by Nella Tyler
*****
Meg decided to take a nap while Drake changed and then left the suite to check in with his foreman. Meg had drifted into a deep sleep with a pounding on the door woke her. She looked at the clock on the bedside table and saw that only forty minutes had passed. No wonder she felt groggy. The pounding continued and she padded to the door. Looking through the peephole, she saw that it was Doug. She grimaced. She knew what he wanted and did not feel up to a confrontation with him. He rapped on the door yet again. She sighed and opened it.
“What is it, Doug?”
He pushed past her to enter the suite.
“What do you think I want? Where have you and Drake been? What are you doing to get NeCe back?” he demanded.
Meg was outraged by his manner. He acted as if it was their duty or obligation to find Denise; the woman was most likely lost. He was truly out of line. She didn’t bother to close the door because Doug would soon be leaving.
“It is not our responsibility to rescue Denise. I highly doubt that she needs rescuing,” Meg snapped. “We said we would assist you but we will do so as we choose. You do not dictate our involvement. If you are not satisfied with that arrangement, then you can seek help elsewhere.”
“I told you I only had seventy-two hours. Time is ticking away and you have accomplished nothing,” he retorted.
“You don’t know that, Doug.”
“Eh? What have you done?” Doug demanded.
His beady, brown looked as though they would pop from his face. Meg wondered why she never noticed his tiny eyes before. Blinded by calf love. For it certainly wasn’t real love. Real love is what she now had with Drake.
“Never mind, Doug. Suffice it to say we have it under control,” Meg retorted.
“Explain yourself, Meg. I demand to know what you’ve been doing. Have you found the treasure? Is that it? Will I be able to give it to them to get NeCe back?” Doug hammered.
“Leave, Doug. I’m tired and I want to take a nap.”
“A nap! How can you sleep when my NeCe’s life is in peril?” Doug’s anger took him a step closer to Meg.
“Another step and I’ll throw you off the balcony.”
Doug looked up at Drake and cringed.
“I just want to know what’s happening to find NeCe.”
“I told him we had it under control and that he should leave,” Meg said.
“An excellent idea. Get out, Murphy,” Drake said coldly.
“But you haven’t told me what you’ve done to get NeCe back.”
Drake moved to grasp Doug’s arm.
“You’re leaving, Murphy.” Drake muttered. He shoved Doug out into the hallway.
“But—”
Drake slammed the door on Doug and turned to Meg.
“Are you all right?” he asked in concern.
“Yes. I’m fine. Just sleepy,” Meg said wanly.
“It’s a good thing I forgot the specs. Otherwise I wouldn’t have arrived in time to throw Murphy out.”
“Your timing is flawless,” she smiled and kissed him briefly.
“From now on, don’t answer the door to him unless I’m here. I won’t have him badgering you.”
“I won’t,” she promised as she padded back to the bedroom. “I still have time for a quick nap before meeting the girls.” She climbed back onto the bed.
He picked up his briefcase.
“Sweet dreams. I’ll meet you at the luau.”
“Okay. See you later,” she mumbled as sleep was claiming her.
He gazed at her and smiled before leaving the suite.
*****
“I’m convinced more than ever that Denise’s kidnapping is all a hoax,” Meg said. They all sat in the tent sipping drinks of their choice and listening to the Hawaiian music from the luau. “Something about the way Doug asked if we had found the treasure didn’t sit right with me.”
“You were picking up his ulterior motives behind the question,” Noah said. “He couldn’t hide his greediness.”
“That’s it exactly,” Meg exclaimed. “Greed was written all over his face.”
“It will all be over soon enough,” Drake said. “Tomorrow we will go to speak with the officials at Bishop Museum about our find.”
“We should take the authorities with us when we take the museum people to see the jewels,” Kai said.
“What about the owners of the Kualoa Ranch? They should be informed as well,” Beni said.
“Good point, Beni. Why don’t you and Noah speak to the ranch owners while Meg and I speak to the curator at Bishop Museum,” Drake suggested.
“That leaves the police for Kai and I,” Ashlee said.
“I will tell Lono about our discovery. As a FBI agent, he can get better security for the transport of the property,” Kai said.
“Wow! I feel like I’m in an episode of Hawaii 5-0,” Ashlee said.
Meg grinned.
“Somehow this isn’t nearly as glamorous or exciting.”
“Let’s hope it won’t be as dangerous as those episodes portray either,” Noah said.
Drake’s phone vibrated. He looked at it.
“I have a text from my foreman. He wants to see me right away. Says it’s important,” Drake said. That’s odd. I just saw him a little while ago. I wonder what he wants.”
Drake called him and he didn’t pick up.
“I’d better go see what he wants.”
“I think I’ll call it a night,” Meg said through a yawn.
“I’ll see you in our suite,” Drake said then walked away.
“I think we’ll stay out here a little longer,” Ash said.
“Okay. See you guys tomorrow. Goodnight,” Meg said.
Meg walked slowly back to the hotel. She crossed the lobby and got on a waiting elevator. She pushed the button for the tenth floor and the doors began closing. Just before they closed completely a hand stopped them and pushed them open. Doug entered the elevator.
“Meg! Fancy seeing you,”
Meg looked disgruntle at Doug’s appearance.
“Hello, Doug.”
The door closed and the elevator sped up to the tenth floor. As the doors opened Meg began to get off but Doug grabbed her arm and pulled her back onto the elevator. The doors closed and Doug pressed the button for the third floor.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Meg demanded. “Let go of me.”
“You’re no longer calling the shots, Meggie. Things are going to be done my way,” Doug snapped.
“This is insane. Let go of me,” she insisted.
“Spare me your hoity-toity airs. Drake isn’t here to protect you and your well-being is up to me. I suggest you change your tone if you want to survive the night,” Doug spat.
The elevator arrived at the third floor and the doors opened. He looked out the elevator to see if anyone was in the corridor. It was empty. He dragged her out of the elevator.
“I’ll scream this place down,” she threatened.
“And I’ll put a bullet through your neck,” he returned as he pressed the nozzle of a gun against her throat. “Now come on.”
He led her into the stairwell and pulled her down to the ground floor. Leading her to the back of the back of the hotel, they exited a door that opened to an alley. Hey then dragged her to a waiting van and pushed her in. Just as she opened her mouth to speak he cover it with a rag drenched on chloroform. Meg felt herself going under. She tried to fight the sensation but was soon out cold. Doug slammed the door shut.
“Let’s move,” he barked.
The van raced off.
*****
Meg woke up to a blinding headache. She opened her eyes and looked around her. She was in a small, sparsely furnished room and the door was partially opened. She could hear voices coming from the other room. She was lying on a cot with her hands tied in front of her. Her feet were also bound. She recalled encountering Doug in the elevator and everything that had transpired afterwards. She had truly been kidnapped, and b
y Doug of all people. She heard someone walking to the door and quickly closed her eyes. Someone looked in on her then walked away.
“She’s still out, Mister West,” she heard.
Mister West! That’s the name Beni had heard Larry and Moe used when they kidnapped her.
“Keep an eye on her. I won’t have her giving us the slip like Benita did.”
That was Doug’s voice. Doug was Mister West.
“Yes, sir,” a man said.
Meg assumed that it was either Larry or Moe.
“This had better work, Doug. Cause if they catch us, we’re done for.”
Denise!
“Don’t worry, NeCe. We won’t get caught. I have it all worked out,” Doug replied.
“That’s what you said when you came up with the grand scheme for me to be napped. And look where that got you. Nowhere,” Denise scoffed.
“But this is guaranteed to work. Old Drake will do anything to get his precious Meggie back. He’ll come up with the loot,” Doug laughed harshly. “Or she’ll be toast.”
“You wouldn’t really kill her, would you?” Denise asked. “I ain’t comfortable with killing anybody.”
“Well, you don’t think she can live, do you? She saw me.”
“Well, she hasn’t seen me. I’m getting out of here before she does,” Denise said.
“It’s too late for a conscience, NeCe. If I go down, you’re coming with me. So you may as well stay put,” Doug sneered.
Meg could hear Denise flop onto a couch and put her feet on a table noisily.
“I’m not for any killing, Doug. I won’t have it.”
“You don’t have a say in it, NeCe. You wanted the treasure. Well, to get it, you have to make sacrifices. And Meggie is the sacrificial lamb,” he chuckled.
“Maybe we should forget about the treasure. It ain’t worth it.”
“To you it may not be. And that’s all right. It will just be more for me. Now shut up and let me think,” Doug barked.
Meg realized that she was in real trouble. Doug had lost all sense of rationality. And Denise really had gotten in over her head with Doug. Meg was now seeing just how unstable and irrational Doug was. He really believed that he could get away with kidnapping and murder. She had to believe that Drake would save her. Maybe she could call him. She felt the pocket in her shorts and found it empty. Doug must have taken it from her while she was unconscious. Drat! Doug wasn’t as bumbling as his henchmen were.
She knew that the text Drake had gotten from his foreman was bogus. It was just a ruse to get him away from her. Doug had his goons assault the man and used his phone to send the text. But was Drake attacked as well? If so, it was only to give Doug enough time to grab her. Doug needed Drake alive and well to give him what he wanted. Meg heard footsteps. She pretend to still be asleep. This time the person entered the room and stopped by her cot. He pushed the cot with his knee.
“Open your eyes, Meg. I know you’re awake by now.”
Meg did so and stared belligerently at Doug.
“How I hate you,” she said scornfully.
“Hate me all you want. I have no love for you either. I never did. You were just a passing fling until I could do better,” Doug replied.
She laughed harshly.
“Denise?”
“Oh yeah. You see, she and I want the same things. And will do whatever we must to get them,” he said. “You, on the other hand, are too self-righteous and honorable to swat a fly. I got hardily sick of your namby-pamby ways. It was nauseating.”
“I must have been crazy to think I ever loved you.”
“It was quite difficult to pretend that I loved you. And downright galling to have to put up with those friends of yours,” he retorted. “I would have liked nothing better than to whack Beni when we grabbed her. But these fools allowed her to get away. That will not be your good fortune.”
“You’ll never get away with this. Drake will find me and you’ll have hell to pay,” she said.
“Not before I send you there. Of course even the devil may not want you and kick you out into the eternal black abyss. It would serve you right to have to wander endlessly in nothingness forever,” he laughed.
‘You are such a horrible man.”
He shrugged.
“Perhaps. But in a few hours I will be a very rich man. And you will be dead.”
“Not if I can help it,” she snapped.
“But you can’t help it. You have no control here; I do. Get used to it for the few hours you have left.”
“You disgusting prick.”
He slapped her hard.
“Say something else. I would take great pleasure in beating the hell out of you,” he snarled.
They heard a gasp. Doug turned to see Denise standing in the doorway.
“Take note, NeCe. You wouldn’t want to receive the same kind of treatment, now would you?” Doug smiled evilly.
“Why did you have to hit her?” Denise asked.
“What difference does it make? I soon will kill her,” Doug spat.
“I’ve been thinking, Doug. If—”
“I’m not with you for you to think. There’s nothing inside that brain of yours worth hearing,” he sneered.
“Remember whom you’re speaking to. I’m the one who got you here.” Denise’s tone was sharp as she walked into the room and stood at the foot of Meg’s cot. She glanced at her. “Are you all right?”
Meg nodded slowly. Denise then turned her attention to Doug.
“Curb your tongue when talking to me, Doug. You may think you’re in control, but you’re not. You may think you’re going to kill Meg, but you’re not,” Denise snapped. “You are indebted to me and you better start acting like it.”
Doug glared at Denise but said nothing. Meg was glad to see that there was conflict between them. That would work in her favor. She was also glad to see that Denise wasn’t in agreement with Doug’s plan to kill her. Maybe she could talk Denise into letting her go.
“Now take those two fools to see if Drake has recovered. I want his every move watched,” she ordered.
“Moe and Larry can go on their own,” Doug objected.
“Do as I say,” Denise shouted.
Doug tucked his head and left the room. Denise paced the small room for a moment then turned to face Meg.
“I’m sorry he hit you. That was not called for.”
“I’m okay. Denise, please let me go. There’s no good ending to this story,” Meg pleaded.
“I came here for a reason. I want the treasure. I know it is here on the island and I think you and that gang of yours know of its existence. Tell me where it is and you can go. I promise no harm will come to you,” Denise said.
“It’s just a myth, Denise.”
“It may be a myth to some, but it is very true. It’s real and the treasure is here. You know exactly where. And if you want to go free, you will tell its location.”
“I don’t know where it is,” Meg sighed and turned her head to the wall. She hated lying but she couldn’t tell Denise. At least not yet. She had to give Drake time to come up with a plan to rescue her and protect the treasure.
“You’re lying, Meg. You and your friends have been snooping around that hotel ever since you’ve been here,” Denise said. “You found more than alcohol in that storage room. Tell me what else is there.”
“Nothing.”
“Then why did you put a padlock on the door? If nothing is there, why lock the door?” Denise pressed.
Meg shrugged.
“The alcohol is expensive. Drake didn’t want just anybody having access to it.”
“You have an answer for everything, don’t you? Well, we’ve got time for you to change your mind. And you will.”
“Why do you want the treasure? That is if it exists,” Meg asked curiously. “You come from a wealthy family. You have plenty of money.”
“You can never have enough of it. And the treasure would be mine to do with as I please. I wouldn’
t have to ask my father for every dime. He begrudges every cent he gives me and taunts me for asking,” Denise grimaced. “I would be free of his tyranny.”
Meg didn’t know of the dynamics between Denise and her father. She only knew that Denise’s father was a Texas oilman and was extremely wealthy. And Denise always behaved as a spoiled, rich girl. Meg turned her head to look at Denise.
“I’m sorry your relationship with your father is not a good one. But trying to steal a supposed treasure will only land you in legal difficulty,” Meg responded. “You could go to prison for your part in my kidnapping.”
“Only if I am caught. And I don’t intend for that to happen. Think about my offer. Your freedom for the treasure,” Denise said. “I’ll be back in a few hours. Perhaps by then you will see things more clearly.”
She left the room, leaving the door slightly open. She was stuck in the stuffy room for several more hours. Well, at least that would give Drake more time to plan her rescue.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Drake pounded on the door of Ashlee and Beni’s suite. The pounding in his head seemed to match the noise he made on the door. He’d received a hard knock once he’d entered his foreman’s office and had been unconscious for several hours. When he woke up to an empty office, he realized that the text had been a trick to get him away from Meg. As he stood up, a piece of paper fell to the floor. He picked it up and read it. It said:
“If you want Meg and Denise back, find the treasure then tell us where it is. Call this number 808-555-9292 in forty eight hours.”
Holding the back of his head, he’d stumbled from the office and ran as fast as he could to his suite. Meg was not there. He knew that she wouldn’t be, but had to look. Now he was banging on Ashlee’s door, hoping against hope that Meg was there. The door opened.
“Drake! It’s the middle of the night. What are you doing here?” Ashlee asked sleepily.
He moved into the suite.
“Is Meg here?”
“Meg. No. She’s sleeping in your suite,” Ashlee answered.
