Scent of Gardenia (Scott Tucker Series)

by Dick Waters

  The three of them went to her room to map out their strategy. “Ralph, the inspector should be told about Scott’s apparent kidnapping. However, because we’re not certain about that,” she said, and winked at him, “we’re going to do our best to locate Scott on our own. We need to find where Margaret’s home is located. Scott is probably there already, or close to being delivered. That’s where; Nils, Paul, Holly and Jules are most likely being kept. Did you talk to Max at all today?” Mercedes asked.

  “Yes, he told me they had arrested a man in the Bahamas on one of the missing yachts. Max mentioned he was going to fly over there to participate in his questioning. I thought he was going tomorrow, but he might have already left,” Ralph offered.

  “Good. We’ll assume he left, and conduct this investigation ourselves. I’m still not satisfied about the police investigation. My gut says there is something questionable about the inspector. How are we going to locate her home address?”

  Mike answered before Ralph could. “Let me make a phone call. Can I use your phone?”

  “Sure. There’s an extension in the bedroom if you want to have a private conversation.”

  Mike took out Sam’s card and called his number.

  “Hello.”

  “Sam, its Mike Miller. I need your help to find the home address of the woman who runs Rusty’s.”

  “You’re not the only detective on the island, got a pen?” Mike took down the address.

  “How did you know I was going to call you for it?”

  “I just had a hunch…I knew you would need it eventually. I thought you would have called earlier.” He laughed. “I suppose you need transportation too?”

  “How soon can you be here…wait, I’m at the Bermudiana.”

  “I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Tell the doorman you called me so I don’t have to wait in the cab line outside. Is that too soon?”

  “That’s fine. We’ll see you in twenty minutes.” Mike hung up.

  “I’ve got Margaret Orion’s home address. Do either of you have a gun on you?”

  “No. No such luck.”

  Chapter 70

  My wrists hurt and my ass felt like someone had used it for a punching bag. I was in the back of a small truck without any windows. My ankles and wrists were bound. I couldn’t feel my hands. My head was pounding in my ears. I was getting my memory back about what happened. The photographer stopped me, showed me the picture he took of me, and when I went to see it under the parking lot light—everything went dark. He must have knocked me out with something and that’s why my head felt like someone was playing drums between my ears.

  I had no idea how long I was out. I looked over my shoulder, trying to see the driver, but I was too low to get a view of him. I know Mike is going to know I’m missing for sure because I didn’t call him when I was leaving my hotel, and my bags are still there. I think I would rather you find me before I’m dropped off.

  The vehicle was now driving in second gear on a rougher road. I could tell we were getting closer to the water, because I could smell it. It took about two minutes down this roadway before the vehicle came to a stop. He was out of the truck before I knew it. The rear facing doors opened. It was the photographer. Big deal…what’s that going to get me?

  “Okay, Mr. Scott Tucker, you just stay put while I see if anybody’s home.”

  Since he was gone several minutes, I took the opportunity to look out the back of the truck. There wasn’t anything back there…just darkness.

  I heard footsteps and slid back to where I was when he left.

  I could see two silhouettes, one was the driver. “Here he is; he’s in perfect condition, except the bump on his head.” He stepped away from the back of the truck.

  *.*.*

  The other figure climbed into the back of the truck. “Well, look who we have all bundled up for me…Mr. Scott Tucker.” The woman was right in my face. She was more beautiful than I had anticipated. Her long red hair was hanging down in my face. She looked down at my clothes and shook her head. “I can take it from here. Thanks,” she said, climbing back out of the truck.

  “He’s certainly in fine condition, but I’ll check the parts to see if there’s any damage.”

  “So, do I get my weekend soon?” The driver asked.

  “You certainly will. I’ll be in touch.” She handed him a white envelope. “Thanks again, here’s your money.”

  She grabbed my ankles, sliding me out of the truck. I landed with my feet on the ground. We were nose to nose and she didn’t make any move…she just stood there. Her eyes were familiar and she gave me the creeps. I could smell the ocean, but I could smell the scent of Gardenia more. It was getting stronger and stronger. The next thing I knew, I was over her shoulder.

  I guess the good news was—I was going to find ererybody. I guess the bad news was I was the new guest. A few minutes later I was concerned she was going to drop me going down the stairs. She was having a tough time. I felt the temperature change. She entered a room with a cell door, dropping me onto my back. I thought I was going to hit a hard surface, but it was the bed that cried out as I landed.

  The room was lit with a single small bulb. She hooked up shackles to my ankles, and then removed the other restraints. She wasn’t saying a word. She hooked shackles to one of my wrists and then removed the original restraints. She hooked the other shackle to my other wrist. I was trying to study her face. She still wasn’t saying anything. My eyes couldn’t miss the top of her sundress, and then I looked at her eyes.

  “I was waiting for your eyes to check those out. It would seem your eyes are still in good working order.”

  She went over to a small table, returning with a pair of scissors. “Now let’s see if everything else works correctly.” She removed my shoes and socks and then took off my belt. She started cutting away my clothes starting with my shirt. The way she was moving those scissors I was worried she was going to inadvertently stick me.

  “Scott you’re really jumpy. I’m not going to stick you…not now anyway. I want to see if all the parts are still there, and there’s no damage. She pulled the pieces of my shirt off and I felt the cool air on my chest. She ran the scissors down across my chest and across my groin. I felt the blade of the scissors next against an ankle. I guess I never paid attention to the snapping noise scissors made. When she had the first pant leg cut all the way to my waist she stood up and slipped her sundress off.

  I closed my eyes, immediately feeling the point of the scissors between my legs. I opened my eyes. She smiled, and was shaking her head slowly. “No.” She climbed on the bed and it sounded its displeasure. She started on the other pant leg, taking her time on purpose. I was surprised there were no tan lines on her body. My body was starting to become my next worst enemy.

  The scent of her perfume reminded me of Mercedes, which given my predicament was not the right thing to be thinking of. I took a deep breath feeling the cool air on my lower body. My pants were gone but the scissors remained too close for my comfort. I was afraid to move and tried to focus on other things. Are the others here? Did she get rid of any of them, or all of them? I could tell she wanted me to react to her probing. There was something familiar in her exploration. Her eyes had looked familiar, the long red hair, and I thought her voice sounded vaguely familiar.

  She opened the blades of the scissors and that caught my attention. “Scott, here are the rules of the house. When I ask you questions, you give me an answer, and it has to be the truth. Lie to me, and I’ll know it, and you will suffer for it. She squeezed the scissors slightly and I quickly nodded. “Good, the boy learns quickly. I like that. There’s no talking to the others, or there will be consequences. In addition, it makes no sense resisting me, as I will eventually get my way. If I have to work extra hard I will make you pay for it…and I will make the pretty redhead here pay for it too.”

  I took a deep breath, trying to hold back my scream.

  “Now, do you like what I’m doing to you n
ow?”

  I remembered what she said and answered, “No, it hurts.”

  “I didn’t think you would like that…very risky too.” She relaxed the pressure and altered her attack. “Is that any better?”

  I was trapped either way. “Yes.” Unfortunately, her treatment confirmed my suspicion—this woman had to be Melanie. This was a carbon copy of how she greeted me years ago. I was very close to losing my life back then, and now she had the ability to end it. “Melanie?”

  She stopped, looking up at me. “Isn’t it nice you remembered me? I guess I made an impression on you years ago after all. You have been my fantasy since I had to leave so suddenly that day. I don’t like to have something, or someone, get away. Everything I’ve done here was done with the hope you would visit with me again.” She slid up my body and kissed me. “Scott, remember what I said. I will get my way sooner or later, and you and Holly don’t needlessly have to suffer.” She kissed me again, like I was a long-lost sailor. A minute or so later she stopped.

  The scissors were gone replaced by something slightly safer. “So tell me…have you been seeing my sister Mercedes?” She was watching what she was doing.

  I hesitated answering, and paid the price.

  It took a moment for me to catch my breath. She watched and waited. “Scott, I warned you. Now, have you been seeing my sister?”

  “Yes.”

  “I thought you said you had a special girlfriend.”

  “I did. She passed away after we were married.”

  “Oh, how convenient that is for you and Mercedes. Have you and Mercedes made love?”

  I rushed my answer, “Yes.”

  “Is she a good lover?”

  “Yes.”

  “Is she better than me?”

  She knew I couldn’t answer that question. Mercedes, if you can hear me…rescue me. This was like my naked dream years ago…only worse…I woke up back then. Maybe Mercedes doesn’t care as much as she did back then; after all she has Ralph now. I was glad there were no more questions…I had to develop a way to get out of here. I pulled on the chains.

  She laughed at me, uttering with a sexy voice, “I like the sound of those chains rattling, do it some more Scott. Tell the neighbors they’ve got company. The busier you are, the less time they have to spend with me. Thanks for returning…I honestly knew you would…once the FBI, and Mercedes, were involved. Did you know yesterday this was Shawn’s room?”

  Chapter 71

  All three of them were waiting for Sam when he pulled up at the hotel. Mercedes and Ralph decided not to call the police, for fear Margaret might be alerted to their coming.

  Mike shook Sam’s hand through the window of his cab. “Good evening Sam, are you ready to participate in your first raid?”

  “Sounds like fun to me.”

  “Sam, this is Mercedes Strong and Ralph…” Mike tried to provide the introductions.

  “Ralph Reynolds,” Ralph added from the back seat. He offered his hand which Sam shook. “It’s nice to meet you Sam.”

  Seated directly behind him it was too awkward for Mercedes to shake his hand, so she patted Sam on the shoulder. “Sam thanks very much for helping us and coming up with Margaret’s home address.”

  He laughed. “Bermuda’s finest at your service, my lady.”

  As they headed toward the Southeast shore, Ralph offered a plan. “I think what we need to do this evening is to verify this is really where Orion is keeping the men and Holly. If we try to rush her tonight, we could risk her killing one or more of her captives. We stand a much better chance of rescuing them during a time when she is not at the property. Of course, the risk is she may kill one of her guests, but I think that’s unlikely. She just killed Shawn Dustin and her new guest should keep her occupied this evening.”

  Mercedes had considered her own plan for rescuing Scott, but others wanted to do it right away. However, she didn’t want to risk Scott’s life, or anyone else’s for that matter, and although the thoughts of Margaret, or worse her sister Melanie, with Scott for any time at all was not appealing, it was the safer alternative.

  Mike asked, “So what is the plan when we get there?”

  Ralph immediately responded, “We need to see where she has them. I don’t think she will risk them being seen by any visitors to her property. She most likely has them hidden away…I’m obviously not sure, but I would say they might be in the basement or underground. I wish I thought of it before, but I wish we had booked her for a dive excursion tomorrow morning. That would have assured us that she would not be near them tomorrow.”

  “So let’s do that,” Mike offered. “Sam, can you stop some place where we can call and book an excursion?”

  *.*.*

  Ten minutes later, Sam spotted a small convenience store and pulled in. “I think there should be a pay phone here, as a lot of folks don’t have their own phones,” Sam explained.

  “Mike, you should make the call. Obviously, I can’t, and I think you’re the best one to call her,” Mercedes suggested.

  Mike entered the small store, spotting the phone booth. He dialed the number and mentally went over his planned introduction. The phone rang and rang without any answer. He looked at the number on his slip and made sure he had dialed it correctly. He hung up after many rings.

  He climbed into the cab. “No luck. There was no answer.” He almost knew why not. Sam put the cab in reverse, pulling back onto the road. No one said anything for a few minutes.

  Mercedes didn’t want to imagine what was happening, but without a doubt she was smart enough to know. “Mike, it’s still a good idea, maybe you can try to get through in a little while.”

  Ten minutes later Sam spotted her property entrance. There were three entrances off the road; one indicated a golf course, the other a condominium complex and third was unmarked. “This is the entrance to her property.” He turned off his lights as he headed down the unpaved driveway.

  Ralph asked, “I can’t see the water or any house. Sam, how far do we have to go?”

  “I looked at the map and I would say we have about four or five hundred yards,” Sam replied.

  “We don’t want her to hear us coming, or even see us. Drive about what you think is half way, or find a place to pull off, and park there,” Mercedes nervously suggested.

  Sam drove for another minute, pulling off at a wide spot. They all felt the cab tip slightly. “I think we have a problem,” Sam whispered.

  Mike thought the same thing when the cab tipped, but Sam confirmed it.

  *.*.*

  Sam got out, immediately slipping in the soft sand and went down. He mumbled something to himself.

  Mike opened the left side door and got out of the cab and extended his hand for Mercedes. Ralph was already outside the cab. Mike went around the driver’s side and before he could help, Ralph was helping Sam get to his feet. “Shit, now what do we do?” Mike broke the silence.

  There was only limited light from the moon, but Sam tried his best to assess the problem. “You know, I might be able to get her out, but not without making some noise. I suggest you folks tend to your plan while I tend to this,” Sam said, shaking his head, walking to the trunk.

  Mike huddled up with Mercedes and Ralph. Fortunately they all wore dark clothes, which would help conceal their approach. They all looked at the slight rise in the road, which blocked any view of them, and blocked the view of any house. Ralph was leading the way, and Mike noticed the concerned look on Mercedes face. He was more concerned now himself. He needed to hide it from Mercedes.

  They were all quiet walking up the slight rise, anticipating what they would see when they reached the top. Mike was thinking about what he remembered seeing when they raided the warehouse where Melanie was holding Scott. Melanie was naked. She had Scott tied up on a platform the same way. Mercedes was tied to a post near them, unfortunately watching helplessly what her sister was doing. Melanie was getting her enjoyment at Scott’s expense. She was only minutes away fr
om ending Scott’s life. Having killed several men, she had nothing to lose. Had they not been rescued, they would have surely been bait for the sea creatures.

  He was sure Mercedes was having similar memories…there was no way she could not be thinking about that episode…not when she theorized her sister was again holding Scott hostage.

  *.*.*

  They were all quiet approaching the small house, which looked the same as many other houses on the island. The driveway made a circle in front of the house. Mike could see a small pickup truck parked alongside the house. To the north of the property there was a line of trees, which were quite close together, separating this property from the golf course. There was another expanse of trees on the south side, but they didn’t conceal the property as much.

  Ralph went around the north side of the house. He followed Mercedes to the south side. She looked in the first window, shaking her head. She went to the next window which he could see was the kitchen. Mercedes shook her head again. When they reached the back of the house Ralph met them.

  Ralph whispered, “I didn’t see anyone.” He turned, looking toward the water.

  Mercedes responded, “Same here.”

  Mike could see two chaise lounges just a few feet from them on the grass, a large shed and a boat dock along one side of the property. “Should we check out the shed?” Mike asked softly.

  “It doesn’t look like it would be conducive to entertaining several people,” Ralph answered, with a low voice. “My guess is she has something underground.” He went back to the side of the house, returning quickly. “I don’t see any basement windows, how about that side?”

  Mercedes answered, “There aren’t any here either. Should we see if the shed has any dive cages?”

  Ralph didn’t answer, but headed down to the shed. There was a padlock on the shed, and no windows. He pulled on one of the large double doors, but it didn’t budge. He held his hand out for Mercedes’ small flashlight. He focused the light on the ground leading from the shed. There were indentations in the packed sand leading in the direction of the boat dock. He waved his finger to indicate what he was looking at, and then nodded. He then pointed with two fingers to indicate hand truck tire marks leading to the shed.