Nicollette's Defense

by Skye Michaels

  * * * *

  Antoinette Marie wasn’t happy to hear that her beautiful home on the waterway had been sold and that her ex-husband was going to make three million dollars on top of his other profits. And who was going to benefit? None other than that bitch, Nicollette Sommers. It just wasn’t fair. Also, there was a stash of rainy day money and jewelry hidden in the house that she hadn’t had time to pack when she left in the middle of the night. One thing was for sure. She had made a big mistake letting Dan go so easily. He was her husband, those were her kids, and that was her home. She didn’t know what she was going to do yet, but she was going to do something. It wasn’t wise to fuck with a Beaudreau. Not wise at all.

  * * * *

  On Monday morning Jack spoke with his realtor, Ben Goldman. The White Egret Hotel was indeed on the market. Jack thought the price was a little high, but a due diligence review of the books and records and reservations lists should tell the story. Of course, since the hotel was going to be limited to BDSM participants after closing, those figures weren’t really relevant. He’d want to see the current figures nonetheless.

  Jack picked up the phone and called Jamie Devereau. “Hey, Jamie. I think I’ve found the perfect hotel for our BDSM scheme. Are you still interested?”

  “Tell me.” The dark-haired investment banker and money wonder boy was always interested. Jamison Devereau made money like he had his own private printing press. The man was amazing.

  Jack gave him the salient details. “I stumbled on it by accident. Kaylin and I were scouting for a wedding venue. It’s called The White Egret Hotel. I’d change the name to The Black Dahlia Hotel which would fit right in with The Black Iris Club. There could be some crossover there. It’s a ten-story building on several acres right on the ocean. It could use a little updating, but nothing major. We’d need a full package of inspections and a due diligence period to review the book and records so there wouldn’t be any surprises. I can e-mail you some pictures. We’d have to retrofit the existing ballroom for a dungeon and theme rooms, of course. Basically, it’s about ready to go.”

  “Sounds good. I’m definitely interested. The interest in high-end BDSM entertainments is definitely there. The Golden Dolphin is almost always fully booked. Make an offer at twenty-five percent below asking, all cash, and let’s see what happens. My Ocala group will all want in.”

  “I think Miguel Gatto may want in as well.”

  “I haven’t seen Miguel in a dog’s age. How is he?”

  “Great. He was elected State’s Attorney for Broward County two years ago, and he just got engaged.”

  “Wonderful. Anne and I will be coming down in a couple of weeks, so I’ll want to see the hotel then—and you guys of course. We’ll be down to close on a house we bought in Fort Lauderdale. I need a base down there, and I didn’t want to buy in Miami.”

  “Really? Where’s the house?”

  “Someplace called the Idlewyld section of Fort Lauderdale on the Intracoastal Waterway. It’s a good-looking property. Spacious. You know how I hate to be closed in.”

  “No kidding? Is the seller Dan McGrath?”

  “Yeah. That’s the name. Why?”

  “This is a small town in a small world. If we go ahead, he and his partner, J.J. Temple, will probably be closing the hotel deal for us. They have space in my building, and J.J.’s a member of the club.”

  “Interesting. Keep me advised.” They hung up.

  Jack picked up the phone again and dialed Dan McGrath. “Hey, Dan. Do you have a few minutes to talk to me about a deal?”

  “Sure. Do you want to come down, or shall I come up?”

  “I’ll come down. I have some paperwork I can bring. I want you to draft a contract for the purchase of an oceanfront hotel. See you in a few.”

  Jack and Dan met and discussed the details, and Dan had a contract prepared by noon. Jack’s realtor wasn’t too enthusiastic about the twenty-five percent price cut. “Ben, we can always go up, but it’s harder to come down. Present the offer and let’s see what they say.”

  * * * *

  Antoinette Marie had spent a restless night. It was never quiet in the prison. That was one of the hardest things to get used to. By morning she had decided what she had to do. She had not wanted to tell Angelina about the money and the jewelry she had left hidden in the house. She trusted her relatives only so far, but now she had no choice. If the house was about to be sold, she would lose access to that stash. The new buyers would certainly change access codes and maybe even security companies. It was now or never.

  She dialed Angelina’s cell and spoke in French when it was answered. “Can you go outside to talk, or do you have to call me back?”

  “I can take a walk back to the coffee room, but we have to be quick. What have you decided?”

  “You need to get into the house and recover the cash and jewelry I left under the floorboards in my closet upstairs. I’ll tell you how to find it without making a mess so no one will know you were there. You can keep half if you can get it out of there. The rest you can sell and put the proceeds into an account for me.”

  “How do I get in?”

  “There is no gate opener, and the palm plate won’t accept your print. You may be able to follow a vehicle in when the gates open. There are motion sensors so you can’t just climb over the wall. You will have to keep your eyes and ears open for an opportunity. As to Dan and the bitch, Nicollette, here is what I want you to do.”

  * * * *

  Dan walked down the hall to Nikki’s office. He passed Angelina in the hall on her way back from the coffee room. “How’s it going, Angie?”

  “Fine, Mr. McGrath. I was just getting a cup of coffee.”

  “Well, have a good day.”

  He stepped into Nikki’s office and closed the door behind him. He pulled her up into his arms and gave her a long, slow kiss. His lips kissed a trail down her soft neck until their path was ended by the collar of her silk shirt. She was crushed up against him, and her arms were curled around his neck. He didn’t want to stop, but this wasn’t the time or place to take it up a notch. He let her go, opened the door again, and sat down across from her. “Hey, baby.” He grinned.

  “Hey, yourself. What’s up?”

  “Not much. We’re waiting to see if a contract I drew for Jack has been accepted, and I’ve got another warehouse closing this week. I was wondering. This might be a lot to ask, but would you consider taking a drive over to the house with me one night this week? I’ve got to go in, look around, and figure out what I’m going to do with all the stuff in there. I have to meet the house inspectors on Friday, but I don’t anticipate any problems. I’m sure the deal is on. I really don’t want to go alone.”

  “Of course. I understand. That would be upsetting and maybe a little spooky.”

  “I don’t know about spooky, but it will definitely be upsetting. Thanks, babe. I appreciate it. Can we plan on Wednesday?”

  “I’ll pencil you in, big guy.”

  Neither of them saw Angelina walk back to the reception desk and sit down with a slight smile on her face.

  Chapter Ten

  The McGrath residence in the Idlewyld section of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Wednesday evening, April 29, 2015

  Nikki followed Dan through the ornate double wrought iron gates that swung open majestically after he had put his palm on the sensor imbedded in the column next to the driveway. The gates were impressive with an elaborate shield design in the center bearing the letter “M.” This wasn’t a house. It was an estate. The wide expanse of green lawn highlighted the plantings that were already lit by spotlights. She could just see the pool and tennis courts behind the house and the Intracoastal Waterway that sparkled when the last rays of the sun hit it.

  It was no wonder Antoinette Marie had been willing to do almost anything to secure her life here after growing up in a shack on the bayou. This place was incredible. She parked next to Dan on the cobbled drive that circled under the entrance portico. She
got out of the car and followed him to the door. He had a strained look on his face.

  “I’ve only been back here twice since I moved out after Anne Marie was arrested—once to empty the refrigerator and once to meet the realtor. I stayed at a hotel until I rented my loft on Third. This is going to be hard.”

  “That’s understandable, Dan. You had a life here, and it was ripped out of your hands. Your kids are on the other side of the country, and the woman you thought you knew and loved is in prison. None of that is simple to deal with.” She wished it was because she knew her feelings for Dan McGrath were much more than friendship, friends with benefits, or just plain sex. As much as she had tried to keep her emotions under control, her heart was engaged.

  “Okay. Let’s get this over with. Why don’t you start with the kitchen, and make sure I didn’t miss any perishable stuff. I had to let the housekeeper go, and we don’t want a rodent or bug problem being right on the water. I’ll go upstairs and look around. Come up when you’re done down here.”

  Nikki walked to the back of the house and found the huge, bright kitchen with a Mediterranean décor. It was located right next to the formal dining room and what would be the bright breakfast room when the sun was rising over the waterway in the morning. Geez. The colorful tile counters and Mexican tile floor were highlighted by the glass-fronted white cabinets. She flipped on the ornate bronze overhead lights and opened several doors until she found a utility closet and some garbage bags. She systematically went through the cabinets and drawers removing all packages of food. Anything that wasn’t open she separated to be dropped off at a homeless shelter. Anything that had been opened went into trash bags to be left at the curb for pickup. The industrial style refrigerator and freezer had already been emptied. When she was finished, she decided to find Dan. She was making her way back to the foyer in the front of the house and the wide, gracious staircase that led upstairs when she felt something hard in her back.

  A female voice whispered, “Don’t turn around. Where’s McGrath?”

  “I don’t know. Upstairs, I guess. I haven’t been up there yet.” Something about the voice was familiar, but she was afraid to turn around. She was pretty sure that the hard object poking into her spine was a gun. She caught a glimpse of the person out of the corner of her eye. She had a handkerchief tied over her lower face and most of her hair tucked up into a ball cap. Still, there was no question in Nikki’s mind. The woman was Angelina Broussard. Her body type and hair and eye color were distinctive. What the hell? This made no sense at all.

  “That makes two of us. I’d like a little tour myself. Let’s go find him.”

  Nikki started up the stairs. She didn’t know if she should let Angelina think she was unrecognized or call her out on her poor disguise. She decided to keep quiet for now. When they were on the second floor and headed toward the back of the house where the master suite would be located, she felt the prodding of the gun again. “Keep quiet, or else…” She poked her with the gun again for emphasis. “If you both want to come out of this alive.”

  Dan looked up with confusion and then comprehension in his eyes. “What do you want?”

  “Just a few things from the closet.” She looked around the room, and then pulled a silk curtain tie from one of the many window treatments over the wall of French doors. “I’m going to tie your hands, Nikki. Don’t do anything stupid, or someone might end up getting shot.”

  When her wrists were bound tightly behind her, she was pushed toward a chair next to the windows. “Sit down and keep quiet.”

  The woman turned to Dan. “In the closet. Pull up the carpet starting from the back right corner under that rack of gowns.” Nikki could see into Anne Marie’s beautifully decorated closet. It was the size of a small room with built-in drawers, shelves, and shoe racks in polished mahogany. Except for some clothes that had been carelessly dropped on the floor, it was flawlessly organized and color coordinated. Anal retentive much? She must be going nuts in prison. The safe that had been hidden on the back wall behind a gilt-framed mirror stood open and empty.

  Dan got down on his knees, climbed back under the rack of gowns into the corner, and rolled the carpet back, exposing the golden oak floor planks. Angelina appeared to be carefully counting the floor boards. “Start with that one in the center with the heart-shaped grain design. Pry it and the next two up.” When Dan had found a minute notch in the first board and complied, an opening inhabited by a large, gray steel strongbox was revealed. “Take the box out and open it.” When he did, Nikki saw the rows of neatly stacked, used hundred dollar bills banded into packs of ten thousand dollars each and several velvet bags that must contain jewelry. There had to be at least a half million dollars in cash in there.

  “Put the money and jewelry into this bag.” She thrust a sturdy canvas carryall into Dan’s hands. When all the loot had been bagged, she reached behind her for another curtain tie. “I’m going to tie you up. If you resist, just know that the first bullet will be for Nikki. Don’t make the mistake of thinking I’ll miss. I’m very good at this.” Dan glanced at her and seemed to be saying “don’t take any chances” with his eyes.

  When Dan’s wrists were bound behind him, she pushed him into the mirror-image but much more masculine closet that was separated from Anne Marie’s by an enormous and very luxurious bathroom. She retrieved more ties and secured his ankles. She gestured Nikki toward Anne Marie’s closet. “Get in the closet. I’m going to tie your feet also and lock you in.” When she had accomplished her task, she stood up and moved toward the door of the closet.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  The woman’s eyebrows went up. “Are you nuts? Why the hell do you think?”

  “I think there’s more to this than appears on the surface.” Nikki had always thought something was off about Angelina. She just had not known what or how off she actually was.

  “And maybe you’re smarter than you look.” She sighed. “This is pretty ridiculous. I know you know who I am, but you don’t really know who I am.” At Nikki’s confused look, she continued. “Count yourselves lucky. If my lovely sister had her wish, I’d be shooting you between the eyes right now and dumping your bodies in the Intracoastal. I’m not willing to go that far for her. I was willing to collect her stash of cash and jewelry before this house is sold, but that’s it.” Angelina pulled the handkerchief down. “You won’t starve to death in here. The house inspectors and the realtor will be here on Friday if you don’t manage to get yourselves loose before then. Of course, I will be long gone, and you won’t be able to find me. Don’t even look.”

  “You can’t be serious. You don’t really think…” Then Nikki realized her mistake. She should let Angelina think she could get away with this so that she wouldn’t be tempted to permanently dispose of the witnesses to her crime.

  When they were both locked in, Nikki heard Angelina going down the stairs and the front door close behind her. Dan called out, “Nikki? Are you okay?”

  “I’m okay. Let’s see if we can’t get the hell out of here.”

  “I have a pocket knife in one of my drawers. I’ll see if I can get to it.”

  “What about the locked closet doors?”

  “There’s an emergency release. If we can get loose, we’re not locked in. Also, I guess Anne Marie forgot to tell her about the telephones in the dressing rooms. We’ll be okay, baby. We are lucky she didn’t decide to follow instructions and shoot us between the eyes.”

  “Small understatement, McGrath. Your lovely ex-wife and her family are sure interesting.”

  “You can say that again. Who knew?”

  “Obviously not you.” Nikki internally shook her head. She really couldn’t blame Dan for being overwhelmed by this whole situation. These people were nuts.

  “That’s for sure.”

  * * * *

  Dan struggled with his bonds, and he had managed to get a little play in the silken knots. He rolled over until he was beside the tall chest of drawers
and struggled up onto his knees. He turned around and opened the fifth drawer up from the bottom, reached in, and fumbled around until the pearl-handled pen knife was in his hands. He managed to open the knife and worked the blade around until he was able to start sawing at his bindings. “This is harder than I thought it would be, babe, but I’m making progress.” Finally, his hands were free, and he cut his ankle restraints. “This bondage thing isn’t as much fun as I thought it would be, subbie.”

  “Very funny, McGrath. Very funny. Come and get me the hell out of here.”

  He flipped the emergency lock release located next to the doorjamb and picked up the telephone. No dial tone. Shit. He hoped their cell phones were still there. He walked out and unlocked the door to Anne Marie’s closet. He threw the door open and fell to his knees beside Nikki. He kissed her quickly and began to work on her bindings. He had her free in a moment and then held tightly in his arms. “That was much too close a call, Nikki. This could have gone very wrong.”

  She just snuggled into his arms and let him hold her. “We have to call the police. Do you have your cell phone?”

  “I left it on my bedside table. Is it still there?”

  “I don’t see it. Let’s go downstairs and see if mine is still in my handbag on the kitchen counter.”

  When they got to the kitchen, Dan was relieved to see Nikki’s large shoulder bag on the counter amid the garbage bags full of food. She rushed over, pulled the flap open, and pulled her phone out triumphantly. She immediately pressed the button and the phone sprang to life. She entered her passcode, found Kaylin in favorites, and dialed.

  “You’re not going to believe this…” She told Kaylin what had happened and who was responsible.

  “I’ll get a cruiser out there immediately. Have Dan open the gates. “We’ll put an APB out for Angelina Broussard. She doesn’t have that much of a head start. Are you guys okay?”