The elderly woman on top of the roof lowered her rifle. Now her husband could rest in peace. The retired mercenary said a prayer and ingested the cyanide pills. “That’ll teach him to fuck with a girl from Bristol.”
Chapter 68
Scarlet announced she booked them a room at the Michelangelo to debrief. Mozart and Wolf argued over who had dibs on the shower. Mozart finally gave in after Wolf agreed to buy dinner. Little did he know that Scarlet planned on ordering the rare Alba truffle pasta and a bottle of one of the world’s most expensive champagne.
Jagan agreed to meet them but there was something he had to do first. He couldn’t help but notice the look of disappointment on Scarlet’s face. Maybe she was just fickle or maybe Indigo dumped her. Guess it would serve her right.
Jagan stood in the middle of the spectacular room of the Vatican Museum that consisted of a long hallway that stretched on and on. The Gallery of maps was appropriately named. The enormous paintings adorned the many walls of the lengthy corridor.
The Commandant appeared next to him and he too gazed at the awe-inspiring images. “To think the treasure map was there all along. Hidden in Plain Sight,” Jagan said to him. “You think anyone will ever figure it out?”
“Not if we have anything to do with it,” he replied. “I just got back from a nice little meeting with one of my contacts at the Associated Press. That dirt your grandmother digged up on the Chancellor will make the headlines tonight. The thing I don’t get is the file was created almost twenty years ago.”
Jagan directed his gaze away from the map and over to his boss. “What was on it?” he asked. The commandant explained before the Chancellor rose to power, she was a call girl working in the slums in Serbia. His grandmother was part of a human trafficking task force that tied a ring in Tampa to the one overseas. One of her counterparts rescued her from the streets. When she discovered the woman was heading into politics, she kept the file on her just in case.
Chapter 69
Scarlet popped the cork the moment Jagan and Shanks entered the room. The news was on the television and there was an image of the Chancellor being taken away from the majestic castle in handcuffs. “Serves the bitch right,” Scarlet yelled out.
Shanks accepted the glass of bubbly and after taking a sip he spit some of it back into his glass. Scarlet belittled him by schooling him on the fact that the precious spirit had been sitting on the bottom of the ocean for over a century.
Scarlet handed Jagan a glass and asked him to accompany her out on the balcony. The police had gained control of the crowds. It was a beautiful night in Rome. Gazing deep into his eyes she took a sip of her drink before she spoke. She needed to get an answer, but she was so worried about what he might say. “Why have you been avoiding me?” she asked.
Jagan was taken aback by her forwardness, but then again she was unlike any girl he had ever met. He guessed there was no harm in being direct at this point. After all, he already blew his chance with her before. “I’m surprised you’re not taking care of Indigo,” he said in an irritated tone.
“Indigo?” Scarlet wondered if that’s what he was upset about, the fact that she left Indigo when he was sick. “Listen, I had to come meet you at the library. My grandmother said it was urgent, besides Indigo was in good hands with the SEALs.”
“Yeah, I bet he was in good hands,” he turned away from her and took a swig of his drink. He didn’t understand why she was being so coy about the matter. Still, there was something about the night air and the bubbly that calmed his jealous nature.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Scarlet grabbed his arm and turned him to face her. Was he jealous of Indigo, she wondered. Maybe that’s why he had turned on the Mister Freeze persona. It was all starting to make sense.
“Look. I understand you and Indigo are a thing, but you don’t have to rub my face in it.”
Scarlet couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “That’s what all this is about? Indigo? What on Earth ever gave you that idea?” She asked.
“Well when Wolf said that man in your bed, I just assumed you guys were an item.”
“Didn’t your mother ever tell you about assumptions? You’re such an ass.”
“So you’re not in love with Indigo?” Jagan asked setting his glass on the table.
“No, I’m not, but I am in love with someone else.”
“Oh, I see. Mozart? Is that who?” Jagan turned away from her again and stared straight ahead. The corners of his mouth rose.
Scarlet noticed his smile as she stared at his profile. “You’re impossible,” she said and slapped him on the arm.
“I want to hear you say it,” he said.
“Say what?” she asked knowing exactly what he meant.
“Come on. You know.” He turned towards her and grabbed her by the waist.
“I love you Jagan.”
“Thank you,” he replied.
“Are you kidding?” she asked.
“It’s an inside joke. I’ll fill you in on it sometime,” Jagan said and drew her close. With his fingers he gently stroked her auburn hair out of her eyes. Slowly he leaned in until his lips were almost touching hers. Placing his hands on her lower back, he squeezed tight. He pressed his bottom lip over her top lip and gently moved both his lips over hers. Raising his hands up her back he moved her body into his. Westley and Buttercup had nothing on them. True love’s kiss had been outdone.
Chapter 70
Bly and Kaya were out in the pasture tending to the horses. Off in the distance they saw a figure at the end of the dirt driveway. As he approached, Kaya dropped the feed bucket and ran towards him. Tears streamed down her face as if a dam in her eyes had just broken loose.
“Indigo, how can this be?” She asked. “We thought you were dead.” Kaya screamed out to her father who had collapsed out in the field. When he came to, Bly embraced his son and held onto him for a very long time. Kaya had never seen him this emotional. Kaya kept repeating, “It’s a miracle.”
Once inside, Indigo broke the news to Kaya about Jagan. He explained to her that he was safer “inside” than at home and that most of his work would be done asleep. That seemed to comfort her a little.
“So mom was right about what happened to you…about your disease and everything?”
“I hate to admit it, but she was. She even tracked down the man who brought me in. I guess they made some kind of an arrangement years ago, about me and Jagan I mean. I hope you understand Kaya; it was for both our sakes. Jagan’s better off.”
“So why didn’t she just tell me,” Kaya complained.
“She knew you would never go for it.” Bly chimed in.
“Well what about the college tour and all that?” Kaya asked.
“Now that was just her being eccentric.” Indigo laughed. “Don’t you remember those elaborate Easter egg hunts she would arrange for us growing up? The way I see it, she just wanted to send her grandson on an adventure.”
“Yup. That sounds like mom.”
“And you know what else?” Indigo asked.
“What’s that?”
“Do you remember that crime writer mom was real close with way back in the day?”
“Yeah, Sue Colicci, right? What about her?”
“I remember them talking, all those years ago about setting up Jagan and Scarlet.”
“Who’s Scarlet?” Kaya asked.
“Sue’s granddaughter. Mom wrote a story about them.” Indigo ambled over towards the shelves and pulled out a book. “Here it is…The Predecessor.” He handed Kaya the book. “She was killing a bottle of wine one night when they were on the phone. They were laughing about being matchmakers and how fun it would be to set the kids up.”
“Well, did it work?”
“I’m not sure how it turned out but I sensed a connection between the two of them. At first, I thought she had a crush on me.”
“That’s probably just your ego talking.” Kaya laughed. “Do you think you could get a letter to Jagan
?”
“I think I could arrange that,” he replied.
“He’s not going to believe the news.”
“Oh, he already knows that I was coming home.”
“Not that,” Kaya said. “Luca and Melissa the Pissa eloped.”
Bly cracked open a beer and began to laugh.
“He even told Bethany he was converting to her religion,” Kaya and Bly laughed even harder.
“Guess there’s a lot I missed out on,” Indigo said. He stared out at the decrepit greenhouse.
“That’s where Jagan would talk to her. I thought he was going crazy. I guess it all kind of makes sense now. I’m sorry you didn’t get to see her before she died. It happened a few months after you left,” Kaya said.
“Oh I got to see her, just last week,” Indigo explained. “Before my transplant, she paid me a visit. We made our peace and dad...”
“Yes, son.”
“Mom wanted me to give you a message.”
“What’s that?” he asked.
“Mom said she’s always in your heart.”
Chapter 71
Shanks stepped out onto the balcony. “I see you’ve gone rogue again Agent Z. You haven’t even been on my team for a week and you’re already proving impossible to control,” Shanks said already buzzed from the longest fermented alcohol he’d ever imbibed. Scarlet and Jagan continued to kiss as if he wasn’t even there. He cleared his throat and stepped closer.
“What team? I’m your entire team now,” Jagan said with a cocky smile on his face. “I’ve mulled over our little deal and I have some amendments to make,” he announced.
“I see you’re going to be a pain in the ass just like your uncle,” Shanks said raising his glass towards the sky. “This ought to be rich.”
“Well for one, I need to be allowed to call and write my mother at least once a week.”
“Go on,” Shanks said.
“B, I want to be able to go home once a year to see the family.”
“And?” Shanks said increasing the inflection of his voice.
“Three, I want to marry Scarlet.”
“You do?” She asked gazing deep into his amber eyes.
“Consider it done. But the only reason I’m agreeing to letter C or was it number three?” Shanks paused and then continued, “It’s because Mozart convinced me she’d be a great addition to the unit.
“He did?” Scarlet batted her long eyelashes and buried her head into Jagan’s chest.
“He said you were one hell of an actress and that you’d shine at undercover work and he also informed me what you are, Scarlet.”
“What is she?” Jagan asked crinkling his nose at her.
“A savant.”
“Not exactly,” Scarlet said. I have hyperthymesia.
“Hyper what?” Jagan wasn’t even going to attempt to pronounce it.
“She has the ability to remember everything that has happened. Sort of like a photographic memory, but even better,” Shanks explained. “We could really use your skills Agent 1.”
“Agent 1…I kind of like that,” she said.
Chapter 72
The fun-er-al was going off well, Kaya thought. Just as her mother wanted it. Her selection of disco and funk songs kept the atmosphere light. She wondered if she was the only person to ever have a memorial twenty years after her death. She wanted to have her remains set on top of the bonfire to burn like Kwi Gon Jinn, but Kaya got turned down by city hall for the permit.
“So the prodigal son returns,” Chaytan said embracing his older brother. “Don’t mind the wife,” he said jokingly as she stomped right past them. “She’s a little hangry.” Chaytan’s wife could get away with it. She was a blond beauty that had it all. Everyone adored her, even her attitude. They both chuckled. “Our third one’s on the way and I don’t want to stand in between her and the buffet line. A little head peeked out from behind Chaytan’s leg.
“Who’s that?” Indigo asked.
“Indigo,” Chaytan replied with a laugh at the end. “We named him after you.”
“There’s something I want you to see,” Kaya tapped Indigo on the shoulder. “Follow me.” Kaya brought Indigo out to the stalls.
“You brought me out here to see Buttercup?” Indigo asked. Kaya turned around and headed back to the house. As Indigo went to pat her on the forehead, he noticed the blond hair. Donatella had waited for him after all these years. Luca’s younger sister was the love of his life. They kissed and embraced and didn’t say a word.
After the guests left Kaya announced it was time. The family gathered in the den to hear the reading of the will. The life insurance went to Pop and the book royalties would be divided equally amongst the children and grandchildren. Kimi was recognized posthumously for solving the Zodiac murders so her book sales went through the roof. The lawyer handed Kaya, Indigo, and Chaytan each a journal. They gazed at each other with competition in their eyes and laughed. The rest of her estate would be divvied up after the treasure hunt was over. The attorney shook his head as if he was irritated by the eccentricity of it all and stated he would meet with them in a couple of months after their travels were finished.
Indigo asked Bly to go outside as he had something to show him. He pulled the Camaro out of the barn and handed Bly the keys. “She arranged to have it restored for you,” he said. As they were talking, Indigo noticed someone was standing in the greenhouse.
“I thought Jagan was the only person who went out there,” he asked.
Bly nodded. He told his father he would be right back. As he got closer he realized something he should have known all along. How could he not have seen it before? Shanks was wrong…there was another Love with the gift.
Epilogue
Jagan and Scarlet thanked Sass for the incredible performance.
Scarlet of course knew every note of the last number. She had heard it once when she was a child and had committed the entire jazz piece to memory. The stroll back to the townhouse was filled with conversation. They were still trying to decide where to take their honeymoon.
“Well Mrs. Love,” how about we finish our chat by the fire. They curled up and finally settled on Bermuda. Bocephus barked like mad after the phone rang.
“Yes…oh I see,” he said and hung up the phone.
“What is it?” Scarlet asked.
“Oh, nothing important.” He paused and slowly began to grin. “Can I make a new suggestion for our honeymoon?”
“Of course,” she said.
“How ‘bout the Kremlin?”
About the Author
Author Kimberly McGath began her studies in psychology. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida, her criminal justice career spanned more than a decade in which she worked in the Special Victims Unit, Mounted Patrol, and the Criminal Investigations Bureau. Her passion for cold cases led her to the discovery of clandestine graves and to the exhumation of human remains.
McGath worked in various undercover roles and obtained many confessions from murderers and other violent felons. McGath earned the nicknames “Tenacious K” and “Bulldog” due to her relentless pursuit of the truth. Her insatiable demand for justice extends beyond criminal matters into medical mysteries as well. McGath is a Consumer Health and patient advocate.
McGath received various academic awards including the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award and was recognized by the U.S. Secret Service for the solving of an out-of-state cold case investigation. McGath has worked high-profile cases which have received worldwide media attention. She has established herself in radio and is currently in negotiations for television. McGath is also a singer/composer/producer, a happily married mother of three, and a proud Nana.
Connect with Kimberly online
Website:
www.Kimberlymcgath.com
Follow Kimberly on Twitter:
@kimmcgath
Follow Kimberly on Spotify:
https://spoti.fi/2zHvZwK
&n
bsp; Kimberly’s Facebook profile and pages:
Facebook.com/mcgathproductions
Facebook.com/kimberlymcgath
Facebook.com/zodiacsettlingthescore
https://bit.ly/2BlLlIc
On Instagram:
Instagram.com/kimberlymcgath
On Linked In:
http://bit.ly/1NL8inY
Author pages:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2eruERq
Lulu: http://bit.ly/2c55ODU
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1MYMZyQ
Pinterest:
Pinterest.com/kimberlymcgath
Consumer Health:
https://bit.ly/2BlLlIc
Also by Kimberly McGath
Zodiac: http://bit.ly/20g4sHd
In Cold Blood: https://bit.ly/2DxiN1J
Zodiac, Settling the Score: http://amzn.to/2fyDijy
Let Them See: http://bit.ly/2aPtMkv
Coming soon:
Protecting Love – the prequel to the Predecessor
and the second book in the HALO of Protection series:
What Lies in Cold Blood
Stigma
There are many more books in this fan fiction world than listed here, for an up-to-date list go to www.AcesPress.com
You can also visit our Amazon page at:
http://www.amazon.com/author/operationalpha
ALL the below books are in Kindle Unlimited!
The Predecessor Page 15