Stranger's Game

by Colleen Coble

  “Call it in,” Joe said. “We need divers down there to see if we can figure out what he was doing.”

  Danielle nodded and went to the radio. Joe squatted beside the diver. “What’s your name? Why are you here?”

  The man sneered, then spat in Joe’s face. Joe clenched his fists and struggled to keep his cool. Somehow he managed not to put his fist in the guy’s contemptuous face. Without so much as a word spoken by the swimmer, it was impossible to tell his nationality.

  “No ID?” he asked Tyrone.

  “Nothing I found.” Tyrone picked up the mask and snorkel. “High-end equipment though, and it’s made in China.”

  “That doesn’t tell us much since so many things are made in China,” Joe said. He didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but his unease was at DEFCON 1. “You get Ajax?”

  “I did,” Danielle said. “Here come reinforcements now.”

  The diver they’d apprehended made a choking sound, and all three of them turned toward him. His hands were on his neck and he gagged before toppling to the bottom of the boat. Joe and Tyrone stood back while Danielle moved in to check him.

  She pressed her fingers to the swimmer’s neck. “No pulse.” She eased off his oxygen tank and backpack before laying him out on his back to perform CPR.

  She drew back and looked up at Joe. “I smell almonds. I think it’s cyanide. I don’t dare perform mouth-to-mouth.” She began chest compressions. “Grab the air bag.”

  Tyrone sprang to get it out of the medical kit, and he knelt by the man’s head and put the mask over his face to inflate his lungs.

  Joe’s pulse kicked. “Poison?” This didn’t make sense, but he relayed the information. “That swimmer we caught doesn’t have a pulse. Maybe cyanide poisoning. We’re administering chest compressions.”

  The guy told him a medic with the team was on its way. Joe hung up and stood back while Danielle and Tyrone worked on the diver. The guy was already blue, so Joe didn’t think their efforts would be successful.

  His gaze fell on the backpack, and he squatted beside it. Inside was a conglomeration of wires and explosives. “This was the real deal, guys. There’s a bomb in here.”

  Tyrone paused. “Is it activated?”

  Joe examined more closely. “I don’t think so. There’s a detonator in here too.” He gingerly moved it to the other side of the boat, away from his team, then went back to the radio.

  “Hey, this guy isn’t Navy. He’s got a bomb with him, so he meant business.”

  There was a long pause on the radio before the guy answered. “Did the diver survive?”

  Joe looked back at his team, who had finally stood and moved away from the swimmer. “No. We were unable to revive him.”

  Which meant his identity and purpose would be hard to decipher.

  Two boats zipped toward them. One held four master-at-arms sailors, and the other boat carried divers. The two boats anchored off the starboard side, then tied up to Joe’s boat. The security officers were the first to board. Two of them flanked the prisoner, and one of the men knelt to check him out. “He’s dead.” The men loaded the body onto their boat.

  The divers wasted no time and disappeared into the water without any chitchat. Danielle had already sent in Simon’s last coordinates, and Joe waited to see what they’d find. He could only pray whatever was down there was easily disarmed. If there was anything.

  Maybe he was overreacting, but he didn’t think so.

  Simon swam around the boat, and Danielle fed him fish every time he came close so he wouldn’t swim off into danger. The boat that had taken the prisoner off disappeared to the south, and the sound of its engine faded into the roar of the surf.

  The divers surfaced, and their underwater transport held several items that looked suspiciously like bombs.

  Joe shaded his eyes with his hand. “You disarm those things?”

  “Didn’t have to,” the diver closest to him said. “He didn’t have a chance to finish up and ditched this on the bottom. Simon needs a whole cooler full of fish.”

  Joe whistled. “What could he be doing here?”

  “Hard to say. We’ll get more divers out here to make sure we’re not missing anything. And the Navy needs to have all the sea mammals out patrolling the area. This might not be over. This guy meant business.”

  The divers loaded their loot onto the boat and headed off. Joe threw fish to Simon until the food was gone, then sent him back down.

  This job just got a whole lot more real.

  * * *

  Why hadn’t Dad answered her text?

  Alone at her desk, Torie checked her phone. Three hours since she’d texted him. Surely he was still on the island. It wasn’t like she and her dad were always in each other’s pockets, but he usually answered her immediately.

  The hotel felt creepy today, or maybe it was her own jumpiness playing tricks on her. As she made the rounds checking the cameras, she kept thinking people were staring at her. Which was silly. No one knew her. She was just a faceless worker bee here to help the guests.

  She’d been glad to finish up so she could hole up in her office. These four walls made her feel cocooned and protected. And Kyle wasn’t here either, which helped.

  She needed to get her living situation squared away. Maybe she should talk directly to her aunt. That’s what she would expect anyway, now that Torie thought about it. Having her father intervene would be a sure way to send up red flags when Aunt Genevieve didn’t know they were acquainted.

  She checked the time again. Two. Not sure why she was agreeing, she fired off a text to Joe telling him she’d love to have dinner, then went in search of her aunt. Torie found her standing outside the coffee shop. The Pantry served sandwiches, salads, pastries, and surprisingly good coffee. While her aunt spoke with another employee, Torie got a breve, then stood a few feet away waiting for her turn with Aunt Genevieve.

  Her aunt turned toward her as the employee left. “Is there a problem, Torie?”

  “Not with the hotel, Ms. Hallston. An intruder has broken into my cottage several times, and someone stole some of my things out of Joe Abbott’s truck last night. When I got back to my cottage, the thief had broken in and left the stolen items inside. The state trooper thinks I shouldn’t stay there alone for a few days while he investigates, and I wondered if there might be a room at the hotel where I could stay in the meantime?”

  Her aunt frowned. “That’s most inconvenient, Torie. We have a full house right now.”

  It took all of Torie’s resolve to bite her tongue. “Should I stay at one of the other hotels?”

  She’d known her aunt wouldn’t want club business spread to other hotels. “I’ll see what I can do. There might be a storeroom where we can put a bed.”

  A storeroom. What was the woman thinking? The hotel was busy but not that busy. “Thank you, Ms. Hallston. I’ll go home as soon as the state police says it’s safe.”

  “Broken into?” Her aunt’s hazel eyes raked Torie from head to toe. “What were they after? You hardly are the type to be harboring crown jewels or anything of value.”

  Did her aunt think money was all that mattered? Torie wasn’t sure she’d be around by the time everything came out, but she hoped she was nearby when Aunt Genevieve realized she’d been dissing her own niece all this time.

  “Do I have your cell?”

  “Yes, ma’am, it’s in the system.”

  “I’ll text you what I discover.”

  “I appreciate it.” Torie forced a smile, then backed away.

  Her phone broke into song—her father’s ringtone of “Daddy’s Hands.” She glanced back to make sure her aunt was out of earshot, then answered it. “Hey, Dad, what’s going on with you? You didn’t answer earlier.”

  “I was out diving. Just got to the boat. What’s up, honey?”

  He was actually acting like this was a real vacation. When was the last time she’d seen him do anything just for fun? Ages.

  “You’re
not going to like it.” She explained what had happened in the past twenty-four hours and could almost hear the steam spewing around her father’s head.

  “Who would dare attack you?”

  “It wasn’t an attack. More of a warning. Like don’t forget I’m watching you.” Put like that it sounded even creepier. “I mean, the guy hasn’t tried to hurt me or anything.”

  “You need to go back to Scottsdale, Torie. I won’t have you in danger. I’m here now. I can poke around Lisbeth’s death.”

  “I’m not leaving. This guy must be worried about what I’ll find out. If I leave now, he’s won. I can’t let that happen. I love you, Dad, but I have to do this. I really called to ask if you can arrange for a room at the hotel for me for a few days, but I already took care of it. Well, at least I think so. Aunt Genevieve says she can have a bed put in one of the storerooms.”

  “She what?” he yelled.

  Torie held the phone out from her ear and chuckled. “I doubt she’ll really do that. It was all bluster.”

  “I’ll make sure she gives you a good room. The connecting room next to mine is empty.”

  “That’s a suite. She won’t let me have that.”

  “Oh yes she will,” he said grimly.

  “If you intervene she’ll know something is up.”

  “I’ll tell her I heard there was an employee with a problem, and as caring employers, we should take good care of that person. I’ll mention I think you should get that room. Or I’ll just arrange it and tell her. That’s a better idea. Then she can’t try an end run to bypass me.”

  “Are you sure? It might make her angrier.”

  “Like I’ve ever been afraid of her. She brought your mom a lot of grief, and she and Lily were nothing alike.”

  “I didn’t know there was bad blood between them.”

  “Maybe not bad blood but wariness. I dated Genevieve first, and she was livid when I dropped her and dated your mother.”

  “Dad! You never told me that. You heartbreaker, you.”

  He laughed. “There was no great love lost between us. All she ever wanted was my money. Your mom never cared about that kind of thing. After we were married, I made sure Genevieve had a respectable position in the company to compensate. I don’t think she ever saw it as anything less than her due.”

  Torie felt the first stirrings of pity for her aunt. Maybe there was a reason she was so bitter.

  Chapter 15

  “Dad, come quick, the gulls are after the hatchlings!”

  The sun was already sinking, leaving shadows and casting the sky in magenta and purple hues. Torie would be here at the picnic area on St. Andrews Beach any minute. He didn’t have time for turtle rescue right now, but his daughter would never forgive him if a gull made off with one of her little ones.

  The soft sand slowed his run toward the line of sea grass and rocks where the latest sea turtle nest lay hidden. Hailey waved her arms and shouted at the screeching gulls with their black heads as they dive-bombed the hatchlings. The scent of the sea blended with the aroma of the steaks grilling near the picnic table, and he glanced at his watch. He had about five minutes before he needed to flip them.

  “Shoo, shoo!” He waved his hands, then grabbed a palm frond nearby and chased off the gulls.

  Protecting the march of the turtles with the frond, he walked with them to where the foam rolled onto the sand until each one disappeared into the surf.

  Hailey hovered anxiously nearby until she was sure they were all safe. “Thanks, Daddy.”

  “You’re welcome. I could use your help with the food now. I’ll flip the steaks if you get everything out of the truck.” He’d been able to pick up his vandalized truck earlier this afternoon.

  “Okay. I hope she likes the brownies I made.” Hailey loved to bake, and though she was only eight, she had a talent for it.

  She skipped along beside him back to their picnic spot. “I like Torie. She is never in a hurry and always listens to me.”

  “I’ve noticed. She seems to like you a lot.”

  How hard would it be to bring a new relationship into their lives? He and Hailey had been managing on their own for three years, and they had everyday life down to a science where everything worked. What if meeting Torie changed everything in a bad way? He’d never want Hailey to think she’d lost her place in his heart.

  All this was new territory, and he wasn’t sure how to navigate the tangle. But maybe he was jumping the gun anyway. The feelings stirring for Torie might not be anything. Or they might not be reciprocated. It was too early to be thinking of those kinds of what-ifs.

  He reached the grill, then grabbed the tongs and lifted the lid. He flipped the steaks and smiled. Perfect. He wanted everything to go well tonight. Hailey went past him to the truck and got out the basket with utensils and food. She set it on the picnic table, then vanished into the bathroom. She was still wiping her hands with a damp paper towel when she exited. She looked like a small adult as she pulled out the bags of veggies to arrange in a salad. She snuck a few cherry tomatoes to eat as she worked. The girl was lucky she hadn’t turned into a tomato with how much she loved them.

  He could hear her banging around and talking to herself, though he couldn’t make out any words. The sound of tires crunching on gravel made him turn, and his pulse ratcheted to high speed when he saw Torie get off a bike.

  Torie carried a six-pack of boxed apple juice, and he eyed the drinks. “Thirsty?”

  She smiled. “Hailey mentioned she loves boxed apple juice. I hope this brand is okay. It’s organic.”

  “It’s her favorite.”

  She passed the juice boxes to him and followed him to the picnic table. “I put them in a bag to ride my bike over.”

  “I told you I would have been glad to pick you up.”

  “I know, but it’s a perfect day for biking, and it only took ten minutes.” She gazed past him. “Hi, Hailey!” She waved, and his little girl turned from her salad prep and waved back.

  “I made brownies,” Hailey called.

  “I love brownies,” Torie said.

  “Any problem getting a room at the hotel?”

  “Ms. Hallston offered me a storeroom with a cot, but Anton arranged for a suite. She might not be too happy with me when she learns about it.”

  He set the juice boxes on the picnic table. “You can always call Anton if she gets mean about it.”

  “Apple juice! Can I have one now? It’s hot work making salad.”

  “If you name the verse.” Joe grinned. “‘For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and He has filled the hungry soul with what is good.’”

  Hailey frowned. “I think it’s in Psalms.”

  “Good guess. Psalm 107, verse 9.” He opened the cooler and peered inside. “I have iced tea and several different Cokes. What would you like?”

  “I’ll have iced tea.” Torie settled on the picnic table. “I tried to talk to Bella about Lisbeth, but she went white when I asked about the antidepressants and rushed off. I think she was scared.”

  “Of who or what?” He pulled out bottles of iced tea and handed her one.

  She uncapped her bottle and took a long swig. “I don’t know yet, but I’m going to pin her down tomorrow. Maybe she’s ashamed that she lied and doesn’t want to continue it.”

  “Did you talk to Anton about it?”

  “Not yet. I suppose I should. He might be able to get her to talk if I can’t. I don’t understand why she would lie about this. It’s strange.”

  “You’re certain it’s not true? People are often embarrassed about that kind of thing.”

  “Not Lisbeth. This isn’t possible. Not in any way. I’m as certain of that as I know she didn’t go in the water. Knowing Bella was on the scene right away seems suspicious. It might account for the fear she showed when I started questioning her. I think she knows more than she’s telling. And I need to find out what she knows.”

  Maybe Torie was right. Someone didn’t want her poking i
nto things, but at least she’d be safe at the hotel.

  * * *

  The smile Torie had carried since the picnic died as she looked at the closed door to her suite. Did she really want to sleep on the same floor where her mother died?

  Torie paused another long moment before she unlocked the door and stepped into the dark suite. Moonlight streamed through the open French doors, illuminating the white sofa and gray armchair. A clean scent welcomed her, and she switched on the light, then dropped her purse onto a table beside a fruit basket before glancing around the small living room. Her suitcase sat by the closet where a bellhop had left it.

  A gleam drew her to the balcony, and she stood looking down on the swimming pool, and then farther out, the glimmer of the Intracoastal Waterway.

  She retraced her steps and found the door to the bedroom. An odd odor hit her when she stepped into the space, and she turned on the light. A bare foot protruded from one end of the bed on the far side near the window.

  Torie gasped and took a step back as she identified the odor as the coppery stench of blood. Her knees shook as she approached the person on the floor. The slender foot and ankle appeared to be that of a woman who was lying on her side. When she reached the prone figure, her gaze traveled up the shapely legs to land on the blonde hair matted with blood.

  Bella!

  Torie knelt beside the young woman and pressed her fingers to her neck. No pulse. She gasped and jumped to her feet. Her dad would know what to do. She fumbled with the connecting doorknob and found he’d already unlocked his side.

  “Dad!” She practically fell into the room. “Daddy!”

  He leaped from the sofa where he’d been watching TV in his pajamas. “Torie, what’s happened?”

  She pointed a shaking hand toward her room. “It’s Bella. I think she’s dead. There’s blood all over her hair.” Her voice quivered, and she struggled not to cry.

  Had Bella come to her suite to tell her what she knew about Lisbeth’s death? Or had someone placed her there as a warning? But no. Blood soaked the carpet too. Had she been killed there?

  Her dad picked up his phone from the table. “I’ll call security while you call the state police. Tell them we might be dealing with a homicide.”