The Black Feather

by Olivia Claire High

  “Okay.” She started to walk away, but stopped and slapped a hand against her forehead. “I forgot to tell you with so much going on. I found another black feather inside my toy horse before I saw you.”

  They both turned to David when he hissed out a noisy breath. Bobbett wrinkled her nose.

  “What’s going on with the black feathers? Are there birds molting all over the place or something?”

  “Have you seen a black feather yourself, Mrs. Conway?”Thad asked in a polite voice.

  She answered, despite David’s warning glare.

  “We found one on the driver’s seat in our rental car in Cabo and another one in our hotel room. Why do you ask?”

  He looked at David.

  “I take it you know what the black feather means and who sent it?”

  “Yeah, but I thought it best not to say anything and upset Bobbie.” He looked at Suzanne. “You never told me you’ve seen them, too.”

  “Would someone please tell me what you’re talking about?”

  “It’s the Montanes way of saying they’re watching us, Mother.”

  “You already know that, so why are you all acting so weird?”

  David whirled to face her.

  “Because it means something bad is going to happen when they leave a feather. We’ve got to get those phones.”

  “That’s what we’re trying to do,” Thad reminded him.

  “Not by sitting here, we’re not.”

  Suzanne looked at Thad.

  “I’ve been thinking what you said about Nanadoo possibly giving a key to a longtime delivery person. The only one I can think of is the water guy. They’ve been having bottled water delivered to the house for years.”

  “Then we need to find out more about him.”

  “You take care of that, Novak while I go with Suzanne to question the neighbors.”

  “No offense, but I think I’ll have better luck on my own. The people here know me. They may feel a little intimidated by you.”

  “She has a valid point,” Thad remarked. “You do seem a little agitated.”

  “Hell yes I’m agitated, and so should you two be.”

  David faced Suzanne. “I’m going to feel a lot less agitated if you find out something useful and bother to tell me.”

  She heard his veiled warning and had to stop herself before the words she really wanted to say popped out of her mouth. Once again, the insult of having to stand there facing a man she knew to be a traitor implying that she might be one too, poked at her like a sharp barb.

  The gall that he could demand she help him when he was secretly planning to give the phones away made her fingers itch to slap him. Indignation warred inside her fighting a battle with her anger making her answer him in a cold, clipped voice.

  “I’ll give you all the information you deserve,” she said and stormed out of the house.

  Suzanne stopped on the porch and took a couple deep breaths trying to calm down. She couldn’t very well go to the neighbors looking like she was going to attack them. David deserved to be the recipient of bodily harm right now. She didn’t care what the Montanes did to him. He hadn’t earned the right to any leniency for being so money hungry and especially for being a would-be murderer.

  Of course, now that the phones were gone, whoever took them may have already delivered them to the Montane brothers and David would be out the money anyway. Questioning the neighbors could be a waste of time, but Suzanne wanted to do everything she could before she faced her father again.

  She started down the steps slowly inhaling more breaths and felt in better control by the time she arrived at Mrs. Neal’s condo. She rang the doorbell three times before the woman answered.

  “Hello, Mrs. Neal. Remember me, Suzanne Conway, Nesta’s goddaughter?”

  “Why yes. How nice to see you, but I’m sorry to say you’ve missed them. They’re on vacation.”

  Yes, I know. I was wondering if you . . .”

  “Why don’t you come in, dear? I have cookies in the oven, and I wouldn’t want them to burn.”

  She walked away leaving Suzanne to close the door and follow her to the kitchen. Suzanne watched her shove her hand into a mitt before opening the oven door to take out a baking sheet.

  She frowned at the cookies. “I guess they need to stay in a bit longer. I forgot to set the timer.”

  Suzanne looked and saw that the cookies hadn’t baked at all. A quick peek at the stove told her the timer wasn’t the only thing Mildred had forgotten to set. No heat came from the oven. She glanced at the recipe card on the counter and turned the dial to the correct temperature while Mildred’s back was turned.

  “Why don’t you wait a bit longer? The oven may not have preheated enough?”

  “You’re probably right. I think there must be something wrong with it. I swear, sometimes things bake just fine and other times I can’t get it to work at all. Would you like a cup of tea?”

  “No thank you. I can’t stay long. I came to ask you if you happened to notice anyone hanging around my godmother’s house while they’ve been away.”

  “Not that I know of, but I don’t see very well. Luckily, Bart has excellent eyesight. He’s been helping me keep an eye on the place. I thought that was him when you came to the door. He must have forgotten his key. I’m baking these cookies for him.”

  “I don’t believe I know who this Bart is, Mrs. Neal.”

  “Really? I’m sure you must have met him. He is Liam’s grandson, after all.”

  Alarm bells began to go off inside Suzanne’s head. She knew for a fact that Liam didn’t have any grandson by the name of Bart because Liam had neither children nor grandchildren. She struggled to keep the uneasiness from showing in her expression.

  “Oh yes, um, Bart. I haven’t seen him in a long time. Has he been staying with you long?”

  “Well, let me see now. I think it was right after Liam and Nesta left. Yes, that’s right. He knocked on my door when no one answered at their house. The poor boy looked so upset. He came all the way from the east coast to surprise them. I invited him to stay here until they get back. It’s been so nice having him for company. He’s kept a very good eye on his grandpa’s house.”

  Suzanne almost groaned thinking how this vulnerable woman had let a stranger into her home. She had to try and find out what he was up to.

  “I’m sure he has. Does he ever go inside?”

  “Well of course, dear. How else could he make sure everything is okay? I still had a key from when Nesta went on vacation before. Good thing, too because she left in such a hurry this time.”

  Suzanne had a feeling her godmother had deliberately not given a key to her neighbor and had simply forgotten about leaving one in the past.

  “I haven’t seen Bart in a long time. Could you refresh my memory on what he looks like?”

  “He’s a nice looking young man with lots of curly blond hair. Built kind of slender for a man. He doesn’t say much. I think it’s because he’s so sad.”

  “You mean because of not getting here in time to see Liam and Nesta?” Suzanne asked, continuing her gentle probing, wanting to gather every bit of information she could.

  “No, although I know he is disappointed about that. I think he’s suffering from a broken heart.”

  “Oh? What makes you think that?”

  “One day he spilled hot coffee on his shirt and had to take it off immediately. He has a tattoo right above his heart of a butterfly crying tears and the name TINA printed there. I asked him about it. All he would say was that he’d lost her.”

  “Maybe she was a girlfriend who broke up with him.”

  “I have a feeling it was more than that. I saw tears in his eyes before he left the room.” She leaned closer to Suzanne and whispered, as though Bart might be in the room listening. “I think the young woman died and he’s still mourning her.”

  Suzanne nodded in sympathy.

  “That sounds very sad. How long has Bart been gone?”

&
nbsp; Mildred squinted at the wall clock. “I can’t remember when he left, but it seems like it’s been an awfully long time. We were having breakfast when he saw a golf cart pull up next door. He told me not to leave the house while he checked to be sure everything was all right. I finished eating and when I peeked out the window there were two carts parked there.”

  Suzanne realized the first golf cart must be David’s and the second one would be Thad’s. She pulled her mind back to Mildred as the woman continued with her explanation.

  “I got busy doing things and didn’t pay much attention to the time when Bart came back.”

  “He came back? I thought you said he hadn’t returned.”

  “I meant he hasn’t returned to stay. He came earlier, but just for a bit. I asked him about the golf carts. He said they belonged to people doing some work on the house that Liam ordered before he left.”

  “Did he happen to have anything with him?”

  “Why yes. He carried a towel with something inside.”

  Suzanne had a sinking feeling that something was her father’s phones. “Could you see what it was?”

  “No. I asked and he said it was a broken part for whatever the people were working on in the house and he offered to go to town to get a replacement. He ran into his bedroom and came out a few minutes later carrying his backpack. He told me I should stay in my house. I decided to surprise him and bake the cookies before he got back.”

  “That’s very nice of you. Well, thank you for the visit. I have to go back to my godmother’s.”

  Mildred scrunched her face into a thoughtful frown.

  “I don’t think that’ll do you much good. Did I tell you Nesta’s away right now?”

  “Yes. Be sure you stay in the house, as Bart told you to and lock your doors. Oh, and don’t forget to set the timer for those cookies, Mrs. Neal,” Suzanne reminded her, as they walked to the front door.

  “I’ll send Bart over with some for you when he returns.”

  “That would be nice. Thank you.”

  Suzanne didn’t have the heart to tell the old woman that her houseguest most likely would never be coming back. He’d accomplished his mission. The mysterious Bart probably had the phones and what he planned to do with them was anyone’s guess. The one good thing was now the scheming David wouldn’t be fulfilling his promise to the Montanes.

  Suzanne hurried next door, anxious to tell Thad the latest news.

  And suggest that it might be a good time to rein in David’s leash.

  Twenty-Six

  David met Suzanne at the front door. “Did you find out anything? Come on, come on. Give!”

  She had to grit her teeth to stop herself from telling him what she’d really like to give him was a big fat lip.

  “I talked to Mrs. Neal. She said a man named Bart has been helping her keep an eye on the house. He told her he was Liam’s grandson, but that’s not possible because Liam never had any kids, adopted or otherwise. She said this Bart came over here when he saw the golf carts, but left right after that.”

  David’s reaction reminded her of an overgrown child throwing a tantrum. He stomped his foot, stuck out his bottom lip, and glared at her.

  “She must know more. Go back and talk to her again.”

  “She told me everything.”

  “How can you be so sure? The old woman has dementia, is half blind, and hard of hearing. She could be imagining the guy.”

  “I don’t think so. She gave me too many details to be making him up.”

  David faced Thad.

  “You better call the agency and see what they can find out about this Bart.”

  “I thought you’d rather do it. You also may as well tell them we missed out on getting the phones.”

  Bobbett jumped up from her chair.

  “I’m sick to death hearing about those phones. That’s all any of you can think about. I’m going to the bathroom and when I come out I’m leaving.”

  Her eyes rested on David. “I’m going on my own. It’s obvious you’re never going to get any extra money.”

  They watched as she spun on her heel and slammed the door to the bathroom.

  “I think you’ve upset my mother again,”

  “Who the hell cares? Having her around doesn’t exactly make my day.”

  “Perhaps you’ll feel better after you call the agency.” Thad suggested.

  David grumbled before pulling his phone out of a pocket. Suzanne motioned Thad to join her in the kitchen. He lifted a questioning brow at her.

  “Something else on your mind?”

  “There’s more to Mrs. Neal’s story. I didn’t want to give David too much information.”

  She told Thad about the tattoo. He listened, leaning against a counter pressing his hands on the edge.

  “I realize Mrs. Neal isn’t the best source of information, but I really think this guy does exist.”

  “You’re right, but his real name is Eric. The tattoo gave him away. He was Tina’s boyfriend.”

  “Okay, and who might this Tina be?”

  Thad straightened away from the sink.

  “My client’s late daughter.”

  “The one the Montanes kidnapped?”

  He nodded.

  “My God. He must be trying to avenge her.”

  “Sounds like it.”

  “Mrs. Neal said he wasn’t a very big man. How could he manage to move you down the hill?”

  “I don’t think it was Eric. I got a quick glimpse before I lost consciousness. The person who hit me was closer to my height and build.”

  “Maybe this Eric had someone helping him,” Suzanne suggested.

  “Possibly. Or, he was watching and saw what happened. He could have grabbed the phones while my attacker was busy putting me out of commission. Eric may have left the feather instead of David to make me think it was one of the people working for the Montanes.”

  “Or the guy who jumped you could have left it. I’m wondering if he might be our pseudo waterman. Dad said he was big.”

  “Maybe.”

  “I hope this Bart, I mean Eric, is taking the phones to the police if he really does have them.”

  “Yeah. Can you keep David distracted while I call my office and tell them about Eric?”

  “I’ll try, but please make it quick. He’s acting more and more like he’s about to snap.”

  Suzanne hurried back into the living room just as David ended his call.

  He frowned at her.

  “They don’t seem to be very anxious to help me. I got the feeling I’m being given the brush off.”

  “Oh? Why would the people you work for want to give you the brush off?”

  “Because Novak’s their golden boy. It’s no secret he gets all the high profile cases, and the rest of us get whatever’s left over.”

  “It seems to me some of those high profile cases are pretty dangerous. Maybe you should be glad you don’t get assigned to them.”

  David made an indignant snort.

  “That’s what he’d like you to believe. He rakes in the big money while I scramble for loose change. Even when he messes up, he gets to come back, no questions asked.”

  Suzanne watched him closely. He obviously didn’t like Thad and had kept his feelings under control, but now he seemed to be slowly losing that control. The more she observed him the more his behavior reminded her of sand pouring through an hourglass with every bit of who he had pretended to be shifting down to the man he really was.

  Thad came into the living room, and David renewed his complaints about his phone call to their office.

  “I’m supposed to be working on this case, but they act like I’m intruding for God’s sake.”

  “I’m sure you’re mistaken.”

  “I don’t think so. I’m not getting the cooperation I deserve.” David rounded on Suzanne. “Just like you’ve been doing. I’m sick of you treating me like some flunky, too.”

  “I haven’t done that; and because I haven’
t, I’m not going to stand here listening to your insult.” She started to step away from him feeling certain he was a man heading into the eye of a self-inflicted storm.

  David grabbed her by the arm.

  “Don’t you dare walk away from me.”

  She yelped in pain as his fingers dug into soft flesh.

  “I suggest you remove your hand while you still have the capacity to use it.”

  Thad’s voice sounded calm, belying the flash of fury in his eyes. His body language gave clear warning that he would be defending Suzanne if his demand should be ignored. But the last grain of David’s control slid away. He angled his body away from Thad, tore the gun from his shoulder holster, and pressed the weapon to Suzanne’s temple with one hand while his other hand clutched her throat.

  “What the hell is the matter with you?” Thad stepped forward, but David brandished the gun, waving him away.

  “Don’t come a step closer, or I swear to God I’ll finish her.”

  Thad stopped and held his hands out in front of him in a gesture of appeasement.

  “Okay, okay, just take it easy. Let’s talk.”

  David’s eyes raked over Thad while his mouth curled into a sneer.

  “What is there to talk about? I’m sick of walking in your shadow. We may be working for the same outfit, but you get all the glory, the money, and the best women. I can’t believe you didn’t get fired after what happened to Matthew Cameron’s sister. We all knew you had a thing for her. You took what you wanted from Ann Marie and then left her to die.”

  Thad’s eyes drilled into David like twin rods of steel.

  “You were misinformed.”

  “I doubt that, but of course everyone believed you. Personally, I think you were negligent. How much longer did you think I would stand back and accept the crumbs you left behind?”

  “You’ve been paid very well for your work.”

  David’s resentment rose, blended with hatred mixed into a bitter brew in a cauldron ready to boil over.

  “Not well enough. I finally had a chance to get some real money and go out on my own, but you and your girlfriend here ruined it for me.”

  “How so?”

  “You took the phones. I know you did,” he snarled and squeezed Suzanne’s neck making her gag.