Paradise Crime Thrillers Box Set

by Toby Neal

  “Jake was in Special Forces. Imagine those guys faced every kind of threat.” Miller resumed pedaling, and for a while they worked out in companionable silence, the slap of Sophie’s weighted rope a counterpoint to the smooth whirring of Miller’s machine.

  After twenty minutes, Sophie’s muscles were sufficiently warmed up and she switched to her free weight routine. Miller got off the bike and lay down on the bench press. He had too much weight on his bar, but Sophie didn’t comment until the rocker was stuck, pinned beneath and struggling to lift it.

  She walked over behind his head and hefted the bar back into the cradle. “I’m sure it’s hard to keep up with your workouts when you’re on the road. You should ease into it now that you’re home for a while.”

  Miller sat up, mopping his face with a towel. “I feel like I have to do everything I can, considering what’s going on with the stalker.”

  “That’s what you have our team for,” Sophie said. “Jake and the men have everything under control. And I will have an open line to law enforcement throughout tomorrow night’s operation.”

  Miller’s dark eyes were intent. “Do you think this is the right way to go about things? Trying to flush Blondie out?”

  “Jake is in charge of your security. I have a limited role,” Sophie hedged. She leaned over and picked up a twenty-pound kettlebell. “I’m just the tech support.”

  “That tells me you aren’t really confident in this operation.”

  “Not at all.” Sophie did a dead lift with the weight, feeling the strain through her back, hips, glutes, and the back of her legs. “I’m just a little more conservative than Jake. But aren’t you sick of waiting to see what the stalker will do next? I know your team is, and flushing the unsub out into the open will at least try to bring things to a head.”

  Miller watched Sophie lift with an appreciative gleam in his eye. “You dating anybody?”

  Sophie set the weight down. “As a matter of fact, I am.”

  Miller sighed, and resumed lifting the barbell Sophie had lightened. “All the good ones are already taken.”

  She couldn’t think of how to respond, so kept silent.

  “Has Jake shown you any self-defense moves?” Sophie eventually asked.

  “He has, but I’m a little rusty. Butch and Andy were after me to practice while we were on tour, but I just didn’t have the energy.”

  “There is an American phrase for that: ‘putting your head in the sand.’ I’m not sure what the phrase relates to, exactly, but it seems to mean that you’re ignoring something, hoping it will go away. The stalker is not going away, and you might need to defend yourself. I have reason to know. I was attacked just off of your estate, on the beach.”

  Miller sat up in alarm. “No one told me. Was it related to my case?”

  “We don’t think so. Turns out I have my own enemies.” Sophie’s mouth felt tight with suppressed anger and pain. “Come practice some moves with me. It will be good for both of us to have a little refresher.”

  Miller got off the weight bench quickly and joined Sophie in the small padded sparring ring set up in the middle of the workout area.

  They reviewed holds and ways to break them. Miller was attempting to gouge Sophie’s eyes with his thumbs when Jake came in. “Giving our boy a self-defense skills review?”

  “Indeed, I was.” Sophie stepped back from Miller and dropped her arms. “But now that you’re here, you can take over.”

  “Hey!” Miller tried to follow Sophie out through the padded ropes defining the space. “We were just getting started!”

  “And that’s why we should continue,” Jake said smoothly, sliding into the ring past her. He winked at Sophie, an acknowledgment of their mutual role in motivating and protecting Miller.

  Sophie was still annoyed with him, and turned away. “I will see you gentlemen later.”

  Sophie’s phone rang as she was heading back to her quarters. “Hey, Sophie! I’m off in a few minutes and Stevens is home with the baby. Want to meet for a drink and some live music?” Lei’s voice was upbeat, and Sophie’s spirits rose immediately.

  “That would be excellent. I need to get out of this testosterone-filled area.”

  Lei laughed. “Getting sick of the man-splaining, eh? Meet me at the Tiki Lounge in Kihei in twenty minutes. Wear something pretty.”

  Wailea was beautiful at any time of day, and early evening was no exception. Driving through manicured, winding streets beneath arching shade trees on her way to the nearby town of Kihei, Sophie mulled over her reaction to Antigua’s news and her argument with Jake. Her mind returned to the hours spent in Paia with Connor, to their passion and closeness. For better or for worse, their relationship was progressing.

  Was she doing the right thing, being with him? Not just the right thing for her body—but the right thing for her heart, emotions, and career? Having to hold secrets from her friends caused a tightness in Sophie’s chest that never really went away, even though he’d promised to give up his activities.

  She pulled into the South Shore Tiki Lounge, a kitschy bar tucked beneath shading bamboo and banyan trees. The sides were open to stands of torch ginger and the outdoors, and Sophie felt right at home weaving among the casual tables past a musician playing slack-key guitar.

  Lei was already at the bar, looking slim and pretty in a short black skirt and tank top. A sunrise shell necklace gleamed against her lightly freckled, bronzy skin. She stood when she saw Sophie, holding two drinks: a beer, and Sophie’s favorite foamy concoction. “Got you a Blue Hawaiian. Heard this monstrosity is your favorite.”

  “I love these awful things,” Sophie admitted. She took the drink and sipped from the straw. “You must have changed into that outfit. You look very nice.”

  “No sense going to girls’ night out looking like a cop,” Lei said, evaluating Sophie’s appearance. “I like that girly-girl thing you’ve got going on, too.”

  “I have a feminine side.” Sophie smoothed the coral-colored halter dress from her alter ego Mary Watson’s closet. She liked how the bare back displayed her musculature, and the color set off her tawny brown skin. “I hope this evening’s memory will replace the one from the last time I went to a bar for a drink. It ended with me sick on the side of the road, and almost sleeping with Jake.”

  “Ooh, fate worse than death!” Lei teased. “I remember that debacle. How is Jake?”

  They sat at a table in the corner, and took menus from a waiter wearing a hula skirt over his shorts. “He is as usual.”

  “As usual? What does that mean?” Lei leaned in toward Sophie, squinting. “You look like you’re sucking a lemon.”

  “He is, and I quote, ‘banging’ Antigua, the lovely chef and property manager at Shank Miller’s.”

  “Hmm.” Lei’s mouth disappeared into the head of foam on her beer, but it looked like she was smiling.

  Sophie frowned. “You are wondering why I care.”

  “You said it, not me.” Lei dabbed at the foam on her lips as the waiter returned. They ordered buffalo wings, mini tacos, and a plate of vegetables that would suffice for dinner.

  “What I object to is him trivializing sexual activities with a worthy woman,” Sophie said, plucking the umbrella off her drink.

  “You like her. And you think he should treat her better.”

  “That’s it exactly.” But that wasn’t it exactly. A niggling bad feeling lingered in Sophie’s gut. “It makes me not respect him that he is treating her like that—it disappoints me that he’s taking advantage of her. Because she really likes him more than he does her.”

  “And how do you know that?”

  Sophie scowled. “I just know.” She shut her eyes to savor a big draft of the sweet, creamy drink. She so seldom allowed herself these indulgences.

  “Maybe it’s just ‘banging’ for both of them. They’re both sexually liberated single adults, living in a close proximity situation.”

  “That’s all it is for him. But not for her.”


  “And how is that your problem?” Lei’s large brown eyes sparkled. She seemed to be hinting at something, but Sophie was never sure of these social nuances.

  “It isn’t my problem. I already have a boyfriend.”

  “Ah. So, you’ve finally graduated to calling him that.”

  The food arrived, giving Sophie a moment to think through her conflicted feelings. She picked up a spear of sliced raw zucchini and dipped it in hummus on the vegetable platter. “Todd and I are a couple now.”

  “You’re trying to say that like you mean it, but you still aren’t sure about him.” Lei bit into a buffalo wing and sighed happily. “Been ages since I’ve had these.”

  “How do you know I’m not sure about him? I am sure about him!” Sophie’s voice was too loud and she moderated. “He is an amazing man, one in a million. Statistically, one in a billion is more likely. If that.”

  “I’m not disagreeing. Todd Remarkian seems like the total package. I just know you, and I can tell you’re not sure about him.” Lei picked up another piece of chicken. “Kiet would make such a mess if he got his little hands on these wings, with this sauce.”

  Sophie looked around the bright, busy bar at the other patrons, disturbed by her friend’s insight. All she couldn’t tell Lei about Connor and his secrets stuck in her throat as if she’d ingested a bone from one of the buffalo wings. Lei was right. She wasn’t sure about Connor, on a number of levels, and she couldn’t tell Lei anything about why. Time to change the subject. “How did you know when you and Michael were meant to be together? You seem so happy.”

  Lei laughed. “I took way too long with that. I’m the last person you should ask for love life advice—we have had a bumpy road, to say the least. But there was just something between us that neither of us could ever give up.”

  Sophie swallowed the last of her drink and waved at the waiter for another. “I really want Jake to be happy. I don’t know why I care what he does, with Antigua or anyone else. I hated how he used to flirt with me.”

  “Well, do you want me to tell you why you’re so twisted up?” Lei had a dimple when she smiled a certain way.

  “If you must.” Sophie straightened stiffly in her chair and picked up a mini taco for something to do with her hands. “I have a feeling I will not like your opinion.”

  “See, look at you. Got your back up like a wet cat.” Lei set her beer down. “This is my one shot to lay it out as I see it, so here goes. It’s obvious you and Jake are attracted to each other, and you’ve become attached to him in spite of yourself, in spite of how irritating he can be. If you gave yourself half a chance, you’d fall for him like a bag of hammers, and he’s already gone on you, which is how you know he isn’t really into Antigua. But you’ve got more baggage than a 747, my friend, and because of it you’ve hitched your wagon to a guy who will never really be there for you.”

  A long pause as Sophie made herself take a bite of the taco and chew, trying not to instantly repudiate Lei’s words. She wiped her hands on her napkin and frowned. “There were too many metaphors in that speech. And I don’t know why you would say that about Todd. He’s told me he loves me. And I love him.”

  Lei shrugged. “Then I’m totally wrong. Forget I ever said anything.”

  “But you must tell me why you don’t think Todd will ‘be there’ for me. He already was there when I was injured!”

  “There’s just something about him that’s not quite…I don’t know. Maybe he’s just too perfect, and that’s what bothers me.” Lei’s smile was brilliant. “But don’t forget who you’re talking to. If you have a 747 worth of personal baggage, mine would fill a cruise ship.”

  Chapter Twelve

  The next night, Sophie sat in the command center, a prickle of perspiration gathering in the groove of her spine as she watched the monitors.

  Darkness had dropped a black velvet cloak over the mansion as Miller paced around the perimeter of the estate, giving every indication of restlessness and having difficulty sleeping. He held a small digital tape recorder in one hand, muttering into it, his favorite method of composition. Blondie likely knew that, because Miller had described his process in numerous interviews.

  Out of view but positioned nearby outside the compound, Jake and their team waited, hidden amid the shrubbery. When they were setting up earlier, dressing in night camouflage outfits and face paint, the preparations had seemed a little ridiculous—but now, if Sophie hadn’t known where they were, she would not have been able to see them.

  With a frustrated gesture that looked entirely genuine, Miller scowled at the house and then turned and opened the Plexiglas gate, pushing it open and walking out onto the starlit beach. Sophie frowned, trying to see, but the range of the surveillance cams was limited.

  Her earbud crackled with Jake’s voice as she listened in to what was piped into Miller’s earpiece. “Keep going, out into the open. Walk back and forth like we discussed, in front of the building. Sophie, call Shank on his cell and direct him to come back.”

  All these things had been rehearsed. “Roger that.” Sophie speed dialed Miller’s cell phone.

  At the edge of visibility in the grainy feed, Miller picked up, his voice sharp and annoyed. “What? I’m tired of being babysat!”

  “That sounds very genuine, Mr. Miller. Give me some verbal abuse, please,” Sophie said. “You are known for being stubborn.”

  “Is that so?” Miller huffed. “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a million times—I come to Maui to relax and unwind! This shit with all of your security people hovering around is killing my creative mojo. This island is my refuge, and hell if I’ll let some obsessed bimbo fan steal it from me!”

  “Very good, Mr. Miller. Now move away down the beach to the area we discussed.”

  Miller shut off the phone without further comment, sliding it into his pocket and stomping off down the beach.

  Sophie could no longer see the action as it moved out of video range, so per the plan, she switched on the digital camera installed in Jake’s night vision goggles. “Secondary camera on,” she said into her headset.

  “Roger that.” Jake said. His audio piped in too, and she could hear his deep, even breathing. Her partner hadn’t even broken a sweat while she got up and stood behind her chair, shifting to ease muscles knotted with tension.

  Miller continued his muttering and pacing, walking back and forth in front of the mansion, working his way closer and closer to the tree line, his outline a ghostly green seen through Jake’s night vision.

  She could tell Miller was tiring by his flagging steps—and finally the rocker sat down, his back to a bank of heavy vegetation fronting the mansion next to his, a mansion Sophie knew too well from her last case.

  Jake gave a sudden grunt. Sophie started as her partner lunged up and went on the move.

  A pale shadow had detached itself from the bushes and swept toward Miller.

  “Move in!” Jake hissed, and the camera went blurry with the power and speed of his movement as he hurtled toward their client and whoever was approaching Miller.

  Sophie reached for her own weapon, pulling the Glock as she ran through the house without conscious thought, barreling down the veranda, across the porch, and out through the gate.

  A cluster of dark, moving bodies marked the action, and Sophie arrived to see all three of their security team wrestling a white-robed figure. Miller stood back, still on his feet, and Sophie grasped him by an arm. “Come with me.” She gave a sharp tug. “We need to get you inside, to a secure location.”

  Miller resisted, clearly wanting to watch the outcome.

  “This is for your own safety, Mr. Miller!” Sophie dealt with his stubbornness by twisting his arm up behind his back. Miller emitted a yelp that reverberated in all of their comms, and Jake spared a quick glance at Sophie and gestured for her to take their client away.

  “Damn it!” The rocker struggled and tried one of the restraint breaking moves Sophie had taught him. �
�I can take care of myself!”

  “Please don’t act like a child,” Sophie snapped. Her harsh words seemed to snap him out of it. Miller stopped struggling, slogging through the sand toward the compound. Sophie let go and followed.

  They had almost reached the gate when Sophie was knocked sideways by a powerful blow. She fell to her knees, fumbling for her weapon.

  “Get inside!” Sophie screamed to Miller, who lurched toward the gate. “Jake!”

  A black shadow hit her like an anvil, and the darkness was complete.

  Seconds or hours had passed when Sophie came to—it had been seconds, she decided, because she was flat on her face with sand in her mouth as voices yelled overhead.

  “Let us go or I’ll blow his head off right here. Drop your weapons! All of you!” A female voice, rough with emotion. Blondie.

  Jake’s voice rumbled nearby, low and reasonable. “Clever to set a diversion like that. I can see that you’re serious. But you can understand we can’t just let you take Mr. Miller off the premises.”

  “I won’t hurt him if you let us go. We are meant to be together!”

  Sophie wiggled her foot—yes. All reflexes present and accounted for. She gently pushed the sand out of her mouth with her tongue as she assessed the feet moving past her line of vision: Miller’s bare feet in black jeans, and an unknown pair in white athletic shoes.

  Sophie shook off the last of the glancing blow that had stunned her. Blondie, a dim white shape, backed past Sophie, holding Miller by the arm with a gun to his head. Jake and their men faced the woman on her other side.

  If Sophie could get enough power…

  Sophie shoved up onto her hands and knees, swinging a leg around in a powerful sidekick that caught Blondie in the back of the legs.

  The woman gave a cry. Her knees buckled just as Miller shoved an elbow back hard into the woman’s solar plexus, stomping on her foot at the same time. He wrenched forward and away in one of the moves they’d so recently practiced.