Coda? (Mercenaries Book 4)

by Tony Lavely

  Patrice had arranged the schedule to accommodate the shopping trip and the stop in Paris for fuel. Flying across six time zones was no better this time than it had been any other time Beckie’d done it. Fourteen actual hours after lift-off, the plane settled to the tarmac on Port Cay, and following Solène down the steps, Beckie gladly breathed the warm Bahamian air.

  When they arrived at the hangar office, Willie met them. “Shalin’s with the twins—no, no trouble. Homework, I think, even on Sunday evening.”

  “Of course. And Amy?” She took Solène’s hand and caught Willie’s arm as she started to walk toward the dock.

  “She and Dylan are on the way back to school.”

  “Right. You said it: Sunday evening. Any messages?”

  “None I know of; Boynton would be the one to ask, though. And who have you brought back?”

  “Don’t play dumb, Willie. It so doesn’t suit you. As I said in the message to Shen, Ms Solène Dalila… Damn. We should go by Shen’s and check in.”

  “Janni can collect your passports and then you can see Shen in the morning. Though it’s not all that late.”

  “Speak for yourself. We’ve spent fourteen hours on those palletized seats; my butt’s square, I know it!” She emphasized the point by massaging her rear end with both hands. Solène started with a giggle but couldn’t keep it from growing to a belly-laugh. “So we’re gonna go have something to eat and stretch out in clean soft beds, and sleep.”

  Willie chuckled. “Okay, boss. Let me have your passports; I’ll make sure Janni gets them.”

  New Talent

  Remember Lisa Grove?

  Between her return from Syria and her early October birthday, Beckie met with everyone on the team that she’d missed earlier: Millie’s nurses, Jannike’s mechanics, Rou’s accountants and lawyers, Sue Jinet and Rich Quinn before their wedding, Freddie before he returned to Vietnam, everyone.

  She’d lost none of them; this filled her with as much fear as it did pleasure.

  The unexpected tapped her shoulder in the middle of October, a Thursday. While she, Amy and Beth were discussing topics for Beckie’s regular meeting with Willie, Go Shen’s name lit up her phone.

  “Lauderdale Air Taxi people have a request for a flight here from the Fort,” he said.

  “Huh? Who? And why?”

  “A young woman. Her passport reads Lisa Grove. She wants a job.”

  “Way to go, Shen!” Beckie laughed. “You’ve answered my questions, and I still don’t know anything. Does she look suspicious? Terrorist? With a name like Lisa Grove, certainly American, likely Caucasian.”

  After a pause, he came back to say, “She seems perfectly innocuous. Just like you, Bob says.” She heard more mumbles off mike. “Hang on a second while…”

  Waiting, Beckie recalled Bob. One of the senior people at the taxi, he’d helped Ian out several times, and was one of the few people that knew the Nest was not just a relaxing destination. So, what does that mean, just like me?

  “Her appearance and passport agree: American. She looks… like I said. And don’t tell Amy, but Dylan’s just strolled up there, planning to surprise her, and he’ll share the plane with this Grove person if you’re willing to take the chance. He says you should, based on his instinct.”

  “Well, tell him too late, Amy heard you and she’s running around trying to figure how to be nude when he comes down the steps!” She laughed at Amy’s reaction before continuing, “His instinct’s been pretty good in the past, so okay. If she can pay the tab, bring her over.”

  Another short pause. “About that,” Shen said, and Beckie could hear the amusement in his voice, “she’s a little short. Hopes we’ll advance the fare for her.”

  “I like her already. I’m gonna play Mike’s favorite AC/DC song.”

  “What’s that?” Shen said.

  “‘Big Balls.’ Go ahead, put her on my tab. And get her something to eat; I’ll bet she’s running on empty.”

  She touched the End Call button. Amy giggled and said, “You’re only half-wrong, you know.”

  “I know, but as I remember a certain sixteen year-old saying: ‘No need to be braggin’ on everyone.’”

  “Okay, okay.” Amy called into the house, “Maurice!” He appeared almost instantly. “Dylan and I invite you and Beckie and Beth to dinner tonight. Mom, too, and Willie. I request permission to use your kitchen; it being so much nicer than mine on Cottage, and it’ll be easier to seat everyone.

  “But, we, Dylan and I, will do the work, from soup to nuts. If you can’t handle that, we’ll have it at our place.”

  “I could no more refuse you than… anyone,” the man said. Beckie wondered if she was the only one who noticed the glint of moisture in the corner of his eye. “It will be a particular pleasure to accept your invitation.”

  “I wonder if I can do the cooking nude,” Amy mused.

  Beckie laughed aloud at Amy’s teasing, but for a second, Boynton stood stock still, mouth and eyes open. “It’s okay,” Beckie finally got out. “Your kitchen’s innocence will be preserved; I promise. She’s teasing me.”

  With a glance much less charitable than any Beckie remembered Boynton giving anyone, far less Amy, he spun and stomped off.

  “I’ll go and apologize in a second, but now…” She pulled her chair close to Beckie. “What do you mean, ‘I like her’?”

  “Huh? I don’t understand.”

  Amy flushed and looked at the table. “You sounded all… I don’t know, excited that she was there…”

  “You’re not afraid of losing your therapy patient, Amy?” Beth said, but the light tone… Beckie was sure she was joshing. I hope! I don’t want to be anybody’s therapy patient!

  “No, not really, but…”

  “It’s pretty simple,” Beckie said. “And maybe her brash approach reminds me of someone.” Amy honored her with a bright blush. “She shows up in Lauderdale with no warning. She knows where to go. She assumes that we’ll let her land here… though that could just be luck; she might have figured they’d bring her and let us sort it out… Don’t ask me why, but I’ll bet she used her last dime to get to Lauderdale, so she’s gotta have brass balls to do all that knowing she’s gotta ask us to pay for her trip over. And back, ‘cause I don’t know why she’d stay, no matter what.” Beckie chuckled. “¡Grandes cojones!” When Amy looked up, brows raised, she said, “Ask Elena.” Beth exploded in laughter. “Wait! You speak Spanish.”

  “So…”

  “I just hope, even if she’s got a really good story, she has someplace else to go. I will not be railroaded into giving succor.”

  “You were before,” Amy said as she stood. “I’ll go talk to Maurice now. But I want to be there when you talk to her. Dylan, too.” She disappeared into the house.

  Beth was still chuckling a little. Beckie frowned at her. “You think I’ll be railroaded, too?”

  “No,” Beth said, “but I agree with what you said. I’d be very interested to hear her story.”

  “You’re invited. I think it will be an eventful dinner.” She picked up her phone and returned Shen’s call. “Hey, can you get in touch with them? Tell them we’ll keep her, at least overnight, so the tourist records don’t look bad. So unless the pilot wants to stay over, he can refuel and head back.”

  He agreed and disconnected.

  Amy skipped back and dropped into her chair. “Okay, we’re good. Maurice forgives my little joke.”

  “You given any thought to how many you’ll have for dinner? Since you’re creating it all?”

  “Don’t be silly! I can’t boil water. Dylan’s got the helm; I’m just step ’n fetchit.”

  Beckie swallowed hard at Amy’s love for her boy. “No matter who does it, seems like you’ve invited, like, eight or more people. What’s on the menu? And the wine list?”

  “More. While Maurice and I were talking, we decided Shalin and the kids could come along, too. Then, since I was thinking the same thing you were, we call
ed Dylan to see what he wanted to cook, and I permitted Maurice to order it all. But I’ll have to go to Sud and pick it up…” She looked at Beckie’s phone, lying on the table. “… in about fifteen minutes.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Beth said. “Mistress Rebecca needs to prepare for an audience with the girl with big balls.”

  The air taxi took the usual ninety minutes to arrive; Beckie donned pants and a silk shirt for the interview and dinner. She decided that the belt might be getting a little tight, but then: No! It’s only been a couple of months. Yeah, that’s not why your breasts are sore, right, only a couple months. She shut down that line of conversation with herself, and pulled the belt tight. It buckled where it always had. See! She giggled at her image in the mirror.

  If Dylan’s doing the cooking, dinner will be a while after they arrive, and if he and Amy are working, they won’t be ready to talk to… Lisa? Yeah, Lisa, until after dinner. Not gonna work. She picked up her phone, ready to call the girl when she heard one of the skiffs at the dock. She sat down and put her feet up.

  In minutes, Amy, followed by Beth, came through the front door and headed to the kitchen. Before Beckie could get herself moving, Boynton ushered the two women to the lanai.

  “Well, this is a surprise,” Beckie said, finding a more dignified position.

  “Maurice pointed out that you would be wasting time waiting for us before talking to that girl.” Boynton nodded as Amy continued. “And I still want to be there, since you said, you know, she’s like me.”

  “Okay. And?”

  Boynton took a step toward the table. “I have induced Miss Amy to allow me to assist Dylan preparing the dinner whilst you all talk to the lady.”

  Beckie nodded as Amy said, “I feel bad about having him make the dinner… but Dylan will work with him. I don’t know that he… that Dylan would add anything to our conversation.”

  “I was thinking the same thing, and I thank you both for coming to a reasonable compromise.” She looked around. “Where should we eat? I think the big dining room, as much as I like the lanai.”

  “Shalin offers her even larger room, which comes with the benefit of allowing her to dismiss the children after dinner. Her kitchen is almost the equal of yours; it will be more than adequate.”

  “Thanks again, Maurice. And we can be sure that, in Shalin’s home, Amy won’t be tempted to cook ‘scanty’!”

  They joined in her laughter before Beckie continued, “While you both look fine, do you want to change? The plane ought to be here in about twenty minutes.”

  Beth said she was fine, and Amy agreed. “But I’m going to meet them at the hangar. I’ll bring them over soon as they land.”

  Beckie agreed and ambled out to watch her launch the boat. On her way back to the lanai, she stopped in the kitchen to thank Boynton again. He met her with a glass of her favorite Chardonnay, accepted her thanks and shooed her out.

  A half-hour later, Beckie had not only Beth but Willie seated on the lanai with her. Millie arrived just as the plane landed; in fifteen minutes, the boat was crossing the channel and Beckie’s phone rang.

  “Shen, everything ok?”

  “It is. I took Miss Grove’s passport for tonight; we can do the immigration forms in the morning. Get her over to you sooner. Dylan likes her, but not compared to Amy.”

  “Thanks. I’ll make sure she’s in your office in the morning.”

  “I suspect there won’t be a rush.”

  “Why?”

  “I don’t want to spoil her surprise. You’ll see.”

  I wonder if he’d do that to Ian. He would have Kevin, though. Oh, well, it won’t be long.

  Amy was shepherding Dylan and a girl whose strawberry blonde hair shone in the afternoon sun. Walking beside Amy on the far side from Dylan, she was the same height and build as Amy. And in that white tank top and paisley maxi skirt, killer attractive! With the attitude she must have, if she’s intelligent to go with her looks…

  By this time, the three were inside; Boynton brought them to the lanai.

  Before Beckie could say anything in greeting, Millie squealed, “Lisa! Lisa… Lisa Grove, right? My God, you’ve grown up beautiful!”

  “I guess that cat’s out of the bag, then,” Amy said, chuckling at her mother’s discomfiture.

  “Well, no, it’s still fighting in the dark of my mind.” With a smile she was sure reeked of uncertainty, Beckie said, “I think everyone now knows your name; I’m Beckie Jamse. Welcome, and please find a seat. Except for you, Dylan; Boynton’s waiting for you at Shalin’s. You remember where it is, right? And hi, glad to see you!” They exchanged blown kisses as he left. Beckie turned and introduced the others. “Now, Ms Grove, you could tell me the story that at least Millie knows.”

  “Okay,” Lisa said. “But first, where’s Mr. Jamse? And Ms Jinet? Susan Jinet? I was hoping to see both of them.”

  Beckie took a deep breath before she said, “Ian… died six weeks ago. So…” She stopped to regroup. “Sue is around somewhere…” She looked to Beth and then Willie.

  “She and Rich are planning that escort job. We can get her in no time.”

  “Not now, but tell her they’re both invited for dessert later on. Now…” She turned back to Lisa. “… your turn.”

  “I’m really sorry to hear about Mr. Jamse… I guess you don’t remember me; I spent more time with Melissa last time. Wendy Grove is my sister; she’s going to be upset to hear about Mr. Jamse.” Lisa straightened herself and looked around. “Wendy was kidnapped about five years ago with a bunch of other girls, and Mr. Jamse and his team rescued them.”

  “Wait. Wait a second. That name…” Beckie dredged up the memories of Arizona, and working through that subterranean structure looking for thirty or more girls. “Wendy was… she got shot, didn’t she, and Millie helped her.”

  “And other girls, too,” Millie interjected.

  “Yeah. But I’m not sure I ever even saw her. Which might be why I don’t recognize—” The memory came roaring back. “You were here! Your parents spoke for all the girls.”

  Lisa nodded, smiling. “I was. But that wasn’t for any reason except that Mom and Dad couldn’t figure out what to do with twelve-year-old me. Doctor Ardan was nice; she let me help a little—when I couldn’t screw anything up. And I met Amy, but we weren’t together that much.”

  “That’s how you knew where to find us, then.” Lisa nodded. “But not why.”

  “Right. I don’t know if anyone but Mr. Jamse and Ms Jinet knew, but they came to visit us while they were trying to find clues to where Wendy was. They talked to me; Ms Jinet made me feel important, but…” She blushed and looked down at her hands. “… Mr. Jamse made me feel… like he respected me, like I was his equal.” She looked up. Beckie’s throat tightened hearing Lisa’s commitment to Ian—No different than me. Damn it to Hell. She forced herself not to rub her eye. “‘Course I wasn’t. I was crying… I told him I’d do anything to help find Wendy. He told me he couldn’t accept my help then, that I should grow up and… if I still wanted to tilt at windmills then… Wendy would remember his name.” She gave Beckie a little grin. “I guess you know I didn’t need Wendy to remember; I never forgot meeting him. And then, the people here! They were great. No one except Mom and Dad treated me like a kid… Well, Amy did, but that was okay, since we both were.” She flashed a quick grin at the girl.

  “Anyway, that was then. Mom made me wait til I turned eighteen to come here, because she couldn’t very well stop me then. Dad gave up fighting with me about asking you for… for a job helping…” The strength in her voice impressed Beckie. “… maybe three years ago. Wendy’s off at college.”

  Beckie sat back. “Wow!” She pulled her hair around in front and redid the scrunchie holding the pony tail. “Drinks all around, please, while I contemplate this woman and her story.”

  Beth and Amy took orders, then went to fill them. Beckie and Lisa stared at each other. So, five years ago, about, Ian said something th
at this girl took as an offer. Yeah, I wasn’t the only one captivated by him. She felt her lips curve into a wry grin. I knew that already; he was too good in bed. Well, does she still want that, or can we just give her a flight home?

  Lisa became more and more skittish; Beckie suspected Amy and Beth were delaying to raise the tension. I don’t know if it needs to be any higher, but as the thought passed, Lisa said, “You don’t know what to do with me, do you? I do want to tilt at windmills. I didn’t come here to steal Mr. Jamse from… anything,” she finished weakly. “I’m sorry; that was really rude and I didn’t mean it the way it sounded.” Beckie dipped her head and Willie smiled a little forgiving smile.

  “I just, I don’t want to say the wrong thing—”

  “That’s not something to worry about,” Millie said. “Here, we have a rich and storied history of saying the wrong thing… and being forgiven for it. Hang tight for a second; the girls are bringing the drinks now. Gather your thoughts.”

  Thank you, Millie! Get her to remember why she’s here, and explain it best she can.

  When everyone held their choice of refreshment, Beckie held her glass up. “To our rich and storied history… and tonight’s addenda.” She sipped her wine. “Okay, Lisa, shall we continue?”

  Before Lisa could do more than draw breath, Beckie’s phone rang with Boynton’s ring tone. She answered then listened. As she set the phone back down, she said, “We have fifteen minutes. We are to arrive at Shalin’s prepared to do justice to the finest meal Maurice has been privileged to lay on a table.” She grinned. “Maybe just me, but I sense a little hyperbole; he’s served really wonderful food. Anyway, sorry for the interruption, Lisa. Don’t worry, if you don’t finish before dinner, the evening’s clear.”