Puppetmaster (Coastal Fury Book 8)

by Matt Lincoln

  Header and I handed over our electronics as well, and Warner made quick work of all of it. When we all had our phones back in our possession, everything had been shut off, and Charlie had secured the plane and looked ready to go.

  “Is that all?” Charlie asked, directing his question to Warner. Warner nodded.

  “Yes, we’re all set,” he assured the pilot. “Thank you.”

  “Great,” Charlie replied, looking around at all of us. “If you all take your seats, we’ll be in the air in just a few minutes.”

  The private plane had a similar seating arrangement to our old MBLIS plane, Bette Davis. Like that plane, this one had four pairs of seats. The first and third rows faced the back of the plane, and since there were only four of us, we were able to all sit in the first two rows, facing each other for the duration of the flight. I pulled out the transcript for Marcus’s journal and stole a glance toward Warner before settling in. He looked a little green, but the can of ginger ale that Charlie had slipped him earlier sat snugly in his hands as he took deep, steadying breaths and stared out the window. I just prayed that if he got sick, he’d somehow spare me and my transcript.

  I didn’t know what I was expecting to find in the logs. I’d pored over them multiple times over the past couple of days, and other than the information we’d received from Dr. Silver, I hadn’t come across anything particularly revealing. It was fascinating to read about Grendel’s capture and subsequent escape, but as Dr. Silver had pointed out, there was no mention of anyone by name, so it was difficult to figure out where to go from this point. I was hoping that his friend from New Jersey might be able to offer up a puzzle piece that would link the stories up and bring us all a bit closer to the answers I was looking for.

  As was to be expected from a plane this nice, the flight was quiet and mostly smooth. Warner seemed to settle in pretty decently, but I could see the relief in his eyes when we began our descent. When we landed at JFK, we stepped out into a cold breeze, and the comfort of the plane was immediately forgotten as I cursed my choice of wardrobe. I had packed a jacket, but of course, I had packed it up neatly in the bottom of my bag, so I was going to have to suck it up until we got to the hotel.

  Unsurprisingly, a pair of blacked-out sedans awaited us, and we headed over to them as quickly as we could in order to get a reprieve from the chill that cut through the open air of the airport. Before we reached the cars, however, one of the back doors swung open, and Farr stepped out.

  “How was the flight?” he asked, looking at all of us. His eyes landed on Warner. I saw the color returning to his face, but he still didn’t look too hot.

  “It was great!” I assured him, patting Warner on the back encouragingly. “It was a smooth and comfortable ride. Thank you.”

  “No problem,” Farr replied gruffly. “Hop in. I’ve got a hotel suite for the four of you. When we arrive, you’ll find secure, untraceable lines waiting for you. It’d be wise to leave your personal phones off for the duration of this mission and use these new phones to communicate while you’re up here. I don’t want to risk anything.”

  I cringed internally. Ignoring the fact that I’d like to be able to communicate openly with certain individuals, I was actually expecting a rude phone call from Holm asking where I was and why I had taken off so abruptly. If Holm didn’t hear back from me within a reasonable time frame, he’d be quick to worry. I didn’t want to do that to him, but I also didn’t want to risk the mission in order to reassure him. It was a fine line to walk, that was for damn sure.

  We all climbed into the cars. Warner joined Bonnie and her lab equipment in one car while Header and I joined Farr in the other car. We headed toward the airport exits, passing the billboards and other signage welcoming everyone to New York City. I laughed to myself, but it was enough to get Header’s attention.

  “What’s so funny?” he asked, a bemused smirk on his face.

  “The whole I Love New York thing,” I mused. “It’s everywhere. How old is the slogan, anyway?”

  Header shrugged. “It’s been around for a long time.”

  “It seems so corny,” I continued as we passed another sign with the big red heart looming over us. “Of course, New York is huge on tourism and, well, everything else, so everyone knows the state. They don’t really need a tacky slogan.”

  “That’s a good point,” Header chuckled, “but without the slogan and the logo, they wouldn’t have anything to annoy you with.”

  “And what a horrible thing that would be,” Farr added humorlessly from the front seat. Farr’s addition made Header laugh even harder, and I knew right then that I had made a lasting mistake. Header would be pointing the damn logo out to me for the rest of this trip. I’d been separated from the man and his shenanigans for too long. I had already laid out my own trap without realizing it.

  The busy highway eventually gave way to the Queens Midtown Tunnel, which I only knew because I read the sign, and after a dark drive through the tunnel, it spat us out right into the heart of Manhattan. The towering skyscrapers and immense amount of both vehicle and pedestrian traffic made this city unlike any other, and every person on the street seemed to be in a massive rush. Headphones were jammed into many of their ears, and messenger bags and backpacks were being toted by almost everyone as they hastily weaved their way past each other on their way to their next destination. Horns honked incessantly through the bumper-to-bumper traffic, and roadside construction seemed to be in full effect, despite the fact that it was the middle of the day.

  We inched our way through the streets painfully slowly, and I watched as a particular pair of pedestrians walked fast enough to keep pace with us for a while, despite the fact that we were in a moving vehicle. We ended up crossing the entire island, pulling up alongside a hotel about a block away from the West Side Highway. A valet walked up and opened the sidewalk-side doors for us, and I stepped out into the brisk air and looked up at the building. Expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and elegant window coverings were framed by shiny steel, leaving little room for the gray stones on the rest of the building’s facade. It screamed luxury as if somehow overcompensating for something.

  Considering we were here on a dangerous mission and not on vacation, I hadn’t been expecting much in the way of luxurious accommodations. Not that I was complaining about staying in a luxury hotel, but it hadn’t been something that crossed my mind as a possibility. Maybe I’d been dealing with MBLIS’s funding issues for too long, or maybe Farr just felt the need to show off a bit. Either way, I welcomed the surprise as I pulled my bag out of the trunk and made my way toward the oversized glass doors of the building and waited for the rest of my team to join me.

  “You’re in the business suite on the twenty-seventh floor,” Farr advised, handing each of us a key card. “I have business to attend to from here, but I’ve left a stipend up in the room for dinner, as well. We can meet up in the morning to discuss the next steps.”

  We all said goodbye to Farr and headed in through the lavishly appointed lobby. Header and I helped Bonnie with her equipment, and we somehow managed to cram onto the elevator together, despite the luggage between us.

  The twenty-seventh floor, as it turned out, had two doors, one on either end of the hall. Ours was over to the left, and when we stepped in, my jaw dropped. We had walked into a large living space, complete with a wide off-white couch that faced the floor-to-ceiling windows. These windows looked out over the Hudson River, and I could see New Jersey across the way. Tucked along the wall to the right was a kitchenette, and along each side of the room were two doors. As we all piled into the room, we figured out that each door housed a separate bedroom, and each pair of bedrooms shared a bathroom between them.

  “This is incredible,” Bonnie gushed as she claimed one of the bedrooms with a waterfront view. I managed to snag the other one, and after we all dropped our bags off, we gathered in the center where we found four burner phones and a credit card sitting on the coffee table.

  �
�Is there a budget?” Bonnie asked, turning the card over in her hand.

  “Want to find out?” Header teased. “I’m hungry, and this is New York. We can eat pretty much anything we’re craving.”

  “Oh, you’re right,” Warner chimed in. “I think our biggest problem is going to be that we have too many options.”

  My mind drifted from the dinner conversation as I picked up the nearest burner phone. I had one phone call I had to make to a particular photographer before this went any further. I didn’t know if she’d answer an unknown number, but I wasn’t willing to risk our safety by turning on my own phone. I walked away from my team and dialed her number. The phone rang for a bit, but I heard the familiar click as she picked up the phone.

  “Hello?” Tessa’s voice was a balm to my nerves.

  “Hey, Tessa,” I sighed happily. “It’s Ethan.”

  “Ethan!” she exclaimed, her mood immediately shifting. “Sorry, I didn’t recognize the number!”

  “Yeah, I figured,” I said offhandedly. “Long story, but this will be my number while I’m here in New York. Which brings me to the reason for my call. I’m in New York.”

  Tessa giggled a bit on the other end of the line. “That’s great news! I can’t wait to see you!”

  “About that,” I replied, glancing back at my team, who were still debating their dinner options, “how would you like to meet me for dinner?”

  “That sounds perfect,” she gushed. “Where are we going?”

  “There’s a steakhouse downtown, at South Street Seaport,” I informed her. “It’s on Water Street. Do you know it?”

  “Do I know it?” she repeated incredulously. “Yeah, everyone knows it. It’s super fancy.”

  “That’s the one,” I confirmed. “I figure we have several nights out to make up for, so I should do this right. How does seven sound?”

  “That’s unnecessary,” she assured me, “but thank you. It’s definitely appreciated! Seven is perfect. Do you want to just meet there?”

  “That’d be best. I don’t have a car.” I figured we might have one waiting for us, but I didn’t want to take it from my team. I could call a cab.

  “You’ll fit right in, then,” she giggled. “I’ll see you soon!”

  I hung up the phone and realized that I was grinning from ear-to-ear.

  “Hey, Marston!” Header shouted, snapping me out of it. “What’re you so damn giddy about over there?”

  I turned to find the three of them staring at me.

  “It’s Tessa, isn’t it?” Bonnie guessed accurately.

  Header cocked an eyebrow at me. “All this bonding in Puerto Rico, and yet no mention of a mysterious woman in New York?” he teased. “Color me disappointed, Marston, I thought we were friends.”

  I rolled my eyes lightheartedly. “It’s not like that,” I assured him, “but I can’t make a trip up here and not see her. She’d never forgive me.”

  Header grunted, not looking convinced.

  “Does that mean you’re not joining us for dinner?” Warner asked.

  “Count me out.” My smile was back on my face. “I have a date.”

  Warner groaned, and Bonnie triumphantly pumped her fist in the air. I chuckled as I looked between them, puzzled.

  “What’d I miss?” I looked to Header for the answer.

  Header straightened up happily. “I want Chinese food. Warner wants pizza. Without you, Bonnie becomes the tie-breaker. You’re going on a date, so that means we’re getting Chinese food.”

  Warner looked defeated, but I had a hunch there’d be plenty of time for pizza later on in our trip. I had a hard time feeling bad for him, though. After all, I had a date to get ready for.

  Chapter 6: Tessa

  Tessa opted to hail a cab over taking the subway. There was something about cramming herself into a crowded subway car that didn’t tie in with the elegant dinner she was heading toward. She sat back against the leather seat and watched the city pass by the window as the driver headed downtown. She tried to remember the last time she’d seen Ethan. Her palms were sweaty with nerves and anticipation. It didn’t matter how long it had been. She remembered the blue color of his eyes as if it had been only yesterday.

  She knew how close they were to the restaurant simply by watching the neighborhoods change. Retail shops gave way to residences, which gave way to office buildings. She passed a small park, a group of performance artists on the corner dancing for a growing crowd, and businessmen and women pouring out of a bar after happy hour. Finally, the cab pulled up in front of the steakhouse, and she spotted Ethan immediately.

  For having just arrived in New York City earlier that day, Ethan looked remarkably calm and composed. He had on a turquoise polo shirt that emphasized his blue eyes, paired with black dress pants. Right away, Tessa noticed a couple of things missing. First, she noticed that his MBLIS badge wasn’t visible on his belt loop. Second, he didn’t have his gun secured to his waistband. She knew it was a date, and it was possible that he simply left the items behind for the evening, but it stood out enough to give her pause as she paid the cab driver and carefully climbed out of the backseat. She smoothed down the front of her new dress and tugged on the edges of her cardigan before walking toward Ethan.

  Tessa had picked out this dress about a month ago. She had been walking past this one particular store over and over again for work, and the bright coral A-line dress caught her eye each time. The sweetheart neckline and cap sleeves flattered her figure perfectly, and when Ethan had called, she was immediately grateful that she had caved and purchased it. The white cardigan was necessary to protect her against the biting autumn air, but she hoped to be able to shrug it off once they’d been seated.

  When Ethan spotted her walking up to him, a huge smile broke across his face and warmed Tessa’s heart. He looked as handsome as she remembered, and it felt as if no time had passed at all. He stepped up to her, closing the final few feet.

  “Well, hello, gorgeous,” he crooned, stepping forward for a hug. She allowed herself to get wrapped up in his embrace, soaking it in. When he pulled back, she looked happily into his eyes. “How have you been?”

  She knew that wasn’t a simple answer, not one she could address fully in the doorway of a restaurant. “I’m doing great!” she opted to say. “How about you?”

  “Better now,” he teased. “Come on. Our table is ready.”

  “Already?” she asked, but he simply winked at her as he escorted her inside.

  When he gave the hostess his name, the woman immediately grabbed a couple of menus and led the way through the dimly lit dining room. She led Tessa and Ethan over to a quiet corner booth and ensured they both had full glasses of water before she turned them over to their server. Tessa’s eyes were wide as she took in the menu options.

  “Have you been here before?” Ethan asked, his blue eyes dancing before hers.

  She shook her head adamantly. “No,” she admitted. “I mean, I’ve obviously heard of this place, but I’ve never been. Some of these dishes are… extravagant.”

  Looking down at the menu, she felt that her use of the word extravagant was really just code for expensive. She couldn’t believe that, of all of the places Ethan could have brought her tonight, he had chosen a place as elegant as this.

  The server arrived then, and since Tessa and Ethan had both settled on their final selections, they placed their order. Ethan waited until Tessa had finished telling the server what she wanted before he added the bottle of wine to the order. Tessa beamed warmly at him as the server walked off.

  “Wine, huh?” she asked playfully. “This is going to be a very nice dinner.”

  “That’s the plan,” Ethan smirked mischievously. She wasn’t sure if he had anything up his sleeves for later in the evening. That smirk of his seemed to indicate that he might.

  “So, tell me what you’ve been up to,” she requested as she reached for her water glass. “And I don’t mean with work. How’s everything else? How’s Rob
bie? How’s the search for your pirate ship going? Fill me in.”

  Ethan laughed at her rambling, and her skin tingled as his eyes locked with hers. “Robbie is doing alright,” he assured her. “If I go into too much detail there, I’m going to end up talking about work.”

  “Well, that won’t do then,” she giggled. “I’m glad he’s doing well, though.”

  Ethan nodded before continuing. “He is. Also, I’m not technically here for work. We’re freelancing. Robbie isn’t up here, he doesn’t know I’m up here, and I’m not supposed to be here.” He raised an eyebrow at her, and she couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Ethan Marston, breaking the rules.” She shook her head in disbelief. “I almost can’t believe it.”

  “Almost?” he prompted with a tinge of humor in his voice.

  “I do know you have a wild side,” she muttered, her voice dropping and a flush creeping up her cheek. Ethan looked amused at her reaction to her own statement, and she quickly shifted subjects.

  “What about the ship?” she asked, her voice regaining confidence. “Are you any closer to finding it?”

  Their server returned to the table, and this time the woman held two delicate wine glasses and a full bottle of wine. She went through the process of opening the bottle and letting Ethan take the first sip to ensure it was perfect. He obliged her, and with his nod, the woman poured both of their glasses, setting the bottle off to the side for them before disappearing again.

  Ethan carefully lifted his wine glass toward Tessa, and she lifted hers back toward him, letting the glasses gently tap against each other as they wordlessly took their first sips. The wine was deep and rich, with a fruity aftertaste. She knew it’d go wonderfully with her steak, just as she knew she was in for an interesting evening with an entire bottle at their disposal.

  “To answer your question,” Ethan replied, setting his glass down, “I’ve learned a lot about the Dragon’s Rogue recently.” He had a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips, and Tessa wondered if he hadn’t been thinking the same things that had just crossed her mind.