by Diane Rapp
Hot tears streamed down her cheeks as Raven washed Jim’s blood from her hands. Hank entered the cottage and cast a haughty glance in her direction. She understood the meaning behind his expression. Hank had waited patiently for the Reverend to grow tired of his new plaything, and now that the man was dead…Raven was his property.
“Hide this suitcase in the Brigade’s secret cubbyhole behind the cabin. Then follow your men and catch Drew.” He nodded, but his eyes held a message that she couldn’t ignore.
She added, “I plan to join the group at the picnic grounds as my cover for the airport shooting.” She watched as Hank drove off on his motorcycle and then calmly followed a well-worn path into the jungle.
A group of friends had told Raven that morning that they planned to picnic at their favorite spot today. They knew something bad might happen after Congressman Ryan left the compound and wanted to hide out until the dust settled. She could use those cowards to establish her own alibi.
Her mind raced with ideas about her future, knowing that she must accept Hank Martin as her new lover. He wasn’t bad looking and was malleable to her ideas. An hour later, dejected Red Brigade members found her at the picnic site.
Drew had escaped but it didn’t matter.
Raven devised a game plan for tracking the deserter, no matter how long it took. Chasing Drew would give her a genuine purpose while she and Hank started their new life together. If she worked it right, Hank might believe the baby she carried was his own.
Jim’s legitimate sons returned that evening from a basketball competition to discover the massacre, and they promptly called authorities. Along with a few other survivors of the Jonestown Massacre, they spent weeks under intense scrutiny by authorities. Eventually they were all released. The massacre was reported worldwide.
Following Raven’s orders, the Red Brigade hid deep within the jungle and avoided the police. Survivors of the airport attack against Congressman Ryan described their assailants, prompting Guyana and U.S. authorities to launch an intense manhunt for the killers.
Raven was the lone exception.
She’d worn a bandana to cover her face during the airport shooting so no one identified her. Friends also backed up her story of picnicking with them, more out of fear than loyalty. Raven was an expert at portraying a wide-eyed innocent and joined weeping mourners at the mass funerals. She soon disappeared from sight.
*****
Shirley received a text message just after leaving the barbeque. She and Tim sat in a clamshell shade tent on the beach, watching people play in the water. She read the message and turned to Tim. “Rose orders us to come to the men’s shower building. It’s important, she says.”
Tim shrugged and slipped his flip flops onto sandy feet. “It’s okay with me. I can’t stand all this waiting. Do you think she saw those twins perform on stage? Now I’m absolutely sure that Matt and Felix are Drew’s sons. When we get back aboard ship, we’ll go to their rooms and explain our problem directly to them. They seem like reasonable men, so I’m sure they’ll sign the documents.”
Shirley frowned. “Let’s just hope that Rose doesn’t mess things up for us. I know we promised her a large donation for the Red Brigade, but everything she does causes trouble.”
They found Rose and Jaimie sitting in the shade near the men’s showers.
Rose walked toward a nearby van and started barking orders. “You two will drive this van, giving Jaimie and me time to kidnap one or both of the twins.”
“What?” Tim exclaimed. “We didn’t agree to kidnapping! I won’t be part of this and neither will Shirley.” But when he turned to his sister, his heart sank.
“Umm. Rose explained the plan to me the night of the psychic’s show. We know Matt and Felix are Drew’s sons. The only way we can force them or Drew to sign our documents is under extreme pressure.”
Rose scowled at Tim. “This is all Drew’s fault. He killed Jim Jones and ran from authorities with the Temple’s money. We can’t let him or those whelps profit from murder, can we?”
Beads of sweat formed on Timothy’s forehead as he backed away from the two women, bumping into the van door. He said, “Okay, but nobody gets hurt. We lure Drew out and capture him for the authorities. That’s all.”
“Sure thing, Tim.” Rose’s lips curled into a malicious grin as she turned away from the sniveling coward. She motioned for Jaimie to join her in the shade of a broad-leafed fern and watched the volleyball game.
Tim and Shirley climbed into the front seat of the van. Rose could hear the engine hum as they cranked up the air conditioning and let the cool air blow onto their red faces.
*****
After the barbeque the group of twins headed to the beach and waded through the two-foot surf. Abby, the professional swimmer, automatically assumed the role of life guard as the others splashed and played in the surf. A banana-boat motored close to them, offering free rides. The twins clambered onto the awkward vehicle but finally managed to ride the waves several times before the last person fell off.
The team of four bodyguards watched helplessly, praying that no underwater divers would rise to attack the big yellow boat. Luckily, nothing happened. But Natalia felt uneasy as the day wore on, certain that danger lurked nearby. When she raised her concern with Jason, he said, “I know just how you feel, Tally. Every time I perform guard duty, my nerves threaten to get the better of me. It’s a normal reaction, not a psychic premonition, sweetheart. I called in extra men from the ship, so we’ve got enough eyes watching. We’re sure to spot trouble quickly.”
Natalia knew that he was being logical, but she was positive that something would happen today. She walked along the beach, reaching out with her senses, but she hit a blank wall, psychically speaking. She whispered, “Grandma Natasha, are you still watching out for us?” She felt no response.
A game of beach volleyball followed swimming. The group of twins split into two teams assigning both men and women to each side. The body guards were on patrol, their eyes riveted on the sandy area surrounding the game net. Emily and Kate found shady spots under clamshell shade structures and sipped margaritas while they cheered for both sides. Kate’s “kids” were evenly split between both teams and she refused to favor anyone.
Sand flew as heroic dives and dismal failures ensued. The Chinese sisters, Melany and Penny, were wonderful at setting the ball, while the tall siblings, Paul and Abby, could jump high above the net without touching. The score remained even as bodies sweated and sand clung to suits, skin, and damp hair. After an hour of rough-and-tumble play, the twins called the game a tie and headed for the showers.
Amanda accompanied the ladies into their shower building while Natalia remained with Emily and Kate. Esteban entered the shower room before the men and shouted, “Clear,” before he allowed anyone to enter. He waited near the door for the stragglers, Felix and Jason, who stopped at the cool chest to grab cold drinks before showering.
*****
Rose and Jaimie watched as the volleyball game ended and knew that the twins would soon head to the shower. They got busy. They directed Tim and Shirley to park the van next to the men’s shower building and meandered toward the nearly full laundry cart.
Having seen Esteban and the others enter the building, Rose grinned when she spotted Felix. He jogged toward the women’s position, unaware of potential trouble. The two women heaved the laundry cart onto the path and the broken wheel fell off as planned. As the cart tipped precariously toward the ground, both women acted surprised and dismayed over their predicament.
Felix crouched to examine the missing wheel as Jason joined him. Both men offered to help. Rose watched the two men lift the heavy cart, filled with wet towels, and carry it to the running van. Jaimie rushed ahead to slide open the side door as her mother cried, “Thank you so much! The cart, we could never get it this far without the help of such strong and handsome gentlemen.”
The men strained to manhandle the unwieldy cart through the side door of t
he van. Both women assumed positions beside each man, offering encouragement. Jason failed to notice when the women pulled off the black handles of the cart to retrieve uncapped hypodermics filled with liquid. As the women pressed against their sides, the men felt sharp jabs on their backs.
Pain gave way to warm tingling and woozy heads.
As she pushed Jason away from the van door, Rose cooed, “Good-night, sleep tight, and don’t let the sand fleas bite.” Jason’s vision swirled as the fast-acting sedative took effect. He saw blurry women shove Felix into the van, slide the door shut, and drive away before he sank into oblivion.
*****
Shirley squealed as rough hands shoved her into a fishing boat tied to the dock. “Let me go! I need to get back on the cruise ship,” she wailed.
Tim’s hands were bound behind his back with plastic ties, and a foul-smelling rag covered his mouth. He watched helplessly as fishermen shoved the unconscious body of Felix into the boat’s hold. What was going to happen to them all?
Rose watched her men push the van off the end of the pier. Bubbles erupted as the vehicle’s rear end bobbed for a moment and then sank. She turned to their “guests” and sneered. “You both could have gone to the bottom inside that van, so count yourselves lucky. Help us keep that young man under control, and you may survive to spend your inheritance.”
Shirley sniveled, smearing mascara that dribbled down her cheeks. “Rose, you promised that we could stay at a safe distance while you did the kidnapping. We’re not thugs. Tim is practically incapable of performing any task and I’m not strong enough to subdue a strapping young man. How can we help?”
“The woman you called Rose is gone! Call me Raven now and pray I don’t kill you along with Drew and his spawn.”
She laughed at Tim’s shocked expression. “You two are only good as decoys, targets if you will. The Feds are sure to try something clever. They’ve taken out ten good men already, so I need fresh bodies for them to focus on. Don’t worry. They seldom shoot unless we fire first. Go below and make sure Felix stays healthy until we get Drew.”
Turning to her daughter, she said, “Okay, Jaimie, go snuggle with that cook of yours. I’ll see you in the Keys.”
*****
As a cool cloth patted his forehead, he heard an angelic voice call out to him, “Jason! Honey, please wake up.”
Licking his lips, his mouth felt parched and his tongue fuzzy. “What happened?” he mumbled. “Where am I?” Remembering the broken laundry cart and the sharp jab of the hypodermic, he tried to sit up. His vision spun and he felt suddenly nauseous.
Natalia pushed him down with firm hands. “Stay still until those drugs clear from your head. You won’t be any help to us until you can walk straight. Felix was kidnapped.” She held up a hand-printed note. “Raven left this tucked into the pocket of your shirt.”
“Raven? She wasn’t there. We found two cleaners trying to lift an unwieldy laundry cart into their van. Felix offered to help when he discovered that the cart’s wheel was broken. I joined him.”
Jason’s eyes suddenly widened and his face turned red. “Oh! No! The whole affair is my fault. I felt too bloody complacent since nothing seemed amiss, and I allowed Raven to lead us into a trap.”
Esteban nodded. “De women, they be imposters. We find a wheel in de sand with de screws for attaching it to de cart. De wheel, it was made to look broken.”
Amanda added, “Esteban bolted out of the shower facility when he heard their motor roar off. He found you out cold on the ground and called for help on his radio.”
“There be a real nasty bruise on your back, my friend. Raven, she’s not too gentle with de needle, but she know how to organize de escape.” Esteban’s mouth tightened as he delivered the bad news, “We no find Raven and de truck she used sits on de bottom of de ocean.”
Jason’s head pounded, keeping time with his elevated pulse rate. Holding his head in both hands, he asked, “What does that bloody note say? Pardon my language, ladies.”
Amanda chuckled and Natalia rolled her eyes. “You have a perfect reason to swear this time,” Amanda said. She unfolded the note and read aloud: “Tell Drew Kingston that we have his son. If he wants to trade, tell him to come alone to Southernmost Point in Key West at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow. We can see everything from a particular vantage point, so don’t mess with us.”
Kate groaned when she heard the demand. “How do we find Drew in just one day? I’m so sorry, Matt. I should never have started this project to locate you boys.”
Matt wrapped his arm around his birth mother. “Kate, you’re not the one who placed us in danger. It’s that crazy woman, Raven.”
“No!” a deep male voice interrupted. “I’m to blame for the things Raven did to find me. I hoped to keep Kate safe from them by staying away, pretending to be dead. It was a fool’s errand. The Red Brigade knows very well that I’m alive, since they’ve been chasing me for years. They’re vicious and tenacious, chased me through the jungles of South America, but I never dreamed they’d become so cunning and devious.”
The group stared at Xander Pendleton and Jacquie Ludlow, who stood silhouetted against the harsh light of the tent’s entrance. Jacquie broke the awkward silence. “Xander, he just told me of his real identity and asked for my help. He is the man you call Drew Kingston. When the message about the kidnapping of Felix, it was transmitted over the radio, we came tout de suite. We both wish to help.”
Kate stepped forward and studied the attractive man with white hair. She peered up into his eyes and shook her head sadly. “Drew’s eyes were violet-blue. This man has muddy brown eyes, so he can’t be Drew Kingston.”
Xander laughed. “Kate, as part of my disguise, I wear tinted contact lenses. Let me remove them, and you’ll see my true identity.” He worked on removing the lenses, and Kate gasped when the beautiful color finally appeared.
“Drew?” Her trembling fingers touched his weathered cheek. “Where have you been all these years? I thought you were dead, mourned you for years.” She suddenly turned angry and slapped his face. “You coward! You allowed our son to fall into the hands of vicious kidnappers because you quivered in hiding!”
Drew frowned and rubbed his stinging cheek. “You’re perfectly right, Kate. I am a sniveling coward, running scared for so long that I lost everyone I ever loved. Please forgive me for the pain I caused you.”
Kate moved away from him.
Drew turned to Amanda. “I just heard you read Raven’s note. I’m prepared to turn myself over to the Red Brigade in exchange for Felix. Still, I don’t trust that woman; she’d likely kill Felix in front of me just to make me suffer.” He turned to see Matt’s face redden with anger. “If I die, Matt might still be in danger and Raven might kill those other boys as well. She’s insane.”
“We cannot let de woman get away with more murders,” Esteban said. “Now you be here, we figure a brilliant plan, yes?” He turned to the group and flashed a wicked grin. “Raven think to act like a pirate and trade for de hostage, but pirates, their ship sinks when bigger guns fire at them.”
Amanda chuckled but Natalia felt a cold chill creep up her spine.
Jason clasped Natalia’s hand and tried to reassure her, “Everything will turn out just fine.”
Kate scrutinized Drew’s appearance. “You don’t look like the man we once knew, so Raven will think we’re trying to trick her. I’ll make an emergency appointment with the salon to dye your hair black and shave off that goatee.” She stepped forward and touched his wrinkled cheek. “You also need a facial with collagen to soften your rough skin.” She walked past the investigators and stood in the doorway of the tent.
“You four should discuss plans to ensure the safety of my family while we see to Drew’s appearance.”
Jacquie shrugged. “Me, I have the attraction for the dashing silver fox, but it could be fun to meet your younger self, Drew.” She spoke into her radio and reached the beauty salon. “We need the rush hair-color job completed
tonight.” Listening to the radio static, she turned and smiled. “Let’s take him back onto the ship. An appointment is scheduled in half an hour for the complete anti-aging regimen.”
“Thanks, Jacquie,” Drew said and started to follow Kate out of the tent. “It will be wonderful to feel more like myself, but my passport might cause a problem when I enter the U.S.” He paused at the entrance looking concerned.
Natalia considered the problem for a moment and pushed him out of the doorway. “You can wear a white wig and fake beard until the time comes to spring the “Drew identity” on the Red Brigade. It may help if they don’t recognize you are until the last minute.”
*****
A plastic beauty-shop cape was draped over Drew’s shoulders while the stylist applied dark dye to his hair. He knew the process all too well. He’d changed beards and hair color many times over his years on the run, and transformed his appearance with different lengths and styles. Now, it felt strange to revert to his original color and short cut.
He stared in the mirror and met Kate’s worried eyes behind his own reflection. “Have you always lived in South America?” she asked.
Drew’s lips curled into a tired smile. “No. I returned to America in 1996, but the Brigade discovered my location within months. It became necessary to flee and change my identity several times before they lost track of me.”
She wiped away a tear that trickled down her pale cheek. “My daughters started kindergarten that year. I split my time between play-dates and studying for my PhD in chemistry. It was a hectic time.”
