Madison Westin 02-Deception in Paradise

by Deborah Brown

  I gave them the glossed-over version, not mentioning Creole. “I got trapped on the adjoining property by a couple of guard dogs. It turned into a long wait before they lost interest in me. I was so relieved when someone came to feed the dogs, or I’d still be sitting in a junky old boat. I would’ve called, but I lost my phone, and I had no money for the payphone. It’s a long walk when you’re sore.”

  “What about your promise to let me and my guys do our jobs?” Zach asked through clenched teeth.

  “You were right. Is that what you wanted to hear? I’m sorry.” My voice dripped with sarcasm. “Excuse me, I’m going to take a shower and a nap. You can let yourselves out.” I didn’t care how rude I sounded.

  “Madison Westin, you stop right there,” Mother demanded. “We were all worried about you.”

  “I’m very sorry that I worried you for a single second.” I smiled at my mother. “I’m fine. Does anyone know why the warehouse blew up and if anyone was hurt?”

  “Two people are dead. Tony Carlos and Juan Pablo, workers at the warehouse, set it to blow and didn’t know what they were doing. They blew themselves up with their own handiwork,” Fab said.

  “What about Alex?” I asked.

  “Sid Byce told the police his son was on a fishing trip in the Bahamas.” Zach shook his head. “The explosion was ruled an accident.”

  “Two dead people and it’s an accident? That’s convenient,” I said.

  “Sid Byce found out he was being investigated for trafficking,” Zach said. “He thought he had the situation under control, and when he realized he was out of time, he took matters into his own hands, shut down the drug operation, and exiled Alexander.”

  “What about Pavel’s murder?” I asked.

  “The shooter, Tony Carlos, died in the explosion,” Zach said.

  “You put your life on the line for someone you didn’t even know,” Mother said angrily.

  “I didn’t intentionally put my life on the line for anyone. Wrong place, very wrong time. Who knew Alex was as crazy as he turned out to be? Very convenient he had a boat waiting, and all the evidence was blown sky high.”

  “Did you think about Brad and me when you were risking your life?” Mother asked.

  “There was a risk factor that I didn’t take seriously. In the beginning, it was about our family and clearing Jax. Then, it became about Pavel. He didn’t deserve to be shot to death by drug-dealing scum. No one gave a damn about who paid for Pavel’s murder.”

  “How would your dying have helped Pavel?” Mother asked.

  “Dying wasn’t part of the plan. I was frustrated that no one seemed to be seriously investigating Pavel’s murder. Jax was the designated scapegoat. I asked Zach for help, and all he did was make up lies because he felt compelled to protect me from myself. Which was more important than putting the real murderer in jail.”

  “I found out through a friend that the Feds were investigating, and I decided not to say anything,” Zach said. “I couldn’t take the chance you would tell anyone else. Local authorities weren’t in the loop because of the influence of the Byce family. The quantities were huge, and Alex was reckless and looking at being charged with an assortment of felonies.”

  “If you had told me the Feds were investigating, tonight might’ve ended differently.”

  “I didn’t trust you to keep your mouth shut. You’d never resist telling Fab.” Zach glared at me.

  I sucked in my breath at the insult. “Will Alex ever get arrested?”

  “He would’ve if the Feds had gotten to the warehouse before it blew,” Zach said. “All the evidence was lost in the explosion. They knew Alex had taped everything that went on there. He had also received a shipment that he didn’t have time to distribute. The plan was to arrest him, the warehouse workers, and all the salesmen that showed up for their product.”

  “Any chance of using the tape Fab gave to Kevin?” I asked Zach.

  “It’s handled,” Zach said.

  “What does that mean?” I asked. “At the very least, it shows that Alex Byce was an accessory after the fact to murder.”

  Zach stared me down. “Like I said.”

  I really disliked Zach at that moment and wondered if it was the end for us.

  “I, for one, am very happy that you’re alive,” Fab said.

  Zach wasn’t about to be derailed. “Sid Byce might be ruthless in business, but he doesn’t deal drugs and wants nothing to do with them. I respect the man. He doesn’t deserve to have everything he worked for trashed by his worthless son.”

  “You respect him? Well, your good buddy threatened me,” I said. “He didn’t want any interference with his plan to frame an innocent person. If it weren’t for Fab, he might’ve hurt me.”

  “Byce liked Pavel and wanted the case solved. He went about it in a heavy-handed way, but he knew about the plea bargain. In the end, he backed off the case because it was the right thing to do.”

  “At least we know what happened,” I said.

  “I need a break. I can’t be on call to save you from yourself,” Zach said.

  I gave a sarcastic chuckle. “A break from what? We don’t have a relationship; we have sex.”

  “Really, Madison, I don’t want to know that,” Mother said.

  “It’s an ungrateful job, especially when you can’t be counted on to do what you’re told,” Zach said.

  I stared at him for a long moment. “I’m sorry I worried all of you and that you thought for one moment I was dead. I promise not to take any silly chances in the future.” I hugged my mother, went upstairs, and locked myself in the bathroom.

  CHAPTER 39

  My phone rang on the way to the courthouse in Miami.

  “Can you afford for your husband to jump bail?” Joseph asked.

  “No.” I took a deep breath. “What’s going on?”

  “He’s not showing up for court today. He’s packed and ready to run to Mississippi with Apple.”

  I slapped the steering wheel. “You’re out of your mind. He doesn’t know anybody there.”

  “Apple has some family there. She called them last night, and they’re fine with hiding a fugitive. There’s a trailer out in the woods waiting for them. They’re still here, waiting on their ride.”

  I hung a U-turn in the middle of the highway, almost skidding sideways off the road. “I owe you.”

  “Now that’s what I wanted to hear. We’ll negotiate after you deal with lover boy.”

  “I’m on my way. Do not let him leave. If you have to, throw yourself in front of the car and fake your death.”

  “You’ll owe me big if I have to get on the ground,” he grumbled.

  I realized I should’ve made Jax spend the night at my house, but he’d said he wanted to party on his last night of freedom. If those people who thought I drove like an old woman could only see me now. I stomped on the accelerator, flew down the Overseas Highway, and careened off at my exit. I pulled into the driveway of The Cottages, slammed on the brakes, and tried not to run to Jax’s door. My best bet was to feign ignorance of his flight plans.

  I turned the doorknob and was frustrated to find it locked. I wanted to bang on the door as if there were six Feds waiting to drag his butt away, but I knocked politely.

  Robert opened the door just enough to step outside, then closed it behind him. “What’s up?”

  “Get out of the way. I need to talk to Jax.”

  “He left for the courthouse about fifteen minutes ago.”

  “Take a look at my shoes.” I motioned toward my feet. “These are my most pointy black pumps, and if you don’t move, I’m going to kick you so hard you’ll limp for a week.”

  He moved his hand downward and stepped away from the door. “He’s just scared,” he whispered.

  The place was trashed and reeked of weed. Apple flicked her cigarette into a bowl of water on the table in front of her. Jax, dressed in a suit, sat in a chair, drinking that sweet liqueur he liked so much.

 
“Come on. I’m driving you to the courthouse,” I told Jax.

  “I’m not going to jail.” He downed a second shot.

  “You got a sweet deal, and you’re going to throw it away and live on the run with Apple? That is the stupidest of your many stupid ideas,” I said. “You’ll get caught, and then what? Hardcore prison time, that’s what.”

  “They’re not going to come looking for me, now that the damn murder case has been closed.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Florida extradites for jaywalking.”

  “You don’t understand,” he whined.

  “You’re right. I don’t.” I took a breath to stay calm. “I arranged for your bail with a bondsman. Do you care if I lose The Cottages?”

  “I’m sorry. This property can’t be more important than my life.”

  The door opened, and a skinny, longhaired, twenty-something stoner stood in the entryway. “Hey, dude, your ride’s here.”

  “Just let Jax go,” Apple pleaded. “We’ll be happy with my family.”

  “If you cared for him at all, you wouldn’t be encouraging him to take off,” I said, disgusted.

  “You live around here?” I asked the skinny stoner.

  He looked me over and smiled. “Yeah.”

  “Do you know Spoon?”

  His eyes narrowed. “What’s it to you?”

  “I’ll take that as a yes. You give a ride anywhere to this man here,” I pointed at Jax, “I’ll call Spoon and tell him. He’ll be very unhappy.”

  The stoner looked at Jax. “Sorry, dude, I gotta go. Good luck.” He ran out the door, not bothering to close it behind him.

  “What the hell did you do that for?” Jax yelled.

  “Get your jacket, and let’s go. You don’t want to be late for court.”

  “I’m not going.”

  “Leave your suitcases here and I’ll come back for them and keep them until you get out,” I said.

  Jax poured himself another shot.

  I threw my arm across the table, sending the bottle and the shot glass flying. “You either ride with me, or you can ride with Brick’s two men who are sitting across the street.”

  Robert came back in. “What’s going on?”

  “Jax and I are leaving,” I said.

  “Can Robert ride with us?” Jax asked.

  Robert answered, “Don’t worry, I got Apple and me a ride. We’ll see you there.”

  * * *

  In the courtroom, I sat next to Jax and held his hand so he couldn’t get away without a scene. Finally, the bailiff called Jax’s name, and he went before the judge with Tucker and pled guilty. The judge sentenced him to six months and a fine. The sheriff walked him into the jury box where Jax took off his jacket and his belt, handing them to me. He had given me his wallet and keys in the car.

  “I don’t have the right to ask, but would you come visit?” he whispered.

  “I’ll think about it,” I said, overwhelmed with sadness.

  The sheriff put Jax in cuffs and took him away. If he hadn’t been led away into the holding cell at that moment, I’d have started crying.

  Tucker came up beside me. “You have shit taste in husbands. I know it was you that bailed him out. I figured Jax would run. Too bad, I would’ve had a good laugh if he’d left you owing money or better yet forfeiting property.”

  I glared at him. “You have a nice day.”

  I walked into the hallway where Robert and Apple stood by the window. Apple was crying. I hadn’t noticed before, but she was drunk. I should have reported her to the sheriff and watched while she got arrested. The thought made me smile.

  Robert looked at me. “I know. I’ll be out of the cottage by tonight.”

  “What’s next for you?”

  “I’m going to hang around, wait for Jax to get out of jail. I got a job at Lipstick at their Homestead location. I hooked with up a dancer, and I’m moving in with her.”

  “What about Apple?”

  “She and Jax only decided last night that they were running. She’d already met some old guy at the Croc who said he’d take her in as long as she cooked, kept his trailer clean, and blew him.”

  “Isn’t that what every man wants?”

  Robert looked at Apple. “No.”

  “Good luck,” I said and walked away. With more luck, I’d never see Robert or Apple again.

  I walked down to the first floor to the court clerk’s office. I stood in line and filed the dismissal of Jax’s lawsuit against me. I breathed a deep sigh of relief. I wouldn’t want to be Ann, Tucker’s assistant, the day the papers arrived in the mail. It would be her job to give them to him.

  Watching a person you once loved go to jail was depressing. All the what-ifs made me incredibly sad. Jax was smart, had potential for three people, and when he got out, I hoped he would conquer his biggest demon, alcohol, and maybe life would start going his way.

  Fab lay on my couch, watching a game show and yelling the answers at the screen. “Where have you been?”

  “The courthouse. I honestly had my doubts I’d ever get Jax there, but it happened. Now he’s a guest of the county for the next four months, and I won’t have to worry what’s next.”

  “Forget any promises you made and do what you want,” Fab said.

  “Life isn’t that easy for some of us. I’m a woman of my word. When I give it, I honor it.”

  “Moron called. The boat’s done; he and Jax finished late yesterday. He’s taking it to storage for you. Harder signed the release as soon as the plea was in the works. Seems Harder was being super cooperative because he needed his jet ski fixed.”

  “I’m happy the boat got finished before Brad got back. Hopefully, it’ll be a nice surprise, and we can put everything behind us.”

  “I’m surprised you’re storing it in the same place,” Fab said.

  “We added a layer of security so that when Jax gets out of jail, he can’t borrow it again.”

  “What happens when Jax does get out?” Fab asked.

  “We talked about that, and he’s going back home. He has a great family, and they love him. By then, Robert will have been fired for one stupid thing or another, and they’ll both leave.”

  “I almost forgot. Moron said he’d drop off the keys and the final bill. He said he’d take you out for a ride any time you want.”

  “I don’t think so. I won’t be ready for that for a long while, if ever.”

  “Pavel didn’t actually die on the boat,” Fab said.

  “It’ll never be the same, though. So the consensus is that Pavel jumped overboard as a big joke, or because he was mad at his girlfriend. He somehow managed to swim to shore, despite his blood alcohol level. Because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time, he got shot. That just sucks.” I shook my head. “His murderer blowing himself up saves the state a few bucks on an execution. One guy kills another, and look at the ripple effect on the lives impacted.”

  “The only loose end is Alexander Byce,” Fab said.

  “Rich man’s justice.”

  “He’s under his father’s control now, which could be a prison of sorts. I understand his exile is permanent.”

  I put my face in my hands. “Long day.” I sighed.

  Fab clicked off the television. “I brought my bathing suit. Let’s go for a swim.”

  * * *

  I pulled the rafts out of the storage box beside the pool and threw them into the water. “I’m sorry I bailed on you last night. I didn’t want to deal with everyone, so I took the easy way out.”

  “I thought it was funny. Zach and your mother wanted to yell at you some more, and, of course, grill you with more questions. They were a frustrated bunch when you went upstairs.” Fab laughed.

  “You should’ve come upstairs after everyone left.”

  “I did, because I had questions of my own, but you were already asleep.”

  “So how mad was everyone?” I asked.

  “I told them they were disgusting. They were grief-stricken whe
n they thought you were dead, and when you weren’t dead, they couldn’t wait to gang up on you. I also told them you had a mind of your own, and none of them were going to keep you from using it.”

  “I bet that went over big.”

  “I want to apologize to you,” Fab said. “I honestly thought you were behind me when I left the building. When I got out and turned around, you weren’t there. I about had a heart attack. In the next second, the building blew up.” Fab’s eyes filled with tears. “I stood there in shock until I heard the sirens.”

  I splashed water on her. “I’m here now.”

  “I wouldn’t have been able to live with the guilt if you had died. I wouldn’t have had another friend in your memory.”

  “You’re catching on to this friend thing.” I smiled. “Thank you for always having my back and never once bailing on me.”

  “Back at you. How did you get out? I didn’t know which way you went or how we got separated.”

  “I saw an exit sign and headed straight for it. Out of nowhere, a man grabbed my arm and pulled me down the long hallway to the door. He kicked the door open, and in the next instant, the building exploded.”

  “Who was the guy?” Fab asked.

  “I didn’t ask his name.”

  Fab narrowed her eyes. “Why do I think there’s more to the story?”

  “Do we tell each other everything?” I asked.

  “I’ll have to get back to you on that one.”

  CHAPTER 40

  No one knocked on the front door except my mother and brother. I wasn’t in the mood, but the knocking was incessant.

  I opened the front door, and Creole grinned down at me. “I hear you’ve been asking around about me.”

  “I, uh, no…” I stammered. His mere presence had me thinking indecent thoughts. His face was bruised and scratched from our dirt roll. Without thinking, I ran my finger across the largest bruise on his cheek.

  “I’m here to collect this.” He pushed me up against the wall and kicked the front door closed. Tracing a trail with the tip of his tongue down my chin, down my neck, nibbled lightly, sending shivers through my body. Taking me by surprise, he backed me against the front door, pushing my hands above my head, holding them in place while devouring my lips.