The House at Saltwater Point

by Colleen Coble

  He reached into his pocket and drew out a folded piece of paper. Unfolding it, he handed it to her. “What do you think?”

  She stared at the grainy picture of a group of ten people dressed in paramedic uniforms. Two were women. She pointed to the blonde. “I recognize the smile. This is her! What’s her name?”

  “Olivia Norman.”

  She pulled out of his embrace and jumped to her feet. “Can we go talk to her?”

  He shook his head. “Not easily. She lives in Rock Harbor, Michigan. I doubt you want to wait to talk to her until we can get a flight out there.”

  She perched back on the sofa cushion beside him. “Do you have her phone number? Maybe we could call her.”

  He nodded. “And I know a little about her. She’s fifty and moved away right after the earthquake. She got a job as a paramedic in Arizona and married two years later. They moved some and ended up in Rock Harbor, Michigan. She has a daughter and two sons. I called the sheriff in Rock Harbor, and he raved about her and her daughter.”

  “She was so helpful after the earthquake. I don’t know what we would have done without her. Could we call her right now?”

  He glanced at the grandfather clock. “It’s almost eleven there. That’s pretty late.”

  “Maybe not. Can we just try? Maybe she’s a night owl.”

  “We’re likely to tick her off. She probably won’t answer anyway. Most people don’t answer unknown phone numbers these days.”

  She knew everything he said was true, but she longed to find Brenna now that she’d found Grayson. Her phone was on the coffee table so she grabbed it. “I’ll call.”

  “Put it on speakerphone if she answers.” He pushed the paper with the phone number under her nose.

  Her heart was trying to pound out of her chest as she punched in the number. The phone rang three times, and she resigned herself to leaving a message until the line clicked.

  “Do you have any idea how late it is?” The woman’s voice held outrage. “I never answer sales calls, but this is just too much. I’m going to report you.”

  Shauna quickly flipped over to speakerphone. “I’m so sorry for calling late, but this isn’t a sales call. Are you Olivia Norman?”

  “That was my maiden name.” Her voice went wary.

  “My maiden name was Shauna Duval. I wasn’t sure if you’d remember me. You helped me and my family after the earthquake.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “In Lavender Tides, Washington. You were a paramedic here, right?”

  “Th-This is much too late for you to be calling. D-Don’t call me again.”

  The click in Shauna’s ear told her the woman had hung up. She stared at the screen, then turned off her phone. “That’s so weird, Zach. Did you notice how she acted like she didn’t know what I was talking about, then hung up when I mentioned Lavender Tides? And she sounded scared. You’re sure it’s the same woman, that the name is right?”

  “It’s her. I found a current picture on the Rock Harbor EMS website. She’s older now, of course, but it’s clearly the same woman.”

  She picked up the woman’s picture and studied it. “I’m sure this is her. A hundred percent sure. But why wouldn’t she at least talk to me about it? For all she knew I might have just been calling to thank her for taking such good care of us then.”

  “It’s odd for sure. Let’s try again tomorrow. Maybe she was just grouchy because it was so late. We could have awakened her or one of the kids.”

  “How old are her kids?”

  “Grown, so yeah, that’s probably not the reason.” He consulted a file on his phone. “Her daughter is twenty-four, and she has two older stepsons.”

  “Brenna would be about twenty-four. She must have had a baby of her own.” Shauna’s gaze locked with Zach’s, and she saw an awareness flare to life at the same time she began to wonder herself. “There’s no record of Brenna at all.”

  “Let me see if I can find a picture of her daughter.” He grabbed his computer and typed in a search string. “Here’s her old high school website.” He scrolled through several pages.

  Shauna watched over his shoulder, and even before she saw the name, Bailey Fleming, she knew which girl was Olivia’s daughter because she could have been Shauna herself at age eighteen.

  She struggled to catch her breath. “We’ve found her, Zach.” Tears burned her eyes. “We found her.”

  Lavender Lady was beautiful in the moonlight. Her tall masts reached for the stars, and the soft creaking of the ship shifting in the waves added to the Old World feeling as Ellie climbed the ladder to the deck behind Jason. Gray was on her heels, his keen gaze exploring every shadow.

  The last ferry of the day chugged by, its lights bouncing off the waves. The sea wind brought the scent of kelp to her nose and left the taste of salt on her lips as she stepped onto the deck and put her kitten down to explore the new quarters. Ellie’s gaze immediately went to where she’d seen Mac’s blood. The stain lingered, and she shuddered.

  She still trembled inside from the horrific events of the last twenty-four hours. Two dead. She had a sense of something momentous on the horizon, like a mythical sea monster about to devour them all.

  Gray moved close to her. “Are there any lights on this thing?”

  She caught a hint of his cologne, and it comforted her to know he was near. “There’s a generator.”

  “I know where it is.” Jason vanished into the shadows.

  Gray’s warm hand came down on her shoulder. “You doing okay?”

  She tipped her head up to stare at him. “I don’t know. What’s really going on, Gray?” The halyards banged against the masts to punctuate her question.

  “I think it’s something big, Ellie. And I’ve got to stop whatever it is no matter what my bosses say.”

  Her gaze went to the masts. “This is a beautiful ship, Mac’s pride and joy. I’ve been thinking about how she tried to cancel the tall ship flotilla that is coming this weekend. I thought Terrance might give us a peek into her state of mind, but what if the flotilla plays a role in all this?”

  “What kind of role?”

  She rubbed her head. “I don’t know. She told the committee it would be dangerous. That has to mean something.”

  Ellie faced the shore where lights from town twinkled on the hillsides. Teenagers hung out on the pier, and she caught low hoots of laughter as they shared cigarettes and jokes. It was a carefree scene, and she wished she could capture that same sense that all was right with the world. She saw a few shadows and recognized Jermaine’s slight form beside Stuart Ransom’s bulk. Good people here in town determined to protect her.

  Instead, she knew in her bones something was very wrong.

  Gray’s shoulder brushed hers as he leaned against the railing with her. “Do you know anything about the tall ship flotilla? Who books the appearances, that kind of thing?”

  “Mac spoke with a guy in San Francisco when she came up with the idea.” She searched her memory. “Gun Moon. I only remember it because she joked about him being a cowboy with a name like that. He’s from Korea and owns one of the tall ships, though he lives in California most of the time.”

  “I’ll see what I can find out about him and the tall ship he’s bringing in. When are they arriving?”

  “Sometime on Thursday. The Parade of Sail wraps up the festival on Sunday. Twenty tall ships from three countries will be here.”

  The ship lights flickered and came on, and Gray straightened. “Let there be light.” He looked around. “Nice ship.”

  “It was a pile of floating debris when Mac bought it, but it was cheap enough for her to afford. She’s worked her tail off restoring it. She was built around 1920. Let’s go belowdeck and take a look at where we can sleep. Mac had everything ready for a crew. She was in the process of interviewing.”

  Ellie led him to the stair entry, and they exited belowdeck in the grand salon. The odor of fresh varnish stung her nose. N
ewly recovered bench seats ran around the perimeter of the room, and a refinished wooden table and chairs sat atop the red Oriental rug.

  “Nice,” Gray said.

  “I think the captain’s and first mate’s rooms are there.” She pointed out two doors at the stern of the ship. “They both have heads in them. There are two smaller suites at the bow.”

  Gray poked his head into both rooms. “You take the captain’s suite, and Jason can have the first mate’s room. I’m going to stay up top and guard the ship tonight.”

  Jason ducked as he entered the salon. “Wake me at one and I’ll spell you. We can each do four hours of watch.”

  Gray evaluated him for a long moment before nodding. “Thanks. You know how to handle a firearm?”

  Jason headed for the ladder to the deck. “I’m an avid hunter. I’ll take a quick run home and get my rif le while you look out for Ellie. I’ll be back in half an hour.”

  Gray gestured to the captain’s suite. “Get some rest, Hammer Girl.”

  Hammer Girl. It was a reminder that she was strong and resilient. Together they would get to the bottom of what was going on. She prayed they figured it out in time.

  Chapter 27

  I can’t tell you how many things I’ve learned to do by reading and watching videos. Anyone can learn how to wield a hammer or drive a screw into a wall.

  —HAMMER GIRL BLOG

  The boat creaked and swayed in the gentle waves of the bay. Leaning against a big mast, Grayson stretched out his aching leg as he sat under the stars and pulled out his phone. He needed answers.

  Lance Phoenix, an FBI agent, was his best bet. Grayson had worked with him on several investigations over the years. He trusted Lance.

  Lance answered on the first ring. “Bradshaw, what have you gotten yourself into?”

  “What are you talking about? I’m in the dark here. I was ordered to stand down and leave this to the suits, but I can’t. It’s spinning out of control here at warp speed.” He told Lance what had been happening the past few days. “I’m aboard the tall ship where Mackenzie died, and I’m not sure how much longer I can keep her sister, Ellie, safe.”

  “She means something to you. I can hear it in your voice.”

  Grayson ignored that comment. His feelings had no bearing in the case. “What do you know?”

  “You know my butt is on the line if I tell you.”

  “But you’re going to do it anyway. Just like I’d do for you.”

  Lance chuckled. “Here’s the scoop. Mackenzie Blackmore contacted the FBI two months ago and told them she thought a terrorist cell was going to set off an EMP bomb. Two agents were dispatched to talk to her, and she told them she was in a position to infiltrate the group. The FBI was reluctant to agree to it, but if they were going to stop the attack, they had to know the plan and the mastermind.”

  Grayson clenched his fists. “They let her do it?”

  “And they’re paying for it now. She texted them and told them she had the full scoop. Before they could meet, she was killed.”

  “They found her body?”

  “Well, no, but they’re sure she’s dead.”

  Grayson winced. He sure didn’t want to tell Ellie about this part of the conversation. “What about the cocaine theft from the Coast Guard hangar?”

  “That was my part in it. I helped arrange for her to steal it and give it to her contact, Nasser, as a way to prove her loyalty. Unknown to him, Dylan Trafford was set up to be her cover story.”

  “Nasser.” Grayson spat out the name. “Do you know how she found out about the plan to set off the bomb?”

  “She fell for Nasser, if you can believe it. He told her about stealing the cocaine, and at first she went along with it. At the time I think she believed he was a drug lord. She had no idea he was planning this attack. Once she found out, she knew she had to get help.”

  Grayson had no doubt Nasser could charm the ladies with his dark good looks. At least Mac had enough sense to try to take him down before he killed thousands of people. “Why here, though? The area doesn’t have a large population.”

  “That’s the worst part. It’s a trial run for a much bigger attack in San Francisco.” Lance’s voice was grim. “Unfortunately, with Mac gone we have no way of knowing how they’re planning to deploy the bomb.”

  “You think it’s here in the area already?”

  “Almost certainly.”

  Grayson stared out at the lights along the shore. While the population wasn’t enormous, there were good people here. He had to stop this. “Why was I told to stand down?”

  “The FBI feared your poking around would make Nasser’s cell move the attack up sooner, before they could track down the bomb. They’re not having much luck, though. Maybe you will.”

  “Which is why you’re telling me.”

  “You got it, Bradshaw. I know you, and you can be a help. Plus, this is personal to you.”

  “So all we know is Nasser’s ISIS cell is playing a part.”

  “And the North Koreans. It appears to be a joint effort.”

  He blew out a harsh breath. “That’s bad.” A confirmation of his worst fears.

  “Worse than bad.”

  “So we need to find the mastermind, the guy who is directing Nasser. And figure out what they are planning?”

  “That about sums it up. Tall order for a tall guy.”

  “Do we have any idea when this is all coming down?”

  “This coming weekend.”

  Grayson couldn’t respond. Five days. The weekend would be here in the blink of an eye. “Thanks, Lance. I’ll keep you posted.”

  “Do that. Good luck, Bradshaw.”

  The pain in Grayson’s leg intensified as he ended the call. The task seemed impossible. But there had to be a way.

  Mac sat on the floor in a corner of the room and stared at the door. This had been all her fault, really. All she’d had to do was tell Ellie about how stupid she’d been. Instead, she’d allowed herself to be pulled deeper and deeper into this until there was no way out.

  She’d been an idiot.

  These last few days staring death in the face had been a wake-up call. Deep down, she’d always been jealous of Ellie. Ellie was prettier, smarter, kinder, more talented—more everything—than Mac. If she had been able to bring down Tarek and his cell, her face would have been all over the news. The accompanying accolades would have been sweet. And maybe even Jason would quit looking at her with such contempt. Instead, she had walked right into a trap with no way out.

  The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs brought her to her feet, and Mac stood facing the door with her hands clenched together in front of her. The key jangled in the dead bolt, and the door opened. Tarek stepped through, then closed it behind him. She backed away, though her traitorous heart wanted her to throw her arms around his neck.

  He wore slim-fitting black trousers and a blue Oxford shirt. His dark hair gleamed as if he’d just gotten out of the shower. His gaze swept over her. “Looks like you’re recovering.”

  “Why do you care? You’re going to kill me anyway.”

  “I’m not going to kill you. Wang might, and I admit it’s not what I’d choose. I find I have more feelings for you than I thought, though that fact won’t change anything.”

  It was ridiculous how much his dark eyes moved her. She shook her head. “I wish you weren’t involved in this. I love my country.”

  “You don’t love anyone but yourself.”

  She’d met him in Seoul, of all places. An instant attraction had developed between them until she realized he was a bona fide terrorist. That had opened her eyes, but it hadn’t driven out the feelings she still carried for him.

  She reached toward him. “Let me go, Tarek. He’s not your boss. You don’t have to do what he wants.”

  “This is a joint effort, Mackenzie. It’s the culmination of everything I’ve worked years to accomplish. America will finally pay.”

  She recognized the gli
nt of fanaticism in his eyes. “What about my sister?”

  “He’s ordered for her to be killed.” His white teeth gleamed in a mirthless smile. “I’m sure you miss her.” He took one step closer to her. “You sealed your fate a long time ago, Mac.” His eyes went hard, and he spun on his heel and stomped to the door, then slammed it shut behind him. The lock clanged into place, and his footsteps retreated up the stairs.

  She put her face in her hands and let out a groan. She had to figure out how to get out of here and warn the FBI.

  Mac paced the tiny cell with renewed strength and determination. There would be no more mistakes made that allowed her to escape. A new dead bolt and padlock had been added to the outside of her door, and the metal bed frame had been removed. The dirty mattress rested directly on the floor, and all other loose items had been taken away.

  No tools, no weapons. But she still had her brain. There had to be a way out of here. She had to get out before Ellie was killed and the bomb was set off. But how?

  She whirled toward the door when she heard a key scrape in the lock. The door opened, and Hyun stepped inside the room. Her dark eyes flickered stonily to Mac, then back to the floor as she set the tray with soup and water on the floor.

  Mac sprang forward as the woman started to leave. “Wait! Please stay and talk to me a moment.”

  Hyun turned back toward her. “There is nothing for us to say.”

  “What could it hurt? I’ve been shut up here for days, and I’m going crazy in the silence.”

  The Korean woman eyed her a moment. “Wang was unhappy with me when you escaped. I don’t care if you suffer from loneliness now.”

  Mac winced. “I’m sorry. You’d locked the door, and I managed to unlock it. It wasn’t your fault.”

  The steely expression in those eyes softened. “That didn’t matter. It was my fault.”

  Mac wet her lips and tried a tremulous smile. “I have money, plenty of money. I don’t know what he’s paying you, but—”

  The woman’s eyes flashed, and she held up her hand. “Death would be preferable to betraying the man I love.” She tipped her head and studied Mac’s face. “What did you do that he locked you in here? Were you a former girlfriend who disrespected him?”