Deborah Brown - Madison Westin 07 - Kidnapped in Paradise (38 page)

“The other night I eavesdropped on Carlotta
’
s phone call, procuring girls for a big party on some rich guy
’
s yacht cruising the Caribbean.” Crum stood and started to pace. “The client requested specific girls, and when informed a couple of them wouldn’t go for the rough stuff, he got mad. After an exchange of threats, she upped her fee and told him it would be up to him to tell the girls what was expected.”

“Sit down. You
’
re making me queasy. The next you thing you know, I’ll barf.”

His brows knit together; he looked appalled and quickly sat back down.

“She caught me listening, and the murderous glare she tossed my way, I knew she wouldn’t tolerate being crossed. I
’
m not very good at playing ignorant, so I pretended that what she had just done didn’t revolt me, pretended excitement. I did ask, ‘What if one of them dies?
’
and tried to talk her into dumping the client. Or just tell him she
’
d find women who were willing.”

Poor Crum looked exhausted.

“That morning she demanded to rent her own trailer––long term. Even a stupid person would figure out she wanted it for an office. I lied and told her we were booked, said that I had no control over the reservations. I went to bed early that night. I woke up and she stood over me staring, scared the crap out of me. I swear she had something in her hand, but I didn’t get a good look at whatever it was. She didn’t say a word, just turned and left the room. The look on her face....” Crum shuddered. “I think she planned to kill me. Harlot hated her and hid from her.”

“Is the cat okay?” I had a soft spot for animals and abhorred animal abuse.

He nodded. “I waited until she went for a walk and called Carmine, told him the entire story. He thanked me and hung up, leaving me to wonder if he planned on doing anything. I didn’t have to wait long. Around midnight, voices woke me up. Three men stood over the bed, two in black suits and one with a doctor bag. One put a finger to his lips and motioned me out of bed. I slid out and grabbed my shorts. That’s when Carlotta woke up and she recognized them.

Crum wrung his hands as he continued.
“The spitfire came out of the bed swinging; she put up a fight, swearing like a longshoreman. She got in a couple of well-placed kicks before the Doc jammed a needle in her arm, and that was the end of the show. The suited ones each grabbed an end and lugged her out to the limo. No one spoke directly to me, and I returned the favor.”

I leaned back in the chair, which groaned in objection.

“I
’
m happy she
’
s gone back home. Let her be Carmine
’
s problem.” I felt bad that Crum looked sad. “Bad girls are fun and exciting, until the police show up and there
’
s a possibility that you might go to jail along with them.”

“I
’
m old enough to know better,” he snorted. “
Got no excuse.
”

“Trust me, you
’
d hate jail.” I smiled at him.

He handed me the keys to the truck. “It
’
s got gas. You need a place to hide, you
’
re welcome to stay here.”
      

A couple of lights had come on inside the trailers. I had to get out of here before someone took their morning coffee outside and saw me. I left him standing there and slid behind the wheel. The interior was not as junky as I thought, the seats covered with faded out beach towels. I hung my hand out the window and waved as I shot out of the driveway.

Chapter 45

J S Auto Body showed no signs of life when I drove slowly by. I swung a U-turn and headed down to where he docked his boats. He
’
d be with Mother, so that meant they
’
d be on the houseboat or at her house. Walking down the ramp, I found the area completely deserted and both boats parked in their slips, in pristine condition. There was no police tape and no signs that there had been a kidnapping or that it had been reported to any law enforcement agency.

No sign of Jax on the speed boat, either, or that any work was in progress. I hoped he wasn’t dead. I assumed that he would
’
ve found out we disappeared and hightailed it to safer ground.

Without going aboard, it was hard to tell if anyone inhabited the houseboat. I slipped my Beretta from my back holster and climbed the stairs. The outside clear glass door was locked, so I laid my finger on the bell. I checked out the spot where I
’
d last seen Billy sprawled, finding no blood or stains; surely that was a good sign. I
’
d like to think Billy wasn’t dead, but chances were not good with the amazon involved. After annoying even myself with the shrill sound of the bell, I sat back in a deck chair.

Growing bored within minutes and tired of waiting to be invited in, I picked the lock and walked around, prepared to shoot the first face I didn’t recognize. Spoon kept a clean house, not even a glass or utensil in the sink. In fact, it didn’t look like anyone was currently staying in residence. I crept along the hallway, approaching the door to the stateroom I used––open and empty. The bed was made, nothing in the closets or drawers, everything I
’
d left behind had been cleaned out. Same with the room Fab used. I reassured myself that I was the only one on board and that there would be no unpleasant surprises.

I ransacked the refrigerator and returned to the deck, making sure the door was locked before settling on a long bench. I was out of sight, but from my vantage point could see anyone boarding. It felt weird to not have a plan of action, but I felt safer here than at my house, which I decided on the way over that Bonnet and company would check out first. I know I would.  It annoyed me greatly that no one seemed to be looking for me. Maybe when we disappeared again they figured we just went rogue.

Wake up time! I took my phone out of my pocket and called Mother first. I missed her and wanted to launch myself into her arms.

“Madison is that you?” Mother asked.

She sounded worried. I assured her that Fab and I were both healthy and safe. I didn’t say anything more, knowing that any information Spoon gleaned, he would
’ve kept her informed.

“Where
’s Spoon?
” I asked before she could get in any more questions.

I felt ridiculous at being uncomfortable catching them together, since I knew that would be the case, but I tried not to delve too deeply into Mother
’
s love life.

“You know we thought… but I never did,” she sniffed. “He
’
s right here.”
      

“Where the hell are you?” Spoon growled. “Tell me that piece of shit Bonnet didn’t hurt you? We thought you were dead. So where have you been?”

I held the phone from my ear until he finished yelling and hurling questions.

He finally slowed to catch a breath. “Where are you? I
’
m coming to get you two.”

“Not while Bonnet is lurking around.”

“So you don’t know? Bonnet is dead.”

I paced the cabin and smiled. I relaxed, just knowing I could go outside and sit, without having to worry about random bullets making an appearance. I jerked my attention back to what Spoon was saying.

      
“His yacht cruised out about twenty miles yesterday and blew sky high. Law enforcement knows there were four men and one woman on board because a small fishing boat passed them on the water. The yacht caught their attention because of the loud partying.”

“That
’
s sad,” I said with no sincerity. I wanted to dance around, but I
’
d save it for Fab so she could wrinkle her nose and mumble, ‘ludicrous attempt at dancing.
’  “
We
’
ll be back at the house this afternoon.”

That would give Fab time and we
’
d skip the grilling as to why we split up.

“Where are our cars?”

“I’ll have them delivered to the house. You damn well better be okay,” he grouched.

“Let
’
s celebrate. I’ll
cook dinner.
”

“Cooking, as in that loose way that your mother defines it, as in ordering take-out?”

I laughed at him. Most people thought because I didn’t cook, that I didn’t know how. I excelled at dinner for twenty, for two, not so much. Besides, I knew Mother would never tolerate anyone taking over her job.

“I
’m
telling
you
up front, I
don’t like microwave food.”

I heard Mother laugh in the background and say something.

“
Or frozen waffles,
” he added.

“See you later,”
I said and hung up.
      

It felt anticlimactic to be informed Bonnet was dead. It seemed too easy. For a second, I thought for a second, Spoon––possibly Creole––had a hand in the timely explosion, especially if they thought we were dead. I had a few questions for Mr. Spoon when I saw him.

Next call––
Didier.

“Why are you using your phone?” Fab demanded.

“Get your ass back here, Bonnet
’
s dead. Blown to bits,” I said. I took a perverse delight in relating the news. “Call Mother and let her know you
’
re okay. She doesn’t know we
’
re not together, so fake annoyance that I didn’t let you talk.”
 

Chapter 46

On the drive to The Cottages, I decided I wanted the fiftyish red Chevrolet pickup. I could horrify the neighbors and park it out front, maybe plant the flatbed with flowers. It made me smile that in a short period of time, I had become as eccentric as the neighbors. My aunt would be proud that I fit in, knew almost everyone in the neighborhood, and had the patience to be friendly to most.

I sent Mac a text to get her behind to work and said that she
’
d better have my cat. I worried he
’
d be a disheveled mess and would never forgive me for leaving him.

Two heads poked out from behind the blinds when I pulled in and parked in front of the office: Mac and Shirl, wondering who the truck belonged to. Once they figured it out, they appeared disappointed, and their heads disappeared.

The door opened, thanks to Shirl, who sat where she could see down the driveway and had a partial view of the street.

“I
’
m baaa-aack,”
I smiled.

All thoughts of Jazz hating me flew out of my head. He was curled up in between Mac
’
s legs as she reclined in her chair, feet on the desk. He looked up, barely acknowledged my presence, and went back to sleep.

Big Devil!

I took Fab’
s seat on the couch and put my sore feet up; afraid to take my shoes off. I
’
d never get them back on.

“Do we get details?” Mac asked.

I gave them a shortened version. They stared back in awe.

“We should do a girl lunch. Fab can tell you how amazing she is in a crisis,” I said.

They both squealed.

“Let
’
s hear it. Anyone die or in jail right now? Any jail runs while I was gone?” I asked.