by Jenna Kernan
“Zoom in.”
Vea did, using his fingers to enlarge the image. Something flashed in the strips of dirt and rotting vegetation.
And then he recognized it. A chill rippled over him as Clint peered at the image of a familiar square-cut diamond set in a band of gold.
“Is that—” said Tina.
Vea interrupted. “It’s a ring. Recovered from Jack Skogen’s fifth finger, right hand.”
“That isn’t a ring,” said Tina. “It’s an engagement ring.”
“Nadine’s ring,” said Demko. “The one I gave her.”
Had she been wearing this when he took her?
Tina rested a fist on her hip and glared at Demko. “Why didn’t either of you tell me?”
Nadine settled into the passenger seat. Should she be grateful that he did not carry her in that dreaded plastic tub again? Perhaps her near drowning had taught him a lesson.
She knew that the highways had cameras. Could the FBI spot her at night in this seat? She didn’t know, but the glimmer of that possibility gave her hope.
Decristofaro stood blocking the open passenger door.
“The boat is in Crystal River?” She prayed he’d given her the correct information on the long shot that they found Jack and he could remember her message.
He nodded. “We’ll head out with the others tomorrow and then drop our nets, trawling south. That way we look just like the rest of them shrimpers up and down the coast.”
“And then Cuba?”
“From the Tortugas. Easy as frying catfish. You’ll love it there. The climate is like Florida and the people are nice, even to Americans. You’re so smart, you’ll have no trouble learning Spanish. We’ll be so happy there.” He bounced with excitement.
Nadine glanced at the door, checking to see what kind of lock she’d need to release before she rolled out of his truck.
Something pricked her neck.
She slapped her hand over the injury, her eyes flashing to him, in time to see him withdrawing a hypodermic needle.
“What was that?”
In answer he dropped the needle on the ground and lifted his opposite hand. Upon it was a realistic mask of a bald white man with a goatee.
He tugged the mask over her head. The odor of latex filled her nostrils, and she lifted her hands to tug the thing away. But her arms were leaden, refusing to lift more than a few inches from her lap.
“That’s for any surveillance cameras. Just two men driving south.”
Lionel reached across her, clipping the seat belt.
“Enjoy your rest because I’m certain you are not going to enjoy the shrimp boat.” He patted her knee. “I know you promised to be cooperative. But my experience with women shows that they are most compliant when unconscious, afraid for their lives or dead.”
Dr. Juliette Hartfield returned to Demko, standing with him at the bedside of Jack Skogen.
“He’s in bad shape,” she said. “Internal injuries, a high fever, pneumonia and a collapsed lung. He’s on massive antibiotics.”
“Will he live?”
“His prognosis is good, barring infection.”
“Sedated?”
“Yes. Midazolam, four hours ago. Should be wearing off soon.”
“How soon?”
“Usually lasts one to six hours.”
One of the nurses arrived to change the bandages on Jack’s hands. Demko winced to see Jack’s ruined nail beds and red oozing pulp where his fingernails should have been.
“He was tortured,” said Demko.
Juliette gasped and covered her mouth. As a pathologist, this woman had seen the very worst that could happen to the human body. But all her clients were out of their misery, while Jack was not.
“Why is he sedated?” he asked the nurse.
“Help keep him calm and out of pain.” The nurse finished the dressing and departed.
Demko showed Juliette the image of the ring that Vea had forwarded.
“What’s that?”
“It’s the engagement ring I gave Nadine when I proposed.”
Juliette gasped. “What? She didn’t tell me that!” Juliette’s excitement turned to irritation. “Why didn’t she tell me? It’s beautiful. Such a perfect choice—”
“Juliette. Focus. It’s got blood on it,” said Demko.
Her expression turned somber as he described how and where the ring was found.
“How did the ring get on his hand?”
Demko shook his head. “I assume Nadine was wearing it the night she was taken. So did she give it to Skogen as a message? Or did Decristofaro take it from Nadine and leave it on Skogen?”
“Maybe Jack will tell us,” said Juliette.
Demko met Juliette’s gaze and for an instant he saw the dangerous flicker of her mother in her eyes. Her mom had murdered all Juliette’s siblings, shooting them at close range.
“What did you have in mind?” he asked, steeling himself. He wanted Nadine back, regardless of the risks.
“I could lose my license,” said Juliette.
“Nadine could lose her life.”
Juliette drew a deep breath and straightened. Then she rummaged in her satchel and lifted a nasal spray from her medical kit.
“What’s that?” asked Demko.
“Naloxone. It’s a stimulant.”
“Narcan?”
He knew it, of course. Had used it more than once on addicts who OD’d on heroin.
He stayed her hand. “Will it harm Skogen?”
“No. Should work in less than a minute. He’s going to be in terrible pain.”
He hesitated. Uncertain.
“Nadine is out there,” said Juliette.
“And they’ve got our only witness sedated,” said Demko.
“She’d do it for us. I know her. She’d break rules. She wouldn’t stop. And he’d want this, too. He’ll want us to get the guy who did this to him.”
Juliette removed the oxygen cannula, placed the spray nozzle in Skogen’s nose and pressed. Almost instantly, Skogen’s puffy eyelids began to flutter and he groaned. Juliette replaced the oxygen.
“Get Vea,” Demko ordered. “I need him as witness to anything he says.”
Juliette hurried out.
Demko leaned over Skogen.
“Jack! It’s Clint Demko. Where is he taking Nadine?”
“Nadine?”
“Yes. Nadine.”
“He took us,” muttered Jack.
“Who did?”
“Decristofaro,” he said, confirming the identity of their suspect. “He took us.”
“Yes. Where is he taking Nadine?”
The nurse appeared. “He’s awake? I’ll get something for him.”
Demko ignored him. Concentrating on Skogen.
“Jack! We have to find Nadine.”
He lifted Jack’s hand. Jack moaned, his eyes blinked open to slits.
“Did she give you a gold ring? What did she say?”
Vea arrived, standing by Jack.
“He’s awake?” he asked.
The nurse returned with Juliette and a needle. Vea lifted a hand.
“Wait.”
“Did you see Nadine?” Demko asked.
“Nadine? Yes. Dreaming.” He garbled his words, mumbling as if asleep. “She… dreamed of her… and… we are going to…” Skogen gave a long groan of agony. “It hurts.”
“He needs to be sedated,” said the nurse.
“Step back,” ordered Vea.
The young man did, instantly, and hurried away. “I’m calling my supervisor.”
“And where, Jack? Where are they going?”
“Manatees. Warm water,” said Jack. “River water.”
Vea flicked his gaze to Clint. “He’s hallucinating.”
“Freshwater. Crystal clear water,” murmured Jack.
Vea drew out his phone, placing a call.
Demko leaned over Skogen.
“Is it Clearwater?” he asked.
Jack shook his
head. “River. Key. Cuba. Tell Demko. River, Key, Cuba.”
Vea was on the phone with Carter. He could hear the woman’s voice.
“He mentioned Clearwater,” said Vea. “Yes. I’ll alert the Tampa field office. They can begin a search there.” He paused. “Yes. On my way.”
“It’s not Clearwater,” said Clint.
The nurse returned. “I’ve called security. You are all to leave now!”
Clint backed up, allowing the nurse to move in beside Skogen.
“What are you giving him?” asked Juliette.
The nurse replied and Juliette lifted her head, nodding at Clint.
“That should help,” said Juliette.
The nurse withdrew a needle from the fleshy part of Skogen’s hip, but he still moaned in agony.
Vea continued his conversation. “Hold on.” Then he spoke to Demko. “We have roadblocks up on A1A to Key West. Tampa office is checking Clearwater.”
“He said they’re on a river. Clearwater isn’t a river. It’s a city on a barrier island. Beachfront.”
“There is no river that leads to Key West,” said Vea.
“But if they’re on a boat, they’d be on the coast.”
Which coast? Manatees winter in all Florida’s rivers. And then he understood what Jack was saying. Not crystal clear water. Crystal water.
“He said, ‘River. Key. Cuba.’ They’re not in Key West or Clearwater. And he won’t show in Jacksonville. He dropped Skogen in Tallahassee and drove back to Nadine. From there they’d take a boat to Key West.”
“From Clearwater,” said Vea.
“No. Not Clearwater. They’re leaving from Crystal River.” Demko explained to Agent Vea. “It’s famous for manatee spotting. It’s got crystal clear water because of the spring. And Decristofaro had time to drive from there to Tallahassee and back in one night. We need to check all boats leaving from Crystal River.”
Juliette leaned over Jack Skogen, his body already easing into the bed.
“Thank you. We’re going to get Nadine now. You rest and heal.”
Vea and Demko left the ICU together, picking up Tina, who fell in behind them. Vea tucked away his phone and faced them.
“The hospital recorded a conversation from Dr. Finch,” said Special Agent Vea. “She called eight hours ago to ask about Jack.”
Demko frowned. “What? Where?”
“Pinged a cell tower in Citrus Springs.”
“Where?” asked Tina.
“Between Ocala and the Gulf,” said Vea. “We also got a call from the Tallahassee Sun Times. They fielded a call from someone claiming to be the Huntsman. He’s offering to release Nadine for the sum of two hundred thousand dollars.”
Thirty
Demko gaped. Whatever he’d expected, it wasn’t a ransom request. Nadine believed that this serial killer had intentionally lured her to Ocala with his initial victims and then systematically killed women in her outer circle. What had she said? It wasn’t a game of wits but a mating ritual. This didn’t fit.
“No.”
“No?” said Vea.
“He doesn’t want money. He wants time. It’s a diversion.”
“Well, unfortunately, we can’t make that gamble when he has one of our own.”
“He’s trying to distract you. Divide your resources.”
“You won’t mind if we negotiate for her safe release?” Vea’s tone and expression were both sarcastic.
“He’s not going to give her back. We have to take her.”
Vea stopped walking.
Demko faced him. “Are you sending a team to Crystal River?”
“Unknown. Director Carter and I are flying to Jacksonville.”
“Special Agent Wynns and Coleman?”
“Already in Key West.”
“What about Crystal River?” asked Demko.
“Tampa field office will cover it.”
“You said they were in Clearwater.”
“We’ll send a team north. Meanwhile, the Huntsman wants to make the exchange in Jacksonville.”
Demko shook his head. “He won’t show up.”
Vea rested his hands on his hips. “Listen, Detective, I know you care about Nadine. So how about you step aside and let us do our jobs.”
“He’s just buying time to take her where you can’t get her.”
“Cuba?”
“Yes.”
Axel shook his head and continued away. They watched Agent Vea disappear down the hallway.
Demko glanced to Tina.
“Can you get us to Crystal River?”
“I’m on it,” she said, drawing out her phone.
“Where’s Juliette?” he asked, realizing she wasn’t behind them.
“She’s coming.” Tina’s head was down as she worked her phone.
Juliette returned and the three reached the hospital main entrance.
“I booked a private charter here to Crystal River.” Tina studied her phone. “They can take three people. Flight takes seventy-five minutes. They’re waiting.”
They loaded back into Demko’s vehicle. In the rearview, Tina tapped away on her phone, now plugged into a jack in the backseat. Demko radioed to FHP and they reached the entrance to the private airfield twelve minutes later.
“You’re a wonder,” said Juliette to Tina.
Tina lowered her gaze and flushed. “Thanks. I’d never been in a plane before.”
“Never?” asked Juliette. “This is your first job, right?”
“Working for Sarasota was my first. Now I’m a private assistant.” Her chin went up and an expression of pride beamed, then flickered. “We have to find her.”
“Agreed.” Juliette reached over the seat and offered her hand to squeeze Tina’s. “You took a chance on Nadine. Gave up that other position?”
She nodded. “I’d follow her anywhere. We have to get her back.”
Juliette nodded. “Yes. We do.”
Their flight took them to Crystal River Airport, a small private airfield so near the river it seemed they were about to land on the water.
“I rented us a car,” said Tina as they clambered from the rickety aircraft. “Should be waiting.”
She motioned to the parking area and they hurried toward the vehicles in a light rain.
“I found out about those leaves in the bandages. They’re from a mangrove tree. Salt water,” said Juliette. “They only grow in salt water. She’s on the coast.”
“Why didn’t he kill Skogen?” asked Demko.
“Nadine arranged that,” said Tina.
“And what did she have to bargain for his life?” Juliette asked Tina.
“Her own.”
Demko blinked at her, knowing Tina was right.
“Her cooperation. She must have agreed to cooperate,” said Demko. “At least until she knew he was safe.”
Tina was back on her phone, a cylindrical charger now fastened to the port by a short magenta power cord.
He stopped at their rental.
“Minivan?” he said to Tina with all the disgust he could muster.
“It was that or a convertible.”
He sighed and hit the lock release. The side door slid open and Tina crawled into the back as Juliette took shotgun.
“You have any place special to check?” asked Juliette.
“Marinas,” said Clint.
“That’s a long list,” said Tina, tapping her phone.
“Then let’s get going.”
Decristofaro hustled Nadine onto the deck of a boat in darkness. She was groggy from the drugs he’d injected and barely able to walk.
“Who’s this?” asked the fisherman standing on the deck in bright orange trousers, held up over his T-shirt with wide suspenders.
“This is my wife.” He turned to her. “Nadine, this is my big brother, Leonard.”
“You didn’t say you were bringing a woman.”
“Relax. It’s fine,” said Lionel.
“He kidnapped me,” said Nadine, her wo
rds slurred.
“What did she say?”
“Nothing. I’ll bring her below deck. She gets seasick.”
“Give her a bucket,” Leonard shouted after them.
Nadine’s struggle was ineffective. Her muscles still would not cooperate, and Lionel overpowered her easily, carrying her below decks. The cramped compartment in the pointed prow of the boat had two sleeping platforms that came together in a point like a V. The red vinyl pads were cracked and stank of rotting fish and mold. Her stomach heaved.
“You keep quiet down here. If you don’t, I’ll have to kill Leonard. And that will be on you.” He pointed at her nose.
She had no doubt he would kill his brother.
“You could leave me behind. You could get away.”
“Oh, I plan to. And you and I are going to make that first baby right here.” He pointed at the vinyl pad. “Right now, I got to either convince Leonard you were kidding or shoot him full of tranquilizers. Then I need some ice. Have to cool you down first. I’ll be back.”
Ice? The door banged shut. She rolled to her side, trying to think past the sedative.
Why ice?
Men who used ice to cool a woman’s body were more comfortable having sex with the dead.
This time she shivered for a different reason.
The night sped toward dawn as Tina compiled a list and they began their search to the north, working southward. The sky turned steel gray as they checked with the harbormasters and spoke to the charter boat captains, asking if they’d seen anyone new here lately.
With no leads, they returned to the minivan and headed to another marina, which held private boats, as the sun lifted over the horizon, gilding the shiny exterior of the vessels still in their moorings. Inside the cab, Tina asked Clint to have a look at her computer.
“What’s this?”
“Social media feed,” she said.
“I thought the Bureau checked that. Decristofaro doesn’t have any accounts.”
“That’s true, but his older brother, Leonard Jr., does. He and Decristofaro Sr. are in business together.” She tilted the screen toward him giving him a view of two men, arms about each other’s shoulders, dressed in the high-bibbed pants and suspenders worn by commercial fishermen.
“Where are they?” asked Demko.
“Louisiana. They’re shrimpers.”