Valentine's Day is Murder

by Arnold, Carolyn

  Sara held his hand as they headed inside the resort. “I can hardly believe why we’re here. It feels like a nightmare I want to wake up from.”

  “I know exactly what you mean. We’ll start with Meredith, get some more information out of her, and go from there.”

  “We have to get him back, Sean.”

  “We will.” He felt the tightness in his jaw. There was no other option. He couldn’t imagine a time when Jimmy was no longer around.

  “THERE WAS NO ANSWER IN her room. She may be out by the pool.” The front desk clerk lowered the phone’s receiver and gestured toward a wall of windows that faced a pool, and, beyond that, the sea.

  “Thank you,” Sean said.

  “No worries.” The clerk smiled and flipped some papers over that she had been working on when they had approached her to call up to Meredith’s room.

  Tourists, clad in bathing suits in a spectrum of colors, dotted both the poolside and the beach. It had Sara wishing all she and Sean had to do was enjoy the scenery.

  The sun was beating down, the warmth all-encompassing, but thankfully, the humidity wasn’t extreme. Sara still wished to slip out of her dress to reveal the bikini she wore underneath. The thought of the rays kissing her skin was almost too much to dismiss from her mind.

  She scanned the horde of vacationers and spotted Meredith lying out on a lounge chair. She sat up as if she sensed Sara watching.

  “There she is, Sean.” Sara nudged her head toward Meredith.

  “She doesn’t look too upset, does she?”

  Sara put a hand on Sean’s shoulder. “We’re not going to assume she’s behind this.”

  He stayed put. “She’s not behind this and yet she’s new to his life and he’s never gone missing before.”

  “We promised each other on the flight that we would give her the benefit of the doubt unless something came up to convince us of her involvement.”

  “I’m starting to rethink that decision.”

  “If Jimmy trusted her—”

  “Yes, then we should too.”

  “That’s right.” Sara pressed her lips, hoping she conveyed more conviction than she felt at times—this being one of those times.

  “Sean and Sara.” Meredith leaned in to kiss Sara’s cheek. She smelled of coconut lotion and sand. Her flesh was warm to the touch. “I’m so happy to see you two. How was your flight?”

  “It was good. This is a beautiful resort.” The words came out and Sara sensed Sean’s impatience with the small talk, but if Meredith was innocent, then it would calm her nerves.

  Meredith wrapped a cover-up around herself and tied the fabric belt before sticking her hands in the pockets. “We can talk over here.” She led them to a patio table with an umbrella. It was prime real estate, but the majority were interested in sunbathing, not seeking shelter.

  A server in a black-and-white uniform came to them once they were seated. “Can I get you anything?”

  “I’d love water,” Sara said.

  “Water?” A smile lifted his mouth. “No piña colada or mojito? Come on, miss, you are in Jamaica.” His country’s flavor kissed his accent.

  It was hard to resist the temptation to have a drink, but they had to keep their heads about them if they would find Jimmy. “Water will be just fine. Sean?”

  “I’ll have the same.”

  “All right, but you will regret it.” The server slid his glance to Meredith. “And you?”

  Meredith looked at Sean and Sara. “I hope you won’t think less of me.”

  “Nonsense,” Sara said.

  “In that case, I’ll have a piña colada.”

  “I will be right back with your drinks.”

  With the server gone, Meredith leaned on the table and let out a jagged sigh. “It’s been so hard, sitting around, waiting, wondering what happened to him. My mind keeps coming up with worst-case scenarios. I hate it.”

  Sara reached for Meredith’s hand and caressed the back of it. “Unfortunately, it’s a natural reaction, given the circumstances.”

  “You know, I just thought that I may have found love, that I could trust someone again.”

  “I can assure you that Jimmy didn’t abandon you of his own free will.”

  “So, you do believe someone took him?”

  “We have no doubt of that,” Sean said.

  “Who would want to do something like that? And why here? Why now?”

  Sara’s mind ruminated on what Meredith had just said. Every one of her questions were good—ones she and Sean had as well—and they required answers. Her cop instincts made her realize that if Meredith was behind Jimmy’s disappearance somehow, the timing and location would have been ideal. Meredith would be an unlikely suspect, and acting far away from home would make her appear innocent. Or was it that simple? Did she call them to give that impression, to mislead them?

  “We will find out.” The words sliced from Sara’s throat.

  “Tell us more about last night. Was anyone watching you two?” Sean asked.

  The waiter returned with their drinks. He pointed to Meredith’s and spoke to Sara. “See how good it looks.”

  Sara didn’t need to look at it—the heavenly scent of pineapple and rum had her salivating enough. “I’m fine. Thank you.”

  “As you wish. No problem, beautiful lady.” He left them, saluting to Sara as he withdrew.

  Meredith plucked the wedge of pineapple from her glass as if she were going to eat it, but dropped it into her drink instead. “The day had been wonderful, full of adventure. To end it by dining at that fine restaurant, I was on a high. I might have said too much about letting go of the past and opening up to the future. I think I scared him off.”

  “Like we said, there’s no way he’d leave you,” Sean added.

  Meredith nodded at Sean. “I want to believe it here,” she tapped her heart and then her head, “but here I wonder.”

  “You’ve been hurt before.” Sara made the observation. There was no question enclosed. Meredith’s history was etched into her eyes.

  “I have.” She took a sip of her drink.

  Sara reached for her water, envious of Meredith’s beverage, but there would be plenty of time for that once they got Jimmy back safely.

  “Would your ex know about Jimmy?” Sean leaned forward and rolled up his three-quarter-length sleeves.

  “You mean would he come after Jimmy? I highly doubt it. He never fought for me before.”

  Sara knew where Sean was going with this. Things were different now. Jimmy had them, and they had money. “Have you heard anything? Received a ransom call?”

  “No. I would feel better if I had.”

  “You would feel better?”

  “At least I’d know he was okay, that there was a possibility of his return. Right now, it’s hard to believe—” Meredith’s chin quivered and tears beaded in her eyes.

  Sara placed a hand on her forearm. “We will get him back. That’s what we do.”

  “I know. Thank heavens. I just hope that this has nothing to do with me.”

  -

  Chapter 5

  THE EXES HAVE IT

  SEAN AND SARA LEFT THE POOLSIDE, leaving Meredith with explicit instructions to stay put. If there was going to be a ransom call, there was a good chance it would come to her at the resort.

  Sean summoned the server on their way out. “Make sure that if any calls come through for Meredith Lynch, she gets them.” Sean nodded toward Meredith, who was still at the table staring into her drink, as he slipped money into the man’s hands.

  “I will do, sa.”

  As they waited for a taxi, Sean turned to Sara. “It concerns me that she even considers Jimmy’s disappearance relates to her somehow.”

  “I know what you mean. She doesn’t think her ex would have anything to d
o with this, but at the same time I think she wonders if he does.”

  “I’ll have Adam do a full background on Meredith and her ex.”

  “It probably wouldn’t hurt to have Adam visit him either.”

  “Good idea, Sara.” Sean wiped his brow. “It’s certainly a warm place here.”

  Sara smiled. “It’s paradise. I just hope we get to enjoy it.”

  “We will, darling. And, we’ll celebrate with Jimmy.”

  She nodded. “I can’t think of doing it any other way.”

  “Well, I can.” He settled for bobbing his eyebrows, fearing that if he wrapped an arm around her, he’d melt curbside.

  “Come on, Sean, be serious.”

  He held up his hands in surrender.

  Sara pulled out a list of places Meredith had told them that she and Jimmy had visited the day before. “I think we need to start with the restaurant and go from there.”

  “That would be an excellent idea, but Meredith mentioned they’re not open until this evening. We have four hours to pass until then.” Sean gathered his scattered thoughts. “I’ll call Adam on the way back to our resort. We’ll change into something cooler and start with the charter service that took them out on a glass-bottom boat.”

  Sara didn’t respond, but she looked deep in thought.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “It’s probably nothing, but I wonder if Clara is involved somehow? We’re talking about Meredith’s ex? What if it’s Jimmy’s?”

  “No, I don’t think she has this in her.”

  “You knew her well?” Her eyes peered into his.

  “I guess I only met her a few times when they had me over for dinner.”

  “Same.”

  “You think she’s behind this?”

  “There’s that saying about a woman scorned.”

  “But they’ve been separated for years now.” He paused, searching her eyes and then the revelation struck. “You think all of this is to get to us.”

  “Why not? If whoever took Jimmy knows of his relationship with us, they’d know we’d pay anything for his safe return. Still, if that’s all this was, why hasn’t his abductor contacted us yet?”

  Sean pulled out his cell and dialed Adam. As it rang, he spoke to Sara. “The thing is, darling, it might not have anything to do with us. What about all the people he’s put away in his life? Maybe one of—Adam? It’s Sean. Sara and I need your help.”

  HE HAD A CLEAR LINE of sight from the beach. The woman was alone again, sitting at the table sipping on her fruity libation. He had his orders from the boss, but he wasn’t comfortable just yet. First of all, who were those people who had been with her? They weren’t local cops, he knew that for sure. For one, their skin was milky, and for second, he had never seen them before.

  The boss made it clear what he was supposed to do—eliminate the woman. The dead can’t speak, and if she knew anything it was best to strike sooner than later. A portion of him wondered if it was already too late.

  He pinched the colored beads around his neck as he contemplated the best way to handle this situation.

  -

  Chapter 6

  PAINTING IT GREEN

  BACK AT THEIR RESORT, Sara didn’t change, but Sean put on a shirt made out of lighter fabric and paired it with shorts before they headed out.

  The boat they were looking for was pulled up onto the beach. It had the name Ease Up painted in white on the side. A large Jamaican man held a loaded brush in his hand and was replacing the faded blue with a bright green. Next to him, a boom box blared music with a beat governed by calypso and steel drums. The reggae served as a cruel notice, cementing the fact they weren’t here to enjoy the island.

  “Hello?” Sara called out to him.

  No response.

  Sean tapped the man’s shoulder. His arm jolted upward, sending speckles of paint flying through the air. The man put a hand over his heart. Despite the scare, as his eyes took in Sara, a grin lit his face.

  He dropped the brush in the bucket, took Sara’s hand in his and kissed it. “You are beautiful. Want to go out on my boat?”

  “Hold it, big fella,” Sean interjected. “She’s my wife.”

  “Who-ee.” The Jamaican let out a catcall. “You are one lucky man.”

  “I know it.” Sean smiled at Sara and her insides fluttered. “We have to ask you some questions.” Sean’s hand reached for the volume knob, but he pulled back when the big man yanked on his shoulder.

  “Don’t touch my music, mon.” He took a cloth that was hanging out of his pants pocket and wiped his hands.

  Sara rubbed hers together, now fully aware that his were not clean when he held hers.

  “We have a friend who went out on your boat yesterday.” Sean pulled out his phone to show the man a picture of Jimmy. “Do you recognize him?”

  “Nice phone.”

  Sean had done what he desperately hadn’t wanted to do—he’d shown wealth. Unfortunately, in this case, there wasn’t an alternative. “Please, does he look familiar?”

  “Yes. What about him?”

  “He’s a friend of ours.”

  “Oh.” The man’s eyes revealed confusion.

  “He’s missing,” Sean elaborated.

  “He went missing with us?” Amusement touched his features.

  “He went missing last night,” Sara pitched in. “It’s really important that we find him.”

  The Jamaican rubbed his fingertips together to indicate cash. “How important?”

  “Priceless.” Sean’s single word stamped the air.

  “Sadly, I don’t know anything.”

  Sara didn’t realize how much hope she had hinged on his inquiry for payment. She assumed that by asking such, he had information to provide. The realization they were no further ahead deflated her spirit. Still, she studied the man. What would he gain from being involved with Jimmy’s disappearance? Was it possible he was hiding behind lies?

  While it was true they didn’t know the man, he didn’t seem to recognize them either. It was possible she and Sean were looking at this from the wrong standpoint. There had been no ransom call, no request for money. Whoever had Jimmy could have him for another purpose.

  “We’d like you to take us where you took our friend,” Sean said.

  “I never took your friend. I swear to you.”

  “I meant where you took him on the boat.”

  “No can do today.” He pulled out his brush and, as he did, Sara noticed how the paint had congealed and created a layer of skin on its surface.

  “It must be hard work at this time of day.” Sara referred to the paint. She caught Sean’s eyes and was pretty certain he read her mind.

  Why was he painting in the heat of the day when he could be making money off the tourists? Why not do so before sunrise? Did his choice to do so now somehow involve Jimmy?

  -

  Chapter 7

  VISITING THE PAST

  SEAN AND SARA SAT AT a small table on their room balcony, where they had Adam on speaker. The sea breeze wrestled the curtains in the room behind them.

  “Lay everything out to us.” Sean took a draw on his orange juice.

  “Meredith Lynch was married before. You knew that, but what you didn’t know is Kevin Lynch has a history.”

  “A history of what?” Sara asked.

  “A criminal history.”

  Sara traced her finger along her breastbone—the tip of it and the movement cooled her skin.

  Adam continued. “He served time when he was nineteen for stealing alcohol from a variety store.”

  “A real winner.”

  “Not really.”

  Sean and Sara smiled at each other for Adam’s literal response to a sarcastic statement.

  “He didn’t get much time for it
. A fine and some community service.”

  “Still it proves he doesn’t respect the law. He likes to make his own rules,” Sean said.

  “Has she received a ransom call yet?” Adam asked.

  “No.”

  “If Jimmy was taken for that purpose, typically someone calls within twenty-four hours. There is still time.”

  Sean passed a knowing smile at Sara. “We are aware of that.”

  “Yeah, of course, you are. Actually, do either of you know why we term them kidnappers even in the case of it being an abducted adult? I mean why not adult-nappers or something similar?”

  “To me adult-nappers sounds like older people who take naps.” Sara shrugged.

  “Adam, back on point.” Sean’s amusement likely traveled across the line.

  Sara did her best to conceal her snicker.

  “Since that mess on his record, he’s been pretty clean. He holds a steady job and has shared an address with a woman for the past year.”

  “Did you look into her?”

  There were a few seconds of silence. “Do you really need to ask? I’m almost offended.”

  “Well, check your bruised ego. Give it to us, Adam.”

  “She hasn’t even received a speeding ticket. Nothing stands out about her at all.”

  “What about relationships she was in prior?” Sara asked, bobbing her head side to side when Sean gave her a questioning look. “It’s possible that it can go back a ways. We have to check out everything.”

  “I can look into that, Sara.”

  “Before you get on with that, I want you to visit Jimmy’s ex,” Sean said.

  “Oh, that doesn’t sound like fun. I’m much better with computers than people.”

  “Nonsense. All you have to do is get a feel for her. See if she’s acting suspicious or anything. I take it you looked into her background too?”

  “I hadn’t…I…it didn’t enter my mind, I guess.”

  “We need to eliminate all the potential culprits that would either be jealous of Jimmy’s friendship with us or out for revenge.”