by Cindy Bell
“To be honest there was one thing that I was a little unsettled by when I reviewed the case in class,” she said softly. “I dismissed it at the time because my teacher didn't seem to think it was of any interest.”
“What was it?” Mary asked, and Suzie looked at Dr. Rose eagerly.
“Not to be too graphic,” Dr. Rose warned, “but in most suicides that are jumpers, the person lands with the body towards the ground,” she explained. “Alexandria was found face up in the water. It was assumed that she had flipped over as she fell, which is a little unusual from that height, she didn't have much time between leaving the cliff, and hitting the rocks and water to do a full somersault.”
“So, then it's possible that someone pushed her?” Suzie asked her eyes wide.
“Not really,” Dr. Rose explained. “When someone is pushed, there's usually evidence of it. Either there will be scuffing in the dirt or sand above the cliff, or the person who is pushed will have some torn clothing. Sometimes they are found in a defensive position, like with their hands over their face to shield themselves. Jumpers don't often do that. They know they are falling.”
“Alexandria displayed none of that?” Mary asked with a frown.
“No, she didn't have any defensive wounds, the only tearing in her clothing was consistent with her falling, and there were no scuff marks on the cliff. She seemed to have just jumped right off the edge, with no hesitation,” she pursed her lips briefly before putting the file back into the filing cabinet. “A very sad case.”
“Thank you for your help,” Suzie said quietly. “Did you know Alexandria?”
“No, I didn't,” Dr. Rose shook her head. “I went to school in the next town over, they just used her case file in my class. I was hired here right out of school, and have been here ever since. I have heard a few stories about Alexandria and seen some of her artwork around town. She was very talented.”
“I think so, too,” Suzie agreed. “I just wish I could understand what really happened to her.”
“You still don't think it was a suicide?” Dr. Rose asked skeptically.
“No,” Suzie answered honestly. “I don't.”
“Hmm, well if you discover anything, let me know,” Dr. Rose nodded. “I'll help you anyway I can.”
“Thanks,” Suzie said as she and Mary walked towards the door.
“If you see Jason before I do tell him I said hello,” Dr. Rose added just as Suzie was opening the door.
“Absolutely,” Suzie agreed and stepped the rest of the way out the door.
“Looks like you might not be the only Allen headed for romance,” Mary teased as they reached the car.
“That's it!” Suzie declared with humor in her sharp voice. “No more romances for you. I forbid it!”
“I can read what I please,” Mary said with a playful huff. As they drove away from the morgue, Mary spoke softly. “Do you really think it was murder?”
“I do,” Suzie said with a sigh. “I can't explain exactly why, but I do.”
“Well, in that case we need to be very careful. If Al and George were involved in one murder, they likely wouldn't be opposed to being involved in another.”
Mary's words hung heavy in the car. When they pulled up to the docks, Suzie sighed as she put the car in park.
“Puts a little damper on our adventure, doesn't it?” she asked.
“Just a little,” Mary agreed. “Why don't you wait here for Paul while I go grab the map?” she suggested. Suzie knew it was a ruse to give her some alone time with Paul, but she didn't complain. She wanted to sort through her thoughts a bit before they embarked on their journey.
“Sounds good,” she agreed and handed the keys over.
Chapter Six
Suzie stepped out onto the dock. There wasn't a trace of the storm from the day before. The water was calm. She stood on the dock and looked out at the water. The beautiful sky that spread out before her was not a reflection of what she was feeling inside. The only thing she was looking forward to about the trip was seeing Paul again. Her heart fluttered a little with the thought of it. She didn't have long to wait as his car pulled up a few minutes later.
“Hi Suzie,” he smiled at her as he walked up the docks. But his smile faded when he saw her expression. “Are you doing okay? The weather is clear if that's what you're worried about,” he added.
For just a minute she considered telling him what she had experienced, and her theory about Al and George. But as she stared into his gray gaze, she found herself worried about what he would think of her suspicions. Would he think she was creating wild ideas?
“I'm okay,” she finally responded. “I just hope that we're able to find something today.”
“We might just find it, with this,” Mary said as she hurried up to them with the map in her hand.
“Are you ready for this?” Mary asked as she looked over at Suzie.
Paul was still studying Suzie curiously. Suzie got the feeling that he did not believe what she had said.
“I think so,” Suzie sighed as she straightened the collar of her blouse. “Are you?” she asked with some concern.
“If it means finding the truth about Alexandria, then I'm more than ready,” Mary said with confidence.
“What do you mean the truth about Alexandria?” Paul asked quizzically as he led them on to his boat.
“Never mind,” Suzie waved her hand. “Let's just see where the day leads.”
Paul nodded and started the engine of the boat. The water lapped at the boat, rocking it softly. Paul was carefully steering it through the water, but the weather was clear, and the sky did not have a cloud in sight. The memory of her dream flooded Suzie's mind. As she waited for the moment of fear to pass, Suzie clutched tightly to the metal railing that lined the boat. She glanced over at Mary, who seemed to have forgotten about her aversion to boats. She had her face upturned to the wind. Her lips were spread wide with a smile. Suzie admired that carefree expression. It was not what she expected from Mary considering her previous fear of boats. Now she seemed very relaxed and comfortable. It seemed to Suzie that Mary had become more trusting of Paul than even she was.
“Are you ladies doing okay?” Paul called back over his shoulder.
“Wonderful,” Mary replied, her face still turned into the wind.
Suzie couldn't bring herself to speak, she was afraid anything she said might sound foolish.
“Suzie?” Paul asked and looked over at her with growing concern. “Are you all right?”
“Sure, I'm fine,” she replied her voice wavering slightly.
“You don't seem fine, you don't seem like yourself at all,” Paul said with a frown. “Come over here and join me,” he suggested as he looked out across the water again. The boat was skimming the coast as he headed for the inlet he thought the map indicated. Suzie took a deep breath and began to walk along the railing. When she passed by Mary, Mary gave her a light wink.
“It's going to be fine,” she whispered to Suzie, but Suzie was already lost in the sight of the water spreading out before her. It was both frightening and soothing which left her feeling quite confused.
“Here you go,” Paul said as he reached out and gently took her hand. Suzie glanced up at him when their hands touched and he smiled warmly at her. “I think you just need to see the water from my point of view,” he suggested.
“What do you mean?” Suzie asked as she stepped closer to him. He guided her right in front of him. Then he lifted her hands to the steering wheel of the boat. She felt the subtle vibration beneath her hands and looked out across the water. Paul's hands rested on her wrists a moment longer, and then fell to the wheel on either side of her grasp.
“Look,” he murmured as he tilted his head towards the horizon. “Isn't it beautiful?”
Suzie found herself smiling as she looked out across the water. The view seemed to be endless, as the water eventually blended into the sky. It really was quite beautiful. There wasn't a wild tornado in sight. Suzie
felt more in control standing at the helm, and she began to slowly relax. Despite the fact that she was feeling calmer, her heart was still racing. She knew that was only because Paul was standing so close.
“Is it far?” she asked over the sound of the engine.
“Not too much further,” Paul replied.
“Are you sure it's the right place?” Mary asked. She was still leaning against the railing with her face turned into the wind that the movement of the boat created.
“I would bet my boat on it,” Paul said with a glimmer of humor in his voice. “I know these parts pretty well, and that's one area that not too many people go to. If I was going to hide treasure, I'd hide it there.”
“Do you think it's treasure?” Suzie asked and narrowed her eyes. “I mean, it could be anything. We have no idea what we might find.”
“That's true,” Paul agreed as he steered the boat a little closer to the coastline. “But that's what makes things so interesting. Don't you think? The not knowing?” his voice brushed just beside Suzie's ear, causing her to be lulled by the rhythm of it.
Suzie glanced up at him, and locked her eyes briefly with Paul's. She studied him intently before looking away.
“I suppose it is,” she replied with a faint smile.
“Hold on, we might have a new mission,” Paul said with a grim frown as he spotted something in the water.
“What are you doing?” Suzie asked as Paul steered the boat away from the coast.
“There are some stranded boaters,” he explained as he peered out over the water. “We have to pick them up.”
“Oh wow, a real life water rescue,” Mary said with a grin. Suzie couldn't smile. She knew that Paul was doing the right thing, but it felt very wrong.
“I'm sure it won't be much of a rescue,” Paul explained as he pointed to a small row boat in the middle of the water. “It's more likely to be a couple of tourists that weren't prepared for going out on the water. Sometimes they get too far from shore and can't find their way back.”
“Can you see who is in the boat?” Suzie asked nervously as she instinctively tucked the map under her shirt.
“Looks like two guys,” Paul said mildly. “Sorry for the interruption, but once we get them to shore we can go right back to our treasure hunt.”
“Oh, it's no problem,” Suzie assured him as Mary walked up to join them. Suzie was trying to get a look at who was on the boat.
“I hope they haven't been stranded for too long,” Mary said with a frown.
“Ahoy there!” Paul shouted as he drew close to the small boat. “Need a lift back to shore?” he offered.
The two men were wearing sweatshirts with hoods pulled forward enough to disguise their faces. But Suzie noticed that one was broad and big like a bear, while the other was skinny like a pole.
Suzie’s heart flipped. She opened her mouth to say something, but Paul had already pulled them on board.
“No, no,” she muttered as she backed away from the two men.
“Suzie, what's wrong?” Mary asked with concern when she noticed Suzie backing away.
“Thanks for the lift,” the tall, thin man, Al, said as he pulled back his hood to reveal the plain black baseball cap that he was wearing.
“We'll take it from here,” George said gruffly as he glared at Paul.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Paul asked his bushy eyebrows furrowing as he studied the two men.
“Paul, be careful,” Suzie hissed as her heart raced.
“Are these the two men?” Mary asked Suzie in a whisper.
“It means, that this boat and everything on it, now belongs to us,” George said sternly.
“Pirates?” Paul demanded as he moved between the two men and Suzie and Mary. “You boys are really out here playing pirates?”
“I'm sorry, I don't see any boys around here,” Al said and gritted his teeth. “But George does have a little friend,” he tilted his head towards George.
George held up a gun, and pointed it at each of them in turn. “No one has to get hurt,” he said roughly. “But this isn't a game.” Suzie instinctively looked at her cell phone that was on a bench next to Mary’s and Al must have noticed because he swiftly picked the phones up and threw them overboard.
Suzie felt Mary's fingernails digging into her arm as she clung to her. She knew that Mary was terrified. Suzie was pretty frightened herself. But Paul stood his ground, his hands in fists at his sides.
“This is ridiculous, there's nothing on this boat that you could possibly want,” he argued as he looked at the men. “I don't know what you two were planning but I think you must have your wires crossed, and are after the wrong boat.”
“Oh, we're on the right boat all right. Aren't we, Suzie?” Al asked as he looked over at her. “When we found out you bought that painting, we thought it would be simple. We'd rent a room and take the painting. But you ruined that, didn't you?” he asked.
Suzie was silent as she looked at the two men.
“So, now we're going to take what's ours,” George said and reached out for the steering wheel. “Where's the map?” he demanded.
“Suzie, do you know these men?” Paul asked, obviously trying to catch up.
“We don't have the map,” Suzie said sternly. “We're just out for a boating trip for the day. I don't know what map you could possibly be talking about.”
Al stared at her for a long moment. Then he took a step forward, still glaring at her with those cruel eyes.
“Oh, you know about the map, and I know this is no pleasure cruise, you're out here to find the money. But it's mine, not yours,” he said sharply.
“There is no map,” Suzie said through gritted teeth.
“Just keep going where you were heading, Captain,” George said sternly. “No need for chit chat.”
Paul met Suzie's eyes briefly and then turned back to look out over the water. He started the boat once more and began steering it in the same direction.
Mary and Suzie stood close together at the back of the boat. Suzie's stomach was churning with guilt. She wondered if she had told Paul about the two men, if he would have hesitated before picking up the stranded boaters. Maybe if she had just been honest she could have prevented the situation. Now, everyone was in danger and she couldn't help but feel it was all because of her. It wasn't long before Paul cut the engine on the boat. They were beside a small dock that jutted out from a private beach.
“This is it,” he said quietly.
“Out, everybody,” Al snapped and pointed to the dock. “One at a time, and no funny business,” he warned. “We are armed.”
Mary shuddered as she grasped Suzie's hand and squeezed it. Suzie tried to give her a look of reassurance but she was sure there was terror in her eyes. Carefully Suzie climbed up onto the dock. She turned back to help Mary onto the dock behind her. Paul climbed up after them followed swiftly by Al and George.
“Keep moving,” Al said with a growl. “If you don't take us where we want to go you're going to pay the price,” he promised them all.
“Look there's no need for this,” Paul said gruffly as he turned to face the two men. “Why don't you just let the ladies go, and we'll handle this like men.”
“Oh, you want to handle this?” George asked as he waved a gun in Paul's direction. The sight of the weapon was enough to silence Paul, who swallowed thickly and turned to begin walking once more. George hung back to walk behind them while Al walked beside Paul.
Suzie walked across the sand, attempting to keep her legs from buckling. Just knowing that George was walking behind her with a gun in his hand was enough to make her weak with fear. She knew she had to be strong, not just for herself but for Mary and Paul, but her heart was pounding so hard she was sure it would burst.
“Here,” Paul said roughly as he suddenly stopped on the sand. “It's close to here.”
“Where is it exactly?” Al demanded as he glared at Paul.
“I'm not going to tell you that,” Pa
ul said bravely as he turned to face them.
“Are you crazy?” Al demanded and signaled to George to step closer to him. “If you don't, George is going to make you wish you never woke up this morning,” Al warned.
“I'm not going to tell you until you guarantee me that Suzie and Mary will be safe,” he finished with certainty. “I'm not going to take you the rest of the way unless I know that they are not going to be harmed.”
“Do you really think we're going to let them go?” Al asked as he stepped closer to Paul. “You're nuts. I know that the only reason you're being so compliant is because they are here.”
“Then we're at an impasse, because I'm not taking another step until they're safe,” he said sternly and folded his arms across his chest. Suzie stared at him with amazement, that he could be so brave in their situation, but her stomach was in knots as she anticipated what might happen.
“Tell you what,” Al said thoughtfully. “I'll let one of them go, just to be nice,” he smirked as he looked at Paul.
Paul glanced over at Suzie and Mary. Suzie could see the fear in his eyes.
“Just one,” Al reminded him. “For your complete cooperation. Understand?” he asked.
“Yes,” Paul breathed out.
Mary tightened her grasp on Suzie's hand. Suzie tried not to show any fear as Al began walking towards them.
“All right, the blonde can go,” Al said with a shrug. Mary let go of Suzie's hand. Suzie stared at Al with pure animosity.
“I'm not going anywhere,” she said sternly. “Mary should go.”
“You don't get to decide,” Al snapped and drew back his hand as if he might strike her. “This is not up for a vote. You’re going. You, I don't trust,” he narrowed his eyes at her.
“Mary has a health condition,” Suzie said quickly, her heart racing. She couldn't leave Mary behind. She had two children, she had many people that depended on her. Suzie on the other hand, didn't think too many people would miss her. “If she's without her medicine much longer, she'll pass out, and you'll have to carry her…”