The Indigo Brothers Trilogy Boxed Set

by Vickie McKeehan

  “So you disagree with Hawkins?” Jackson asked.

  “I do. I’ll tell you why. I think someone either showed up at the house, late, or called in the middle of the night, which can be verified with phone records. I’m waiting to spring that request on Hawkins at the right time. But either way, the knock at the door or the phone call woke Walker and Livvy up and for whatever reason got them out of bed, which prompted them to get the kids out of bed. The house is so clean and tidy, it makes the phone call more probable. Why Walker and Livvy dragged the kids out of bed at that point, I haven’t yet figured out. Nor have I come up with what happened next. Keep in mind my theory is subject to change depending on what else pops up on the radar.” She looked from face to face and saw nothing but bitter disappointment. “I know it isn’t much but…”

  Jackson interrupted with an explanation. “It isn’t that, it’s a starting point. But Tessa said something to me the other night that resonated. What if these people did call and demand that Livvy and Walker meet them at the business? They lured them out of the house on some pretense.”

  “That’s a possibility. The two parties intersected somewhere. Now, I have other news.” Anniston turned to Tessa and Raine. “You guys had the right idea about the affair. You just weren’t looking in the right place. The woman’s name is Harlow Ellerbee and she’s no stripper. In fact, she’s a Miami corporate lawyer, a high-powered one at that. She’s also been married for seven years to one of the partners.”

  Hearing that, Jackson’s hands clenched into a fist. “So Walker was having an affair?”

  “He was indeed, for almost a year.”

  “That son of a bitch,” Tanner growled. “I wish I’d bashed some sense into his ornery head last Christmas.”

  Anniston sent the family a measured, sympathetic look. “I’d say looking at Walker’s credit card statements that’s where most of his debt came from. It seems Ms. Ellerbee has expensive tastes. Very. Whenever Walker could slip away, the two of them dined at the best restaurants, frequented several high-end boutiques, and often spent their afternoons tucked away inside a favorite five-star hotel where they indulged in ordering room service. Walker also bought Ms. Ellerbee an expensive tennis bracelet worth about two grand and a diamond ring that set him back almost ten.”

  Jackson whistled through his teeth. “And to think he spent a third of that on the ring he gave to the future mother of his kids.”

  Garret rubbed his chin. “Uh, question. How exactly did you come by Walker’s credit card statements?”

  Anniston grinned. “Once the state police cleared the Vitamin Hut as a no crime zone, I sweet-talked Jessup Sinclair into letting me inside to take a peek.”

  Jackson leaned back in his chair. “I don’t understand why Sinclair would allow that. If we think he had a hand in some conspiracy or that he’s in league with Buchanan, why would he let you in the shop to look around?”

  “I asked nicely and your police chief agreed. Again, his cooperation forces me to keep an open mind.”

  Garret wasn’t so bighearted. “I suppose Sinclair would have to keep up appearances without tipping his hand that he’s gone over to the dark side. So what happened once you got in?”

  “From that point, it was a simple matter of rummaging through Walker’s desk to find what I wanted. No way was the cheating bastard going to keep that kind of telltale evidence around for the wife to find, even in his man cave. Sure enough I found his stash of receipts in a lock box in the bottom drawer of his desk at the business. And before you ask, I jimmied the lock.”

  Garret laid a hand on his chest. “A girl after my own heart.”

  “We’ll see about that,” Anniston teased. “But guys, there’s more to this part of the puzzle that you need to focus on. This affair was not serious. I talked to Harlow Ellerbee over the phone for about an hour. She readily admitted to the cheating part, but adamantly denied that the two of them were planning to leave their respective spouses. According to her, Walker was a distraction. They were just fooling around, having fun meeting up whenever they could find the time. I couldn’t find any evidence that Walker had any plans to divorce your sister. Harlow claims she never encouraged him to do so.”

  “And you believe that?” Jackson asked. “I don’t.”

  Anniston cut her eyes to the oldest brother. “And that’s your prerogative. But I go where the evidence takes me, not from some personal grudge. No doubt Walker cheated, but unless I can find something concrete that tells me Walker did away with your sister and then took off with the kids, I’m forced to consider that your brother-in-law has become a victim along with Livvy and the children.”

  Tessa spoke up. “But Walker still could have done something to Ryan.”

  “Another example of why I need to keep my options open.” Anniston put a hand on Tessa’s shoulder. “Thanks to you accessing your brother’s email account, it jumpstarted my getting to read the correspondence between him and Walker and how he ended up agreeing to the fishing trip. You have to give it to Ryan. He agreed to come down here with what really constitutes trusting a total stranger. Ryan had only known Walker through an online business relationship, a tenuous thread for sure. For such limited contact, Ryan put a great deal of trust in Walker. Somehow I think Walker betrayed that trust.”

  Anniston took out several sheets of paper from her computer bag. “Since accessing Ryan’s cell phone records, it gives me a window into his whereabouts while he was here, times his cell phone pinged from which towers.”

  “There aren’t that many cell towers on this island,” Garret pointed out.

  “True, but it’s still essential to pinpoint where Ryan was in town and at what time of day. Once my tech guy gets the last known hit, which translates to the carrier getting us the most recent information, he’ll lay out that roadmap I was talking about earlier.” She handed one of the pages off to Tessa. “You pretty much already know the basics. Bottom line is that Ryan spent a lot of time with Walker. There are text messages and phone calls between the two men for four straight days before the activity comes to a complete stop. As you can see there are several calls from another number not belonging to Walker or Livvy with a 305 area code. I called that number and discovered it’s no longer working, which adds to the mystery and something else my tech guy will try to track down.”

  Tessa let out a heavy sigh. “So another dead end.”

  “Not at all. Each day we find out another piece of the puzzle.”

  “You have more patience at this than I do,” Tessa noted.

  “That’s why you guys are paying me the big bucks. Plus, I forwarded the emails and the phone records to my dad and brother in case I missed anything. It never hurts to have a second pair of eyes go over the information. They do agree with me that Ryan coming here is what kicked this whole thing into high gear.” Just as she heard the beginnings of a protest from Tessa, she turned and pointed a finger. “That doesn’t mean your brother did anything wrong or illegal.”

  “Maybe he stumbled onto something wrong or illegal,” Tessa proffered. “I still don’t understand why we can’t locate his car.”

  Anniston waved a hand in the air toward Mitch. “We have among us one of the best treasure hunters in the world. So says the online biosphere that keeps track of such things.”

  Mitch sat with his arms crossed over his chest, unimpressed at the praise. He leveled his gaze on Anniston. “I’m hardly the best. However, the owner of the Patagonia Pike is a different story. That man and his crew have deep pockets. They routinely do everything to keep the competition out of Argentine waters. They’ll do anything to keep a dive secret and won’t share in the take even when it comes to getting sued by government entities with rightful claims. Werner Dietrich simply digs in his heels for the long haul with his staff of lawyers and drags it out in court for as long as it takes. Now Dietrich and his salvage vessel are here in the Keys. You need to do all you can to find out why.”

  Before Anniston could reply, Raine star
ed at Mitch trying to better understand. “Are you suggesting the ship being here in port has something to do with Livvy and Walker going missing?”

  Mitch held out his two hands, brought them together until they touched in an upside down V. “It’s rare that circumstances line up to form the perfect storm. It doesn’t happen but every hundred years or so.” He stopped and searched out Tessa. “Ryan’s disappearance kicks this off in some way, but flies under the radar for weeks.” He turned back to answer Raine’s question. “That is, until a family of four also disappears. Think about it. Nothing much happens in this sleepy little town for decades and then…pow! It’s beyond a fluke.”

  Anniston made some notes on a legal pad before stuffing it into her bag. “Before I head out, does anyone else have anything to add?”

  Tanner blurted out, “Boone’s hiding something.”

  Lenore put her hands on her hips and stared at her husband. “You confronted him today, didn’t you? Even though I specifically told you not to because of what Anniston said. What happened to nothing leaves this house? That’s where you went when you took off this afternoon, isn’t it?”

  A hangdog look crossed Tanner’s face. With his admission, he replayed the skirmish with Boone and the pastor’s reaction. “Now, don’t go getting all upset. He pissed me off. I had to do something. If you think I’d let that asshole smear Livvy’s name by turning something as serious as this into a joke suggesting she’s taken off, you don’t know me very well.”

  “Oh, I know you all right, never could talk a lick of sense into your hard head.”

  Tanner raised his voice. “So you think it’s just fine that Boone Dandridge practically singlehandedly took it upon himself to call off the search like he did?”

  “No. I don’t think it’s right,” Lenore shouted right back. “In fact, I think what he did is despicable, unexplainable, and downright mean. Ever since she turned eighteen Livvy’s taught a Sunday school class there, showed up with the croup one year, the flu the next. I don’t understand how Boone could turn on her and Walker like that. But he did.” Lenore threw up her hands. “But what’s done is done. Doesn’t make what you did right, though.”

  Jackson got up to walk the floor, jingling the loose change in the pockets of his cargo shorts. “If Dad confronted Boone, then maybe one of us should do the same with Jessup Sinclair, find out once and for all whose side he’s on.”

  “I’ll do it,” Garret offered.

  “No, I think Anniston should do it,” Tessa suggested. “It’s gotta be her. I don’t think any of us could detach enough emotionally to approach the subject with him without blowing up. I know I couldn’t. It has to be just the right amount of edge along with a pleasant delivery so it doesn’t piss him off.”

  “She’s right,” Anniston said. “I did get him to let me in the Vitamin Hut. I could have a sit down with him and tiptoe around the subject.”

  Jackson tried for a grin. “Now see, I was thinking just a plain ol’ confrontation would work. Getting in his face would be more enjoyable.”

  “It’s been my experience that kind of confrontation with a cop usually ends badly. And no one in this family should end up in jail or create a public display that the media could use to turn against our cause.” Anniston purposely stared at Tanner. “I know you meant well, but there’s nothing we have that proves the pastor did anything wrong.”

  “Give it time. It’ll surface,” Tanner promised.

  Chapter Nineteen - Fire

  At the Mainsail Lodge, Anniston ran downstairs to take advantage of the generous breakfast buffet the hotel offered before time ran out. Keeping it casual, she threw on a pair of shorts and a pullover hoodie. When she reached the dining area there were a few late risers, but for the most part, she enjoyed the solace of a quiet place to think.

  She helped herself to the serving trays, piling her plate high with plenty of protein and carbs to get her through the day. After all, she had a mission to complete.

  She found a table and contemplated the best approach to Jessup Sinclair. Exploring the top cop’s devotion to his job and finding out where his loyalties were with the Indigos was a tricky tightrope to walk.

  When a shadow fell across her spot, she glanced up to see Garret scooting into the extra chair to join her.

  Garret decided she looked like an exotic dark violet blooming on a sunny windowsill, basking in the morning light. “Whatcha got there, Anniston?”

  He picked up a piece of bacon from her plate and started nibbling it to a nub. “I stayed here a couple times. They go all out for breakfast. My favorite is always the waffles, especially the ones they whip up for Sunday brunch. You know the kind stuffed with pecans, or piled high with blueberries, or fresh strawberries.”

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Looking for a pretty face to make my morning.”

  “Does that line generally get you laid?”

  Garret grinned. “You’d be surprised. How’d you get a name like Anniston, anyway?”

  She resigned herself to chatty conversation. “My grandmother, on my mama’s side, was born in Anniston, Georgia, 1925. She met my granddad when she was still in high school. Crazy kids ran off and got married at sixteen, started having kids within the year.”

  “Young love. I can’t even imagine being tied down at that age.”

  “Most of us can’t. But it was a different era. Couples did that kind of thing all the time. When I came along Mama stuck with the name. I get asked about it all the time.” She picked up her fork, laid a napkin across her lap. “What are you doing here?” she repeated.

  “Okay, no more small talk. I’ll level with you. I’m wondering if you’re overwhelmed yet.” He could see that friendly twinkle in her eyes vanish and the deep brown flash red-hot. He held up a hand. “No need to blow a fuse. People—mostly named Indigo—keep piling stuff on your plate. Your to-do list is a mile long. I’m worried you’re getting sidetracked.”

  Her initial reaction was to punch him in that pretty mouth of his. But then she noticed the real concern on his face. “I have a quick Italian temper and I’m not afraid to use it. I don’t much like it when anyone questions my ability to do my job.”

  “Me? Not at all. My family? No way. You impressed the hell out of everyone. Just don’t underestimate who and what you’re dealing with.”

  “What am I dealing with?”

  “Someone who didn’t think twice about taking two kids out of their beds at night and doing God knows what to them.”

  Anniston’s anger evaporated. “You Indigos don’t hold anything back, do you? You’re a passionate bunch. When we solve this thing, I’d hate to be on the receiving end of your wrath. You pool that fury and direct it toward those who took Livvy and the kids, and I almost feel sorry for them.”

  It warmed him to know she saw that ardent bent in the people he loved. “I never thought of us as tightknit until this past week. Although we have knocked heads since we’ve been here.”

  She waved a hand in the air. “That? My family gets together and it’s like a free-for-all. We have two volumes, loud and louder, two emotions, intense and zealous.”

  He’d bet his bank account he could bring out both and would enjoy every second of the effort. “Then you know how this will likely play. My parents are good people, rock solid. But they aren’t as convinced that Livvy is coming back as you might think. They’re vulnerable. The armor plating isn’t as thick as people would like to believe.”

  It suddenly hit Anniston what he meant. “You’re scared.”

  “Damn straight I am. And you should be, too. I know you promised Tessa and Jackson that you’d feel out Sinclair and try to get a barometer on his good guy, bad guy persona. But don’t take that old man lightly.”

  “Police corruption is nothing new to me,” Anniston pointed out. “I’m no longer that raw recruit straight out of the academy.”

  “No, you aren’t. And you’re good at research. Use it now to get a handle on the guy bef
ore you go to his office.”

  “Why don’t you just tell me?”

  “I could do that. But how much of it would you really take at face value?”

  “Good point.” She tilted her head to study him. “You’re more than a pretty face.”

  “Gee thanks. Now eat. Don’t let your eggs get cold. I hate eating them like that. Yuck.”

  She gave him a half-laugh and dug in. “Something else on your mind.”

  “You get a good read on people. It would help us a lot if we had the GPS settings Walker used to take Ryan out fishing. It would narrow down the location to a precise spot. Any chance of obtaining those coordinates?”

  “There are only so many favors I can call in at a time. I’m working up to that one. I know I promised the information but…”

  “What if we snuck on board the Misty Dawn and downloaded the info ourselves?”

  “Garret, I won’t be a party to something like that. I might lose my license.”

  “Totally understand. But I don’t have a license to lose. Neither does Jackson or Mitch.”

  “Please, don’t do anything stupid and get caught. It would just complicate things.”

  “No need to worry. If I ever give up surfing, I’d make an excellent cat burglar.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of,” she muttered as she watched him push back and start for the door.

  Upstairs, she took Garret’s advice and got out her laptop. A simple background check on Jessup Sinclair yielded the seventy-year-old had once served his country with three tours in Vietnam.

  Impressed, Anniston read deeper, through a routine history with the Florida Highway Patrol, which included nine commendations in the field. But then she noted the long list of complaints—over three hundred during his career. The accusations included extorting drugs and money from people he’d stopped for traffic violations to making false arrests that led to beating handcuffed prisoners.