by Trixie More
“Mom, I’m worried about Alice, very worried.” He didn’t want to frighten his mother, but he needed her full attention. “This isn’t just that she’s not answering her phone.” His phone vibrated as another call came in. “I’ve got to go. I’ll let you know what I find out.” Doug squinted at his phone; he did not want to risk cutting the new call short. What if it was her?
Sweat trickled down his face. He willed himself to stay calm. The new caller came on.
“So, you decided to answer this time. Smart.” The voice was the same as before, low and rasping. He’d stared down lots of asshole losers in prison, but when he’d done that, it was only his own wellbeing on the line. Now he was stone-cold frightened.
“Where’s Alice?”
A low whistle came over the air, the man’s voice taking on a mocking tone. “Boy, oh boy. You get right to the point, don’t you? I didn’t have to say anything and you’ve got it all figured out.” The man paused. “Ain’t that right? You got it all figured out, Lloyd?”
“I don’t need to know anything about any of this,” Doug said, proud that his voice came out strong and clear. “If Alice isn’t alive or you don’t have her, we can hang up right now. Ain’t that right?” He pressed mute and let himself exhale before he unmuted himself again. He heard the clang of a buoy in the background, and suddenly he just knew where she was.
“We’ve got her, all right. Here’s how this thing is going to go down,” the voice said. “You come down here to Florida, bring a wad of cash with you, two hundred grand will do, and we’ll give you Alice back. No problem.”
“If I don’t do what you want?”
“Well, then we’ll make sure Alice here gets to take a nice long swim off her boat. Too bad I can’t keep it, the boat. It’s a beauty.”
“It might take a couple of days to get the money out of the bank and get a flight,” Doug said.
“Takes twenty-four hours to drive here,” the voice said. “If’n you don’t stop. You and I both know you’re not going to fly with all that money. You have until tomorrow at two p.m. to be at the marina.”
“Not going to happen,” Doug said. “Not without proof she’s okay. See, I think you already killed her and you’re in Key West.”
“Well, then, just wait it out, Lloyd. No skin off your back then, right?” The voice was still mocking.
“Let me talk to her,” he said as calmly as he could.
“I don’t think so,” the voice said.
“Okay, well, I can’t say it was nice talkin’ to you,” Doug said. He prayed he wasn’t making a mistake. “I’m safe and well, right here.”
“That’s a mistake, Lloyd. My boss’ll just as soon kill you where you stand. This is your one chance, otherwise, both you and your sister will be just memories.”
“I don’t think so. Your boss would have done that first, if he thought he could.”
“I’m a nice guy,” the voice said. “I’ll wait until nine p.m. tomorrow. If you’re not at the marina, standing on the dock where your sister’s boat ought to be, then she’s dead.”
Doug didn’t respond. His finger shook so badly, he could hardly hang up the call. When the line went dead, he sat in stunned shock for about thirty seconds. He looked up the number for the Coast Guard in Fort Myers.
“My sister’s been hijacked,” he said to the dispatch. He put the phone on speaker, turned on the very bright light next to his recliner and sat on the edge, flicking open the GPS app. Her boat was already far out into the gulf of Mexico.
He provided the Coast Guard with the coordinates and the direction of the boat. He gave them the name of the GPS system he used, the name of the app, and his credentials. “I’m going to be flying there as soon as I get a flight, so as soon as you can connect, can you call me back and let me know? I don’t want to be on the flight and you not be able to find her.”
“We don’t expect any trouble getting the signal, Mr. Lloyd.”
“Let me give you her cell phone too, in case it’s on.”
He gave them all the information he had, and then he was whispering prayers to God as he started searching for a nonstop flight to Naples. He found a flight leaving at seven p.m. from Newark, landing in Miami at midnight. Fuckers. He’d be there eighteen hours earlier than expected. With any luck the Coast Guard would already have her. He bought the ticket and grabbed his wallet, a phone charger and his keys. He tossed a change of clothes in a bag. Then he logged into the business’s brokerage account and cashed out enough holdings to pay the kidnappers and transferred it to his personal account. He’d worry about the ramifications of that, later.
In a half hour, he was on the path train to Newark Airport—again.
The gate at Newark was black and gray. Quite possibly the darkest, most unwelcoming place to wait for a plane ever imagined. None of that mattered to Doug. All he cared about was that the flight was on time, and they were still boarding the first-class passengers when he arrived.
During the ride over, he’d called his baby sister and arranged for her to meet him at the airport. He’d also had time to think about who might want him out of New York. After all, anything he was looking into with his money could be done from anywhere. The only reason that anyone might want him to physically leave the city was to get him in trouble with his bail. No hearings were coming up in the next couple of days, no reason to think anyone would know he’d left the city. On the other hand, since he was flying down there, it wouldn’t be hard to prove he was gone. The funny thing was, the thought of going back to jail seemed like child’s play to him now. Alice alone, way out in the Gulf, where it might take the Coast Guard hours to get to her? Fuck. Doug struggled to pull in a breath past the tightness in his chest. Breathe in. One. Stay in control.
The ransom demand for Alice was low, and since Doug suspected Camisa was behind this, he didn’t think money was the main point, at least not for this. It was the central point for everything Marco did, Doug was sure, but not this particular sum of money. So why else would they bother with Alice? There was only one reason Doug could think of—to get him out of New York, but why? There were only two things in New York that mattered to him—Sophia and Tommy. Even after everything that had happened, the money, the business, the sale of his home, Tommy was blood to him. They weren’t brothers genetically, but they might as well have been, and Doug loved him. He was family. Sophia, well, she was everything else.
What if the point of all this was to keep him away from Sophia?
The question was gnawing at him. It didn’t make sense. If he had any information relating to how in the hell Camisa managed to kill Colton Gerrimond, he could just send it to Sophia. He didn’t have to be in the same city as her.
That left Tommy. Maybe Marco was going to try to do something to Tommy. Why? Tommy didn’t know anything. He’d been a pawn, a way for Camisa to get one more large investor. Just one among many. Nothing notably different between Tommy and any of the others, so if Marco wanted to hurt Tommy, he’d want to hurt all the investors, right?
No, it had to be Sophia, and now, Doug was about to play right into Marco’s hands by getting on this plane.
The main cabin began boarding as he dialed Sophia. The phone rang four times and went to voice mail.
Doug would need to use the phone to scan the boarding pass. He stepped out of line, moving to the back.
“Sophia, it’s Doug. Listen, I need you to be extra careful. I’m not sure, but I think Camisa might be looking for you. Call me when you get this.”
He dialed Tommy.
“‘Lo?”
“Tommy,” Doug said.
“Doug? What’s up?”
“I’ve got to go to Florida.”
“When?”
“I’m boarding now.”
“Now? Aren’t you supposed to stay in the city? Didn’t you learn anything?”
“I have to go. I need to check on my sisters.”
“You haven’t checked on your sisters in fifteen years,” Tommy sa
id. He sounded more awake now. “What’s going on?”
“I, I think Camisa kidnapped Alice,” Doug said. The woman in front of him stiffened. Eavesdropper.
“What?” Tommy was fully awake now. “What?”
“I got a call, they demanded ransom,” he said. Several passengers glanced over at him. “Look, I need you to do me a favor. Hold on.” Doug flipped through his screen, got his boarding pass, and passed it over the glass. He headed down the gangway. “I’m boarding now. I need you to keep an eye on Sophia.”
“The prosecutor? Why?”
“I think they want me out of the city because they’re going to do something to her.”
“Are you nuts? Why the hell would that involve you? You’re a blind man with a back injury. Why would you matter to them?”
“You could be right, Tommy. I can’t figure it out, but I’m worried about her. I want you to keep an eye on her, watch out for her.”
“She’s a prosecutor, you idiot. How can I protect her? She would be who I’d go to if I wanted protection.”
“Look, I called her and left a message, but I’m about to get on a plane. I’m not sure how any of this is fitting together. Just promise me you’ll check on her. Take her to dinner, escort her home from work, keep an eye on her.”
“You’re out of your mind, Doug.” Tommy’s voice was cold.
“You’re angry?” Doug asked.
“Yeah, Doug. I’m angry.”
“Why?”
“You’re an ass.” Tommy hung up.
Marley watched Sophia leave. Girl looked like a lovesick woman. In some ways, that was good for Marley. She didn’t have to feel so bad, taking her friend’s man. After all, maybe this was the best thing for everyone—if only Sophia didn’t do something idiotic like turn Doug in.
Not that it was her problem. Marley had a more urgent issue. Pretty much, Sophia was going to put one and two together and come up with three soon. So that meant she had to tell Ben the truth before that happened.
Since her lovesick friend was very, very smart, Marley had better do it quickly. She wouldn’t put it past Sophia to tell Ben. Since Sophia didn’t have Doug to keep her busy, who knew when that would be? No, Marley had to get this done.
She left the kitchen, dug her phone out of her purse, and sent a text to her baby-daddy.
Weeknights were sometimes early, but Marley didn’t have the luck with her today. By the time the last of the pickups came in, and she cleaned the grill, the stove, and put all the dishes away, it was after ten p.m.
It would be very late by the time she got home, and Karito would go to school once again without talking to her mother. Marley straightened her spine. Her little girl was strong. She was strong too. She would get through this, but she wouldn’t take a man who didn’t want her and her daughter. She cleaned up in the ladies’ room, locked the door, and headed next door.
“I’ll take a cab, please,” she told the Aussie. “No jokes about taxis.” She dropped a ten on the bar. It was just for show; she and the bartender both knew her money was no good there.
“Marley.” Rose came out of the kitchen, a warm smile on her crinkled face. “You drinking alone, young lady?” Rose hopped onto the stool next to her.
“I have something to tell you, and I need to know you and me will be okay,” Marley answered. No point in beating around things.
“Whoa, that must be big,” Rose said. “Maybe as big as the fact that you’re going to start dating Ben?”
Marley couldn’t have been more surprised if Harris had dumped her wine into her lap. “You know? How?”
“Oh, Marley, you’re such a silly thing,” Rose said. “Harris, I think today I’ll have a nice bourbon. On the rocks with a splash, please.”
“Coming right up,” he said. It came out sounding like roight, and Rose leaned into Marley’s shoulder as if she was still a young woman, and for a moment, Marley’s heart ached for all her own mother had lost to bring her to this country with its strange language and customs. Her mother would never act young again.
Rose bumped her. “Hey, isn’t that accent so interesting?” Rose grinned.
“Knock it off, boss, or I’ll be filin’ a complaint on you. I’m feeling a might harassed,” Harris said, his grin negating his words.
“So, how did you?” Marley asked.
“Marley. When Ben’s around you find him just as interesting as an Aussie accent on a tall, rugged man.” Rose poked her and thanked Harris. “Doesn’t she, Harris?”
“Myself, I’ve no opinion about anything like dat,” he said and underscored his words by wandering away to the other end of the bar where several locals were finishing their evening.
“So, I’m right?” Rose asked.
“Yes, you are,” Marley said. “You’re not mad?”
“Oh no, I’m delighted,” said Rose. “Oh, I know that Sophia is a little lost right now,” she continued, flapping her hand in the air. If she was waving at Marley or because she’d just downed half her glass in one go, Marley didn’t know.
“Why’re you celebrating?” Marley asked.
“I’m toasting you, my girl,” Rose said and clinked her glass against Marley’s stemware hard enough that Marley had to jump to keep it from spilling. “I always liked Ben, but he and my Sophia were just not good for each other. He was too easy on her, and she was far too hard on him.”
“Huh,” Marley muttered. If she had tried all day, she wouldn’t have imagined that answer, but in reality, it fit. Rose knew her granddaughter very well, and wouldn’t want her to spend her life with someone that didn’t make her heart sing. Marley wondered how happy Rose would be when she found out who it was that Sophia really wanted? Then again, there’d been that fight right behind the restaurant. Rose might have already figured it all out.
The bell on the door chimed. Marley didn’t even have to turn around to know who had just come in. She could feel his eyes on her back. Rose gave a little squeak and jumped off the stool.
“Come over here, Ben,” Rose called, not waiting for him to move toward her. She was already hustling over, looping her arm through Ben’s, and leading him over to Marley. “Take my stool, I’m heading to the kitchen. Harris will get you something on me. Are you hungry?”
Ben bussed Rose’s cheek. “I ate hours ago but I wouldn’t turn down some calamari.”
Rose smiled and hustled off to the kitchen, leaving Marley to her task.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi yourself,” Ben said back. He kissed her cheek, and she wanted to climb into his lap. Wanted everyone in the bar to know he was hers. If Rose was okay with it and Sophia already knew, then Marley wanted to get started.
“I’m glad you could come,” Marley said. How to begin? “I, I need to tell you something and it’s pretty important. Can we go to a booth?”
“Sure,” Ben said. He grabbed up Marley’s glass and her purse, told Harris he’d take a coffee and moved them over to a private booth.
Marley patted the seat next to her. “Sit by me.”
Once the little crunchy calamari rings had come, and the coffee, there was nothing left to delay her.
“Ben, what do you think will happen to us?”
He put down his cup. “What do you mean?”
“To us,” she said, her voice rising a bit. “Don’t play dumb with me.”
“Marley, I...” He hesitated and her heart hammered in her chest. Why was he taking so long to answer?
“I just broke up with Sophia,” he said.
Oh no, no, no, her heart beat out. Here it came. He would want to date a bunch of people, he’d want to try being single for a while, he wasn’t looking for anything permanent. She would beat him silly if it came to that. She would beat him with the plastic napkin holder and then she’d run away and scream.
“Are you all right?” he asked, his eyebrows lowered, eyes squinting at her. “Are you hot?”
“Yes! Yes! I’m fine. I’m fine. Just tell me!” She flapped her hand a
t him, hurrying him along. Men could be so slow. Why were they all so careful?
“Marley, I’m confused. Are you mad? Are you sick?”
“Oh my God!” Estupido. Sometimes this man was so thick. “I want to know what you think will happen, with us, with you and me.”
“And Karito?” he asked.
Maybe not so dumb after all. She forced herself to be calm. “Yes, with you, me, and Karito.”
“Marley, I had a great time this weekend...”
That did it. She couldn’t help it, couldn’t stop it. To her everlasting frustration, Marley started to cry.
Chapter 28
Oh, shit. He was fucking this all up. Ben stared at Marley, hardly knowing what to do with her. She was crying, her rounded nose was red, and tears were glistening in her brown eyes, making them more luminous and, frankly, way more terrifying than usual.
“Marley, honey, don’t cry,” he tried. She glared at him and waved her fingers between them like she was batting a ball back out into the bar with one hand while the other swished frantically around in her purse.
Tissue. Of course, he didn’t have any. He reached over her and plucked a napkin from the holder and handed it to her. One minute it was between his fingers, and the next, it was clutched in her fist. He was lucky he still had all his digits. He smiled. She was so her. She was angry and hurt, and he knew it. The thought clarified things for him. He reached around her and pulled her close into his side. She was sniffling now and blowing her nose, but she didn’t resist him.
“Just wait a minute. I’m not as fast at things as you are. Just hear me out, okay?”
The woman in his arms nodded, the round knob of her shoulder hard beneath his fingers. He could feel the firm muscle of her bicep beneath the sleeve of her purple “I cooked a goose. Was it yours?” T-shirt. He ran his hand back up, feeling the bone and muscle of her. She might be sexy, hot, and beautiful, but she was flesh and bone too. He needed to keep that in mind. Marley was a woman who seemed larger than life sometimes, but in the end, she was just a person, with hopes, fears, and doubts. Just like him.