Hurricanes in Paradise

by Denise Hildreth Jones

  “Mia!” Laine called out, her voice sounding almost hollow against the wind.

  Mia turned. “Hey, oh, my goodness. You’ve got to get up to your friend Tamyra’s room right now!”

  Winnie covered up a snicker. But she quickly tried to regain her composure.

  Laine shook her head. “Well, she can wait a minute. Right now we need to talk.”

  The sound of sirens began to filter through the wind and rain. Mia’s voice was loud and strained. “I can’t. I’m waiting on the ambulance.”

  “Who’s the ambulance for?” Laine felt as if she were yelling.

  “It’s for your friend Tamyra!” Mia was getting irritable. “I told you. You need to get up there now!”

  Laine looked at Winnie. “Looks like our friend went a little over the top.”

  “I’d say. Sounds more like a lie I would tell.”

  Laine turned back to Mia. “Listen, I’m sure Tamyra will be fine. There is really no need for an ambulance. Honestly. You know beauty queens. They can be a little overemotional.”

  Mia turned, her look one of horror. “I’m sorry. But if someone’s face has been pummeled until they are unrecognizable, I’d say they need an ambulance.”

  Laine’s expression changed, and she stepped forward. “What are you talking about?”

  “Your friend. A man attacked her in her room. He has nearly killed her. So I’d say our conversation can take place another time. Right now, I need to get the paramedics to her room.”

  The screaming siren blared now as an ambulance pulled up in front of them. Laine and Winnie stood there stunned, watching as the passenger door flew open and a young paramedic exited.

  “Oh, Lord, have mercy!” Winnie said.

  “Come on, Winnie! Come on!” Laine didn’t wait for Winnie to follow. She took off down the hall.

  * * *

  “Oh, Jesus, help her! Help her, Jesus!” Winnie knelt by the bed. Her hands lay gently on Tamyra’s shoulder.

  “They’ll be right here, Tamyra. You just hold on, okay?” Laine said, trying to keep from throwing up. She hadn’t seen a face so injured in her life. She fought back the thought that she had sent Tamyra up here. If she had just let her stay with them, if she had thought of something else, then maybe Tamyra wouldn’t have come up here.

  As if she could read her expression, Winnie called out to her. “He would have been here no matter when she came to her room, Laine. Jason’s been looking for her. This is not your fault.”

  Riley still wiped her face gently.

  The paramedics came through the door, and the women all stepped back. The paramedics worked swiftly but gently with Tamyra’s pummeled body. She moaned a couple times, but Laine knew she was barely conscious. The women followed the stretcher downstairs and through the open corridors.

  “You ride with her, Winnie. We’ll meet you at the hospital,” Riley said, patting Winnie on her shoulder as they followed the stretcher.

  Wet streaks lined Winnie’s cheeks. “Okay. We need to call her mother. And the police. Tell the police to look for her ex-boyfriend—Jason something.”

  “I will. I’ll take care of that. But her mother can’t get here until this storm has passed, and that won’t be until sometime tomorrow evening. I don’t even know when they’ll start letting flights take off again.”

  The paramedics lifted the stretcher into the back of the ambulance, trying to keep Tamyra covered from the pulsating rain. Winnie climbed in with one of them. The other closed the doors tightly and disappeared around to the front of the vehicle. Riley and Laine stood underneath the building’s entrance, shock sweeping through them with each gust of wind that blew. The ambulance’s sirens came back to life as it sped from the resort.

  “I can’t believe this,” Riley said, finally able to let her guard down. Her body began to tremble.

  “What happened?” Laine asked.

  “Apparently she came back to her room and a man was waiting on her when she got there. Thank God the housekeeper hadn’t cleaned her room yet. Because when she opened the door, he was on top of Tamyra, choking her. Honestly, Laine, if she hadn’t come in . . .” Riley’s voice broke.

  Laine felt a surge of horror rush through her. Tears came hard against the brim of her eyelids. “But she did. She did come in.”

  “It’s a miracle, Laine. Honestly, it’s a miracle. Of all the rooms she could have cleaned, she went to that one.”

  Laine reached out and took Riley’s arm. “Listen, go on to the hospital. Go sit with them and I’ll be there in a little while.”

  “You sure? You don’t want to come?”

  “No, I’ve got something to take care of here, and then I’ll be right there.”

  Riley nodded. Laine was grateful she didn’t press. “If you’re sure. I just need to go hear what the doctor says once he looks at her. Then I’ll come back here and make sure all of the guests are okay.”

  “I thought you were fired.” Laine regretted saying it as soon as it came out, but she needed to get Riley out of here for a minute.

  “I haven’t signed my termination letter yet.”

  Laine breathed a sigh of relief.

  “So legally I’d say I’m still responsible for my guests.”

  Laine smiled. “You’d be responsible for them even if you had signed it. That’s just who you are.”

  “I’ll call you if I hear something before you get there.”

  “Sounds good. Now go.” She swatted at her. She watched as Riley made it to her car, the wind sweeping wildly at her petite frame and the rain beating against her. Laine would be grateful when Riley finally could feel the wind at her back and not beating her in the face. Speaking of beatings . . .

  Laine turned back and caught sight of Mia’s blonde hair in the office. She took a deep breath and headed straight for the glass door.

  21

  Friday afternoon . . .

  “Someone has been in my purse,” Mia said as Laine walked through the door. Mia’s head disappeared behind the counter.

  Laine walked to the other side of the counter and leaned against it. A fury rose inside of her. Everything in her wanted to make Mia responsible for what had just happened to Tamyra. If they hadn’t had to protect Riley, they would have all been home by now. But something inside her wouldn’t let her blame even Mia.

  “Look at this. Everything in my purse has been dumped out on the floor!” Laine watched as Mia frantically ran her hands through the exposed contents of her handbag. “They were obviously looking for something. Maybe it was the same guy who did that to Tamyra.”

  “Did they steal your wallet?”

  Mia picked up her wallet, unable to hide her irritation. “No! My wallet is right here.”

  “Something else missing?” Laine coaxed.

  Mia grabbed her handbag and crammed her hand inside; she fumbled wildly through the empty purse. “No, no. I’m sure it’s all here. If they didn’t take my wallet, I can’t imagine what else they would have wanted.” She tossed the purse down and leaned over to peer beneath the counter.

  “Wouldn’t be looking for these, would you?”

  The look on Mia’s face when she raised her eyes and saw the bottle of antianxiety medication dangling from Laine’s fingers gave her a small sense of satisfaction amid all this mess. Laine only wished the girls could see it with her.

  “Where did you . . . ?” Mia stood quickly.

  “Out of your purse.”

  Mia made a desperate attempt to grab it from Laine’s hand.

  Laine pulled the bottle out of her reach. “I don’t think you will be getting these back anytime soon. In fact, I think you need to grab a seat right there on that sofa and tell me everything you’ve done. To be honest, that is about the only thing that will keep you out of prison at this point.”

  The fear that flew across Mia’s face made that statement so worthwhile, whether there was any validity to it or not. “I want to know everything. How many of these did you give to Riley?” />
  “You’re crazy!” she barked. “Just because you write fiction novels doesn’t mean you can walk in here creating it.”

  Laine stepped back and decided she’d sit on the sofa if Mia didn’t want to. “Drugging someone’s drink is a crime, Mia. Pure and simple. Ever seen what happens to pretty girls in prison?” She was being ruthless but she didn’t care. Tamyra was in a hospital room with a face that resembled a prizefighter’s, and she doubted Tamyra had had the privilege of landing a single blow. “They eat women like you alive in prison. Trust me, I’ve written all about it.” She smirked.

  She could hear the trembling in Mia’s voice. “I don’t want to go to prison.”

  “You should have thought about that before you drugged someone.”

  “I wouldn’t call two pills drugging someone.” She laughed nervously.

  “You gave her two?”

  Mia came around the counter. The arrogance in her shoulders slowly seeped away. “Please promise that if I tell you, Riley won’t press charges.”

  “Of course not. Riley won’t press charges.” She knew she couldn’t be sure. But she was pretty confident Riley Sinclair wouldn’t press charges against anyone. “But you’ll write it all down, and you’ll call Max while I’m standing here. Now sit,” Laine said as she stood, walked over to the counter, and got a pen and paper. “I want you to write everything that you’ve done to Riley from the moment you arrived. I know more than you can imagine. So leave one thing out and any promise I’ve made to you will be as void as what rests between your ears.”

  Mia sat, took the pen, and began writing. Laine sat down in the leather chair beside the sofa, placed her hands atop its chrome arms, and let the coolness of the metal alert her to how real this day actually was. If she had written this as a story, she wouldn’t have even thought of this ending.

  * * *

  Laine stood there as Mia told Max everything. Even as she recounted it all, Laine couldn’t believe how quickly Mia had begun her sabotage against Riley. She had known in her gut that this girl was up to no good. But Riley was so trusting. And Mia had maliciously used that trust against her.

  Mia handed the phone to Laine. “He wants to talk to you.”

  Laine took the receiver. “Hello.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Fulton. I’m sure this isn’t how you planned to spend your research trip.”

  “Well, no, not exactly. But I’d say it’s been a very informative week, to be honest with you.”

  “I’m sending security over to make sure Mia gets her stuff and gets out immediately, and they will call the Bahamian police. I’ll call Mr. Manos and ask him to take care of both The Reef and The Cove until Riley can get back. And I’ll call Riley and apologize to her and see if I can get her to take her job back.”

  “From the way she was handling the guests this morning, I’d say her heart has never left this job. And I don’t think you have her termination letter yet, do you?”

  He laughed. “No, I didn’t figure she’d be in a hurry.”

  “I’m headed to the hospital now. But could you give me a little time with her first before you call? She needs to hear what’s gone on from someone in person. She’s beaten herself up mercilessly, and I just don’t want her to have to hear this over the phone. I’m thinking she’s going to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth,” Laine said, her glare not leaving Mia’s face.

  Mia dropped her eyes at Laine’s stare.

  “Well, thank you. I’ll call Riley this evening. I heard what happened to Ms. Larsen as well, and I called the hospital and asked them to keep me informed. We will be hoping for a miracle. And I have also talked to the chief of police. They’ve received a picture of the suspect, so thanks to this storm—can’t believe I’m saying that—he won’t be able to leave the island without being seen.”

  “Tamyra will be grateful. Thanks for everything, Max.”

  “Sounds like the thank-you goes to you, Laine. And after what Riley said last night, I’m kind of surprised you would have been willing to help her.”

  Laine laughed slightly. “Riley is an odd little creature who gets under your skin. You just can’t seem to shake her.”

  Max laughed. “She’s been under my skin for years. She’s been like a daughter to me. My heart was broken last night. I knew she had come so far. And I couldn’t believe what had happened. I felt like it was my fault, but I still couldn’t let it go without repercussions.”

  “Well, now we know that she has come far. Very far.”

  “She deserves a huge apology from me. I shouldn’t have assumed the worst.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up, Max. We all had those initial assumptions. Thankfully, we were incredibly wrong.”

  Two security personnel entered through the glass doors. “Security is here, so I’d better let you go.”

  “Thank you again, Laine.”

  Laine hung up the phone and watched as the guards hovered over Mia like vultures while she emptied out her desk. “A police escort is waiting outside, ma’am,” one of them said to Laine.

  “You said no police!” Mia quaked.

  “I said no charges. I didn’t say no police. And honestly, Riley will decide what charges will be pressed against you. So that is why we’re going to the hospital and you get to tell her everything that you’ve done,” Laine said as she walked in front of Mia to the door.

  Christian opened the door as Laine reached for it. His eyes grew wide when he saw the security guards behind her escorting Mia with her brown box of belongings. “What’s going on, Laine? Max didn’t give me a lot to go on.”

  Laine touched his arm. “Let’s just say last night wasn’t all it seemed, Christian. We’ll explain later, but right now Mia and I have an appointment at the hospital.”

  “She set Riley up, didn’t she?”

  “Almost perfectly,” Laine responded.

  Mia walked out the door and passed Christian without so much as looking at him. He grabbed her arm as she stepped in front of him. “Did you erase that message from Riley, Mia? The day we were at the meeting? I left my cell phone on the table when I went to the restroom. Riley said she called. Did you see it and erase it?”

  She looked at him with no expression. “Yes,” she said flatly. Then she jerked her arm free and walked beside the security guards to the waiting patrol car.

  Laine got in first and let out a heavy sigh. She found herself praying for Tamyra. She hadn’t “found herself praying” in a very long time.

  * * *

  Riley and Winnie paced the waiting room. The doctors had taken Tamyra into surgery immediately. The damage to her airway was extensive and they had no time to waste. Riley turned when she saw Laine come through the door.

  “How is she?” Laine asked.

  Winnie wrung her hands. “We don’t know. No one has been out since they took her to surgery.”

  “They took her straight to the OR,” Riley confirmed.

  Laine shook her head. “It’s horrible, isn’t it?”

  Riley nodded. “Yeah, it’s pretty bad.”

  “Well, I know this isn’t the time or place, but could you two come outside for just a minute?”

  Riley watched as Winnie looked at Laine and Laine gave her a nod.

  “How about you take Riley and I’ll wait here to make sure we don’t miss an update from the doctor. I promised her mother I would call her as soon as I heard something.”

  Laine gave her a soft smile. “That sounds good.” She nudged Riley toward the door.

  “What is it?” Riley asked as she followed Laine to the exit.

  “Something that will set you free.”

  The glass doors opened automatically and she saw a patrol car to one side of the covered entrance. Mia stood beside it. “Laine, tell me you didn’t demand a police escort.”

  Laine shook her head. “No, Mia demanded the police escort. Didn’t you?” Her words were tossed to Mia and not to Riley.

  “Mia, who’s taking care of the guests?”
>
  Laine interjected. “Max has asked Christian to handle it until you get back.”

  Riley couldn’t hide her confused expression. She let out a half laugh. “Until I get back? What’s going on here? Honestly, someone needs to tell me now.”

  “Tell her. Now,” Laine said.

  Mia looked at Riley, her eyes flat and cold. “I drugged you, Riley. I gave you two antianxiety pills. One in your water. The other you took yourself at the bar.”

  Riley’s head was spinning. What was Mia saying? She rubbed her head, then looked back up. “You did what?”

  “I drugged you. You weren’t drunk, Riley. I gave you something that made you seem inebriated. You weren’t drunk last night.”

  Riley felt the words slam into her chest. She tried to suck in the air that had just been sucked out of her. “You mean . . . you . . . you took advantage of what I told you and used it against me?”

  “She wanted your job, Riley,” Laine said. Then, to Mia, “Now tell her what else you did.”

  Mia lifted her chin in an arrogant manner. She cut her eyes at Laine and back at Riley. “I knew Max and his guests were going to show up early. But I didn’t tell you.” She stopped there.

  Laine wasn’t about to let her get off that easy. “And you . . .”

  “And I sent the contracts to Max when I knew they were supposed to go to legal.”

  “And?”

  Mia’s jaw pulsed. “And the message you left for Christian, I erased.”

  “Any more of your conscience you need to clear?” Laine quipped.

  “Only the part that holds memories of you.”

  “Touché.”

  Riley tried to digest everything she had just been told. But she couldn’t believe someone could be so malicious. “You wanted my job?”

  “Yes, Riley. I wanted your job.” She tossed her head.

  “Why didn’t you just work your way into it?”

  “Riley, you’re so naive. You had just gotten there. I didn’t want to wait until you decided to retire.”