Puppetmaster (Coastal Fury Book 8)

by Matt Lincoln

  “It is now,” Jake murmured toward her. “Just go with it.”

  Tessa threw her hands up defensively and didn’t argue. “I’ll call the pizzeria. We’ll get you all fed.”

  “Thanks, Tess,” Ethan whispered to her. She allowed herself to get lost in his eyes for a moment before she stepped away to make the phone call.

  Speaking of phone calls, she thought to herself as she dialed the pizzeria. She’d never called George back from earlier, and she still had to tell Ethan everything she had learned. She hoped that he had enough energy left in him for another exciting conversation because she’d been bursting to tell him. Of course, the case came first, and Ethan was juggling a lot of things at the moment, but she knew this news would bring him joy. She snuck a glance at him as she spoke to the gruff old man on the other end of the line. Now that he wasn’t looking at her, Ethan looked so tired. His face was lined with worry, and his eyes seemed distant as if his mind were elsewhere. He might have been able to put on a good face for her, but she really wished he wouldn’t.

  Once the pizza was ordered, Tessa went to go talk to Ethan, but Jake had pulled him outside for a heart-to-heart. She caught snippets of the conversation, and she knew they were talking about Robbie Holm. She once again tabled her discussion and instead made small talk with Bonnie and TJ until the pizza arrived. It wasn’t until half of the pizza was gone, and the team began to disperse that she found herself alone with him.

  “You know,” she began, unfolding her pizza crust and dipping it into one of the small plastic containers of warm marinara sauce that had accompanied their order, “I had an interesting day today, as well.”

  “Oh, yeah?” he prompted, looking over at her with a small smile. He seemed to be in better spirits now that he had some food in his stomach, but she hoped her news would lift his spirits even more.

  “I did,” she confirmed. She set her crust down and looked back at him. “Before I found out that you guys had gotten into a bit of trouble, I was making a few phone calls.”

  “To where?” he asked, waiting expectantly for her to continue.

  “To a coworker,” she began. Tessa filled Ethan in on all of her discoveries, right up until the point where she hung up on George when her uncle had come crashing into the house.

  “Poor George,” Ethan muttered when she was done. “I can’t believe you found him! What were the odds that it would be the same man that Dr. Silver referred me to?”

  “Well,” she replied with a shrug, “George kind of sounds like you. The only difference is that his end goal happens to be the Searcher’s Chance. He can’t believe that you found it. You found what he’s been looking for.”

  Ethan sat back in disbelief. “I can’t believe it.” He looked over at her, his skin crawling with excitement. “He’s in New Jersey, right?”

  “He is,” she nodded fervently, “and he wants to meet you. He wants to talk to you.”

  Ethan paused for a moment before speaking. “Obviously, tomorrow is a big day. If we can get through tomorrow and do what we need to do, then let’s meet this George. Before we get on Farr’s plane and head back home, I want to sit with him. I’m sure the rest of the team will understand.”

  “I know they will,” she assured him. “I’ll call him in the morning. Once everything calms down, we will go… together.”

  Ethan cocked his head to one side as he considered her words. He cupped his hand against her cheek, and her eyes fluttered shut as she embraced the warmth of his palm.

  “I appreciate you,” he murmured softly. “I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how much this means to me.”

  “I know,” she nodded. “That’s why I did it.”

  “Hey, lovebirds!” Jake’s booming voice cut through their shared moment, snapping Tessa out of it. “Get out here!”

  Tessa squeezed her eyes shut and then glanced up at Ethan. He had a playful smirk on his face.

  “Is it too much to ask for a bit of time alone with you?” she lamented.

  Ethan chuckled. “Yes. With the house this full, I think that’s asking a lot.” His smirk remained in place, and she knew he was joking, but her question had been a serious one. She kept her eyes locked onto his until he amended his statement.

  “Listen,” he continued, “I’m glad we had these few minutes to talk. When things start winding down, I can promise you some high-quality alone time. How’s that?” The glint in his eyes was all Tessa needed to see.

  “That sounds fair,” she giggled.

  “Marston!” The sound of the sliding glass door opening and closing each time Jake bellowed was accompanied by the chatter and laughter of the rest of the team. They must have all wandered outside while Tessa had spoken with Ethan, but she’d been so wrapped up in her story that she hadn’t noticed until now how silent the house had become.

  Ethan groaned and chuckled simultaneously. “Shall we? We are being beckoned.”

  “Yeah, let’s go,” she agreed.

  The two of them grabbed fresh beers and headed out to the back patio where Jake, TJ, and Bonnie were involved in a loud and animated conversation.

  “What’s going on?” Ethan laughed as he slid the door shut behind him.

  “There you are!” Jake clapped his hand on Ethan’s shoulder and steered him forward. “What was that car you scored during that Havana mission again? I need to find myself a mission like that.”

  Tessa’s mind wandered as she tuned out the conversation and stared out over the water. It was late, but although the sky was dark, there was still plenty of light. The headlights of the countless cars crawling their way through the heavy Belt Parkway traffic, coupled with the gorgeous twinkling blue lights of the Verrazzano Bridge, made it so that everything before her was illuminated.

  She smiled as she took a small sip of her beer. It wasn’t the picturesque landscape that most people were used to seeing in photos and on television, but to her, this was perfect. This was her home, where she belonged. She glanced over at Ethan, who was doubled over in laughter at something she’d missed. When they first met, they knew that nothing would come of their time together. She had deep ties to New York, while he was well-embedded in Miami. Lately though, despite the violent end to their latest date and her current, albeit temporary, living situation, she’d been wondering if that had been the right move for them.

  Still, Tessa knew that there was no way Ethan would leave his job and his friends in Miami. Even if he was willing, she would never let him. Until they both found themselves in a position to be together without having to sacrifice for it, she was happy to continue to be in his life in whatever way she could.

  Ethan stopped laughing long enough to meet her eyes. He offered her a soft smile, and for a moment, it felt like they were the only two on the patio. She blushed slightly as he slipped past his friends and came back to her.

  “Are you okay?” he whispered, slipping his hand around her waist.

  “I think so,” she replied softly, smiling up at him. “I’m worried about tomorrow.”

  “Ehh, tomorrow’s a long way off,” he teased. “The night is still young.”

  Tessa stifled a yawn and then giggled. “Not for me, apparently.”

  He stole a glance over his shoulder at his friends. “You know, I’m getting a bit tired, too.” Tessa wasn’t surprised by that admission, considering all he’d done earlier in the day, but when she searched his face, he didn’t seem tired at all.

  “You are?” she asked quietly.

  “I am.” He flashed her a mischievous smile and held his hand out to her. “Why don’t we call it a night?”

  Tessa couldn’t have come up with a better idea if she’d tried.

  Chapter 26: Holm

  “Holm, move your ass, we’re going to be late!” Birn’s booming voice echoed down the hall. I groaned and rolled over on his leather couch, and the smooth material slipped and sent me hurtling down to the tile floor.

  I let out a quiet whimper as the sharp pain shot throug
h my hip. It was the same hip I’d smashed into the blacktop the other night in the parking lot, so the large bruise only amplified the pain.

  “You alright, man?” Birn burst around the corner, still wrapped in a towel. He still had leftover shaving cream on his face, and his eyes were wide with concern.

  “I’ll live,” I muttered as I pushed myself up off the floor and put the couch cushion back in place. “I think maybe tonight I’ll sleep on the floor.”

  “Good deal,” Birn replied, slapping the door frame before turning down the hall. “I’m sorry I don’t have better accommodations.”

  “Ahh, it’s alright.” I stretched, trying to work out the pain. “It was a last-minute decision.”

  “Yeah, but still…” Birn’s voice echoed down the hall, and I heard some scuffling down at the other end. “I feel bad that you’re dealing with my couch. I mean, when I bought it, I was not expecting someone to crash on it.”

  I picked up the blanket he’d offered me last night and began folding it and draping it over the back of the couch. “That’s a really dumb move, Birn. At some point, you have to expect someone to crash on your couch. That’s part of the convenience of a couch.”

  “I don’t like people, Holm. You know this.” I chuckled as Birn’s words rang true. He was a friendly enough guy, but he never did invite anyone over to his place.

  When I spoke to Diane Ramsey about my attack in the grocery store parking lot, she had insisted on putting me up in a hotel room so that I wouldn’t have to go home. Of course, I refused. Not only was it more difficult to run security in a hotel room, but it would also run up one hell of a bill, especially since we didn’t know how long I would need to stay there. If MBLIS couldn’t afford to handle two open cases at the same time, they sure as hell couldn’t afford to set me up in a hotel room.

  After we had reached that conclusion, I ended up driving aimlessly as I tried to determine where I was going for the night. When my phone rang about twenty minutes later, I heard Birn on the other end. He had awkwardly stammered something about us being the only two men in the office at the moment, so I would need to stay with him.

  Once I had arrived, I could immediately tell that he was not prepared for a guest. He was also not overwhelmingly accommodating, but that was fine by me. I did my best to stay out of his way as much as possible.

  Birn reappeared in the doorway, this time wearing pants. He had wiped the shaving cream from his face, and his unbuttoned dress shirt hung loosely off his broad shoulders. The man was built like a tank, there was no question, but he still managed to find clothes that fit him well, which was impressive.

  “Maybe one of the women will have an air mattress?” he asked as he buttoned his shirt and made his way to the pre-programmed coffee maker. “I have extra sheets.”

  “I’ll be alright,” I assured him. “I don’t even mind the slippery cushions. I just don’t want to fall off the couch again. I’m injured enough.”

  “Alright,” he shrugged. “It’s your call.”

  I quickly got myself ready, and then Birn and I headed out the door together. I had left my bright-colored Lancer at the MBLIS garage in order to keep it out of sight, so Birn and I had been carpooling to work. It was a short ride from his place, much shorter than my usual commute. It might have been the only perk to being in my current situation. We did swing by the local bakery on the way in for some breakfast items, and I stocked up so that we had enough to share when we got to work.

  “Have you heard any updates on your parents since last night?” he asked as he pulled into his spot at MBLIS headquarters.

  “Not yet,” I replied as nonchalantly as I could muster.

  Diane had assigned a security detail on my parents, which I deeply appreciated. The downside to that, though, was that I had to tell my parents. Luckily, my dad had been the one to answer the phone, and he’d said he wasn’t going to tell my mom.

  While I understood his desire to not worry her any more than she already was, I did wonder how he planned to explain the police cars surrounding the house. I’d decided I had too much on my plate at the moment, and that my mom’s anxiety would have to be my father’s problem, at least for now. The fact that he hadn’t called yet with an update concerned me slightly, but I decided to let that go.

  I stepped out of Birn’s company car, a blacked-out Dodge Charger that was the exact opposite of the bright red of Marston’s Charger. The subdued black paint color seemed much more appropriate to detective work, but I wasn’t about to get on Marston’s case about his choice of red too much. I did, after all, insist on bright blue for my own car.

  I shook my head as Birn joined me by the entrance. “I’m sorry I’m not particularly chatty this morning.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Birn snorted as he held the door behind him so that I didn’t have to juggle the doors and the pastries as we headed into the building. “I’m surprised you’re talking as much as you are. You’re dealing with a lot right now. I wish I could do more.”

  “More?” I stared at him in disbelief. “You’re housing me. I don’t think there’s much more I could ask of you.”

  “At least you’re not asking me to cook for you,” he teased. He clapped me on the shoulder as we headed up to our offices.

  “I’m good with my pastries,” I chuckled. When we walked in, I found Ramsey and Muñoz waiting for us.

  “Are we late?” I checked my watch to find that Birn and I were about fifteen minutes early. I set the treats down on my desk and turned to face the women.

  “You’re not late,” Ramsey replied casually. “Muñoz and I were trying to come up with some more ideas to try to help you.”

  I let out a breath as I stepped back and propped myself up on the edge of my desk. “These are for you.” I gestured to the white box on the desk.

  “Don’t mind if I do.” Muñoz sauntered over and helped herself to a cruller. “Thanks, Holm.”

  “No problem,” I shrugged. “As far as helping me, I’ve had this nagging feeling that Marston is involved somehow.”

  Ramsey took a step back, and her eyes widened in surprise. “You think Ethan is responsible for you getting attacked in a parking lot?”

  “No, of course not,” I amended. “I think he’s up in New York, stirring things up, and I’m feeling the aftershocks down here.” I stared down at the floor and shook my head in frustration. “I’ve been calling him nonstop, but his phone is off. I called the number Tessa had called me from too, but she isn’t answering either. Last night, I even went as far as trying to reach Farr. It cut out mid-ring as if he hung up on me.” I looked up at the rest of my team, who were all still as they listened to me rant.

  “I’m just so damn frustrated!” I slammed my hand on the edge of my desk. I caught the sharp corner which stung against my palm, but I grimaced and fought through the pain.

  “They probably know why you’re calling,” Birn pointed out. “It’s easy to ignore you if you’re calling simply to find your friend.”

  “He’s right,” Ramsey added, her eyes lighting up with an idea. “I bet I’m harder to ignore, though.” She spun on her heels and strode purposefully into her office to pick up the phone. She hit the speaker button, and I listened to the phone ring a few times before a familiar voice echoed through her office.

  “Director Ramsey,” Farr answered cheerfully. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

  I was immediately struck by his jovial tone.

  “He never speaks to me that way,” Birn muttered in my ear. I resisted the urge to laugh.

  “Donald Farr,” Ramsey replied, the words rolling off her tongue sweetly.

  I leaned back toward Birn. “She never speaks to me that way.” Birn chuckled and elbowed me in the ribs for good measure. Ramsey shot us a sharp look that immediately straightened us both up.

  “Donald, I need your help,” Ramsey continued as if she hadn’t been interrupted. “You’re with Ethan, right?”

  Farr was silent for a moment too l
ong. “Have you not heard from him?”

  Ramsey laughed gently. “Oh, I know you too well, Donald. You’re lying. I’d put my entire paycheck on that, and you know how valuable our paychecks are right now.”

  Farr laughed, but he didn’t offer any more information.

  “Listen,” Ramsey continued, “I know you have Ethan up there, and I’m fairly sure you also have TJ and Bonnie. I also have reason to believe you are hunting a particular mob family that has a pretty damn far reach. Am I close at all?”

  “Director,” Farr replied, his voice a bit less friendly than it had been originally, “why are you calling me?”

  “Donald.” Ramsey looked a bit frustrated as she straightened her posture. “You should know that Robbie Holm has been being followed. He was attacked recently in a supermarket parking lot. He is now staying with a coworker, and I have a security detail at his parents’ house. We believe that whatever is happening in New York is causing a ripple effect down here in Florida. I am concerned about Holm’s safety and that of his family. I was hoping for some insight as to what is happening so that we can better prepare and protect ourselves.”

  Farr was silent for a moment, and Ramsey waited him out. Muñoz, Birn, and I waited with bated breath for his response.

  “Diane,” he began, his voice softer and kinder, “I can’t tell you much, but I can offer you one bit of information. If you can all make it through the next twenty-four hours, we will know exactly where we stand.”

  “This will be handled within twenty-four hours?” Ramsey asked, searching for clarification.

  “Well,” he amended, “it will either be handled, and things will get better, or something will go awry, and things will get a hell of a lot worse. That’s really all I can offer at the moment.”

  “Well, that’s comforting,” I muttered under my breath. As if I hadn’t been worried enough about Marston’s safety, I now had to drag myself through the next twenty-four hours in absolute terror that something could go wrong. I couldn’t remember ever feeling this useless. I should have gone with them. I could have helped.