by Jamie Begley
“Yes, sir. Thank-you. Extremely comfortable.”
Gabriel Allerton nodded as if he hadn’t expected the agent to say anything differently.
Reaper would kiss both men’s bare ass if they hadn’t met before.
“Mr. and Mrs. James, I hope the same can be said for you?”
“Yes, Thank-you.”
Reaper was proud that Ginny didn’t call him sir.
“Perfect. Is everyone in agreement that we can cut right to the business we need to discuss?” Patronizing in his question, Allerton focused on Ginny, not anticipating anyone daring to naysay him.
“Mrs. James, being a personal friend of your mother and father, I was delighted to share in their joy when the FBI contacted them about you being found alive after you purchased an ancestry kit. I’m sure you were devastated to find out the true details of your past.”
Reaper kept his eyes trained on Allerton but couldn’t help to think, What the fuck?
“I was,” Ginny agreed.
“May I ask what prompted the search for your ancestral ties?”
“My brother gave it to me as a Christmas gift. My adoptive father never hid that I was adopted. I didn’t see the need to search for a family whom I believed deserted me.”
“How did you come to be placed with your adopted family in Kentucky?”
“The man who found me had chartered a private yacht. He was the sheriff in Kentucky. He contacted the local authorities, then left me in their care. However, he made calls to check on my welfare. When no one came forward, I was made a ward of the court. A friend of his offered to adopt me, and from there, I ended up in Kentucky when his application was approved.”
“Funny, none of your paperwork has been located.”
The sarcastic fucker didn’t have a funny bone in body.
“I don’t find it funny,” Ginny said sharply. “As much as I love my adoptive family, I’m looking into legal action that no intensive search was made before I was adopted. I can only assume the social worker was overly burdened and was just relieved to have one less child to keep track of. The DNA was entered into the data bank. In case my body had been recovered, they would have a sample to match. I’m sure it was a surprise when instead of being informed all that was recovered were my bones, they were told I was very much alive.”
Reaper found it difficult to keep a straight face at the misdirection of the true facts. Blending crafted lies and the truth, if he hadn’t heard the truth from Trudy’s lips, hell, he would have believed the lies she was telling.
Unfortunately, Allerton didn’t look like he believed anything coming out of her mouth, which could only mean one thing—once the FBI had informed her parents that she was alive and they told Allerton, no rock had been left unturned to uncover her past by him.
“I find it a big coincidence that your sister Trudy was thirty minutes away and both of you were unaware of each other being so close.”
“Are you insinuating I’m lying?”
Allerton didn’t deny the charge. “Like I said, it’s a big coincidence.”
“Not really. I was only three. The earliest memory that I can recall is me tumbling down a hill and a rock cutting my forehead. As to my sister, I did meet her several times when I was in my late teens through a woman I worked with. She was introduced to me as T.A. I never knew her given name, and by the time she met me, I was no longer the three-year-old sister she remembered.”
The last part, Reaper thought, had such a ring of truth that he even glimpsed a brief expression of uncertainty in Allerton.
“T.A. certainly didn’t expect her wedding singer to be the sister she lost at sea,” Ginny continued. “Nor did I expect my former boss from the tour company to ask me to do her a personal favor by singing at T.A.’s wedding. I try not think about my sister being so close without my knowledge. It’s been deeply hurtful for me, as I’m sure is to T.A., that we spent the time apart unnecessarily. While at the same time, I love my adoptive family and consider them my true family, and I wouldn’t take back the time I had with them if the whims of fate hadn’t interceded.”
“Fate?” Allerton countered snidely. “Excuse me if I don’t believe your disappearance had anything to do with the vagaries of fate.”
Reaper tightened his hands on Ginny’s shoulder at the overt way Allerton was perceptibly disparaging. The condescending fucker was about to have his ass handed to him on a platter if he wasn’t careful.
Ginny interrupted his plan to reach across the desk and use the fancy tie to strangle him when she reached up to pat one of his hands, as if saying she had this under control.
Relaxing his hold on her shoulders, Reaper let her storytelling play out. He just hoped like hell that Allerton chilled with the snide comments before the fucker was forced to scream for help from his security, which Reaper was sure were watching from the camera mounted high in the corner of the office.
The outdated camera was a fucking joke. The sophisticated equipment layered throughout their bungalow in was top of the game where surveillance was concerned. The camera in the office was from the Ice Age. Reaper reasoned it was meant for those less tech savvy, to give the assumption Allerton didn’t feel the need for more sophisticated equipment on his island. If they bought that, Reaper had some swampland to sell.
“I can certainly understand your skepticism. After the FBI asked me to fly to Sherguevil Island to meet my parents, I was appalled to find out about your accusation that I am a thief, that I had stolen something of importance from the island.
“It isn’t an accusation when I have the proof.” Allerton’s expression became even more condescending.
“I would love to see the proof, as I have no memory of the incident, or what was taken.” Ginny dropped her hand from his to splay her hands out in confusion.
Again, Reaper heard the ring of truth in her voice.
“Maybe, if I could see the footage or am told what I’ve been accused of taking, it would help spark a memory.”
“There is no footage. Unfortunately, the incident happened out of camera range. And what was taken is a historical artifact that I am not at liberty to disclose, which was pilfered by you.”
“I’m unable to deny the allegation, as I do not remember the incident. I wish I could. However, unless something changes that does spark my memory, I’m at a loss as how to make amends. If you want money for it, I can give you my lawyer’s phone number, and we can work out a figure that would make you happy.”
“Why would you offer to pay for something when you don’t believe you took the artifact?” Allerton asked, trying to corner Ginny into admission.
Ginny tilted her head to the side. “Obviously, you have to have some proof. Why else would the FBI have sent a team of men to escort me?” Ginny swung back, placing the ball again in his corner. “I’m a law-abiding citizen. It makes me sick to my stomach that apparently I once was so lacking in morals as to steal. I am a Christian. It goes against my faith to steal. You say I stole a historical artifact, many have religious meanings. If I stole something that does, I would be devasted. Money won’t make up for what is stolen, but even if I did steal it, which I truly hope I didn’t, the artifact is missed by the person it was taken from, and maybe they can purchase another copy or something else that has the same meaning when we come to an agreeable price.
“The artifact belonged to me, and it was priceless. You don’t have enough money to compensate me for the item that you did, in fact, steal.”
Reaper had had enough.
“When I was in the Navy, I dealt in securing and retrieving historical artifacts. The fact that you are being vague and refusing to give details about the supposed artifact is giving me the impression it could have been stolen, besides the fact you are unable to produce the authentic receipt from your seller. I won’t allow Ginny to become a scapegoat.”
Allerton didn’t like being called a thief any more than Reaper liked Ginny being called one.
“The transaction of the arti
fact I acquired was legal. I purchased it from a highly respectable auction house. As a matter of fact, the only reason it was so easily stolen was because I was sending it back to the country of origin to facilitate a good will endeavor. The attempt failed and thousands of children are still at risk to this day because the country refuses to accept any aid from any country. I was hoping to use my charity to open the door, which remains firmly closed to any outsiders. Call me an optimist, but if am able to return the artifact, then at long last my charity could be the key to making headway into securing help for people who desperately need food, clean water, and shelter. We would earn their trust as an independent organization by returning the artifact. The only one preventing that success is your wife, Mr. James.”
“Then we’re in a stalemate, because she doesn’t have it to return.”
The two men exchanged cold looks. Reaper would be damned if he was the first to break the stare down, and Allerton appeared the same.
“I have a suggestion.” Agent Collins was the one to break the staring contest.
“Then let’s hear it.” Allerton broke the stare with him to focus on the agent.
In a contest of wills, the wealthy businessman would never give in so easily. Therefore, Reaper wasn’t fooled that Agent Collins and Allerton had a prearranged plan.
“I can arrange a lie detector test for Mrs. James to take. If she passes, Mr. Allerton, you will be able to look in other areas for the culprit, and Mrs. James will be able to move on with a clear conscience.”
“My wife could have been asked at any time before our arrival on your island for a lie detector test, and she would have happily agreed … after our lawyer assured us of the examiner’s credentials. Ginny will not be taking one here without our lawyer present to review the questions being asked. When we return to the States, a test can be arranged once those demands have been met.”
“Years have been lost in the search for the artifact. I refuse to waste more valuable time. As owner of Sherguevil Island and where Mrs. James committed the crime, this matter needs to be settled before Mrs. James will be allowed to leave.”
“By whose authority?”
“I am the sole authority for this island, which puts Evangeline under my jurisdiction.”
“Are you placing me under arrest for a crime you say I committed when I was three years old? How does that even make sense?”
Ginny’s calmness had him wanting to cheer her on. She was easily holding her own, refusing to let his threats get to her.
“Of course not. I’m merely not approving you to leave until you submit to the lie detector test. If you fail, that means you are withholding knowledge of the crime of stealing the artifact. I have been desperately searching for years, and withholding any information is an obstruction of justice on my island. Mrs. James, I suggest you and your husband deliberate on taking the test and give me an answer by morning. Meanwhile, please accept my invitation to a private dinner party tonight. Your mother will be there. She has been awaiting your arrival.”
Reaper wanted to tell him to shove his invitation but let Ginny make the decision.
“My father won’t be there?” Ginny asked.
“My dear, I hate to be the one tasked of informing you, but your father was delegated to an emergency response team three days after your arrival.”
“You’re just now telling me?” Ginny sent Agent Collins a castigating glare.
Allerton drew her gaze back to him. “We didn’t anticipate there would be a need to disappoint you. Soleil and I, as well as Jasper, assumed he would be gone only a few days leaving enough time to make it back before you were out of isolation. Regrettably, late last night, Jasper informed us because of the outbreak of Legionnaires from the contaminated water supply, the workers have been ill, thus hampering the efforts to repair the water system.
“I can see your disappointment, which your parents share. Your father promises to fly back as soon as everything is under control, and he’s asked me in his absence to provide the emotional support for Soleil. Of course, I gladly agreed.
Ginny deadpanned, “I’m relieved my supposed theft didn’t affect your friendship.”
“Our friendship has spanned over twenty-five years. I don’t believe in holding parents accountable for their children’s actions. Your parents have been living on the Sherguevil Island since your mother’s retirement from teaching, which has deepened our ties. Naturally, she is a bundle of nerves at meeting you. It was my suggestion to have a small dinner party to put both of you at ease.
“Soleil is a dear friend of mine, and I’ve had to watch her grieve your loss and your sister’s estrangement for many years. I’m looking forward to witnessing the reunion. So, until tonight, then? Shall we say seven? That should give you ample time to go back to the bungalow and change.”
Reaper wanted to call bullshit. Ginny’s father, Jasper, wasn’t the only water engineer on Allerton’s payroll. Even then, there was no reason to make the mother-daughter reunion public. No, either Allerton or Ginny’s parents didn’t want them to have a private meeting.
“Don’t worry. If you didn’t include an appropriate change of dress in your luggage, I’ll have my personal assistant send over a selection of clothes for you both to wear from my private boutique. Agent Collins, feel free to join us.”
“Thank-you. I would love to attend. I’m bored with my own company, and my men can enjoy the night off,” Agent Collins accepted, then stood and motioned for Ginny to get up.
Taking Ginny’s arm when she rose from the chair, Reaper guided her out of the room, then led her to the elevator to push the button, not waiting for Agent Collins to catch up. Wanting to shove him out the elevator when he managed to make it before the doors closed, Reaper restrained himself. He needed to play nice until he was given no choice, for Ginny’s sake. The agent was as dirty as a blackhead pimple. He didn’t know if the other agents were, but he wasn’t going to pop the pimple until he had no choice. He wanted the poison contained to where he could see it, not spread out where one of the newbies could make a mistake that could get themselves or Ginny killed.
“It was nice of Mr. Allerton to have a party for your mother and you,” Collins remarked conversationally as they stepped out of the elevator.
“Very nice.”
Reaper gritted his teeth and gave Ginny a searching look to see if she was serious.
“Can you explain to me exactly the role the FBI is supposed to play here?” Reaper asked bluntly the moment they stepped outside. “From where I’m standing, it seems the only reason you’re here is to facilitate Allerton throwing Ginny under a fucking bus.”
“Gavin, the FBI are only trying to clear up a situation that I could be responsible for. I’m thankful for their help. I want the misunderstanding resolved as much as Mr. Allerton does.”
“Mrs. James is correct. The US is determined to assist in having the artifact returned to Mr. Allerton. Your wife is instrumental to the process of accomplishing that objective. The country of origin has a policy of not taking any foreign aid. Any headway Mr. Allerton can accomplish is a foot in the right direction in establishing a trusting relationship with them, which benefits the US by initiating conversations previously denied.”
“How is she supposed to help when she can’t remember? How much do you remember at that age? Does the FBI know which artifact Allerton claims was stolen?”
“No, unfortunately, we don’t. Which is another concern of ours.”
“Concern? I didn’t see an ounce of concern for Ginny in that office.”
“What are you suggesting?” Agent Collins asked stiffly. “I’m getting tired of you insinuating Mrs. James is in some type of danger. Mr. Allerton has been nothing but gracious in this situation. When the FBI contacted Mr. Allerton, he’d already known about Evangeline being alive; her parents told him. While he hasn’t been very forthcoming with specific details about the artifact, my superiors understand Mr. Allerton’s wariness. He has to take into account the
safety of his guests if treasure hunters learn of the value of the lost artifact. We also have to take into consider its disappearance correlated with Mrs. James departure from the island, along with the fact she never returned. When we explained to Evangeline what Mr. Allerton had told us, she agreed to meet with Mr. Allerton to clear up this unfortunate incident. She was given the choice to return to Sherguevil Island or remain on US soil. She chose the former.”
“And to convince Ginny to choose Sherguevil Island, the FBI gave The Last Riders a get-out-jail-free card.”
“We did,” Agent Collins acknowledged with a withering stare, “which directly benefited you.”
Reaper wanted to ream the agent a new asshole but couldn’t because that part was at least the fucking truth. The agent took advantage of the self-flagellation Reaper was experiencing to press on with his agenda. “The easiest way to get Mrs. James homebound is to take the test. With her guilt out of the mix, Mr. Allerton will be forced to reveal more details about the artifact. If the facts Mrs. James has shared are true, I don’t see any reason we can’t wrap this up in the next couple of days.”
Reaper considered the woman he thought he knew. Every day with Ginny, he found out something new. All The Last Riders, including him, thought she was the girl next-door.
Reaper silently laughed, planning to shove that discovery down Shade’s and Rider’s throats if he ever saw them again. Ginny was no more the girl next-door than he was. She was a shot of tequila when you were expecting a chardonnay. The little worm at the end was a punch to the gut with another secret uncovered.
“What if she doesn’t pass?”
Ginny’s eyes broke away at his question.
“In the best-case scenario, Mr. Allerton will accept your offer to find him another artifact at a comparable price.”
“He said it was priceless,” Reaper reminded him.
“Then we’ll have to cross that bridge when we come to it. I don’t understand your attitude. None of the information Mrs. James has given the FBI would place her life in danger. Mr. Allerton is one of the most well-regarded philanthropists in the world. There isn’t a blemish on his record. In fact, his whole life has been, and continues to be, an open book. While yours, on the other hand … well”—the agent was even more reproving—“we’ll leave it at that.” Assuming they were done talking, Agent Collins resumed walking toward their waiting Moke.
