“You’re only alive because you may be able to give some family closure about what happened to their loved ones, but understand something, if you somehow walk on this, I’ll find you, and I will blow your ass away.”
Chip stopped talking even before the gag went back in.
After checking on Kelly, who was still asleep, Cassandra went up on deck and repeated what Noah had told her.
“Shit, so Rachel Taylor is dead?”
“Yeah, and she was killed but not raped. Noah said Rachel realized that Richie had been drugged and tried to go for help, but unlike Autumn, she never got away. Noah said Grace cut her throat, and then later, they dumped her and Richie out at sea.”
Jace let loose a great sigh.
“Sons of bitches,”
Cassandra was standing beside him, and she lowered her head on his shoulder.
“At least they won’t hurt anyone else,”
“No,” Jace said, and then he draped an arm across her shoulders and steered towards land.
CHAPTER 33
Angie pulled the trigger on the shotgun and screamed, as the shell within backfired and the gun exploded.
The weapon flew from her hands as a piece of it, a sliver of wood from the forestock, splintered, separated, and lodged itself in her right eye.
“My eye! Oh God, my eye!”
Boone goggled at the sight.
“What the hell?”
The barrel of the gun had been jammed all the way up, sealed tight with the bonding epoxy that Boone used to mend fishing rods.
He had filled it the day before while waiting for Boone to return, but left the gun loaded as a trap, a trap that Angie stepped into, and by pulling the trigger, the force from the exploding shell, backfired.
While still screaming in horror, as her fingers probed the end of the four-inch splinter, Angie stumbled into the hallway, where she bounced off the wall and fell backwards down the stairs.
“Hey!” he said, and Boone brought his attention back to him, as the sound of Angie’s moans drifted up from the landing.
“Tell me where the money is.”
Boone charged at him.
“Go to hell!”
He shot him, twice, and both shots struck Boone in the chest.
Boone groaned and fell backwards, his left leg kicked out as if from a spasm, and after releasing a sigh, he laid still.
He walked over, saw that there was little blood, and realized that he must have hit Boone in the heart.
He shook his head.
He would have to find the money on his own.
Discovering that Angie was dead surprised him, despite losing an eye, her wound wasn’t fatal, and the tumble down the stairs seemed wholly survivable, but then, he saw what had happened.
It was the chair that Boone had tossed down the stairs earlier. Angie had been impaled atop the broken chair leg and bled to death, and perhaps like Boone, it had been a ruptured heart.
He moved past her, stepped outside, and headed for the boat to search for money.
***
They determined from records found in the main stateroom that Chip’s real name was Charles Shanahan. They would later learn that he was the thirty-three-year-old son of Arthur Shanahan, an Irish immigrant who made a fortune in real estate, before dying young twelve years earlier and leaving his fortune to his son.
Noah said that Shanahan went by a different name as often as he changed the name of the boat, and with the list of aliases he provided, along with the ports they had visited, law enforcement agencies across the globe would be busy matching missing persons with Shanahan and Grace’s victims.
By the time they returned to the marina, Kelly was awake, but groggy, and after giving the boat over to more of Lawson’s people, they took a cab back to their rental.
Kelly wanted to drive, but Cassandra thought that she might still be affected by the drug Chip had slipped her, and so she drove, with Kelly beside her, and Jace in the back.
Lawson had already called and informed Jessica about Rachel Taylor’s tragic fate, and it had been Jessica’s sad chore to deliver the news to Keri, who collapsed to her knees on the floor, sobbing.
When Jessica left them, Autumn was hugging Keri, while rocking her in her arms and telling her that everything would be all right.
No. Jessica thought. Everything will not be all right, but at least she has you, thank God she has someone.
***
Cassandra drove to the vacation home with a heavy heart.
She was sure she didn’t love Jace, but she knew she felt something more than mere physical attraction, and now that their mission had ended, she might not see him again.
Jace felt something for her as well, and had all but admitted as much, but he was already attached and as much as she wanted to, Cassandra wasn’t the type to break up a couple. Which is why she couldn’t help but smile when she pulled into the driveway of the vacation home and saw Maggie and Cole kissing in front of the garage.
Jace however, had a different reaction.
“What the fuck!”
Moments later, and Jace was headed for Cole with murder in his eyes.
CHAPTER 34
Nothing.
He had gone through every inch of Boone’s boat and discovered nothing. No hidden compartments, no hollow spaces filled with cash, nothing.
He had even dived beneath the boat and searched its bottom to see if there were perhaps, however unlikely, some appendage, or specially constructed addition where the money could be stored,
But, there was nothing.
It frustrated him, and then, he realized he was hungry, thirsty, and felt unclean. A shower would have to wait, but there was bread, ham, and beer in Boone’s kitchen, and after fixing a sandwich, he sat outside on the front steps and ate while thinking.
He had expected the money would be in the boat, but now he had to consider the possibility that Boone had hidden it somewhere else.
Or maybe it was buried on the property, if so, Lawson would have to bring a team out to find it, there would be one coming anyway to remove the bodies. He had done enough and was ready to go home.
He grunted in frustration and let the matter go. He’d call Lawson, tell him what had happened, and drive off and enjoy the rest of his vacation.
And it was when he had totally given up on finding the money that he realized where it was.
As he was tilting his head back to drain the beer bottle, his eyes fell upon the old car sitting up on blocks.
He had searched the house, searched the garage and workshop, the boat, even beneath the dock, but not the car.
He wrenched open the rusted door and realized that it hadn’t been opened for some time, and the only thing inside were shredded seats and the abandoned nest of an animal.
The car had no hood, but one look told him that it had been stripped of usable parts long ago, and there was nothing in the trunk but a flat tire and an empty wine bottle.
He got on his back and shimmied beneath the car.
Everything looked normal, rusty, with nothing new or shiny. He pounded a fist against the bottom of the gas tank and heard it echo, but he also felt a sensation of weight, meaning that some gas yet remained in the tank, but the tank itself was rusty, dented in spots, and looked every bit as old as the rest of the car.
He stood back up with a sigh and stared at the car for a moment before unscrewing the cap on the gas tank, which was located over the rear wheel on the driver’s side.
Once he had it off, he peered inside, but could see little, and he also hadn’t smelled any gas. A faint odor from the cap, yes, but not the overpowering smell that should have been present.
That made him smile, and he realized that given the length of time the car appeared to have sat rotting, that any gas in the tank would likely have evaporated even if the tank had been full in the beginning, if true, then what was making the weight he felt at its bottom?
He lowered himself beneath the car again, pounded on the gas tank, and again coul
d feel that there was weight inside. There were two metal straps holding the tank to the undercarriage, and when he tried the bolt fastening the left strap to the bottom of the car, it turned without any resistance.
A minute later, he was opening the hinged door that had been placed at the top of the tank, and when he looked inside, he found packets of money double-wrapped in plastic. There was also a burlap bag, and when he dumped out the contents, twenty-eight gold coins hit the ground, all of them were 1oz. American Gold Eagles.
He gave the money a guess, judging by the bundles, and figured there was well over a million dollars in twenties, fifties, and hundreds, not counting the forty-thousand or so in gold.
There was also an envelope, and when he opened it, he found pictures that showed a naked couple in bed.
Both the man and the woman in the photos had surprised looks on their faces, and the room they were in appeared to be a motel room. The man was Clay Roberts, he recognized him from a photo he’d seen, and the redheaded woman must be Roberts’ sister-in-law.
Angie had said that Boone was blackmailing Robert’s over the seedy affair and the hidden pictures must be what he used as leverage.
There was nothing written on the envelope and nothing written on the back of the photos, but they had been used by Boone as blackmail, and in the last of the photos, the woman was attempting to hide her tear-stained face, but not her body.
She was off the hook now for her tasteless indiscretion, because not only was Boone, her blackmailer, dead, but also her lover, Clay Roberts. He ripped the photos to pieces and tossed them to the wind.
Fifteen minutes later, he was in his car with the money and gold, and driving back to Kitamura Key, his mind filled with thoughts of his family.
***
In San Diego, Summer puzzled over the unfamiliar number showing on her phone, but answered the call anyway. She was seated on the balcony of her hotel room, while once again puzzling over how best to handle Todd.
“Hello?”
“Hi, this is Dr. Marsha Taylor, have I reached Dr. Summer Gray?”
“Yes, what’s this about?”
“Actually Doctor, I’m calling about your husband, Todd.”
“He’s my ex-husband,”
“Yes, I understand that, but I hoped that as a professional you might look beyond your personal relationship with my patient and be able to reach him, it’s very important.”
“I don’t understand. What’s this about?”
“I’m an orthopedic doctor treating your ex-husband, and I thought you should know that Todd is suffering from depression but won’t get help. I’ve tried to make him see that he needs treatment, but he’s in denial.”
“Of course he’s depressed. He lost his legs.”
“Yes, but he’s spoken of harming himself, jokingly at times, but... I’m only telling you this because you’re a psychologist and know how serious this can be. I was hoping that you could reach him, get him to see that he needs to seek help.”
“You actually think he might kill himself?”
“That is my fear, yes.”
Summer was silent for a moment, as she processed the doctor’s words.
“Dr. Gray?”
“Yes, I’m here, and thank you for calling Dr....?”
“I’m Dr. Marsha Taylor,”
“Yes, and I’ll go see Todd and speak to him about your concerns.”
“Thank you, Dr. Gray,”
“You’re welcome,” Summer said.
She put away her phone, sat back, and smiled.
She now knew exactly how to make Todd go away.
CHAPTER 35
“Calm down.”
“Let me out of the damn car, Cassandra, or I swear I’ll kick out the back window and climb out.”
After seeing Maggie and Cole together, Jace tried to get out of the rear seat of their rented coupe, but both Kelly and Cassandra refused to open their doors until he calmed down, because they could see the fury in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Maggie was crying, as she realized Jace had seen her kissing Cole.
Cassandra opened the car door, stepped out, and pressed a hand against Jace’s chest as he emerged from the back seat.
“You are not going to hurt him.”
“Get outta my way.”
Jace went to push her arm aside, but Cassandra slid her hand up and around his neck, grabbed the car’s door frame for balance, and swept his legs out from under him, causing him to fall to one knee.
She leaned down and whispered in his ear.
“You and I were doing the very same thing just hours ago, and we both know that not all of it was an act.”
Jace seemed to deflate with those words, as the anger seeped out of him. He stood, said, “Shit,” and then walked over to stare at Cole. “Get the fuck out of here.”
Cole stared back at him and then spoke to Maggie.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Go home... and I’ll call later.”
“All right,” Cole said, and after studying Jace for a beat, he left for home.
Jace turned and saw Cassandra and Kelly staring at him.
“I’m cool,”
Cassandra sent him a nod and then she and Kelly walked up the steps to the home’s front door, where they were welcomed inside by Amanda moments after ringing the doorbell.
Maggie looked up at Jace with tears in her eyes.
“I never meant to hurt you.”
Jace sighed, reached out, and pulled her into his arms.
“Talk to me, baby. Tell me what’s going on.”
She did, and when all was said, they were no longer together as a couple.
***
He arrived home hours later and was happy to see that the twins were still awake.
He helped Jessica settle them in for the night, and after a shower, he joined her on the patio for a late dinner.
Jessica filled him in about the sad fate of Keri’s daughter and also about Jace and Maggie. On the former, he had sympathy, on the latter, he had concern.
“How acrimonious is it between them?”
“It’s not bitter at all. Maggie says that they’re still friends, and Jace surprised me by being mature about it. He’ll be sleeping in the office again tonight.”
“Minus the midnight trip to Maggie’s room I guess.”
Jessica looked surprise.
“You knew about that?”
“Yes, but hell, I’m her brother, not her father, plus, she’s grown and will be living on her own in a few months.”
“Talk to her in the morning, I know she’d like to know what you think about all this.”
“All right, but all I want is to see her happy.”
When they were finished eating, they cuddled together in a padded chaise lounge and enjoyed the quiet.
“I guess everyone went to bed early,” he said.
“Yes, it’s not a very happy house tonight between Keri learning about her daughter, and what’s happened between Maggie and Jace.”
“Where’s Colonel Beck sleeping?”
“He’s in the small guest room tonight, while Cassandra and Kelly are sleeping on the living room sofas.”
“It certainly is a full house.”
“Yes, and I’m glad we’re buying it.”
“So am I, but I’ll be pleased to return home as well. I need to find something to do to occupy my time.”
“Are you going to start a new business?”
“Yes, but I’m not sure what it will be, and for now I’m just going to enjoy this vacation,”
Jessica smiled.
“Are you still taking Liam with you and Jack on Friday?”
“Of course,”
“Isn’t he a little young to see a baseball training camp? He won’t even understand what’s happening.”
“I know, but going to see a Spring Training camp is a tradition I want to start with my son. It makes me feel... normal.”
She turned her head and kissed him.
>
“I understand.”
They were quiet for a few moments, and the silence was only broken by the sound of the pool filter running, until he said.
“Maybe the next time we come here I’ll have a brother.”
“Have you remembered anything more about him?”
“No, but I dreamed about him again, about the way he used to touch my chest whenever he called me brother.”
“Amanda is hopeful that it’s Michael Wheeler.”
“So am I, because he seems normal. After Jeffrey Mitchell, we could use normal.”
Jessica stood and offered her hand.
“Let’s go walk on the beach.”
He took her hand, and after a kiss, they strolled off towards the ocean.
***
Inside the house, Cassandra moved her blanket aside and stood up. She walked softly away from the couch, so as not to wake Kelly, but before she could take five steps, Kelly spoke.
“That’s not a good idea.”
Cassandra froze.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
Kelly turned on a light and sat up on the sofa she was sleeping on.
“You were going to see Jace, weren’t you?”
Cassandra hung her head.
“He’s free now, they broke up.”
“Yeah girl, like an hour ago. It’s too soon, and besides, he was at the house, he knows where you live, if he wants to see you, he’ll come see you.”
“He lives close; he’s renting the apartment above Professor Davidson’s garage.”
“I know, and we’ll be dropping him off there tomorrow on the way home.”
Cassandra sat beside Kelly, and Kelly took her hand.
“You’ve really got a thing for Jace, don’t you?”
“I do, and... it’s mutual.”
“Oh my God, did I miss something huge while I was knocked out?”
“No, but he kind of admitted that he had feelings for me.”
Kelly squeezed her hand.
“Give it time,”
“Okay, and thanks, I almost did something stupid.”
“You’ve been there for me, remember Kyle?”
“Vile Kyle, what did you ever see in that guy?”
“Certainly not his wedding ring, he kept that hidden.”
Cassandra slumped down on the sofa.
The TAKEN! Series - Books 13-16 (Taken! Box Set Book 4) Page 46
