“Manny,” Dan muttered with a heavy sigh. “I tried to save him. It was one of Conchello’s wild boys who started firing through that office door. As soon as he did, I shot him, but I didn’t know if you or Manny had been hit. That’s when more of Conchello’s soldiers raced up the stairs. At that point, all I could do was pretend I couldn’t get the door open. I was praying you two would be able to find somewhere to hunker down, or take up positions to defend yourselves. I’ve been through a lot, but those were probably the most terrifying thirty seconds of my life,” he said, shaking his head. “Lizzy, I was shocked when I heard you’d leapt into the pool from that terrace. How the hell did you do that?”
“Danny, my dear, dear Danny,” she mumbled, moving her arms around his neck and staring at him. “I was a diver in college, and those extra seconds gave me the time to get out there and fly into the pool. You were trying to save my life, and you did.”
* * *
As her words washed over him, Danny could no longer hold back the deep emotion swirling through his heart. Holding her tightly, his eyes watering up, he fought to swallow the hot lump in the back of his throat.
“Lizzy, being around you all that time and having to act that way, it almost killed me. I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, you were right.”
“I’d seen so many lives destroyed by drugs. I went into Conchello’s organization wanting to get him so badly it was all I could think about. But after a few months I felt like I was drowning in a black swamp with no way out.”
“What will you do now?”
“I’m not sure. I can’t risk going back to my old life, and I don’t want to. Daniel Miller has to disappear and I have to start over. I’ll be using my old surname, Sullivan.”
“You’ll always be Danny Sullivan to me, and now you look like him again,” she said softly, shifting in his hold, then taking a breath, she murmured, “Danny, I have to be honest. Being with you, it’s amazing and wonderful and I’m so happy and I still love you. The thing is—it’s different from how I love Scott. We’re just getting off the ground, but I’m crazy about him, I really am.”
“Hey, it’s okay, Lizzy, I’m not here to rekindle our teenage romance. I’ve seen you and Scott together. You’re a match. Don’t get me wrong, I still love you too, but we’ve both changed, though for the record, my need to look out for you will never go away.”
“I feel exactly the same, but why is this so hard?” she sniffled, fresh tears trickling from her eyes. “It’s like, I’m finally with you again, but I’m losing you too, even though I’m not.”
“Mom told me our first love is always special, but we grow up and life takes on separate journeys, and look, you’ve found someone you have a great connection with.”
“I do, it’s incredible,” she said with a sigh, her lips curling in the hint of a smile. “Is there someone you’re crazy about?”
“Being undercover for so long I couldn’t get involved, but I have just met someone. There’s a spark. I think there might be something there.”
“She’d better treat you right, or she’ll have me to answer to.”
“I’ll let her know,” he said with a chuckle.
“Danny, thank you for taking such a risk and coming here.”
“I had to, and I think I had an angel on my shoulder. That Jeep provided me with everything I needed to change my appearance, and get over to this island to find you.”
“Speaking of finding me, what is that photo I heard about?”
“Oh, you mean this,” he said, breaking into a smile as he retrieved his wallet. “I was at our coffee shop one morning and I picked up the community newspaper. There was a picture of a local girl at a swimming meet at Pepperdine, and there you were, all grown up, standing in a group around her. I bought a print of the picture and cut you out,” he said, handing it to her. “It never left my wallet.”
“This is amazing. Look how short my hair was. I kept it like that because of diving.”
“I couldn’t find a photo of you anywhere. I had to use this.”
“I’m kind of speechless, but in a good way. So—what will you do now?”
“I have an idea,” he said thoughtfully, “one I believe will be a win for all of us.”
“What is it? You mentioned it, so you have to tell me. That’s our rule.”
“Yep, you got me,” he said with a grin.
It only took him a few minutes to explain, and when he’d finished she broke into a wide, happy smile.
“Danny, it’s brilliant, you’re brilliant, and I’ll do everything I can to help you make it happen.”
Chapter 29
Scott had just finished his meeting with the agents embedded with the catering companies when his phone rang. The endless series of calls was expected, but glancing at the screen and unexpectedly seeing Elizabeth’s name, he broke into a smile.
“Hi, I’m glad to hear from you,” he declared. “I was going to call you shortly. The boat to pick you up is on its way. The agent’s name is Pete, and Emily should be—”
“Uh, Scott, sorry to interrupt, but do you have five minutes?”
“Not really, is it important?”
“Extremely.” Her voice sounded breathless.
“Is anything wrong?”
“No, not at all, in fact it couldn’t be better. Can we talk on FaceTime, or through the cameras in the security room?”
“Sure, but why?”
“There’s someone I want you to meet, someone you need to speak with. It’s imperative.”
“Elizabeth, are you in that room with someone I don’t know? How did this person find the house? How the hell did they even know you were there?”
“Don’t panic. It’s all good.”
“I’ll call in through the computer.”
“Okay.”
Inputting a code in his phone, he was instantly connected to the home’s security system. To his dismay he could see a nattily dressed, attractive man with light brown hair sitting at the desk next to Elizabeth. Though he was furious with her for allowing a stranger into the security room, telling himself to remain calm, he called into the computer.
“Okay, Elizabeth, what’s up?”
“Scott, this is a dear friend of mine,” Elizabeth said hastily. “His name is Danny Sullivan. He was working undercover with Conchello like I was.”
“Hi, Scott, it’s an honor to meet you,” Danny began, speaking quickly. “I’m sure you have a thousand questions and you’re very concerned about my presence in your house. I’ll answer them all, but for the moment I’ll get straight to the point. I can help you catch Conchello tonight.”
Scott’s heart leapt.
He couldn’t believe it.
Elizabeth had told the man about Operation Justice.
“Don’t panic,” Elizabeth repeated. “I know exactly what you’re thinking.”
“I doubt it,” Scott replied grimly.
“Scott, you’ll find this hard to believe,” Danny said quickly, “but I was posing as Daniel Miller.”
“What did you just say?” Scott demanded, squinting as he studied the man at the desk.
The claim was absurd.
“It’s a shock, I know, but the Daniel Miller you thought was a psycho out to get Elizabeth doesn’t exist. It was all a deception. She didn’t recognize me because we haven’t seen each other in many years, and as you can probably see, the real me looks completely different. I came down here to save her, not harm her. To give you all the details will take far too long. Scott, the bottom line is this. I know Conchello, I know how he thinks and operates, and I have critical information about his private quarters. I risked my life coming to this island to find Elizabeth and connect with you. I want to help you get the bastard.”
Scott wanted to believe him, but the man in the chair at his desk bore no similarity to Daniel Miller.
“I understand your skepticism,” Danny continued earnestly, “but if you meet with me, you won’t be sorry
.”
Scott needed a way to verify his claim—and fast—but running a photograph through face recognition software would take time. Then it hit him.
“Tell me what was in the cigar holder?” he asked briskly.
“A small key,” Danny immediately replied. “I found a hidden storage compartment in the back of the Jeep. I took the money, the weapon, and the phone. The money enabled me to change back to my true appearance. Here’s the phone, and the weapon,” he declared, opening the leather satchel and pulling them out. “I’ll leave them both here if you want. I also have the gun I took from the cop in the police van. I’ll leave that as well. For the record, I didn’t shoot that officer, but I did shoot Jim Parker, though it wasn’t my intention to kill him. He was heading back to the house where he’d been interrogated. He wanted to assassinate you and Elizabeth, and anyone else there.”
Rarely was Scott taken aback, but the man’s startling revelations caught him off guard.
“I have a great deal of information about Conchello, and not just evidentiary,” Danny continued. “I must speak with you before you go into his estate. What I have to tell you could save lives.”
“Danny, I believe you,” Scott replied. “Come back with Elizabeth and we’ll continue this in person.”
* * *
In the brightly lit, barren room, Sonny Conchello eyed the six rolling office chairs against the wall. They sat three feet apart. All but one bore a name and occupation crudely written in black felt marker on a large piece of white cardboard.
Ewen MacDonald—Soldier.
Bryan Hayes—Property Developer.
Miles Swanson—Banker.
Steven Forsythe—Investments.
Richard Hammond—Lawyer.
On the sixth sat a dummy with the cardboard sign hanging around its neck bearing two names, Daniel Miller and David Clark. Jim Parker would have had the honor of a chair too, but he was already dead.
As Sonny’s mind wandered to Elizabeth McKay, the beautiful, sparkling woman who had called herself Beth Cameron, he still didn’t know what to make of her. But when she was found, and he was sure she would be, she’d answer his questions. Every. Single. One.
Turning his attention back to the chairs, his lips curled downward. His upside-down smile reflected the imagery of the night ahead flowing through his mind. Occasionally disciples needed to be reminded he was not a man to cross.
He called the room his Chamber of Conscience.
Confessions were heard.
Loyalty inspired.
Mercy dispensed—or withheld.
It was one of four rooms in his private quarters that led into the round VIP lounge where he entertained his celebrity guests. The remaining three rooms offered different forms of entertainment for his guests. The BDSM Boudoir provided a fully equipped dungeon. Tempting Treats was a large dining area with a buffet of exquisite dishes, and the only area in which eating was allowed, and the third was aptly named The Pharmacy.
Only Sonny had the keys.
Several times during the evening he’d announce the pharmacy was about to open. Guests would line up as he unlocked the door. He’d enter, move behind a raised counter, loom over them, and dispense his drugs reminiscent of a theatrical bartender serving cocktails.
“Excuse me…”
“Yes, Rosemary,” he replied, turning around to face her.
“Ewen MacDonald’s clothing for the party tonight has just been brought in from his apartment.”
“Did you go through it?”
“Yes, and I found nothing, but I thought you might want to check it yourself before I give it to him.”
He paused, then smiled.
“I love how you don’t assume and always give me the last word. Hmmm, maybe I’ll have those written on a large plaque, but add to it. My Three Commandments. Don’t assume. Don’t take things for granted. Always give Conchello the last word.”
“Perhaps, always give your ruler the last word,” she suggested with a smile.
“Always give your ruler the last word,” he repeated. “Ah, yes, good, very good. Get quotes from several sign makers. White board, black lettering, and make it big. Six feet high and three feet wide should do it.”
“I’ll get right on it.”
“So, where are MacDonald’s clothes?”
“In the laundry room. Would you…?”
But Conchello’s phone rang, cutting her off.
“Just a minute,” he said briskly, retrieving it from his pocket.
The screen told him it was the man he’d put in charge of the search for Dan Miller and Elizabeth McKay.
“Yes?” he barked gruffly.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Conchello, there’s been no sign of Elizabeth MacKay or Miller.”
Sonny paused, then glanced down at Rosemary. “Go ahead and give MacDonald the clothes.”
“What the fuck, Alan,” Sonny barked as Rosemary left the room. “They have to be somewhere. What about that sailing school captain she was spending time with?”
“I’ve had a team watching his base at Red Hook, but he hasn’t been seen.”
“Fuck. Get your ass over there and find out where he is, but be smart. No rough stuff. These are idiot civilians. Get answers with honey. All you’ll get with vinegar is a call to the cops.”
“Yes, Mr. Conchello.”
“What’s his name again?”
“Captain Scott Specter.”
“Get back to me as soon as you have something.”
Ending the conversation before the man could respond, Sonny hastily called Richard Hammond.
“Hello, Sonny,” Richard said, answering on the first ring. “I’m looking forward to the party tonight.”
“Yeah, me too,” Sonny muttered. “I want you to run a check on someone and I want it yesterday. Scott Specter. He owns Victoria Sailing School at Red Hook.”
“Are you looking for anything specific?”
“What’s his story? Get as much as you can as quick as you can.”
“Will do.”
“Hang on a second,” Sonny said, an idea popping into his head. “Call that school and ask to speak to him. When they tell you he’s not there, say you have a client who wants to charter three of their boats for two weeks for some high-profile visitors.”
“Great idea, Sonny, that will get their attention.”
“Yeah, but take it a step further. Tell them your client wishes to remain anonymous for the moment, but he’d like to discuss the details with Mr. Specter in person tonight. Apologize for the last-minute notice, all the usual bullshit, and make sure whoever you’re talking to thinks if Specter doesn’t show up, he’ll lose the deal.”
“Got it. Anything else?”
“When Specter gets in touch, tell him you’ll arrange for a limo to pick him up.”
“And if he says he can’t make it?”
“I hope you can persuade him, Richard,” Sonny growled, “but regardless, be sure to get his number and find out where he’s calling from. If I have to snatch him off the street, so be it.”
* * *
Ewen was in the bathroom nursing his cut lip and the gash on his cheek when a gentle knock told him Rosemary was at the bedroom door. Dressed only in his boxer shorts, he quickly ran a comb through his messy hair, and pulled on the thin cotton robe she’d given him. He had no illusions about the mature, full-figured housekeeper. She was always kind and helpful, but he didn’t doubt her deep loyalty to Conchello. Taking a breath and putting on his best poker face, he padded into the bedroom.
“Come in.”
“Hello, Ewen,” she said sweetly, walking in and placing a canvas bag on a chair by the window. “Here are some of your things. The suit you wanted was wrinkled and I’m having it pressed. Mr. Conchello is fussy about those things, especially since you’ll be rubbing shoulders with the VIPs in his private quarters. You must look your very best.”
“Thanks, Rosemary. It’ll be nice just to have a change of clothes.”
�
�I’m sure.”
“Did they find my rib brace?”
“They certainly did, and what a good idea. You’ll need that protection; it’s so easy to get bumped when you’re in a crowd of people. But I’ve never seen one like it before. Where did you get it?”
“Back in Aussie. I broke a couple of ribs playing rugby and the doc insisted I wear it. He was right. It’s bloody marvelous. I’m glad I brought it with me, though I never thought I’d be wearing it at a party meeting the rich and famous.”
“Life is full of surprises. Do you need any help putting it on?”
“No, I had a lot of practice from my last injury, but thanks anyway.”
“The guests will get here between nine and ten, so you need to be in the VIP area by nine. Mr. Conchello likes to have people there when his guests roll in. No one likes to be the first to arrive, so no one is.”
“Right you are,” Ewen replied.
“Your accent will be such a hit,” she remarked with a grin. “The ladies will eat it up, and you too if you’re not careful.”
“You won’t find me complaining. I’m not one to turn away a hungry Sheila.”
“Those sayings of yours are so funny. I could talk to you all day, but I have work to do. I’ll see you later.”
“Righto.”
Smiling after her as she left, Ewen opened the bag and pulled out a fresh T-shirt and a pair of track pants. Quickly dressing, he unpacked the few remaining items, finding the rib brace at the bottom of the bag. Lifting it out, he discovered it was made from hard plastic, but the edges were covered in soft foam, and the shoulder straps were wide strips of elastic.
He was sure the clock on the chest of drawers was a camera, but he’d found no evidence of surveillance in the tiny bathroom. Not wanting to arouse suspicion, he didn’t inspect the brace closely, but tossed it blithely on the bed and stretched out.
Inside the plastic shell were wads of money, a tracker, and a transmitter. The thought of smuggling anything into Conchello’s house, let alone his private quarters, filled Ewen with dread, but it was the lesser of two evils. Anything was better than staying with the ruthless drug lord.
Her Very Strict Captain Page 23