The Black Feather

by Olivia Claire High

Thad took their paper cups and napkins to the trash. He stood back for a moment studying Suzanne. She didn’t have to tell him she was tired. One look at the gray shadows darkening the delicate skin beneath her eyes and the slump of her shoulders told him her body was about ready to give out.

  He knew he loved her. He just hadn’t realized how deep that love went until he’d been away from her. Thad had a feeling he wouldn’t have been able to hold out much longer before he went crawling back to Suzanne. Her godmother had merely jumpstarted his return.

  He’d made it a point over the years not to need anyone. He’d had other women in his life, but only for periods of brief companionship and physical release. Suzanne made him feel a vulnerability he wouldn’t have thought possible. It overwhelmed, even unnerved him. But a great deal of pleasure was also mixed up in all these unfamiliar emotions.

  Thad walked back and settled himself on a seat next to Suzanne. He tugged her gently over to him, so her head could rest on his shoulder while he gently stroked her hair.

  “I love you, Thad. I know you don’t want me to, but I can’t help myself. Would you be willing to give us a chance together?”

  Her admission, so openly given caused a constriction to rise up and tighten his throat making it difficult for him to immediately answer her. He chose his words carefully.

  “Loving me may not be the best thing for you. But I want you to know that your love means everything to me, Suzanne.”

  She looked at him.

  “Let’s make a deal right now that neither of us will run out on each other again.”

  “I wish I could agree without reservation, but you know as well as I do sometimes there are certain circumstances, and you don’t have any choice. What happened with you is a perfect example of that.”

  “I still feel like I’m letting people down by the decisions I’ve made.”

  “No. You keep letting yourself down while building everyone else up. You’ve spent your life trying to please others so much that you don’t realize one of your greatest qualities is loyalty. I wouldn’t have left you had I put that in the right perspective, instead of being so hung up on the trust issue.”

  “Trust is important. But I saw how selfish my parents were, and I didn’t want to be like them. I guess I need to learn how to take a little more and give a little less. I also need to learn to ask you for help.”

  “Should I get that in writing?”

  “Beast!” she chuckled before a yawn escaped her. “How are you going to handle David?”

  Thad pulled her head back down to his shoulder.

  “Go to sleep now. I’ll think of something.”

  “I’m sure you will,” she murmured before letting her eyes close.

  Thad touched her cheek just enough to wake her. “We’re almost to the island, honey.”

  Suzanne moaned, sat up, and knuckled the sleep out of her eyes. She sent him a sleepy smile that melted his heart. How the hell did he ever think he’d be able to get by without having her in his life? He must have suffered from temporary insanity.

  “I’d better use the restroom. Do you think we have time for another cup of coffee?” she asked, standing up and stretching.

  “A quick one. I’ll get it.”

  “Thanks.”

  Suzanne hurried to the restroom. Thad returned by the time she used the facilities, washed her face, and combed her hair. He handed her a cup. She let the steam curl up and fill her head with its rich aroma before taking a tentative sip. He drank a few swallows before setting his cup aside.

  “We don’t have a lot of time before we dock, so let me tell you how we’re going to do this.”

  He reached into a pocket and handed her a cell phone. She clutched it to her chest.

  “Boy, am I ever glad to have this.”

  “I thought you would be. Here’s the plan. We’re going to start by renting two golf carts.”

  “Why two?”

  “You’ll follow me to your godmother’s, but stop a short distance from the house. I don’t want David to know you came with me. Leave your cart and walk the rest of the way. Give me a little time to keep them away from where Liam parks his cart. Just make sure they won’t be able to see you.”

  She nodded.

  “Got it.”

  “I want you to go immediately to where the helicopters are as soon as you have the phones. I’ve already made arrangements for you to be flown to Long Beach. Someone will meet you there.”

  “Shouldn’t I let you know as soon as I get the phones?”

  “I’d rather you wait until you’re ready to board. I want you off the island before I start back.”

  “How will you get David to leave?”

  “I’m going to tell him it’s Muriel when you call. I’ll say your father was mistaken about the phones being at the condo and now she’s sure they’re at the clinic. I’ll explain that she doesn’t want to look for them until David and I return.”

  “He’s going to be furious for what he’ll think is another wasted trip to Nanadoo’s.”

  “Getting the phones should appease him enough to go back to the clinic with me. That way I can have him arrested once we’re there and also get your mother away without any harm coming to her.”

  “Thank you. My mom makes me angry most of the time, but she’s still my mother.”

  “Don’t thank me yet. We’ve docked.”

  He took her by the hand.

  “Are you ready to do this?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be. I just hope I don’t blow up when I see David again.”

  Thad made sure Suzanne was safely buckled inside her golf cart before climbing into his own. He gave her an encouraging smile. Nerves and the possibility they could end up running into more trouble made her hands squeeze the steering wheel way too hard.

  “I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done to help me in case anything goes wrong,” she said.

  “You do everything the way we talked about and it’ll all be fine. Those phones will be in the hands of the authorities tonight, and then I’m going to take you out to a steak dinner with champagne and candlelight. You just keep reminding yourself of that. All right?”

  Suzanne nodded, took a deep, bracing breath, and started the cart. “By the way, I like my steak cooked medium rare.”

  David stared out the front windows of the condo. “Damn it! Where is your daughter?”

  Bobbett yawned, and ran fingers through her hair.

  “On a slow boat to China, apparently. I don’t know why you insisted we get here so early.”

  “I wanted to be here when she arrives. It’s not my fault her father wouldn’t tell you or me where he stashed the toy. She’ll probably want to turn the phones over to the police right away. I won’t get the bonus if I can’t personally take them to my agency. I don’t want any slip-ups.”

  “I don’t see how there can be. She shows you where those idiotic phones are, you give them to your boss, get the money, and we take off. I’d like to go to Hawaii instead of Mexico this time. You know, stay at one of those five star resorts where celebrities go. How does that sound?”

  David turned from the window. “Yeah, Hawaii. Sure. But remember, no phones. No . . .”

  “Money. I know. You’ve drilled that into my head enough times. Are you sure you won’t have to share it with Thad Novak?”

  “Not if I get the phones first. That’s another reason I needed to get here early. I don’t want your daughter thinking she has to give one of them to Novak for old time’s sake.”

  “I thought he’d be here when we arrived, since he left ahead of us.”

  “Yeah, but your daughter left before all of us. Thad had to track her down at that laundry and then try to find out what ferry she took, or however she planned to come here.”

  “Maybe she decided to swim.”

  “Very funny. I could use a cup of coffee. Why don’t you go to the kitchen and make some?”

  “Do I look like a kitchen
maid?”

  He blew out an exasperated breath.

  “For God’s sake. Can’t you ever do anything for anyone else?”

  “I came here with you, didn’t I? Don’t forget that I expect you to keep your promise to reward me.”

  David pressed his upper arm against the gun in its shoulder holster hidden beneath his jacket. The smile he gave Bobbett didn’t reach his eyes.

  “Oh don’t worry, I have a special reward in mind for you.”

  Thad made sure Suzanne stopped a few houses away before he pulled up in front of her godmother’s condo. He walked the short distance to the front door and schooled his face into a surprised expression when David flung it open.

  “What are you doing here, Hamilton? You’re supposed to be back at the clinic keeping an eye on the Conways,” he said, deliberately infusing some anger into his voice before pushing his way into the house.

  “I know, but Wendell Conway is being well looked after. Mrs. Conway got so worried about Suzanne she begged me to bring her here. Didn’t you?” he asked turning toward Bobbett.

  “What? Oh yes. I’ve been worried sick. Isn’t Suzanne with you?”

  “I thought she’d be here. Are you saying you haven’t seen her?”

  David glared at Thad.

  “We thought she was with you. Didn’t you check the laundry? You said she probably got away in their van.”

  “I did, but she wasn’t there. The driver told me he parked his van and went inside. It was missing when he came back out a few minutes later. I went directly to the dock from there and booked passage on a ferry, but I didn’t see her. She must have been on another ferry that left from a different port.”

  “Now what are we supposed to do? Does that mean you aren’t going to get that reward money?” Bobbett asked David.

  Thad sent her a puzzled look

  “What reward money?”

  David gave her a warning glare before turning back to Thad. “Suzanne must have taken a later ferry.”

  “Or she may have hired a private boat. It looks like we’ll have to wait her out.” Thad looked toward the kitchen. “Any coffee going?”

  “No, but Bobbett was just about to make a pot.”

  She started to sputter a refusal when Thad shrugged.

  “I’ll do it. You two may as well come and keep me company.”

  “It ticks me off that we have to sit around here until Suzanne decides to make an appearance,” David complained.

  “I don’t see that we have any other choice.”

  “If she ever bothers to show up,” Bobbett sniffed. “You never know what that girl is going to do. I swear she spent most of her childhood always running off.”

  Thad stopped and gave her a cold stare.

  “Maybe she wouldn’t have had to run anywhere if she’d had a reason to stay.”

  Twenty-four

  Suzanne steered her golf cart off the road and parked behind a towering hedge of oleander bushes after waving to Thad, as he drove on ahead. She wanted to make sure she’d be well hidden in the event David should happen to come this way. She looked at her watch wondering how much time to give Thad before she started for Nanadoo’s house.

  “You can’t park there.”

  Suzanne’s head immediately jerked toward the sound of the voice. An elderly woman stood in the doorway of a nearby condo pointing at the golf cart.

  “I’ll only be here a little while. I just have to get something from a house down the street and I’ll be on my way.”

  “Then park down there. This is private property.”

  “I understand that, ma’am, but I’d like your permission to leave my cart for a short time.”

  “You’re blocking the driveway.”

  Suzanne saw that the rear end of the cart was parked a couple of inches onto the area where the woman pointed. “Not enough to be a problem.”

  “I want you to leave right now,” the woman insisted, leaving the confines of her doorway.

  One moment she was heading up the slight incline toward Suzanne and the next second she was falling, crying out as her body sprawled over a loose patch of gravel. Suzanne ran forward and got down flinching as her knees pressed into the tiny pebbles. She knelt next to the moaning woman.

  “Where are you hurt?”

  “I’ve twisted my ankle,” she said, rubbing the afflicted area. “I must get back to my house.”

  She tried to stand, but cried out in pain as soon as she put weight on her foot. Suzanne pushed herself up and reached out to the woman.

  “Can you put your arm around my neck? We may be able to get you inside if we work together.”

  It took several long, agonizing minutes before Suzanne managed to get the woman settled in a chair with an ottoman to support the wounded ankle.

  “Is anyone else here?” Suzanne asked, looking around.

  “My husband is, but he’s bedridden with terminal cancer. I take care of him. I’ll call my neighbor later and let her know about my fall. She’s in town shopping right now.”

  Suzanne knew it was imperative that she get to Nanadoo’s as soon as possible, but she couldn’t justify leaving the woman without doing something to help. The poor soul wouldn’t be in this state if she hadn’t come outside to tell Suzanne to move the golf cart.

  “You’ll need some ice on that foot right away. Will you allow me to do that for you?”

  “All right. The kitchen’s behind me. There should be plenty of ice in the icemaker. I have a bottle of aspirin in the cupboard to the right of the sink. Would you mind bringing me a couple?”

  Suzanne nodded and eased the afflicted foot out of the sandal while the woman dug her fingers into the chair’s fabric. The skin surrounding the ankle was already swelling and stretching tight with a network of fragile blue veins visible beneath the aged flesh.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  Suzanne rushed into the kitchen and spotted the refrigerator before looking around for something to put the ice cubes in. She grabbed a couple of dish towels hanging on the handle to the oven door, layered them one on top of the other, and yanked open the freezer side of the fridge where she scooped up a couple of handfuls of ice. She dumped the cubes onto the towels and tied the ends together for a makeshift icepack.

  She tossed a few extra cubes of ice into a glass, filled it with water, and shook out a couple aspirins from the bottle. She glanced at the wall clock before hurrying back into the living room. The phones waited this long to be found and it looked like they’d have to wait a little while longer. Hopefully Thad would be able to keep David occupied until she could get to the colonel’s golf cart and complete her part of their mission.

  Bobbett lifted her cup in a toast to Thad.

  “You make delicious coffee.” She smiled at him over the rim of her cup. “I have a feeling you know your way around the bedroom, oops, I mean kitchen. I’d love to have you share your menu with me.”

  David glared at her and slammed his empty mug down onto the table.

  “Suzanne should have been here by now.”

  His words echoed the same worry spinning inside Thad’s head. He expected her call long before this. He had to think of a way to get David and Bobbett away from the condo, so he could check Liam’s golf cart himself. He didn’t like the idea of letting them out of his sight, but finding out what happened to Suzanne had to be his main concern at the moment. Nerves could have made her forget to let him know she had the phones. That’d be okay with him as long as she was on her way off the island.

  “Why don’t you two go down to the dock and check the ferries? I’ll stay here in case Suzanne shows up. I might even question some of the neighbors.”

  David’s eyes shifted between Thad and Bobbett. “How about you two go and I’ll stay here?”

  Thad knew he couldn’t deal with David the way the man deserved. It wouldn’t be too smart to antagonize the antagonist until the phones, Suzanne, and her mother were all safely out of his reach.

  “We’r
e back to our original clients if you’ll recall. You take care of Mrs. Conway while I take care of her daughter. Call me as soon as you find out anything and I’ll do the same. We’re going to have to assume Suzanne decided to go someplace else if she doesn’t show up here pretty damn soon.”

  “Why would she do that if the phones are here?”

  “Maybe they aren’t. Her father could be confused about that, considering how ill he’s been.”

  “I always thought the man was confused even when he was supposed to be healthy,” Bobbett said.

  David shook his head at her.

  “You’re unbelievable.”

  “Why thank you, darling.”

  “Come on,” he snapped in disgust.

  Thad waited for them to drive out of sight before he ran out of the house to Liam’s cart. Concern for Suzanne made him call the helicopter port as he went only to be told she hadn’t shown up. He shoved the phone back into his pocket and practically hurled himself around the corner to where the cart sat parked.

  He yanked up the lid to the little storage area behind the driver’s seat, tossed aside a towel, and drew in a sharp breath at the sight of the stuffed Pegasus before lifting it in his hands. Thad pulled at the rough stitching. The material tore away to reveal two phones nestled among the stuffing. Relief at finding them was brief knowing that this meant Suzanne hadn’t been here herself.

  His hands squeezed the toy for a moment. Where could she be? She’d been right behind him. How was it possible for her to get into trouble in such a short period of time? She must have run into some kind of difficulty to keep her from coming here as she intended.

  Thad started to reach for the phones when the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. His body pivoted, ready to defend himself when something hard smashed into the side of his head sending a shower of lights bursting behind his eyes.

  The toy horse slid from his hands, as his body slumped to the ground.

  The insistent pounding inside his head brought Thad to full awareness. The phones! He’d had them in his hands before pain exploded in his skull. Someone obviously was lurking by the golf cart lying in wait. Whoever did this had to be someone strong enough to drag him to where he now lay on his side, bound and gagged. Thad tested his body for range of movement. The inventory wasn’t encouraging with his hands tied behind his back, ankles bound together and tape over his mouth and eyes.