Beyond the Cabin

by Dana Ridenour

  “So, Otis Ray beat some guy to a pulp, sliced his face up, and walked away scot-free.”

  “That sums it up.”

  “How long ago were the drug offenses?”

  “He’s been in trouble off and on most of his adult life. Everything from personal use of marijuana to trafficking amounts of cocaine. His longest prison stint was seven years back in 2005 for trafficking cocaine.”

  A chill ran up Lexie’s back.

  “What’s wrong?” Don asked.

  “I overhead a conversation the other day between Captain Meade and Otis Ray. Things are finally starting to make sense.”

  “What did they say?” Zach asked.

  Lexie hesitated telling Zach and Don about the exchange. She didn’t want them to get worried and pull her away from the marina.

  “Essentially Otis Ray told Captain Meade to keep me on a leash.”

  Zach’s eyes bugged out. “What? What did he mean by that?”

  “I don’t know. I think he didn’t want me asking too many questions.”

  “Do you think he suspects you?” Don asked.

  “No. I think he’s up to no good and he doesn’t want anyone getting too close to his business.”

  “You need to stay away from Prichard,” Don said.

  “I agree,” Zach chimed in.

  “I will. He gives me the creeps, so I try to avoid him. Now that I know his propensity for violence, I’ll definitely keep my distance.”

  “I wonder if Prichard has anything to do with the seaplane?” Zach asked.

  “Not you, too.” Don said. “It’s bad enough that Lexie is harping on this seaplane theory, now she has you buying into the hypothesis. Jesus Christ, I can’t get a break.”

  Lexie laughed.

  “I’m serious. You two need to stop with the damn seaplane. Can we please concentrate on arresting these ELF assholes?”

  “Agreed,” Lexie said.

  The three agents finished their breakfast and parted ways. Driving back to Pawleys Island, Lexie hatched a plan.

  18

  Lexie grabbed her backpack and car keys and headed out the door of her condo. Before she reached her car, a man in his early forties dressed in snug-fitting Under Armour workout wear approached her. His well-defined arms sported tattoo sleeves and both calves were covered as well.

  “You’re the FBI agent, right?”

  Lexie looked around to see who he was talking to, and to her shock, he was looking right at her.

  “What?” Lexie said.

  “Oh, it’s okay. I’m a friend of Tony’s,” he said, winking.

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

  “I’m Max,” the man said as he extended his hand. Lexie didn’t shake it. “Tony said you were a ball buster.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I’m late.”

  “I rented this condo for you. Don’t worry, mums the word,” he said, making a locking motion on his mouth and pretending to throw away the key.

  Lexie hopped in her VW Bug and pulled out.

  Max waved at her as she pulled away. Lexie didn’t like the look of the guy or the smirk he wore.

  Shit, she thought. Now what?

  As soon as she pulled out onto Highway 17, she called Don.

  “Hi Lexie, what’s new?”

  “I’ll tell you what’s new. I’m going to kill that fucking moron you work with.”

  “You have to be more specific. Which moron?” Don laughed.

  “I’m not kidding, Don. This is serious.”

  “I’m sorry, Lex. Tell me what’s going on.”

  Lexie took a deep breath and told Don about her encounter in the parking lot. There was silence on the other end.

  “Did you hear me?” Lexie asked.

  “I … I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe Tony would be so unprofessional. I’m so sorry. Have you ever had this happen before?”

  “Of course not!” Lexie yelled.

  “What should we do?” Don asked.

  “Well, the first thing that we have to do is to move me out of that damn condo. You need to get Tony and that jackass, Max, into the office and read them the riot act. I’m not sure if we can salvage this case. I can tell you one thing for sure—if headquarters finds out about this incident, we’re done. They will instantly close this case and put my butt on a plane back to New Orleans.”

  Lexie took a deep a breath. Her heart thumped and stomach churned.

  “What do you want to do?” Don asked. “I can certainly understand if you want to pack your bags and go home today. I wouldn’t hold it against you.”

  “I wanna continue, but I don’t know how dangerous this breach is to the case or to me. This Max guy could be harmless, but how do we know for sure? I sure as hell don’t trust Tony. In fact, from here on out, I don’t want Tony involved in this case at all. He’s not to know anything about what I’m doing, where I’m living, or who I’m having dealings with, or I’m gone. Understood?”

  “Understood.”

  “Who’s the alternate contact agent for Max?”

  “Zach is,” Don said.

  “When Tony and Zach meet with Max, I want you there, too.”

  “Tony is weird about his source meets. I’m not sure he’ll allow me to meet Max.”

  “I don’t give a rat’s ass what Tony wants. If you aren’t there for the meeting, then I’m going home. I don’t trust Tony as far as I can throw him, and I think Zach is too inexperienced to deal with this situation properly. You’re the senior agent in the office and I’m not going to continue unless all three of you meet with Max. He has to understand how serious this situation is and I also want you to assess the level of danger this guy now poses to the case.”

  “Agreed,” Don said.

  “I want a face to face with Tony, too.”

  “That might not be the best idea. Let me deal with Tony.”

  “Not on your life. I want to look that bastard in the eyes and hear first-hand his reasoning for disclosing secret information to a snitch. Tony could lose his job for this type of security breach.”

  Don was quiet on the other end of the phone.

  “Are you still there?”

  “I am. I think this is a bad idea, Lexie. Please let me handle Tony.”

  “No way. It’s your case, but it’s my life on the line. I want to meet with him in person. Someplace private.”

  Lexie heard Don’s other phone ringing.

  “Let me call you back in a few minutes. Deputy Kerrick from Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office is calling on my other phone. I’ll hit you right back.”

  Lexie hung up and continued driving south. She put a Green Day CD in the player and cranked up the sound. She needed to blow off some steam. Unfortunately, ten minutes into the CD, things got worse.

  Lexie’s phone rang. Don’s number showed on the screen.

  “Lexie, we have a serious problem. There’s been another attack, and two people have been injured.”

  “Holy shit, again? This is getting out of hand. What happened?”

  “Three masked trespassers showed up at the worksite early this morning. They brought enough explosives to blow up a small village. The armed security guard saw them on the new surveillance system, called the police, then approached the intruders. One of the terrorists pulled out a gun, pointed it at the guard, and the guard shot him. The masked man and the guard were both injured in the gunfire exchange. The guard was shot in the leg and upper arm. He was transported to the hospital and is listed as in stable condition.”

  “What about the bad guy?”

  “He took a round in the abdomen and was stat flighted to the Medical University of South Carolina down in Charleston. I’m waiting for an update on his condition. Oh, and thanks to surveillance cameras at the work site, we have a video of the whole attack.”

  “There’s no way in hell we can let this case be closed now,” Lexie said. “Let’s find a way to get beyond this source in
cident and keep the investigation going. It’s way too important to let HQ close it down.”

  “I agree. I’m en route to the crime scene, so I’ll know more soon. Can you give me the rest of the day to see what I can find out? I promise we will get to the bottom of the source problem. I won’t let it get swept under the rug.”

  “No problem. I’ll be fine in the condo for now. You do what you need to do and I’ll keep plugging away on my end.”

  “Lexie, be careful. These guys are armed and dangerous.”

  “I will, but it’s extremely unusual for ELF activists to carry weapons. This is another situation that doesn’t make sense.”

  “There’s a lot of things about this case that don’t make sense. Be careful out there.”

  ***

  Lexie continued the fifteen-mile drive to the small seaport town of Georgetown. There was a large marina in Georgetown, and Lexie intended to rent a small boat for a week. She was determined to find the landing location of the seaplane and hopefully connect some of the dots. Her instincts told her the seaplane and the ELF actions were connected. Don wasn’t happy about the amount of money Lexie was spending, but she didn’t care. After this debacle with Tony’s source, Don owed her one. Neither Don nor Zach were helping her with the seaplane angle of the investigation, so she planned to do what she had to do to either prove or disprove her theory.

  Lexie wandered around the marina, feeling a little intimidated by the large yachts moored at the landing. She wanted to rent a small, reliable, boat that she could handle by herself. She finally summoned up the nerve to enter the marina office. The bell mounted above the door chimed when Lexie entered the office.

  “Good morning,” the barely thirty, ruggedly handsome man working the desk said. “How can I help you?”

  “Good morning. I’m interested in renting a small boat for a week, maybe longer.”

  “I’m Logan and I can certainly help you with that. What kind of boat are you looking to rent?”

  “Something small that I can handle solo. I’m a nature photographer.”

  Logan’s eyes were the color of molten chocolate. His wavy brown hair hung to his shoulders and his tanned skin indicated a love of the outdoors.

  “How much experience do you have?”

  “Captain Meade has been training me. Do you know Captain Meade?”

  “Of course. He’s famous, or infamous, in these parts depending on who you talk to. Everyone knows Captain Meade.”

  “I don’t have a ton of experience, but I can get around without getting in too much trouble.”

  Logan laughed. “If you were trained by Meade, then you must be good at getting into trouble.”

  Lexie laughed. “He’s a character.”

  “That’s an understatement,” Logan said. “Do you have your captain’s license?”

  “No. Is that a problem?”

  “The owner won’t rent our boats to people without a captain’s license.” Logan looked around the office to ensure no one could overhear him. “But, I think I can help you out.”

  Lexie smiled. “I need the smallest boat you have with a motor. Nothing fancy.”

  Logan hesitated for a moment, chewing on his bottom lip. He left the counter and joined Lexie in the office.

  “Come with me,” he said.

  Logan hung the clock sign in the window indicating that he would return in fifteen minutes. Lexie followed Logan to the other side of the marina. He pointed to a small skiff tied to a piling.

  “Is that too small?”

  “It’s PERFECT. How much per week?”

  “It’s my brother’s boat. He’s out of town for a month and told me that I could rent it to any of my friends. So, if you tell me your name, we can be friends.”

  Lexie smiled, extended her hand to Logan and said, “I’m Lexie.”

  “Nice to meet you, Lexie.”

  Logan shook Lexie’s hand, lingering a little longer than a normal handshake.

  “Well, now that we’re friends, I don’t see a reason why I can’t rent you Liam’s boat. How about $50 a day and you bring it back full of fuel.”

  “Deal.”

  “Cool. Let me show you how everything works.”

  Logan spent a few minutes giving Lexie a quick tutorial on the boat. There wasn’t much to learn and Lexie was a quick study.

  “Do me a favor and don’t tell the manager that I leased you Liam’s boat. I don’t think he would think too highly of me renting boats under the counter.”

  “It’s our little secret,” Lexie said.

  They walked back to the office together.

  “Hey, what are you doing for lunch?” Logan asked.

  “No plans, why?”

  “Want to go for lunch?”

  “Only if you let me buy,” Lexie said. “You’re doing me a huge favor, it’s the least that I can do.”

  “I’m a Lowcountry boy, and we usually pick up the tab for a date, but I guess I could make this one exception.”

  “So, this is a date?” Lexie said, grinning.

  Logan smiled, showing a mouthful of perfectly straight, gleaming white teeth.

  “You have a great smile,” Lexie said before she could stop herself. She felt her face flush.

  “Thank you. Two years of braces in junior high paid off.”

  The two walked over to the office together. “Let me lock up the office and grab my Jeep keys.”

  “I’ll wait for you out here.”

  What am I doing? Lexie thought. It’s not my fault. Who could have resisted those soulful eyes?

  “Ready?” Logan said.

  “That was fast.”

  “My mother always told me to never keep a beautiful lady waiting.”

  “You’re a flirt.”

  Logan smiled that movie star smile.

  I’m in trouble, Lexie thought.

  “This is my ride,” Logan said as they approached an older model Jeep Wrangler.

  Logan opened the Jeep door for Lexie.

  “Thank you.”

  Logan hopped in the driver side and cranked the engine.

  “What kind of food do you like?” he asked.

  “I like everything. I’m not picky.”

  “Let’s go to the Big Tuna. It’s on the water, so the view is great.”

  “Perfect.”

  The waitress seated Lexie and Logan at an outside table with a waterside view. She gave them menus and brought them each an iced tea.

  “This is a beautiful view,” Lexie said.

  “I like it here. Some people complain about the smell of the paper mill, but I grew up here, so it doesn’t bother me.”

  “I don’t smell anything,” Lexie said.

  “Some days are worse than others. It depends on the cloud cover and wind. Where do you live?”

  “Litchfield.”

  “That’s a nice area,” Logan said.

  “I recently moved there, so I’m still trying to get a feel for the area. So far, I really like it. So, you live in Georgetown?”

  “Yeah. Just outside of town. I bought a small house on the river a couple of years ago. My brother lives there with me.”

  Logan’s Southern accent as he softly blurred his consonants was magic to Lexie’s ears.

  “Did you say that you’re a nature photographer?”

  “That’s the plan. Hence the need for the boat. I’m updating my portfolio.”

  Lexie and Logan spent the next hour getting to know one another. The lies were rolling off of Lexie’s tongue like a leaf caught in a fast-moving stream. Her life, as Logan knew it, was a complete fabrication.

  After eating their lunches, splitting a dessert, and drinking two glasses of sweet tea, Logan had to return to work. He and Lexie returned to the marina and he walked Lexie to her car.

  “I like your Bug,” Logan said.

  Lexie smiled. “Thank you.”

  Logan pulled out his cell phone and handed it to Lexie. “Here, call your phone from my phone, so you have my cell n
umber.”

  Lexie gave Logan a sheepish grin.

  “In case you have problems with the boat,” he added.

  “Of course.” Lexie called herself from Logan’s number and saved it.

  A mischievous smile tugged at the corners of Logan’s mouth.

  “Would you like to hang out again sometime?” he asked.

  “Sure.”

  “Great. I’ll give you a call.”

  “You have my number,” Lexie said.

  ***

  Lexie took her newly rented boat out for a quick ride up the Waccamaw River. She didn’t plan to stay out late but wanted to make sure everything worked properly. If there were any problems, she could ask Logan for help. The small boat was easy to maneuver, so it didn’t take long before Lexie was comfortable in the captain’s chair. The South Carolina sun warmed her skin and caused her to squint. A large flock of white egrets were roosting in the trees along the waterway. The sheer number of birds gave the trees a snow-topped appearance. At the helm of the small vessel, Lexie felt carefree and complete.

  This is the most beautiful place on earth, she thought.

  As Lexie puttered around the quiet canals, she inhaled the Lowcountry smells, trying to memorize the scent. She remembered Savannah Riley telling her about the smell of the pluff mud. Savannah had said that the smell of the pluff mud was the smell of her happy childhood. The distinct smell, a combination of salt water and decaying marsh, only existed in the Lowcountry region.

  Lexie’s shoulders slumped as she thought about Savannah. She met Savannah during her first undercover mission. Savannah was a bright, sweet, Southern girl who trusted Lexie completely. That trust ultimately led to betrayal by Lexie.

  Lexie returned the boat to its spot in the marina.

  As she drove back to Litchfield, she pulled out her cell phone and realized that she had missed a call from Don. She clicked the missed call button.

  “Hey, Lexie.”

  “Hi, Don. Sorry I missed your call. What’s new?”

  “We watched the surveillance video from the attack.”

  “And?”

  “Turns out the security guard shot two people. He hit another one of the attackers in the shoulder, but that person was able to escape.”

  “Could you tell how seriously the guy was hurt?”