Deceived (6 page)

By morning, Jennie had passed off the notion about her father still being alive. Wishful thinking, she decided as she bit into her toasted bagel and cream cheese. It made much more sense that the break-in at home and the one last night were not related. Daniel, after all, was the head of ship security. He saw crimes like that all the time. Besides, if Dad were alive, it would mean J.B. and Gram had lied to her. Jennie couldn't believe that—especially not of Gram. The most likely reason for the missing photo was that she had lost it, or left it at home.

“I'm still in shock,” Lisa was saying when Jennie tuned back into the breakfast discussion. Lisa had been telling Dominic and Matt about the attempted burglary. “What puzzles me,” J.B. added, “is that they went through all the trouble of breaking in but didn't take the jewelry. I would think they'd act as quickly as possible.

If I were a thief, I certainly wouldn't stop and examine the jewels for authenticity—I'd do that later.”

“You're talking about those thieves as though they were intelligent,” Gram said. “I don't think they were very smart. Picking a couple of teenage girls as their targets proves that.”

Dominic cleared his throat. “Is it not possible the thieves were doing, how do you say, a running trial? Perhaps they only used Jennie and Lisa as sitting ducks.”

Running trial? Sitting ducks? Jennie grinned as his meaning sank through the language barrier. “Oh, you mean pigeons. They were doing a trial run and we were their pigeons.”

“Sí. Is that not possible?”

“It's very possible.” J.B. set his coffee cup on the table and pushed his chair back. “I do think, however, that we should discard this unpleasant conversation. A private island in the Caribbean sunshine awaits us, and I, for one, intend to take full advantage of it.”

“Well said, darling.” Gram sent J.B. an adoring look that left no doubt about her feelings for him. In a way, that pleased Jennie. Gram deserved to have a man like J.B
. So does Mom.
The thought came from out of nowhere and Jennie tried to banish it. Mom's situation was entirely different. Dad was still…
No, he isn't, McGrady. He's dead. And it's time to give Mom your blessings and let it go. He's not coming home.

Jennie didn't like the turn her thoughts had taken. She pushed them from her mind and focused instead on the party of six seated in the ship's elegant dining room.

As if she'd read Jennie's thoughts, Gram squeezed her hand. “We brought you girls along so you could enjoy yourselves. With all that's been going on, it won't be easy, but I suggest we try to forget about what happened last night and concentrate on having a good time today.”

“Great idea, Mrs. Bradley,” Matt said after he finished his orange juice. “From what Dominic has told me about the island, I can almost guarantee we'll have a great time. At least we will if you'll let us accompany your granddaughters.”

Gram laughed and glanced from Lisa to Jennie. “That's up to my girls. Are you two willing to let these gentlemen escort you?”

Lisa nodded enthusiastically. Jennie was tempted to say no, just to be contrary. She still didn't feel much like socializing, but being with Matt and Dominic did sound like fun.

“Sure,” she finally said, hoping the delay in her response hadn't hurt Dominic's feelings. She glanced at him, but he was talking to Gram and hadn't seemed to notice.

“You've been here before, Dominic?” Gram asked. “Sí. Many times, Señora Bradley.” Dominic, who'd been sitting across from Jennie, stood, rounded the table, and pulled out Jennie's chair. “It is a stop I make when I sail from my grandfather's home near Cozumel to Miami. Sometimes I anchor on the far side of the island. The reef provides excellent opportunities for diving.”

“Sounds wonderful,” Gram said as they left the table and headed back to their staterooms to collect their beach gear.

Sounds expensive—very expensive for a college student.
Jennie didn't express her thoughts aloud, but they did present some interesting possibilities.

They were all to meet on deck four, where they would disembark the ship and take a shuttle from ship to shore. Jennie had just enough time alone with Lisa to discuss her latest theory about the break-in of the night before.

“I've been thinking,” Jennie said as she tossed a book into her beach bag.

“Uh-oh. That sounds dangerous,” Lisa chuckled. “You're not planning to get us into trouble again are you?”

“No. It's nothing like that. I can't help wondering about Matt and Dominic. I mean…what do we really know about them?”

Lisa stopped folding her towel and held it to her chest.

“What are you getting at?” Her eyebrows shot up. Green eyes flashed with understanding and annoyance. “Tell me you don't suspect them.”

“Gram says—”

“I know, I know. Everyone is a suspect.” Lisa stuffed a beach towel in her bag, picked up her glittery baseball cap, and plopped it on her head. She also took her cell phone out of her bag and set it in the drawer of the desk. “This thing is worthless. Not only did I forget to pack the charger, we haven't gotten any reception since we left port. But Matt and Dominic did not lock you in the sauna and break into our room. Matt was with me when it happened and Dominic was sleeping.”

“Dominic could have been faking. They could be burglars working as a team. Matt could have been keeping you busy while Dominic stacked the weights against the sauna door, took my key, trashed our room looking for valuables, returned my key, and put the weights back.”

“Jennie McGrady, I think the sauna fried your brain. I don't believe for a minute that Matt or Dominic had anything to do with this. For one thing they don't have a motive. And nothing was taken.”

“Money is always a good motive. They might have thought we were rich. You heard Dominic this morning. That's what got me to thinking they might be running a scam. He's been to the island before. He sails from Cozumel to Miami. He's taking a cruise. In case you hadn't noticed, all that takes cash—a lot of it. Question: Where do two college guys get that kind of money? Answer: They steal from the rich and famous. I saw this movie on television once about modern-day pirates of the Caribbean. They preyed on wealthy people who cruised from island to island on their luxury yachts.”

Lisa grinned and shook her head. “Cool your jets, cuz. This time you're way off base. In case
you
hadn't noticed, we are not rich or famous.”

“Yes, but remember what Dominic said this morning about us being ducks—pigeons.”

Lisa giggled. “He's so cute when he misspeaks like that. I love a man with an accent.”

“I thought you loved blonds like Matt.” Jennie hung her camera from her neck, checked her hair, and set a floppy straw hat on her head, turning it so the upturned brim and flower faced forward. “Anyway, don't change the subject. Maybe we were a trial run for them.”

“Like I said, we're not rich and famous, but Dominic is. He doesn't have to steal to support his lifestyle. Matt told me that Dominic is worth billions.”

“Billions? I don't believe it.”

“Why would Matt lie? Dominic's father owned several gold mines and was one of the biggest producers of emeralds in the world. Dominic inherited all that when his dad died. And, his grandfather owns one of the biggest spreads in Colombia—grows coffee, I think. The grandfather also owns his own island and several yachts. And his uncle—remember the one he talked about last night—owns a multimillion-dollar resort on Jamaica.”

Lisa picked up her bag and slipped her arm through the strap, securing it on her shoulder. “Come on, Jennie. I'm as upset about the break-in as you are, but don't let it spoil our day. And don't you dare let Matt and Dominic think you suspect them.”

Jennie was tempted to tell Lisa about the picture, but didn't. Blaming Dominic and Matt for that made even less sense than suspecting them of being burglars. “You're right, and for once, I'm going to take your advice. Today's gorgeous and so are the guys. Let's go have some fun.”

Lisa put a hand on Jennie's forehead. “Nope, no fever. You're not delirious. I must have heard you wrong. Did you really say you were going to take my advice?” Lisa laughed. “I can't believe it. Wait 'til I tell Gram. She'll think we've died and gone to heaven.”

Jennie stifled a chuckle. “Lisa?”

“What?”

“Shut up before I change my mind.”

Less than an hour later they stepped onto a perfectly manicured beach lined with hundreds of beach umbrellas and chairs. The crescent-shaped beach stretched for nearly half a mile, ending near a wooden dock. Creamy white sand sloped up from the turquoise water for several yards and stopped at a rock wall. Beyond it was a park, complete with tropical plants, swaying palms, rustic buildings, a couple of volleyball nets, and a colorful bazaar, which Dominic told them was run by natives from neighboring islands. An island paradise—theirs for the day. Unfortunately, they did have to share it with the rest of the ship's twelve hundred passengers.

After helping them stake out three umbrellas and six chairs, Dominic suggested they rent snorkeling equipment, get into their swimsuits, and hike to the other side of the island.

Gram and J.B. elected to stay on the beach while the others changed and set off to explore the island. They'd only gone a few steps when the foursome became two couples. Dominic and Jennie took the lead while Matt and Lisa trailed a dozen or so yards behind. They left the picnic area and walked inland along the wide dirt path bordered by a dense undergrowth of tropical plants.

“It's getting hot,” Jennie said as she adjusted her straw hat and wiped the sweat from around the brim and off the bridge of her nose.

“It is best to walk early in the morning. But soon we will swim.” Dominic squeezed her hand, urging her forward. A few minutes later, the trail broke out of the jungle and opened onto a rocky shoreline.

“You were right. The Caribbean is fantastic.” Jennie drew in a deep breath of warm fragrant air and sighed. “Mmmm. I wouldn't mind living here.”

“It is a wonderful place. However, you will soon discover that paradise is far from perfect. In summer the heat can be unbearable, and the hurricanes…” He shook his head. “Paradise has not dealt kindly with my family.”

The hard edge of his anger and grief emerged as it had the day before. It unsettled her, yet, at the same time, drew her to him. She wished she could somehow ease his pain. “Yesterday you mentioned losing your father. Was he killed in a hurricane?”

“Hurricane?” Dominic swore. His grip on her hand tightened. “My mother, my grandmother, and my little sister died in a hurricane when I was six years old. It was a tragedy, but…one learns to survive.” He stopped and tipped his head back, as if it had suddenly become an effort for him to speak. “No, Jennie, a hurricane did not take my father's life,” Dominic said through clenched teeth. “My father was murdered.”

Murdered
. The word penetrated Jennie's heart like a bullet. When his grip on her hand didn't lessen, she tried to pull away. “Dominic, you're hurting me.”

He looked stunned, glancing from their hands back to her face. His grip loosened, slowly, as if he had to concentrate to make it happen. Jennie shuddered. His intensity both saddened and frightened her.

“Forgive me.” He lifted her hand to his lips. “I have upset you. I…I am sorry.”

Dominic slipped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. Maybe it was the feel of his lips brushing across the back of her hand, or his wonderful Spanish accent, or the sad puppy-dog look in his eyes, or the fact that he'd lost his father too, but Jennie's heart melted.

“Dominic…I…” she stammered. “I don't know if I can do much, but maybe Gram and J.B. and I could help you find out who killed your dad. It might help to know…”

Dominic stiffened. “You have already done a great deal to help me, Jennie—more than you can know. But no, I do not need help in discovering who murdered my father. This I already know. What I need is to find the killer and bring him to justice.”

“What about the police? If you know who killed him, why haven't the police arrested him?”

“The policía? Ha, that is a joke. He is one of them. No, Jennie. I, Dominic Estéban Ramirez, will find this man. And when I do, I will kill him, just as he killed my father.”

Jennie pulled out of his embrace. “No, you can't. That would make you a murderer, too. You wouldn't be any better than he is.”

“Do you think I care? No, my grandfather has lost a son and I have lost a father. We will avenge his death.”

Jennie wished Gram were with them. She'd have just the right response to help Dominic—maybe even turn him around.

“Dominic…” Jennie reached back into her memory for something that might show him she understood. “When my father first disappeared I wanted to hurt someone too. I didn't have anyone to blame, so I was mad at the whole world.”

“I am not angry with the world, only with the man who murdered my father.”

“I know…I mean, I understand, but…”

“Do you? Do you understand what it is like to watch your father be gunned down in the street like a common criminal? To watch the blood drain from his body and run into the sewer…”

Jennie swallowed and stared straight ahead at the blurring landscape.

They walked on for a few minutes in silence, each lost in their own grief. Dominic broke the silence with another apology.

“You don't have to apologize,” Jennie told him. “If you can't tell me how you feel, I wouldn't be much of a friend, would I?”

Jennie stopped walking and turned to face him. “You're right, Dominic, I don't understand what you've been through—at least not completely, but I'm willing to listen and do anything I can to help.”

Dominic slid his forefinger along her jaw, stopping at her chin to tilt it up. “Are you my friend, Jennie McGrady?”

Jennie nodded, trying to concentrate on his question instead of on him. “I would like to be.”

“Hey, you guys, break it up,” Matt called as he and Lisa rounded the corner. Jennie bounced to earth feeling disoriented and disappointed—as if she'd been suddenly awakened from a romantic dream she didn't want to end. “No smooching on the trail—at least not until we can do it too.” Matt chuckled at his own joke.

Jennie wished she could have come back with a quick retort, but she was certain Dominic had cast a spell on her. If she said anything now it would probably come out sounding like gibberish. Instead, she just smiled and pretended he hadn't affected her in the least.

They waited for Lisa and Matt to catch up, then followed the trail again until it led them to an abandoned lighthouse. The foursome wandered through what had once been a home overlooking the brilliant Caribbean Sea. The house lay in ruins now, the victim of a storm. The lighthouse had fared better but stood deserted and empty. “Neat place,” Lisa said, her gaze traveling over the compound.

“I don't know about you guys,” Matt announced, “but after that hike, I'm ready for a swim.”

Lisa and Dominic seconded Matt's suggestion to head for the water. Jennie lagged behind. “You go ahead,” she said to Dominic when he reached for her hand. “I want to get a closer look at the house.” Actually, that wasn't quite true. She really wanted a few minutes alone. Dominic had nearly sent her into emotional overload and Jennie needed time to recover. “I'll be there as soon as I get a couple of pictures.”

For a moment she thought Dominic would argue with her, but apparently his desire for a swim outweighed his desire to escort her through a decaying building. Or maybe he needed to put some distance between them as well.

Jennie wandered along the narrow and at times overgrown path to the main house. She looked at the weathered, sagging timbers, broken windows, and overgrown gardens, trying to imagine what it might have been like twenty years before. There would have been a sloping lawn, she decided, reaching from the sea to the house where the family gathered on Sunday afternoons and children played in the sun. Anytime you wanted, you could sit on wooden chairs in the front yard and watch dolphins cavorting in the Caribbean. Next to the house she envisioned a garden filled with flowering shrubs, birds of paradise, and orchids, and in the center there'd be a fountain.

A shuffling sound snapped Jennie to attention. Alarm kicked her adrenaline into motion. Someone was there.
Relax, McGrady. Of course someone is there. The island has just been invaded by twelve hundred people. It's probably one of the tour groups.

The serene mood had been shattered. Time to join the others. She headed back down the trail. When she reached the main road, Jennie turned for one last photo of the estate. As she focused her camera on the scene she noticed a bespectacled figure in a straw hat, tropical shirt, and khaki shorts standing off to the side of the trail.

Fear blazed through her, setting her nerve endings on fire. She kept the camera against her face, pretending not to notice him
. Maybe he isn't watching you. Maybe the fact that he's facing your direction is just a coincidence
. She shifted the camera slightly, then used the telephoto lens to bring him closer. It was the man who'd been watching her the day before, the same one she'd collided with when she went to the sauna. And now he was coming toward her.

Jennie snapped the picture, then turned away, pretending not to have noticed him. She'd show Gram and J.B. when they got back to the ship. Jennie passed the lighthouse and quickened her steps.

Just a few more feet and she'd reach the main road—people. And safety.

She sensed a presence behind her and started to run. A hand gripped her shoulder.