Jaxon saw the police arrive and he looked around frantically trying to find a way to get her out. Nothing came to mind. They needed a torch, or cutting tools, and that would take time they didn’t have.
The crane’s motor droned on as it worked and drowned out the sound of the sirens. He could hardly think with the noise.
The crane!
“Tell the crane to swing over here and we’ll hook the container up! It’s the only chance.”
Ray nodded, jumped to shore, and ran over to it.
Jaxon looked at the jagged edges of the rusty crack in the roof and bent to the hole.
“Bethany! Move away from the opening. We’re going to try and make it bigger.”
She didn’t hear at first and he had to repeat himself, but she nodded and disappeared in the gloom.
He and Gil kicked at the rusted metal and it bent and gave way a bit. A small piece broke off and it made the hole a little larger. It might buy them more time.
Bethany came back into view and pushed her face up to the hole where her nose and mouth were able to stick up through it into the air. She gasped and breathed it in. The water had reached the roof. Her fingers locked onto the edge of the hole and she kept her face pressed up against it. The jagged metal had cut her, but she didn’t seem to care. Gil grasped her fingers and held on.
Jaxon looked and could see Ray up next to the cab of the crane gesturing wildly toward them. The crane operator shook his head and Ray grabbed his shirt and shook him. He then pulled his pistol and shoved it in his face. The operator got the point.
Jaxon looked down and saw water sloshing around his feet and Bethany’s lips and nose were just above the water. She was breathing raggedly and he could see her eyes, wide and fearful just below the water.
The local cops ran up to the edge of the container and one jumped on.
The weight of him actually pushed the container a little lower in the water and Bethany became fully submerged. Her fingers splayed out in panic and she pushed her face around trying to find air.
“Get off! You’re pushing her under the water.”
The cop nodded, jumped back to the shore, and her mouth and nose resurfaced. She sucked a ragged breath in and then gagged. She tried not to breathe the seawater in, but she was having a hard time.
“Gil, you go too. Maybe we can lift it a little higher.”
He nodded and let go of her hand. Jaxon grasped it in his and watched Gil leap to the shore. The container rose up another couple of inches and bought her a few more minutes. Her eyes came out of the water too and she looked pleadingly at him.
“Please,” she said. “I can’t take much more.”
“Hold on, Bethany. The crane is coming.”
Mel yelled, “Give her this!”
It was the snorkel. Leave it to Mel to think of the obvious. He grinned at her and she tossed it over. He grabbed it and showed it to Bethany. She nodded and he held it to her lips. She opened her mouth and took the mouthpiece in as he held the upper end up out of the water. She breathed loudly through it and nodded her head. It was helping.
The crane rolled closer with Ray and a cop riding on either side. The operator understood the urgency now and was pushing the machine to its limits. The engine roared as black smoke poured out of the exhaust, the metal wheels that rode the tracks, screeching over the engine. Jaxon watched the crane arm lower as it approached and four cables dangled above him.
If he let go of the snorkel it would sink under the water. He waved at Gil again who jumped to the container and took over keeping her airway clear of the ocean. The cables lowered to where he could reach them and he grabbed one as it swung. The hooks were huge. Bigger than his head.
The container had welded points attached at each corner and the crane operator yelled for him to attach a hook to each one. The points were basically big, metal circles. They were corroded and in bad shape. He hooked the first cable to one and ran to the other, sliding its hook into the hole. He continued to each corner attaching the hooks. The crane operator took up the slack and when it was taut, slowly applied power as he tried to pull the container out of the water.
The cables groaned as they stretched and the weight of the container filled with water was probably more than the crane could handle. The operator inched the machine closer to get a better angle and the engine roared again as it increased the tension. The container shifted under Jaxon’s feet and the water started siphoning off the sides. It was rising.
The group of officers cheered on the shore as it continued up out of the water and Jaxon could hear and see the water draining from within the container. Suddenly, one of the weld points broke free and that end of the container shifted.
Jaxon went to his knees as his world tilted and then the other weld broke on that same side. Jaxon slid down the length of the roof and plummeted to the ocean below. Gil followed right behind.
The crane operator swung the container hanging by the remaining two cables toward the shore and Jaxon watched as it touched down. He wondered if Bethany was all right. Maybe the water inside the container cushioned her fall as the welds broke.
One of the cops came to the bulkhead side and helped Jaxon and Gil out of the water as a fireman pried at the doors with a big metal pole. It took two of them to break the padlock off and then the door swung open, water pouring out in a rush. Jaxon stepped to the opening and looked inside. Bethany was kneeling in the remaining water smiling. She stumbled forward and threw her arms around the first person she could get to. It just so happened to be Jaxon.
She was safe.
CHAPTER 29
Jaxon lay on the hotel bed with the phone pressed to his ear.
He was having a hard time keeping his eyes open but he had to hear Victoria’s voice first. Gil and Mel were next door getting some rest. They were all in pretty beat up shape and he didn’t want to risk driving until he had a little sleep. Ray didn’t want to wait. After a handshake and a promise to stay in touch, he took Jaxon’s rental car and headed back to Naples. Jaxon wondered if he’d ever see him again.
Vick answered the phone. She had been asleep. She didn’t seem to mind.
“We got her.”
“I heard. Feels good when things work out, huh?”
“How did you hear?”
“Tate. Just a little bit ago.”
“Are you feeling any better?”
“I’m sore as hell, but I’ll live. You?”
“So exhausted I probably won’t be able to sleep.”
“Somehow I doubt that,” she said. “You get some rest before you drive home.”
“That’s the plan. They put us up in a hotel. Gil and Mel are next door.”
“How’s the girl?”
“Dehydrated and weak. She’s in the hospital overnight so they can get some fluids in her. Cop’s outside her door.”
“That’s good. I bet she was glad to see you.”
“I got a hug.”
“I’m sure you did.”
A little silence played out between them and Jaxon always liked the fact they didn’t have to say words to convey what they were feeling. He could tell she was smiling.
“Sleep,” she said. “I’ll see you soon.”
“Can’t wait.”
He hung up and closed his eyes. He was out before the next thought could enter his mind.
* * *
Bethany lay in her hospital bed and cried.
The I.V. in her arm was pumping much needed fluids, electrolytes, and antibiotics into her depleted body, but she didn’t care. All that time on the brink of death, her life playing out in her mind, the horrible thing she had done to that poor girl, and all the good things in her life, everything that had enabled her to hang on, were now shattered and broken. Dirk was dead and it all seemed such a waste.
She had endured hell, gotten out and wanted nothing more than to be held by Dirk, and when she learned he had been killed because of her, it was just one more blow to add to all the other injuries. He
had not deserved it and she hated herself for it.
The door to her room opened and a male nurse came in wearing a mask and blue scrubs. She wiped her eyes and tried to compose herself, but it was difficult. The nurse noticed her appearance and said, “It will be better soon. The trauma you’ve been through can create all kinds of emotions. How are you feeling, physically?”
“I’m tired. I know I’m running a fever, but I’m sure I’m not infectious. You don’t have to wear the mask.”
“Instructions from your physician.” He was carrying a syringe on a small tray and he set it down on the bed, reaching for her I.V. “This will help you feel better too.”
“What is it?”
“It’s a sedative. Help you sleep.”
She nodded and a tear trickled down her cheek. She wiped it away quickly.
“Anything else bothering you?”
She didn’t know why, but she decided to open up to the man.
“My fiancé. He was killed because of me. I’m just having a hard time dealing with that.”
“I’m sure you will see him soon enough.”
“What? No. He’s dead. Killed by a horrible man. The same one who put me through that torture.”
The nurse swabbed the I.V. port, slipped the needle in, and pressed the plunger. He looked at his watch.
“It’s horrible to lose a loved one. I know.”
Bethany nodded and felt the medication course through her veins. It would be good to sleep. Forget about everything for a while. Her vision began to cloud over and she welcomed the calm that overtook her.
Then a pressure began to spread across her chest and she opened her eyes in surprise. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath. She tried moving her hand to grab the nurse, but it didn’t want to move. It felt numb and the numbness was spreading. Pain flared in her chest and spread to her arms as the drug took effect. Something was wrong. She tried to speak, but her body wouldn’t respond. She couldn’t even turn her head. The lights on the ceiling began to dim and the world faded as the pain spread throughout her body. The last thing she heard was the nurse whispering in her ear.
“For Danielle.”
* * *
Jaxon drove the Mustang the speed limit and drained the remainder of his coffee.
I-95 was moving along nicely for a Monday morning and if that didn’t change, he’d be home in thirty minutes. St. Augustine had just passed them on the right and Gil offered his opinion on the caches in the area.
“I’ve found every cache they have in St. Augustine. Some pretty tough ones too.”
“I don’t think I’ll be caching ever again,” Jaxon said.
“I don’t blame you, but for me, I can’t stop. I want to find a cache in every country in the world.”
“Pretty ambitious. Where are you going to get the money?”
“Not all at once. Over my lifetime. You know, maybe a couple a year.”
“Still. Pretty expensive.”
They had gotten up late, all of them sleeping well, and grabbed a quick breakfast before hitting the road. Jaxon enjoyed the banter between him and Gil, and even Mel chimed in periodically, though she seemed somewhat subdued. He didn’t blame her. They had all been through a lot and she was probably a little shell shocked.
“I’ll go,” she said.
Gil turned to her in the back and smiled. “That’s what will make it all so cool. You have to go with me.”
She touched his hand and held it for a minute. “We’re not going to Africa any time soon. No Mambas.”
“Right.”
Jaxon’s cell rang and he snatched it up. “Jaxon.”
“It’s Tate.”
“Detective. Good to hear from you.”
“Bethany Hope is in ICU.”
“What? Why?”
“They found her unresponsive in her hospital bed and had to revive her. She’s on a ventilator.”
Jaxon had to hold on to the wheel tightly as the news sank in. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Aw dammit! What happened?”
“The officer on duty recalled a male nurse entering the room about 3:30 a.m. He was carrying a syringe. He left shortly after and did not return. At shift change a few hours later, another nurse discovered her with no pulse.”
“A male nurse?”
“Yes. Employee records show only female nurses clocked in at the time. We’re pretty sure he was involved somehow and they’re pulling surveillance recordings as we speak.”
“There won’t be anything on them.”
“Do you know something I don’t?”
“He was able to hack into a number of other systems and manipulate them. I’m sure he’s done the same there.”
“We’ll see what we get. There’s more.”
Jaxon felt the whole last few days slipping away.
“What?”
“The other four are dead. Rebecca Levesque, Sloan Upton, Ellie Fountain, and Taylor Swenson.”
“How?”
“We don’t have particulars on those yet except that all four were shot in the head from close range.”
“Does Fanucci have anything to say about all this?”
“Why would he?” Tate’s voice grew angry. “He’s been cleared. You know that.”
“He’s the closest to all of this. He might have some theories. Have you thought of that?”
“He would tell us if he knew anything.”
“Why don’t you ask him?”
“You’re not making many friends around here are you?”
“I don’t care about friends. I care about catching this guy.”
“He’s played you all along, Jaxon. Haven’t you realized that yet? He sent you on a wild goose chase and has planned this all along.”
Jaxon knew he was right and it made him even angrier.
“Talk to Fanucci. He might know something.”
“He’s spending time with his brother. I’m not going to bother him, and his brother was good enough to take time off to be with him.”
“Do you know his brother?”
“Of course. He’s an officer at this station too.”
“What? Why wasn’t I aware of this?”
“I don’t know. It isn’t important. He’s a stepbrother anyway.”
“Tate, have you talked to this brother?”
“No. And I don’t plan to.”
“Where are they?”
“I have no idea.”
“You don’t know where he lives?”
“Yes. But they’re not home. They left to get away from things here for a while.”
“What’s the address?”
“I’m not giving you that.”
“Dammit, Tate! You’re too close to this. Don’t you see? What kind of relationship did his brother have to Danielle?”
“I have no idea. He’s talked about her before, but I wouldn’t call him a killer if that’s what you’re getting at. What is it with you? Everybody in this department a suspect to you?”
“No. Just ones with a motive to kill. What’s the brother’s name?”
“I don’t know if I want to tell you. I don’t want you bothering them. Fanucci’s been through enough.”
“His name’s not Fanucci is it?”
Silence.
“Tate. This is important. What is his name?”
“Collin Williamsen.”
The name hit Jaxon in the chest like a blow from a prize fighter. He should have known. How could he have been so stupid?
“Jaxon? Still there?”
“Yeah. I need you to do something for me?”
“What now?”
“I need you to go to a hotel and check on my wife.”
* * *
Ray woke up and looked at his watch. “Shit.”
It was 10:00 a.m. and he had slept too long. His body had needed the rest, but he really hadn’t wanted to take the time to get it. His chief had wanted him back earlier this morning and he had tried his best to drive through th
e night, but after he almost wrapped the rental car around a tree at 4:30, he knew he was going to kill himself if he didn’t stop and sleep. He pulled into the first place he saw and paid for the remainder of the night. The motel office attendee had been asleep himself and it had taken repeated ringing of the bell to get the guy up. Even with him sitting right in front of him passed out in a chair. Ray could smell alcohol on him.
Michelle had told him she didn’t want him driving so tired anyway and even though he told her he could handle it, she had been relieved when he woke her to tell her he was stopping.
“I’m glad. I wasn’t sleeping very well anyway,” she said. “I was worried.”
“Sorry to give you a restless night. Go back to sleep and I’ll see you later today.”
“It is ‘today’ already, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Get some sleep.”
“I will. You too.”
“Easily.”
That had been what seemed an eternity ago though it had only been a few hours. He sat up and looked around the room. It was just that. A room with a bed, chair, and TV. He had been too tired to even look last night. He went to the bathroom and flipped on the light. He groaned. He’d wait to shower until he got home. No way was he getting into that tub.
He splashed some water on his face and then pulled the door closed as he left. The motel looked worse for wear in the daylight. His car was the only one in the lot and he could see weeds growing up through cracks in the asphalt. He had made a great choice in his haste to sleep. At least it had been better than sleeping in the car.
He walked to the office, found the manager, and checked out. The guy hadn’t moved from his chair. At least he hadn’t been asleep again.
Ray grabbed a quick bite at a fast food joint just off the highway and then he was on his way home. Three hours on the road and this nightmare would all be over. He felt pretty good about the outcome, yet he had this nagging thorn in his side that he never should have gotten involved. Too late now, that was for sure. He just hoped he hadn’t jeopardized his job.
He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Michelle. She’d probably be worrying again, and he knew she wouldn’t call him for fear of interrupting his rest. He’d better check in so she could relax.
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