He slid his arm around her and held tight for an extended beat before releasing her. He understood what she was saying. His gut hadn’t let him down so far. “Okay. I’ll follow my instincts.” He turned to Fred. “We’ll set off, make sure they see us in the market but don’t acknowledge them. You follow them and ascertain exactly what they’re up to.”
“That sounds like a fabulous idea to me. I’m ready to see some action, quite frankly. All this waiting is giving me a sour stomach.”
“And here we thought that was just your normal personality,” Rowan teased.
“Even I’m not that much of a downer. Come on. They’re moving. Let’s do this.”
FRED REMAINED ROOTED TO HIS SPOT and watched as Quinn and Rowan made their way to the east. Quinn caught his eye through a few palm fronds and then held Rowan’s hand as they crossed the open-air market.
Quinn gave off an air of calm that most people would be unable to muster under the same set of circumstances. He was always calm in the face of deadly fire, though. That was one of the reasons Quinn and Fred bonded in the military. Their personalities weren’t all that similar — in fact, there were times Quinn wanted to strangle Fred to shut him up — but they were both experts in carrying out a task.
Their friendship was cemented in the aftermath of a roadside attack. Fred was struck in the leg during the initial exchange of gunfire. The rest of their comrades fell by the wayside when the vehicle rolled. Fred remembered watching with grim detachment as Quinn checked every single one of his men. There was something that struck him in the man’s eyes that day. It was pity. Quinn was genuinely moved by the death of his comrades and Fred remembered feeling impressed despite the pain rendering him immobile.
Fred and Quinn were the only ones alive ... and Fred couldn’t walk under his own strength. He didn’t consider himself the martyr sort. He didn’t want to stay behind. He knew neither of them would make it if Quinn tried to carry him, though. He was a goner no matter how you looked at it.
So, he sent Quinn on his way. He ordered his superior to leave him and try to escape. Quinn was having none of it. He came up with a different plan. He pretended to leave Fred, let the wounded soldier draw in their enemies, and then together they dispatched those who came to finish the job by squeezing them from both sides.
They laughed after … and grieved for a long time. Quinn had to throw Fred over his broad shoulders and carry him out. It was miles — five of them, to be exact — before they stumbled across help. Quinn immediately handed Fred over to a team of medics and then led the new group of soldiers to where their fallen comrades remained. Quinn had no intention of leaving without the bodies. That’s simply who he was.
That’s why Fred had no problem volunteering his services to help Quinn now. Sure, he’d run the occasional search for his buddy in the past. Quinn asked on a semi-regular basis — especially in recent months — but it didn’t feel like enough given what Quinn had done for him. At least what was happening with the Phoenix Society was tangible. It was something Fred could help and feel good about himself. It was clear Quinn loved Rowan to distraction. He’d felt it the first time he saw them together. If something were to happen to the comely photographer, Quinn would become a shell of the man he was. Fred couldn’t allow that. He didn’t consider himself a fairy godmother or anything, but he knew when things mattered ... and Quinn mattered to him.
He recognized the moment Spencer caught sight of Rowan and Quinn. The couple did a good job of pretending they didn’t see the two men across the aisle. They kept their focus on each other. Quinn held tightly to Rowan’s hand and stared soulfully into her eyes. Every few seconds, however, he looked around to make sure danger wasn’t coming from another direction. He was careful to keep from staring at Spencer, but he checked every other angle to make sure Rowan was safe.
Fred waited until Rowan and Quinn disappeared from the market to disengage from his hiding spot. He wasn’t surprised when the two men started following. Unfortunately, given the way Spencer and Michael looked at one another, it was difficult for Fred to ascertain if they were agreeing to follow at the same time or if Spencer was playing a game to get Michael to follow without the captain’s knowledge. It was too hard to see their faces.
“What are you doing?”
Because he was so distracted, Fred didn’t notice Sally until he was right on top of the woman. He’d been so focused on Michael and Spencer that he didn’t pay attention to any of the people surrounding him until Sally practically threw herself in his path. He knew the woman through Rowan, generally found her entertaining, but now wasn’t the time for fun and games.
“I’m ... um ... doing something,” Fred muttered, forcing a distracted smile for Sally’s benefit even as he attempted to skirt around her.
“You look like you’re doing a lot of something weird.”
“I ... um ... really can’t talk right now.” He shot her an apologetic look. “I’m in the middle of something.”
“Does this have anything to do with why everyone is closing ranks around Rowan?”
Fred was surprised. He was under the impression that Rowan intended to tell Sally what was going on. He swore he heard Quinn say that before they even left Florida. “I ... really can’t talk about that. You should ask Rowan what’s going on.”
“So, that’s a yes.” Sally made a tsking sound as she shook her blond head. “I’m kind of disappointed that no one thought to tell me something was going on. I mean ... am I not her best friend?”
“You’re definitely her best friend.” Fred couldn’t wait any longer. He knew it was rude, but if he didn’t follow now, he would lose Fred and Spencer. “I swear someone will tell you everything over drinks tonight. I really have to go, though.”
Sally stared after him for a beat and then started following. “Well, I don’t care what you want,” she said as they hit a dark pathway that led to the other side of the market. It was narrow and dingy. El Demonio wasn’t quite the tourist destination that other islands were at this time. It was a work in progress. “I’m going with you because I’m sick of being kept in the dark. I’m a person, too.”
“You’re definitely a person,” Fred agreed, keeping a close watch on the path so he didn’t accidentally trip. “You really shouldn’t be a part of this, though. It’s better if you keep a distance. I’m sure Rowan will be thrilled to tell you the story later ... as long as she survives.”
Sally was horrified by the offhand comment. “Why wouldn’t she survive? That’s a terrible thing to say. You know what? I don’t even like you right now. Yeah, I said it. I think you’re a turd.”
“I guess that means I stink,” he muttered, stepping around a bush. He wasn’t familiar with the island, but he’d studied a map. There was a small bit of isolation on the other side of the footbridge and then another shopping area. He’d memorized as many routes as possible.
He let out a small gasp when a strange figure stepped from behind a nearby tree and slid onto the path in front of him. Fred wasn’t expecting the individual. He most definitely wasn’t expecting the knife clutched in this person’s hand.
He reacted out of instinct and grabbed the attacker’s wrist before the knife could make contact with skin. “Run, Sally,” he ordered as he struggled for the upper hand. “Get out of here right now. Run!”
16
Sixteen
There was only one hospital on El Demonio. When Quinn got the call that Fred was being rushed into surgery, he and Rowan abandoned their lunches and raced to the facility. Fred was already in surgery when they arrived and the intake nurse was grave when they demanded answers.
“He was lucid when he was brought in,” she replied with a mild accent. Her English was good so it was easy to understand her. “He wanted to remain that way, but his injuries were too serious to allow it. Are you Quinn?”
He nodded, feeling sick to his stomach. “Yes.”
“He had a message for you. He demanded I recite it back to him three time
s before he would let them take him.”
Cool dread filled the pit of his stomach. “What was the message?”
“They have Sally,” she replied. “I don’t know what it means.”
Rowan gripped Quinn’s wrist so hard she caused him to yelp. “Sally? My Sally?”
“He didn’t say which Sally. I’m sorry. That’s all he could say. He was in a great deal of pain.”
Quinn rubbed his wrist as he absorbed the news. “Why would they take Sally? I don’t understand. Why was she even there?”
Rowan’s reaction was cool. “It doesn’t matter, does it? All that matters is we get her back.”
Quinn recognized the icy tone as dangerous territory. He couldn’t back down, though. “I’m trying to understand exactly what was going down when this occurred. I’m not talking smack about Sally. I wouldn’t do that.”
Instead of lashing out in anger, Rowan’s voice broke. “We have to find her.”
“We will.” He tugged her to him, frustration washing off him in waves. He couldn’t understand how this happened. It wasn’t like Fred to take Sally along when tailing dangerous individuals. That meant her arrival was most likely a surprise. “Someone has to have seen something. Where are the police?”
The nurse pointed toward the rundown lobby. “Detective Gonzalez is waiting there. We weren’t sure who to even call, but Mr. Delmore insisted it be you. The detective has his personal belongings.”
“Then I guess it’s the detective we need to talk to.” Quinn stroked Rowan’s hair. “What is Fred’s prognosis?” He hated asking the question, but he could hardly leave if he didn’t know.
“He was gravely injured. If he survives the surgery, he’ll have a good chance.”
Rowan jerked her head in the direction of the nurse. “If he survives? Does that mean he could die?”
“He was stabbed, ma’am.” The nurse was matter-of-fact. “The blade slid between his ribs. We won’t know if any major arteries or organs were affected until the doctor gets inside and takes a look around. I’m sorry but ... that’s all the information I have to share with you.”
“Just ... please keep us updated,” Quinn instructed. “I want to know the minute he’s out of surgery.”
“I will do my best.”
DETECTIVE RAFAEL GONZALEZ WAS A tall man. He had jet black hair, which was longer on top and shorter underneath, and it looked as if he’d had a busy time of it because his hair was standing on end, as if he’d swiped his hands through it so many times it decided to remain standing.
“Detective Gonzalez?” Quinn took a tentative step toward him. “I’m Quinn Davenport.”
“You’re Mr. Delmore’s emergency contact?” Gonzalez barely had an accent. “I was told you were en route. I have some questions for you.”
“I’m sure you do. I have some questions for you, too.”
“My questions first. What was the nature of Mr. Delmore’s business on this island?”
Quinn managed to contain his temper, but just barely. He reminded himself that Gonzalez had a job to do. From the detective’s perspective, Quinn was a potential suspect. At least maybe, depending on whether there were witnesses. He didn’t have to cooperate with Quinn at all. If the security chief went off half-cocked, it could come back to bite him. He had to answer if he expected to get anywhere.
“He’s working with the Conqueror dive team. It’s run by Nick Green. I haven’t been able to get him on the phone yet.” That was a lie. Quinn hadn’t even tried. He needed time to prepare Nick for questions first. “Fred was working for him.”
“I didn’t realize.” Gonzalez looked thoughtful. “Could he have had artifacts from the ship on his person at the time of the attack?”
Quinn vehemently shook his head. “We just arrived this morning. No one has even gotten wet yet. We were meeting this afternoon to discuss that. We were eating lunch first.”
“Obviously not together.”
“No. I was eating with Rowan.” He gestured toward his girlfriend, who was silent and still. “It was supposed to be a quiet thing, just her and me.”
“I guess I don’t understand.” Gonzalez’s gaze momentarily landed on the photographer. “Do you usually bring your girlfriend on work trips?”
“She’s working, too.”
Rowan stirred. “He doesn’t understand about The Bounding Storm. You have to explain that part.”
Of course he did. Quinn felt like an idiot. “We’re here for two reasons. I’m head of security on The Bounding Storm. Rowan is the ship photographer. We’re regular employees. We were part of the initial dive at the Conqueror’s site. At that time, we met Nick Green and became close.
“When he was looking for other divers, I recommended Fred,” he continued. “We served in the military together, were tight. I knew he was a good worker and he was looking for something new. Nick jumped at the chance. Then, when it was announced we were going back to El Demonio, Nick arranged to catch a ride with us again and it was just a coincidence that I got to spend time with Fred. He’s part of Nick’s crew, but we still got to hang out.”
“Ah.” Some of the confusion on Gonzalez’s face cleared. “I understand. That makes more sense. Were you going to dive at the Conqueror site?”
“I was, but it was more of a favor to me. I was going to work with Nick’s crew without pay only because I’m excited about the find. Rowan was going to go down in the submersible and take photos. So, we were part of the team but not an official part, if that makes sense.”
“It does. Do you know what Mr. Delmore was doing right before the incident?”
That question was harder to answer. “We saw him at the market,” Quinn replied. “He was just goofing around. He was going to grab lunch before heading over to the docks himself.”
“Was he alone?”
“He was when we saw him.”
“I only ask because we have two witnesses to the event,” Gonzalez volunteered. “Apparently Mr. Delmore was with a woman at the time. She was blond, described as having frizzy hair, and she was reportedly hysterical when being dragged away.”
“See, that’s the part of the story we haven’t heard yet.” Quinn chose his words carefully. “We believe the woman with him was the head chef on The Bounding Storm. Her name is Sally Jenkins. She’s a good friend of ours.”
“What is her relationship with Mr. Delmore?”
“To be honest, I don’t think she has a relationship. I mean ... they know one another. Sally is Rowan’s best friend. Fred is my best friend. They’ve met through us several times. They were friendly but had no relationship outside us.”
“Is it possible they did and chose not to tell you?”
“I guess anything is possible, but I think we would’ve noticed if they were both sneaking off to spend time together. Fred’s apartment is in the same city where we dock. We’re with him quite often. Rowan spends time with Sally almost every day. It wouldn’t exactly be the sort of relationship that was easy to hide.”
“Fair enough.” Gonzalez looked troubled. “The thing is, witnesses said Mr. Delmore was screaming for her to run before he was attacked. She didn’t, for the record. She stayed and tried to help. He was attacked quickly, though. If there’d only been one assailant, he probably would’ve been able to take her.”
Rowan’s stomach rolled. “Her? He was attacked by a woman?”
“He was attacked by two individuals,” Gonzalez corrected. “The first assailant was most definitely a woman.”
“Can you describe her?” Quinn interjected.
“Her hair was hidden under a scarf. We just know that she was slim, about five-foot-five, and had a knife. She attacked him right away. They didn’t exchange words.”
Quinn rubbed the back of his neck, considering. The description could’ve been correct for either Julia or Darcy. There was no way to know which woman was involved. “What about the other assailant? Was that a woman, too?”
“No. That was a man. He’s described as havin
g a medium build, wearing khaki shorts and a blue shirt, with brown hair that showed graying here.” He gestured toward his temples. “That’s it.”
Spencer. That one was easy. Who did he have with him, though? Were both women present? It was possible one was acting as a lookout for the other two. Quinn mentally kicked himself for not realizing that the women were likely watching him and Rowan while they were watching Spencer.
“What happened after he was stabbed?” Rowan asked, taking over the conversation when Quinn lapsed into silence. She could see his mind working. He was running a million different scenarios through his head. He needed time to come up with a plan, which meant she had to take over the questioning. “I mean ... how did it work?”
“Mr. Delmore yelled for his companion to run. Witness accounts say she looked confused but held her ground. He held off the initial attack from the woman and looked to be getting the upper hand, but then the blonde screamed because a man came up behind her. He also had a knife.
“Mr. Delmore became distracted by the scream,” he continued. “He turned to see what was happening and that’s when the woman pulled out a second knife. It was over before he could do anything.”
Rowan could easily picture the scene and her frustration was overpowering. She wanted to scream, bitterly complain about the unfairness of it all, but she held it together. “Then what?”
“Then the two individuals appeared to have a conversation. It was very brief, seconds. The man had already secured the woman thanks to the knife and multiple threats. Then the man and woman dragged your friend Sally from the scene. There was a car waiting around the corner. They got in and sped off.”
“Did anyone get a license plate?” Quinn queried. “I mean ... did the car belong to a local? Maybe a taxi company or something.”
Raging Seas (A Rowan Gray Mystery Book 9) Page 15