Red Tide (Siren Publishing Classic) (36 page)

He took her hands in his. “Mitch, John went out of his way to hide money. He set up accounts in your name.”

“
What
?” Speech temporarily escaped her. She finally managed to choke out, “How much are we talking about?”

He smiled. “So far, over thirty accounts, a total of sixty million dollars.”

That floored her. “You’re kidding?” she whispered.

Ron shook his head again. “You know me better than that. And the fact is, that’s a low estimate. We’re still finding accounts, trusts, blind trusts. It’s staggering. He invested and reinvested, sheltered, hid funds. We even found three accounts in South Africa.”

Her knees shook but she somehow found the strength to stand and circle the room. “Probate?”

“They’re in your name. Only the house will be subject to probate. You don’t get to keep all of them, because the Feds want to seize a good chuck of them because of John’s drug dealing. But what you do get to keep totals over two million.”

“How soon can we—”

“I’ll get you a copy of John’s death certificate in the morning from the ME’s office and you can have a clerk marry you and Ed as soon as you get a license, if you want.”

She squealed with delight, jumping into his arms. Ron hugged her, spinning her around playfully, delighting in her joy.

Jack arrived then, a briefcase contrasting with his khaki shorts and parrot-print shirt. “I see you told her.” He laughed.

She raced over to him and hugged him, too. “When did y’all find out about this?”

“We first started finding stuff a couple of weeks ago, but wanted to make sure it wouldn’t be seized before we told you,” Ron explained. “Most of what you get to keep is foreign assets, so even though the DEA could order them frozen and fight to seize them, they’d spend too much money and manpower to get them and would more than likely lose anyway, versus they can keep the bulk of the money. They’re willing to leave some of it alone if you voluntarily surrender the bulk of the funds.”

Mitch shook her head. “Let them take them.”

“That’s what we figured you’d say,” Jack said, opening his briefcase and producing papers. “We talked to the Justice Department today and drew up the paperwork.”

She picked up a pen from the counter. “Let me have them.”

He held them away from her. “Don’t you want to read them first?”

She shook her head again. “Nope. Let me have them.”

Ron laughed. “Mitch, read the damn things first.”

She glanced over them perfunctorily and signed them. Ron had his notary stamp in his briefcase, and Mitch grinned while he witnessed them.

“Say, how’s your wedding ceremony officiating?” she asked, her eyes twinkling.

“Mitch, I love you like a sister, but I refuse to wear a tux. Even to your wedding.”

Ed arrived soon after and Mitch broke the news to him. Stunned, he said nothing, just stepped out onto the porch and stared out over the saw grass flats.

Mitch followed him. “Ed, what’s wrong?” She reached out and touched his shoulder.

“Nothing,” he softly replied. “Not a damn thing.”

“Somehow, I pictured you a little happier than this.”

He pulled her against him. “I’m just… I don’t know.”

“We don’t ever have to work again.”

“But I enjoy what we do, what I do.” He pulled away from her and went over to the railing.

She put her arm around him. “Ed, this changes nothing between us. I love you and still want to be your wife, but it means we can afford to get what we want without worrying about budgets. We can pay Dan to work full-time, make him the manager and take off to the Keys or the east coast or wherever, whenever we want! It’s
our
money.” She spun him around. “You
do
still want to marry me, don’t you?”

That broke his spell. “Of course I do.” He swept her into his arms. “I’m just in shock. I’m glad we’ve got this, but it’s…” He shrugged.

“Unreal?”

“Yes.” He smiled.

“You haven’t heard the best part yet,” she teased.

“It gets better?”

She nodded. “Ron can have us a copy of John’s death certificate in the morning. I’m officially a widow.”

Ed smiled. “That’s right. The divorce papers never got filed.” He hugged her. “What do you say we get your name changed?”

* * * *

Ron married them in a small ceremony at Matt and Sami’s house that weekend. Surrounded by their friends, Mitch finally pushed away the last remnants of the black cloud hanging over her. They honeymooned for a week at a lodge on Cedar Key, returning refreshed and happy.

Kenny Schoenborn officially closed out the Romeo case with John’s confession to Mitch and the files recovered from his computer. But he still collected newspaper articles that caught his interest. Two months after John’s disappearance, a twenty-two-year-old coed psych major from the University of Miami was found in a wooded area near Lauderhill, strangled, recently had sex, but no peanuts. Enough similarities, however, to worry him. The case wasn’t his, but he collected the specs and put them, along with the clipping, in a file next to the Romeo file. This file also contained several other items.

Article from the
St. Petersburg Times
, dated September 30

Missing Fisherman’s Body Found

(Tierra Verde) The decomposing body of Wallace Porter was discovered by two fishermen in a mangrove near Ft. DeSoto Park. Porter’s boat was found drifting near Boca Grande Island three days ago.

Porter was reported missing by his wife when he failed to return from a fishing trip on September 26. Cause of death is not certain, but preliminary findings indicated he may have fallen in his boat, hit his head, and fell overboard, drowning. The Medical Examiner’s office had declined further comment until a full autopsy has been performed. This is the second fatal incident near the Skyway in less than a week, the first being when serial murder suspect John Tyne was shot and fell from the Skyway Bridge…

Article from
The Boca Beacon
, dated September 28

Drifting Boat Found

(Boca Grande) The boat belonging to missing fisherman Wallace Porter of St. Petersburg was found drifting in the Boca Grande pass yesterday. There was no sign of foul play or the missing fisherman…

Article from the
Englewood Tribune
, dated September 30

Useppa In Mourning

(Useppa Island) The small community of Useppa is in shock today after the discovery of the brutal murder of island resident Dr. Thomas Rawlings. Lee County Sheriff’s spokesman Robert Hammon said robbery was the apparent motive.

“The house was ransacked, his wallet, jewelry, and boat were taken. He might have surprised the robber.”

The boat, a 251 Pro Line, has not been located. Dr. Rawlings had a general practice in Englewood and will be sorely missed…

Article from the
Englewood Tribune
, dated October 2

Stolen Boat Recovered

(Ft. Myers) Sheriff’s deputies recovered the stolen Pro Line belonging to murder victim Dr. Thomas Rawlings. It was found abandoned on Ft. Myers beach. No clues yet as to who the murderer is…

* * * *

Mitch’s dreams never did stop, but they got better. The nightmares were never as severe. Sometimes, she kicked his ass. And they never happened more than once a week, usually less frequently.

On one of Mitch’s rare days minding the dive shop, she picked up the phone when it rang.

“Hello?”

Silence.

“Hello? Is anyone there?” Then a click and a dial tone.

Mitch stared at the phone in her hand, finally replacing it as goose bumps carpeted her arms.

THE END

WWW.TYMBERDALTON.COM

Tymber Dalton lives in southwest Florida with her husband (aka “The World’s Best Husband™”), son, and too many pets. She loves to hear from readers. Please feel free to drop by her website and sign up for her newsletter to keep abreast of the latest news, views, snarkage, and releases. (Don’t forget to look up her writing alter egos Lesli Richardson, Tessa Monroe, and Macy Largo!)

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Ménage Everlasting: A Triple Trouble Prequel:
Fire and Ice

Ménage Amour: Triple Trouble 1:
Trouble Comes in Threes

Ménage Amour: Triple Trouble 2:
Storm Warning

Ménage Amour: Triple Trouble 3:
Three Dog Night

Siren Classic:
Out of the Darkness

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