Hurricane in Paradise (Florida Keys Mystery Series Book 10)

by Deborah Brown

  “It was one of my better performances. I threw in a few French mutterings and butchered the language so badly, it made Didier flinch. I didn’t want to break his heart, but I also wanted to leave the door open for another smokin’ hot woman who’s looking for a man who doesn’t bathe.”

  Brad chuckled.

  We sat in silence, finishing our coffee.

  Brad scooted forward on the couch to look down the hall, then settled back. “I can trust you with something big, can’t I? Ouch.” He rubbed his ribs where I’d elbowed him.

  “That’s insulting. If not me, then who? We’ve been keeping each other’s secrets since we found out it sometimes takes a united pair to stay out of trouble.”

  “I… uh….” Brad squirmed, reaching into his pocket. “How do you like hearing really weird news: the hedge method or spit it out?”

  Knowing my brother wasn’t given to melodrama, this new turn worried me. “The latter, please.”

  He took his hand out of his pocket and opened it. Lying in the middle of his palm was a plain silver band. “I’m married.”

  “You and Julie snuck off? When? Mother is going to kill you.”

  “Patty.”

  He clapped his hand over my mouth before my screech could be heard down the block.

  I slapped it away. “Nooo… You married that woman?”

  “Not willingly.” He groaned. “There’s more to my captivity than anyone knows about, and I’d like to keep it that way. But damn, I need someone to talk to.” He leaned his head against the back of the couch and stared a hole in the ceiling.

  “You can trust me.” I took his hand in mine and squeezed.

  “I fed into her delusions that we could have a real relationship that included a happy family life and children. Anything that didn’t include me being chained up for the rest of my life. Not my finest moment, but I’d have done anything to get out of that house. I wondered why Patty put on a dress and fixed her hair one afternoon. And then a preacher came a knockin’; he wasn’t completely sloshed, but he’d been drinking.”

  I shuddered at the images flashing through my mind.

  “I should’ve known something was up when she let me put my pants back on,” he said in disgust. “I wasn’t allowed a shirt. Once I realized the drill, I told her I wouldn’t say yes unless she released me and we could do it the right way. She laughed.” He stared out the window. “Didn’t matter. Preacher gave us the shortened version. When he got to the vows, Patty spoke for both of us and signed our names on the marriage certificate. Favor?”

  “Anything.”

  “Several, actually.” He half-laughed. “Having a sister who is a professional sneak is about to come in handy.”

  “Stop with the compliments and spill.”

  “I need you to go back to that house and retrieve a file of papers she kept in one of the couch cushions. Don’t think the cops found it, and I didn’t say a word, not wanting it to end up who knows where. Not sure what all she kept in it, but I do know she stuffed the marriage certificate inside. I’m hoping, if I can track that man down, to find out if he filed it. And if he did, I’ll kick the crap out of him.”

  “Don’t you worry your pretty head; I’ve got this covered. The paperwork and the preacher.” I cracked my knuckles.

  “Man hands,” he mimicked Mother, and we laughed.

  “Next favor.”

  “Get me out of this house. About the only thing I can do in private is pee. I’m fine.” He flexed his muscles. “For all her delusions, Patty took good care of me.” He grimaced. “And did I mention, please do it without Mother making me feel guilty with those doe-eyed hurt looks of hers.”

  “Why didn’t you call instead of waiting for me to stop by?”

  “With what?” He held out his hands. “My old phone is who knows where; Patty used it a few times and dismantled it after each call. Spoon came up with a phone the first day—I didn’t ask where it came from; didn’t give a damn—but it disappeared five minutes later. Mother blew it off and said cheerfully, ‘Use the house phone.’ I’m a grown man, and I’ve got my mother listening in on my calls. Would’ve left a note and snuck out in the middle of the night, but oh yeah, no ride.”

  “Truck’s not in the garage; any idea where Patty hid it?”

  “A few days after she nabbed me, she picked up the keys to the truck and disappeared, and when she came back, she threw a completely different set down on the table. Patty ignored my questions, and from that, plus the fact that her purse was stuffed with cash, I figured she sold it. I wouldn’t put anything past her.”

  “I’ll put that on my to-do list. Girl Wonder and I have experience legally jacking cars and returning them to their rightful owners, and yours would qualify.” I stood up and put my hands on my brother’s shoulders. “I’ll get you out of here. If things look like they’re going south, don’t give up hope and blow my plan. What is it, you ask? Work in progress.” I crossed to a chair and retrieved my phone out of my purse. “What are you doing?” I asked Fab when she picked up the phone.

  “Ogling Didier’s backside while he pours me another cup of coffee.”

  “Okay, a moment of silence for that amazing sight; now focus. Can you shake him and sneak away, meet me at Jake’s? Bring my Glock; I need backup. Sooner is better.”

  “One hour.”

  “Perfect.” I shoved my phone in my pocket.

  Mother eyed me and Brad as she came into the living room, hands on her hips. “What are you two up to? And don’t say ‘nothing.’ I’m experienced with your tricks.”

  I grabbed our coffee mugs and walked to the kitchen sink. “I’m taking Brad to breakfast. We need some brother/sister bonding time. Well, he probably doesn’t, but I do.”

  Mother followed on my heels. “Nonsense. I can make breakfast here.” She opened the refrigerator, taking out a couple of bakery boxes.

  Behind her back, Brad made a gagging motion.

  “Mother.” I wrapped my arms around her, kissing her cheek. “Is Brad grounded?”

  “Of course not.” She sniffed. “I just don’t want you to get him in trouble.”

  “Really.” My brows shot up. “I had nothing to do with this whole incident, except in the finding; Patty was never a friend of mine.”

  “I didn’t mean it like that. I’d just like to keep him in sight for the next few years.”

  I didn’t have to look at my brother to know he was ready to bolt out the door and hike to Alligator Alley, where no one would find him.

  “It’s only for a couple of hours. We’ll be back,” I said, feeling slightly guilty, not knowing if, once Brad escaped, his need to feel normal would trump Mother’s pouty looks.

  “Just give me a few minutes, and I’ll go with you two,” Mother said.

  Brad stomped out to the balcony, scraped a chair across the concrete, and threw himself down in it.

  “Listen to me: stop smothering Brad. He wants his life back, and it’s natural that he wants to go out and claim it. I’m guessing he’s craving a normal day: business decisions to make, time with his girlfriend, and probably a hot, sweaty run on the beach. You keep trying to restrict his movements and he’ll walk out, and it will be uncomfortable and weird and he won’t want to come back—for a while, anyway.”

  Spoon came into the kitchen. “What’s going on?”

  It would have been hard not to notice that Mother and I were engaged in a stare-down.

  “I’m taking Brad to breakfast. We’ll see you later.” I arched my brow at Mother. “Okay?”

  “You both better come back in one piece.”

  I kissed her cheek and yelled, “Hey, bro.” He turned, and I motioned for him to get moving. I picked up my purse and moved in behind him, pushing him to the door. “I notice you don’t have a wallet. I suppose you’re going to mooch off me and make me pay the bill.”r />
  “That bitch Patty had it—who knows where it is now. I’d like to drive, but no license.”

  I laughed, and he glared back.

  “I’m happy you think this is amusing.”

  “You think you’re irritated now; just wait until you’re a passenger in my slow-mobile.”

  He grinned at that. “I’ll chalk it up to penance for all the times I flew over the speed limit. At least I know we’ll get where we’re going in one piece.”

  Chapter Forty-One

  It was a short drive to Jake’s. We pulled into the parking lot alongside

  Fab’s Porsche. Motioning for Brad to follow, I slid out of the driver’s seat, opened the back door, and slid in, Brad behind me.

  “You couldn’t ditch him?” I smiled at Didier when he climbed in, shutting the door. I shoved my hand over the front seat. “My Glock.”

  Fab withdrew it from the waistband of her jeans. “I’m not willing to go without sex until Didier stops being irritated.”

  Brad threw his head back and laughed. “Feels good to laugh.”

  “Where are we going?” Fab asked, as she pulled out on the main highway.

  “Why?” Didier grunted.

  Brad gave them a watered-down version of the “life with Patty” story he had disclosed to me previously. He focused on his truck and kept quiet about the marriage.

  “I’m afraid to ask, but what do you think you and Fab are going to accomplish? I vote we run this by Creole and see if it’s legal,” Didier suggested.

  “Of course it’s not legal. And if you need a house ransacked, it’s stupid not to use the best.” I tugged on Fab’s hair, which she jerked out of my grasp. “Fab can toss the place, and I’ll be backup. If this is a job that you can’t abide—” I turned to Didier. “I’ll go myself. I’ve watched the master often enough; maybe it’s time for the student to graduate.”

  The last comment didn’t sit well with Didier. His head snapped around, his expression angry.

  “I didn’t think I would be starting a fight,” Brad said. “Turn around, Fab. It’s not worth it if no one is speaking to anyone else at the end of the day.”

  “I can’t believe I’m going to be the calm one.” Fab banged the steering wheel. “The house is empty. It’s an in-and-out job.”

  Time to text Creole. “Back at the scene of the crime. Brad forgot something.” I’d wait until we got out of the car to push send.

  Fab circled the block twice. Not a single neighbor was milling around. It was early; we had that going for us. She chose the same parking place close to the corner.

  I had slipped into tennis shoes on the ride over. Not knowing when I left the house that I’d be searching a house, I wasn’t as prepared, in my skirt and t-shirt, as I’d like to have been, but it would have to do. Before I got out, I handed my phone to Brad after pushing send. Coward that I was, I figured he could talk to Creole when he called demanding answers.

  “Let’s take the direct approach.” Fab withdrew her lockpick and a pair of latex gloves. “Do not look around; pretend we have the right to be here. Patty’s not getting out anytime soon, is she?”

  “I hope not.” I shuddered and pulled on a pair of gloves. “If she does, I may have to use one of those connections I loosely brag about to have her fed to the alligators.”

  I’d found out that the house had been a foreclosure that was owned by the bank. Someone had come by and padlocked the door, which Fab had open in a flash.

  Didier had been right about the interior condition of the house. The previous owner had apparently run out of money after gutting it, and now only an investor would want it, and then for dirt cheap.

  “You guard the door. This won’t take long.” Fab looked at the makeshift bed slapped down on the floor, two sagging upholstered chairs, equally shabby couch with suspicious stains, and marred wooden coffee table.

  “Brad says there’s no bug issues.”

  “That’s the only good thing about this place.” Fab pulled out a knife and headed to the couch, examining all four sides and patting down both cushions. She slit one side of the cushion open, removed the folder Brad had said would be inside, and tossed it on the coffee table. The second cushion got the same treatment, as well as both chairs.

  “It stinks in here.” I wrinkled my nose.

  “Get a whiff over here.” She left the couch and moved to the bed, flipping up the sheets and inspecting the mattress. “This is interesting.” Her hand disappeared out of sight and came back with a laptop. She made a few strategic knife cuts to the mattress and, then ripped it open and, with a little digging, held up Brad’s wallet, keys, phone, and watch. Satisfied that there was nothing left to find, she headed to the kitchen and searched the cupboards. They were all empty.

  Fab disappeared down the hall and, within minutes, returned with a small plastic box containing a couple of USB drives and some cash. In her other hand was a camera. “There are a few personal items in the bathroom that belonged to a female, but nothing important.”

  “Let’s get out of here while it’s still quiet,” I said.

  Fab scanned the interior one last time, pushed me out the door, and replaced the padlock.

  “Thank you for doing this. I know Didier isn’t happy.”

  “Don’t you ever go sneaking off without me.”

  I walked to the passenger side, Brad opened the door, and I handed him his personal belongings. I kept the file.

  “Thanks,” he said, pulling me into a hug by my hair. “Creole’s not happy,” he whispered in my ear. “Wants to talk to Fab.”

  Didier moved across the seat to behind Fab, and I climbed in beside him.

  “Take us back to Jake’s,” I said to Fab. “Brad needs a phone—his current one is missing the SIM card—and then our curfew is about up.” When Fab had handed me the pieces of the phone, the battery and card were both gone.

  “I took care of that,” Didier said. “Called Madeline and told her we ran into the two of you and I insisted that Brad come back to the house and go for a run and a swim. Barbeque later, and of course, I expected to see her and Spoon. She wasn’t happy, but she agreed.”

  Brad turned to me. “Now that I’ve got my license back, can I borrow your car to go surprise Julie at The Cottages?”

  “Be sure to invite her and Liam for dinner.”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Alone for a moment in the kitchen, I filled my mug with coffee and took it poolside. The previous night, I had gone through the manila file and found Brad’s marriage license, a copy of the title to his truck, and a bill of sale. I made copies before stashing the file in a locked desk drawer. It wouldn’t keep Fab out, but it would most people. During dinner, I drew Brad aside, telling him where I’d hidden it and that I’d flipped through the contents and had everything I needed to piece together what Patty had done and hopefully undo everything as quickly as possible. I’d hugged him hard. “Don’t worry about any of this.” I promised to sort out this mess as soon as possible.

  Now that I had the contents spread out on the patio dining table, the file held several surprises. Patty had assumed Brad’s identity and taken control of his life, thanks to a forged power of attorney. I fished my phone out of my pocket and left a message for Phil, asking her to find Marvin Pink, the preacher, and Violet Tipp, the notary who signed the power of attorney, and saying that the job was a rush.

  I’d loaned my SUV to Brad and told him no hurry to return it, knowing he need time with Julie, which left me without a ride. I texted Fab: “Can I borrow your car?” and when I didn’t hear back, gave her the benefit of the doubt; she probably thought I was kidding.

  It wasn’t often that I had the house to myself, but I had no time to enjoy it. I ran upstairs and changed into a pair of black running shorts and a hot-pink skirt, sports bra, and short-sleeve top. Emptying out my purse on the be
d, I transferred what I needed to a small backpack.

  Pulling my hair into a ponytail and grabbing a baseball cap, I went back downstairs and out to the garage. I waved to my beach bicycle, propped up in the corner. “I know. Long time, no ride.” I checked the tires, wondering if talking to my bike was worse than talking to myself.

  Even though there was a bicycle lane alongside the road, I cut down to the beach and took that path most of the way to Jake’s before I had to brave the busy tourist traffic blowing through town.

  Drenched in sweat, thanks to off-the-charts humidity, I rolled my bike in through the kitchen door and parked it out of the way, waved to Cook, and made my way to the bar. Jake’s wasn’t officially open yet. The first to arrive, I flipped on the lights and ceiling fans and helped myself to a cold bottle of water, spilling some on my chest before taking a long drink and settling on a stool.

  The front door opened, and Phil waved from the threshold.

  “You’re late, Phyllis.” I imitated Fab’s snooty tone.

  “It’s Philipa.” She returned my condescending stare and checked her watch. “I have at least a minute, and I intend to walk very slowly.”

  “What have you got for me?”

  “You just texted the request,” she grouched. “I planned to do it myself, since it’s fairly easy.”

  “Good thing I have that ‘if it needs to be done, I’ll do it’ spirit. I’ll set up the bar while you tap away on that laptop of yours.”

  “Gee thanks, boss, but no thanks.” She rolled her eyes. “Lucky you, I can do two things at once. I’ll set up the bar, so I can find things when I need them, and walk you through which websites to check out.”