Desperate Measures (16 page)

Tomas, smirking from the front passenger seat, spoke up. “Once we nail this bastard, you and Pam should stay a few extra days. Who knows you might get caught up in the romance of this island and you two can return for your honeymoon.”

Chris turned his head and shot Tomas a death glare. “What the hell are you talking about? Pam and I are professionals! A personal relationship between us could get someone killed!”

“Whoa! Whoa! Settle down, I hit a nerve and the truth, didn’t I? You and Pam are an item, aren’t you?”

Despite the heat Chris turned pale and then acquiesced to Tomas’ accusations. “Yes, there’s something starting between us but we keep our personal relationship separated from work.”

Tomas reassured him. “Hey you don’t have to convince me. I am surprised though. From what I know about you, you’re some sort of a super hero, indestructible and a force to be reckoned with.” Tomas laughed then continued to jab at Chris. “It’s comforting to know you’re a mere mortal like the rest of us, susceptible to weaknesses. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Barry. I know how firm he is about inter-company relationships.”

“Thanks, man. You have no idea how strictly Barry enforces that policy. It’s stated in bold letters and highlighted in our employment contracts. I assure you I’m here to protect the Martel’s and nothing can cloud my judgment.”

“I know you’re a pro and can deal with it,” Tomas said.

* * * *

Earlier he’d been one upped by Chris, now the roles had been reversed. Tomas contemplated the situation and became silent. Like a good FBI agent, he stored the information away in his memory. It might come in handy in the future.

Chris turned to look at Scott for further reassurance. Scott nodded and joined the conversation. “I’m cool with this, too. Neither my father-in-law, or Barry will know about you and Pam, at least not from me. Besides, I have the perfect solution to the issue.”

“Oh, what’s that?” Chris sneered.

“Quite simple, you join the FBI and then there’ll be no conflict with Barry.”

Chris laughed. “You’re smooth and persistent. I’m flattered to be in such high demand. Pam and I will work this out. She may go back to college and get her law degree.”

* * * *

Sitting on the rear bench seat of the boat, Caitlin and Pam were having a similar conversation.

“Caitlin, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Chris and I are partners sent here to safeguard you and your family. Last night was just a show with me and Chris, or I should say Kathryn and Pete on their honeymoon. Barry doesn’t tolerate relationships among co-workers. Your father wanted to make sure all of you were protected from this maniac that’s on the loose. If Jack or Barry knew Chris and I were involved, I’d be out the door. Chris is too valuable to the organization.”

That last rambling statement confirmed it. Caitlin had picked up on the glances and vibes between Chris and Pam. While Chris drove the boat, Pam could hardly take her eyes off of his broad muscled back. An innocent question posed about their relationship turned into a defensive recitation.

“Whew! That was a mouthful and you know the saying those who protest too much…” Caitlin reached over and patted Pam’s hand. “I won’t grill you anymore for details but be assured I’m not going to say anything to my father or Barry. If Barry hired you, I’m sure you two are professionals and put the case or subject, in this case me, first. The eye contact and chemistry between you and Chris isn’t an act. I can tell that. I just met you but you seem like a great person, just be happy.”

“Thanks,” Pam said to Caitlin. “I liked working as a detective and love my position at BS Investigations but I really want to get my law degree. I’ve applied to NYU and Fordham University, trying to stay in the New York area. If I can’t get into either of those law schools I’ll branch out to other universities.”

Caitlin absorbed what Pam said but the sting of last night’s false pretenses still hurt. Who was really who? She refused to let the incident rattle her confidence and judge of character. She had a knack for reading people and that’s what made her such a good manager and leader. She was criticized and questioned on her decision to hire Brad Tessell but she’d made the decision to hire him from her gut and intuition. Caitlin’s gut told her Pam had good intentions and took her job seriously, despite her deceit.

After a few seconds of silence, Caitlin chuckled. “That’s great and will resolve violating any of Barry’s Code of Ethics!”

While Caitlin and Pam had their heart to heart discussion, Scott managed to slip down into the cabin. Scott kept track of weather reports with the obsession of a fanatic. Caitlin mercilessly teased him that he should’ve been a weatherman instead of an FBI agent. He could predict the arrival of a storm quicker than he could identify the culprit in an investigation. Scott had seen the weather advisory this morning and knew about the strong storm that had developed with speed in the Atlantic. He pulled out his cell-phone and hit speed dial for Jack.

“Scott, dude, how ya doin’? Got any good waves rolling off the Atlantic and uh are you and everybody okay?”

Scott grimaced and cursed under his breath at the sound of his brother-in-law’s greeting. His wife’s brother got under his skin like no one else could. The guy was just so damn juvenile for his age. Scott couldn’t bring himself to make the effort of small talk, so he skipped false pretenses. “Dean, there’s a fucking hurricane out there, put Jack on the phone now!”

“Geez! Nice to talk to you too, I’ll get Dad.”

“Scott?” Jack whispered into the phone.

“Are you sure he isn’t adopted?” Appalled at what he’d said, Scott apologized. “Oh sorry, Jack, I didn’t mean anything by that statement, it just slipped out.”

The threats were enough and now he had this hurricane to push his buttons. He blamed his reaction on that damn Dean.

Jack laughed, apparently not offended. “No he’s not but there are times I ask myself the same thing. If he didn’t look just like Constance’s father, I’d swear he’s not mine and had been switched at birth. Now on a serious note, anything developed yet?”

“Nothing else has happened down here but the agents Barry sent down were pegged and Caitlin knows.”

“I’m sure Caitlin’s fuming.” Jack surmised.

“She was at first but backed off. I think she’s more embarrassed than anything right now.” Scott filled Jack in on the events of the evening before.

“You’re shitting me, right? She didn’t go ballistic and kill you, oops now my turn for a blunder of a comment.”

“Nope, but I can tell she’s stewing internally. Hopefully, I made her realize that she can trust no one. Back to the main reason I called, you’ve been keeping up with the weather and know what’s out there, right?”

“I’ve seen the latest advisory and it’s now officially a Category one. The path is projected toward the Northern Caribbean, over the Bahamas and could make US landfall anywhere from Key West to Savannah, Georgia. It looks like you’re out of the path in St. Kitts, Barbados too which is where Barry’s headed tomorrow,” Jack said.

“I know about Barry’s trip but this storm scares the hell out of me. I still quiver when I hear the names Jeanne or Frances.”

In September of 2004 Hutchinson Island, Stuart, Florida sustained two direct hurricane hits three weeks apart.

Jack agreed. “Me too. Don’t forget Wilma in 2005. We didn’t get the direct hit but she came in on the West Coast of Florida, picked up speed over Lake Okeechobee, and buzz sawed right toward us, doing more damage than the other two.”

“Christ, if this thing hits like they’re predicting,” Scott rambled, “I don’t know how much more that island can take. The beaches are finally back to normal and filled in with sand. The house was built to withstand one hundred seventy-five mile per hour winds and is elevated to disperse the tidal surge around the sides.”

“Scott, worry about your family, our family right now. I’ve already called the guys you have to put the shutters up every year. You’re first on the list. When the storm warnings go up they’ll be out there in a minute. Is there anything I need to get from inside or do with the pool?”

“The team I hired will half drain the pool so that in the unfortunate event of the ocean reaching the house, the pool will act as a buffer to prevent the surge from crashing into the house. The only thing you could do is get our packed boxes of valuable papers and pictures. They’re in the storage space inside of Caitlin’s closet.”

“Do you want me and Constance to empty out the refrigerator if we go to mandatory evacuation?” Jack inquired.

“No, after going eleven days without power before, I had a generator put in. It’s set to auto, so if the power goes out for any reason it kicks on automatically for some necessities, the fridge of course is one. What are you and Constance going to do if it comes to getting the hell out of dodge again? If we are out of the threat just get your asses down here, you’re coming in two weeks anyway.”

“Don’t forget Dean.” Jack and Scott both laughed. Jack, composed and serious now, responded, “I’m keeping a close eye on the updates of this storm. We may go to Atlanta to see Daniel. Amy is due to give birth soon, don’t say anything but she’s having complications and is bedridden.”

“Oh man, is the baby going to be all right?”

“The baby should be fine and Amy too, she just needs to take it easy until she goes into labor.” Jack sighed. “By the way, I don’t think you want us down there anyway. It won’t just be me, Constance, and Dean. We’ll most likely have another guest with us thanks to you.”

“What other guest? Who’re you talking about?” Scott’s curiosity grew.

“Well let me tell you it’s none other than your friend Ray, the widower you introduced Dean to the last time he was in town. Dean got in yesterday, went gambling with his mother, got here said ‘Hi Dad’, and immediately called Ray, the party animal. Do I need to fill in anymore blanks?”

“Not a one, I’ll finish. Ray is rich as shit and most generous with the money his wife left him when she died. My guess is that Dean had an expensive night out, dinner and drinking all on Ray’s dime, some dancing, and most importantly hooking up with good looking girls. Did I leave anything out?”

Jack answered, “Yeah, one major part of the plot! Ray came over here. He and Dean walked down to the beach bar, Shuckers, in the resort just north of our building. They had a bit too much fun and succeeded in the hooking up part. I got up early this morning to take a walk on the beach and literally stumbled over all four of them. The sun hadn’t completely come up and I managed to shake them all awake and get them the hell off the beach before any of the neighbors saw. The girls were embarrassed but sober and left. The other two are still snoring away, one in each of the guest rooms.”

Jack and Scott both said in unison and laughed, “That damn Dean!”

“Jack, you must feel like a young whippersnapper, still raising a college student or should I say two, now that you have Ray under your roof. I bet Constance will make them one of her special breakfasts, won’t she?”

“Don’t get me started. You know how she loves to cook when we have company. She has eggs benedict all ready to go once those lazy asses finally get out of bed. I had a piece of toast and coffee. Hang in there, and we’ll keep in touch from here.”

Scott put the phone away and tried to shake the odd avoidance of coming to St. Kitts his father-in-law exhibited during all of their phone conversations over the past five days. The Jack Spencer he knew would be at his daughter’s side without hesitation given the imminent threats hanging over her head. Scott shrugged off the thoughts and walked up the three steps leading to the main deck.

* * * *

Jack assumed Scott and Caitlin were becoming suspicious that he hadn’t moved hell and earth to be near his family. The choice to stay away had been difficult but necessary. The farther he stayed away from Caitlin the safer she’d be, thus why he ordered Barry to send their best agents.

Jack told his wife he was going for another walk on the beach, since his first attempt had been interrupted.

From the kitchen Constance called after him. “Do you want anything else for breakfast?”

“No, I’m not hungry.” The door closed behind him, and he thought about finalizing his plan.

Exiting the elevator at the beach access floor, Jack crossed the small bridge over the dune. He strode down to the empty beach. The gentle low tide waves brushed his ankles.

Jack talked under his breath. “I have to stay away. Caitlin’s the bait to get to me, all of the signs are there. I’m sure I am right on this. I can’t be lured into the trap. The secrets I’ve revealed need to be shared but there’s one I have to keep to myself. Too many lives have been affected already.

“I love my son Dean but he doesn’t need to be here now. All my children need to be as far away from me as possible, until I draw this asshole out. Constance would’ve been on the first plane to St. Kitts on Monday if she hadn’t lost her passport. How the hell did she lose it anyway?”

Two weeks prior, Jack received the finalized itinerary for their trip in the early afternoon mail. Being a stickler for organization, he insisted all their travel documents be kept together. He went to the safe to put the newly received papers with the passports, when he noticed his wife’s passport was missing.

Jack bolted into the kitchen where Constance prepared dinner. The aroma of a savory roast wafted around him. The scent awakened his appetite and taste buds. He ignored his hunger pangs. “Constance, where’s your passport? It’s not in the safe.”

“I have it in my purse. Since we got back from the cruise last month, I just left it there. I’ll get it so you can put it with our tickets.” She turned from the stove and reached for her bag, which was equivalent to a small suitcase, and starting digging. She came up with nothing after a few minutes.

“Where is it, Constance? If you have it in there why’s it taking you so long to find it?”

“I don’t know. It was in here. I know it was. How could I lose it? I guard my purse with my life.” She turned with an odd look of fear and something else on her face. Jack couldn’t quite read the expression.