by Stella Bixby
“We’re not in Tampa anymore,” he said.
“Still,” I said. “I know Florida’s not that expensive.”
“How about I show you?”
“That sounds like a great idea.”
The inside of the building was a huge contrast from the outside. Where the outside looked like a run-down strip mall, the interior was warm and inviting.
The first room was a sitting area with oversized chairs, fluffy couches, and lots of throw pillows.
“This is where we meet the women. They can come day or night and speak with someone.” He opened a door labeled safe room. “This room locks from the inside.”
Inside were two sets of bunk beds—made up with lots of blankets and pillows—a couch, and a television. Abstract paintings brought color and warmth to a space that would hold scared women and children.
“It’s impenetrable,” Cedric said. “The door is bulletproof, and there are no windows. The lights are special lights that simulate the sun to help prevent depression.”
“How do they find out about this place?”
“We advertise,” he said. “But we don’t advertise our address. We have a phone number they can call, and on-call drivers pick them up. The drivers will help them quickly pack their belongings and provide protection if needed.”
He led me out of the room and back through the sitting area through two more heavy doors. “These are the living quarters,” he said.
Rows of doors on either side of the corridor indicated they could comfortably house ten families.
“Do they live here permanently?”
“It’s temporary,” he said. “Our goal is to help them get settled in the real world, far from the reaches of their abusers. We also provide legal services to help them send their abusers to jail.”
“This is fantastic,” I said.
“And expensive.”
“I bet Selena would be incredibly proud of you.”
“I am,” a woman said from behind me.
26
Cedric wrapped an arm around a beaming Selena.
“So you’re the Rylie Cedric’s been telling me about?”
I couldn’t speak. I felt like I was looking at a ghost. “But you—I thought—”
“You thought I was dead.” She smiled up at Cedric. “That was the goal.”
“You’ve been alive this whole time? But how?”
“Let’s sit down,” she said. Her cheeks were fuller than they had been in the photo from the night of the gala, she’d probably put on ten pounds or so, and she was absolutely glowing. She was also not wearing a prosthetic. Her white button-down shirt had been neatly sewn at the shoulder.
She and Cedric led me down the hall past the doors belonging to residents into an office with the name Jane Hyland.
“Jane Hyland?” I asked.
“I couldn’t exactly go by Selena Marquez, could I?”
My mind was still reeling. Desmond had been right. She was alive.
We sat in plush cream-colored chairs around a stylish wood and metal coffee table. Romantic white curtains hung to each side of to a large window that let in a bright stream of sunlight.
“Something to drink?” Selena asked.
I shook my head. “I’m okay.”
“I hope Cedric didn’t frighten you too badly when he abducted you at the airport.” She looked over at Cedric and smiled. He squeezed her hand.
“He’s just lucky I didn’t have any pepper spray on me.”
Selena and I laughed, Cedric’s eyes widened.
“You are okay, though, right?”
“Better than my car,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “What were you looking for?”
“The thing that brought you down here,” she said. “The photograph Desmond sent you.”
“The photograph of the two of you together?” I asked. “But that could have been taken any time.”
“We couldn’t risk it. When we found out he’d hired a private investigator, we knew those pictures would end up in your hands.” Selena looked at Cedric. “And if Jacob knew I was alive—”
“I think he’s changed,” I said. “He doesn’t seem like the man who used to be abusive.”
Cedric nodded. “We’ve discussed coming clean. We’re just not ready yet.”
“But Jacob is being held for your murder,” I said. “That’s not exactly fair.”
“The police know better than to hold him,” Selena said.
Understanding flooded through me. “Jacob didn’t pay them off, you did.”
“I wouldn’t call it paying them off,” she said. “More like, funding my own witness protection program.”
“If he was only being held for Desmond’s murder, then they should be releasing him at any moment,” I said.
“You don’t think he killed Desmond?” Selena said.
“One of Elodie’s guards told Rylie that Elodie killed him,” Cedric told her.
“I just can’t put together why,” I said.
“She killed him because he knew I was alive.” Selena’s eyes filled with tears. “That has to be it.”
“If he exposed you for being alive,” I said, finally understanding, “Jacob might have left her for you.”
“Not that I would have gone back to him.” She squeezed Cedric’s hand. “I don’t care how much he’s changed.”
“What about the blood, though?” I asked. “Was that all part of the cover-up? Did the police pretend they had that evidence of your death?”
“Oh no, that was my real blood,” Selena said, looking at Cedric with a wince. “Every time I went to the hospital, I had a friend of mine remove some of my blood. Cedric had it stored for future use.”
“So you’d planned this for a while then?”
“We were going to do it before she got cancer,” Cedric said. “But then she needed treatments, and those would have been harder to do under the radar.”
“Plus, when I was sick, Jacob was nicer to me.” Selena shrugged.
“But then she was healthy again,” Cedric said. “And when Jacob found out about us, he lost it.”
“The night of the gala,” I said.
Selena nodded. “I will never understand why he thought it was okay for him to have affairs, but not me.”
“Probably because he thought he gave you everything you had,” Cedric said.
“And in some ways, I guess he did,” Selena said.
“But you made investments on your own,” Cedric said.
“With your help.” Selena looked at him with so much love in her eyes, I almost felt like I needed to look away.
“What’s going on,” Cedric said, pulling a vibrating phone from his pocket. “Whoa.”
“What is it?” Selena asked, peeking over at his screen.
Cedric made some motions on his touch screen before he looked up with fire in his eyes. “We have to get you out of here.”
He stood, gently pulling Selena to her feet by her one arm. “You come too.”
Before I could figure out what was going on, we were out of the office, down the hallway, and out the back doors.
Behind the strip mall was a large grove of trees. Cedric and Selena ran through them on a small stone path that opened up to what looked like a park.
“Why are we running?” I asked, trying to keep up, my ankle still sore.
“We need to get to the garage,” Selena yelled over her shoulder as I followed behind. “I’ll explain everything once we’re inside.”
As we ran up and over a large hill, a mansion perched on the edge of a canal came into view. “Is that your house?”
“That’s where some of the millions went,” Cedric said with a smirk over his shoulder.
We reached the side of the house where a large attached garage held several black Escalades. Cedric walked up to a panel on the wall and typed in a bunch of numbers opening a high-tech key box.
“What about all the people at the shelter?” I asked as we hopped into the nearest SUV.
“It’s on lockdown,” Cedric started the car. “Anyone would be stupid to try and get in.”
“Then why didn’t we stay there?” I asked.
“We need to draw them away from Neleas,” Cedric said. “Elodie has a tracker on my phone.”
“What does Elodie have to do with this?” I asked.
“Jacob was released this morning.” Cedric hit the gas and tore down the driveway that paralleled the canal.
“Do you think he found out Selena’s alive? Do you think he’s coming after us?” I asked from the backseat.
“Not Jacob,” Cedric said. “Jacob’s dead. That’s why my phone’s going crazy.”
“Jacob’s dead?” Selena and I asked at the same time. She looked like she might pass out in the passenger’s seat.
Cedric reached out and took her hand. “From what I’ve gathered, the police know now Jacob didn’t kill Desmond.”
“So they let him go,” I said, trying to piece the puzzle together. “And Elodie killed him, didn’t she?”
“That’s what it looks like.” Cedric took a turn toward a wide-open expanse of water.
“But why?” Selena asked.
“He must have found out you’re alive,” Cedric said. “And that means you’re next.”
“Why would she need to kill Selena?” I asked.
“Because Jacob never updated his will,” Cedric said. “Selena still stands to inherit everything.”
He put the car in park as we reached a marina. “We’re going by boat. It’s the safest way to get away from her thugs.”
Cedric and Selena hopped out of the car, and I followed.
“Her thugs?” I looked around. Everything seemed peaceful—the sun was high in the sky, the smell of saltwater and boat exhaust filled the air, and seagulls squawked overhead.
I pulled off my hoodie down to a white tank top and tied my hair into a bun on top of my head.
“Elodie’s family has deep roots in the mafia,” Selena said. “I warned Jacob, but all it got me was a slap across the face. I guess he should have listened to me after all.”
Cedric lead us down a long dock to a large boat with two engines hanging off the back. “Let’s go.”
I paused. “I think I’ll just get an uber home,” I said. “It’s not like they’re after me.”
“They’re after anyone who knows I’m alive,” Selena said. “That includes you.”
“But they don’t know I know. I’m an innocent third party in all of this.”
She tossed a black life jacket at me as Cedric fired up the engines. “Put it on. Let’s go.”
27
I stood for a moment, locked in a staring contest with Selena. This was all too much. Everyone was right. I wasn’t a cop. I should have stayed in Colorado.
“Do the police know Jacob’s dead?” I asked.
“We don’t have time for questions right now,” Cedric yelled over the sound of the engines. “Are you coming or not?”
Selena pulled off the ropes that held the boat to the dock, and the boat began to back out of the slip.
“If you’re not coming, take the Escalade,” Cedric said. “They can’t track the car.”
I nodded. That’s what I’d do. I’d take it straight to the airport. I threw the lifejacket back into the boat.
I turned to run back to the car when a strange sound came from above. A tiny helicopter—or rather—a drone hovered above us.
“What’s that?” I pointed to the sky.
“Get on the boat. Now,” Cedric shouted.
I only had a split-second to react. The boat was pulling out, and the drone definitely had me on camera. They knew I knew.
I ran back down the dock and jumped onto the boat. Cedric grabbed my arm to steady me as he slammed the throttle down, and the boat lurched.
Selena handed me the life jacket again, and I put it on.
“Get down,” Cedric said. “Both of you. We don’t want it to catch you on film.”
“Why does Elodie want to kill you? Even if you’re dead, she won’t get the money. They weren’t legally married.”
“It’ll go to Jacob’s next of kin,” Selena said. “He never wanted to have a baby with me. Claimed he couldn’t have children.” There were years of hurt behind her eyes. “I guess that was another one of his lies.”
“I need to use your phone,” I yelled to Cedric over the sound of the wind and the engines.
Cedric didn’t even think twice before handing it over. I started to dial Luke’s number then remembered with gut-wrenching clarity that I’d probably dialed his number for the last time. I cleared the number and dialed the police station instead.
The drone was still tailing us as we drove entirely too fast for the canal system. Other boaters yelled, flipped us off, and pointed at the no-wake signs while holding on for dear life as our wake rocked their boats. Homeowners stood on their private docks screaming, phones to their ears, probably calling the Coast Guard.
At least in jail, we’d be safe from Elodie’s thugs, wherever they were.
“Hello? Is anyone there?” a woman’s voice said on the other line.
“Sorry,” I said, shoving a finger into my opposite ear. “It’s extremely loud where I am. Can you please connect me to Detective Bryant? It’s urgent.”
“Can I tell him who’s calling?”
“It’s Rylie Cooper,” I said.
“Luke’s friend,” she said, a smile in her voice. “I’ll put him on.”
I waited for a minute before the line connected. “Rylie? Where are you?”
“I know you were going to arrest me, but I didn’t kill Desmond.”
I thought I heard him laugh. “One of Elodie’s security staff killed him. We know.”
“No, you don’t know,” I said. “Elodie killed him. Maurice is taking the fall. Elodie killed Desmond, and she killed Jacob too.”
“Jacob was just released an hour ago. How could you possibly know he’s dead?”
I held the phone away from my mouth. “Cedric, where is Jacob?” I asked.
“She killed him at their house,” Cedric yelled without taking his eyes off the water.
“Rylie? Rylie?” Bryant yelled into the phone. “Where are you?”
“I’m on a boat. In Florida,” I said. “I can explain everything later. But you need to go to Jacob Marquez’s house right now. You’ll find his body.”
“And how do you know Elodie killed him?”
As we turned around a corner, the canal opened into what looked like the ocean. “Cedric got a message.” Behind us, another boat was coming up fast. I squinted against the sun to see a man on the bow holding a huge gun aimed right at us. “And now she’s trying to kill us too.”
Cedric looked behind us at my outburst, turned back to the controls, and gave it more gas. I didn’t know the boat could go any faster.
“If you’re in Florida, you need to call the police down there. Or the Coast Guard,” he added.
“I will,” I said. “But you need to find Elodie.”
I disconnected the call.
“Should I call the police?” I asked.
Cedric glanced back at Selena.
I looked over at her as she huddled next to me.
“I think it’s time I was found,” she said.
“Are you sure?” Cedric asked.
The boat behind us wasn’t getting any closer, but we weren’t pulling away from it either. It was only a matter of time before the man started shooting.
“Jacob’s dead,” she said. “And Elodie knows I’m alive.”
Cedric nodded then turned his attention back to the water. “Call the Coast Guard. They’re in my favorites.”
I hit the button and waited for the line to connect. Waves crashed over the side of the boat. Selena and I were soaked.
“Coast Guard, what’s your emergency?” a man asked.
“We’re—uh—out in the ocean, I think.” I looked over at Selena.
She held out a hand, and I
gladly handed her the phone. “This is Selena Marquez. We are heading into the Gulf of Mexico from Gulf Harbors toward the Anclote Key. There is a boat following us, and they are heavily armed. We have reason to suspect they intend to harm and possibly kill us.”
Her voice was much calmer than my own would have been.
“We’re in a 26-foot Twin-V catamaran. They’re in a big black speedboat with two engines on the back. If you search my name, you’ll come across a missing or deceased person file out of Colorado. I am no longer missing, but I am in danger.”
She was silent, listening. Waiting.
My heart was pounding.
“Rylie, you know how to drive a boat, right?” Cedric yelled.
“Not a boat like this,” I said. “I’ve never driven in the ocean.”
“The gulf,” Cedric corrected. “I need you to take the wheel. It’s just like a rough day on the lake.”
I managed to pull myself to my feet and made my way to the steering controls.
“Keep us between the channel markers.” He motioned to the tall wooden poles on either side of us. “If you go outside, we could get hung up on the rocks.”
I took the steering wheel.
“Don’t let up on the speed. We’re topped out and barely holding them off.”
I sucked in a breath. I could do this. It was like Antonio taught me. I just needed to watch the water around me and feel the boat’s movements, breathe, and stay out of my head.
Cedric lifted one of the seats to a storage container underneath and pulled out a large black case.
“What is that?” I yelled.
“Keep your eyes on the water,” Cedric said. “This is just a little protection. Don’t worry. I won’t fire unless they fire first.”
“The Coast Guard is on their way,” Selena said. “About five minutes out.”
“I don’t think we have five minutes,” Cedric said.
“We have to,” Selena said just as the man on the other boat opened fire.
28
“Holy shit,” I screamed. “He’s going to hit us.”
Bullets hit the water to each side, but none had hit the boat . . . yet.
“Your life vest is bulletproof,” Cedric said. “Just keep your head down.”