The Black Feather

by Olivia Claire High

  “Thank you. I will.”

  Suzanne hurried across the room and pressed her ear to the door listening until she heard his footsteps fade away. She turned and sagged against the wooden panel. She’d have to start stuffing a sock in her mouth before she went to bed if she was going to continue waking up screaming every night

  She pushed away from the door and looked around her. The room had suddenly become very claustrophobic. Maybe a walk along the beach would help relieve some of her strain. The moon was bright enough to light the trail that led away from the inn, and she could always hold onto the railing provided to guide her.

  She dressed quickly, looking forward to be doing something physical. Aaron couldn’t object since she’d have the beach to herself this time of night. Heather must have known Aaron would be heading to cooler weather when she packed boots, warm socks, sweatshirts, jeans, and a coat with a hood.

  Suzanne arrived on the sandy beach minutes later and started walking. She kept on the alert, watching to make sure she was alone. But so far the only movement came from the waves. The wind blew harder here and it wasn’t long before her cheeks stung from the cold. She didn’t care. It felt invigorating and helped to clear the cobwebs from her brain. She shoved her hands into her pockets and headed for an outcrop of rocks further up the beach.

  She’d talked to Heather earlier and wasn’t surprised that Thad went there looking for her. According to Heather, he tried to bully his way into gaining information and insisted he wasn’t giving up trying to find her. He’d turned out to have a one-track mind like everyone else. They all wanted her father’s phones, so they could get the reward money from the mob.

  It did worry her that Thad might somehow use the colonel and Nanadoo as pawns to force Heather to tell him what he demanded, but thankfully he hadn’t. So far. Suzanne could only pray he wouldn’t change his mind and go back to the island. She confessed her worries and as usual her friend promised to help.

  Heather called them. They were all right, but expressed concern about Suzanne’s surprising disappearance. Heather delivered the apology for drugging them. She assured them things were under control by mentioning something Nanadoo had taught Suzanne when she needed to know everything was okay during her turbulent years being shuffled back and forth between her irresponsible parents.

  The words were simple and in this case probably a good thing since no one else would probably pay attention to the odd code. The message varied depending on Suzanne’s situation. The rose blooms meant everything was fine. The rose is wilting let Nanadoo know she needed to check on her goddaughter. The rose is losing its petals signified things weren’t going well and she should take Suzanne home with her. But if she said the rose won’t be picked, that indicated a problem, but she wanted to handle it on her own.

  Heather delivered the latter words to Nesta. She suggested they could give Suzanne peace of mind about their safety if they left the island for a while. They promised to go on a mini vacation to ease her fears, but pleaded to be kept informed of her wellbeing.

  Suzanne thought about so many people leaving their homes, including herself, as though they’d been shot out of a cannon like a bunch of cartoon characters who were now running all over in several different directions. The moment of amusement vanished when she remembered the ever present danger that made the fleeing necessary. The Montane brothers were wicked men without a drop of compassion between the two of them.

  Once again she felt thankful she could rely on Aaron and Heather to come to her aid. She longed to go back home to her normal life and her little house. Nothing she’d ever done before could be considered exciting, but at least she could go out to lunch without being tailed by some lunatics or enjoy a tranquil visit with her godmother and not have to end up hurting the people she loved.

  Suzanne looked up and saw twinkling stars. They reminded her of stubborn fireflies defying the night. The wind chased a few clouds across the sky. Half a dozen tiny sand crabs scurried out of her way. The waves rolled into shore dragging foamy fingers over the sand. Random droplets of water split off in a frantic little dance before swirling into the air to disappear. White lights, no more than mere dots, blinked from a ship far out to sea.

  It made Suzanne think of the cruise she’d allowed Heather to talk her into. She wished she’d never boarded that ship because then she wouldn’t have met Thad. Of course, knowing the situation now he probably would have found another way for them to connect. Suzanne knew she couldn’t blame Thad entirely for their lovemaking at her house because he told her it wasn’t a good idea. He even gave her a chance to back out; and she still grabbed him like he was the last donut in the box, and she couldn’t wait to take a bite out of him.

  Her body quivered now recalling how good it felt to have his hands on her. His manly scent. The perfect ten build. His expertise. No strings they said. Of course he didn’t want any permanent relationship with her. He just wanted to get her father’s phones and sell them to the highest bidder, and she’d made it so easy for him. How embarrassing to know she begged him to make love to her. What a fool she was.

  Suzanne reached the outcrop of rocks. She stepped behind a large boulder, grateful to be out of the wind and protected from the salt spray. She knew she would have to make her way back to the inn eventually, but it felt nice to be out on her own without having to worry about any strangers accosting her.

  She settled back, enjoying the serenity until she felt a chill creep up her spine that had nothing to do with the cold weather. Suzanne stumbled back, as a large, dark form slowly began to emerge from behind a boulder. She whirled around ready to run. But she was too late.

  A hand whipped out and grabbed her arm in an iron grip.

  Fourteen

  “Hi, honey, I’m back,” a familiar deep voice taunted in her ear. “Did you miss me?”

  Shock slowly faded to recognition. Thad! Suzanne clawed at his fingers until he moved his hand away. The wind had tousled his hair into an untidy mass. He needed a shave. Tiny lines of fatigue fanned out from either side of his eyes. His clothes were wrinkled, as though he must have slept in them for days.

  But much to her chagrin she still thought he looked very sexy; and if her pulse was any indication, her traitorous body thought so, too. Damn the man. How could his mere presence make her desire him when she knew he represented a walking, talking liar?

  Suzanne drew on her anger as the only defense she had to fight this frustrating attraction.

  “How did you find me? Do I have a tracking device in my uterus for Pete’s sake?”

  “I’m happy to see you too, babe.”

  “Well, I’m not happy to see you, and stop calling me those stupid names.”

  “So I guess that means I don’t get a hello kiss.”

  She scowled at him.

  “Not while I’m working on goodbye.”

  “Aw, didn’t you miss me even just a little bit?”

  “Yeah, about as much as I’d miss having an infectious disease,” she snapped.

  “You know, you really do need to work on your people skills.”

  “I don’t have a problem with people, just two-faced rats like you who use others for their own gain.”

  Thad scratched the stubble on one cheek. “Well, that explains a lot. What makes you think I’m in this for personal gain?”

  “I’m not going to stand here and explain the obvious. I’m trying to get over the fact that I made the biggest mistake of my life by sleeping with you.”

  Thad yanked her back when she started to walk away. “Is that what this is really all about? You’re upset because you think I took advantage of you? I gave you the chance to back out. But you wanted me just as much as I wanted you. We’re two consenting adults who happened to sleep together and enjoy it.”

  “I . . . I didn’t like it.”

  “Sure you didn’t,” he mocked. “You were there with me all the way in that bed, sweetheart.”

  Suzanne didn’t want Thad to think her su
rrendering to him was the real reason for her rejection. How could she when giving herself to him was pure pleasure rather than any sacrifice? He was right about that.

  “You used me.”

  “Like hell I did.” He let go of her arm and reined in his temper. “Do me. Now. Please. Any of that ring a bell?” he taunted, repeating the words she’d used when begging him to make love to her.

  Suzanne’s face heated with embarrassment. “I’m not talking about being used for sex. I meant that you’ve been with me just so you can get to my father. You want his phones to sell to the Montanes for the money they’ll pay you.”

  “Of all the things I expected you to say for running out on me, that sure wasn’t one of them. Where the devil did you come up with that idea? I neither want nor need their dirty money. I’m being paid very well by a legitimate party to find your father. Someone, I should add, who doesn’t have any ulterior motives to hurt him. My client wants to keep your father just as safe as I do.”

  “That’s news to me. You’ve never told me who hired you. Every time I tried to get information all I got was another evasion or more lies. Why wouldn’t I suspect you?”

  Suzanne watched him and lifted her brows, challenging him to answer her.

  “You’re right. It’s time I gave you an explanation.” He sat on a rock and patted the spot next to him.

  She shook her head.

  “Do you want to hear this or not?”

  “How do I know you aren’t getting ready to tell me more lies?”

  “Because by taking you into my confidence I’m risking losing my job. My client requested that I not share a lot of information. I’m not working alone on this, Suzanne. You’ve seen me make calls asking for assistance. Many man hours have gone into this case long before I came in contact with you.”

  “I still don’t know if I can believe you.”

  “I understand, but give me a chance. I know you want to help your father, but you can’t do that by running away. I’m the best bet you have for finding him.”

  He patted the space again.

  “If you really want answers about my involvement then you’ll hear me out.”

  Suzanne moved slowly to the rock and sat down, but refused to look at him.

  “Okay, I’m listening. But bear in mind I’ve had it with all the lies I’ve had to deal with, so you’d better make this good.”

  Thad nodded.

  “I’m an investigator for a prestigious private security firm.”

  “Is that so? What’s the name of this so-called prestigious firm?”

  “You wouldn’t know if I told you. The company prefers to operate under the media radar. We specialize in investigating cases and protecting prominent people who choose to have our services remain anonymous. Our clients have included political figures, diplomats, and movie stars, among others. The person currently responsible for paying my salary is a very wealthy man who would give every cent he has to see Caesar and Marco Montane locked away for good.”

  This finally earned him her sincere attention. Suzanne didn’t know what else he was going to say about why the client wanted the Montanes so badly, but she instinctively knew it was going to be awful.

  “What did they do to him?”

  “They kidnapped his nineteen year old daughter.

  “Why?”

  “He outbid them on a major real estate transaction. They convinced themselves that he won the contract because he exposed some of their less than legal business practices. My client didn’t, but they decided otherwise and took his daughter as a way to punish him. He paid their astronomical ransom, but instead of returning her, they sold her into sexual slavery. By the time we found her it was too late.”

  Suzanne’s eyes widened. “She . . . she died?”

  “Yes.” His voice roughed. “Murdered when she tried to escape.”

  “That poor girl! I feel so sad for her father. No wonder he wants the Montanes locked up.”

  “My client is a widower, and this was his only child. His daughter meant everything to him. Your dad would be a hero to him and more people than you can imagine if we can get those phones. He also wants to talk to Muriel.”

  An unexpected urge to protect the girl seized Suzanne. “Why? According to my dad she’s an innocent pawn and is terrified of her father. I know he’s lied about a lot of things, but I believe he’s telling the truth about Muriel. Surely your client doesn’t want to punish her for losing his daughter when Muriel is a victim herself.”

  “He doesn’t want to punish her. He wants to rescue her. He’s a good man, Suzanne. Muriel Montane was his daughter’s college roommate. She was there the night her friend was taken. She didn’t know anything about the kidnapping until it happened. Her father had his thugs rough her up to make sure she wouldn’t cooperate with the authorities. He’s a monster.”

  “My dad said as much.”

  Suzanne looked at Thad and knew she owed him an explanation for drugging his coffee and fleeing. She scraped her toe in the wet sand, gathering her courage to make her confession.

  “I left Nanadoo’s because my father called and said he was ready for me to come and get the phones. He thought you might be after them for yourself. I couldn’t take the chance that he was right and have you following me.”

  “Hence the drugged coffee.”

  “It was necessary. I felt terrible about having to drug the colonel and Nanadoo.”

  “They weren’t too thrilled about it themselves. We all felt like zombies when we finally woke up. I noticed you didn’t mention feeling guilty about slipping that crap into my cup.”

  “Well, I do now. But I didn’t at the time because I thought you were . . .”

  “A rat. Just because I don’t express my feelings the way you think I should doesn’t mean I don’t care. People show their emotions in different ways. I’m walking a fine line trying to be loyal to my client and get the job done. I’ve had to juggle that with my personal feelings for you. You got to me, Suzanne. You know that. I can’t afford to indulge myself as much as I would like until this is over. But I would have helped you if you’d given me the chance instead of running out on me.”

  She exhaled a deep sigh.

  “I’ve been so upset over all this business with Dad and he scared me even more when he said the man with my mother works for the Montane brothers.”

  Thad shook his head.

  “He’s wrong. It’s understandable that your father would suspect everyone, including me considering that I haven’t been upfront with you. The man is on the run from some very dangerous people. But just so you won’t worry, the guy with your mother works for my agency.”

  “Really? That ought to be interesting. My mother never stays with a man for very long unless she can sleep with them. This guy must be darn good in bed for her to keep him around.”

  “Our agency doesn’t encourage us to sleep with clients, but he’ll do what he has to do to protect your mother. And before you misconstrue my statement, do not for one minute think I made love to you because I felt obligated.”

  “At least you didn’t say it was just sex. My mother, on the other hand is very interested in the sexual prowess of her male companions.”

  “I’ve seen pictures of your mother. I’m sure he’s coping.”

  Suzanne’s lips thinned.

  “My mother’s had a lot of help in that department. Her little black book has the names of some very talented plastic surgeons. I guess I sound catty, but I don’t want to be like her in looks or in any other way. She has very definite ideas of what she wants; and when she sees it, she takes it. I’m more of a make it up as I go along kind of person, and most of the time I think I’m wrong.”

  “I wasn’t comparing you to her. As for you thinking you’re wrong, you’ve been doing a pretty good job of convincing yourself you’re right, or you wouldn’t keep running out on me.”

  “I haven’t always felt comfortable with my decisions. My biggest worry is who to trust, includi
ng you. You may as well know, if you don’t already that my dad called and told me he and Muriel were staying in a motel in Long Beach. But when I got there they were gone. They must have felt threatened by someone because they went out the bathroom window. There was broken glass and blood everywhere.”

  “Broken glass and blood? That doesn’t sound good. Did you tell anyone else about this motel?”

  “I called Heather and asked her and her husband Aaron to meet me there.”

  “I was afraid of that.”

  Thad swore under his breath. Suzanne immediately rushed to defend her friends.

  “I know what you’re thinking about my dad saying to keep it a secret, but we were going to need a place to hide out. Heather is my oldest and dearest friend. I thought we could stay at her parents’ beach house. They were going to set everything up for me.”

  “But that all changed when you couldn’t find your dad and Muriel.”

  “Yes. Aaron and Heather felt it would be safer to get me out of southern Cal in case whoever scared Dad away might come after me. Aaron drove me up here. He had me stay in a few other places first.”

  “I know. I’ve been following you two and sleeping in my car.”

  “You have? No wonder you look so terrible.”

  “Thanks, I needed that.”

  Suzanne gave him a sympathetic look. “Sorry.”

  He shrugged.

  “You’re entitled. I’ve seen myself in the mirror. So, I take it you’re still here because you haven’t heard from your father.”

  “That’s right; and I’m going out of my mind imagining him being somewhere slowly bleeding to death. I’ve even had nightmares about it. Aaron believes Dad will contact me again, and he insisted that I don’t tell anyone else but Heather or him what’s going on.”

  “Well, we can keep it our little secret that you told me. Now that you know how desperate the situation is I’m going to ask you not to tell Aaron or Heather if your dad calls again.”

  Suzanne had to take a few moments to mull over Thad’s suggestion. Not keeping her friends informed was going to make her feel as though she’d lost a very important link.