Chapter 25

 

I’d gone back to my place. Jake was finishing up a few things and then we were having dinner. After dinner I planned to slip away and go back to the beach house. For now I planned to take a long shower to try to relieve the stress of what had happened. I wished I had a bath to soak in, but my place couldn’t spare the space for that. There was barely room to even move in the stand-up shower.

Since I didn’t have space for a dining room table, I thought Jake and I could have a picnic outside. There was a picnic table outside in the courtyard that belonged to everyone who lived in the apartment building. I dressed in white shorts, a blue t-shirt, and my favorite pair of flip-flops. While I waited for Jake, I decided to check my email. I needed something to take my mind off things. I hoped he’d be back soon. I didn’t want to be alone right now. Not after the day I’d had.

When I checked my email I had a message from detective who had been working the case involving my father. It had been a cold case, but since I’d been looking into things again I’d gotten the police department to reopen it. Jake and I were taking a trip to Kentucky soon to speak with a man who claimed he had information about my father’s murderer. We had to wait until after this case was solved though. It would be strange going back to the place that I had lived as a young girl. It had been many years since I’d been there. My heart ached at the thought of what could have been if my father hadn’t been murdered. I missed him every day. Unfortunately, there was no way to change the past.

Dorothy texted and wanted to come get me. She said we could have dinner with Morton. As sweet as that was, I just needed a casual evening at home. My eyelids grew heavy and I almost dozed off sitting at the desk in front of my computer.

Maybe I should lie on the bed for a quick nap. No, if I did that I’d probably sleep until the morning. I really wanted to have dinner with Jake.

My phone rang and that snapped me to attention. I recognized the number and couldn’t believe my eyes. It was Cora’s number. Was it really her calling? Or did someone have her phone?

I answered the call. “Cora, is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me.”

“What are you doing? Where are you?” I asked.

“Don’t call the police, Maggie.”

That was an odd thing for her to say.

“Are you in some kind of trouble?” I asked.

“I just need you to come and get me. You can’t bring the police though.”

I didn’t like the sound of this. Cora had seemed so desperate. Now I believed all of that was a lie. I had to find out why. She wasn’t in danger at all. Unless she considered going to clubs and dancing dangerous.

“Okay, I can come and get you. Where are you?”

“Remember, don’t bring the police,” she said.

“I got it. I won’t tell anyone.”

Cora gave me the address.

“I’ll be there soon,” I said.

“Hurry,” she said and then hung up.

I wanted to tell Jake about this. Especially after what had happened on the boat today. I was torn though. Since Cora had asked me to come alone, I would do as she wished. I grabbed my handbag, keys, and then headed for my car. It was about thirty minutes from here so I wanted to get going as soon as possible. Once in the car, I headed out down Biscayne Boulevard. I still couldn’t understand why she wanted me to come alone. I hoped this wasn’t some kind of setup. My mind went into overdrive as I made my way to the address she had given.

I hadn’t even let Dorothy know where I was headed. I’d told Jake I needed to run out for a couple things and that I would be back soon. I didn’t like that I was deceiving him, but it couldn’t be avoided. I merged off the highway and found the street she had given me. My anxiety increased the closer I got to the number. It was a high-rise with condos, though she had told me to meet her at the pool located at the back of the building. It was a weird request.

I managed to locate a parking spot. I parked the car and got out. I traveled around the building and located the pool area. It was surrounded by lounge chairs, a few palm trees, and landscaping.

There was no one at the pool. I didn’t see Cora anywhere. The pool area was surrounded by a little black fence. I walked up to the gate and entered. I scanned the area, but didn’t see a sign of anyone. The water sparkled in the setting sunshine. It would be dark soon. I really didn’t want to be here when it was dark. I didn’t really want to be here when it was light either.

I walked around the pool area. “Cora, are you here?”

What was I thinking—that she was hiding behind one of the palm trees? I was shocked that no one was at the pool area. Maybe she had stepped back into the condo building for a moment? I was getting a strange vibe from the situation. I dialed her number, but she didn’t answer. I decided to take a seat on one of the lounge chairs. If she didn’t show up soon I would walk inside and check for her.

I tapped my fingertips on the arm of the chair. Next, I checked the time on my phone. Only a minute had passed. I would give her five more minutes until I went inside looking for her. I had already decided that if I didn’t find her in there I was calling Jake. Even if she had told me not to involve the police. What other option did I have?

I checked the time on my phone one more time before someone wrapped their hand around my mouth from behind. I tried to scream, but the sound was muted by the hand. I couldn’t see who was behind me. Was it Cora? Was that why she had told me not to involve the police? I tried to get away, but the person had a good grip on me. Didn’t anyone see us struggling?

I tumbled out of the chair and hit the pavement. The person was dragging me across the pool area. Where were they taking me? I fought more but this person was strong. I really didn’t think it was Cora. I was almost sure she wasn’t this freakishly strong.

There was an area by the pool that was enclosed by concrete walls. It held the pool equipment and pool pump. The person tossed me inside the area like a bag of trash. Once I landed on the ground I looked up at the person who had tossed me inside. To my surprise, it was Garrett Smith, the man who I’d thought had kidnapped Cora. Now he was kidnapping me? Why was he doing this? Was he upset because I was trying to solve the case? He didn’t speak to me as he placed tape over my mouth.

I tried to overpower him, but he grabbed my hands and tied them together with more duct tape. Next, he put the tape on my ankles. What did he have planned for me? Had he been the one responsible for Robert’s death? Fear rippled down my spine. He walked out of the room and left me there alone. Even if my mouth hadn’t been covered with tape I doubted anyone would hear me because the pump was so loud. I wiggled my arms and tried to get the duct tape off. It was on my wrists tight.

I looked around the small space to see if there was anything that would help me get out of the restraints. There was a net to fish things out of the pool. That wouldn’t help. The sound of footsteps came from the other side of the door. Garrett came back into the small area.

He stared at me. “I guess you want to know why I have you here?”

I nodded. His voice sounded strange, as if he was trying to disguise it. That didn’t make sense. He spoke deep, as if using the lower part of his throat.

“Well, too bad. I can’t tell you that right now.”

Now he was playing with me. What a sick man. He walked out of the tiny space.

What was he doing out there? This left me alone with my thoughts again. I didn’t want to be remembered as a bad detective. But honestly, it would look like I was pretty bad at the job when they found me murdered in the pool pump house. I just couldn’t win in this situation. I had to get away. But what could I do? I had to get my wrists untied first. Just as I was about to try again he came back into the room.

“I guess you want to know what I’m waiting for before I get rid of you?”

I shook my head again. Although by no means did I want to rush it.

“I’m waiting for someone to help me. We’re going to take you out of here. I can’t decide if I should kill you here or wait until we get you out of there. I suppose I will discuss it with the person who’s here to help me.”

Who was going to help him? I wasn’t in any hurry to find out. The faster I found out, the faster they would kill me.

“Okay, wait right there and I’ll be right back.” He held up his index finger and then walked out of the area again.

Yeah, right. Where would I go? I probably only had a few seconds until he would return. I had to do something fast. Again, I looked around to see if I missed something.

I scooted over to the pool pump. Once next to it I placed my wrists against one of the pipes that had a sharp metal piece sticking out from it and wiggled them up and down. I was hoping that this would break the tape around my wrists. To my surprise, it was actually working. The tape was getting looser. A tiny spark of hope filled my thoughts. Unfortunately, the door rattled and I scurried back over to the spot where he had left me.

When he stepped into the room he scowled. He was suspicious of me. I just hoped he didn’t check the tape around my wrists. If he knew I had them loose he would put even more tape around them. Before he had a chance to say anything his cell phone rang.

“Where are you?” he asked when he picked up.

He walked out of the room. I scooted over to the pool pump again. My anxiety was high as I worked on the tape again. I only had a few seconds to get this done before he would be back again.

I wiggled my wrists up and down again. Finally, the tape broke free. I didn’t have time to get to the tape on my feet though. He was coming, so I scooted back over to the spot. He peeked into the room at me. His eyebrow rose. He was still on the phone. I supposed he was satisfied with what he saw because he backed out of the room. He had forgotten to take my phone from my pocket. I slipped it out and tried to dial a number. He was coming back though. So I had to put it back into my pocket and pretend that I was still tied up.

I shoved my hands behind my back. I kept that terrified look on my face as he stared at me. As soon as he walked away from the door, I pulled the phone from my pocket again. The screen was showing that I had dialed someone. I guessed I’d made a butt dial. Unfortunately, it was Dorothy. I knew she would be freaking out now.

“Can’t talk now, Dorothy, I’ll call you back.”

I ended that call and hit redial for Jake’s number. The rings seemed endless while I waited for him to answer. When he didn’t pick up I panicked a little. I was sure the voicemail I left sounded panicked.

“I’m in a pool house at the Miami Blue Towers. Garrett Smith is trying to kill me.”

I clicked off the call and bunny-hopped toward the door. This wouldn’t work. I had to get the tape off my ankles. I knew he would return at any second. Reaching down I picked at the tape. Once I got it started I ripped the piece off. He’d done a sloppy job with that one. Without looking, I rushed out the door. Many emotions overwhelmed me as I escaped the pool area. Fear, hope, and anger. The closer I got to my car the angrier I got. How dare he try to kidnap me?

When I glanced back to see I he was back there I spotted him watching me from pool’s gate. He held the phone up to his ear and kept his focus on me. Darkness had taken over the sky now. Instead of heading to the police station I pointed the car toward that beach house. I had to know what was going on at that house.