The Caspian Wine Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Series

by Maggie Thom

  He stared out the window, watching the gray clouds below them. The fact he was headed home gave him a moment of reprieve. The tightening in his gut started to ease slightly, to gently unwind. Then his mind shifted to all that had happened, to all still to come and to all that needed to be done. He must figure out who was behind it all. The acid rolled and clawed his insides like a cat climbing a tree to escape a predator. If what he suspected was true and with knowing what Bailey still had to learn, he was going to hurt the one person who had saved him. And he was going to drown Bailey in the hell of who might really have been the one behind her abduction.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  The pitch blackness caused her to stumble and slam her shin into the low coffee table. A flashlight flipped on.

  “Where the hell have you been, Bailey?”

  “Mom, it’s only 9:30. I was studying for my language arts test tomorrow. I was at the library. I told you that this morning.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Mathew bought this for me for passing the math test. Isn’t it beautiful?” I twirled the flower in my fingers and smelled it. I couldn’t hold back my Cheshire grin.

  “Let me see it.”

  I didn’t want to. I put it behind my back. Her long claw-like arm snaked around me and snatched it away. Her razor-sharp nails sliced it into tiny pieces.

  “Mom. What are you doing?” I clamped my hand over my mouth as she tossed the stem at me.

  “That young boy wants something from you. And let me tell you now young lady, he won’t get it. He’s not going to be sniffing around you.”

  “He’s my friend. That’s all. He got this for me because I passed the math test and I wasn’t sure I would. He’s nice. What the hell’s wrong with you?”

  Her hand connected with my face, her nails scraping over my skin. A tiny drop of blood, like that of a tear, slowly trickled down my cheek and dripped off my jaw.

  “Don’t you ever talk to me like that again. That’s what that young man has done to you.” She stood, her dark robe billowing around her as she raised her arms. The light silhouetted the white, death-like color of her skin and eyes like black orbs.

  Then the image changed. I was being pulled backward by the seat of my pants down a long dusty road. I reached for the white light flickering in the distance. As it died away, the picture changed. Miss Piggy was sitting high up on my dresser, laughing down at me with maniacal laughter.

  “I’ve got your secrets, Bailey. Oops Cassidy. Ooops nobody. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.”

  “Nooooooooooooo.”

  ****

  “Bailey! Bailey! Wake up.”

  She jerked upright, her head snapping around, her eyes quickly scanning the area. She was alert and ready to run. The lady in front of them twisted around to peek over her seatback. The couple across the way had owl eyes which they quickly diverted when Bailey caught them looking at her.

  “Are you all right, Ma’am?”

  Her eyes peeled wide open, Bailey looked up at the flight attendant before turning to Guy.

  “It’s okay. It was just a dream.” He reached for her hand.

  She pulled back. Taking a deep breath, she pasted on a smile. “I’m fine, thanks. It was nothing. Really. Sorry for any disturbance I caused. I’m just a little overtired.”

  “That’s okay. Is there anything I can get you?”

  Besides a strait jacket you mean? Bailey shook her head.

  She waited until the flight attendant moved away before asking, “Uh, what exactly did I say? Do?”

  “You cried out a couple of times. Want to talk about it?”

  “I’m not sure.” Brushing her hand back through her hair, she grimaced at the ratty, tangled mess. It reminded her how grubby she felt. Not even twenty-four hours of running around the streets of her old neighborhood and she felt like she needed to be hosed down. She barely controlled the shudder that threatened.

  I wonder if I chase down the stewardess and tell her I’d like a bath, what she’d say. That might have been what she wanted to suggest.

  “Guy. We need to talk. There’s something I’m missing in all that’s happened. There’s some clue somewhere. I...” She reached down, opened her backpack and pulled out Miss Piggy. He gasped. Frowning, she looked at him.

  “I swear I forgot. It’s been a crazy day. That nut that wants to kill us took me for a crazy ride; I crashed the SUV getting away from him. And I swear it just slipped my mind.”

  “Care to explain what you’re trying to tell me?”

  A light flush crept over his face as he slipped his hand into his leather jacket and pulled out a cassette. Laughing, she reached for it.

  “This is what you forgot to tell me about. Oh my God, I haven’t seen one in years. I’m not even sure they make cassette players anymore. Do they?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. Graham told me to go to a garage sale or find a secondhand store.”

  “What’s on it?” She flipped it over but it contained no label.

  “I was hoping you’d know.”

  “How...?”

  Pointing at the stuffed animal, he said, “It came from her.”

  “Really? That’s why you tore her apart. I thought you were angry.”

  Tugging on his ear, he replied, “This morning after I discovered you were gone, I picked up the Pig, not sure why and I felt this unusually hard object. So I kind of pulled her apart to find it.”

  Flipping over the toy, she showed him the ripped head. “I was sure you’d done this to her but I couldn’t figure out why.” Staring hard at the two things she held, the cassette and the toy, she tried to make a connection.

  “I had Miss Piggy until I was six or so. Then she disappeared.” Holding up the cassette as if it could reveal answers, she said, “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen this. I think Mom was the one who hid it there. But why?”

  “Did she ever send you secret messages? Or did you ever have a code or something?”

  Bailey snorted, thinking about the two letters her mom had left her to decipher which in turn, reminded her she hadn’t figured out the second one. “She was the master of codes. Of espionage. She used to write nursery rhymes but she’d change the characters or the story and I’d have to figure out what she meant. She made up her own language. She drew pictures. She’d have made a good coder for countries who wanted their secrets kept.”

  So what haven’t I figured out, Mom? The first letter led her to Mr. Lund and the hidden jump drive. She flipped the cassette over and over in her hand, distracted by what might be contained on it. “What did you find on the jump drive?”

  “Uuhh.” Grimacing, he replied, “I didn’t find much. I sent it to Graham to decode. Sorry.”

  “We’re approaching Toronto Pearson International Airport. Arrival time twenty-two minutes. Please put your seatbacks in the upright position...”

  Bailey only half-listened to the captain as he went through the routine of preparing for landing. She glanced out the window but immediately pulled back.

  “Don’t be scared. It’s safe.”

  Averting her face, she replied, “Don’t know what you’re talking about.” She stuffed Miss Piggy into her backpack and shoved it under the seat. She looked at the cassette in her hand, reluctant to let it go but knowing it would be a while before she could listen to it.

  “So what happens when we get off?”

  “A friend is meeting us. We’ll go to my place.”

  She cocked her head as she studied him.

  His hands flew up. “It’s just the closest and easiest and hopefully the safest place to take you for now. If you don’t like that, I’ll book us into a hotel.”

  She frowned.

  “I’m not letting you out of my sight. I might not be the best at protecting you but whoever wants you will have to go through me.”

  A thrill of excitement ran through her. Perplexed because she enjoyed the strange emotion, she turned away from him.

  Silence ensued between them. The
plane landed. Bailey and Guy waited patiently while everyone stood and grabbed their bags from the overhead compartments. Guy stepped back so Bailey could get in line in front of him. Walking into the airport they followed the long confusing miles of hallway and escalators to finally emerge in the baggage claim area.

  Guy started doing his owl imitation, scanning the crowded area. Bailey couldn’t muster more energy than it took to give more than a cursory glance around. People of all shapes and sizes were anxiously looking through the stream of passengers for their loved ones. A blonde disheveled haired guy that reminded her of Scooby Doo’s sidekick, Shaggy, waved. Since Guy smiled and waved back, she had to assume that was his buddy who’d gotten them all the deals.

  The two men clasped hands like they were going to arm wrestle and slammed their shoulders together. Bailey stood back and let them perform their male bonding ritual. Looking around, she noticed all the hugs and tears that were being shared, the genuine missed you looks, glad you’re here. It was such a foreign sight to her that she couldn’t help but stare. It was while she was watching a couple racing into each other’s arms and practically start making out that she noticed a man with an old deerstalker cap staring at her. Something didn’t feel right. He had a hard look in his eye as if he hated her. She glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was standing beside her. No one was close and no one was looking in his direction. Turning to look at him again, she was surprised that he was gone. Her stomach, her radar system, was clenching. Confused, she looked around.

  “Bailey, come here. I’d like you to meet my friend and partner, Graham—the man who can accomplish anything.”

  He bowed very formally before reaching for her hand. Not sure what to make of him but sensing he was harmless, she allowed him to hold her fingers in his palm. “Enchanté, my dear. You are much more beautiful than my esteemed friend would have had me believe.”

  Bailey looked past him to catch Guy’s eye, only to see his smile and his head shake. Not sure what to do or to think, she stood there stunned as Graham planted a kiss on the back of her hand, then tucked her fingers in the crook of his elbow and proceeded to walk with her out of the terminal.

  “Oh no, you don’t.” Guy slipped between them, easily extricating her from him. “Okay, where’s the car?”

  Graham made a woebegone face, sniffed a few times before bowing regally and stepping back. Bailey giggled. He winked at her. His face became serious as he faced Guy again.

  “Parkade. I need to talk to you first.” All joking was gone.

  Guy turned to Bailey. “We’ll be right out this window. Stay right here. Okay?”

  She nodded, trying to convince herself they’d be safe. After all, who could possibly have known that they’d flown to Toronto? It wasn’t like they’d given a whole lot of notice. The two men stepped outside the building; still sheltered by the cement overhang protecting them from the pouring rain, they moved off to the right, still within sight of Bailey. Guy kept glancing at her every few seconds.

  She considered following them but decided to stay inside where she was warm and dry. She watched as Guy really seemed to be getting into their conversation. He’d finally stopped looking her way. She would love to know what they were discussing. Something jabbed into her side. Due to the overcrowded area, she assumed it was someone not paying attention to where they were going. About to turn and give them a piece of her mind, she was jerked from behind.

  “Keep your mouth shut and step behind this column.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Fingers bit into Bailey’s arm as she was pulled backward and slammed up against a hard body. She tried to turn her head but he squeezed her elbow hard. “Don’t waste your time trying to figure out who I am, you won’t be around long enough for it to matter. Keep your mouth shut and move.” He held her tight to his body, walking right on her heels. She tried to break his strong hold but every time she moved or made a sound, he threatened to slice her throat. Biding her time, she tried to attract attention—she blinked rapidly, and rolling her eyes from to the side. She frowned. She glared. She made faces.

  No one even gave her a second glance.

  Bailey was sure there had to be a mistake. “Who are you?”

  “Your worst nightmare. And you’re mine. Shut your mouth or I’ll use this gun to solve my problem right here and right now.” His gravelly, acid-filled voice sent shivers down her spine. He peeked past her. “Go.” They moved forward going deeper into the terminal, against the mass of people that were heading out.

  Taking a deep breath, she stuck out her left foot. It was quick but sufficient. A tall man stumbled, kicking her, sending shooting pain and then numbness up her leg. Off-center, she took advantage of it and threw herself sideways, pulling her assailant with her. At the same time, she kicked out, connecting with her captor’s shin.

  Already off balance, he cursed as he threw out his arm to block his fall, loosening but not completely abandoning his hold on Bailey. She shot off in the opposite direction, the chain reaction causing more people to fall.

  A teenager plugged into an MP3 player stumbled into the path of another man pushing an overfull cart, tumbling as he took several people down with him. Luggage scattered. As the crowd began to dogpile, it quickly degenerated into a crowd fight with some swearing while others shoved.

  Other victims of the melee screamed, while still others wiggled and squirmed in an attempt to get untangled from the mess. Their efforts only resulted in more unsuspecting travelers toppling, making it impossible for those at the bottom, including Bailey, to rise. She braced her feet against an unfortunate man’s backside and shoved with all her might. Her captor, who was trying to hold onto her while keeping himself from getting trampled, couldn’t maintain his grip.

  She yanked her arm out of his grasp and dove over the pack, climbing over the sprawled bodies as though they were lifeless debris. She didn’t bother apologizing; no one would hear her over the commotion anyway. She slapped away hands that either threatened to dislodge her or were vain attempts at their own rescue. Bruised and battered, she finally reached the edge of the heap. She jumped to her feet and plunged through the crowd.

  There was utter chaos. People were pushing and shoving, tripping over one another, swearing at each other. Bailey plowed through the crowd like Rambo in the jungle with a machete. Never having been in that airport before, she raced down the long open baggage claim area lined with conveyors and masses of people, all waiting to retrieve their suitcases from the black belt. Using the confusion and the ever-thickening crowds as camouflage, she glanced over her shoulder but did not spot her assailant among the commuters and visitors that were moving in all directions. She shuddered at the thought that if what she’d been told was true, that was the second time in her life that someone had attempted to abduct her. Well, third actually, if she counted the guy on the street earlier that day who had wanted to turn her into one of his junky whores.

  She crouched low, weaving amongst other passengers to race outside. Her head pivoted like a hawk hunting prey as she hurtled along the outside of the building, using the masses as a shield. Graham and Guy were standing in the same place. Relieved, she charged up to them, grabbing each by the arm as she made a beeline for the parkade.

  The two guys laughed. “What’s going on?”

  “Get moving. Now.”

  Guy stopped, forcing her to face him. Feeling his eyes burrowing into the top of her head, she looked up. Her breathing was still labored. She had no idea what he would see in her eyes but she was doing her best to hide that she was spooked. He brushed a stray hair off her cheek, pushing it back over her shoulder. She tried to lower her eyes but was caught by the mesmerizing look in his. He blinked once, stepped back and set a pace just short of a run. Not sure what he saw, she was thankful he didn’t ask any questions but hustled them toward the parkade. In fact, it was she that had to hustle to keep up with the two men. At the car, Guy opened the door, grabbing and tossing a hodgepodge of clothin
g and books into the back seat. Though it was relatively clean, it looked like Graham might live in there. She climbed into the back and was surprised to find Guy climbing in from the other side. He crouched down and encouraged her to do the same.

  “What happened?”

  She shook her head, hoping he would just leave it alone but she should have known better. In the next moment, he’d slid across the back seat, shoving the books, wrappers and clothing onto the floorboard to sit beside her. He gently cupped her chin and forced her to look at him.

  “Why were you limping?”

  “Let’s say there was a bit of chaos inside. Let’s get out of here while I fill you in.”

  She forced herself to meet his questioning gaze even while she focused on her breathing to calm her nerves. Clasping her hands tightly in her lap, she pasted on a forced smile.

  “So nothing serious? It just scared you?”

  You have no idea. She glanced at Graham before replying. Guy might trust him but she didn’t know him. “Yeah, just a little too crazy busy for me.”

  “Welcome to Toronto.”

  She slouched against the door. At this point, she didn’t care where they went or what their final destination would be. She’d seen all she wanted to see. Who the hell attacked me? She found it implausible that the man from B.C. had followed them to Toronto, but the prospect of a second assailant frightened her even more. How many people were out to get her?

  Turning, she was surprised to meet Guy’s unwavering gaze. And for the first time in a long time she felt concerned about her appearance. Not sure how to read his expression, she found her hand rising almost involuntarily to rub her cheek as though she had dust on it. She was tempted to finger-comb her windblown, tangled mass away from her face but knew that wouldn’t change anything. Certainly not the smell as she became aware of her own odor. She comforted herself with the fact that some of the strong stench could be Guy’s.