at Olivia, but Olivia kept her eyes locked on the DA’s. The two were in a staring match for Darcy’s life and as the silence wore on, Darcy was scared to even breathe.

  5

  Wade sat patiently in the police station lobby. He’d been there since he’d given his official statement over twelve hours earlier. Wade was resting his eyes when someone sat down next to him. He opened his eyes and found his very elderly great-aunt and her husband sitting there. Marcy Faulkner Davies was well into her senior years, as was his Grandpa Scott, who was Marcy’s brother, and his Great-Uncle Kevin.

  Growing up, Wade and his brother, Trent, and all the Faulkner cousins had been told by their Great-Grandma Faulkner that her only daughter, Marcy, had abandoned the family. They had been led to believe that Marcy didn’t care about them and cut herself off from the family. It wasn’t until Wade’s cousin Gavin had a friend who needed help that they learned a different story. Gavin had sucked it up and gone to a conference in Charleston to find their cousin Layne Davies after his friend, Walker Greene, had been shot. Layne was an expert in physical therapy for gunshot wounds and had agreed to help Walker. While Gavin was asking for help, they learned Great-Grandma wasn’t so great. She was mad that Marcy chose to stay in their hometown of Keeneston, Kentucky, to marry the love of her life instead of moving to South Carolina to help babysit Wade’s parents as babies—parents who had moved with his aunts and uncles to Florida upon retiring and whom they hadn’t seen much since.

  Great-Aunt Marcy had tried to keep in touch, but his great-grandmother had told everyone she’d left them. There was no reason for it except for spite. But once Layne and Gavin got talking, they discovered the truth, and soon the estranged sides of the families were eager to meet. And meet they did. When Gavin’s love, Ellery, needed help, their Keeneston cousins were there in a heartbeat. And since the reconnection, Wade and the rest of the Faulkner cousins couldn’t imagine life without their Keeneston Davies cousins.

  “Aunt Marcy, Uncle Jake, what are you two doing here?” Wade asked, smelling apples and cinnamon wafting up from the small basket at Marcy’s feet. Her old, wrinkled hand came out and squeezed his.

  “We heard your lady friend is in trouble. I thought I could help,” she said in her sweet old voice as she patted his hand. “Have you heard anything yet?”

  “Not yet. She has the lawyer Ryker hired with her, though, so that’s good. And she’s not my lady friend. I’m just helping her out. She’s not from here and doesn’t have anyone to turn to,” Wade said, resting his large hand over hers.

&
nbsp; “Son, you don’t sit in a police station all night and day for just some lady,” Uncle Jake said with a shake of his head.

  “Well, let me see what I can find out,” Marcy said, standing up slowly. She gripped her cane in one hand and the basket in the other.

  “They’re not going to tell you anything, Aunt Marcy,” Wade said sadly, but Marcy ignored him and headed to the information desk.

  “Watch and learn, son,” Jake said, sitting back and watching his wife. Wade watched the transformation from guard to blushing young man in awe. The officer on duty picked up the phone and a minute later was talking to Marcy as she pulled the towel from the freshly baked apple pie and handed it over to him. Five minutes later and another officer was hurrying around the desk to escort Marcy back to her chair as half the officers from behind the information desk called out their thanks to her.

  “What just happened?” Wade asked Jake as Marcy drew closer on the arm a young strong officer.

  “Apple pie is an amazing thing,” Jake said with a grin as his wife was seated once again.

  “We’ll let you know as soon as she’s released, Mrs. Davies. And thanks again,” the officer said before turning and hurrying back to his desk.

  Marcy turned a sly grin to Wade. “Apple pie works wonders bribing nurses and police officers, dear. I left the recipe with your cousin Tinsley. We can stay another hour but then we have to head to the airport to catch our flight home.”

  “So, what did the apple pie learn?” Wade asked with a chuckle.

  “That the murder weapon was found in the only unlocked part of the boat. There are no fingerprints on it and it’s the only knife that didn’t have your lady friend’s initials on it. There’s no evidence other than the knife being found on the boat, linking your lady friend to the murder. However,” Marcy said, leaning toward him and lowering her voice, “the DA is in there now and apparently he and your girlfriend’s attorney had a thing a couple years ago.”

  “She’s not my girlfriend,” Wade defended.

  “Son, I thought we’d already established she’s something, otherwise we wouldn’t be here bribing the police,” Jake said as he stared him down. Well, okay, so maybe Wade felt something for Darcy.

  “Anyway,” Marcy continued, “the DA and Miss Olivia, your not-your-girlfriend’s attorney, were dating until they went up against each other in court and Miss Olivia whopped him good. He couldn’t handle that and broke it off with her. Now he does everything he can to beat her.”

  Wade’s stomach fell. “So Darcy is going to get railroaded because of his ego?”

  Marcy shook her head. “He does what he can, but Miss Olivia beats him every time. The word is she has him by the biscuits on this case and is pushing for full immunity in return for your Darcy’s help with the case.”

  “Why would she need immunity?” Wade asked as he processed what Marcy was telling him.

  “She doesn’t,” Marcy whispered. “Jimmy, that sweet young man who walked me back here, was telling me Olivia’s doing it just as a big slap in the face to her ex and because she doesn’t trust him with anything learned from Darcy’s story. But Jimmy and the rest of the guys think your Darcy will be out within the hour. Now, until she’s released, why don’t you tell me a little about your cousin Ridge? Does he have a girlfriend?”

  “Here we go again,” Jake muttered as he leaned his head back and closed his eyes.

  “Don’t mind him. So, about Ridge . . .”

  Darcy signed her name to the document that guaranteed her immunity, and Olivia barely restrained her gloating as Gerald leaned against the far wall. “So, who wanted Leon dead?” Gerald asked as soon as the document was signed.

  “Everyone,” Darcy answered after Olivia gave her the go-ahead. “No one liked him. He gave dirt a bad name.”

  “That doesn’t answer the question,” Gerald began, but Darcy was feeling empowered now that she couldn’t be arrested for his murder.

  “And if you wouldn’t interrupt me, I would tell you more,” Darcy snapped. She was exhausted and scared. She’d either yell or cry soon if this didn’t end. Neither would be good, and she wanted to be out of here before she snapped. Next to her, Olivia smiled and gave her a wink.

  “There are tons of amateurs around. They come and go, so unless they’re serious hobbyists I don’t know them. I can write a list of the ones I know. Now, as for professionals, Jules Discoveries is here. I don’t know if Jules himself is here, but I saw one of his boats earlier. Jules Discoveries is a huge, corporate-financed operation owned by a Frenchman named Jules Chasseur who claims he’s a descendant of Jacques Cartier, the famous French explorer. However, no one believes him or cares, for that matter, but he uses it to get corporate sponsorships for exploration. And I ran into Hugo Lopez, the owner of Tesoro, Inc., at the marina two days ago.”

  “And they both want Leon dead?” Gerald asked as the detective took notes.

  “Yes. But as I told you, those are just the two I know to be in town. Both of whom I have heard threaten Leon’s life before. Hugo actually had him by the neck threatening him two months ago in Key West. Then Jules wanted to cut off his head,” Darcy told them with a roll of her eyes. “As I said, he’s very into French history.”

  “Why did they want to kill Leon?” the detective asked before Gerald could.

  “Because Leon steals. He’s a thief who slinks behind while we do all the research and work. Even if you claim the discovery with a marker, he swoops in and either steals the artifacts from under the water or suddenly your marker disappears and Leon is there with a television crew, pretending to be discovering it for the first time. He sells items on the black market or auctions them from countries that don’t care about the treasure’s origin or the country’s laws where the treasure was found. He’ll steal it from the bottom of the ocean and hightail it to a country that will sell it even if a government has a claim on it. He’s done that to me, Jules, Hugo, and to Cash Olweck.”

  “Who’s Cash Olweck?” Gerald asked, no longer sounding annoyed with her.

  “He owns CMO Expedition.”

  “The treasure hunters with the television show?” Detective Chambers asked as he looked up from his notes.

  Darcy nodded. “Yes, but I haven’t seen him in Charleston. However, with news of Leon’s death, everyone will show up. Treasure hunters may be rivals, but we’re a tight group.”

  “Why does he have a motive to kill Leon?” Gerald asked, taking a seat next to Detective Chambers.

  “Rumor has it Leon planted fake treasure where Cash was looking. Replicas. Good ones, and not many, but enough for Cash to get excited about the find. All the promos for the show were about how excited Cash was to find these artifacts, which he believed were indicators of an even bigger treasure from an ancient shipwreck nearby. Cash was embarrassed on television when the archaeologist onboard revealed them to be fake.”

  Gerald’s eyebrows rose, but then his eyes narrowed. “Where do you fit into this?”

  Darcy felt a shiver run through her. “I don’t know. That’s what I don’t get. I haven’t made enemies. I’m kind of a loner. I’ll join some hunters at a bar every couple of months, but I don’t hang out with them and I don’t get involved in their drama. I honestly have no idea why I was framed.”

  “What were you looking for, Ms. Delmar?” Detective Chambers asked as all eyes turned to her, including Olivia’s.

  “I don’t want to say. It’s something I’ve been working on since I was sixteen. I can’t have a record of it until I know if it’s real or not.” Darcy turned to Olivia. “I don’t have to tell them, do I?”

  “No, you don’t. But, Darcy, did it ever occur to you that someone knows what you’re after and is willing to kill for it?” Olivia asked as Gerald and Detective Chambers nodded in agreement.

  Darcy shook her head. “But no one knows what I’m working on. At least, I don’t think they do.”

  “If your hunt is the motive for the murder, we need to know what it is,” Ge
rald said, leaning toward her. “Now.”

  “I can’t. I have to make the claim first or whoever this person is could steal it out from under me like Leon did.”

  Olivia put her hand on Darcy’s. “I’m worried for your safety. How much time do you need to make your claim?”

  Darcy leaned over to Olivia who got the hint and leaned in to listen. “I need to dive again, then I can know for sure and make my claim as soon as the courts open tomorrow,” Darcy whispered, now even antsier to get out of the police station than she was before. “But that’s only finding the first part of the treasure. I can’t risk telling them anything about the second part until I find it.”

  Olivia leaned back and turned to the men. “Okay. Give my client until the close of business Monday to file her claim. As soon as she has filed said claim, she’ll share all she knows about what she’s found and why she was diving last night. Deal?”

  “Deal,” Gerald said. “But we want to be notified as soon as you find it. Call from the boat, and we’ll put an officer on it until your claim is approved. Then you tell us what you found and why someone would kill for it. And, I don’t want any statements saying you’ve been cleared. I know that might hurt your reputation short-term, but it will help solve the case if the killer thinks we’re looking elsewhere. Can we agree to that?”

  “How about a ‘no comment’ if asked?” Olivia countered, and Gerald agreed.

  “Can I go now?” Darcy asked. She needed to get into the water soon.

  Gerald nodded and Olivia instantly stood and brushed the wrinkles from her suit. “It’s been a real pleasure, gentlemen.” With a grumble, Chambers and Gerald Hemmings left the room. “Brush your hair, put on some lip gloss, and try to look happy. We have no idea if there’s media out there or not.”

  Darcy hurriedly did as Olivia ordered and soon Olivia was leading her from the interrogation room and out to the lobby. “Miss Townsend!”