by D P Lyle
I glanced toward the pier, almost expecting to see Ray and Pancake storming the Bastille.
“That was my ex,” I said. “I was parked near her house. She took offense.”
“You asshole.” It was Nicole. She slugged my shoulder. “What the hell were you doing over at that psycho’s house?”
“I wasn’t. I was outside.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “You promised me you’d never see her again.” She looked at Victor. “He’s addicted to her. Can’t seem to throw the hook. Every time I think we have a future he does some shit like this.” She stood and tossed her napkin on the table.
Damn, she’s good. And just might have saved our bacon.
“It’s not that way,” I said, following her lead.
“Really? What goddamn way is it, then?” She glared at me. “Sometimes I could just strangle you.” She stormed off toward the bow of the ship.
Grace stood. “I’ll make sure she’s okay.”
Borkov leaned forward, head down, speaking in a low voice. “Sorry about that. I wouldn’t have brought it up if I’d known.”
“Not your fault. Totally mine.” I sighed. “Tammy, my ex, isn’t easy to get over.”
Borkov smiled. “Good in the sack, I suspect.”
I nodded, then gave a glance forward as if afraid Nicole would hear me. “The best, actually.”
“Better not let Nicole hear that.”
“She would kill me then. For sure.”
Borkov nodded. “So you don’t know anything about your father’s business?”
“Don’t know. Don’t care.”
God, I hoped he believed me.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
NICOLE REACHED THE bow before Grace caught up to her.
“You okay?” Grace asked.
“No.” Nicole turned toward her, wiping away tears with the back of her hand.
She knew all those acting workshops would come in handy. Not exactly the way she had hoped. An A-list actor had been the goal, but wasn’t that true of every other young actress in Hollywood? But here and now she appreciated every night class she ever took.
“He can be such an asshole,” Nicole went on.
“Can’t they all?”
Nicole sighed and looked out toward the water. “Sure seems that way.”
“Why not dump him? I mean, if he’s still in love with his ex. Those bonds are hard to compete with.”
“I’ve tried. But I always go back.”
“Sounds like love.”
“His disease is Tammy. The ex. My disease is him. I love the clown.”
Grace looked at her. “You’re beautiful. You could have just about anyone you wanted. Why him?”
“He makes me laugh.” Nicole shrugged. “Seems like pretty weak glue, doesn’t it?”
“I’d say that’s the best attraction.” She looked toward the stern. “I wish Victor had a better sense of humor.”
“He seems all right to me.”
“Don’t get me wrong, Victor is very good to me.”
“How long have you guys been together?”
“A year. I was a waitress. We met at the restaurant where I worked. He swept me off my feet.”
“I can imagine someone like him doing that.” Nicole waved a hand. “As if this wasn’t enough, he does seem charming.”
“Oh, he’s that, all right.”
Nicole noticed Grace’s eyes had glistened with the beginning of tears. She reached out and touched her arm.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” She sniffed and looked out over the water. “At least I was.”
“Did something happen? Did Victor step out with someone else?”
“I wish it were that easy.”
“What is it?” Nicole asked.
“I can’t talk about it.”
Nicole hesitated, deciding whether to roll the dice or not. Could blow up in her face. Could get them killed. But what she saw in Grace’s face was more than jealousy and grief. It was fear. Time to go all in.
“Can I ask you something?” She glanced around to make sure they were alone. “Darrell and Darnell Wilbanks?”
Grace’s intake of breath was audible. Now she looked around as the fear on her face blossomed. “I don’t know anyone named Wilbanks.”
“I think you do. I think you met them here on this boat.”
“Who are you?” Grace asked.
“Jake lied. We are working for his father. We’re trying to find those brothers. We know they boarded this boat in the middle of the night and were never seen again.”
“I can’t talk about this.”
Grace turned to walk away but Nicole grabbed her arm. She tried to pull away but Nicole tightened her grip.
“Jake and I will be off this boat soon, and you’ll still be here. If Borkov did something to those brothers, you’re in danger. Don’t you think?”
Grace hesitated and then sighed. “Victor will kill me.”
“Not if we have anything to say about it.”
“You don’t.”
“You might be surprised. Ray, Jake’s dad, is a very bad dude. He can go up against anyone, I’d imagine. But not until we get you to safety. Now tell me what you know.”
Grace shook her head. “I can’t.”
“You can’t not. Right now is your chance to extricate yourself from this. If you don’t, you could get swept away in Borkov’s shit.”
“Can you really do that? Get me away from him?”
“I promise.”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
“You don’t. But you have to.”
Grace shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Look,” Nicole said. “I trusted you. I exposed who we are and what we’re doing. You could get us both killed.” Grace looked at her. “So trust me. Okay?”
Grace wiped her eyes. “Okay. But not here. When we go shopping, can I simply disappear with you?”
“My plan, exactly.”
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
WE THANKED BORKOV for his hospitality. He waved it away saying it was “his pleasure.” He continued. “I’ll have more interesting food for happy hour.”
“This was marvelous,” Nicole said.
Borkov smiled. “We can do better. And I have some very nice wines on board.”
Nicole laughed. “You’re making me hungry again.”
“Hold that thought. And think lobster thermidor and Château Lafite Rothschild.”
“How do you stay so thin around here,” Nicole asked Grace.
“Sometimes it’s not easy.”
“Of course, she mostly eats fruit and yogurt,” Borkov said.
Grace smiled. “True. But for lobster, all bets are off.”
Borkov and Grace walked us to the gangway and watched as we descended the steps.
“See you at three,” Grace said to Nicole.
“I’ll be ready.”
We returned to the boat. Ray and Pancake sat at the table, the computer before them.
“That was dicey,” Pancake said. “Thought we might have to come on board.”
“That thought crossed my mind, too,” I said.
“You did good,” Ray said.
What? Two compliments in one day? Was Ray going soft?
“Thanks.”
“But it was you, young lady,” he said to Nicole, “that really did the job.”
I looked at her. “True. The whole Tammy scene was outstanding. Couldn’t have scripted it better.”
“Don’t think I could have either,” Nicole said with a smile. “But you got lucky.”
“Me? How so?”
“I thought about giving you a good slap across the chops.” She smiled. “Since I had more or less a free shot.”
“Free shot?” I laughed. “Glad you reconsidered.”
“But I thought that might be too melodramatic.”
“The Tammy thing’s not what I’m talking about,” Ray said. “Though that was handled to perfection.
And it sounded like Borkov bought it.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
Ray nodded to Pancake, who worked the keyboard. “Best if you hear for yourself.”
Pancake played an audio file. Nicole and Grace talking. I listened, looking at her in awe more than once.
When it finished, I said, “That’s amazing. You’re amazing.”
“And you doubt that?” Nicole asked.
“Not for a minute.” I smiled. “She almost broke. At least it sounded like she wanted to say more.”
“She will,” Nicole said. “As soon as we can shake her free. She’s scared. We’re her lifeline now.”
“Unless she’s had a change of heart,” Pancake said.
Nicole shook her head. “I don’t think so. I think she feels trapped. She’s looking for an exit door. And we’re that.”
Ray looked at her. “You’re an amazing young lady. Even if old Jake here won’t work for me, I just might hire you. You have some very good assets.”
She laughed. “I’m sure you’re talking about my brain.”
Ray smiled. “Actually, I was. Though your other assets come in handy, too.”
“Girl’s got to use what she has.”
Ray glanced at his watch. “Another hour or so and we’ll know what side of the fence Grace is on, I suspect.”
“I’m going with you,” I said. “To the mall.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want you in a car with Zuma and Boyd alone.”
“Grace will be there.”
“And if she flips on you?” I asked. “You’ll be at their mercy and we know what that can mean.”
“I agree,” Ray said.
He stood and rummaged through the collection of weapons on the galley counter. He picked up a small revolver and handed it to Nicole.
“You know how to use that?”
“Sure do.”
“Is this necessary?” I asked.
He handed me a matching weapon. “I want you both armed. Just in case.”
“Isn’t that a bit of an overreaction?”
“You have car insurance, don’t you?” Pancake asked.
“Of course,” I said.
“Then there you go. This is insurance.”
I didn’t like this. None of it. I mean, I knew these were bad guys. No doubt about that. But the image of the gun fight that formed in my mind somehow seemed suddenly real. Not that I was uncomfortable with guns, or even a good old fashioned fistfight, but to put Nicole in the middle of a potential gun fight was a different thing all together.
“Maybe we can find another way to get her off the boat without this,” I said.
“I’m listening,” Ray said.
I thought for a minute but came up empty. I hate it when that happens. I sighed. “It’s just that if Grace does roll over on this, it puts Nicole in a bad place.”
“That’s why you’ll be there,” Ray said. “And you’ll be armed.”
“So are they,” I said.
“I’d do it myself,” Ray said, “but I don’t think that’d go over well.”
“Just make sure you guys are in the back seat,” Pancake said. “That’ll give you the advantage if things do go south.”
“So you agree this could blow up?” I asked,
Pancake shrugged. “Anything can blow up. Best laid plans and all that.”
“You’re not making me feel any better about this.”
“I don’t read it that way,” Ray said. “I honestly believe Borkov bought the program. Doesn’t know you’re actually working for me.”
“Grace does,” Nicole said. “I told her as much.”
Ray sighed. “True. That’s the hook in all this. And that’s what the guns are for.”
“I still don’t like it,” I said.
“Want to back out?” Ray asked. “Find another way to get Grace off that boat?”
Now I sighed. “No. If Grace can put a finger on Borkov, it’s worth the risk.”
“Okay,” Ray said. “Pancake and I will hang in the lot and follow you. Make sure Zuma and Boyd do indeed drop you guys at the mall.”
“I’ll tap into your phone with mine,” Pancake said. “If anything goes wrong or even smells funny we’ll know and come running.”
This seemed loosely thrown together to me and I said so.
“In the field,” Ray said, “you have to make fluid plans. No time to button up all the holes.”
“I know.”
“All you need to do is find a way to go along with Grace and Nicole,” Ray said. “Something that won’t ping Borkov’s radar.”
“Probably best to keep it simple,” I said. “I just like hanging with beautiful women.”
“That would be in character,” Nicole said.
“Funny.”
“Just remember the goal here,” Ray said. “First thing is everyone walks away unharmed. Be cool. Secondly, get Grace away from them as smoothly as possible.”
“Okay,” I said. “Where do we meet in the mall? They have a Victoria’s Secret, don’t they?”
“Perv,” Nicole said. “Belk is better. It’s large and always crowded, and near the parking area.”
“I like her answer better,” Ray said.
“I’m more partial to old Jake’s suggestion,” Pancake said.
“You would be,” Nicole said.
“There’s just something about skimpy women’s undies, I guess,”
Nicole laughed.
“Okay, Belk it is.” Ray nodded to Pancake. “Let’s get moving.”
“What if they see you guys leaving?” I asked.
“Got it covered.”
Of course he did.
He rummaged in his black canvas bag and began pulling out clothes. Pancake slipped on a gray hoodie, flipping the hood up to cover his red hair. Ray tugged on a windbreaker and a floppy fishing hat, complete with an array of lures. Ray retreated to the front of the boat and returned with a couple of fishing rods, handing one to Pancake.
“How do we look?” Pancake asked.
“Like two old fisher dudes,” Nicole said.
Ray checked the computer. He adjusted the zoom and scanned the Sea Witch. “Looks quiet. Let’s get to it.”
Ray and Pancake quickly climbed onto the dock and then casually walked away. Fishing rods on their shoulders, Ray carrying his black canvas bag. They did indeed look like two old fisher dudes.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
I HAD A great cover story. Needed to buy some aftershave, maybe a new razor. Maybe some socks. I rehearsed it in my head until I was satisfied that it would come off as casual. No big deal, but thanks for letting me tag along sort of thing. But I didn’t need any of those lies. Turned out that riding along with Nicole and Grace proved to be amazingly simple.
At three o’clock sharp, Grace, Zuma, and Boyd descended the gangway and walked to where Nicole and I waited on deck. Nicole had changed into jeans and a loose gauzy green shirt; I wore jeans, a black t-shirt, and a gray jacket.
“Mind if I go along?” I asked.
“Not at all,” Grace said. “You can carry our bags.”
“Glad to be needed.”
Neither Zuma nor Boyd flinched, Zuma saying, “Let’s get going.”
We walked up the dock and angled into the parking lot. Zuma chirped open the locks of a black Lincoln SUV with the key fob. He and Boyd climbed in the front, Zuma driving, the three of us in the back. So far so good. As we left the lot, I saw Ray’s pickup fall in behind us. At an inconspicuous distance. Still, I kept my hand on the gun in my jacket pocket.
Took ten minutes to reach the mall. During the ride over, neither Zuma nor Boyd said a single word. They seemed distracted as if focused on something else. Probably whatever errands Borkov had assigned them. Nicole and Grace chatted, but very little. Their shared tension was evident in their voices and in the way Grace sat straight up, eyes ahead, and clasped her white-knuckled hands together in her lap. I imagined she was mentally ur
ging the SUV forward, willing it to reach the mall more quickly, wishing she was out and free. I know I was.
Finally Zuma slid to a stop near the entrance to Belk. We climbed out.
“We’ll be back at four thirty,” Zuma said. “Right here. Don’t be late.” Then without waiting for an answer, he drove away.
As we walked inside I could still sense Grace’s apprehension. Hands clenched at her sides, head on a swivel, she looked as if she expected disaster.
“You’re safe now,” I said.
“Am I?”
“Definitely.”
“You don’t know Victor Borkov,” she said. “His reach is long.”
“Not anymore.”
She glanced at me. “Confidence is a good thing. Overconfidence not so much.”
“When you meet Ray, you’ll feel differently.”
“That’s your father?”
“Yep.”
Grace glanced at Nicole and then back to me. “Nicole said he’s some kind of badass.”
“He is. So is Pancake.”
“Pancake?”
“You’ll see.”
We found Ray and Pancake near the cosmetics counter. Pancake was sniffing various perfume bottles, as would any fourteen-year-old boy. Most men remain fourteen-year-old boys all their lives, never seeming to advance beyond that level of maturity. As if certain parts of the male brain refused further evolution. Pancake was a prime example. Most people, Ray for sure and probably Nicole, would say I fit that mold, also. Can’t fight evolution.
“Looking for a new fragrance?” Nicole asked.
“Something for the young lady I’ve been spending time with lately.”
“Spending time? Is that what they call it now?”
“Enough chitchat,” Ray said. He extended his hand to Grace. “I’m Ray. This is Pancake.”
“Glad to meet you both.”
“I understand you have some information for us,” Ray said.
Grace glanced at Nicole.
“They heard our conversation,” Nicole said.
“How?”
“That’s not important.” Ray said. “What is important is that you are away from Borkov.” Ray looked around. “Let’s find somewhere we can talk.”
Pancake of course led us to the food court. Since it was the afternoon lull between lunch and the dinner hour, only a few tables were occupied. We settled at one toward the back, no one nearby.
