by Matt Lincoln
But just looking into those gorgeous green eyes of his was enough to make a girl forget all the danger a move like this could bring later on.
“Are you sure about this?” I implored. “That’s a pretty big step for both of us. And I don’t know how long I’m still going to be in Miami, Jake. This could be more than a week, or even a month or more.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” He ran his fingers through my hair, and I had a hard time concentrating on anything else.
“I didn’t mean for it to sound that way.” I sighed and leaned in to kiss him softly. “But I know that you have a wild and untamed lifestyle. I wouldn’t want to cramp it, you know?” I was trying to be playful. I couldn’t tell if I was making that work. “But if it’ll make you happy, you know, having a temporary roommate, then I guess I could help you out a bit.”
Jake just smiled. “I bet you can.”
We spent the better part of the morning in bed, sometimes talking and sometimes doing other stuff, but by eleven, I really did need to get up and start the day. I checked in with both Verity and with George to make sure that they were doing as well as could be expected, given the current events. Verity had gone back to George’s home with police protection to gather clothes and necessities and to lock the place up. Since it was still a crime scene, she couldn’t stay there, and she wouldn’t have wanted to, anyway. She was just as nervous about going back to her apartment, too, she told me privately.
George was in a good mood when I talked to him on the phone. I could overhear him micromanaging his own care, not exactly complaining to the hospital staff, but certainly letting them know what his expectations and opinions were. He was very intent on letting me know a few things, though.
“The pair that broke in,” he spat, “I would bet my good name that the man was from Cuba. His accent was a dead giveaway. And you need to ask Verity about him. I get the feeling that she’s seen him somewhere before. It was just in her eyes when she first saw him. Then they began to shoot at us and, well, you can assume how the rest of the night played out.”
“Okay, I’ll remember to ask her about that.” I looked around for anything to write on and then found some paper pads and pens by the desk next to Jake’s front door. “And do you recall anything else? Anything about the female suspect?”
“She was an American. She spoke with one of those East Coast, twangy voices. But she didn’t say too much. It was the man that demanded that we give him the art pieces. He insisted that he knew they were there, in our home.” George coughed, excused himself, and then continued. “I don’t know how or why he would think that, though.” Then he sighed. “But perhaps, yes, there could be a reason, but I am loathed to consider it.”
“George, please, you need to tell me.” I felt like he was trying to protect someone, and that could only be one person: Verity. “What else has been going on?”
He sighed deeply again. “Verity has been staying in close touch with her employer, this Weir fellow. I have caught her texting him a great deal, and I do think that it is possible that she’s telling him more than she should.”
I could have guessed as much.
He continued. “And while she didn’t see much value in going through the files you left us, I have. And if you were to look into any further suspicious behavior, I might suggest the one that was attacked in the parking lot.” George spoke quietly as if he didn’t wish to be overheard, so there might have been someone else in his room with him. Being that he was shot and injured, I figured that was most likely a nurse. “He and this Weir have been connected with one another for quite a while.”
I jotted this all down. “Thank you, George. I’ll see what I can do about all of this. Just take it easy and get better, please?” We said our goodbyes just as Jake walked out of the hallway after his own shower. I started getting breakfast together, all the while piecing things together or trying to.
As Jake and I sat down at the kitchen counter on the bar stools, Jake was finishing up an email or text on his phone. He had a wicked smile on his lips. “So, after we go pick up your stuff from the hotel, how would you feel about meeting up with my team and spending the day just hanging out with a kid?”
“That depends,” I answered coyly. “Would the kid possibly be Doc’s grandson?” I’d been hearing bits and pieces about him, and I was really hoping to get to see him for myself.
“It would be.” Jake leaned in and kissed me. “Your powers of deduction are magnificent, Sarabia. Maybe you should think about making a career out of them.”
I snickered a little. “Yeah, maybe I should.”
After breakfast, we took a trip to my hotel to pack up, and I took the opportunity to put on some fresh clothes. Jake waited for me to check out, and then we headed to the Miami Zoo. I was not exactly nervous about finally meeting Zaid, but I had wanted to do this for a while.
Doc had picked the location, wanting to spend the weekend getting Jake’s team and his grandson on more personal and friendly terms. I didn’t tell anyone, but I was giddy about being included on the excursion. I’d not had much chance to interact with the team outside of life-threatening situations and stressed-out circumstances, but this seemed like a really great way to see them on a good day, with no mission or dire tasks hanging over us. I just hoped that they didn’t mind that I was tagging along with Jake.
We got to the parking lot, and it was a hunt to find a space. Hand-in-hand, Jake and I made our way to the front gate and entrance, where I saw some very familiar faces. Rosa was waiting impatiently, but she looked comfortable in a pair of shorts, a tank top with an alligator on it, and a black ball cap. She was sipping on a drink and smirking at Xavier, who was smearing suntan lotion all over his exposed skin. He, too, had on a cap, tie-dyed and quite recognizable even from far away. Maybe that was his plan.
Xavier had his hair pulled back and threaded through the gap in the back of the hat, giving him a fun vibe. His tee read something about computers, probably an inside tech joke that I wouldn’t understand. His shorts were red with blue playing card motifs running down the seams. I wouldn’t say anything out loud, but he looked more like a tourist than I did.
Jake and I had gone quite casual, in jeans and shorts and plain gray and green tees. He’s brought along a cap for me, and that was the only thing that matched. Even though my hat had the SEAL trident emblazoned in the crown, I was pretty sure no one would be mistaking me for Navy Special Forces, past or present.
Doc looked good and relaxed as he held a small boy’s hand in his own. The pair were wearing matching jeans and tee-shirt combos, which I thought was adorable. The bright orange shirts read Grandpa and Grandson, respectively, with arrows pointing to the other one. They’d have to stay on one specific side of one another, but I guessed that was okay with them.
Doc caught me looking at them, and with a grin, he explained. “I’ve gotten more than a few looks and comments on the lack of physical resemblances between us. This is just to keep the nosier commenters from making a fool out of themselves.”
“I see.” I nodded and knelt down to the child’s level to introduce myself. I offered him my hand in a friendly gesture. “Hi. My name’s Eve. I know all of these people here, but you’re a new guy, so I hope that we can be friends if that’s okay with you.” I smiled, wanting him to like me.
Doc had to gesture and prod him, but finally, Zaid took my hand and shook it. “I’m Zaid.”
“Pleased to meet you, Zaid.” Content I’d passed the first hurdle, I stood and went over to say hello to the others. I was still a little intimidated by Rosa, but I tried not to show it.
“Hi, Rosa. How are you doing?” That’s when I remembered that she wasn’t going to be answering me in the way I expected.
Rosa signed something to me, or at me, and all that I could do was just stand there and smile. Xavier was my saving grace as he stepped up close and translated for me. “She says that she’s been doing fine. How about yourself?”
I had
the sinking suspicion that this might not have been exactly what Rosa had said, but I didn’t press it. I apologized for not being able to understand her. “I obviously need to learn ASL. I’ll put that at the top of my to-do list.” I hoped that would smooth things over and make it look like I was trying to make an effort toward her and the rest of the team.
We paid for our tickets and made our way through the busy, vibrant, and crowded paths and exhibits. Jake and I held each other’s hands most of the time, and it made me feel as though this might become a regular, normal relationship. I wasn’t trying to fool myself, though. I knew that things were still new, and that we were going to be testing boundaries and each other more than we ever thought that we would.
I spent some time with Xavier, chatting over certain plans in the works, and then I did really try to hang out with Rosa, but the language barrier was difficult. So, I headed over to Doc and Zaid as we bonded over a shared love of snow cones.
A short while later, Doc went off to use the restroom, and I promised to keep an eye on Zaid while he was gone. I was watching him closely when a large group of kids his age all ran up to the penguin exhibit that we were visiting.
I assumed they were with a school or organization, as I witnessed several frazzled-looking adults frantically counting and herding the kids. They were calling out names and asking them to stay with their “zoo buddy” and to use their manners. I felt like I was grinning like a goof the whole time as I watched them. There was something special and magical about children at a zoo or around animals in general.
Of course, that wasn’t a hard and fast rule, just my observation over the years. I looked back over at Jake and shamelessly thought about us maybe one day bringing our own kids to a zoo like this one. Then I scolded myself for being so silly and immature as I turned back to see the group of kids moving off. I immediately noticed that Zaid was not at the exhibit any longer. My heart jumped into my throat in that exceptionally long and agonizing instant.
“Zaid?” I called out, walking after the group of kids, thinking that he’d just gotten caught up with them in the excitement of it all. I remembered that he was wearing a bright orange shirt that would surely stick out some. But there were just so many kids and so many obnoxiously colored shirts that it was hard to sort through them all.
I rushed to one of the adults who had been herding the children and asked for help. “Excuse me, I’m so sorry, but I think my friend’s grandson is erroneously mixed in with your group. Can you help me, please?” I wasn’t above crying or begging, but the man looked sympathetic enough for that to be prevented for now.
“Um, sure. What’s his name?” He asked politely before he called out to the mass of small children surrounding us. “Okay, Troop E! We might have a new friend with us. Could you please sit down on the ground if your name isn’t…”? He turned to me expectantly.
“Zaid!” I spoke up loud and clear. “He’s wearing an orange shirt that matches his grandpa’s.” I looked over to the man to explain as I felt odd trying to detail it. “His says ‘Grandson’ and there’s an arrow on it.”
The man nodded as we watched the children from the group all sit on the ground one by one to allow us to find Zaid. But to my utter dismay, there wasn’t a child left standing up, and none of the sitting kids had on Zaid’s bright orange tee.
My throat clenched, and I could feel my chest pound in nervous anticipation and fear. “Oh, God. Thank you. I’m sorry to have bothered you.” I quickly turned away and started to scan the crowds for any sign of Zaid. I called out for him again, and I must have looked like a crazy lady, running in circles, looking for someone frantically.
I looked for Jake or one of the others, but they too were nowhere to be seen. My mind began to race, thinking of all the terrible things that might happen to a kid who barely spoke much English and was so young. I yelled out his name, running from exhibit to exhibit, trying to find him. I reached for my phone, looked at the zoo map, and searched for the security number listed behind the plexiglass feet from me.
Then I felt a tap on my shoulder and heard a tiny laugh at my hip level. I turned to see Doc and Zaid standing there together with an unreadable look on the man’s face.
Doc patted my arm and sighed comfortingly. “I’m so sorry, Eve, but this little rascal was playing a joke on you.”
“What?” At this point, I didn’t care as long as he was safe. I knelt and hugged the little boy, which was probably inappropriate, but I did it anyway.
“He said that he was playing a trick on the lady and was hiding from her. I understood that you were that lady.” Doc was holding Zaid’s hand rather tightly and gave the child a stern look as he spoke to me about this. “I’m so sorry to have worried you. But rest assured, there will be a serious talking to tonight, and I will not be letting him out of my sight for the rest of the day.”
Doc must have seen that I was near tears at the thought of losing his grandson, so he tried to console me further. “Eve, it’s alright. He told me that you were calling for him and looking all over. He was just being, well, a brat. Honestly.”
“No,” I shook my head, “I’m just glad that he’s okay.” And now I wanted a stiff drink to calm myself down. I smiled at Zaid again, stood up, and took in a deep, clarifying breath. “I’m so sorry, Doc. Really, I am.” I couldn’t apologize for it enough.
A stiff drink and a Valium. Yeah, that was the ticket.
By the time Jake and I got back to one another, it was getting later in the day.
“Not much of a romantic date, but even we need some downtime now and again,” Jake mentioned once we had a little time alone, over by the polar exhibits.
“I don’t mind,” I let him know. “This isn’t a terrible way to spend an afternoon.” I nibbled on my snow cone, birthday cake flavored, and just enjoyed the day for what it was.
I got a text then, which I felt obligated to answer. It was Verity, and she asked if I could come by the hospital later and discuss things with her and her dad. I texted back a yes and then turned to Jake.
“Hey, I’m sorry to cut out, but Verity wants me to join her at the hospital. You’re not going to hate me if I go and take care of this right now, are you?” I had enjoyed being here with them at the zoo, but I felt like a plea from my client wasn’t something that I could ignore today.
“No, you’ve got to go do what you need to.” Jake kissed me on the forehead and squeezed my hand. “I’ll catch a ride back to the condo with one of these guys. Don’t worry about it.” He smiled, but I was unsure how I felt about leaving him.
This had been a very nice break in the routine of my Miami adventure. It felt good to have some downtime and just pretend that the outside world could be kept at bay, even for a few hours. Jake and I were well away from the rest of the group, so I asked him to say my goodbyes for me as I made my way back to the front gate.
Luckily, we’d brought my vehicle, and all of my stuff was still in it. Besides, I guessed that I could use a small, itty bitty break to process all the changes Jake and I had decided on today. It was going to be an interesting rest of my stay here in Miami. I just hoped that I was up to it.
28
Jake
I was back at the marina bright and early on that Sunday morning for two very good reasons. One, Lael was getting released from the hospital today, and I was determined to be there for him to welcome him back. And two, Xavier swore up and down that he had finally found an employee for my marina office that he said met all of my criteria.
I was both anxious and trying to prepare myself for this big reveal. It must have been a recent discovery, as he’d only mentioned it on the drive back to my condo after the zoo day trip with my team and Zaid.
Before all of that could take place, though, I got a phone call from George.
“Jake?” he greeted as soon as I answered the phone. “Oh, good. I need to speak to you about something. Greetings, by the way. I was going to do this last night, but things didn’t quite go as planne
d, did they?” He sounded amused at that.
“No, not really,” I answered humorously. “And it’s good to hear from you. Are you alright, George?”
“Fit as a fiddle, minus the gunshot wounds,” he joked. “Regardless, I know that you have been waiting for the DNA results that Doc and I found on the Captain of the Hester’s ring. And you should be pleased to know that the pattern was not a match to any of the crew or the passenger on that particular boat.” He paused to cough. “However, thanks to a certain database I have access to,” he had to be referencing Kippy and Mao, her mercenary’s group, “I have found a criminal match that just so happens to belong to someone we met last night.”
“Wait, what?” I was getting confused here.
I could hear George sigh at my response. “The DNA we found on that ring belongs to the man that broke into my home and attacked my daughter and me last night. He is also the one that is in police custody.” He let me figure that all out before he continued. “I have relayed this information and data to Ms. Sarabia, who I do believe will have better use for it as a solicitor.”
“George, that is just…” I wasn’t sure how to respond to this excellent intelligence. “This is wonderful news. So then, yeah, there were other people on the Hester, and they had to be the ones responsible for killing the crew and Mr. Speirs.”
“That would be my thoughts on the matter as well.” George coughed again. “I am truly sorry, but I must cut this conversation shorter than expected. My voice is failing me. Good luck, though, Jake.” He hung up quickly amid another bout of coughing.
So, now we had some verification that the crew members of the Hester weren’t alone in their voyage. They could very well have been boarded or seized in an attempt to steal the cargo or the ship itself. My money was betting on one or all of the boarders being the murderers and that the Hester crew were unquestionably mere victims.
