I chuckled. When had he entered his number into my phone? “Do you make it a habit of inserting your number into other people’s phones? How did you get around my security code?”
“It’s your birthday. You should probably change that,” he said.
“How are the royals? Did you make it in time to ruin the mutiny?”
“I did. They send their regards and very much would like to meet you. They’ve requested that I invite you to visit the castle as their guest of honor, complete with a formal ball and everything.”
“No thanks. I’ve had my fill of celebrities to last me a lifetime.” I slowly walked down the walls of pictures that depicted Priscilla’s college years. I paused at the picture of her and nine other women holding professional looking sniper rifles with a trophy sitting in front of the bunch. Priscilla was wearing a gold medallion for first place around her neck. “Holy crap. I know who killed Davina.”
“Who?” West asked just as the phone was ripped out of my hand.
“Make a sound, and I’ll blow your head off,” Priscilla whispered in my ear. She hit the end button and tossed my phone on the ground, stepping on it with her shoe. “We’re going to take a walk.”
“I thought you had left.” I whispered.
“Unlucky for you, they only wanted to talk to Preston and Logan.”
“Why did you kill her?”
“She slept with my husband and wormed her way into my son’s life. I wasn’t going to let that tramp ruin everything I’ve built. Do you have any idea how hard it was to get to where I am today?”
“You’re crazy if you think people won’t miss me. Just let me go, and I won’t tell anyone it was you.” It was times like this that I really wished I’d been paying attention when Freddie was teaching me how to fight instead of just copying his moves to make him happy. “Harrison will be back any second and probably even faster if he hears gunfire.”
She shoved the gun harder against my temple and yanked me to another door. She pulled it open and shoved me to the ground inside. “I can deal with Harrison. I'll tell him you left. He'll trust me. I’ll be back tonight after the benefit to deal with you. Don’t worry dear. I’ll give you a send-off into a watery grave too.”
She slammed the door, and I heard the unmistakable sound of a deadbolt.
This wasn’t happening. Only Harrison knew I’d been in the office, and with my luck, he was going to believe Priscilla. Damn it. I shoved to my feet and started banging on the door.
I screamed until my voice was starting to go hoarse and my fist started to ache. I glanced at my watch. The ball was scheduled to begin in three hours. I had to find a way to get out.
West
Chapter 14
“C ree, answer me, damn it.” West glanced at the phone to see the call had been ended. “Crap.”
“What’s wrong?” Phillip asked as he entered the room.
“Cree figured out the killer when I was talking to her, and then we got disconnected,” West answered while trying to call her back. The call went straight to her voice mail.
“I’m sure she’s fine.”
He met Phillip’s gaze. Anger stirred in his veins. “This is Cree Blue we’re talking about. The woman who is going to help us find the diamond. The same woman who managed to almost get herself killed.”
“You’re right. Try her again, and if that doesn’t work, call the embassy or Harrison Reed. You need to find her.”
West dialed Harrison’s phone and received his voice mail too. “Goddamn it.”
He started to pace, the way he did when worry consumed his thoughts. There was a big ocean separating them. Helplessly he scrolled through the numbers trying to find someone he trusted to help. “Freddie.”
He dialed Freddie’s number, and he answered on the first ring. “Tell me she’s wearing her watch and you're watching her location.”
“That's why I'm here. She was at the pool for several hours, and now she’s in the hotel. What’s wrong?”
“She figured out Davina’s killer while I was on the phone with her, and the line cut off. She’s in trouble. I can feel it.”
“Calm down. I’ll go check it out. It’s pinging inside the hotel near the pool.”
“You can’t go. They’ll kick you out since you weren’t invited. They aren’t even aware you’re on the property. Just keep your eyes glued to the monitor, and I’ll call you back.”
“The fuck you say. I’m going in to get her.”
“I just told you that security will throw you out. That place is swarming with feds. Sit tight, and I’ll have Harrison call you and you can walk him directly to the location of her ping. Do not take your eyes off that monitor.”
“Fine, five minutes is all you get. If you don't call me back, I’m going in, Archer.”
Freddie hung up, and West tried Harrison’s number again; voicemail. Crap.
“Tell me what you need,” Phillip demanded, resting a calming hand on West’s shoulder. “I’ll make it happen.”
“I need the president’s soon-to-be daughter-in-law’s phone number. Glynis Harrison.”
Phillip picked up the phone, and there was a brief pause. “Get the President of the United States on the line. It’s an emergency.”
Within minutes, Phillip had the number and handed West. He dialed Glynis’s number and walked to the window to look out over the ocean.
“Hello.”
“Glynis, this is West Archer. We met.”
“Right, the lord who ditched his date.”
“I need you to listen to me very carefully. Cree is in trouble, and I need you to save her, but you can’t walk into danger alone. Only take someone you trust. I have no idea if the killer has an accomplice.”
“She figured out who it is?”
“Yes, and I can’t reach your father. Do you have something to write with?”
“Uh…yeah.” She grunted before speaking again. “Go ahead.”
He gave her Freddie’s number and explained that he would guide her to Cree’s location.
“Got it.”
“Be careful, Glynis.”
She tisked. “I’ll save her.”
She hung up the phone, and he texted Freddie to expect Glynis’s call and to direct her to where Cree was pinging from.
“I’m sure they’ll find her,” Phillip said.
“If they don’t, and something happens to her…”
“She’s smart and brave. They’ll find her.”
“They have to. Excuse me. I need to make arrangements to head back.”
West walked out of the office and toward his room. He had to pack. He had to leave. If something happened to her, then that was on him. He should have never left her without someone sticking to her side. Damn it.
Chapter 15
I slowly scanned the items in the room. There wasn’t much. An old wooden chair, a mop and a scratched-up desk. I rested my head back on my shoulders, and that was when I spotted my escape. An air vent on the ceiling.
I screeched the desk across the floor until it was right under the vent. I climbed up top, and it was still out of reach. I grabbed the mop and climbed back up, and using the mop handle, I pushed it open. I sighed in relief that it wasn’t bolted down. “Yahtzee.”
I hopped back down and grabbed the wooden chair and placed that on top of the desk. Slow and steady, I climbed back up and onto the chair. The legs beneath me wobbled as I grabbed the vent opening. My hands dug into the metal opening as the chair slipped beneath my feet and careened to the floor, breaking off one of the legs.
Sweat beaded my brow as my arms strained to hold my weight. “I swear on my father’s grave, I will exercise more, train more, and learn to do a damn pull-up. Just let me get out of this.”
I heard the deadbolt flick, and I tried to pull myself up into the vent, straining to lift my weight to no avail.
“Cree, are you in here?” Glynis whispered as the door opened.
“Oh thank God,” I whispered.
&n
bsp; She pushed the door farther open. Charlie and Butler were standing behind her.
“Now that’s something you don’t see every day,” Charlie announced.
“Speak for yourself. Half-clad women try to climb up to my hotel balconies all the time,” Butler said and moved farther into the room. He pushed the desk out of the way. “Drop.”
I glanced down at his arms. “You’ll drop me.”
“We don’t have much time. Drop, Cree.”
“One, two….” I contained my squeal as I let go. Butler caught me without so much as a grunt. “Thanks.”
“Come on. We need to get you out of here,” Butler said and pulled his shirt over his head and handed it to me to use as a cover.
“How are we going to get out of here without her seeing us?”
“Who?” Glynis asked.
“Priscilla Channing,” I whispered back.
“I just saw her in the ballroom ordering the staff around. Let’s go out through the back,” Butler said, pulling the cap off of Charlie’s head. He slid it on top of mine and pulled me out of the room and out Priscilla’s back door. “Charlie, you and Glynis go keep her occupied, and I’ll sneak her down to my cabana.”
“Got it,” Glynis said and pulled Charlie out of the office.
Butler tossed his arm around me, and we slipped out the pool door. “Keep your head down and act casual. Anyone who’s watching will think you’re just another one of my flings.”
I lowered my head as he rested his arm on my shoulders. We didn’t slow, and we didn’t falter as he steered me around the pool and toward the cabanas away from mine.
Without stopping, he handed me a drink. “She likes her liquor. Bill it to my room. Thanks, man.”
I wanted to look up to see where he’d gotten it from but was afraid someone might recognize me.
“Where did you get this?” I whispered.
“From a passing waiter. I thought you might be thirsty.”
“What is it?” I sniffed, and the smell of vodka smacked me in the nose.
He paused long enough to pull out his card key and use it in the lock before opening the door to usher me in. He closed the door behind us and quickly hurried around the room to close the blinds.
“That was close.” He handed me his phone. “Call Freddie and tell him you’re safe and sound.”
“Freddie? How do you know who Freddie is?”
“Unless you want a massacre, you need to call him in the next…” He glanced at his watch. “Five minutes, or he’s about to bust into the hotel with guns blazing.”
I dialed Freddie’s number and pressed the phone to my ear.
“Take your time. I’m going to go get you some clothes.”
Freddie answered on the first ring. “Do you have her?”
“How did you know I was missing and where to find me?” I asked and walked to the window to peer out the blinds to make sure we weren’t followed.
“Archer put a tracker in your watch. He said you were on the phone with him when you figured out the killer, but the call cut off.”
I glanced at my watch. “I should have known super-secret spy guy had me bugged. What is it with the men in my life wanting to keep tabs on me?”
“Be glad he did, Cree, or you might be sleeping with the fishes.”
I sighed and let the blinds drop back in place. “You should have told me you were here and about the watch.”
“I know.” His voice turned somber. “It kills me that he came up with the idea first. I wish I’d been the one to think of it.”
“You and I are going to have a long talk about boundaries when I get back. Where are you by the way?”
“West chartered a boat for us, and we’re on the other side of the island. He set us up in a little shack, but we’re thankful it has running water and electricity.”
“Who is 'us'?” I asked, resting my hand on my hip. So help me, if they’d pulled Charlotte into this, I was going to skin them alive or at least have my Grammy haunt their butts until they apologized.
“Jitters and the twins, Faraday is doing the leg work in town.”
“All of you guys are in trouble.” I turned to find Butler coming out of the bedroom with folded clothes in his hands. “Listen I’ve got to go change.”
“What you need to do is come to me so I can get you the hell off this island. You figured out who the killer is. We’ll tell the police and let them handle it.”
“I need proof, or it’s just my word against hers, and I haven’t found the stolen coins yet.”
“Cree, don’t make me come get you.”
I sighed. He was right, leaving the island and letting the cops handle it would be the smart thing to do. “I’ll wait until dark and come to you. Where are you?”
“Up the beach about a mile from where you’re currently located.”
“Okay. I’ll see you soon.”
“Here you go.” Butler handed me the clothes. “I’m not sure what will fit you, so I brought you an assortment. Wear whatever you want.”
“Thanks.” I pointed to his room. “Mind if I change in there?”
“Knock yourself out.”
I headed for the room and plopped down on the bed. Realization of what had just happened punched me in the gut. The world was filled with lunatics disguised as normal everyday people. If everyday people consisted of hoity-toity, adulterous senators’ wives that picked killing over common sense. It was kind of ironic that Priscilla would be the next scandal to replace my name in the papers. Well, as long as they left my name out of the incident. I could only hope.
I changed into a Force Fire T-shirt that fell down to my knees. I slipped on a pair of his boxers beneath the shirt and folded them over at the waist to keep them from falling right off my body. I had curves, but damn.
I walked out of the bedroom to find Butler sitting in a chair with a guitar across his legs. He was strumming a song I’d never heard before. “That’s beautiful.”
“Too bad Force Fire doesn’t have a reputation for slow lyrics.”
I took a seat across the room. “Is that the song Reggie was telling you to change?”
“Yeah.” Butler dropped his head and strummed the guitar and began to sing. His voice was like a fine wine on a Sunday afternoon. It soothed my soul and caressed my anxiety layers into comfortable ease.
“I love it. It’s like comfort food for my soul.” I announced.
Butler lifted his gaze, a smile stretched on his lips. “I do too, and that’s a great name. I’ll call it Soul Food. If that’s okay with you.”
“It’s your song. You can call it whatever you want.” I smiled.
A knock sounded on the door, and we both froze. Butler rose from his spot and peered out the blinds. He let out an audible sigh.
“It’s just Glynis and Charlie.”
He unlocked the door and let them in, closing and locking it behind them.
“I couldn’t find my dad,” Glynis announced. Worry etched her brow. “I can’t even reach him by cell.”
“I’m sure he’s fine. Priscilla wouldn’t hurt him.”
“I called West and told him we had you. He would have saved you himself had he been nearby,” Glynis said. “Personally, I think he’s into you.”
I waved my hand. “He wants help with a case.”
Charlie sat down next to me and rested his arm on the back of the couch near my shoulders. “I never even met the guy, but I know he’s into you. Take my word for it.”
Heat claimed my cheeks until I remembered that Charlie was on my shit list. I glared at him. “You told the world I’m America’s sweetheart and your personal psychic.”
“Well, you are the only psychic I've met, and of course you’re a sweetheart. You helped save Glynis and my career. I didn’t lie.”
My investigation into Davina’s death had brought me to this specific moment in time. Here I was, sitting with the president’s son’s fiancée, a rock star, and a movie star. All that was missing was Charlotte. S
he would have loved every minute of this. My stomach picked that exact moment to grumble. Food hadn’t been a priority earlier, but my stomach wasn’t letting me forget. “Can I use your kitchen?”
“Are you making more cookies?” Charlie asked.
“I haven’t eaten today.”
“Relax. I’ll fix you something.” Butler rose from his seat and headed into the kitchen. I watched, trying to hide the worry from my face. What did the rock star know about cooking?
“Really, I can make myself something. You don’t need to bother.”
His laughter carried out into the living room. “I can promise it won’t kill you. People say I’m a great cook.”
“If by people you mean your nephew,” Charlie called out.
“If it’s not edible, I’ll bring you back something from the dining area,” Glynis whispered.
“Thanks.” I gestured to her phone. “Do you have West’s number?”
“Yeah, he called me when he couldn’t reach my dad.” She held it out. “Do you want to call him?”
I nodded and took her phone and headed to the bedroom. “I’ll just be a minute.”
I eased the door closed and scrolled through her calls until I found his number and hit the call button. He answered on the first ring.
“You got her, right?”
“If by her, you mean me, then yes, she found me.”
“Cree.” His concern turned to relief.
I stood in front of the dresser and toyed with Butler’s watch while I spoke. “You put a tracker on me.”
“I did, and I’m not sorry.”
“You brought Freddie to the island.”
“Guilty.”
I put the watch back on the dresser. “Thank you.”
There was a short pause. “What? No yelling? No arguing?”
I shook my head. “Not this time, but in the future, just so you know, all you had to do was ask. I know when I’m in over my head.”
I sat down on the bed.
“I’m on my way back, but I’ve arranged an exit for you and Freddie. That was a smart choice to agree to leave.”
“Even I can make a smart decision or two. It’s not unheard of, you know.”
Deadly Vows Page 8
