by K D McNiven
Decker grinned. “Kat! What a pleasant surprise!”
The officer took to his feet. “If I have any further questions, I’ll contact you.” Before standing, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out Decker’s cell phone that he’d left at the warehouse, handing it over to him. Try and stay out of trouble Mr. Hayden.”
He walked to the door, nodded to Karina, and slipped out past her into the hallway.
“I was flabbergasted when I grabbed this morning’s paper and read the details concerning the warehouse tragedy.” She walked over to the bed and sat down. “Are you doing okay?”
“Nothing a few pain pills can’t cure,” he chuckled. “You look great, Kat.”
Decker had met Karina in Tallahassee several months ago when she and Dax Drake had come looking to find a company willing to finance the exploration of a sunken galleon near the Turks and Caicos Islands. Decker had taken Dax aside and offered a helping hand financially. In return, Dax had invited him and Callie to go along and dive the reef with them.
The trip had turned out to be quite an adventure, drawn into a dangerous scenario when they discovered someone had been dumping toxic waste into the ocean and causing an ecological disaster.
“Thanks,” she replied. “Where’s that wonderful wife of yours?”
“Callie went to the cafeteria to get us some coffee. She’ll be back soon and will be delighted to see you again.” Changing the subject, he asked, “Why aren’t you working with Dax in New Orleans?”
“I’d love to, but I already had a commitment here in Florida,” she explained. “We’re taking water samples from a few of the rivers, testing them to be sure the water quality is sustainable.” Her expressive, green eyes sparkled with vitality as she added, “I heard you bought a new yacht?”
“You heard correctly. Jade II. Callie loves it.”
“I’m sure you do too. So, what’s on your agenda now?”
“A loaded question, Kat,” he laughed. “We’ve come upon some unusual circumstances in the Bermuda Triangle we think needs investigating.”
She looked puzzled. “What sort of unusual circumstances?”
Callie strode through the door with two white Styrofoam cups in her hands. Her mouth dropped open with surprise when she saw Karina. Setting the cups down on the serving tray, next to the bed, she leaned in to give her a warm hug. “I’m glad to see you, Kat.”
“Likewise. I haven’t seen you since that fateful day when we loaded you into a helicopter at sea. It was an emotional day for all of us. I’ve been meaning to call you,” she said.
“It’s been hectic for all of us,” Callie replied.
“When are they letting you out of this sterile cage?” Karina laughed, looking over at Decker.
“Soon, I hope. I’m already champing at the bit to get out of here.”
“You haven’t changed one iota, Decker. Restless as ever. However, I hope you’ll go home and take time to heal. Also, try and stay out of trouble for a few days!”
Decker and Callie laughed.
“I’ll make sure he does,” Callie assured Karina.
Karina brushed back her curtain of brown hair as she bent to hug Decker, her facial features turning more serious. “Please, let me know if you’re going to go back to the Bermuda Triangle. I’d love to partner with you two again.”
“I’ve contacted Dax,” Decker told her. “I’m hoping he’ll want to take the Shark Eater out with a crew to see what we can find. If it’s a go, I’ll call you. You’re an amazing marine biologist. More than that, a good friend and we’d be ecstatic for you to come along.”
“Thanks.” Karina smiled. “As I said before, stay out of trouble if possible.”
“Why does everyone keep saying that?”
Callie shook her head amusingly. “Hmm, I wonder.”
Chapter 7
⁂
Karina pushed through the front doors of the hospital. She made her way along the sidewalk toward the multi-story parking lot where she’d left her car. She had a spine-tingling sensation someone was watching her. She passed a glance over her shoulder, scanning the area several times, and noticed a couple of men a short distance away dressed in black suits, hats, and white shirts with ties. Black rimmed sunglasses were perched on their noses. They definitely looked out of place and her first thought was that they had to be the men in black.
Each time she turned back, they would divert their eyes, acting as if they hadn’t noticed her scrutiny. “You’re being neurotic, Kat,” she scolded herself. Even so, she couldn’t shake the feeling they were keeping her in their sights. A chill climbed her spine and she upped her steps.
Across the street was a strip mall. Not wanting to take any chances, she crossed the street at the walkway, making her way to the L-shaped chain of stores. She ducked inside the pharmacy and moved toward the back, peeking cautiously around the aisle to see if the men had entered behind her. They hadn’t. She sighed with relief and started back toward the entrance, stopping short when she spotted the two men waiting outside on a bench.
Her mind whirled with confusion. Why would anyone follow her? She couldn’t make sense of it. One more time, she determined to find out if they were tailing her or not, put the suspicions to rest, and give it over to an over-active imagination. She walked in slow deliberation out the door, acting as if she was unaware of their presence, and in hurried strides, caught sight of a small ice cream shop at the north end of the strip mall. Not looking over her shoulder, she stepped inside the store and waited several minutes before peering out of the window. The men had moved from the bench and stood near the ice cream shop, trying their best to look inconspicuous. It didn’t work. They stood out like a girl in a bikini in a blizzard.
She rummaged through her purse until she caught hold of her cell phone. She surfed through the contact list, found who she was looking for, and hit call. The phone rang several times before it was picked up. Karina sighed with relief.
“Decker?” she blurted. A couple of customers turned to look at her when they heard her voice of desperation. She feigned a smile and moved off into the corner of the room for some privacy.
“Karina?” he said with surprise.
“I know you’re in the hospital, but two men are following me.”
“Do you know who they are?”
“No. They’re in black suits though. They’ve been tailing me since I left the hospital,” she told him. “I wasn’t sure, so I made my way over to a strip mall across the street. I’ve gone into a couple of stores, and when I look outside, they’re still hanging around. What should I do? I’m sorry, I know you’re laid up and…”
He struck off her words. “Nonsense! Don’t apologize, Kat. As you speak, my wife is driving the car around to pick me up. What do you say we swing by and get you?”
“Are you sure?”
“I have a feeling they’re tailing you because you came to visit me.”
“What?”
“Never mind, I’ll explain when we get there.”
“Thanks, Decker. Appreciate it.” Karina inhaled deeply and slumped against the wall. It seemed like danger followed at Decker’s heels. However, she was more than a little happy he and Callie were available to come and get her. For her safety she remained inside, gazing out the window until she spied their car pulling to the curb. She dashed through the doors, sprinting out to their vehicle.
The two men noticed her flight, heard the squealing of tires as Callie punched the accelerator to the floor, leaving them standing with their jaws dropped. There was nothing they could do because their vehicle was back near the parking garage.
Karina was trembling. “Someone want to let me in on what this is all about?”
“I’d love to enlighten you, Kat,” Decker replied. “However, we’re not exactly sure what’s going on ourselves. We’ve been followed since we returned from our Bermuda excursion.”
Her brows shot up in surprise. “By whom?”
“Wish I knew. On one oc
casion, after a car chase downtown, I was able to grab some information in their jockey-box—it was a government agency and I discovered one of their badges had slipped off their belt. Can’t tell you much more than that.”
“The government?” she repeated flabbergasted. “Why would they follow you?”
“Maybe my charming personality.” He laughed making light of the subject, despite the fact it was a serious matter.
Callie pulled up to their driveway and the three of them made their way up to their apartment. They assumed whoever was tailing them would show up within the hour. It appeared the two of them were biding their time, momentarily monitoring the Haydens activities. The why still begged to be seen.
“There’s something I need to do, Callie,” Decker said. He gazed at her contemplatively, as if anticipating her reaction.
“Go lie down for a spell,” she replied, tossing her purse onto the end table and flopping down onto the lounge chair, exhausted. She cocked her head and pressed her lips into a tight line. “But that’s not what you’re planning to do, is it?”
“I won’t be able to leave the apartment and get to the car without being seen.” He said, peeking out the curtains. Sure enough, the dark sedan was sliding up along the curb outside their apartment. “Would you call for a cab to meet me at the corner store? Use Kat’s phone in case we’re being bugged.”
“Are you serious?”
“Come on, Callie,” he pleaded. “I’ll be careful.”
Callie inhaled deeply wanting to argue the point, at the same time, knew it was futile. She threw up her hands in surrender. “Okay, you win. But will you at least tell me where you’re going?”
“I’ll give you a call soon as I’m done.”
“You’re so…so…”
“Infuriating?” He flashed a boyish grin.
She realized his silence was his way of protecting her in case the men watching them decided to pay a visit. The less she knew, the better. Picking up Karina’s cell phone, she called the cab company while Decker changed into other clothes.
“If you would do me another favor?” he asked. “Would you and Karina sit out on the veranda over coffee so they can see you? I’m going to sneak out the back and head over to the store.”
“Please be careful, Decker. You were just released from of the hospital.”
He stooped and kissed her. “Promise. I’ll take good care of myself. I’ll be back within an hour or two.”
Decker slipped out the back dressed in dark clothing. He hurried down a small dirt pathway lined with shoulder height pampas grass, lending him good cover. He spotted a yellow cab drawing up before the mom and pop store, and he quickened his steps.
Once inside the cab, he called out the address. The cab driver whipped the car around and headed in the direction Decker had told him—the docks.
Decker’s head pounded. Even his vision was a bit blurred from the swelling. Without a doubt, he should have taken his wife’s advice and gone to bed and rest up. She was the sensible one. Unfortunately, Decker wasn’t, and when he had something plaguing his mind, he was tenacious, unable to let it go without resolving the issue. This happened to be one of those times.
The cab let Decker off at the car rental. After waiting for a half an hour, he was able to acquire a gray Ford Expedition. Not wasting any more time, he made his way along the waterfront and veered the car to the back of Derrick’s warehouse.
Decker stayed in the shadows, keeping alert. He glanced around the perimeter to make sure he was not spotted by anyone. Lined up at the rear of the building were two large trash bins. Without hesitation, he leaped onto the lid. With his height, Decker was able to reach the window’s lip and with a lot of force, he rammed the ledge with his palms to open it. It wouldn’t budge. From out of the leather satchel he’d lugged along, he withdrew a small hand crowbar and a hard rubber-headed hammer. He fitted the crowbar at the base of the window frame. With several firm taps, the crowbar popped the latch and he managed to open the window.
Decker sprang upward off the garbage bin and shimmied through the narrow window. He didn’t see anything below him but he estimated it was a good six-foot drop from where he was hanging. Realizing he had no other option except to let go, he loosened his grip, pain shooting through his legs as they buckled from the impact. The momentum threw him forward, his hip bone grinding into the cement. A deep moan escaped his lips while he lay slumped on the floor waiting for the pain to subside. Once it did, he pushed himself to his feet.
From his back pocket, he pulled out a small LED flashlight, flipped the switch, and shone the golden light around the storage room to get his bearings, and headed off toward the office area.
When he entered the cubicle, the memory of Derrick’s death struck him full force. The bathroom door was ajar, and he visualized Derrick’s twisted body lying in a pool of blood. Yellow police tape still marked the crime scene and a white chalk outline was drawn on the floor where Derrick’s body had laid. Decker stood frozen for a time, his mind unable to shut out the brutal image he’d witnessed the night before. The hairs on the back of his neck stood taut and a chill rode along his spine. The incident would not be something he’d soon forget, but Decker was determined to find out what the story was behind the attack—not only for Derrick but for himself as well
Derrick had told Decker he had something to give to him related to the Bermuda incident. The sole purpose for his coming back to the warehouse was to search the perimeter to see if he could locate what it had been. At the time Decker hadn’t given much thought to it, though Derrick had sounded somewhat cryptic when he’d mentioned it. There was a possibility his murder had been nothing more than a thief in need of quick cash. Instinct told Decker there was more to it. The murder looked like a professional hit and with the Fed’s dogging him, he found himself trying to tie the two things together. As yet, he was stumped.
Decker moved to the old desk. A mug of cold coffee, still half-full near the phone. Several pieces of chewing gum wrappers were wadded up, tossed carelessly across the wooden surface and a few crumpled family pictures were pinned to a large corkboard fastened to the wall left of his desk. Decker’ mouth pressed into a frown. He fought to push the wretched incident to the back of his mind and began pulling out drawers, shuffling through papers. Not finding anything significant, he walked over to the file box in the right corner of the room and began milling through the contents. It was like trying to find a pin in a haystack because he had no idea as to what he was searching for.
A noise to his right startled him. He pivoted nervously and flashed his LED light into the shadows to see a rat scampering off into a wall fissure. He relaxed and returned to rifling through the over-stuffed file cabinet. Exasperated, he shut the drawer. Nothing. Worse, he wasn’t even sure what he was looking for.
He started for the door when out of his peripheral vision, he noticed a manila envelope tucked back under Derrick’s desk. He stooped to snag it. Scribbled across the front in bold letters was Decker’s name. He fumbled with the gold clasp, stopping dead in his tracks when he heard a rattling at the front door. The last thing he wanted was to be caught by the police in the warehouse, after having just broken in. Then again, it could be the same people who had murdered Derrick returning for something. Either way, Decker knew he had to leave, and now!
Tucking the envelope inside his shirt, he rushed to the back and into the storage room, his head pounding. If he’d had any sense, he would have listened to Callie, the sensible one and gone straight to bed to rest up. But he seldom took the path of least resistance, a fault he’d come to embrace.
Reaching his hand up to the bandage, he could feel the dampness. When he brought his fingers back down, they were stained with blood. No matter. He had to get out of there. He could already hear the hinges creaking as the door opened up in the next room.
He pushed a wooden crate beneath the window he had entered through and pulled himself upward to the top. After scanning the area, making sure it
was clear, he dragged himself through the opening and dropped to the ground. Without hesitating, he scrambled into the shadows and hurried down a back alley in order to keep from being seen.
After a short distance, he spied the rental car he’d parked behind a hedgerow to keep it from being seen from the warehouse. Once inside, he made a quick exit with the lights off until he figured he was out of visual range, then headed back toward their apartment. As far as he could tell, no one was following him.
Because he wanted to keep out of sight from the government officials parked at the front of their apartment, Decker left the rental at the far side of the mini-mart and hurried back to their apartment where he knew he would find Callie chewing her nails off waiting for him. He slipped the key into the lock, twisted the knob and stepped inside. As he suspected, Callie rushed over to him looking more than a bit frantic.
“Where have you been?”
“Derrick’s warehouse.”
“What?” Her face looked stricken. “Have you lost your mind, Decker?”
He held up his palms to calm her down. “I’m fine, as you can see.”
Callie grit her teeth. Decker was not going to change any time soon, so she battled back her frustration. “You’re not fine. You have blood soaking through your bandage. I hope you haven’t broken the stitches loose.” She left the room, returning with clean bandages and tape, pointing at the chair.
Once she had redressed his wound and he took to his feet, Callie wrapped her arms around his neck and on tiptoes, kissed him. “Never a dull moment with you, is there Hayden?”
He laughed and swept back her curtain of hair. “Aren’t you going to ask me why I went?”
“Okay. Why did you go back?”
Decker pulled out the envelope and waved it in front of her face.
“What is it?”
Decker shrugged and walked over to the table where Karina was sitting and pulled out a chair and sat down. “Before I went to the warehouse, Derrick told me he had something he wanted to give me concerning the Bermuda Triangle incident. I didn’t think too much of it at the time, but after finding him dead, and me getting knocked in the head, I started to wonder if there might be pertinent information he thought I should be aware of.”