by C. B. Clark
The sun disappeared behind a cloud, and she shivered in the sudden chill. What was taking Russ so long? She needed his calm, reassuring presence with a bone-deep ache. “What happened, JD?”
“William tried—” His face crumpled, and he faltered as a sob shook him. “He tried to reach Anna, but he’d hit his head on somethin’ when the boat capsized, and he was hurt bad.” He smoothed the palm of his hand over his greasy hair. “A wave caught him, and he was washed farther away. It…it was gettin’ dark, and…and…” He buried his face in his weathered hands.
She struggled to digest his horrifying tale. “What about my mother? Was she okay?” But she knew she wasn’t. She’d never seen her mother again after that fateful sailing trip.
He fixed bloodshot eyes on her. “He tried to save her. I believe that. God knows he loved her. He’d forgive her no matter what she’d done. But the current was too strong, and he—” His throat worked. “The first I knew they were in trouble was when they were late gettin’ back. I had a feelin’ somethin’ was up.
“I launched your parents’ ketch so I could run a search grid, but—” He stopped and stared into the darkening forest, his throat working.
Her brain felt like it was stuffed with gauze, as she fought to make sense of his unbelievable tale. Her parents drowned? Impossible. Even if the seas were rough and the currents strong, they were both good swimmers.
He tossed the empty beer bottle at the can but missed, and the bottle crashed on the hard-packed ground and broke. “I need whiskey. Where the hell’s that man of yours?”
“Tell me the rest.” Her voice was wooden.
His eyes narrowed. “You sure you can handle it? You’re lookin’ a mite peaked.”
“Just tell me.”
“I found William, but there was nothin’ I could do. He’d lost too much blood.” He pinned a beseeching gaze on her. “I think he was hangin’ on just so he could make me promise I’d save your mom. I left him there on the boat and searched for hours.” He forked his fingers through his gray, stringy hair. “By the time I found her, it was too late.” He winced and pressed his swollen knuckles into his lower back. “Her body washed up on shore later that night.”
She couldn’t speak, could barely think. Terrifying images of her parents struggling against the cold ocean currents and finally losing their battle assailed her. She shuddered, swallowing back nausea.
The rumble of a well-tuned car engine filled the twilight, and Russ drove into the yard.
Otis barked and raced across the weed-filled lawn, greeting Russ as if he’d been gone for weeks instead of an hour.
Russ climbed out of the car and petted Otis. He stepped around the excited beast and approached the porch, a bottle in his hand. “Your directions weren’t great, JD. I ended up on an old logging road before I realized I was lost. Luckily, someone came by and—” He stopped. His gaze fixed on her. “What happened?”
A lump filled her throat, and tears pricked her eyes. She gripped her chair tightly, so she didn’t run into his arms and dissolve in tears.
JD lurched out of his chair. “I gotta take a piss.” He stumbled across the deck and disappeared inside the trailer.
The slamming of the screen door released her from her stupor, and she shot from her chair and into Russ’s arms, almost knocking him off the porch. The tears she’d been holding back burst free.
He held her tight. “What’s going on? What happened?”
The awful words spilled out. “My…my parents…they’re dead.” She backed out of his arms and wiped her tears with her sleeve.
He set the whiskey bottle on the table and sat down, patting the chair beside him. “Tell me what JD said.”
She stumbled over to the chair and collapsed. Inhaling a breath, she recounted the shocking tale.
The fine lines at the corners of his mouth grooved deeper, and by the time she was finished, his face was a thundercloud. “I’m so sorry. I know this wasn’t what you wanted to hear.” He brought his lips to hers and kissed her, tender, close-mouthed.
She shrugged out of his embrace. His sympathy would be her undoing. As it was, she was barely holding on to her sanity.
The screen door banged open, and JD plodded across the deck. His gaze went straight to the bottle on the table. He rubbed his hands together and licked his lips. “Got the good stuff, I see.” He cackled and reached for the bottle.
Russ shot to his feet and gripped JD’s arm, stopping him. “No way, old man. You’re not getting another drink until we’re done.”
“What the hell you talkin’ about? I told her everything I know. What more do you want?”
Russ tightened his grip. “I’m not convinced you’re telling the truth.”
JD scrubbed his gnarly hand through his hair until the thin strands stood up in greasy gray clumps. “Of course I am, I—”
“What happened to the Silver Shadow?” One final squeeze and Russ released his hold on JD. “How come the catamaran was never found?”
JD rubbed his arm and averted his gaze. “I dunno. I guess the hull was crushed against the rocks. Deadman’s Banks will pulverize any vessel. All that’d be left would be bits and pieces, and those would wash away in the currents.”
Chapter 38
“So, you’re telling us that neither the police nor their trained divers found any evidence of the boat because the bits and pieces washed away?” Russ injected steel into the question. JD was lying. Russ had suspected something was off the second the old man opened the door. That was why he’d offered to get JD a beer. He’d wanted a chance to check out his place, to see what he was hiding. And that’s when he found the camera. And the cocaine.
The story of the capsized catamaran was unbelievable. The old man was lying through his rotten teeth. He glanced at Athena, and his heart lurched at the translucent paleness of her skin. Dark circles rimmed her eyes, and her sea-blue irises were hollow with wounded hurt. Anger punched a hole in his gut, and he pinned hard eyes on JD and slid the bottle of whiskey closer. “Have a drink. Maybe that’ll loosen your tongue.”
JD grabbed the bottle, twisted off the cap, and slugged back a swallow. He coughed and sputtered, his eyes watering. Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he set the bottle on the floor beside him. “I tried to save your parents, Maggie. Really, I did. You have to believe me.”
Her mouth tightened, but she remained silent.
Otis galloped across the clearing, his tongue lolling, tail wagging.
A butterfly fluttered in the air, highlighted by a shaft of soft light from the setting sun, and the dog skidded to an abrupt halt, swerved, and gave chase, oblivious to the thick tension on the porch.
“Now tell us what really happened to the O’Flynns’ boat.” Russ rubbed the burn in his gut. JD’s story stunk like rotten fish. “The truth this time.”
JD swilled another slurp of whiskey. “No one knew about the Silver Shadow. The boat wasn’t registered. I won it in a poker game, under the table, so to speak.” He wiped his mouth. “Everyone figured Anna and William left the island on their ketch. The Coast Guard found pieces of a smashed boat, but when the broken parts weren’t a match to the O’Flynns’ boat, they didn’t connect them to your parents’ disappearance.” He closed his eyes, looking like he was about to pass out. “And that’s all I can tell you.”
Russ had had enough. He gripped JD’s scrawny arm and squeezed until the old man was forced to open his eyes and meet his gaze. “Oh, I think you can tell us the rest.”
JD sputtered and opened his mouth to protest, but no words escaped.
“Not good enough.” Russ tightened his grip. “Try again, old man.”
“Come on, JD. You owe me the truth.” Athena’s face was pale and pinched. “Tell us what you know.”
The seconds ticked by, one sonorous beat after another.
JD exhaled, his shoulders sagged, and his body deflated. “Okay, okay. I’ll tell you the rest, but then I want you both outta here.”
Rus
s released his hold on JD’s arm. “Start talking.”
JD reached for the bottle, but Russ got there first and held it out of reach. “You get another drink when you tell the truth.”
JD stared at the bottle and licked his lips. He dropped his hands to his lap and blew out a shaky breath. “Like I said, William was hurt bad. I tried to stop the bleedin’, but I was too late.” He turned pleading, bloodshot eyes on Athena. “Your father knew he was dyin’, and he knew Anna was gone. He pleaded with me to keep you safe.” He swiped beads of sweat from his forehead. “He loved you. That’s why I told the cops what I did, Maggie girl. To protect you from the awful truth.”
“So, you thought it was better I believed my parents had deserted me all these years?” Athena’s face was so pale she looked as if she were about to pass out.
Russ ached to take her in his arms and soothe her grief, but he couldn’t. Not now. Not when they were so close to getting answers. He caught her eye and sent her a silent message. Be strong, my love, be strong. His heart leaped into his throat. My love? Where the hell had that come from?
Focus, damn it!
If he was going to get this drunk old man to tell the truth, he had to concentrate. “Why didn’t you call the authorities? If William and Anna O’Flynn’s deaths were an accident like you say, why didn’t you call the Coast Guard?”
JD chewed on a ragged cuticle. “I…I wanted to. Really I did.”
“So, what was the problem?” Russ tried not to snarl, but he was losing the battle. He ached to plow his fist into the deceitful man’s face. He stuffed his hands into his pants pockets. As much as he wanted to find out the truth, hurting JD wouldn’t help.
Tears glistened in JD’s puffy eyes. “I’m sorry, Maggie. I hated lying to you.” JD chewed on his lip and searched the lengthening shadows. “But like I said, I didn’t have a choice. If word got out, Angus—”
“Don’t bring Angus into this.” Russ rubbed the knot in the back of his neck. Had he stumbled into an alternate universe? Nothing JD said made sense. Angus couldn’t have been involved in this nightmare. No way.
JD stared at the bottle of whiskey and licked his lips. “Any chance of me havin’ another drink?”
“Not until you tell us what you know. Once we’re done, you can drink your face off as far as I’m concerned.”
Athena lurched forward, a gamut of emotions flitting across her ashen face—fear, dread, sorrow… Her blue eyes shone with unshed tears. “Please, JD, tell us the truth. How was Angus involved?”
JD wiped his streaming nose with his sleeve. “You sure I can’t have just one little sip?”
“Keep talking.” Russ spat the words between his clenched teeth. The story was taking forever, yet not nearly long enough. He dreaded learning the extent of Angus’s culpability in the senseless tragedy; yet, he had to know.
“Like I told you, my supply boat business wasn’t doin’ so good. My bitch of an ex was hounding me for child support, and I owed a lot of money to some pretty bad dudes.” JD gnawed on a torn cuticle, drawing blood. “Angus offered me a shitload of cash to burn those photos of him and Anna.” He waved a shaky hand at the rustic mobile home. “Enough to pay off my debts and buy this place. I needed the money. I didn’t have a choice.”
Russ tightened his hands into fists, relaxed his aching fingers, and clenched them again as he asked the question the whole convoluted nightmare circled around. “What the hell did you do, JD?”
“I—” JD opened his mouth, but snapped his lips closed when a rusted, red, four-by-four pickup truck careened into the yard, spraying clumps of mud and grass.
The vehicle skidded to a stop, and the driver’s door swung open. A tall, thin man with a bushy red beard and wearing a red cap pulled low over his eyes jumped out and planted his hands on his hips. “What the hell’s going on here?”
Chapter 39
Athena shot a look at JD. His weathered face had drained of color, and his body seemed to have folded in on itself. His hands shook as, with a furtive glance at Russ, he snatched the whiskey bottle and sucked down a long swig.
She swung back to the new arrival.
Even in the dimming light of encroaching dusk, the anger on the man’s bearded face blazed like a torch. “I asked you a goddamned question.” He stomped across the weed-infested grass, his heavy-soled black boots thudding the hard ground.
Otis raced out of the trees barking in greeting, his tail wagging.
The man stopped and glared at the dog. “Who the hell is this mutt?”
Otis’s tail slowed its rapid swishing and slipped between his hind legs. His ears flattened, and he slunk down, making a beeline to Athena. He cowered behind her legs.
The man glowered. “Who the hell are you people, and why are you harassing my father?”
Athena backed up a step, her heart shuddering. This was JD’s son?
Russ stepped forward, his body rigid, a friendly smile pasted on his face. “We’re not causing any trouble. We’re just asking your father a few questions.” His voice was pleasant, but his hands were fisted at his sides.
“Shawn. What…what are you doing here?” JD’s voice trembled, his words slurring. “I…I thought you was in Vancouver.”
“I was on the ferry when Randy Stevens gave me a call. Said you had some visitors. Thought you might need some help.” Shawn clomped up the steps onto the porch. His lip curled in a sneer. “Looks like he was right. You’re drunk.” He turned accusing eyes on Russ and then her. “Did you buy him the whiskey?”
Athena gulped at the menace in his icy gaze. “I—”
“Wait a minute.” His eyes narrowed, and he moved a step closer. “I know you. You’re Maggie O’Flynn, or should I call you Athena Reynolds? That’s the fancy name you go by now, isn’t it?” Spittle sprayed from his mouth. “What the hell are you doing here?”
She blinked. He knew who she was? How was that possible? The red hat with the black design, the beard…it all clicked. She’d seen him somewhere. But where? Before she could fumble an answer, Russ moved closer, his shoulder brushing hers.
“We came here today to ask your father some questions,” he said.
“You did, did you?” Shawn focused his scowl on JD. “And what have you been telling them, old man?”
“Nothin’.” JD licked his lips. “I ain’t told them nothin’, Shawn.”
“Really?” He snorted. “Why don’t I believe you?” He ripped the whiskey bottle from JD and tossed it across the yard. It landed with a heavy clunk in the dark.
“Hey! Why the hell you gotta do that? That was mine.” JD’s voice was a piteous whine.
Shawn ignored his father’s outrage and faced Russ. “I know who she is—” He jerked his thumb at Athena. “—but I don’t know you. What do you want with my dad?”
“Like I said, we’re asking your father some questions. That’s all.”
Shawn’s blue eyes narrowed. “Questions about what?” He tore off his cap and threaded his fingers through his long red hair.
Athena drew in a shaky breath. “JD was explaining what happened to my parents. Please, you have to let him finish.”
Shawn spun toward his father. “You been runnin’ your mouth?” He lunged to the table, snatched the camera, and dangled it by the strap. “What the hell, Dad?”
JD reeled back from his son’s anger. “I haven’t told ’em nothin’, Shawn. I…I was just sayin’ how Angus Crawford gave me the money for this place. That’s all.” The words slurred and ran together in a continuous stream.
“He’s had too much to drink. He doesn’t know what the hell he’s saying. It’s time you two left.” Shawn’s tone made clear his words weren’t a request.
She frowned. Why was he so anxious to get them away from his father? What was the man afraid JD would say? “Please, let him finish. I need to know what happened.”
The lines on his face beneath the ginger beard hardened. “I told you to leave. Now get the hell off our property.”
Otis whimpered and licked her hand.
She shivered at the malice in Shawn’s icy eyes. “There’s no need to get upset. We’re leaving.” She crossed the deck, Otis shadowing her heels.
Russ didn’t budge. “Hold on, Athena.” He turned to JD. “Come on, JD. It’s truth time. Let’s cut the crap. You know who I am. You knew it the second you saw me. Am I right?”
JD’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Finally, he inhaled a deep breath. “You’re Angus’s son.”
Russ nodded. “Good. Now we’re getting somewhere.” He set his hands on his hips. “There’s no way the events happened the way you described. You may have tried to blackmail Angus, but I knew my father. He wouldn’t have paid you a penny for those pictures. Besides, I’ve checked his old bank records. There weren’t any large withdrawals at the time the O’Flynns went missing.”
A cold heaviness settled in her chest as a sickening realization struck her, and in spite of Shawn’s looming presence, she blurted, “You killed them, didn’t you, JD? You killed my parents.”
JD wiped the snot leaking from his nose. “No, things happened just like I said.”
Shawn held up his hand. “Shut up, Dad! You’ve said enough.”
She ignored Shawn and focused on JD. “I’ll tell you what I think happened.” She moved closer to JD, invading his personal space, making him squirm. His sour stench gagged her. “The boat capsized, and Mom and Dad were washed overboard. My mother…drowned like you said, but Dad survived. But then you killed him. You had to. He found more than photos on the catamaran. Didn’t he?”
JD’s bloodshot eyes widened.
She rushed on, determined to finish this once and for all, no matter the consequences. “You were a drug dealer. You’re still one.” She nodded at the bulge in his front pocket. “Dad found your stash of drugs. Isn’t that right? That’s the only thing that makes sense.” She inhaled a wavering breath. “He was going to tell Angus, and Angus would have called the cops. You’d be arrested and end up in jail. You couldn’t let that happen. All the money Angus paid you to take photos of me would be gone, wouldn’t it?”