by Lynn Ambers
On Marina Key, we did not have a whole lot of crime major crime. The keys themselves have always had the drug trade o deal with. There is a lot of open water and open places to commit a crime or two. The local police manly dealt with drunk tourists or neighbor disputes.
“They will let you go back and talk to him,” Gina said. My eyes lit up.
“I’ll buzz you in and a deputy will lead you to the conference room,” she said.
“Thank you, Gina.” I said.
“Sure,” she said and hit a buzzer under her desk and motioned me towards the door. I opened it and sure enough a female deputy was standing there. She nodded and waved me to follow her. I did. We walked down a hall full of doors and came to a window where there were phones next to windows.
I saw David sitting at one of the booths with his head in his hands. I walked forward and sat down at the booth in front of him. I picked up the phone. He lifted his head and looked at me in a sad way. He picked up the phone.
“Hi David, how are you doing?” I said.
“Hi, not well I didn’t do this,” he said.
“I know you didn’t, but I need to know why they have your prints on the syringe that injected her with the killer dose,” I said.
“I don’t know Felicity. When I was using a while back and she first came here I used with her a little. I mean we shot up heroine a couple times but that was it. This was about two years ago. I was taking the plants and vegetables to that girl’s car when the murder happened. There is no way, I could have gotten there in time and back to the booth, no way,” he said.
“I know. All I can say is that I will do all I can to find out what is going on. Can you think of anyone who might want to harm her?” I said.
“Other than jealous housewives, I really don’t have a clue,” he said.
“I will try to get you out of here as soon as possible. We need you on the farm. We all love you. Everyone is pulling for you,” I said.
“Thank you, Felicity, I thought I was done being a charity case, but here I am again,” he said.
“Don’t you worry, stay strong. We all need help throughout life. Don’t let it get you down. Sophie is going to be in today to see you also,” I said.
“Oh Sophie, I have put her through so much. She is my angel. Thanks again.”
“No worries, we’ll talk soon.” He nodded and I nodded, and we hung up the phones. The deputy was standing in the room with me. She started to lead the way back to the front room.
I looked to see if Mathew was in his office. I wanted to talk to him. He probably wouldn’t give me any details that I did not already see at the crime scene. His desk was empty. I decided I had to do something.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“There better be a very good reason you are calling me this early, Felicity,” Angela said.
“I am sorry to wake you, but I will make this fast. I am going to kayak down the canal, by your house,” I said.
“Oh really, well I’m glad for you, I am going back to sleep,” she said.
“Yes, I know, but can I park my car at your house?” I said.
“Yes, of course, now good night, Be careful.”
“Thanks Ang maybe wine bar this week. Sweet dreams.”
“K,” she said groggy and grumpy. Click went the phone. I hung up my phone and rolled over in the bed. I slipped from underneath the blankets. I washed up and got my bathing suit, shorts, and tank top on.
I could not go anywhere without coffee. So, I made a pot of light coffee and frothed some coconut milk and added a little hazelnut flavoring. I poured it into my to-go container. The clock read 4:30 am. I had to try and get this done before anyone would see me.
I found some smoked salmon in the fridge and blueberries, and a bottle of spring water. I ate the salmon and blueberries quick and drank some water. I grabbed the bottle of water, my purse, and walked quickly to the Jeep. I backed up to the rack where I had spare sea kayaks stored. I hauled the kayak to the jeep and secured it in the back. This is not easy. Kayaks are heavy.
I drove to the launch off area near Angela’s house and put the kayak by the canal. I left it there and then parked the Jeep at Angela’s a block away. No one was around so far, but it wasn’t impossible for someone to be out this early.
Some people liked to fish and boat early in the morning. It was not that unusual for someone to kayak this early. It was unusual however for me to break into Valerie’s house to try to find some clues to who murdered her.
It was 5:00 am now so there was light enough for me to see. I had a flashlight with me just in case. I paddled towards Valerie’s house. Her house was not far up the canal, thankfully.
The morning was warm, but nice. Compared to the heat of the summer any drop in the temperature felt like a blizzard coming in.
It was beautiful kayaking in the quiet morning with morning birds starting to wake and make their morning sounds. The sky was still dark on the west side. The grey-blue of the night turned into a light orange, pink, and yellow thanks to the slightly drier air in from the west.
Valerie’s home was not far from Angela’s and the launch off site. I paddled the kayak up to Valerie’s dock and looked up at the beautiful home.
Chapter Twenty-Five
I got up next to the dock ladder. I tied the kayak to the ladder. I climbed up the ladder and looked around to make sure no one was around. She had Ficus hedges on both sides of her fence. If, I crossed the dock and got onto the walkway to the pool, no one would see me. I stepped across quickly and glided towards the backdoor past the pool.
I tried the sliding glass door. It was not open. Genius me forgot to think about how I was going to get in. I looked for an alarm and noticed the one by the door was green. I knew the cops had been around here, so it looks like it is turned off, lucky me.
I tried the window next to the sliding glass door. It was locked. I walked around and tried the other windows it was my only hope. I noticed a door on the side that was a little open. I got worried. Could someone be in there. The door led into what looked like a mud room. The only weapon I had on me were my keys.
I slowly opened the door and looked in. There were shoes and snorkel gear in the room. There was another door. I was sure it would be locked. I tried the handle and it was locked. I wondered if Valerie had adopted the mainland American style of leaving a key under something in case of losing keys. I noticed a couple of potted plants around the pool when I came in.
I went back to the pool area and picked the first two pots, nothing. There was a little bit larger pot with a desert rose and large flowers I didn’t recognize. I tilted the medium size one. Bingo.
I tried the key in the side door. To my delight, the door opened. I listened for a second, no alarm. Lucky. I knew I needed to hurry. It was getting lighter outside every minute. I needed to find some good evidence to take to Mathew.
I took some gloves out and put them on. The last thing I needed was to be hauled in for questioning. I looked around for an office. There was not one on the first floor. The place was very nicely decorated. The style was very feminine and awfully expensive. Too expensive for a bakery owner was my first thought. Maybe she made more than I thought. Some the pastries were kind of pricey. Focus Felicity.
I walked up the spiral staircase to the second floor. I found an office. There was a laptop on the desk. I opened it. Password? This was going to be tough. I looked through the drawers hoping there would be a little book that would have passwords. Why would she put anything online where the world could see?
I noticed a calendar book. I opened and leafed through. I saw San Juan written several times a month after month with a name, Caleb, next to it. There was a tiny picture of dollar sign and a small symbol next to each one. I knew that San Juan was one of the main airports in Puerto Rico. Maybe Caleb could shed some light on who Valerie was.
I heard a car pull up on the shell driveway. My heart leaped. I peeked over to see a large silver Mercedes slowly driving up to the house.
I’d better hide or get out of there quick but not before I grabbed a pad of paper off Valerie’s desk with the symbol on it and a name and address of a hotel.
Chapter Twenty-Six
With the swiftness of a discovered spider. I ran down the stairs and headed towards the side door. I heard a knock at the door and kept running. I heard a key in the door as my hand reached for the side door. I closed the door as quietly as I could. I ran through the mud room and stooped down and closed the door. I moved so I was under the windows to the right of the mud room. I heard voices in the house. The lights went on.
I thought how I am going to get to the dock without them seeing me with the sliding glass doors. I ditched the key under a plant on the side of the house. I tried to listen to what the people were saying inside.
“We just have to clean up, take all the necessary stuff out, stage the place, and get the house ready for sale,” one guy said.
“It is a shame it is a nice place, maybe I could keep it,” he said.
“Yeah right, like that wouldn’t be obvious. Come on let’s get the stuff and get out of here. I am hungry. We have an appointment at noon.”
“Okay, let’s start with the upstairs and work our way down.” I was relieved. I could make a run for it as they went upstairs. I heard the footsteps walking towards the front. I stayed close to the Ficus tree line where it was still dark. I hugged the last dock post and lowered myself into the water.
I pushed off the post and swam toward my kayak and lifted myself into it and quickly untied the rope. I slowly pushed off the post and froze as I heard the sliding glass door to the pool. “While you do that, I’m gonna smoke a cigarette out here on the patio,” one guy said. My heart pumped faster, I had to continue to paddle. If he stayed close to the house, he could not see me because I was much lower than the dock.
I just needed to make around the bend of mangroves. I just prayed that he did not walk out onto the dock soon. I had a little further and the canal curved. If I could just get there. I would be home free.
“Hey man, I think I hear something out here? I could hear his voice still close to the house as I paddled further away.
I could hear the voices getting closer, they were probably heading towards the dock. I paddle a little faster yet had to maintain a quiet stroke. I prayed the water wouldn’t make a sound.
“Do you hear that, “one of the guys said.
“It’s probably an alligator man,” the other said.
“You idiot, alligators are freshwater animals, they are up in the everglades, not here.”
“Are they really?”
“There is nothing there, come on we have work to do.”
I was by the grace of god out of sight by the end of their conversation.
I got my kayak safely back in my jeep and noticed many messages on my phone. I headed back to the house but called Angela immediately.
“Where have you been. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I am fine, just needed to do a little kayaking.” I said.
“This early if I did not know you any better you are up to something. Where did you go. This is about Valerie. You didn’t perhaps go kayaking near her house, did you?” Angela said.
“Ah, maybe?” I said,
“Did you break into her house?” Angela said.
“No, I used a key?”
“Where did you get the key?”
“From underneath the plant. Apparently, people do that in Puerto Rico too.”
“I hope you found something good, because that is super dangerous and illegal.”
“I know. I am sorry. I won’t do it again,” I said. “I think I might be able to find some answers. I just have to fly to Puerto Rico and find a guy named Caleb.”
“What! Puerto Rico.”
“Yes, I have to find Caleb. I think he might be able to help. It looks like Valerie owed him money for something.”
“Oh, Felicity why don’t you just go to the police with this information, tell Mathew all about it?” Angela said.
“I suppose I could, but I did just break and enter to get the information.” I said.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
My flight was at 9:26 am. I took a Vuber to Miami airport. Sophie and Mitch were going to take charge of the farm. I let them know I was a text or phone call away if there were any problems and for any questions.
I took a small bag with all my essentials. I was only going for two nights. I had to be back on Wednesday to keep everything running smoothly and to keep up my share of the work.
“Thank you, have a nice on,” I said to the Vuber driver when she dropped me off at the Miami airport.
“Thank you, you too,” she said. It was nice not having to deal with cash and cabs any more. I love technology.
I noticed Mr. Dalefort getting out of a car down the drop-off area. He would no doubt be walking to the private jet section. I always figured he’d fly in and out of Key Rest.
He had his arm around a button-nosed brunette from some foreign country. She was awfully close to him. Now Mrs. Dalefort’s outburst at yoga made a whole lot more sense.
I am sure it is just one of his assistants I thought to myself. He did always seem to have women around him. I did not need to be judgmental without knowing the facts.
I took my bag and started walking into the airport. I entered the airport and looked for which way was the security. I had printed my ticket last night, so I was ready to go.
Thankfully, Puerto Rico is part of America and we can come and go as we please from there. I did not like standing in line for anything.
I saw the sign and the line for security and made my way to the snake of people waiting to have their bags checked. Security at the airport like some other lines were unavoidable.
“Ms. Natural, how’s the organic life treating you,” Mr. Dalefort said from behind me. I swung around.
“Hi, Dalefort Sr,” I said being diplomatic.
He smiled.
“Is this your daughter with you?” I asked. He smiled.
“Oh, no, this is Deana, she is my new assistant.” He said, “Deana, this is Felicity is it, Marina Key’s only organic farmer.”
“Hi Deana, nice to meet you,” I said. She smiled. I really did not have much to say, so I was ready to move forward.
“Well, you two have a great day, please say hello to your wife. I saw here the other day in the bakery,” I said.
“Ah yes, she loves her baked goods, will do.” he said. He put his arm around Deana and whispered in her ear and they both laughed as they walked away to the VIP security line. Gross I thought. How do these men not end up with diseases?
I showed the first security lady at the front of the line my ticket. She passed me through towards the ID security checker. The line was not too bad timewise.
I read books, played games, and texted usually in line. Sometimes I would just zone out for peace of mind. I would mechanically move forward as each person did until it got to be my turn.
I finally got to my seat in the plane after an uneventful rest of the process through security. The wire in my bra would sometime set the alarm off. I made sure to wear a bra this time that did not have a wire and the alarm still went off.
I sat in my economy seat by the isle and just relaxed. I love airplanes, because the moment I am sitting in the airplane seat there is nothing else I can do but relax until I land where I am going.
We were up in the air and landed in Puerto Rico before I knew it. I got off the plane and got my rental car. I had been to Puerto Rico before on vacation. There was an inexpensive quiet place to stay about twenty minutes from the airport.
There is amazing bioluminescence at night in the ocean water a $5.00 ferry ride from the mainland to Vieques. John and I had been to Puerto Rico for vacation. It took John and I forever to find the hotel the first time, so this time the hotel was easy to find. I parked right in front of the place and got the key from the front desk.
I dropped my bags on the table in the h
otel room or mini apartment really. The place had a little entrance, the bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a balcony. It was so cool. The colors were a light blue and white trim. The comforter was a tasteful floral pattern. I just loved the place.
I decided to take a small nap before I started on my venture.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
I woke up rested and took a quick shower. I walked down to the corner bakery and got a delicious café con leche and a guava pastry. I also got a ham and cheese something, I don’t remember the name of it. I was very hungry. I took my breakfast back to my hotel and sat on the small balcony. I was only a few blocks from the beach which enabled me to see the sea from my porch.
I sipped my coffee slowly and enjoyed the delicious food from the bakery. The butter of the pastry melted in my mouth. The pastries aren’t the same as you would find in France, but they have their own delicious flavor. The flours, the butters, the fillings are from around the island, so the taste was different and delicious. The pastries made me think of Valerie and the delicious trats she sold.
I looked on the map for Cayonne, the name of the town where the hotel was. I typed in the directions to my cellphone and found out that the address was about an hour south of where I was.
I finished sipping my coffee and stared out at the beautiful turquoise water beyond the palm trees. The Caribbean breeze gently refreshed my face and made me forget there was evil in the world. I had to find a way to push the evil out of the way.
I did my last-minute preparations for the trip, water bottles, phone, purse, money, suntan oil with SPF, and a light sweater to put over my tank top in case wherever I was going got cool.