Keeper's Reach

by Carla Neggers

  But wasn’t she just as alone?

  She hated being emotionally vulnerable. Loving Mike Donovan laid all her emotions bare, exposed her in ways she never allowed with anyone else.

  She noticed a bulge in a side compartment of her suitcase. She couldn’t remember what she’d put in there. Shoes? A belt? She unzipped the compartment, then eased one hand inside. She felt metal and couldn’t imagine what it was.

  She withdrew the object and saw that it was a cross. An Irish cross, she thought. It was made out of silver but was designed to look as if someone had twisted together reeds.

  It couldn’t have been in her suitcase when she’d left England. She’d have noticed the bulk in that compartment, the weight of the silver. She’d left her suitcase in her room at her Cotswolds inn while she was at breakfast and the York dovecote. She’d locked the door, but Ted Kavanagh and Reed Cooper, both of whom had been in the pretty English village, knew how to dispatch with locks. But why would they bother? Why would they slip a cross into her bag?

  And how could she not have noticed until now?

  She’d carried her suitcase to Reed’s car and then to check-in at Heathrow. She’d picked it up at Logan. She’d carried it into the Rock Point Harbor Inn. Mike had carried it upstairs. It’d been in his truck while they’d had breakfast at Hurley’s.

  She shook her head. No. The cross hadn’t been in her suitcase. Someone had put it there since her arrival at the Plum Tree.

  Planted it.

  She’d seen for herself how easy it was to get hold of a passkey.

  “Naomi.”

  She spun around. Buddy came out of her bathroom. “It’s okay. Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you. I wanted to talk to you. You left your door unlocked.”

  No, she hadn’t.

  “I thought...” He winced. “I don’t know what I thought.”

  “Let’s go downstairs and talk. I was going to take a shower and get dressed, but I need coffee.”

  “Where were you last night?”

  “What kind of question is that?” Naomi waved a hand. “Never mind. As I recall, you drink your coffee with an inordinate amount of milk—”

  “Whole milk. Fat is back.” Buddy smiled but his eyes were on her, wary.

  “You’re not your usual devil-may-care Buddy self. Come on. Let’s go. Coffee always helps.”

  “I know it was you in England, Naomi.”

  She stared at him. “What?”

  “You pushed that Brit and then you saved him to take the pressure off you. It’s okay. I know why you did it.”

  “Tell me, Buddy. Why did I do it?”

  “Leverage. Oliver York is an art thief. But you know that. He’s wealthy, and he’s in possession of valuable stolen art. He’s working with Emma Sharpe. If that gets out, it’ll spew scandal all over the Donovans as well as the Sharpes. It would hurt Mike. It would hurt Reed. Ultimately, it would hurt you and good clients like your doctors.”

  “Buddy—damn. This is nuts.” Naomi pointed toward the door. “Let’s go talk it out, because you are as wrong as wrong can be. You spend your time digging around in cyberspace, which can be a giant garbage heap. You come up with theories and tidbits and all sorts of things, but you’ve said yourself that ninety-eight out of a hundred theories you have will be worthless. This is one of the ninety-eight.”

  He didn’t seem to hear her. “This Brit—Hambly—didn’t trip. He was attacked, and you attacked him, Naomi. I know you were there.”

  “The morning after he was attacked.”

  Buddy shook his head. “The afternoon before. When he was attacked.”

  “You’re wrong, Buddy. I don’t care. It happens. We’re friends.”

  “You always try to do the right thing, but sometimes you cross the line. I saw it in Afghanistan. Now I’m seeing it with this thief and Emma Sharpe. I don’t know if Mike’s brother realizes yet how corrupt she is—I doubt Mike does. This will blow back onto you and Reed. Your clients don’t want that kind of notoriety around them.” Buddy eased a hand into his jacket pocket. “Let me help.”

  Naomi didn’t like not being able to see his hand. “All right. Let’s go and talk about my options. A jolt of caffeine will help me make sense of this.”

  He shook his head. He didn’t budge from his position between her and the door. “I don’t want to go downstairs.”

  “Right now, Buddy, I don’t care what you want.” She pushed back her fear. She had to be herself. She would stand a chance if he tried to hit her, but she didn’t know if he had a weapon on him. “You’re making leaps in logic and drawing conclusions that are so far-fetched—”

  “Believe me, I know. It took me a while to figure out what you were up to. You’re good at what you do, and you have the best motives.” He pulled an assault knife out of his jacket. He looked almost sheepish. “I got it off Serena. Couldn’t get near a gun. I’d have grabbed a paring knife if that was all I could get.”

  “Buddy...”

  “It’s for self-defense.” He pointed the knife at the bed. “I found the cross in your suitcase, Naomi.”

  “Did you put it there?”

  “Oliver York made the cross. He sent it to Emma Sharpe. It will prove she’s a dirty agent and lead to proof that he’s a thief.” Buddy redirected his knife toward Naomi. “Reed can’t hire Mike. Mike’s too big a liability now.”

  “The cross didn’t come from me. Where did it come from, Buddy?” She heard the fear in her voice. “Agent Kavanagh was in England.”

  “He’s an FBI agent.” Buddy stepped toward her. “Kavanagh didn’t plant the cross, Naomi. You’re in a tight spot. Mike and Reed are going to find out about all your shortcuts and shenanigans. How many times did you cover up? Things went bad on your last days in Afghanistan because you screwed up.”

  She hadn’t screwed up. Buddy had manipulated her. All of them. Ted Kavanagh, Reed Cooper, Mike Donovan.

  “Don’t be afraid,” he said, moving toward her. “I would never hurt you. I would never hurt anyone. I’m just a tech guy who sees things. You must know that.”

  “What do you want me to do, Buddy?”

  “Did you find any stolen art when you were sneaking into the dovecote?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Frustrating for you. Going to all that trouble and then not finding anything. You wouldn’t get the full value for stolen art, but you’d get something. You have the contacts to pull off a private illicit sale.”

  “Why do I have the feeling we’re talking about you now?”

  “I can get you out of this. Come away with me. Today. Now. Naomi...you don’t belong with Mike. This can all work out. I have a beautiful spot in mind for us. No one will ever find us. It’s paradise.”

  He was in a fantasy world. “Buddy, put the knife away. You don’t want to hurt me by accident.”

  “You and Mike.” Buddy seemed to be seeing her and the room for the first time. “Last night. You were together. Oh, Naomi. You’re making such a mistake. I have bigger stuff going down than Mike and Reed and the rest of these guys can handle. It’s not just the productivity app.”

  “I know, Buddy. You’re the best.”

  “But I’ve always been a coward. I know that. I’m sorry. I got scared in Afghanistan. I made mistakes.”

  He hadn’t gotten scared.

  “I appreciate what you’ve done for me, Naomi,” he added, almost whining now. “Don’t think I don’t.”

  There was a knock on the door. “Naomi? It’s Ted Kavanagh. Open up.”

  “T.K.,” Naomi yelled. “Buddy’s got a knife.”

  She launched herself toward the door, away from Buddy, but he managed to slash her above her right hip. She collapsed onto the floor, and he ran, bolting to the balcony. Clutching her hip, she half crawled, half slid toward the door, but Kavanagh kicked it open and burst into the room.

  “He went out the balcony,” she said, not sure if Kavanagh could make out her words. “That lying bastard.”


  “Easy, kid.” Kavanagh sat on the floor next to her, using the heel of his hand to put pressure on her wound. “I can’t leave you.”

  She gasped, feeling the pain now. “It was Buddy in Afghanistan three years ago. He played both sides. Ours and the bad guys’.”

  “Yeah. I see that now. I trusted him. I gave him a chance when no one else would. I paved the way for him to kill people.”

  “It was Buddy in England, too. He attacked that Brit.”

  Kavanagh held her. “Try not to move. Buddy won’t get far. He doesn’t stand a chance with Reed and Mike.”

  “Mike...”

  “Yeah. You two. Damn.”

  Naomi smiled. “T.K...thank you.”

  30

  Mike went out to the parking lot and shoved his duffel bag into the back of his truck. He didn’t know how long he’d hang around but he wasn’t staying tonight. He wasn’t going to complicate Naomi’s life and she wouldn’t let him. Nothing had changed in three years. Reed could find someone else to help with her volunteer doctors.

  He looked at the line of rental cars. The Masons’ was closest. He’d start with it.

  They’d left it unlocked. He could understand. He’d left his truck unlocked.

  He popped the trunk as Colin arrived, pulling in next to him.

  “I don’t need a warrant,” Mike said as his brother climbed out of his truck.

  “No, you need a get-out-of-jail-free card.”

  “We find evidence Emma was in one of these trunks—fibers of the blanket, hair, skin, blood—”

  “I know, Mike.”

  He shut the trunk and turned to Colin. “Whoever took her didn’t happen on her. He waited for her. He ambushed her. He took the cross, either thinking it’s valuable or it’s potential leverage.”

  “Or both,” Colin said. “I’ll find out who did it and I’ll find a way to prove it.”

  “Go ahead. I don’t have to prove it. I’m not a law enforcement officer.”

  “Let’s go talk to your friends. Emma’s been in touch. Hambly was attacked. It wasn’t an accident. And Buddy Whidmore was in England this past week. He flew into Boston on Thursday.”

  “Buddy.” Mike swore. “He said he was in Nashville.”

  “What’s his relationship with Kavanagh and Cooper?” Colin asked.

  “He ingratiates himself with them.”

  “Did he ever work with Reed?”

  Mike shook his head. “Not directly that I know of. Buddy’s a tech guy who likes to move around. He works for anyone who’ll pay him. I always thought if he’d settle down, he’d do better, but he says he’s made a fortune.”

  “So why was he in London and why is he here?” Colin let the question hang. “Kevin’s on his way. We’ll sort this out.”

  Mike texted Naomi. Lock yourself in your room. Stay away from Buddy. On my way.

  He got his Glock out of its lockbox in his truck.

  He and Colin headed into the Plum Tree. Jamie Mason was behind the front desk, slumped on a high stool, holding his middle. Colin drew his weapon.

  Jamie looked up. “Buddy stabbed me. No warning. He’s got my gun.”

  “Where is he?” Colin asked.

  “Dining room. Go.” Jamie shuddered, in obvious pain. “I’ll hold on. Serena just left to pick up guys at the Portland airport.”

  Mike and Colin were already moving across the lobby. They edged into the dining room, staying out of sight. Up by the windows overlooking the water, Buddy had a nine-millimeter pistol placed against Reed’s temple.

  “This is self-defense,” Buddy said. “You can’t kill me for something I didn’t do. I’m telling you. You’ve pegged the wrong guy. It’s not me. I didn’t do anything.”

  “The hell it’s self-defense,” Reed said, his voice clear and strong. “You attacked that man in England. You didn’t care if he lived or died, did you, Buddy? You never do. Just like Afghanistan three years ago. You tipped off those guys that we were coming. You got them to turn on each other. Three died.”

  “All of them scum.”

  “You know better. You know one of them was ours. So long as you made out okay, you didn’t care who else got hurt in the process.”

  Mike leveled his Glock at Buddy, but Reed was too close. The shot was too risky. He glanced at Colin, who nodded in agreement. They needed Reed or Buddy to make a move. Right now, so long as Buddy was talking, he wasn’t shooting.

  “What are you going to do, Buddy?” Reed’s voice was calm. “Kill me? Kill us all?”

  “I’ve always been a bug on your shoe, haven’t I?”

  “It’s just you and me here. Go ahead and tell me the truth. Take credit for what you’ve done. You played us for fools, didn’t you? All of us. You figured out Kavanagh had an informant. You didn’t care. You let him get killed.”

  Buddy snorted. “He knew the risks. I didn’t kill anyone.”

  “You made it happen,” Reed said. “You didn’t just not stop it. You made it happen because our guy combined with a successful mission would expose you for double-dealing. Kavanagh’s been haunted by what happened. He hasn’t been after a ghost for the past three years. He’s been after you.”

  “I assessed the risks and took action. Isn’t that what you all do? I’m no different.”

  Mike could see the spittle on Buddy’s mouth.

  Reed stayed under control. “Yeah, you are different, Buddy. You lie, you manipulate, you play both sides.” Reed’s voice took on more urgency, as if he were about to let his anger get the better of him. “You’re a rodent, Buddy. Do you feel powerful when you manipulate us? Are you doing it for profit? Do you like the thrill of getting away with murder? All of the above?”

  “Works for me.”

  “The Brits—Martin Hambly and Oliver York?”

  “York is a criminal who’s stolen tens of millions worth of art. Hambly protects him.” Buddy kept the pistol at Reed’s temple. “I steal ten bucks at a gas station, imagine what would happen.”

  “I don’t know anything about Oliver York or an art thief. No one’s afraid of you, Buddy. You’ve piled up a lot of enemies. There’s only one of you and how many of us? You should have kept things simple.”

  “You’re not paying attention, Reed. I’m winning.”

  “But you haven’t won. Not until you’re on a beach with a bottle of rum and no one looking for you. It’s not enough to think no one will find you. Someone will.”

  “Emma Sharpe is locked up without food or water. She’ll die if anyone tries to stop me. And Naomi...” Buddy’s voice was high-pitched with emotion, tension. “She’ll bleed out if she doesn’t get help.”

  “Go, then,” Reed said, as if he were tired. “Just go, Buddy. Take a car and get out of here.”

  Mike turned to Colin. “You’ve heard enough? Reed knows we’re here. Trust me.”

  Colin nodded, and they moved together. “Buddy,” Mike called—and Reed ducked in that same instant, giving them the opening they needed. Mike and Colin both fired before Buddy could get off a shot.

  Reed was ragged, leaning forward, grabbing his knees and breathing hard when Mike got to him. “Mike, hell. Thanks.” He stood straight. “I wondered how long you two would leave me with that madman. Damn. And I always felt guilty for not liking him.”

  “I need to find Naomi.”

  Reed waved a hand. “Go. Both of you. I’m good.” He pointed at the door. “Another Donovan has arrived.”

  Kevin entered the dining room. “Naomi called 911. She used Kavanagh’s phone. She could reach it. He couldn’t and still hold on to her. She’s in her room. Ambulance is on the way.”

  * * *

  Mike took the stairs, Colin behind him. The door to Naomi’s room was ajar. They went in, and Kavanagh looked up at them, holding on tight to Naomi’s middle. “I’m doing the best I can but she needs a doctor.”

  “I’ve got her,” Mike said, taking over from Kavanagh.

  Kavanagh, Naomi’s blood on him, staggered to his feet.
“Mike, you’re a fool if you don’t grab love while you can. The kind of love she has for you doesn’t come around often, or at all for a lot of us.” He sucked in a breath and turned to Colin. “Buddy?”

  “He’s done.”

  Naomi sank into Mike. “It was Buddy in Afghanistan. Buddy at the dovecote. I hate him.”

  “He wanted to best the alpha guys,” Kavanagh said. “I’m not one myself. Maybe that’s why I fell for it.”

  “Pretty alpha there when you stopped me from bleeding to death.” Naomi winced in pain. “Go home to your ex, T.K. Repair your marriage. Make up for being a driven ass. She makes a good paycheck? Because you’re going to need it when the FBI fires you.”

  Kavanagh had tears on his cheeks. “Maybe my son will let me bunk with him. He’s a college senior. He’s already getting job offers. Another techie. He’ll make a fortune.”

  “I’m taking up sewing,” Naomi said in a hoarse whisper. “I swear.”

  Mike held her. “Easy, Naomi.”

  “The paramedics are here,” Colin said.

  Mike could hear them in the hall. “I’ll go with her—”

  “You can’t, Mike,” his brother said. “Naomi and Jamie Mason will both be in good hands.”

  Mike didn’t want to let her go, but when the paramedics entered the room, he transferred Naomi to them. He was reassured when he recognized one of them.

  When they left with her, Colin touched his shoulder. “Come on. Kevin and his guys are going to need to talk to us.”

  31

  Nobody had expected Buddy Whidmore to explode into violence. Colin could see why.

  “I never saw it coming,” Ted Kavanagh said.

  They were gathered in the kitchen at the Rock Point Harbor Inn. Kavanagh, Yank and all four Donovan brothers. Naomi MacBride was in surgery. Jamie Mason was getting stitched up. Reed Cooper and Serena Mason were with them at the hospital. Mike kept checking his phone. Colin knew his older brother was champing at the bit to get to the hospital himself.

  “I wanted to believe my guy in Afghanistan got caught in the cross fire between bad guys killing each other,” Kavanagh said, half to himself. He and Mike had both changed out of their bloody clothes. “But it was Buddy. He turned those guys on each other. I bet when we take another look at that day, we find out that Buddy made a profit. Giving those guys advance warning wasn’t just about saving his own skin. It was also about making a buck.”