Hostage At Crystal Manor

by Heather Graham

Given all that, the news about the assault on the historic mansion on Crystal Island at last died down.

  Kody had spent hours with her folks, assuring them she was fine. She had made arrangements for them to fly to New York when the show opened, and she’d told them about her apartment, her part-time job and her friends, especially the Finnegans. She told them about the four siblings who owned the pub. How Declan was the boss and Kieran was a clinical psychologist and therapist who often worked with the police and the FBI. How Danny was a super tour guide and would take them around and, as they knew, Kevin was an actor.

  It was all good.

  She went back out to the mansion. She and her co-workers and friends who had been taken hostage hugged and cried and did all the things that survivors did. She was somewhat surprised to discover that none of them was leaving.

  “I just don’t see it happening again,” Vince said.

  “You don’t give in to violence,” Stacey Carlson told her.

  Nan Masters, his supportive assistant, as always, smiled. “Stacey does not give in. He hires more security. That’s the way we roll.”

  Jose was still in the hospital, but doing well.

  Brandi was fine, as well—traumatized, but fine.

  Kody felt relieved and almost happy when she left them. Everything was perfect.

  She’d called Craig; he’d assured her that Nick Connolly was fine. They were all disappointed, of course, that they hadn’t been able to find Nathan Appleby.

  Her parents were still at a board meeting, seeing to the trust, when Kody came back from the mansion and turned on the news.

  Yes. The story had already fallen to the back burner.

  The doorbell rang as she was staring at the television.

  When she looked through the peephole, her heart skipped a beat. It was Nick.

  She instantly thrust the door open.

  “Hey! You’re supposed to be cautious!” he began.

  He was barely able to speak. She threw her arms around him, holding him fiercely.

  “Um, cautious…or not!” he said, looking down into her eyes, half detangling himself and half sweeping her closer. And he just looked at her and then his mouth touched down on hers and he kissed her.

  Her mouth parted and she tasted the sweet heat of his lips and tongue. The warmth swept into her limbs, magical and wonderful, and causing her to tremble. He lifted his mouth from hers, searching out her eyes.

  “You’re okay,” she said as if she needed him to confirm it.

  “Yes. And you?”

  “Absolutely fine, thank you. I… You’re here. Thank you. I mean, thank you for knowing that I would be worried about you. And thank you for letting me know that you’re okay.”

  “That’s not why I’m here,” he said. “Although I’m grateful to know that you were worried.”

  “Of course,” she murmured. “So, why are you here?”

  “Ah, yes. Well, you’re not being held by a demonic kidnapper anymore. I’m not working undercover. In fact, I’m free until tomorrow, when I fly back to New York. I’m here to ask you to dinner. This is your family home, though, I understand. Should I ask your folks, too?”

  “No! Oh, don’t get me wrong. I love them dearly. But I don’t need their approval to tell you this. I would love to go to dinner with you. That would be great. Where should we go?”

  “I’m staying at the Legend, the new place on the bay. They have a chef who just won the grand prize on a reality show,” he said with a rueful smile. “Want to try it?”

  “Yes. Give me one minute.” She started into the house, leaving him on the steps, then went back to invite him in. Gathering her wits, she ran to the kitchen counter to leave a note for her parents so they wouldn’t worry, grabbed her purse and headed back. He smiled, watching her.

  “What?” she asked.

  “I was nervous coming here to ask you out, and I can see you’re nervous, too. But we shouldn’t be so nervous. We know each other, right? We slept together—kind of—in a hut.”

  “Yes…but it’s different now, huh?”

  He offered her his arm. She took it and then headed down the walk to his rental car, a black Subaru. He opened the door for her; she slid in.

  “They still haven’t found Dillinger—Nathan Appleby?” she asked.

  “No. It’s amazing that he’s managed to disappear the way he has—and yet, not. He has such a network going. He had a way to reach someone who got him out—or got him into hiding in the Everglades, one or the other.”

  “But you’re going home, right?”

  “Yes. I wouldn’t be useful anymore undercover. He knows me. Craig Frasier is heading back, too. The operation will be handled from here now. Every agency down here is on the lookout.”

  “You don’t sound happy about it,” Kody said.

  “I’m not. I hate it when we haven’t finished what we started out to do. Dillinger has been a step ahead of us down the eastern seaboard. I’m not happy, but…” He shrugged, glancing over at her. “But you’re heading to New York City, too, right?”

  “The play opens in a few weeks.”

  “Living theater?” he asked. “I mean, isn’t most theater living? Not to sound too ignorant or anything, but…”

  Kody laughed. “Interactive would be a better description. It’s been done before in a similar manner. We’re doing a Shakespeare play, except that it all takes place on different floors within an old hotel. I love what we’re doing. It’s never the same thing, different every night. Basically, we are the characters. We work with the script and draw people in from the audience. And the audience moves from place to place while we have our scenes in which we work.”

  “I can’t wait to see it.”

  “You’d really come?”

  “Sure. We can have FBI night at the theater.”

  “Very amusing.”

  “I’m serious. I’m sure that Craig and Kieran will come, and Craig’s partner. And once I’m home, I’m hoping to be paired again with my old partner, Sherri Haskell.”

  “Ah, Sherri.”

  “Married to Mo.”

  “I didn’t ask.”

  “Yes, you did.”

  Nick drew up to valet parking and they left the car behind.

  He caught Kody’s hand, hurrying up the planked ramp that led out to the bay and along the water. The moon was a crescent, dozens of stars were shining and the glow of lights from the hotel and restaurant on the water was magical.

  “Florida will always be home,” Nick said.

  “Always,” Kody agreed. He pulled her into his arms and he kissed her again, and she thought that, indeed, it was all magic. She couldn’t remember when she had met someone who made her feel this way, when she had longed for just such a touch and just such a kiss.

  He drew away from her and leaned against the rail, just holding her, smoothing her hair, looking out on the water.

  “You have a room?” she asked softly.

  “That’s a leading question, you know.”

  “Yes, I know.”

  He studied her eyes. “Room service?”

  “That would be lovely.”

  He caught her hand again and led her to the elevator. When he opened the door to his room, she went straight to the large window that looked out on the night.

  “Sorry, there’s no balcony. Not on taxpayers’ money,” he said. “However, it is much better than the place I had before, when I was hanging with Dillinger’s gang.”

  She turned to look at him.

  “It wouldn’t matter to me where you stayed,” she said.

  He strode to her, taking her into his arms. She drew the backs of her fingers down his face. He kissed her again, his fingers sliding to the zipper at the back of her dress. She allowed i
t to slip from her body.

  “I wasn’t… I’m not really prepared,” he told her. Then he laughed. “I’m sure I can be—there’re a dozen stores nearby.”

  “I’m on the pill,” she told him.

  “I’m not—There’s no one else at the moment?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “I’ve been working on the play, on the move…on life. But I’ve always been an optimist.”

  He laughed at that, pulled her closer. And he slid from his jacket, doffed his holster and gun, and kissed her neck and throat while she struggled with the buttons on his shirt. Still half dressed, they fell back on the bed. He kissed her again and then again, and stared down at her, and she reached up to him, drawing him back and tugging at his belt and his waistband.

  Rolling, mingling passionate kisses with laughter, they finally stripped one another completely and lay breathlessly naked together, frozen for a moment of sweet anticipation and wonder. Then they tangled together again, seeking to press their lips upon one another’s flesh here and there. He rose above her, staring down at her, straddled over her, and she reached for him, amazed that however it had come about, they were here together, and she was simply grateful.

  He kissed her lips, her throat, and his mouth moved along her body, teasing her flesh. She lay still for a moment, not even breathing, swept up by the sensation. He caressed and teased, lower and lower, until she could stay still no longer, and she arched and writhed and rolled with him, and allowed her lips and tongue to tease in turn, bathing the length of him in kisses until breathless, they came together at last. He moved within her slowly at first. Their eyes were locked as the pace of their lovemaking began to increase, bit by bit, to a fever pitch.

  Outside, the stars shone on the water. A breeze drifted by. The night was beautiful and, for Kody, these were intricate and unbelievable moments in which the world was nothing but stars, the scent of shimmering seawater and the man who held her.

  Their climax was volatile and incredible, and holding one another in sweet aftershocks seemed just as wonderful. And then whispering and laughing and talking—and wondering if they should indeed order room service or just let the concept of dinner go—seemed as natural as if they had known one another forever.

  “So there’s been no one in your life for a long time?” he asked her.

  “Not in a long time. I do love what I do. Rehearsals are long and hard—then there is the part-time work, as you know. And you?”

  “Long hours, too. But I was engaged. To a designer.”

  “A designer?”

  “Marissa works for a major clothing line. She wants her own one day.”

  “What happened?”

  “Off hours, not enough time…we drifted apart. I have nothing bad to say about her. We just—we just weren’t meant to be. Being with an agent isn’t easy. Takes someone who understands that time is precious and elusive.”

  “It’s a give and take,” Kody said softly. She hoisted up on an elbow and smiled down at him. “I had a similar problem with my last ex. Gerard.”

  “Ah. And what happened to him?”

  Kody hesitated. “He met a teacher. She didn’t work a second job to pay for the privilege of doing her main job. She just had much better hours.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “I introduced him to the teacher,” Kody said. “He was a good guy. I wasn’t right for him.”

  “You think we might be right for each other?” Nick asked softly.

  “I just… I hope,” Kody said.

  “Hmm. What made you…care about me?”

  “Your ethics.”

  “As a crook?”

  She laughed. “You wouldn’t hurt people. That mattered. And you?”

  “Well, there’s nothing wrong with the way you look, you know,” he teased.

  “Ah. So it’s all physical attraction, then?”

  “And your courage, determination and attitude,” he said.

  She laughed softly. “For me it was your eyes. I knew your eyes. And I knew you, because of your eyes.”

  He smiled and pulled her down to him again. And what started as a kiss developed into another session of lovemaking.

  By the time they finished, Kody jumped up after looking at her watch. “Oh! I have to go back. My parents… I mean, I was just home here to tie up loose ends. My mother and father are already a bit crazy.”

  “Say no more. I’ll get you home right away,” Nick promised.

  They dressed quickly. “I really did intend to wine and dine you with a sumptuous meal,” Nick said, his hand at the small of her back as they left the room and headed down.

  “We’ll both be in New York. There are tons of fabulous restaurants there, too, you know. I mean, I am assuming that we’ll see one another in New York? Or is that maybe too much of an assumption? I was really worried about myself, you know. I was attracted to you—when you were with Dillinger. You weren’t a killer—I knew that much…well, my feelings did make me question myself.”

  He smiled, holding her hand tight.

  “Time is precious and elusive,” he said. “I will gratefully accept any you can give me in the city—especially with your show starting.”

  “I’ll find time,” she promised. “I’m partial to old, historic restaurants.”

  “I know a great pub. I think we both get a discount there, too,” Nick teased.

  “A great pub!” she agreed.

  The valet brought Nick’s car. Kody glanced at her watch again. It was nearly 1:00 a.m. She was surprised that her mother or her father hadn’t called her yet. Maybe they were happy she was out with an FBI agent.

  The distance between the hotel and her parents’ home wasn’t great; she was there within minutes.

  Nick walked her to the door.

  “I’ll really see you in New York?” she murmured.

  He pulled her into his arms. “You will see me. You’ll see so much of me…”

  She moved into his kiss. The wonder of the night seemed to settle over her like a cloak. She was tempted to walk into her house and check on her family—and then just tell them she was off to sleep with her FBI agent before he had to get on his plane.

  Kody managed to gather a sense of decorum.

  “I should meet your parents,” Nick said. “But I guess you shouldn’t wake them up.”

  “Probably not the best idea,” she agreed. “You’ll meet them. They’re coming up for opening night.”

  They kissed again. It seemed all but impossible to stop—to let him drive away.

  But, finally, he broke away. “Kody, I…”

  “Me, too,” she said softly.

  Then she slipped into the house, closed the door behind her and leaned against it. A sense of euphoria seemed to have settled over her.

  She was walking on air.

  But as she moved away from the front door, the lamp above her father’s living room chair went on.

  “Dad,” she murmured.

  Then she fell silent.

  And she dead-stopped.

  It wasn’t her father, sitting in his chair.

  It was Nathan Appleby—aka Dillinger.

  * * *

  NICK HEADED DOWN to the rental Subaru but paused as he reached the car. He looked up at the sky. It really was one of the most fantastic winter nights in Miami. Stars brilliant against the black velvet of the sky, a moon that seemed almost to smile in a half curve and a balmy temperature of maybe seventy degrees.

  He would always love South Florida as home. There was nothing like it—even when it came to the Everglades with all its glory, from birds of uncanny beauty, endangered panthers—and deadly reptiles.

  It would always be home to both of them, even as it seemed they both loved New York City and embraced all tha
t could be found there. Actually, Nick had never cared much which office he was assigned to; he was just glad to be with the Bureau. Even if they didn’t win every time.

  Nathan Appleby was still out there.

  But the hostages were safe. The hostages were alive. It was out of his hands and, after tonight, he could say that it had ended exceptionally well. The future loomed before them.

  He turned the key in the ignition and drove out onto the street. His phone rang and he glanced at the Caller ID. It was Kody. He answered it quickly. “Hello?”

  At first there was nothing. He almost hung up, thinking maybe she had pocket dialed him.

  Then he heard Kody’s voice. “You know me, Mr. Appleby. You know that I won’t help you unless I’m sure others are safe. And this time, you have my parents. Do you really think that I’ll do anything for you, anything at all, when I’m worried about their safety?”

  “Right now, Miss Cameron, they are alive. You know me. I don’t care a lot whether people live or die. You get that treasure for me and your parents live. It’s that simple.”

  Nick quickly pulled the car to the side. He hadn’t gone more than a block from the Cameron house. He cursed himself a thousand times over.

  They had underestimated Nathan Appleby. They hadn’t comprehended the depth of his obsession, realized that he would risk everything to find the Anthony Green treasure.

  Appleby had known everything about the Crystal Island mansion, about Anthony Green. It was only natural that he should have known where the Cameron family lived, only natural that he had made his way out of the Everglades and into the city of Miami—and on to the Cameron house.

  “You left Adrian Burke bound and gagged in an abandoned crack house,” Nick heard Kody say. “I need to know where my parents are—that they will be safe. That’s the only way I help you.”

  “Okay, here it is. They are not in a crack house. They’re out on a boat belonging to some very good friends of mine. Now, you help me and I get the treasure, I make a call and they go free. If you don’t come with me—nicely!—I call and they take an eternal swim in Biscayne Bay. Oh, and added insurance—if they don’t hear from me every hour, your parents take a dive.”

  “I’ll go with you. But what guarantee do I have?”