Royce

by D. Hamilton-Reed

  “Where do you need to get us?” Royce asked.

  “Jamaica, but a commercial plane is too conspicuous, we’d be spotted in a heartbeat and I don’t have enough time to get fake passports for all of you.” “Well would a boat do? We’ve got a friend that has a yacht he just bought,” Royce said.

  Jameson beamed, he smiled from ear to ear, “That’s exactly what we need,” and Royce smiled, and Jameson said, “I need you to get to Negril, Jamaica as soon as possible. I’ll leave Valerie’s number with you to call once everything is set. She’ll give you the information you need. I’ll meet you there. I’ve got lots to do or I’d stay, but moving quickly is on our side and being discreet is the only way this will work Mr. Harrington, so when you speak with your friend tell him don’t mention he spoke to you, just see if you can use his boat or if he can take you. No crew or other passengers, just you and your family. That is most important Mr. Harrington, you must follow this or your whereabouts will be compromised and we would have done all this for nothing,” he emphasized.

  “I understand,” Royce said and took out his cell phone, Jameson took it, “I don’t know what kind of people we’re dealing with so I’m not taking any chances. We’ll find a phone."

  Royce had already called Bobby and told him he wasn’t coming in, and Joy had called the school for the children, and now that Jameson had taken his phone he wondered if that had been wise. They all piled in the black SUV. Jameson drove for what felt like an eternity then he stopped at a new convenience store/gas station. There were two modern payphones on the side with credit card slots and everything.

  Royce dialed and heard the phone ringing, “Big John.” “Hey Royce,” he was all smiles on the other end Royce could tell, “What’s shaking?” “I need you to go someplace private John. Make sure no one can hear this conversation,” he could hear Big John moving around and then, “Okay shoot, tell me what’s going on you’ve got me worked up now,” and Royce told him, “I need your help. We’ve been targeted again and I need to get my family safe, man. I have too, we need to use your boat to get to Jamaica and it’s the only way to go without being noticed can you help us?”

  “You bet your ass I can, tell me when and where and I’m there, I’ll take you myself.” “Thanks man, you don’t know how much this means to us.” “To you and me both, you think I can look at Lanie knowing I let something happen to you and Joy and didn’t try to help, even if she wasn’t the woman I want to tie down and marry I’d help you anyway man, I’d help you anyway.” “Thanks bro, it means a lot, but we need to get moving as soon as you can arrange it, the sooner the better. Call me when it’s set,” Royce said and gave him the number on the payphone.

  He called Bobby next, “Bobby, it’s happened again! Joy has been targeted again, I’ve got to get her and the kids out of here. The power of attorney is in effect, use it!” “No Royce! What happened?” “The less you know the better, the company is yours now man, you run it, you take care of it.” “Oh Royce, oh man, I don’t know what to say man, this is….but don’t worry…You know the account we have for emergencies?” “Yes,” “Here take this number down and use it. I’ll make sure it’s always funded…Don’t worry man, use it…You have to do what you have to do, and that’s be safe man,” Bobby said with resolve. “But Bobby I don’t know it could be risky. I’m going to the bank after this to clear my account so don’t worry man.” “Use it, no one knows about it but you and me, use it Royce…I couldn’t do any of this if I thought you were out there hurting…If I didn’t know you were okay…I couldn’t man…Use it for me,” and he knew Bobby was crying. That was the only thing Bobby could think to help was offer money. He knew Royce was wealthy but what if his money ran out, what if he couldn’t get to it? That was the only way he thought he could help.

  “Okay man, it’ll help if things don’t work out, it’ll sure help.” Royce knew he only had so much in his account, and the rest of his money was tied up in stocks, the company and other assets and he knew he owed Jameson a boat load of money so having access to funds was a good thing now that Bobby mentioned it. He heard Bobby crying, “I love you like a brother man. This is too hard to take man,” and he wiped tears too. “I know but I have to do this man. My family's safety is the most important thing right now.” “I know man, please be careful, promise me that.” “I will,” and he had to wipe tears and as they hung up Bobby was still crying.

  Joy called her mother next and after a tearful goodbye she called Michael. Joy calling him crying said more than she realized, he knew this woman and she didn’t cry unless it was serious and he knew she would always try and do the right thing. She let him speak to the kids then she took the phone, “Thanks for understanding Michael." “Always tell the kids I love them and I’ll always be thinking of them,” he said, “And Joy.” “Yes,” “That goes for you too,” she cried, “Oh Michael, thanks for that.”

  When she hung up she walked back to the car wiping tears. Jameson drove them to the bank and they came out with checks adding up to just over a million dollars.

  “I’ll see you in Jamaica,” Jameson said, they hugged, his heart beating wildly, it was up to them now.

  The next day the blonde woman, Valerie dropped them off at the Addison airport. It was a little private airport where lots of business men hired private planes. Big John was already there, he hugged Royce so tight, then he moved to Joy, “Gosh this tears me up. The thought of someone doing that to you folks, it just tears at my heart.” “Well if I can do anything about it they won’t get us if that’s what their plan is,” Royce said determined. “You goddam right they won’t,” Big John said, and once they were loaded up and to their surprise Big John sat in the cockpit and flew them to Corpus Christi.

  Big John rented a car and drove them to the dock. They all trudged down the wooden dock with their luggage following Big John and when he stopped there in front of them was the most beautiful white yacht with a thick black stripe around it and the name painted on the back, “Lady Lanie,” and Joy smiled. Big John was totally in love with Lanie and to prove it he was working out and losing weight and was really quite handsome, but Lanie was still running from love and wouldn’t even entertain the idea of marriage.

  “This is my boat,” he said, mimicking Forest Gump, and they laughed, and trudged up the gangplank and Joy heard her before she saw her, “Joyyy, Jooooy!” Lanie came up from below deck, she ran out and Royce looked at Big John, “I had to make it legitimate. Everybody knows when I’m on this boat Lanie is with me, I bought it for her!" Royce shrugged, there was nothing he could do about it now anyway, “This way I won’t be lonely on the trip back,” Big John said still trying to justify Lanie being there.

  "Oh my god look at all of you,” she hugged and kissed all the kids then she went to Royce and hugged him so tight and almost cried, “I can’t believe what’s going on.” Royce looked at Big John, “She asked too many questions,” he joked. Lanie hit Royce on the chest, “You know I was going to pull it out of him and besides this is my sister we’ll talking about,” and Royce had to smile, “But keep it quiet Lanie, that’s all I ask, if we’re found out that wouldn’t be good that’s all,” but he felt he’d already messed up and Jameson would not be pleased with this, another person knowing and loud mouth Lanie at that.

  “Okay let’s get you settled and I'll take the car back,” Big John showed them around the beautiful yacht, it was brand new and had all of the state of the art technology, satellite TV and four staterooms, “It’s huge,” Joy said, “Anything for my Lanie,” Big John said with a huge smile, “Okay, I need to get that car back,” and he left.

  Joy opened her suitcase and laughed. Royce’s packing was a mess. She looked through what he brought and shook her head. She hadn’t bothered to open her suitcase since the night they left, but now she opened it and rummaged through her clothes and she had to admit he brought some of everything and some things she wouldn’t have brought at all and one thing he didn’t bring was a bathing suit. Acr
oss the dock were shops, restaurants, travel agencies, fishing tours and little boutiques.

  “I need to buy a swimsuit, let’s go shopping,” she said to Lanie, so while Big John was taking the car back and Royce was babysitting they walked across the street and went shopping, and it was here Joy realized the situation she was in. She had an arm load of bathing suits, sun screen, hats, flip flops, shorts, and when she went to check out she automatically reached for her credit card and then it hit her, what if someone was tracking her? Jameson had made a point of telling them not to leave a paper trail, not to use their cell phones, he’d scared the crap out of them. She didn’t have cash, Royce had forgotten to give her some and she couldn’t write a check they’d cleaned out their account, “On second thought I don’t need this, I’m sorry.” “What Joy? You do need it, you said you didn’t bring a swimsuit,” Lanie protested and Joy gave her a look, it was the be quiet look, but Lanie took it to be, “I’m in hiding look,” “You know what,” Lanie said, “I’ll take care of it, you need it and I can get it,” she whipped out her credit card, but for Joy now this was serious, how was she going to disappear and live a different life, could she do it? They were on the run and her heart fluttered in her chest.

  When she got back she took Royce by the hand, her heart beating frantically realizing what they were doing, “Baby come here,” she took him in their stateroom. She needed to feel him against her, he sat on the bed, she straddled him. “Hold me for a minute baby,” he took her in his arms and held her, “I’m scared baby, what are we going to do? How are we going to live?” She said, feeling the comfort of his body against hers, his arms around her, his scent in her nose, she held on to him. “Oh Joy, we’ll find a way. We’ll do what we have too to survive I promise you that, but I have access to money okay, don’t worry about money. We just have to be safe.” She looked at him, “We’ll be okay?” “Yes, we’ll be okay,” he smiled at her thinking, as long as I’m with you I’ll be okay.

  She told him what happened at the store, “I realized I couldn’t just whip out my credit card anymore baby.” “Oh I’m sorry baby I should have given you some money,” she smiled, “Well you owe Lanie now though.” “Oh god, I’ll never hear the end of it,” they laughed, he kissed her, “Don’t worry baby, please don’t worry. Jameson is going to make sure we’re in a safe place and then we’ll make the best of living until he finds out what going on okay.... and hopefully it won't be too long and we'll be back to our lives before you know it,” he kissed her sweet lips because she was smiling so beautifully at him. “That’s why I love you Royce, you always know how to make me feel better.”

  They heard the boat start, “Oh I guess we’re leaving,” they went out on deck. Lanie was holding Christopher and Joy thought, what a sight, she looks like she knows what she’s doing, and as soon as Lanie saw her, “Oh here’s your momma. Whew I thought you’d never come up,” they laughed. Big John was up in the control room steering and shook his head laughing. Royce laughed too, in a way he was glad Big John had fallen in love with Lanie, even though he didn’t know how. She was definitely not his type, yes she was vibrant and fun, but he liked a little more mystery and Joy was that, but he knew if Big John hadn’t fallen for Lanie he would have been enamored with Joy, and he was glad he had one less man looking at her.

  They watched the Corpus Christi marina disappear behind them and headed out into the Gulf of Mexico. It would take five days of sailing with Big John and Royce trading off, only stopping for breaks, lunch, anchoring at night and a stop for deep sea fishing. Big John had to take them on a run before they pulled into the marina in Negril and Royce went to a pay phone on the dock and called the contact number Valerie had given him and Jameson answered.

  He came right away, and they hardly recognized him. He had on a flowered beach shirt, khaki cargo shorts, flip flops, a puca shell necklace, a little gold loop earring in one ear and he was darkly tanned, his blonde hair was hanging loose and looked blonder with all the sun streaks he had in it. He looked like a down and out tourist. Royce stared at him and so did Big John and Lanie, they’d heard so much about him. “Jameson is a private investigator.” “He’s all business.” “He’ll find out what’s going on.” “We’re in good hands with him,” and then this beach bum guy shows up. He came on board and winked at them, “It’s a disguise to blend in with the locals,” he whispered. They laughed.

  Jameson was driving an old jeep and they loaded up their luggage first, and Royce rode with him to drop it off and Jameson would come back for them. After they left Big John said, “Are you sure he’s on the up and up?”

  “Royce trust him,” she’d never met the man until the night she saw him in her house cleaning up dead bodies and then he was in a suit, his hair pulled back in a blonde ponytail.

  “Hmmmm,” Big John said. They were suppose to drop them off and keep going, that was the instruction from Jameson, but when he came back for her and made room for Deon, “He’ll ride with us,” Big John said and she saw Jameson give a small smile, and hop in the driver’s seat.

  But when she got to the house it was beautiful. He’d rented a large light blue beach house, it was gorgeous, right on the beach and off to itself. Royce was already getting comfortable and unpacking their clothes when she came in, “Hey love,” he said when she walked in holding Christopher, “Hey babe, this is nice isn’t it?” It was a classic beach house with white wicker furniture, sea shells as decorations, white linen curtains billowing in the ocean breeze, “Oh yeah, I think we’ll be safe here, it’s out here all by itself. Jameson said this is our private beach.”

  Two bedrooms were downstairs and Royce was in the largest the master suite putting away clothes. The family room opened to the beach, it had large wooden doors inlaid with square panes of glass from top to bottom, the doors were open wide now letting in the breeze. Joy turned when she heard the jeep on the gravel driveway.

  Big John grabbed his and Lanie’s bags like they were here to stay awhile. And once everyone was comfortable they sat down to talk. Big John wanted to know everything.

  “I’m sorry but for your safety and for Lanie I can’t tell you. All I want you to know is they are safe and I will not leave until I know everything is okay…and also and this is the most important thing for both of you. Do not and I repeat do not tell anyone you brought them here. We don’t know who these people are, we don’t know what they’re capable of, so no casual conversations around the water cooler about dropping your sister off in Jamaica, you don’t know who they bought off. This trip never happened. The trip you took was a boating trip for the two of you to spend some time alone. However you want to spin it, just tell the same story, but Mr. and Mrs. Harrington were never on that boat, are we clear?”

  “Yes,” they agreed, and Jameson tapped his index finger on the table, “And if you happen to get a visitor trying to coerce it out of you I pray to god you are strong enough to not spill it or you put Mrs. Harrington and the little boys in jeopardy,” Joy saw Lanie and Big John’s eyes get big, “Are you thinking that?” “I don’t put anything past anyone,” and she saw Lanie eyes fill with tears, “You promise you can keep them safe?” She asked softly, “I can and I will… but I’m counting on you two to keep this quiet. I wasn’t expecting you to know so much, but you’re here and I wasn’t expecting you at all,” he nodded at Lanie, “But that’s okay it makes it more believable that your boyfriend would bring you so no worries,” and Big John smiled. He liked being called Lanie’s boyfriend.

  “And I know this is going to sound rude, but I need you to make this a quick visit, I don’t want people recognizing you and associating you together with them. Trust me it’s not to offend, it’s for your safety, if you’re recognized with them then you might as well come with us or they will find you and interrogate you. This is a dangerous thing we’re dealing with here, you need to understand that,” Jameson said and after he’d terrified and scared the hell out of them he said, “But for tonight relax, enjoy each other’s c
ompany because you won’t be seeing each other until this thing is over.” They nodded in dumfounded silence, scared to say anything, “I’ve got work to do so have fun,” he got up and left, and they were too stunned for a few moments to do anything but sit there.

  They came out of their trance when the kids came running in, “Is it okay to go to the beach now?” “Oh yeah,” Joy said, “Let’s get your swim suits.” Jameson had scared the shit out of her, not only was her life in jeopardy but the people who associated with her. The people trying to find her could hurt them to get to her, that scared her thinking of her parents, Lanie and Big John for helping them. Oh god, what have we gotten into, she thought and wiped tears as she put on the boys swimsuits.

  Somehow they managed to make a night of it though. They swam in the clear blue Caribbean water and lit the fire pit on the beach and roasted marshmallows, the kids loved that. After she bathed the kids and put them to bed the adults took bottles of beer and sat out at the beach by the fire pit. It was gorgeous at night, just like on the boat, the moon shining bright and shimmering off the water, and Joy loved hearing the sounds of waves serenely lapping in and out.

  “Joy I’m scared for you, this is bullshit!” Lanie said, “Just bullshit!” She wiped her eyes. “I’m scared to Lanie, what if something happens to you, Big John or mom and daddy? I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to any of you,” Joy said her eyes tearing up. “Royce why couldn’t you stop this? Is it that crazy ex-wife of yours?” Lanie demanded, and Royce knew they knew too much. Jameson was right this wasn’t good. He looked at her, he could see her anger from the light of the fire. “Tammy is in on this somewhere, mark my word on that! But who she's hired and how we don't know!” He said angrily, “And you are right it’s such bullshit!” He was angry, this was bullshit! He got up and walked away.

  He walked down the beach, he needed his rowing machine and sit up contraption. Right now he needed to punish his body, push it beyond its limits. He stepped out of his flip flops and started running, just running down the beach, he couldn’t see and it felt like he was cutting his feet to shreds, but he didn’t care. He ran and ran and ran, and then he heard her.