by Sydney Addae
“What does that mean?”
“It means I’m going to report him,” she said, unsure what to do.
“No.”
“Yes. He shot at me and I’m not looking over my shoulder the rest of my life either,” she said.
“He’s not searching for you, Jasmine.”
“I’m cooking breakfast, we’re not going anywhere, neither is Lynda.”
“You’re not going for your walk?” he grunted.
“No. It’s pointless. Seems they have all the information. Have Angus shake the head guy’s hand so we’ll know what we’re up against.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
She ignored the sarcasm in his voice. “Why only six police? What are they doing with the bodies? Forensics? How are they investigating?”
“Good question. I’ll ask before we head in. We have a security cam which covers this section of the beach and will show how they arrived. More importantly it will show we had nothing to do with their deaths.”
“Probably won’t mean anything if they’ve been given instructions,” she said.
“Just depends on who you know. He may own the locals but I have connections higher up. Angus is talking to a few people now.”
He could’ve told her that up front. She counted to five, took a deep breath. “Then why allow them on the island?”
“I wasn’t sure if our people would be able to counter the police in time. Seems we may get a reprieve, this guy is answering a call and doesn’t look too happy.”
Jasmine turned on the stove to resume cooking. “You had all of this under control, what’s the real reason for making it seem as if Lynda was in danger?”
He didn’t immediately answer. “Just to let you know I’ll always have your back. We won’t always agree on certain things, I’m just not wired that way. But your fights are my fights, just like my fights have always been yours. We’re on the same team, Jasmine, remember that.”
Her heart melted. This man... he was her world. “I know, Silas. Sometimes it looks like I’ve forgotten, but I do know that.”
“Good. This guy won’t move the bodies, another boat is on the way and will handle that. He’s talking to the other men.” He paused. “The full-blood says the Police Commissioner is investigating this matter and they must wait. He’s warned them not to speak and that he will do the talking.”
“Wow, that was fast. Who did Angus talk to?”
“The President of course,” he said.
“President? Of Panama?” He never ceased to amaze her.
“Yes. I spoke with him before we flew here.”
“And he called the Police Chief?”
“Commissioner, he’s over the National Police. They’re structured differently but not too different.” He paused again. “Looks like we’re having company. The old guy from yesterday is headed this way and so is the second police boat. Should be interesting.”
“Only you would think that.”
He chuckled. “Forensics are here. You called that one. They’re setting up tape around the bodies and getting to work. The old guy from yesterday is a good distance from the shore watching. I can feel his anger from here.” Silas laughed. “Angus pulled a couple chairs to sit in, this may take a while. I think Shyla’s bringing coffee and pastries for us. What’re you cooking?”
“Bacon, eggs, and danish,” she said as Lynda entered the kitchen. “Have a cup of coffee, the rest of this will be done in a bit,” Jasmine told Lynda.
“Thank you.” She poured a cup of coffee, added sugar and sat in the box seat by the window in the dining area. “The view is pretty, calm, peaceful.”
“Yes it is. I love vacationing here with my family,” Jasmine said while scrambling the eggs and listening to Silas.
“Seems there’s more than two, they just found a female... she was beaten and shot.”
Jasmine glanced at Lynda and plated their breakfast although she doubted either of them would eat anything.
“Americans.”
“What?”
“The police have realized the bodies are of Americans who were reported missing and they were killed. They’re asking the police on the first boat how they discovered the bodies. The conversation is flying fast. The full-blood says the officer on his boat explained he was following orders. None of them are taking responsibility for three deaths of foreigners. Seems they hadn’t known that detail.”
Jasmine snorted and took a sip of hot tea. What kind of world was this when men believed it was alright to treat people like deer or rabbits?
“You can thank me for asking for the female’s bag and identification. The full-blood brought it to me. Angus is going through it, now.”
“Thanks, Wolfie.”
“Ah... it sounds good hearing you call me that again. I wasn’t sure how long it would take for you to fully forgive me,” he said.
She smiled while dipping her head so Lynda didn’t see her. “Stop giving me reasons to be angry with you.”
“I’m working on it, however, making up with you is off the charts... so I don’t know.”
Unable to help it, she turned and grinned as her heart raced. “Incorrigible.”
“Spoiled by a good woman is what you mean, so it’s not my fault that I love you in all your phases.”
“Is that what you call being furious with you? My phases?” she asked without heat enjoying their banter.
“Not really. It was the only word that came to mind. One second, there seems to be a problem.”
Jasmine turned. “Would you like some bacon? Eggs? Danish to go with your coffee?” she asked a subdued Lynda.
“Maybe some bacon.” She moved slowly to the table, sat down, picked up a slice of bacon and asked. “Is there a phone here? I’d like to call my mom and dad.”
“Sure. I’ll have Shyla bring the phone. Since Jasmine was the only person who needed a phone, they normally kept a few for her. “Silas? Lynda wants to contact her parents. She can use one of the phones set aside for me.”
“We keep a few here for emergencies. I’ll have Shyla activate one and bring it over. How’s she doing?”
Jasmine gave him points for asking, albeit late. “She’s having a hard time but will be alright... I hope. Maybe talking to her parents is just the thing she needs. If it were any of my kids I’d like to think a conversation with me would help at a time like this.”
“What would you do?”
“Huh?”
“If it was one of the kids calling about something that rattled them, not this, but something that put them off kilter,” he asked.
“I’d go and be with them, help them through whatever was necessary,” she said thinking of the time Tyrone had been in the hospital.
“That’s how we met,” he said softly. “I don’t know what I’d do short of starting a war. It’s a good thing our pups can handle themselves for the most part. Seeing the body of this young woman is uncomfortable and I cannot fathom any of my pups in this condition.”
“Neither of us would handle it well, so you’re right about them being able to take care of themselves, although no one is infallible, not even you. So, don’t poke the bear. Let them do their jobs and leave the little man alone in his boat.”
“You don’t want me to show the police the cam recording? It’ll help bring him to justice,” he said.
She thought about it. “Yes, show it to the real police.”
“As opposed to the fake police?” he teased. “They’re all the police and probably all corrupt. It’s just the President isn’t willing to piss me off and is making them behave. Your friend will be able to leave the country with no problem. Her friends will be shipped home. There will be an outcry, tourism will suffer, so they’ll have to address this. If we give them the security feed they’ll toss him beneath the bus to save a sinking ship.”
She breathed easier. “When can she go home?”
“Honestly? I don’t know. I’m waiting to see if they go after the old man in the boat, he’s s
till out there watching. I’d think his contacts would have told him they know he killed the Americans.” He paused. “He’s leaving now. If they don’t go after him, he’s ghost into the wind.”
“Bet they won’t,” she said.
“Neither of these boats are leaving. They’re checking the beach, putting small flags in the sand, taking photos. Here comes another boat.”
“Three boats?”
“Yes. This one looks as if it’s holding real police.” He chuckled.
She rolled her eyes and ate a piece of bacon.
“A detective. He wants to see the footage. Angus is showing it to him on his pad.”
“Does the guy, Estevan, show up? The one who shot at me?”
“That’s not something I’ll be able to watch and remain level-headed which is why Angus is handling the Detective. I’m watching the forensics people and talking to Samuel, the full-blood on the first boat. They’ve been ordered to remain. He thinks Estevan is headed back to his compound which is on the border between Columbia and Panama. Once he’s in Columbia, nothing will happen to him. He’ll remain out of the country until everything dies down and then it’ll blow over. Seems he’s some sort of Drug Lord.”
“Figures,” she snorted thinking of the sense of superiority the man displayed on the beach.
“This should be over soon. Detective Marin wants to talk to Lynda,” he said. “Angus scanned him when they shook hands and says he’s not corrupt.”
“I’ll tell her.” Shyla tapped on the outer door and stepped in. She handed Jasmine a phone. “Lynda, a Detective Marin is here investigating the deaths of your friends and wants to speak with you.”
The young woman shook so hard the empty cup fell from her hand and shattered on the floor. “I’m... I’m so sorry.” She bent forward and picked up the pieces. Shyla took the broom and swept up the shards.
“It’s alright,” Jasmine said softly as she wrapped her arms around Lynda and rubbed her back. “We’ll be here with you. You aren’t alone.” She pressed the phone into Lynda’s hand. “We can’t stop the police from talking to you, murder is serious, but we won’t leave you alone either. Go ahead and call your parents, talk to them. I’ll let you know when the Detective arrives.”
Lynda’s knuckles whitened around the phone. “Thank you,” she whispered and sat at the dining table. With shaking fingers, she punched the numbers.
“Mom?” Lynda said a few moments later and burst out crying.
Heart torn, Jasmine rubbed Lynda’s shoulder and entered the living area with Shyla to give Lynda privacy.
“Hard to believe this is our fourth day of vacation,” Shyla said sitting slumped on the sofa. “It started so well, what the hell happened?”
Jasmine agreed. They had such high hopes for this week and in a matter of hours, starting with Grandfather’s visit, things went south. She frowned. “What happened with Grandfather? Silas and I have been dealing with this and we never discussed that emergency.”
“I didn’t get much on that either. Something to do with the BlackWolf Clan. Hawke and Damian are heading the research. I don’t think there’s much of an emergency right now, not if they have time for research.”
“Hmm, Grandfather seemed more flustered than usual, almost like whatever was going on was personal somehow.” Jasmine shrugged. “Or I was so pissed to see him show up that he put on that act to get me to calm down.”
“Probably the latter. He’s a charmer when he wants to be,” Shyla said and turned as Lynda entered the living area.
“My parents are flying here to get me, but I don’t know where we are.” She handed Jasmine the phone. “Can you tell them where?” she asked miserably.
“Hello?” Jasmine proceeded to tell Lynda’s distraught parents to fly into the main Panamanian airport. Lynda would be in Panama for them to pick her up. Lynda’s father knew people who knew people and had contacted the American Embassy and were waiting for a return call. The idea of four young Americans being hunted in Panama like animals got the attention of the Ambassador who contacted the President’s office, the Police Commissioner, and several others. Silas had been right about this being a public relations nightmare. It was only a matter of time before it hit the news. Jasmine hoped the families of the other three would be notified first. She accepted Lynda’s father repeated thanks for saving his daughter and handed Lynda the phone. For the first time since yesterday, Lynda didn’t look as afraid, not peaceful, that would take time. But definitely not as afraid as she had this morning or yesterday, that was a good thing.
“Thank you so much,” Lynda said as she took the phone. “My parents are taking it hard but they’re coming to get me. They’re coming,” she said with a slight hitch in her voice.
“Of course they are. They love you,” Jasmine said.
“But the others... I keep wondering, keep asking myself why?” She looked at Jasmine with haunted eyes. “How did I live through this?” she whispered as if speaking the words aloud would change her fate.
“Blessed. Wasn’t your time. Could be any number of reasons,” Shyla said moments later. “How and why aren’t the questions, I’m thinking. Be grateful and do something positive with your life since it was spared.”
“I’m... I’m an environmentalist. I study... study the environment,” Lynda said as her eyes watered again. “That’s why we went...”
Shyla held up her hand. “No need to go back there in your mind. You’re here. Tomorrow you’ll see your parents and celebrate being alive. Focus on that for now, alright?”
Lynda swallowed hard and nodded slowly. “I’ll try. It’s hard but I’ll try.”
“That’s all anyone can ask of you,” Shyla said gently. “You saved us by warning us of the crazy man. Never forget that, I assure you we won’t.”
Jasmine didn’t look at Shyla when she spoke that lie, instead she kept her gaze on Lynda, realized it had been the right thing to say and gave Shyla a pass.
“Really? I hadn’t thought about that,” Lynda said as her gaze drifted past them. “I didn’t want you to get hurt.”
“And we appreciate your thinking of us while trying to get out of harm’s way yourself. Not many people would’ve thought of others at such a time,” Shyla said, laying it on thick.
Lynda’s gaze swung down at them. “I don’t remember much of it.”
Shyla stood and mindful of Lynda’s bandaged arm, hugged her. “If I haven’t said it already, thank you for looking out for us.”
Jasmine realized her cue and hugged Lynda as well. “Thank you, Lynda.”
Lynda’s gaze flew from Jasmine to Shyla and back again. “You’re welcome, although after everything you’ve done for me... I should be thanking you.”
“Well, we’ve thanked each other,” Shyla said.
Lynda frowned for a few moments and nodded. “If you say so.”
“I do.” Shyla placed her hand on Lynda’s shoulder. “Go and rest before the police come to question you. We’ll let you know when they arrive.”
“Thanks.” Lynda held onto the phone and left the room.
Jasmine met Shyla’s mischievous smile and shook her head.
“She needed that,” Shyla said.
Silently Jasmine agreed as she leaned back in the seat as Lynda closed the bedroom door talking to her mother. Jasmine’s heart had bled for the hysterical woman. She couldn’t imagine receiving a similar call from any of her six kids.
Shyla rubbed her arm and they sat in commiserated silence.
<<<<>>>>
Jasmine wasn’t sure what she expected when Silas entered the cottage, followed by a relatively short man, compared to Silas anyway, with dark stormy gray eyes that seemed to take in everything before focusing on her. His raised brow made her wonder if he was surprised to meet her or if there was something else. She knew better than to move closer as Silas moved to stand next to her.
“This is Raul Marin, a detective sent to investigate the bodies on the beach,” Silas said drawing her atten
tion. “There are three bodies, two men and one female.”
“That’s what Lynda said,” Jasmine said, completely aware she and Silas were being watched.
There was a knock on the door and another man entered. “Sargent Ken Suarez, he’s assisting me,” Marin said as the other man entered.
“Nice to meet both of you,” Jasmine said.
“That one’s been walking around the island,” Silas said regarding Suarez.
“Mrs. Knight I watched the security camera from yesterday, were you injured?” Detective Marin asked staring at her.
“No. The bullet missed.”
His gaze lingered a little longer and turned to Shyla who remained seated with Angus who had sat next to her. “You picked up the woman? She was not too heavy?”
“No, you’ll meet her in a few minutes, she’s talking to her parents on the phone,” Shyla said with a slight smile.
“You picked her up while they were shooting?” the Detective pressed.
“It was either that or leave her on the beach, which would you have done?” Shyla asked in a terse tone.
Both detectives looked at Shyla a few moment’s longer and then spoke. “You are right of course. I would’ve done the same.” He looked around the cottage. “This is nice, I had no idea this was here.”
“It’s a private island,” Silas said. “There’s no reason for you to know.”
“Until now,” Detective Marin said.
“Correct,” Silas said. “I’ve owned this island for several years and have never seen this man before. Do you know him? The man on the security camera?”
“Yes, he is known to us and we will interview him. Where is the victim?” Detective Marin asked looking around.
“Lynda,” Jasmine called.
Moments later, Lynda walked out toward them holding the phone in front of her like a weapon. “My father wants to talk to you.” She walked toward the two men. “Which one of you is in charge?”
Marin held out his hand and took the phone. “Detective Raul Marin.”