| |
Tyler balanced on the edge of his hospital bed. A bag holding the few things he had set next to him. Where was the nurse? Jessica and Gabe should be here soon, he was worried they hadn’t called.
The now familiar squeak of the door heralded Captain Rothschild’s entrance. The tall, gray haired man walked with purpose. One of the first things Tyler had noticed when they’d met. It didn’t matter if the Cap was walking across his office. His stride was strong and purposeful.
He took a chair and faced Tyler. Abe ran his hand through his hair and smiled. Tyler thought he looked tired.
“Have you heard from Gabe?”
“Not yet, they should be arriving soon.” Abe sat as if in thought for a moment. “We’re going to have someone visit the island with the girls. See if one of them will talk to us.”
“Are you sending Gabe?” Tyler itched to get to work. He was bored out of his mind. He was also weak as a puppy.
“No. We’re going to send Shaun Kincaid.”
“DeLuca’s father-in-law?”
“Yes, he’s been asking us for years to find something on Hancock linking him to DeLuca so he can get his daughter and granddaughter away from him.”
“Except... if what you think is true, then Rosa is in cahoots with her father.” Tyler stood and winced. God, he felt like a wuss.
“Careful you don’t want to reinjure yourself.”
Tyler gave his captain a disgruntled look, then made his way to the window. “I’ll be fine. Tell me the rest.”
“As soon as Gabe has returned we’re going to meet at Kincaid’s place, no chance of a bug there. It’s perfect, because Kincaid hasn’t seen his granddaughter since she left the states. If she’s home, he doesn’t know where she is. Detective Solomon will be the only other person in on what we’re doing.”
“I want to be there. I want to get DeLuca and put him away for good. When I think of those young girls, it makes me sick. Not to mention the drugs he’s bringing into the country.”
“You need to get some rest. I hear you’re going to recuperate at your parents’ home.”
“God help me, yes.” He turned to look at Abe. “My mother is going to smother me. I may still be weak, but at least let me in on the planning. Gabe can pick me up.”
Abe considered him for a moment. Tyler couldn’t tell what his thoughts were, but if he didn’t do something he’d be ready for the loony bin.
“We’ll see what the doctor has to say.”
Tyler scowled at him. It wasn’t as if he’d be running the north forty or anything. He’d be sitting in a damn room with the rest of them and talking. How exhausting would that be?
Abe had left the door open, so there had been no announcing squeak when Gabe and Jessica walked in. Tyler saw their reflection in the window and swung around, almost losing his balance.
“Where’s Keira?”
“Ty, please come to the bed and sit down.”
His stomach rolled. It wasn’t the words she’d said but the expression on her face. Something had happened. He walked slowly to the bed and did as asked.
He settled himself on the bed, after moving his bag to the table. “What?”
“Looks like you have your entourage present.” Doctor Cameron laughed at his little joke.
He’d entered before anyone could answer Tyler’s question. He pulled the metal file from its position at the end of the bed and flipped through it.
“Already packed to go, huh?” He nodded toward the bag on the table, then looked at the page. “Your vitals seem to indicate it’s all right.”
Doctor Cameron turned to Jessica. “Are you here to take your brother home?”
“I just returned from out-of-town and stopped by to see him. I didn’t know he would be ready so soon. Are you sure?”
The doctor frowned and turned to Tyler, “Are you liable to do something I won’t like?”
“No. I need to go home.”
Doctor Cameron looked around the room at each of them, as if trying to decide what was going on. He cleared his throat, “There’s no reason you can’t go home. I want you on leave from work for six weeks.”
“I’ll make sure the papers are filed.” Abe told the doctor.
Doctor Cameron snapped the file closed and walked to the door. “It’s settled then, I’ll have your discharge papers filled out so you can go.”
The squeak of the door died and, in its wake, silence settled over the room. Tyler waited to hear what they’d found.
“Tyler, I’m so sorry.” Jessica’s chest swelled on an intake of breath, huge tears welled and slithered down her cheeks.
“What? Why are you crying, for God’s sake tell me where Keira is.”
Gabe put his arm around Jessica and glared at Tyler as if he’d done something wrong. The captain stood. His expression more grim than it had been when he arrived. Abe walked to the door. He knew something, Tyler thought.
“Gabe I want a full report of what happened in Nebraska on my desk in the morning.” He directed the rest to Tyler. “I want you to rest and I’ll let you know the time we’re meeting with Kincaid tomorrow, Gabe you’ll be driving him.”
Jessica straightened away from Gabe as soon as the door shut and stared at the closed portal. Slowly she turned her stare on Tyler. “Did I just hear that right? You’re not going anywhere tomorrow. I’ll make sure you stay in bed if I have to tie you down.”
“Jessica, I don’t want to talk about that and you know it.” He slid off the bed, hands on hips, wobbled, steadied, and waited.
Jessica sighed, pushed Gabe into a chair and sat herself. She looked up at Tyler, “Sit down and I’ll tell you.”
“I’m fine where I am, tell me.”
Gabe patted Jessica’s knee and turned to Tyler. “We found Dexter. Keira had been there but was already gone.”
“Where did she go? Is that what you’re afraid to tell me? You can’t find her again?”
“I wish. We know where she is.”
Instead of speaking, Gabe unfolded the paper he’d been holding, stood and spread it on the bed. Keira’s picture stared at Tyler from the page. Above in bold letters FBI Most Wanted Keira Cavanaugh Jumped to Her Death.
Tyler forced his hands to stop shaking so he could read the words. His knees weakened. He leaned into the bed for support. Something was wrong. He scanned the article again. He didn’t know how long it took him to read the damn thing, then read the piece a second time, he didn’t care. The words weren’t true. He’d stake his life on it. Keira was alive.
He stared at Jessica, then his gaze slid to Gabe. “It’s not true. They haven’t found her body. If, and this is a huge if, she did jump someone forced her.”
“No, read it again, the part about the officer who found her purse.”
Tyler looked and found where Gabe meant, reread. “Officer Freeman said he had seen the young woman gazing out of the bridge earlier. She had smiled at him and strolled away. He had been certain she wasn’t a jumper.”
“No one forced her Ty, I’m sorry.” His sister’s voice filled with pain on his behalf.
“She’s not dead. Keira wouldn’t have committed suicide. I know for a fact she wouldn’t. If DeLuca’s men don’t have her... then she faked her suicide.”
Tyler’s sense of dread left and in its wake determination to find the woman he loved. “How did Dexter seem?”
“Ty, they found her clothes, everything. She’s gone, you have to face the fact.”
“No I don’t. She’s not dead. Now, Jess, let’s get home, I have some resting to do. Then I’ll find her.”
Jessica looked at Gabe and shrugged her shoulders. Tyler could tell that they both thought he was in denial, but the sooner he was better, the sooner he’d find Dexter Brown. Her friend knew where to find her. For the moment he knew she was safe.
“Okay, let’s go then. Gabe grab his bag, Ty, here’s the nurse with your papers and wheelchair.”
Tyler turned to find the older woman waiting to wheel him out. How humiliating. “Do I have to ride in that thing?”
She actually smiled. A very wicked smile. “Yes.”
They found Gabe parked in front by the time the sadistic nurse wheeled him to the sliding doors of the hospital. Tyler’s knuckles were white from holding onto the armrests. Who said old women were slow had never met Nurse Sadie Hawkins.
Jessica helped him out of the chair. “You okay, you look a little flushed.”
Sadie turned and wheeled the chair away, wicked laughter following in her wake. Jessica and Gabe both turned at the sound and frowned.
“God, no wonder you’re ready to come home.” Gabe started the car, put it into gear and pulled into the traffic.
*****
Tyler sat on his bed to catch his breath. How in hell could it be so hard to put a damn pair of jeans on? You’d think he’d just run a mile the way he was huffing and puffing.
“What do you think you’re doing, young man?”
“Hi Mom.” Tyler pushed away from the bed, hoping he made it look easier than the chore felt. “Gabe’s going to pick me up. I need to get out of the house, I have cabin fever.”
“You only got home from the hospital yesterday. Where are you really going?”
“To visit the captain. You know, nothing official.” It wasn’t really a lie.
Gabe walked in before she could say anything. “Hi Mrs. B., Jessica let me in. Ready Ty?”
“Yes, let’s go.” Tyler gritted his teeth, straightened to his full height, leaned in to give his mother a kiss on the cheek as he passed.
Once in the car he let his jaw ease and his breath hissed out through his teeth. His head dropped to the rest, and his eyes closed.
“Pretty painful? Did you take anything?” Gabe backed out of the drive, careful for the kids playing ball in the street.
“No, I wanted to remember everything. Do you think we have a chance to bring in DeLuca?”
“I think as long as his daughter, if that’s who’s working on the inside, doesn’t find out we do.”
“Do you think the leak could be someone’s girlfriend?” Tyler asked without opening his eyes.
“If you were on a case would you discuss it with Keira?”
Tyler finally opened his eyes and rolled his head to look at Gabe. “No, you know I wouldn’t. For one thing I wouldn’t want her in danger.”
Gabe threw him a smile, “You didn’t discuss the case while in the safe house?”
Tyler grunted, “Fine, I discussed her case. She insisted on being informed, better to protect herself if something happened. And it did.”
Gabe nodded. “Point taken. But if you’d been on a case that didn’t involve her, you wouldn’t. So it has got to be someone in the department, either the precinct or the feds.”
“Who do you think the leak is?”
“I honestly don’t know.” Gabe shook his head, disgust evident over his features. “I think I have it figured out. And then she, meaning the person I’ve decided it is, says or does something that makes me think I’m wrong.”
Gabe turned the corner, then pulled into a drive and stopped at the gate. The window slid down, and he leaned out to press a button.
“Can I help you?” A masculine voice came from the speaker.
“Agents, Despain and Beckett to see Mr. Kincaid, we have an appointment.”
Large black gates gently swung wide, Gabe inched the car forward. The drive circled around a large lawn to the front of a pillared mansion.
Tyler whistled under his breath. “Impressive.”
“Yeah. No wonder DeLuca married Rosalee Kincaid.”
Tyler threw a hand over his heart and looked at Gabe mockingly. “Are you saying the man doesn’t love his wife?”
Gabe rolled his eyes, threw the gear into park and climbed out. Tyler unlatched his seat belt, pushed his door open and, after several attempts, managed to haul himself from the car. He hobbled after Gabe to the door where he waited.
Sixteen-foot double doors swung open and a regal butler showed them to the study where the others were. Tyler limped slower in Gabe’s wake. Another tall pair of doors opened to reveal Detective Solomon and the captain had arrived ahead of time.
“Here they are now.”
A large, tawny haired man stood and extended his hand. “I’m Shaun Kincaid, welcome to my home.”
Gabe introduced himself and shook the man’s hand. Shaun indicated that Gabe help himself to a drink at the bar.
“You must be Tyler Beckett. Why don’t you sit here? Since this is informal and, as of yet, not official, what would you like to drink and I’ll get it for you.”
Tyler didn’t want to cloud his judgment with alcohol any more than he had with his pain killers. “I’ll be fine with a glass of water. Thank you.”
He was handed a glass of water and then everyone took their seats. Tyler figured they had been waiting for the two of them to arrive before starting their discussion.
“I’ve felt for years my son-in-law was not who he claimed to be. When Rosalee first introduced him I did a thorough background check. It was perfect. Too perfect. I couldn’t find anything wrong with it. I also couldn’t find anyone from his past who remembered anyone by the name of Jamison Hancock.”
“Are you sure you want to get involved? We may prove Antonio DeLuca is behind the prostitution on the private island, and it has nothing to do with Jamison. Or find out it’s all Jamison and he’s not Antonio.” Captain Abe Rothschild was a big man, but even he wasn’t as tall as Kincaid.
Kincaid set his glass of wine on a side table. “Look, you told me Detective Solomon’s source said the ship left from one of the private docks of Hancock Industries. I’m in. I’ve done a little search on the island.”
Abe sent the man a questioning glance. “What type of search? I’ve told you everything we know.”
“I Googled young island girls and guess what I found.” Kincaid laughed and shook his head as if he remembered whatever he found struck him funny at the time. “The island has a name, can anyone guess?”
David hadn’t spoken since Tyler and Gabe walked in, now he shrugged. “I spoke with Captain LeRoy, of the Coast Guard, he didn’t mention a name. He did say it was for rich playboys. Is that the name, Playboy Island?”
Kincaid chuckled again. “You’re close. It’s like the old series with Ricardo Montalban, Fantasy Island. I guess it’s where all your fantasies come true.”
Tyler couldn’t help but chuckle with the rest of them, although the situation was anything but funny. After a moment, Abe asked the burning question that had to be on all of their minds.
“How do you get an invitation?”
“No invitation. It’s all about the money.”
Abe sighed and scratched his forehead with the tip of his index finger. “Before you tell me, I need to warn you, the government doesn’t give me an unlimited budget to catch the bad guys.”
“That’s no problem. I plan to foot the bill.” Shaun twisted his laptop around so everyone had a view of a beautiful island. “Maybe I shouldn’t tell you how much.”
Abe shook his head, “I’ll need to know, and draw up papers you’ll need to sign, releasing the department of any reimbursement.”
At Kincaid’s scowl the captain shrugged. “Sorry, department bullshit. What will the damage be?”
“It’s ten grand a night.”
Tyler coughed up the water he had just swallowed. Luckily, it went down the front of his shirt and not onto the pristine carpet. “Ten grand?”
Kincaid handed a towel to Tyler. He smiled his thanks and returned his attention to the conversation.
“Apparently the owner screens his guests, and one of the prerequisites is to have enough money to stay a week. No one is allowed to come in for a quickie.”
Tyler quickly did the math. “Jesus, that’s seventy grand if we’re talking seven nights.”
“We are. I’ve had one of my investigators on it. He hasn’t been able to come up with proof of where the owner buys his girls, but he did find the island is owned by a west coast corporation.”
David, who had been taking notes, leaned toward Kincaid. “Did you get the name of the company, or the CEO?”
“My man’s working on it. He said the name on the deed is a company owned by another company, etc. The real owner is so buried it is taking more time than we’d planned.”
Abe stood, strode across the room, then abruptly turned. “We need to get to one of those girls. If it really is as comfortable as we’ve heard, once they lose their fear, they may not be cooperative.”
David turned to Kincaid. “That’s true, Captain LeRoy said sometimes the girls choose not to leave, and stay to work in the office, some work in the spa. Best to move fast.”
Gabe looked at Tyler and nodded, then announced, “I want to be on the ship or wherever, so we can monitor your progress.”
Kincaid considered for a moment. “I don’t think I should be wired in any way. If they’re careful, they do background checks. They deal with only the wealthiest of men, I’m sure I’ll have to go through some kind of screening.”
Abe nodded his head in agreement. “He’s right. The owner is going to guard his client’s privacy. We’re going to have to tread very carefully.”
“The good thing is my man hasn’t found any connection with DeLuca. If Detective Solomon’s source hadn’t been there on the dock, we wouldn’t have known. I don’t think he owns it, I think he’s just the supplier.” Shaun scratched his chin with his index finger, “Unless DeLuca owns the west coast company too.”
Abe finally gave up his pacing, which he’d been doing for the past several minutes. Tyler was ready to jump up and trail him. Abe walked to his seat and sat down.
Tyler waited for him to speak and when he didn’t, he voiced his worry. “We know DeLuca doesn’t own the island, he’s the supplier. However, it doesn’t mean he wouldn’t take advantage of the hospitality as a guest.”
Kincaid didn’t look worried at the prospect. “As your captain said, the owners guard their clients. Anonymity is the name of the game. All the villas are private, beaches, recreation areas, everything. You have your pick of your companion, she’s the only person you see the week you are there. It’s a honeymoon without a wife.”
Tyler shuddered. “They’re just young girls. They don’t want to be with old men.” The hot blush burned from his neck to climb to the roots of his hair. “I’m sorry sir, I didn’t mean any disrespect. I didn’t mean you. I’m sure there’s young women aplenty that would find you attractive.” God, now he was babbling like a damn idiot.
A deep throaty laugh erupted from the older man. “Tyler, it’s fine, I feel the same way. I like my women a lot older than their teens.”
Tyler knew Shaun Kincaid was a widower. From time to time he made it into the New York Times society page with a beautiful woman on his arm.
“Sorry,” Tyler muttered again.
Tyler was relieved when Kincaid let the subject drop. He turned to David. “Can your source describe one of the new girls?”
“I won’t know until I ask, but I think he could,” David said.
“Good, find out and I’ll request someone who fits the description.” Kincaid took another sip of his drink.
“How long does it take to get a reservation?” The captain questioned.
“I’ve already got reservations for the day after tomorrow. I’m flying in my private jet. I figured they would search it. But...” Kincaid looked at the captain and then around the room. “If you remember Abe, I helped the feds a few years back? I still have a secret compartment fitted for bringing in people under the radar of security.”
Tyler raised his brow at Gabe. Apparently, he was just as surprised. “Is that where you will hide us?”
Kincaid turned to Tyler. “Are you in good enough condition to leave tomorrow?”
“I’d be able to monitor. You can’t wear a wire, but if you have that type of compartment on your plane, it must contain the highest level of technology.”
“You have a smart agent here, Captain.”
“Yes, I do.” Abe turned to Tyler. “I don’t think it’s wise for you to go. You’re just out of the hospital.”
“I’d just be sitting at home. I might as well be useful.”
“If you leave him, he’ll probably go traipsing off to Nebraska to look for Keira.” Gabe added.
Kincaid stood and walked to the bar. “Isn’t that the woman who committed suicide?”
“Tyler doesn’t believe she did. He thinks she staged it.” Gabe informed him.
“If that’s true, she’s a very clever girl,” Abe said.
“She’s smart. But I know without a doubt she didn’t kill herself. I think she’s safe for now. I need to get DeLuca behind bars. Then I can bring her home. She thinks I’m dead. And if I know Keira, she’s going after DeLuca herself. ” Tyler struggled out of the chair and stood. “Please Abe, let me help.”
Abe considered him for several long seconds that seemed like a lifetime to Tyler. “All right.”
Tyler sank to his chair in relief. Now he knew he’d be included. He asked the question that had been bothering him ever since the Cap had told him Kincaid would be helping. “Don’t you have a picture of your granddaughter? Then we would know if she’s working at the station or the agency.”
Abe raised his brow in Kincaid’s direction then swung his gaze to Tyler. “The Rosa I remember would not be working at the station.” He sighed and ran fingers through the hair above his ear. “I wish I knew her enough to be so positive now.”
Tyler swallowed, then shrugged, “I’m sorry, I forget how hard this must be for you.”
Shaun Kincaid went to his desk pulled a drawer open, then walked to give Tyler a picture. He stared at the very young dark haired girl gazing solemnly at him.
Tyler handed it back, “She can’t be more than ten in the picture.”
“No, she’s sixteen, but that’s the most recent picture. I get all my news about my granddaughter from my daughter. It’s like DeLuca is keeping her away from both me and Rosalee. I probably wouldn’t recognize her if I passed her in the street. I need to get her back.” Shaun looked away for a moment, when he turned around Tyler could see the determination etched in his features.
Then planning flew by for Tyler. Everything determined down to the last detail. By the time he walked with Gabe to the car he was exhausted and just wanted his bed.