by Mac Fortner
“Diane Dade.”
“Are you alone?”
“Yes. I’m chained to the bed.”
Leland turned the knob and threw the door open once more. This time he stepped aside hiding behind the Jam. Nothing happened, so he peeked around the corner. He could see Diane lying on the bed.
Chapter 23
My phone rang at midnight. Jack and I were still at Diane’s house searching for clues. It was Toby’s number.
“Toby,” I said to Jack.
We both braced ourselves for the worst.
“Cam here,” I answered.
“Cam,” It was Diane. Her voice cracking.
“Diane. Where are you? Are you okay?”
“I’m with Sheriff Reynolds. I’m fine. He’s taking me home.”
“I’m at your house with Jack. Have Toby take you to my boat. We’ll meet you there. I don’t think it would be a good idea for you to come here tonight.”
“Okay, see you there.”
“Where has she been? Jack asked.
“I don’t know,” I said. “I didn’t ask.”
When we arrived at the boat, Diane, Kailey, and Toby were sitting inside on the sofa. He was taking notes. When she saw us, she jumped up and ran to me. We hugged and then she hugged Jack.
“Are you alright? Jack asked.
“I am now,” she said. “It was Jason Fields, the patient I told you about. He Tasered me at my back door and took me to his house and chained me to his bed.”
“He didn’t….” Jack said.
“No. he didn’t have time to do anything, but I’m sure he would have.”
“Thank you, Sheriff,” I said.
“It was Chief Leland and a couple of his officers that found her. I‘m just bringing her home,” Toby said.
“Well, thanks for that.”
“We got a print match from the sub. It belonged to Jason,” Toby said.
“Jason?” I said. “How did he fit into all this?”
“We think he drove the sub for whoever stole the jewels and then burned it. He’s the one who called our office and reported finding it on the beach.”
“Maybe he touched it before you arrived,” I said.
“I don’t think so,” Toby said and held up his hand. “I touched it when I arrived and burnt the hell out of my hand.”
“Who do you think he was driving the sub for?” Jack asked.
“Don’t know,” Toby said, “but it’s a two-man sub built by MIT–Marine Innovation Technologies, a Russian company. It’s a pedalo. You pedal it like a bicycle. Easy to operate, and runs around thirty-thousand dollars. That’s a drop in the bucket compared to what they got away with.”
“Not a bad investment,” I said.
“But we have three murders,” Toby said. “All of them we know were related to the heist, and it appears that they were all killed with the same gun. We’re still waiting on the ballistic report.”
“Someone is going to a lot of trouble to cover their tracks, and I think its Tracy Alexander,” I said.
“Are you forgetting she was in my office when Aaron Kingston was murdered?” Toby said. “And, your prints were the only ones we found on the gun.”
“I told you it’s my gun and it was stolen.”
“There was a woman,” Diane said. “In the house. She’s the one who ransacked it. I don’t know what she was looking for, but she found it. I heard her say, “Here we are.”
“Did you get a look at her?” Toby asked.
“No, but I heard her voice. She told me to have a nice day.”
“Would you recognize her voice if you heard it again?”
“Maybe. I was in a panic when she spoke to me.”
“The gun was missing after we found Tracy on the boat,” Kailey said. “I know that bitch took it.”
“Okay, it’s late,” Toby said. “You all get some sleep, and we’ll meet tomorrow.”
Toby stood to leave, “Don’t leave town, Cam.”
“I’ll be here,” I said again.
Diane hugged him before he left. “Thanks,” she said.
“You’re welcome, Diane. I’m just glad you’re safe.”
After Toby left, we all had a drink. Diane downed hers in one swallow, and I fixed her another, which she nursed.
“We were all worried about you, Diane,” Jack said. “I was afraid I would never see you again.”
She hugged him and laid her head on his shoulder.
“I believe Kailey and I will adjourn to the bedroom if you don’t mind,” I said.
“Goodnight, Cam,” Diane said and kissed me.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” I said.
Chapter 24
Tracy dropped into the water after the lights went out on Cam’s boat. The darkness would hide her well from any night owls in the area.
She swam to the boat and stopped at the anchor line. She clipped a bag and a small buoy to the line with a carabiner. The bag slipped under the water and was held from sinking by the float.
~***~
I couldn’t sleep so I mixed a Wild Turkey with some ice. I didn’t want the calories from soda. I picked up my guitar as I passed it on my way to the back patio.
This was my saving grace when it came to stress, and right now I had a ton of it.
I started playing a song my friend Sunny Ray wrote a couple of years ago, Rum City Bar.
“Sittin’ in Rum City Bar, playin’ my old guitar….”
The view of the bay and stars were magnificent from this spot. I noticed a splash in the water and strained to see if it was a Porpoise.
It splashed again near the dock a hundred yards away. I set my guitar down and watched the area. Then I saw a figure climbing the ladder onto the dock. In the moonlight, I could barely see that it was a human, but nothing more. Probably a late night skinny-dipper from one of the boats at the next dock.
“May I join you?” Kailey said.
I turned to look over my shoulder. Kailey’s naked body was glowing softly in the moonlight.
“I insist,” I said.
She sat down and glanced at me.
“I see you're dressed for conversation too,” she said.
It was the way we felt most comfortable together. Naked. We have had a lot of serious conversations this way and solved many of the mysteries of the universe.
“You couldn’t sleep either?” I said.
“No, too much going on. Someone’s out to get my man, and I’m not gonna allow it.”
“I feel safe in your company,” I said.
“Play me a song,” she begged like a schoolgirl.
“Alright,” I said and picked my guitar up again.
“Something soft and soothing,” she whispered.
I smiled, “Okay.”
I picked a couple of notes from The Tennessee Waltz and then started in on a fast and hardy version of Jambalaya.
“Good-bye Joe, me gotta go, me oh my oh….”
Kailey laughed, got up and started dancing. I also stood and kept playing while dancing with her. We sang and laughed and danced through the whole song, right there, under the stars, naked on our boats rear patio. When we finished, we embraced and kissed.
Then there was applauding. We turned to see Diane and Jack watching us.
I dropped my guitar down in front of me to cover-up. Kailey just curtsied and said, “Come on and join us.” She’s so modest.
“Jack, I didn’t know you were still here,” I said.
“Diane didn’t want to be alone,” he said.
“Sorry Diane,” I said. “About being naked, I mean.”
“Unfortunately,” she said, rolling her eyes, “I’m getting used to it.”
Kailey said, “Have a seat I’ll get us some drinks,” and went inside to the bar.
“Sorry about her too,” I said.
“I don’t mind at all,” Jack said.
“Yeah, I bet you don’t,” Diane said and punched him in the arm.
I felt funny standin
g there holding a guitar over my private parts.
“Excuse me,” I said. “I’ll go get dressed.”
“No way,” Diane said. “You guys were enjoying yourselves before we butted in. “Well join you.”
And with that, she removed her robe. Fortunately, she was wearing a bikini under it.
“We came out for a swim,” she said.
“Thank God,” I said.
Jack removed his robe. He was naked. “Sorry,” he said, “I didn’t have any trunks with me.”
Diane took in his body with her eyes. “Wow,” she said.
“You mean this is the first time you have seen him naked?” I said.
“Uh huh,” she said, still looking.
Kailey returned with a tray. “Wow,” she said, looking at Jack. “What’d I miss?”
I shook my head and dropped into the chair. My stress was returning. Kailey handed me another drink.
“Play another song,” Kailey said. “That was fun.”
“Yeah, do it,” Jack said.
What the hell I thought. We all needed it. I found some trunks for Jack and me. Kailey said she felt just fine the way she was.
We played, sang and danced for another hour before we all jumped into the water for a swim.
When Kailey and I finished our lovemaking in bed that night, my stress was gone. I slept like a baby.
Chapter 25
Tracy returned to her hotel room. She had all the pieces in place. Now it was up to the police to solve the crime. She knew they would still need a boost in the right direction. Tomorrow she would find a pawn and finish the game.
~***~
I woke late Thursday morning around ten o'clock. Kailey was still asleep, not moving at all when I got out of bed. I dressed in my running clothes and left the boat. I surmised that Jack and Diane were still in bed by his car sitting in the parking lot. I didn’t like it, but she was plenty old enough to do as she pleased. I knew this wasn’t her first man, but it was the first one under my roof, and Jack is such a good friend. He watched me raise her. Even though he’s only six years older than she is, it didn’t seem right.
I ran my usual route and stopped on the beach again. I half expected to find Tracy there. I didn’t. I sat on the bench for a minute just looking at the water and thinking. If Tracy was involved in the murders, then she had help. She had a rock solid alibi for the Aaron Kingston murder. The other two? I don’t know.
A young man approached me. He looked to be in his early twenties. He was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, and baggy pants hanging low below his waist.
“Mister,” he said, “Are you Cam Derringer?”
I could tell by the way he was talking that he was higher than a kite.
“Who wants to know?”
He looked at me funny as if he was trying to figure out whom it was indeed that wanted to know.
“Well,” he said, “I guess it’s me.”
“How can I help you?” I said, still not answering the question.
“I’m supposed to give you this.”
He sat down next to me and hiding his hand from onlookers view he handed me a small package.
“What’s this?” I said.
Without speaking, he stood and walked away. Within seconds there were police wrestling him to the ground. Then I felt hands grabbing me from behind.
Without looking, I reached over my head and grabbed whoever was behind me and dropped to my knees pulling them with me and over my shoulder. When he hit the ground in front of me, I landed a fist on his nose.
Another man appeared in front of me pointing his gun at my face.
“Hands up,” he said. “Face down in the sand.”
What the hell.
“Crane,” he said, “You alright?”
That’s when I noticed that the man I had just punched had a deputy badge on his belt.
“What’s going on here?” I said.
“Down,” he yelled.
I lay down in the sand and felt another officer cuff my hands behind me.
“Here it is,” Crane said still holding his nose. “I saw him drop it when he attacked me.”
He was holding up the small package the stranger had handed me.
“I don’t know what that is and it’s not mine,” I said.
“You’re under arrest for drug dealing,” the man with the gun said. “Namely cocaine.” He waved his hand. “Take him away.”
As they were leading me from the beach, I saw the young man who had given me the package. Crane was pulling a similar one from his sweatshirt. They said something to him, and he pointed at me.
This was not good at all.
I called Jack, with my allotted call. He and Kailey were there in twenty minutes.
“What’s going on here, Toby?” I asked when he arrived at my cell. I had been booked and placed in a holding cell, waiting for a bail hearing.
“We had a tip that you were selling drugs on the beach. When we staked it out, there you were, and we watched you hand the boy a “teener” of cocaine.”
“What’s a “teener” of cocaine?” I asked.
He looked at me accusingly. “One point seven-five grams.”
“That’s crazy. He gave me that bag,” I said.
“Sorry Cam, but it didn’t look that way to us.”
Kailey and Jack walked into the holding area.
“Cam, are you okay?” Kailey said worriedly.
“Oh yeah, I’m just fine,” I said sarcastically. “These guys are holding me on some trumped up charge of selling drugs.”
“Toby,” Jack said. “You know that’s not true. Why would he sell drugs? He’s a millionaire and a lawyer.”
Toby held up his hands and said, “It’s out of my hands now boys. The prosecutor is on her way. We’ll have a hearing for bail in about two hours.”
Toby left the room.
“What happened?” Jack said.
I told him the whole story. He grimaced when I told him about hitting the cop.
Chapter 26
“Good afternoon, Tracy,” Harold said holding the door for her to enter.
“Harold,” she said.
“Did it work?” he asked.
“Perfectly.”
“So,” he said, “Where are my jewels?”
“In a safe place,” she said and hugged him rubbing her hips against his. “Can we have some fun first?”
“I thought you were done with me and, uh fun, as you say.”
“You know I could never resist you,” she said her hands wandering down to his crotch.
Harold led her to his bed, removed her clothes and then his.
Afterward, he said, “That was fun. Now, where are my jewels?”
“I’m afraid I will have to steal them again,” she said casually.
“What?”
“It seems they had to play an essential part in the game.”
“What part,” Harold said glaring at her, his hand's balling into fists.
“Evidence,” she said narrowing her eyes and scowling at him. “They are the icing on the cake that will put Cam in prison for the rest of his life.”
“You had better get those gems for me, or I’ll have to take dramatic measures,” he said gritting his teeth and pounding his fist on the table.
“Calm down Harold,” she said smiling. “You’ll have a stroke.”
He pointed his finger at her and spat his words, “You’ll not live to see tomorrow if I don’t have those jewels tonight.”
“You’ll have them in one week,” she said. “Take it or leave it.”
“You are an evil bitch,” he cursed.
She laughed, “Thank you.”
~***~
“Your Honor, we request bail be set. Mister Derringer is a responsible citizen of Key West and has on more than one occasion helped rid our community of criminals,” Eric Taber said.
“Excuse me your Honor,” Julia Welks, Key West prosecutor said. “We believe Mister Derringer is a flight risk. He has p
lenty of capital and no ties to Key West. There is nothing to keep him from running. On top of that, he is the main suspect in multiple murders in Key West.”
“Your Honor,” Eric said. “Mister Derringer has not been charged in any murder cases. I believe it reckless of the prosecutor's office to insinuate so.”
Diane and Kailey both jumped up and addressed the court.
“He does have ties here,” Diane said. “He has us, and would never leave.”
“Your Honor,” Julia said.
“Quiet,” the judge said. “You and Eric sound like a broken record.”
Everyone sat down, and the courtroom was silent while the judge went over the records.
He finally looked at me. I felt very uncomfortable.
“Mister Derringer,” he said. “I’m very familiar with whom you are and what you have done for our community, but these are very serious charges.”
He looked down at the records again.
“I have decided to grant bail in the amount of one million dollars.”
He banged his gavel and stood.
“Everyone rise,” echoed a ghost voice.
I stood. The judge looked at me and nodded.
“Find your man,” he said.
Kailey had the bail paid before I could be returned to my cell.
“You’re free to go, Cam,” an officer said. “Good luck.”
“Thank you,” I said and stepped out into the hot sun.
Chapter 27
When we returned to the boat, I was still reeling from what had just happened.
“Someone set you up on a drug charge,” Kailey said. “I can’t believe it.”
“I have a bad feeling that this is just the tip of the iceberg,” I said. “I think I’ll be back in jail before this is all over.”
“We need to find the guy that gave you the drugs,” Jack said.
“I’ve got his name,” Diane said. “He’s Bret Condors. He’s been busted for possession twice. He was released as soon as he was questioned. He’s a cooperating witness.”
“Great,” I said. “If we don’t find who put him up to this we’ll never prove I’m innocent.”