"Dinner?" I had planned on going home and eating leftovers, but I didn't feel like being alone tonight. "Sure. Just let me run up and feed Lucky. I'll meet you at Parkshore Grill. Grab an outside table, please."
Zach gave me a small smile and nodded.
At the gate, I glanced back, watching him walk away. Two over-dressed teenage girls, wearing too much makeup and stiletto heels, also turned to watch him as he passed. Their appreciative giggling trailed behind them down the sidewalk.
When had I let my guard down with him? He was dangerous, I was sure of it. But, he was now my partner in a way that Will wasn't. That made me sad and confused.
* * *
Zach cut into a rare steak. "My contact at the airport said Bernard left for Brazil early Friday morning, just got back in early this evening. I find his frequent trips there suspicious. Especially right on the heels of being investigated." He slid the chunk of meat off his fork with his teeth and chewed slowly.
"It does seem a bit suspect that he goes that often." I noticed Zach glancing at me. It felt like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure how I'd react. I chewed and swallowed a bite of salad. "Does your contact know why he goes to Brazil so often? He can't be buying snakes every time."
"No." His voice dropped. He put down his fork and met my eyes. "But he does know which hangar Bernard's private plane is in. He said there are always two thuggish-looking guys standing outside the hangar when Bernard returns. Like they're guarding something." He folded his hands on the table and leaned toward me, his voice dropping. "He gave me the code to get in the gate."
I put down my fork and stared at him. "You want to sneak into the hangar and check out his plane?"
"Don't you? There has to be something important about their trips and about what they're bringing back to need bodyguards."
I thought about it. No, I really didn't want to. It was trespassing. And illegal. We could end up in jail or worse. And the last time I decided to trespass, when I checked out the townhouse, it hadn't turned out so well.
I groaned and rubbed the space between my brows. I could feel the tension pulsing there as I tried to keep the memory of the townhouse at bay. But this time, I wasn't alone. And something had to give.
If we could find out what Bernard was up to, maybe we could figure out if he had enough motive to kill Rose. If not, we could at least cross him off the suspect list. I dropped my hands and met his gaze. "Okay. When?"
His eyes blazed and then hardened. "Finish your dinner. Then we'll take a walk."
I nodded, although I wasn't sure I could swallow another bite. I suddenly felt vulnerable. It was a new feeling. Who am I to be doing this? I'm just a girl from Savannah. I stared across the park lawn to the bay water, without really seeing it. Isn't that what I'm trying to be? Just a girl? I had denied my heritage to be normal and suddenly it felt all wrong, like I had stripped off my armor and laid down my sword, but I was going to go into battle anyway. I shook off the thought, tucking it in the back of my mind to sort out later.
When I looked up, Zach was very still, watching me.
I leaned back, away from him. "You're not trying to read my mind, are you? Because that would kinda cross a personal boundary."
He frowned. "I don't have to. Your eyes betray your thoughts... and your struggle."
I felt my face grow hot. "I've only got one thought right now. To figure out who murdered your mother and Alba Diaz, before someone else dies." I pushed my plate away and put on some false bravado. "Ready when you are."
CHAPTER THIRTY
Albert Whitted Airport had a single guard that we could see. One lone security truck sitting unoccupied in front of the airport administration office. One man cruised the area, checking to make sure everything was secure.
We took our time walking along 8th Avenue. Darkness had fallen and the air was cool. A slight breeze held the scents of salt and fuel. After we left the restaurant, I had gone up and changed into yoga pants, a t-shirt, light jacket and sneakers in case we had to do any running. Odds of that seemed pretty high.
My heart was pounding in my chest. I glanced at Zach. His jaw was clenched. Determined. Focused. Like a panther, yellow eyes gleaming. I decided I wouldn't want to run into him in the dark, and I was glad he was on my side.
The small airport stretched out on our left as a series of tan hangars behind a chain linked fence. Private planes sat parked behind them like large, silent birds waiting to be airborne. The tower lights blinked in the distance. It seemed ominously quiet for a working airport.
Zach motioned to me with a sideways jerk of his head, and I followed him through a small parking lot to a security box in front of a gate. He punched a code in the keypad. The creak of the gate startled me as it rolled open. This was it. No turning back.
We tried to act casual as we walked onto the airport grounds, but I could feel the tension speeding up our steps.
"We're looking for hanger number eleven," Zach whispered. "Should be on the end over here."
I struggled to keep up with him without breaking into a jog. My breathing was shallow. Heavens, we hadn't even talked about how we were going to get in.
Then we suddenly stopped as we both saw 'Hanger 11' painted on the side of one of the buildings. I glanced up at Zach. Now what?
"Come on." He pushed forward.
The large rolling shutter doors were clamped down tight. We jogged around to the back of the hangar. There was an office door. Zach pulled something out of his pocket and slipped it into the lock.
I grabbed his arm. "What if there's an alarm set?"
His eyes glistened in the dark. "Then we're screwed."
I heard a click and held my breath as he pushed the door open. We both stood still for a second, listening. No alarm. Thank heavens. We slipped inside, shutting the door behind us.
I couldn't believe it. We were in!
I glanced around the dark office. It was mostly bare. One small wooden desk with a few papers scattered on it, a rolling desk chair, and a file cabinet squatting in the corner. Zach crossed the small room in a few steps, pulling open the desk drawers. I went to the file cabinet and tried to do the same, but it was locked.
I suddenly got a bad feeling and second thoughts. "Zach?"
"Yeah?"
"What are we doing here? I mean, short of a recorded confession, there's no way to pin your mother's and Alba's death on Bernard even if he is the murderer."
Zach stood, thinking for a moment. Then nodding, his expression hardened. "Come on."
I sighed and followed him out of the office into the hangar, wishing I would have thought to leave Mallory a note, letting her know where I was. Just in case.
A single jet occupied the hangar. It was long and sleek with a row of oval windows. The building frame was a web of steel scaffolding above us; the walls were sheets of metal. A few skylights above allowed in enough moonlight for us to see we were alone. The air filled my lungs, warm and stifling. I peeled off my jacket and tied it around my waist.
A low whistling sound escaped Zach as we approached the plane. "This baby's a Gulfstream G650, the fastest and longest range business jet in the world. No wonder they didn't have any problem flying back and forth to Brazil for the weekend." He frowned. "Bernard Grayson's a lot richer than I thought. A lot richer than one man should be."
We walked around the front, beneath the jet to the other side. The stairs had been left in the down position. I stepped up onto them and climbed each one silently, listening for any movement in the plane. Zach followed close behind. I could feel the heat radiating off him, warming my back.
I stepped into the bowels of the cabin and glanced around. Clusters of cream colored chairs lined the wall on the right, glossy tables between them. A flat screen TV sat on a large matching counter space to the left. The cabin smelled like leather and money.
I moved deeper into the cabin. Zach suddenly grabbed my arm. His mouth pressed into my hair. "Shhh. I think I heard movement."
I tu
rned my head slightly to look up at him. He nodded to the curtain at the back of the jet. Was somebody back there? Slipping around me, he stepped in front to take the lead.
I scanned the cabin frantically for something to use as a weapon. Nothing. I stared at Zach's wide shoulders and muscular build. Surely, he could fight if he needed to? My breathing sounded too loud in my own ears. The more I tried to quiet it, the harder it was to breathe.
Oh heavens, I was beginning to hyperventilate. Sweat trickled between my shoulder blades. Something had to give or I was going to pass out. Closing my eyes, I sought out the surrounding bay waters. I was too rusty to control it. But I could use the comfort of its presence to control my fear. Make the anxiety manageable.
Feeling better, I opened my eyes and took a shuddering breath. Zach had reached the curtain. Pulling it gently to one side, he peered in. One, two heartbeats. He motioned back to me and slid it open wide enough for us to enter. I pushed forward. This part was a living area, complete with a cream colored sofa, coffee table, a wall full of kitchen equipment—microwave, coffee pot, sink. Zach pointed to another set of thick, blue curtains further back into the jet. I nodded.
He moved cautiously around the coffee table. I wasn't so cautious and smacked my knee hard. Stifling a scream, I limped behind him. His large hand gripped the curtain and he stuck his head beyond it. My heart threatened to knock right through my chest as he slid it open. I peered around him. A bedroom? My face flushed as I realized my chest was pressed up against Zach. I backed up, putting a few inches between us.
Two steps lead up to an octagon shaped bed. A sea-blue satin bedspread covered the bed. On top of it sat wooden boxes. Inside the boxes, something was moving, bumping against the walls.
"I'll give you three guesses what's in those boxes," Zach said warily.
"I only need one," I answered. "But why would they leave them in the jet?"
Suddenly we heard the horrifying sound of the hanger doors rolling open. We looked at each other, eyes wide.
Zach's jaw tightened. "To come back for them under the cover of night."
I glanced around. We were trapped. Zach pulled me up the two steps and closed the curtain behind us. We sat on the satin bedspread. The tiny bedroom morphed into a sauna.
Voices and laughter reverberated outside in the hangar.
"We can't stay in here." I motioned to the boxes on the bed behind us. "Not if they came back for those."
"You're right," Zach said. He grabbed my hand and led us back out into the living area. We glanced around frantically. "All right. Here's the plan." He turned and looked down at me. His dark eyes glowed with pinpricks of red. "You hide in the bathroom. I'm going to confront Bernard."
"What?" I shook my head. "No! You can't do that."
"I have to. This may be our only chance to get to the bottom of all this. To get to the truth."
"But if Bernard is the murderer, he's not going to just confess and let you go."
"That's a chance I'm willing to take." He rested a large palm against my damp cheek. "But I can't let you take that chance, Darwin."
"Oh no you don't." I pushed his hand away. "We're in this together. Let's go."
In hindsight, this may have been one of those times when I should have swallowed my pride.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
The surprise on Bernard's face was priceless as we appeared in the jet doorway. In any other situation, I would have appreciated the ability to surprise the bugger out of someone. Like maybe an actual surprise party.
"Hi," I said, waving.
"Jesus! What the..." He yanked the cigar from his mouth, eyes wide.
Three burly men acted immediately, reaching us in a few strides, pulling us out of the jet's cabin and down the short flight of stairs. I recognized one of them as the scar-faced guy who let us into Bernard's party.
"Hey!" I tried to pull my arm free. "You're hurting me." This apparently was thug code for "please squeeze my arm tighter".
"Well, well, well." Bernard's body stiffened as he moved his icy gaze from Zach to me. "What do we have here? Snoops." He turned to one of his guys. "Shut the door."
My mouth went dry as the guy obeyed the order. The hanger door rolled shut with a definitive boom. Scarface held Zach by the arm and pulled a gun from his waistband. My mind raced. All this violence for snakes? Why?
"You caught us red-handed," Zach said. His voice was steady and calm. His hands were clasped in front of him. "No need to get jumpy. We'll wait for the police without giving you any trouble."
"The police?" Bernard shoved one hand in the pocket of his slacks and puffed on his cigar. A mean little smile played on his mouth. He nodded to Scarface.
"Kneel," the guy grunted, pushing Zach to his knees. The guy had one hand on Zach's shoulder and the gun in the other.
"We have no need for the police. We have our own methods of dealing with trespassers."
Thug number three emerged from the plane with zip ties. Panic and anger battled within me. Anger won.
"Your own methods? Like using a poisonous snake to murder Rose Faraday and Alba Diaz?" Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Zach shaking his head, trying to stop me. But, it was too late. This was our moment to find out the truth about who murdered Rose and Alba. "All for what? Some illegal snakes?" I had no idea what Bernard's motive might be but we had come too far not to find out.
Bernard's face turned crimson. He lowered his head and stood like that for a moment. I snuck a glance sideways. Zach was sliding his hands into his pants pockets. I hoped he had a miracle in there.
Finally, Bernard lifted his head and glared at me. I shrank back. His eyes held both rage and pity. "Little girl, you have just sealed your own fate." He nodded again at Scarface.
Quick as a flash, the thug raised his arm and hit Zach in the temple with the butt of the gun. I screamed and broke free as Zach collapsed in a heap. A strong hand grabbed my hair before I could reach him. My scalp caught fire. My knees buckled. I stifled another scream as he forced me to kneel. Choking back a sob, I winced as the guy pulled the zip ties tight on me, binding my hands and feet. I glanced sideways. Zach was out cold. The guy then worked to bind Zach's hands and feet. In case he woke up I supposed. This wasn't the plan at all. Okay, so there was no plan. But, if there was, this definitely wouldn't be it.
Bernard ambled over to us. Gray cigar smoke curled around him and floated toward my face as he kneeled in front of me. My throat burned. I coughed until my eyes watered. "Why? Why did you kill them?" I managed to choke out.
"Why?" he chuckled. He ran his tongue along his top teeth as he considered me. Then he stood and crushed his cigar under his shoe. "You are a brave girl, so before you die, I will tell you what you want to know. My gift to you."
Die? Well, thanks for the heads up. "A gift card would've been fine," I said, adrenalin making me tremble as I watched Bernard disappear into the jet.
When he returned and knelt in front of me again, I scrambled back, pushing into the legs of the thug standing behind me.
"No, no," Bernard cooed, holding the snake with both hands. It curled its tail around his forearm. "This one is not poisonous."
I eyed the snake suspiciously. It was a brilliant orange with a pattern of black circles. Beady eyes were set high in its striped head. A tongue flicked the air obsessively but the rest of the snake was not very active. Then I noticed a bulge a few inches up from its tail. Ewe. It must be digesting one of those frozen rats.
I remembered what he collected. "A Brazilian rainbow boa?"
"No. A mule." A raspy laugh escaped him. The men chuckled with him.
I didn't get the joke. "I don't get it? These snakes aren't illegal." I had a sudden glimmer of hope that we hadn't stumbled into them doing anything wrong and they would let us go. Maybe they were just trying to scare us. That hope, however, died a quick death with Bernard's next words.
"No. They are not." His eyes caught mine. "But the diamonds inside of them are."
CHAPTER THIR
TY-TWO
I stared at the bulge in the snake, stunned. "Diamonds?" I croaked.
"Yes." He caressed the snake, its scales glittering in the moonlight. "These beauties help us bring the diamonds mined from the Cinta Larga Indian reservation in Brazil to the U.S."
I stared at the bulge in the snake's body and shuddered. I didn't even want to think about how they got the diamonds in there. No wonder that poor boa had a stomachache. "Stolen diamonds?"
"No, of course not," Bernard said, seemingly agitated by the accusation that he was a thief. "We buy them. But, mining in the Indian reservation is illegal, so the diamonds are sold on the black market and we pay a fraction of what they're worth."
He seemed very proud of himself. My stomach churned. "But what does this have to do with Rose Faraday? Why kill her?"
"Ah." His lips thinned. "It was unfortunate that she was such a talented psychic. When she did my reading, she saw the Indian reservation and the diamonds. I couldn't let her repeat that to anyone, even if she hadn't put it together."
"So you slipped the rattlesnake into her condo?"
"Well, no." He took a deep breath. "I didn't have a rattler on hand so I traded a few diamonds for the job and made sure I was out of town when it happened."
"Jet Jamison?" I asked.
Bernard glanced up at me and stopped stroking the snake. "Yes. My, you have been a busy girl."
Not as busy as you. "And that's why you invited Zach to your party? To see if his mother had mentioned the Indian reservation or diamonds to him?"
"Yes." He glanced over at Zach. "Too bad he didn't leave well enough alone. Seemed like a nice guy."
I didn't like the way he used past tense in reference to Zach. "Then you killed Alba because you found out she was an undercover agent?"
Crinkles appeared between his brows and his eyes clouded. "Yes. That one. She broke my heart. I bought a six carat diamond just for her. I was going to propose." His face hardened. "Stupid mistake." He stood abruptly. "No more loose ends. Take them to the office."
2 Lady Luck Runs Out Page 15