“Last time, Gina, move towards the door. Maybe a bullet in your daughter will give you some incentive.”
Megan could feel him trembling with rage as he cocked the gun, ready to take aim and shoot. The sound echoed in the room and Gina moved at the same time as he pulled the trigger. The backlash from the gun was enough for Megan to twist herself free. As soon as she was clear, bullets rang out and Malcolm fell to the ground, blood from his wounds pooling on the floor beneath him. Turning away from the sight of him, Megan looked over to Taylor to make sure that she was safe.
What she saw would stay with her for many nights. Taylor was still tied to the chair, unhurt. But at her feet lay the body of her mother. Gina had moved, not in the direction Malcolm had ordered her to, but instead into the path of the bullet meant for her daughter. Her last act in life had finally been unselfish, she had saved Taylor.
Tom rushed to Taylor and held her as an agent untied her bonds and made sure that she was unharmed. Megan started to walk towards them herself, but her legs were suddenly too shaky to hold her. Aiden reached her side as she stumbled and held her in his arms to assure himself that she was okay.
Chapter Twenty Three
The next few hours were a blur for Megan. After Aiden had made sure she was going to be all right, he had gone back into FBI mode and was making sure that the site was secure, evidence gathered and statements taken. Now that they knew how the smuggling ring had worked, they had to act quickly to find out who was involved. Working from the information that they had heard from Malcolm, the agents were able to use the distribution labels and paperwork to get warrants for some of the biggest mob and cartel players in the Miami area.
Megan barely saw Aiden that night. Tom went in the ambulance with Taylor to the hospital to make sure that she didn’t go into shock. Tom himself was having a difficult time. Seeing his wife shot and knowing that it could have easily been Taylor, seemed to be the shock that his mind was waiting for. His memories were coming back to him faster than he could handle and he looked as pale as his daughter. Aiden had ordered him to get to the hospital for observation and had called ahead to be sure that one of the best doctors who dealt with brain trauma would be there waiting for him.
Megan had given her statement to another agent rather than Aiden and by the time she was done, she was starting to feel a little lost and forgotten. She tried to be understanding about it, but the day had all been too much for her. Finding a quiet corner, out of the way from all the activity, she curled up and waited for someone to take notice of her.
She was surprised to find that she had dozed off and at some point had been carried up to one of the offices and laid down on the couch, covered with a blanket. It was a gentle prodding that woke her and she opened her eyes to see the concerned face of Charlotte Potter.
“Well, Megan, you’ve gotten yourself in the middle of a mess again. I suppose that this time the fault’s mine … I asked you to get involved. I’m just so glad you’re okay.” Giving her a tight hug, Charlotte wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye.
“What are you doing here? How did you get here so fast?”
“Well, let's just say that my jet is faster than the FBI helicopter. When Aiden called to tell us you and Taylor were safe, Beth and I came as soon as we could. Paul and Lucy are staying in Citrus Beach and wait for your return, I insisted. Now I’ve already cleared it with Aiden, you and I are leaving tonight and going home. Beth is going to stay here with her family. We’ll all catch up later, but now I want you home where it’s safe.”
“Thank you, Charlotte” Megan had no other words for her friend and none were needed, they understood each other perfectly.
Chapter Twenty Four
The next two weeks were full of questions and answers for everyone. Megan filled her family and friends in on all that had happened and tried to settle back into her regular routine.
After Taylor had been released from the hospital, she and her father had spent every second they could, getting to know each other again. Taylor had to make some hard decisions, but in the end, she followed her heart and returned to Lady Fish Bay to finish her job for Charlotte. She knew in her heart that she would not be returning to Miami to make her home, but needed to go out on her own. Tom understood and supported her. He was going to have his hands full getting his company out from under the shadow of Malcolm's actions and dishonesty. He was lucky to find that Beth was more than willing to take on an active role in the business now that Gina was no longer there.
The Jamison's each had to deal with their own feelings about Gina. She had redeemed herself by giving up her life for her daughter, but there was still a lot of pain to overcome.
On Taylor’s first day back to Lady Fish Bay, she had spent time talking things over with Megan, who had become a mentor to the young girl. Before Megan and Barney left for the day, Taylor had presented Barney with a gift for his bravery. After he tore apart the gift bag she had put it in, Megan was surprised to find that Taylor had given Barney her wooden treasure box. The very one that he had uncovered in the sand, the very one that he had stolen at every possible opportunity, the very one that had brought the Jamisons into their life. With a smile, Taylor had opened the box to show Barney the lovely raw-hide bone she had placed inside, just for him. Gently taking the box from her hands, Barney took it with him to hide by his bed.
Megan had been thrilled to find Aiden on her doorstep when she and Barney had returned to Citrus Beach late that afternoon. They had spent a good half hour catching up with each other before they decided to just relax and enjoy each other’s company; there was plenty of time to talk later. Walking hand in hand, they sat together on one of the wicker gliders on the porch, with Barney and Fred close behind.
Megan looked at Aiden and smiled, tired from all that had happened over the last few days and relieved that it was all behind them. It had had been a grueling and nerve-wracking time; between hurricanes, men coming back from the dead, kidnappings, and smuggling rings. Everything had been a bit overwhelming for someone like her, who was used to the slow pace of a small southern town.
Putting his arm around her shoulders, Aiden pulled her close and, kissing the top of her head, he leaned back to relax and enjoy the evening’s sunset. He was grateful to have Megan in his arms; for a time he wasn’t sure he would see her again, let alone hold her.
At their feet the two dogs sat contently, Fred almost asleep and Barney proudly protecting his new treasure.
Megan snuggled closer and sighed, physically and mentally exhausted. To think this all happened because a hurricane decided to make landfall near Citrus Beach, because she wanted to help those effected by the storm’s destructive path, and because one puppy’s curiosity got him in trouble again when he followed the scent to an old mystery….
The End
SCENT OF A MYSTERY...A CITRUS BEACH MYSTERY (Citrus Beach Mysteries Book 2) Page 21
