The roar of surf and wind meant yelling would be futile.
I ran into the waves. Cringing at the chill of the water. I kept going, keeping my eyes focused on Sindi’s head, bobbing already out past the breaking waves. I didn’t want to lose her in the dark. Between two clouds, the full moon’s reflection on the water momentarily guided me to where she was swimming: deeper waters and a sure riptide death.
I had to try to reach her.
I now moved with purpose, focused on saving Sindia.
Didn’t she realize that the weight of the golden Buddha and the riptide would drown her? Was she trying to kill herself? What was she trying to accomplish? I kept wading deeper, without thinking of my own safety, only hers.
Now up to my neck, too, I stayed fixated on her location directly in my sightline. The Buddha’s weight made it hard for her to stay afloat, as the riptide pushed me toward her.
Still feeling the ocean floor, I swore I heard sirens, but didn’t dare look back, as the riptide began its own evil siren call, tugging me. I was barely toeing the bottom, my arms pitching back for steadiness. Then Sindi began to sink from the Buddha’s weight. I could no longer feel the sandy bottom, and tried to swim to her in earnest.
Just before my fingertips reached her, she screamed then sank beneath the surface. My fear of drowning now a lesser issue, I dove, urgently straining to grasp her. I felt a foot kick against my hand and latched onto it and then her body. I touched bottom and gave a sharp kick upward to boost us both back to the surface for a lung full of air.
“Sindi,” I yelled sputtering water as we both surfaced. “Let it go! Drop it! It will drag us both under. It’s not worth drowning over!”
Gasping, she grabbed my shoulders with both hands. “I did. I sent it home where it belongs, back with the Sindia.”
As we drifted out with the swells, I shouted, “We can’t swim to shore. Strong riptide. Swim parallel with the beach until we’re beyond it and no longer feel it pulling us out.”
Countless moments later, we finally dragged ourselves on our hands and knees onto the beach in the dark to safety.
Breathless, I glanced up. We had drifted far. Multiple flashing lights from vehicles were now racing toward us, the glare of their headlights bouncing across the beach. We rolled over, collapsing on our backs. As though from a long way away, I heard shouts, growing closer to where we lay, panting.
“I didn’t mean for you to risk your life,” gasped Sindi.
I laid there in the sand, feeling raindrops finally fall, laughing.
“What’s so funny?” Sindi asked turning her head to me.
“I’m still alive to tell one hell of a mystery, have a very bad ear infection, or both. I can see the title now, a simple title for a not-so-simple mystery, Saving Sindia.”
Chapter 53
Let’s Do This
Along with the wind, which was now howling, came an unexpected downpour of rain. Sindi and I were transported on stretchers by the EMTs. Questions came from medical, law enforcement, newscasters, and a multitude of spectators that had gathered on the beach at the spectacle.
Apparently word had spread as soon as Evan and Jake called the authorities to alert them to the emergency at hand. After almost being clipped by a microphone, Evan stepped in to protect us as we were carried to the boardwalk and the awaiting emergency vehicles, their lights flashing in tandem, parked by the beach ramp of my rental.
I craned my neck, watching Sindi being placed in the first vehicle with Evan close by her side, holding her hand, and waving away the media. They loaded me into the next vehicle with Jake shielding me from onlookers. But then a hand stopped the doors from shutting. Two people flashed their badges, saying, “FBI. One moment please.”
I recognized that oval jade ring. “Well, I’ll be damned!”
That mysterious bicycle lady clutched my hand. “I went against protocol to subtly warn you to be very careful.”
I read her ID, shocked. “Well, I never... You’re FBI?”
She nodded, smiling. “Agent Pat Warren.”
“Well, Agent Pat Warren, your heads-up had me reconsidering everyone’s motive around me.”
“We’re glad you’re okay,” said Santos, the gardener, but whose ID said, Agent Jon Kent, FBI.
I was still shivering from the chilly ocean, so Jon leaned in and whispered quickly, “We’ll catch you later, after you’ve both been checked at the hospital. We’re glad you’re safe. We’ve been watching everyone contacting you since Evan and Sindi’s parents’ questionable death.”
“We’re glad we have the two culprits responsible for their deaths in custody,” said Pat, squeezing my hand.
“I’m surprised about Andy’s involvement though,” I said.
“Apparently, both of them were working together and had access for being at the marina where Sindi and Evan’s parents kept their boat,” said Jon.
“Both wanted that pot of gold for themselves,” said Pat.
“And I got in the way,” I said, shaking my head.
“Is it true Sindi tossed that Buddha back?” Jon asked, protecting me with his big umbrella from the gusting rain.
“Yes, but by the time someone dives to search after this storm, it will be buried down with the Sindia.” I glanced at the beach and ocean. “And that may be for the best.”
“You might be right,” said Jon, stepping back.
Jake had been standing by quietly. He loudly cleared his throat. “Best we get her to the hospital to be checked out.”
Pat gave another gentle squeeze. “Be well.”
I nodded to the ER personnel. “Let’s do this.”
And we did, without a backward glance. This mystery was finally solved, over and done with.
Chapter 54
The Deal
I made dinner for us up on my top deck to celebrate. Candles, lobster, and champagne over ice. Jake, Evan and Sindi admired the view from my upper deck, sipping bubbly after toasting Evan’s and Sindi’s parents, the Sindia, and everyone’s help in solving a few mysteries: 1) How Sindi and Evan’s parents really died, 2) Learning there was a golden Buddha, 3) Why Andy and Edling kept making unexpected visits, and 4) The FBI agents’ identities.
“I’m glad all this is finally over and there are no more threats hanging over our heads,” Sindi said to Evan.
“It was the only way to get everything out in the open with both Edling and Andy finally locked up.”
Sindi chuckled. “We worked it perfectly, didn’t we?”
Both Jake and I first stared at Sindi and Evan, then back to each other, then back to them with questioning looks.
Sindi placed her hand on her brother’s. “Since it’s all over, don’t you think we should tell them the truth, Evan?”
I got a prickly sensation I didn’t like. “...Tell us what?”
“What is going on?” asked Jake uneasily.
Brother and sister eyed each other, then smiled at us.
Evan spoke up first. “We didn’t know how to deal with Edling without some proof, so we came up with the idea of forcing his hand, but we needed to decipher the note first.”
“And that’s where I came into play,” I added.
“Yes,” said Sindi. “You are great at solving mysteries. In addition to being stumped, we were dealing with a short timetable in finding that treasure our parents left us.”
The usually affable Jake said angrily, “I’m still upset with you for tossing that treasure. Plus you conned me, too, with Sindi’s nervous condition and all those threats.”
“I’m sorry,” said Evan. “But this had to appear on the up-and-up. Edling’s threats were very real and escalating.”
Sindi then touched my hand. “I swear, we never meant for you to be placed in danger. We didn’t think Andy was involved and would become a threat to you. I’m so sorry.”
I slumped back into my chair. “Everyone was focused on Edling and didn’t consider Andy, a hapless friendly guy with an invalid wife. But he was
obsessed with the golden Buddha too.”
“Please forgive us,” said Sindi repentantly. “We had to make this all look realistic.”
“Well, you did, including forcing me to face my demons by swimming in the ocean, the absolutely last place I would consider as a swim test to get over my old fear of water.”
She smiled. “And you didn’t get an ear infection either.”
“I did get a mystery out of it,” I grudgingly admitted.
“All and all, I guess this ends it,” said Jake, still miffed.
“Except one more thing,” said Evan, eyeing Sindi.
She nodded. “There’s one more item hanging out there.”
Now what could possibly still be out there?
Chapter 55
Can You Con A Con?
“And that one item?” I asked, skeptically. After all that had happened I was still intrigued by what they might say.
Again both Sindi and Evan looked at each other.
Jake was still annoyed. “Enough with the games, okay? I’m too old to play them anymore. If you have something to say, just say it, for crying out loud.”
I don’t know what Sindi and Evan thought, but I was thinking Jake would make a great matchup for Martha, the silver-tongued lover of the ever-biting, no-nonsense retort.
Sindi flushed. “We have to admit another deception.”
“Yes,” said Evan. “On both our parts, I’m afraid.”
They were dragging this out. Why?
“Continue,” I said with a touch of annoyance.
“I never threw that golden Buddha into the Atlantic,” Sindi admitted contritely, her eyes flitting to Jake then me.
I sat up straight. “But I saw you myself! One minute you had it in your arms, and the next, it was gone!”
She eyed Jake and me. “I tossed a cobblestone instead.”
“No way!” I protested.
“Now think back,” Sindi said. “Did you actually see the golden Buddha itself?”
I recalled the brawl in my courtyard and shook my head. “Now that you mention it, no I didn’t. Caught up in the moment, I just took your word for it, that the wrapped bundle you were desperately clutching to your chest was what you said it was, that golden Buddha.”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” said a shocked, grinning Jake.
Evan laughed. “She pulled a fast one. Sindi was play-acting when she grabbed a pre-wrapped cobblestone hidden by a bush, pretending she unearthed the famous Buddha.”
I sat there listening to them both, but was still playing mental catch-up. “You mean I risked my life in a storm in the ocean over a cobblestone?”
“That’s where I have to apologize again. I thought Andy and Edling were still behind me and we should make it appear realistic. I was on the US swimming team and a backup second in the Olympics, so I wasn’t worried about myself in the water. What I didn’t count on was you pursuing me.”
“You were on the Olympic team?” I asked surprised.
Sindi nodded. “Yes, I was.” But then she frowned as she briefly glanced down to her scarred leg. “I foolishly tried to dive for that treasure alone a while back and tangled with a threatening shark that nearly killed me. That incident meant I couldn’t compete anymore.”
“That must have been difficult to handle emotionally,” I said, gently placing my hand on her arm.
“It was at the time,” Sindi said, then shook her head briefly, as though dismissing negative thoughts. “That’s why I wasn’t worried about myself, confident Evan and I could pull this off and still save that Buddha. What I didn’t count on was you pursuing me.”
Jake spoke up. “Well, then where is the Buddha?”
“Still buried in the courtyard,” said Sindi, grinning.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” asked an excited Jake.
I eyed brother and sister with skepticism. “You aren’t pulling our chains again, are you?”
“Do you honestly think I’d throw that Buddha away?”
I laughed. “Well, at the time, I doubted your sanity.”
“Doubters, beware!” laughed Evan, standing.
“Shall we?” asked Sindi, getting up from her chair.
“Lead the way,” said a now grinning Jake, expectantly.
Chapter 56
Now You See It, Now You...
The four of us stood staring down at that cornerstone. Instead of plants as a smokescreen to what we were doing, we were so impatient to see that golden prize, we stood shoulder to shoulder in the dark with a lone small flashlight honing in on our after-hour activity. Bystanders be damned.
I was excited. We’d have this baby done in no time.
“By the way, where did you get that cornerstone you threw? It looks like the original is still here,” said Jake.
Sindi turned and pointed to the larger fountain on the other side of the courtyard. “I stole it from over there.”
“Smart,” I said, appreciating her covert ingenuity.
Evan began to dig on the already loosened soil. No one said a word, we just watched silently as Evan edged around gently so not damage the treasure. Within minutes, he extricated a wrapped bundle, knelt down and gently removed it from the ground. He then stood and handed it over to Sindi to unwrap it.
“After that swim, you deserve the first peek,” said Evan.
Sindi’s hands shook as she became teary-eyed. “I can’t believe we are finally doing this. Well, here goes.”
We stood silently as she touched the fabric.
“Hold it right there,” said Jake, stepping back, holding a gun directly aimed at us.
We were so fixated on the wrapped package that no one noticed he had stepped away from the group.
“What?” said Sindi, shocked.
“Jake!” Evan protested, holding up his hands in a non-threatening stance. “What is this about? Are you kidding?”
“Don’t move, any of you!” ordered Jake. “Trust me, I’m not kidding.”
“I for one have no intention of moving,” I said, nodding, already plotting how to get out of this without getting shot.
Now what?
Jake waved a gun. “I have no qualms using this, folks.”
“But why, Jake?” asked a confused and hurt Evan.
Jake laughed derisively. “I have been planning this since you first confided in me about your parents’ note.”
“But you said you loved your civic duty,” said Sindi.
“What, picking up other people’s trash? Pilfering their unlocked houses? Chump change.”
He was seething at this point, sounding and looking like someone on the edge, with a shaky trigger finger to match.
“Jake,” I said, calmly. “No one wants to challenge you.”
“Good,” he said. “I’m not getting any younger. It’s too late for Charlotte. But I deserve what’s coming to me.”
“I agree,” said a familiar and unexpected voice.
We all turned to see Agents Kent and Warren standing behind Jake with their guns drawn. Stunned, Jake lowered his gun, and then let it drop to the ground.
Sindi nodded to Agent Kent, relieved. “How’d we do?”
Kent laughed. “It went right according to plan.”
Chapter 57
Talking A Good Game
I looked at Sindi. “And I thought I talked a good game.”
After handcuffing Jake, Agent Kent said, “We were tailing everyone connected to this, but Jake surprised us.”
“We became suspicious,” said Agent Warren, “when we caught him following Sindi and Evan several times when he shouldn’t have. That’s when we took a closer look.”
“Having no contact with Pete and Andy, we suspected Jake was working solo,” said Agent Kent.
I looked from the two agents, over to a grim-faced Jake, and then to a grinning Sindi and Evan. “So what are you going to do with that golden Buddha?” I asked the two.
“What golden Buddha?” laughed Sindi.
I didn’t get i
t, and neither did a startled Jake, who said, “You are not making sense. You’re holding it now.”
That’s when I realized they had lied too. “So tell us.”
“Yeah, tell us,” said Jake, resisting being taken away.
Agent Kent nodded to Sindi. “Go ahead. Show them.”
Agent Warren nodded. “Sure, why not?”
Sindi began unwrapping the Buddha, which wasn’t a Buddha after all, just an ordinary cobblestone from the courtyard pavers we were all standing on.
“Well, I’ll be damned.” I said, then understood Sindi’s and Evan’s intent hadn’t changed one bit. They wanted to trap Jake and have him reveal his true intentions in front of witnesses. I could see how emotionally difficult it was for them, in spite of their smiles—they were longtime friends with Jake and had trusted him implicitly.
The two agents put Jake in the back of their vehicle and drove away. Sindi, Evan, and I watched in silence until their taillights could no longer be seen.
“So you really did toss that Buddha into the ocean that night of the storm?” I asked, still absorbing what happened.
“Both Evan and I talked about what we would do if we found it,” said Sindi. “I came to the conclusion that the golden Buddha truly was a curse to whoever possessed it and was something that would complicate our uncomplicated lives. I think my parents realized that and left that difficult decision up to us if something should happen to them. After consulting with Evan, he agreed with me wholeheartedly.”
Evan added, “That Buddha should remain a myth. If we donated it to the museum, it would be more trouble than it is worth for their security, insurance, and potential robbery, and most likely they’d be pressured to return it to China.
“So we decided we had no intention of ever confirming nor denying whether it was ever found in the first place. Let the treasure hunters keep speculating about that myth of the golden Buddha being on board the ship, Sindia. It’s a great mystery and tourist attraction.”
Saving Sindia (Samantha Jamison Mystery Book 10) Page 13