It was agreed that we’d all meet at the docks at six A.M. Gramps and Kevin could be there, Walker said, but couldn’t bring a weapon. Same thing for me.
“That’s it. I’ve had a big day.” I got to my feet. They might be there talking and planning all night. “I’ll see you all in the morning.”
Most of them stood and “Mayor-ed” me again—except for Brad, who nodded. Kevin smiled and stood up to kiss my cheek and say good night. Gramps walked me to the stairs.
“Good night, honey,” he said, hugging me. “Don’t worry about this. It’ll be okay.”
“Gramps, there’s something I have to ask you.”
“Yes?”
I noticed the sudden silence from the kitchen and knew I couldn’t say what was on my mind. It was better to wait until we could talk without a room full of people listening in. “It’ll keep. Good night.”
I was awake long before my alarm went off at five thirty the next morning. I tried to imagine what the day would bring. Would Bunk deny what he’d told me when he was faced with it? Would he be arrested? It seemed there was so much that could go wrong.
I’d been right about everyone downstairs. I’d heard the group break up at around two A.M. I remembered the planning sessions Gramps held with his deputies from when I was a kid. Many of them took place around that same table. They planned and replanned—trying to account for every possible scenario. I wondered if they were ever surprised by what happened. Would they be surprised today?
I finally got tired of thinking about it, dressed in warm clothes and went downstairs. Gramps was already awake, drinking coffee and storing extra bullets for his gun in a jacket pocket.
“I thought they said no guns.” I made myself some tea and set bread to toast.
“Yeah, well, I’m not going in there with old Bunk Whitley’s hired guns and no weapon. I’m sure you’ll find Kevin will be carrying a little something too.”
I sat at the kitchen table and looked at the man who’d been everything to me my whole life. His features were creased with age, skin leathered by the hot sun and sea. I recalled how proud I was when he’d come to school to pick me up in the sheriff’s car. I’d never forget the things he’d said to keep me going after Mom died—even though he’d been hurting too.
But now I needed answers from him. Would he give them to me? “Gramps, Bunk told me a few other things about people in Duck.”
“I wouldn’t necessarily put a lot of stock into everything Bunk said, honey. He might be right about Agnes, but it strikes me that it’s something he knew you couldn’t ask her about without causing a fuss. He probably banked on that.”
“He told me my father was still alive.”
He didn’t stop cleaning his pistol. “And?”
“I want to know if it’s true.”
He glanced up at me. “What do you think?”
“I think I’d like a straight answer. Is he alive or not?”
He put the pistol into a shoulder holster that would be hidden by his jacket. “Do you believe I’d do anything that would hurt you in any way?”
“Gramps! Please! If you were a suspect in a murder case, I’d believe you were guilty by now.”
“Dae—” The phone rang and he went to answer it.
I felt like there were pins and needles sticking into every part of my body. I knew it wouldn’t be easy for Gramps to answer me. Clearly, it wasn’t. But his response so far made me think Bunk knew what he was talking about. Why would Gramps hide something like this from me?
When he came back, he said, “We have to go, Dae. There’s a problem with the Coast Guard boat. We’re going to have to pick up Walker and his men.”
“You haven’t answered my question.” I wouldn’t be put aside for Walker or anyone else.
“I know I haven’t, honey. I wish your mom was alive to answer this question for you. It’s not really my place.”
“You’re my only living relative—as far as I know. Can’t you answer this question?”
“I can.” He nodded. “But you aren’t going to like it.”
I braced myself. “It can’t be worse than not knowing.” “All right.” He pulled on his red plaid jacket. “We’ll talk in the truck on the way to the docks.”
“With Kevin?” Gramps didn’t own a truck and rarely drove anything but a golf cart. He had to mean that Kevin was coming for us. I knew he wouldn’t discuss this with him there. “No!”
“Dae, can’t we talk about this later? There’s a lot going on right now, in case you hadn’t noticed.”
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll wait here until you get back.”
He let out a heavy sigh. “You know everyone would just end up back here waiting for you.”
“Exactly. Maybe we could discuss this with all of them too.”
I saw a look on his face that I hadn’t seen since high school when I came home from the prom at one A.M. “You’re a stubborn woman, Dae O’Donnell.”
I didn’t disagree. “Did I get that from my mother—or my father?”
“Dae—your father is alive. At least he was last year when I saw him at the Coral Reef bar in Kill Devil Hills.”
I’d wanted to know—had demanded to know. But knowing floored me. “He’s alive? All these years I had a father? He didn’t die before I was born?”
His cell phone rang. “We have to go. I’ll tell you the rest later. I’m sorry for this. I guess I hoped it wouldn’t come up. I know you’re surprised.”
“Surprised doesn’t really cover it. All this time—why did you lie to me?”
“It was your mother’s story to tell, not mine. She planned to explain one day when you were old enough to understand. She would’ve too, if she’d lived. After she died, I didn’t know how to say it. Believe me, I would’ve told you when you were a child. But your mom felt different about it.”
His cell phone rang again, and there was an insistent knock on the front door.
“We have to go,” he said again. “This will have to wait. Don’t forget, this isn’t just about you. You represent Duck too. These people are counting on you.”
I needed some time—a long soak in a hot bath, maybe some donuts, definitely some ice cream. I needed to know the world hadn’t just turned upside down, that the people I’d always depended on hadn’t really kept this truth from me. But there wasn’t time since I needed to do my “duty.”
“Like I was counting on you to tell me the truth about my life, Gramps?” I yelled at him. “Who is he? I need a name. I’m not leaving here until I get a name.”
“Dae—”
“You owe me that much.”
His mouth became a grim line. “Danny Evans. His name is Danny Evans.”
“Thanks.” I picked up my jacket and walked outside.
“Everything okay?” Kevin asked when I walked past him.
“Just fine.”
Danny Evans. I have a father. He isn’t dead, and his name is Danny Evans.
As the Eleanore made her way to the coordinates I’d given Gramps—the only thing I’d said to him since we’d left the house—the police boats followed like an armed escort through the dark Atlantic.
We’d picked up Walker and five of his men from the Coast Guard boat that had broken down right offshore. I could feel Walker’s embarrassment at having to be rescued from the dead vessel by a civilian.
There was no extra room on the Eleanore after that. I sat beside Kevin in the stern as the dark began to fade and dawn arrived, rosy and golden, on the horizon.
“You and your grandfather have a fight?” Kevin guessed as he shared coffee from his thermos with me.
“You could say that.” The clear light of morning picked out the men’s weary faces around us.
“Was it about going out to the island?”
“No. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“All right.” He put his arm around me, and I felt the hard metal edge of a gun under his blue winter vest.
“You brought a gun too.
” I nodded. “Just like Gramps.”
“Old habits.” He shrugged. “We don’t know what we’re going into out here. That’s why your grandfather didn’t want you to come out alone.”
“Only you and he would consider being with a group of SBI agents followed by a dozen police officers as being alone.”
“Is there a problem between you and your grandfather?”
“Maybe. I don’t know.” I turned to him. “Could I move in with you?”
He choked on his coffee, then recovered. “This is a little sudden.”
“I know. But it’s not what you think. I need some time to myself. I could rent a room from you. You wouldn’t even know I was there.”
“That wouldn’t happen.” He kissed me lightly, then smiled. “You might as well tell me what’s going on.”
I told him the briefest details even though all of it wanted to burst out of me. I hoped the men around us couldn’t hear my tearful whispers. Kevin held me and didn’t speak until I was finished.
“I don’t know why this happened,” he finally said. “But I know your grandfather loves you. There must’ve been an important reason to keep this from you.”
“I’ve thought that a million times. But what possible reason could there be to lie to me about my father?”
“I don’t know.”
“And my mother. I thought we were so close because it was always the two of us. What am I supposed to think now?”
“I wish I had the answers.”
“One thing’s for sure—I have to find him.”
“Maybe that’s why your grandfather didn’t tell you about him.”
“I’ve thought of that.”
“But you don’t care.”
“Would you?”
“Probably not.”
We were getting close to the island. I could make out the shape of the big house on the hill. The sun was up, warming the cold winds made icier by the speed of the boat.
All the men onboard checked their guns, adjusted vests, hats and gloves, then stood facing the upcoming landmass. It was still early—barely eight A.M. Walker talked to each man, giving out instructions. I imagined Chiefs Peabody and Michaels were doing the same on the other boats.
It looked and felt like a raid, not the peaceful conversation and negotiation I’d been expecting. Knowing what I did about Bunk, I believed he’d know what to expect.
But as we came closer to the coastline, there was an air of stillness about the place. Was it because it was early morning? No, it felt like something else. I didn’t know what—until I saw the first man lying at the edge of the dock. There was another man facedown in the water near him.
Gramps stopped the Eleanore. He radioed the police boats behind us, and Walker spoke with Chief Michaels and Walt Peabody for a few minutes. Evidently, this wasn’t a scenario they’d considered either.
“You should go below deck,” Walker said to me when he was done talking on the radio.
“He’s right, Dae,” Gramps agreed. “This looks bad.”
“I’m staying where I am, thanks. I think I can handle it if you can.”
Walker shrugged and turned away, mumbling loudly about civilians being involved with law enforcement activities. Gramps went back to the helm. The three boats progressed more cautiously toward the narrow strip of land. Everyone’s eyes were alert, scanning the coastline for any sign of activity.
Nothing moved. As we got closer, I could see there were three other bodies on the dock. There was blood splattered everywhere. Boats rocked at their moorings, and I could see that some of them had bullet holes in them. Another, the one that had brought me home yesterday, looked as though it had been set on fire and was barely above water.
“What happened?” I stared out at the devastation that had taken place in the last twenty-four hours.
“Maybe a rival,” Kevin said. “A man like Bunk Whitley is bound to have some enemies. Are you sure you want to see this?”
Not really, I thought, but I said I did. I didn’t want to see it, but I didn’t want to hide from it either.
They brought the police boats up to the docks first, and several officers, guns drawn, spilled out to anchor the boats. Gramps nudged the Eleanore up to the mooring, and I jumped out to secure her as I always did when I was onboard. I didn’t think about it until I looked up and saw Kevin there beside me. Behind him were several angrylooking SBI agents. Apparently, I’d done their job for them.
The first group from the police boats was already disappearing toward the house, radioing back that the area seemed to be deserted. We followed in their wake. The only people still left on the island seemed to be the dead security men at the dock. There was no one else between the water and the house. Chief Michaels called back to everyone else to let them know the house appeared to be empty too.
I tried not to look too closely at the dead bodies, but I couldn’t help myself. I saw Nash among the dead but not Roger. Maybe he’d been killed somewhere else, but the carnage seemed confined to the docks. I was determined to mention my suspicions about Roger to Chief Michaels. Roger could certainly be the killer Bunk was trying to protect.
The devastation at the house was haphazard and wasteful, like something a child would do during a temper tantrum. Paintings were slashed and burned. The fountain was broken and thrown out of a window. Clothes were strewn everywhere along with cooking utensils and food. Not a single pane of glass was left unbroken in the sunroom where I’d had lunch with Bunk.
“What do you think?” Chiefs Michaels asked as he joined Peabody and Walker in the foyer.
“Beats me.” Peabody shook his head. “Safe’s been emptied. Can’t find a thing of worth not ripped apart or burned.”
“Looks like some kind of revenge,” Walker added. “Sometimes that’s the way these things play out.”
But Kevin, who’d stuck with me like a shadow, disagreed. “The timing is too perfect. For the first time in years, your group knew Bunk was out here. But before you could get out here to question him, he’s gone? Except for the dead men at the dock, there’s no real lasting damage here. Someone could come back, clean up and live here again next week.”
Walker and the two police chiefs nodded. But Gramps said, “I don’t believe Bunk would kill a few of his own men out front for a show. He’s too old school, too much the country gentleman the way Dae described him. I think someone attacked him out here and he left the island. Probably won’t see him again anytime soon either.”
I could read in his bitter tone that he wished Bunk had never come back. Without Bunk’s interference, I wouldn’t know about my father and Gramps and I wouldn’t be on the outs. I supposed I’d wish that too if I were him. Maybe I did a little anyway. I didn’t like us arguing. But I couldn’t let this lie about my father go unchallenged.
So the chiefs argued with Walker, and I walked around the grounds thinking what a change a day can make. Kevin kept pace with me, but he was quiet as I looked around for some clue about what had happened.
I picked up a few things and held them, but they revealed only garbled images that made no sense. I believed Bunk would leave something for me. Call it intuition, but he knew about my gift. I thought he might find a way to use it to his advantage.
Kevin and I walked through the gardens. The SBI and police departments had given this area only a cursory glance since they were more interested in the house and the dead security men. We were near the fountain where Bunk and I had first met when I spotted his walking stick. I never saw him use it but he’d had it with him the whole time I was here. It was out of place and drew me to it. It seemed exactly the kind of thing he might use to contact me.
“Wait!” Kevin stopped me as I crouched down to pick it up. “You don’t know what you might be taking on if you touch that!”
Chapter 20
“Be careful,” Kevin warned.
I nodded before I reached for it, as prepared as I could be for whatever I might pick up from the walking stick. Images e
xploded in my head when I touched it. It was made in Thailand, especially for Bunk, but it was one of dozens exactly like it. He was never without one.
The problem with that was there were no memories, no strong emotions for me to feel. It was like picking up something new, something with no background to share.
I was disappointed. I’d hoped the stick had a message for me. Kevin examined the stick and pried off the top piece, glancing toward the house. “People like to hide things in these.”
Kevin wasn’t psychic, but he’d guessed well. Inside was a small, rolled-up piece of paper. I could feel Bunk’s amusement on hiding it for me before he left the island.
Mayor Dae O’Do nnell,
I’m sorry to have to leave so abruptly without seeing you, but my nemesis got wind of our arrangement and decided it wouldn’t do. I fear I can’t tell you more without endangering your life. And that, my dear, won’t do either.
Until we meet again.
Yours faithfully,
Bunk Whitley
“Well it proves he was here.” I frowned and rolled up the paper again.
“The FBI probably already knew he was here,” Kevin said. “Just because they didn’t tell anyone else doesn’t mean they didn’t know.”
“Whoever this guy is, Bunk is really afraid of him.” With good reason, I thought, considering the dead security guards.
“You can only hire so many people to protect you. The fact that whoever did this got so close despite Bunk’s crew of trained professionals—it must’ve really scared him.”
“I suppose so.” Bunk was gone with all the answers. And he’d left us still trying to find the right questions. “Why would someone want to kill him?”
“Who knows?” Kevin shrugged. “A wily old devil like him probably has a hundred people waiting in line to do the job.”
“But this one he couldn’t strike out at.” I told Kevin that I hadn’t seen Roger among the dead. “I think Roger may be the one Bunk couldn’t kill because he cares about him.”
A Touch of Gold Page 21
