![]() | ![]() |
The next morning, they were out of bed and dressed in time to see the sunrise. Last evening’s slow dance had evolved into an all-night, horizontal tango. Hands, arms, and legs had encircled each other as they inched their way across the surface of the king size bed. Sleep was fleeting and secondary. They’d been hungry for each other and edgy about the day to come.
Savoring a steaming cup of coffee, Josie waited with Steve for the team to arrive.
It was amazing how quickly the plans had gelled. Rick had worked with the Lee County Sheriff’s office as well as the owners of the resort and bar to gain permission for the surveillance and use of their property. The group’s suspicions that Deets was behind two murders and possibly a third, were just that—suspicions.
Rick was well respected in the law enforcement community. In addition, he had the full support of his chief, who had an interesting and stellar background that Rick said he wasn’t free to discuss. Between the two men, cooperation from other agencies was secured. No sitting State Attorney would be brought in for questioning simply on theories. Any questioning would lead nowhere and show their hand. But if Deets believed that Josie was a blackmailer, then the meeting might get them the proof they needed. The Sheriff’s Office would be sending a plainclothes detective to observe. There had been no argument from anyone. This was their jurisdiction.
Rick had also notified the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. If a State Attorney was involved in a felony, they would eventually be taking the lead in the investigation. FDLE had been less than excited about the plan but they’d also had previous dealings with Rick and, as a result, trusted his judgment. They were waiting cautiously for the outcome of the meeting.
Gib arrived at the crack of dawn bitching about the ungodly hour while making Josie smile. She poured him some coffee while he and Steve retrieved items from a small canvas bag he’d brought with him.
Josie was handed a throw-away cell for her to use when it came time to contact Deets. Gib produced a pair of earwigs from the bag, similar to the devices she and her coworkers had used to communicate back when she’d worked retail in college. Josie immediately thought of Victoria’s Secret. She wouldn’t be surprised to hear that Gib knew the salesclerks there.
Josie couldn’t place the other items Gib pulled out but guessed they were the microphone and recording device Rick had procured from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Unlike the parabolic mic, this one was tiny so Steve should have no problem hiding it underneath the railing next to the table reserved for their special guest.
Troy, Kevin, and Don arrived shortly after Gib to review the details of the plan with Steve. Troy had been relieved from security at McClaren’s by an off-duty officer and friend of Rick’s. Troy would be a lone sunbather by the pool, allowing for a view of the front of the resort, the parking area, and the bar. He was dressed the part in swim trunks, shades and, a very tight t-shirt. He wouldn’t be alone long once the ladies at the resort spotted him.
Kevin and Don were playing the part of buddies having spent the morning fishing. They would arrive at Flippers around lunch and then sip beers the rest of the afternoon telling fish tales. Once Josie arrived, one of them would attempt to record the meeting surreptitiously. It was unclear how they’d manage that, but Josie kept the question to herself. Text messages would be used to keep in touch. There’d be no reason for Deets to consider it unusual that other patrons were on their phones.
Colt and Rick were remaining on Sanibel. Gib thought it was hysterical that Colt couldn’t join in the fun because of Cat. The woman had been obsessed with becoming part of the sting. “She’d have figured out a way, too, if Colt wasn’t sitting on her,” Gib said with a twinkle in his eye.
Rick was hanging back out of respect for the jurisdiction of others. Gib would be keeping them informed via group text. He’d volunteered to be the conduit for Steve and report to the others. His long blond hair, which he normally wore tied at the base of his neck, would easily hide the earpiece if he left his thick mane loose.
The bartender and other staff would be made aware of the operation. They were long time, trusted employees. The owner had vouched for them. His concern had been for their safety. Rick had assured him they would not be in harm’s way.
Since Steve had already met Deets, he could not openly play a part in the scenario. The resort owners had agreed to add him to the general maintenance staff for the day. He would be keeping the area close to the bar spotless and wearing the other earwig.
Per Steve’s instructions, Josie emailed Deets at 9:00 a.m. and set the time of the meet for three o’clock that afternoon at Flippers. She relayed the pre-paid cell number to Deets in her responding email and instructed him that all future communications would be conducted using that number. It should take him between five and six hours of straight driving to get there.
Fortunately for Josie, Gib stuck around after the others took off to play their roles. He had a few hours before he needed to take up the part of what he’d deemed as “a bar fly.” The man liked to talk and didn’t give Josie time to dwell on what was to come.
***
The dock Steve was cleaning ran the length of the resort and restaurant. It had several places for watercraft to tie up so boaters could stop and enjoy a drink or a meal. Flippers, however, was not at dock level. The restaurant sat several feet above the platform, providing patrons with a breathtaking view of Estero Bay. Still, from his position, Steve could easily see Kevin and Don sitting by the railing as they nursed beers. He didn’t have a view of Gib from this position at the bar but the lady’s man would periodically check in with Steve to tell him all was quiet or complain about missing an opportunity to hit on a “hot chick”. Troy was eye level with Steve, “relaxing” by the pool. Now, if their villain in this scene would finally arrive.
Shortly before the appointed time, a dark sedan pulled into one of the empty spaces near the bar. The driver didn’t opt for the valet parking that was offered for guests. Steve locked onto the vehicle still maintaining his guise of scrubbing the dock. It matched the description of Deets’s car. Sure enough, the door of the Cadillac opened to reveal the man Steve had met in Jacksonville. The State Attorney’s eyes darted over the landscape then focused on his destination: the stairs leading to the bar.
The State Attorney moved out of Steve’s field of vision but Kevin, Don and Gib should have the man in sight. The assumption was confirmed a moment later via Steve’s earpiece. “The asshole has landed,” Gib reported in a hushed voice.
Steve gathered his bucket and cleaning supplies then made his way along the dock, setting up closer to the bar where he would have a clear view of Deets. With the exception of the table they’d designated for Deets, all the tables had been made to appear to be in use or recently vacated. It worked flawlessly.
After briefly looking the place over, Deets settled at the predetermined spot and pulled out his phone. He glanced at the screen then placed it face down on the table as a server approached. After his order was taken, Deets took out a second phone. A burner, probably. He quickly sent a text message. Josie would be receiving it within seconds.
***
Gib had texted Josie the minute Deets had entered the bar. Still, she jumped when the cell phone purchased solely for conversations with Deets pinged. A tiny electrical storm erupted as nerves danced over her skin. Get it under control, girl. She was supposed to be a confident, greedy blackmailer when she sat down with the man. He’d have the upper hand if he thought she was a frightened rabbit.
Wiping her sweating palms on her jeans, Josie grabbed the phone and opened the text message. “Waiting at the designated location.” Damn, the man was careful. No mention of where he was or their names. Why, if he was so cautious, did he want to meet with her face-to-face?
She’d know soon enough.
Josie grabbed the cell phone Gib had picked up for her personal use shortly after she’d arrived on Sanibel and tucked it into the back pocket of her jeans. The burner which had been purchased solely for communications with Deets, was in her hand. The elevator ride to the ground floor was mercifully quick. It wasn’t unusual, she’d been briefed, for guests to stop by the front desk to pick up towels on their way to the pool but right now making small talk with tourists would be a distraction she didn’t need. And, since she was channeling her inner bitch, it wouldn’t be a very pleasant experience for the guests.
She and Steve had tossed around several tracks to get Deets to reveal his part in this Rubik’s Cube of a puzzle. She needed to approach the meeting as she would an interview for a story and still let him believe she was willing to make a profit for her silence. Easier said than done.
Josie needed to ask questions that might lead him to divulge information that would incriminate him. She was supposed to have information Deets was willing to pay to keep buried—or give him a reason to bury her. Don’t go there. After Gib left this morning, she once again reviewed the data she had on Deets and the camp. She needed to lure him out with bait. She was on another fishing expedition. This time, however, it wasn’t with a net. She was going to need a very big hook.
Of course, if the man was accommodating enough to offer Josie a payoff to keep her mouth shut about a crime he’d committed, FDLE would have their case on a silver platter. But Deets was a prosecutor. He’d be very careful how he worded any offer. Then again, research had shown him to be arrogant, which sometimes made people stupid.
Josie straightened her spine and threw back her shoulders as the elevator doors opened. She could do this. This bastard, in a convoluted way, had led her back to Steve. As a result, she had a second chance. A chance Josie had no intention of squandering. Josie recognized the mistakes she’d made and the misconceptions that she had held. But now she saw them clearly and in seeing them, she would be able to maneuver past them. But she and Steve weren’t going anywhere until this threat was no longer hovering over them. So, she would succeed.
Josie turned toward the front entrance. Her route would take her past the glass door that led to the pool where Troy would be watching for her. The plan was for Troy to text Gib, informing him of her imminent arrival as she headed outside.
“Josie, wait.”
Josie stopped then smiled as the voice registered.
“Erica?” she whirled around, the smile freezing on her face as her eyes made contact with the semi-automatic pistol pointed at her chest. “What the hell?”
“Move!”
“What? Why?” Her knees began shaking so hard she could almost hear them clacking together.
“You managed to fuck up one of my plans. I’m not going to let you screw with my current one.”
It took a second but then the light came on in Josie’s attic. “You’re the one blackmailing Deets?”
“We don’t have time to discuss this here.” Erica motioned with her gun. “Move!”