Blowout

by Colleen Cross

  “Why don’t I take you to De Courcy Island?” Raphael motioned to the harbor view. “On my yacht.”

  “A blessing in disguise!” Gia clapped her hands together. “Now we can hang out together.”

  Gia’s boyfriend has a yacht? This was quickly becoming unbelievable.

  “Uh, no. I can’t impose on you like that.” Jace dropped his duffel bag on Kat’s office chair. “You two must have other plans.”

  Yes, please have other plans. Kat sized people up pretty quickly and was certain Raphael was up to no good. What did Gia see in him?

  Silly question. Raphael was not only handsome but apparently rich as well.

  “Not really, and it’s no trouble at all,” Raphael said. “I’ve always wanted to explore the islands. This is the perfect opportunity.”

  Gia’s bracelets jingled as she jumped up and down on her four-inch heels. “It’ll be so much fun! We’ll have time to visit, and Jace can write his story. We can explore the island and relax onboard afterwards!”

  Jace shifted his weight from one foot to another. “If you’re absolutely sure, that would be great. I really do have a deadline to meet and the only other way there is by boat. I can chip in some money for fuel…”

  “Maybe there’s another airline…” Kat’s mind raced. Yacht fuel was probably thousands of dollars. Jace didn’t realize what he was agreeing to.

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” Raphael laughed. “I was headed over that way anyways. What’s your story about?”

  “A 1920s cult, complete with a sex scandal and hidden treasure,” Jace said. “A guy named Brother XII founded the Aquarian Foundation in 1927. He claimed it was a spiritual community waiting for the Age of Aquarius. But the price of admission was high. He sought out only wealthy members. Since he took everybody’s money, it was either a cult, scam or both.”

  “Scam,” said Kat. “A cult is almost always a scam. Especially when the first order of business is to convince the followers to turn over all their money.”

  Raphael scoffed. “You’re a glass half-empty type, I see.”

  Kat frowned.

  Gia mouthed sorry to Kat and tugged on Raphael’s arm. “I love treasure-hunting!”

  “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded,” Raphael said. “In my experience though, the bean counters are always the naysayers. They always say no when everyone else says yes.”

  Jace laughed. “Realists, for sure, but there’s a benefit. Kat’s better than anyone at sniffing criminals out. She gets the money back, too.”

  They talked about her like she wasn’t even there. She opened her mouth to respond but stopped herself. Jace hadn’t interpreted Raphael’s comment as rude, so maybe she was overreacting. It sure felt like an insult though. But she didn’t want to start an argument, so she just gritted her teeth and smiled.

  “Brother XII sounds like an intriguing guy,” Raphael said.

  “Charismatic at least,” Jace said. “His real name was Edward Arthur Wilson. He claimed to be the reincarnation of the Egyptian god Osiris, and his Aquarian Foundation was based on the premise of an impending doomsday. He claimed the end was near, and only a few chosen believers would have their souls saved.”

  “People fell for that?” Raphael arched his brows. “Not too smart.”

  “Surprisingly, most were very smart, educated people,” Jace said. “One of the Aquarian Foundation’s board members was a prominent international newspaper publisher. He got a lot of press from his publications and others too. That gave Brother XII a worldwide audience. Soon he had thousands of affluent and influential followers, even presidential candidates.

  “They contributed millions to Wilson and his Aquarian Foundation and he used the funds to establish a self-contained society and settlement with Wilson at the helm. Hundreds of people worldwide moved here to join him, most handing over all their worldly possessions.”

  “They had to be crazy to give their money to him,” Gia said. “Who would risk losing it like that?”

  “Surprising what people will do,” Raphael stroked his chin. “They’ll pay huge sums of money to get what they want. It’s not always about money and wealth. Sometimes they just want to be part of something bigger than themselves.”

  Jace nodded. “Hindsight is 20/20. Raphael’s right. Most of them were already wealthy. What they really wanted was to be accepted and belong to something. Brother XII fulfilled that need. In the mid-1920s he published a series in England in The Occult Review. He claimed psychic abilities and that Armageddon was imminent. It was easy to convince his initial followers to join him in 1927. Lucky for Brother XII, they were all wealthy, and they each surrendered all of their assets to him and the Aquarian Foundation.”

  “Why would anyone do that?” Harry asked. “That’s insane.”

  “I think so too,” Jace said. “But they were caught up with the idea that they were about to enter the new Age of Aquarius. They expected a day of reckoning and figured this put them on the right side of the fence when Armageddon finally did hit. Plus, Brother XII made them feel special by inviting only twelve people at first.”

  Raphael nodded appreciatively. “Invitation only. Nice concept.”

  “I wouldn’t be fooled by that,” Harry said.

  “You’d be surprised,” Jace said. “There was a lot of hype in the press. People saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Besides, what good was their money if the world was about to end?”

  “I can see that,” Gia added. “All the newspapers carried his claims, so it stood to reason that people got swept up in the hysteria.”

  “Exactly,” Jace agreed. “And Brother XII’s wealthy converts were suspicious of the naysayers’ motives, so they dismissed any accusations against Brother XII.”

  “Smart man, even if he was a crook.” Raphael clapped his hands. “Well? What are we waiting for? Let’s go to De Courcy Island. We can walk to the ship. I’m docked down in the marina.”

  “Ooh, a real adventure!” Gia exclaimed. “I can’t wait.”

  “Me too! Let me get my things.” Uncle Harry ran from Kat’s office before she could protest. Her romantic getaway with Jace had somehow morphed into a party. But Jace needed the story, so who was she to argue?

  3

  Raphael’s yacht, The Financier, turned out to be more than a hundred-and-fifty feet, the largest in the marina by far. Its pristine white hull gleamed in the afternoon sun as they headed down the gangway, bags in tow.

  Kat had worked for many millionaires and a few billionaires in her prior job as an international finance consultant. She had seen her share of tycoon toys and had even attended parties on some of them. She knew little about yachts, but The Financier was larger and more lavishly appointed than any she had been on. Raphael’s yacht dwarfed all the other boats in the marina in both size and splendor.

  Kat felt envious stares upon them as they trudged down the dock behind Raphael and Gia. The attention gave her a strange sense of importance, like she was a celebrity or something.

  The afternoon sun beat down on them as they boarded The Financier. They immediately headed below deck to a spacious air-conditioned galley and a hallway that led to the rear, or aft, of the ship. The luxurious interior was finished in expensive-looking teak built-in furniture and lighting. Raphael motioned towards a cabin on the right. Jace had cancelled their accommodations as Raphael had insisted that they stay aboard the yacht.

  “That one’s for you two, and Harry’s is next-door,” Raphael said.

  Kat followed Jace inside their cabin. It was more spacious than she expected, at least double the size of the stateroom on their Caribbean cruise last year. “Wow.”

  She dropped her bag on the bed and ducked back out into the passageway. She peeked in Harry’s suite next door. It was smaller but no less luxurious.

  “I could sure get used to this.” Harry peered out the large porthole. “Maybe I’ll become a merchant seaman, get a job on board.”

  Kat laughed. “You’re over sevent
y, Uncle Harry. Too late to look for a new job, and you’ve already got a pension. Besides, I’ll bet the crew works very hard to keep everything running.”

  Kat exited her uncle’s stateroom and peered down the hall. Beyond Harry’s stateroom were the crew’s quarters. According to Raphael, the ship was equipped with all the latest technology and navigation. She had yet to see the crew, but they were probably busy preparing for departure.

  She returned to her stateroom, where Jace unpacked his duffel into the built-in bureau.

  “This yacht must be worth more than our house.” She sat on the bed and ran her hand over the Egyptian cotton duvet cover. She was happy for Gia but felt that her love affair with Raphael was a little too good to be true. Everything about him was just too perfect.

  “More than several houses, I’m sure.” Jace laughed. “I’m glad Raphael didn’t take me up on my offer to pay for gas. When he said ‘yacht’, I thought he was exaggerating.”

  “Apparently not. Don’t you find that Gia and Raphael make an odd couple?” Raphael’s tailored clothes, perfect physique and, apparently, billionaire status bordered on unbelievable. Not that Gia wasn’t a catch for any guy. Just that guys didn’t normally see it that way.

  Gia was fun, attractive, and successful, but she wasn’t exactly a swimsuit model. Guys like Raphael typically went for image and looks. The women that decorated their arms were often an extension of that.

  “Kind of.” Jace shrugged. “They seem to like each other a lot, though. Good for Gia.”

  Kat intended to check out Raphael to see if he was who he claimed to be. She’d expose him soon enough.

  “I suppose.” She only had a few stolen moments with Jace before they headed back upstairs, and she wanted to gauge his impression of Raphael. “Are you sure about this, Jace? I feel weird imposing on Raphael. We barely know him.”

  “You heard him,” Jace said. “He said he always wanted to visit the islands. If I had a boat like this, I’d be looking for excuses to go places. I’ve got to find some way to repay him, though. Maybe I can do some business writing for him or something.”

  “I guess.” Kat still felt uneasy. Raphael probably had an ulterior motive; she just didn’t know what it was yet. He gave her the creeps but she had nothing tangible to base her feelings on. But her gut told her there was something wrong about him.

  “Gia told me he lives aboard,” Jace said. “Can you imagine a life like that? This ship must be worth millions.”

  “It must be hard to travel and manage business from half a world away,” Kat said. “I’ll bet it costs a fortune to operate this thing.”

  Jace sat beside her on the bed. “He has a fortune. I’m sure he doesn’t worry about it.”

  “Must come from a very wealthy family,” Kat said. “He’s far too young to have earned all this money himself.” Where did Raphael find the time to sail from Italy in the midst of his new business launch? Most tycoons had no time for impromptu yacht trips.

  “Maybe he’ll let us in on his secret,” Jace said. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live like this?”

  “It’s very luxurious,” Kat agreed. Their stateroom was sumptuously appointed right down to luxurious Egyptian cotton and damask bedding and original seascape oil paintings. “Why don’t you write a story about how he achieved his success? We’ll be spending a lot of time with him. You can get two assignments instead of just your Brother XII assignment.”

  “That’s a great idea. He’s a fascinating guy. A lot of people would be interested in how he made his fortune.”

  “I’m sure they would.” She was one of them, since she doubted Raphael’s riches came honestly. Quick riches often meant shortcuts, and her instincts told her he had taken some. How many people had he burned in his climb to the top? Jace’s story might provide some answers. “You can find out his secrets.”

  Jace winked. “I intend to.”

  “I’m worried about Gia.” On the one hand, she was glad for Gia. She deserved happiness. But Gia’s whirlwind romance with Raphael made Kat uneasy. She was infatuated to the extent that she wasn’t seeing things—and Raphael—clearly. “Maybe you could find out more about his background, see if he checks out.”

  “I’m not going to interrogate him, if that’s what you mean.” Jace shook his head. “Gia can take care of herself just fine. If she’s not worried, why are you?”

  Gia had a knack for business, having built her salon from scratch without any help. But she was very naïve about men and Kat doubted she applied the same critical eye when it came to romance. “I just hope he doesn’t break her heart.”

  “You’re making snap judgments about the guy.” Jace wrapped an arm around her waist. “You have to admit that it’s pretty generous of him to take us all to De Courcy Island.”

  “I guess, but everything’s so sudden. Gia just met him a couple of weeks ago and they’re already serious about each other.” She needed to speak with Gia privately, and soon.

  Her uneasiness about Raphael grew, though she couldn’t put her finger on why. It was as if he were falling in love on a deadline. Love rarely stuck to a schedule, let alone an aggressive one. If Raphael had a hidden agenda, she needed to find out why. A little surreptitious digging wouldn’t hurt as long as she did it secretly.

  “I still can’t believe Gia’s dating a guy with a yacht this size. He must be worth at least a hundred mil.”

  “Jace, Gia’s doing pretty well herself. She’s opened two profitable salons in five years.” Gia’s hard work and financial acumen had paid off. Underneath Gia’s bubbly exterior was a shrewd businesswoman with a talent for entrepreneurship. “Her Curl Up n’ Dye franchise is very successful already. She doesn’t need Raphael to be successful.”

  Kat was proud of her friend’s single-handed success. Kat had watched Gia’s business grow and had helped her with financial advice since she started her salon business ten years ago.

  “She might not need him, but it’s nice to share your hopes and dreams with someone.” Jace pulled her close and kissed her. “It makes all the hard work worthwhile.”

  Kat sighed as she stood. “Gia deserves happiness, but something doesn’t add up for me. I don’t know exactly what it is yet, but I’m a little worried.”

  “Just be glad for her, Kat. Don’t mess things up by interrogating him or being suspicious. ” Jace shook his head and walked towards the door. “Not everyone’s a criminal.”

  Maybe not, but Raphael certainly had the outward appearance of the many scoundrels she had encountered as a fraud investigator.

  “I know. I just couldn’t live with myself if my suspicions were true and I did nothing.” Spending so much time around white-collar criminals gave her a cynical outlook. “Of course I’m happy for her. I just don’t want to see her get hurt.”

  “You’re just envious. We don’t have that kind of money and probably never will.” Jace sighed. “I’ll admit I’m a bit envious too. But let’s mind our own business, okay?”

  Jace couldn’t be more different than Raphael. He wasn’t hell bent on accumulating or displaying wealth or status. She and Jace weren’t exactly rich, but they had everything they needed and were doing just fine. But maybe he was right. She was envious. If his displays of wealth and affection were true, that is. She suspected trouble, though.

  Jace held the door open as they exited their stateroom. “Look at it this way, Raphael is way more successful than Gia. If anyone should worry, it’s him, not her.”

  The engines rumbled to life and vibrated beneath her feet as she ascended the stairs to the upper deck. While Raphael’s offer to ferry them to De Courcy Island was generous, it was also guaranteed to impress them. Was it all part of Raphael’s plan? Something didn’t add up, and she intended to find out why.

  4

  Kat and Jace emerged on deck to blinding sunlight. The rays reflected off the yacht’s gleaming white fiberglass and chrome. Raphael’s yacht was immaculate, outfitted with the latest equipment. They headed toward
s the stern, where they had agreed to regroup at the outdoor bar.

  Kat traced her hand along the rail and recoiled as the metal scorched her skin. She was caught momentarily off balance as the ship got underway. The berth seemed to move as the vessel backed out of its spot in the marina.

  She decided to dig into Raphael’s background a bit more. Her fears would be allayed if he checked out, and Gia would never know. Assuming he was legit. If he wasn’t, the more she knew, the better she could warn Gia that her billionaire boyfriend was in reality a scam artist. Kat’s intuition told her he was simply too good to be true.

  Gia and Raphael stood arm in arm at the stern. They leaned against the railing with the harbor as a backdrop. They were such an unlikely couple. Fit Raphael, with his Mediterranean looks and tailored clothing contrasted sharply with plump Gia, who could stand to lose a few pounds. Her too-tight dress was a cheap designer knock-off, meant for someone younger and skinnier. How long before Raphael traded her in for a supermodel? Her bubbly personality wouldn’t hold his attention for long.

  Gia smiled. “I wondered where you two were. Let’s enjoy the view while we leave the harbor.”

  Apparently they were the main attraction, judging by the dozen or so people who stopped in their tracks and stared as The Financier navigated the marina. The attention gave her a heady feeling. This must be what celebrities experienced when they were recognized. The trappings of wealth always attracted admiring stares.

  Kat had hoped to catch Gia alone. She assumed Raphael would be busy as the ship departed, but that wasn’t the case. Raphael’s crew had everything well in hand and his help wasn’t necessary.

  Uncle Harry materialized at her side and patted her arm. “Isn’t this grand? Forget about working aboard. I’ll stowaway instead. Just keep mum when I don’t get off the boat, okay?”

  “Sure.” She smiled. While she had simpler tastes, cruising certainly wasn’t hard to get used to.