As she threw clothes into her suitcase, she tried to call Paula again. Why wasn’t her editor answering the phone? Madelyn even tried her office and home number. There was no answer at either.
Something wasn’t right.
How was Madelyn going to fix this? The task seemed insurmountable.
She had to think of something. She’d drive up to Baltimore and confront Paula face-to-face if she had to. She’d demand a retraction. She’d become part of the news, if that’s what she had to do in order to have her byline removed.
She closed her suitcase, and despite the fact that Zach had paid for her stay, she left a check on the dresser for her stay here and clamored back downstairs. Eva was nowhere to be seen, so she slipped out the back door and put everything in her car. She knew there was nowhere in town she could go and be welcome. Besides, she had to confront what she’d done head-on. That meant confronting Paula.
Only ten minutes on the highway, she heard a pop. Her shoulders drooped.
What now?
As the car began bumping, she realized she had a flat tire. Wasn’t that just great? The timing couldn’t be any worse.
As she pulled to the side of the road, she glanced in her rearview mirror.
A police cruiser had pulled up behind her. Zach?
Her hopes deflated as she realized it was Tyler.
She braced herself for another confrontation.
TWENTY-ONE
Zach expected a call from the mayor at any time. Before that happened, he wanted to speak with former chief Watson.
His blood still boiled as he thought about Madelyn’s betrayal. How could he have fallen for her act? He’d prided himself in being smarter than that. But she’d pulled the wool over his eyes.
Anger simmered inside him at the thought. Not only had she tricked him, she’d set him up. Was she the one behind the acts happening in town? If so, she would have to have been working with someone, since the incidents had been against her. But why? Had she been trying to earn his trust and sympathy?
He didn’t know what to think anymore. But he had a shooter in town, a dead body and general mayhem. He wanted answers now more than ever.
He also needed to figure out who was responsible for importing those drugs into the harbor. His best guess right now was Levi. If there was one thing Zach had to do before his time here was up, it was talk to the man. He had nothing to lose anymore.
Zach knocked on the door, and Levi answered a moment later. As soon as the former chief spotted him, his eyes narrowed. He’d already seen the news article. No doubt most people in town had. Gossip like that spread like wildfire in these small communities.
“I’m surprised you’re still showing your face around here.”
Zach resisted the urge to scowl. “Levi, I need to know if you tampered with Ernie’s boat.”
His eyes darkened. “What do you mean? I told you I forgot my fishing rod.”
“Are you sure you didn’t tamper with his boat in an effort to run Madelyn Sawyer out of town?”
“Now why would I do that?”
“Maybe you were afraid she’d uncover something about you, something that you don’t want the citizens of Waterman’s Reach to know.”
Levi shook his head. “Are you trying to get fired? Because whether the mayor likes me or not, he doesn’t want to get on my bad side. He’ll fire you in a second.”
Zach stepped closer. “I think you’re up to no good here in town, Levi. You’ve wanted nothing more than to make me look bad since the day I arrived.”
“Why would you say that?”
“You’re the one who slit my tires and knocked down my mailbox, aren’t you?”
He raised his chin defiantly. “You’ll never prove it.”
Zach couldn’t let this go yet. “Just because Tyler didn’t get the job?”
The man’s lip twitched upward with disgust. “He deserved the position.”
“The mayor obviously didn’t agree.”
“The mayor doesn’t know what he’s doing. He’s hated me since I stole his girlfriend back in high school.”
“Are you the one who left the blood in my house? Who shot at me?”
He scoffed. “Now you’re insulting me. I wouldn’t be that stupid.”
Zach lowered his voice, trying a different approach. “Levi, it’s important that I figure out what’s going on before someone else ends up dead.”
His speech didn’t work on Levi. The man shook his head. “I don’t even know why you’re asking me these questions. Tyler already came by and got a statement from me about the boat incident. Don’t you trust my nephew?”
“That’s funny. I never sent him here.” Why had Tyler come? It seemed odd that he’d take that initiative himself.
“Sounds like there’s a lack of leadership down at the department then,” Levi said. “I never had any rogue officers when I was on the job.”
Before Zach could ask any more questions, Levi slammed the door.
Tyler. Could Tyler be involved in all of this somehow?
Where was his officer now exactly? He hadn’t checked in this morning as normal, but Zach had been too preoccupied to notice.
A gnawing feeling began in his gut.
Zach needed to find Tyler. Now.
* * *
“I was patrolling the area and saw you had a flat.” Tyler leaned in Madelyn’s window.
“I guess that works in my favor,” she said, surprised that he was being as kind to her as he was, since Zach was Tyler’s boss. She figured he would be outraged for his brother in blue.
“I can help you change it. If you just want to step out of the car.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
With trembling hands, she stepped from her sedan and popped the trunk. Apparently, Fisher’s Auto Repair had patched her spare while the car was in the shop. The tire no longer looked lopsided and uneven. “I hope it will make it to Baltimore.”
“I’m not sure about that. But maybe you can at least make it to a mechanic.” Tyler pulled the tire out, as well as the jack and wrenches. “I heard about the article.”
Madelyn crossed her arms. She figured it would come up. She wasn’t really in the mood to talk, though. She just wanted to get out of town and away from all the damage she’d done. She needed some space so she could figure out how to make things right.
“It’s a long story.”
“I don’t blame you for writing it,” he said, slipping the jack under her car.
“Why’s that?” Some kind of emotion pinched at her spine. Fear? Instinct?
“I’ve known the chief was up to something for a while. I just haven’t been able to prove it.”
Her spine pinched harder. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve suspected Zach was involved in some illegal activities. I also have proof that he’s the one who’s been trying to kill you.”
Madelyn shivered. “Proof?”
Tyler abandoned the jack in order to stand and pull out his phone. “I found this photo at the marina.”
Madelyn stared at the phone. It was a picture of a man who appeared to be Zach, his back to the camera, at the marina near Ernie’s boat.
She let his implications sink in. “You think Zach sabotaged Ernie’s boat? That’s crazy.”
“He also has deep connections. He has a whole network of drug dealers at his disposal. Maybe he didn’t leave you stranded, but that doesn’t mean he’s not responsible.”
“He’s the one who saved me that day on the water. What sense would it make for him to be the one who also put me in danger?”
Tyler shrugged, dragging his shoulder up to his ear as he pulled her flat tire off. “Maybe he wanted to look like the good guy. Then he’d win the trust of the t
own’s people. You know how it works.”
She stepped back and shook her head, unable to believe it. She’d seen Zach’s eyes—there was no deceit there. “That can’t be true.”
“Think about it. Zach could have hired someone to do his dirty work. Make himself look good. Run you out of town before you destroyed his reputation.”
“He wouldn’t do that.” Madelyn’s thoughts clashed inside her head.
“He’s going to be really mad when it sinks in just how much you ruined. His whole operation is over now.”
Fear flooded her. Something wasn’t right. Her instincts were screaming for her attention.
“There you go. Your tire is all fixed.” Tyler stood and wiped his hands on a rag. “This should get you down the road.”
Suddenly, she couldn’t wait to leave. “Thank you. I appreciate your help.”
At that moment, she glanced down at her tire. At Tyler standing beside it.
His shoes.
Those were the same black shoes she’d seen on the night she’d been pushed into the shed. The image of them was ingrained in her memory. Tyler was behind the threats on her life.
Fear tried to seize her. She couldn’t let that happen. She had to get out of here.
Now.
She started toward the driver’s side door when Tyler grabbed her arm.
“Too bad you won’t be making it back to Baltimore,” he muttered.
Her blood felt ice-cold as fear seized her. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not finished with you yet.” Before she could scream, he swiped his gun around her temple.
Then everything went black.
* * *
Zach raced to Tyler’s house, desperate for answers. He pounded on the door, but no one answered. Where was the officer? Zach had called Lynn on the way here, and she hadn’t heard from Tyler yet. She’d also informed him that the mayor was at the office waiting for him, and he didn’t look happy. The mayor was the least of his concerns at the moment.
Zach twisted the door handle and, to his surprise, it turned. With only a touch of contemplation, he pushed the door open and stepped inside Tyler’s place. He’d never been inside before, and he didn’t want to overstep his boundaries. But he had to find some answers.
He paced into the living room and glanced around. Everything appeared normal. Hand-me-down furniture, minimal decorations, this morning’s breakfast dishes left in the sink.
He paused by a bookshelf in the living room, squinting at one of the loose pictures there. His throat tightened.
It was a picture of a man who looked strikingly like Zach. He was standing beside Ernie’s boat, and the date on the bottom matched the date Ernie’s boat was tampered with. Someone was setting him up to look guilty.
All the facts were colliding together in his mind and forming a disturbing picture. Were the answers right under his nose this whole time? How could Zach have not seen it?
Where exactly was Madelyn now? He needed to find her. Right away.
He stepped into the backyard, desperate to make sure he wasn’t missing anything here. As he stepped onto the deck, his shin knocked into a cooler.
Oysters spilled onto the wood. As he reached down to pick one up, he saw plastic peeking out from one of the shells.
His heart raced.
He pried the shell the rest of the way open. A bag of white powder had been stuffed inside.
Suddenly, he knew exactly how these drug dealers had gotten away with their crime for so long. Tyler had been behind it. He’d used the town’s oyster industry as a front to transport drugs up the East Coast, and he’d used his position on the police force to keep the operation hidden.
Tyler.
He shook his head, unable to believe it. He must have used those barrier islands as a meeting point with his supplier. The drugs probably came from the Middle East, were shipped into Mexico or Central America, and then they were brought here. Maybe even while Tyler was on patrol.
What if Tyler had thought Madelyn was in town to uncover the truth about his drug operation? He could have tried to scare her off by following her, by threatening her on the first night here. Then he’d escalated by shooting at her and sabotaging the boat.
In the meantime, Tyler would try to frame this all on Zach.
Now that the truth was out about Madelyn’s article, would she still be in danger? Zach would guess yes. Tyler was going to finish this and make it look like Zach had gone off the deep end and killed Madelyn as revenge for exposing him.
He had to find Tyler. And Madelyn.
There was no time to waste.
TWENTY-TWO
When Madelyn came to, darkness surrounded her.
She gasped as the details of what had happened rushed back to her. Tyler. He was behind all of this. He’d knocked her out. He’d probably been the one who’d shot at her. Broke into her house. Maybe even pushed her off that pier. But why?
And where was she now?
She pushed back her panic and tried to absorb her surroundings a moment. There was a soft hum. Occasional bumps. Scratchy fabric brushed her cheek. An oily scent filled the air.
The trunk, she realized.
She was in the back of Tyler’s car, and they were heading down the road. Her hands and feet were bound. Tape had been placed over her mouth.
Where was he taking her? Would anyone realize that she was gone?
Zach... Zach might realize it, but he probably wouldn’t care if he ever saw her again. In fact, she was probably the last person he wanted to think about.
Paula...well, she’d betrayed Madelyn in order to further her own career. An exposé like the one she’d written would skyrocket East Coast International’s credibility. Paula wasn’t likely to be sending out a search party any time soon. Her number one priority was herself.
This could very well be the way everything ended for Madelyn. She’d been alone in the world for the past ten years, and she would die alone and without anyone to care.
That thought caused an ache to form in her chest.
No, that wasn’t true. Jesus. She had Jesus. He cared. He was watching out for her now, no matter what happened.
You’ve always been there for me, haven’t You? Even when I haven’t acknowledged it? Even when I’ve pushed You away?
The thought somehow brought comfort to her.
If she got out of this alive, she was going to make some major changes in her life.
At one time, she’d wanted to be just like Paula. Not anymore. Paula was selfish, living only for herself and for the treasures this world afforded. Madelyn had known of a deeper purpose and a more authentic meaning in life. She knew what it was like to love, to look out for others, to listen to more than what the world and society threw at her.
Her parents had taught her those things. Things like putting other people first. Loving the unlovable. Sacrificing your own desires for the greater good. Madelyn was so sorry she’d forgotten. Her life had been so empty for all of these years without her moral compass. Without being grounded. Without a hope that went beyond what she could see.
I want to change things, Lord. I want to be better.
Just then, the car rumbled, as if driving over gravel. Madelyn bounced in the back, her teeth chattering because of the rough road. Then the movement stopped.
Cold fear cut all the way down her bones as she anticipated what might happen next.
* * *
Zach radioed Lynn at the office.
“Have you gotten up with Tyler yet?” He jumped straight to business.
“He said today was his day off. He was going to hang out with Thad.”
His suspicions only rose. Tyler was definitely up to something. “If you hear from him, let me know.”
“W
ill do. The mayor is still here, chief. Calls are flooding in. People have a lot of questions for you.”
“I’ll address all of them as soon as I figure a few things out. Stall as much as you can. Okay?”
“Of course.” She paused. “Sir?”
“Yes?”
“One more thing. I thought you should know that someone reported an abandoned car on the side of Lankford Highway, only a couple of miles out of town.”
“An abandoned car is the least of my concerns right now,” Zach said.
“It’s Madelyn’s.”
Alarm flooded him. “She wasn’t with her vehicle?”
“No, sir.”
Unease stirred inside him. “Thanks.”
“While you’re on the phone, the mayor would like to have a word with—”
He hung up, knowing he didn’t have time to waste playing politics, and rushed down the road.
He stopped up in front of Levi Watson’s house again. This time, he had evidence in hand.
The former chief started to close the door when he spotted Zach, but Zach jammed a foot over the threshold to stop him. When the man backed up, Zach stepped into the foyer. He needed a moment of privacy.
“I’ve got to find Tyler, Levi.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Haven’t you started enough trouble?”
Zach held up the heroin he had discovered. “Your nephew has been behind the drug trade in the area. Or did you already know that?”
The chief’s eyes widened. “Not my nephew.”
“Believe it or not, he’s involved. Now I can’t get in touch with him. Do you know where he might be?”
He shook his head, his guard remaining up. “No idea.”
“I need you to think. Where might he go to have some time to himself?”
“I told you, I don’t know.” His face reddened.
He was getting angry, Zach realized. Levi knew something. Zach had to get through to him.
“Levi, someone’s life is on the line. Things are going to get far worse for Tyler if I don’t find him soon. It’s better if I get ahold of him before someone else does. If the other drug dealers get to him first, they’ll kill him. If the feds find him before I do, he won’t even have a chance. Is there anywhere he might go?”
Dark Harbor Page 17
