Desperate Measures (9 page)

“They’re fine as far as I know. I need a list of everyone who’s been in their house. Check their shoe sizes. Anyone who wears size nine, question them on how they entered the house and from what door. Later this afternoon, Tomas and I are going to need to go over this evidence that came in, so you have to take over guard duty.”

“You got it. I’ll get right on the list and let me know when I need to relieve Tomas.”

* * * *

“Rita, they’re here,” Paul Nelson announced to his wife.

“Thank goodness.” She cheered when she came out of the cooking area. “I’ve been so worried. When Scott called last night to clue me in about what’s been happening, he said they’d be here today. I wanted to make something special for lunch.”

Paul frowned. “Rita, you didn’t make mutton, did you? After seeing your last batch on their floor, I don’t think it would go over well.”

Rita and Paul have known Caitlin and Scott for over ten years. The Martels usually spent every Thanksgiving on the island with them. While the rest of the world feasted on turkey, they had Rita’s delicious mutton.

“No of course not, I made jumbo grilled shrimp over rice and lobster salad. Once all of this nonsense is cleared up, we’ll have a celebration dinner, and then I’ll make mutton.” Rita ran out into the graveled parking lot to meet the group.

“Rita,” Caitlin said, “I’m so sorry you were the one to walk into that mess, you must’ve been terrified.”

“I’m glad it was me and not your children. Don’t you fret about it, my friend.”

Before long, Rita had Alexandra grabbing at her knees, Chad, at chin level, hugging her, and Scott attempting to introduce Tomas. She led the group to a beachside table of the Island Rock Beach Bar, a small establishment, but the location, Cockleshell Beach, attracted many patrons.

Rita grabbed Tomas’s hand and said, “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Tomas. I know you’re a great friend of Caitlin and Scott. Please make sure they all stay safe.”

“Don’t worry about them while I’m here. I can’t even begin to tell you what a pleasure it is to meet you. You have no idea how much they talk about you and Paul back in the states, especially Chad and Alexandra.”

Rita smiled. “That makes me so happy, here’s a Carib. Paul will make you one of his special Island Punches later.”

“After this beer I’m done. I have to meet Drew at the station soon.”

“It’s unthinkable that someone would do such things to Caitlin and her family.” Rita’s fierce declaration erased the smile from her face.

“Rita,” Tomas asked, “what’s that island across the sea? We saw a couple of islands from Brimstone. Each one looks so close.”

“What you saw from Brimstone was the Atlantic side. Here you’re on the Caribbean side, and that’s Nevis.”

“Nevis is a beautiful island,” Caitlin butted into the conversation. “But we love St. Kitts so much more.”

“So you’ve been there,” Tomas mused.

“Yes, only two times. There’s a ferry from downtown and it’s only a forty-five minute ride.”

Rita corrected Caitlin. “The only way to Nevis used to be the commuter ferry from downtown. In the last four months quite a bit’s changed. Scott and Caitlin, do you remember the rocks and fishing pier at the end of the road before you turn into our beach?”

“Yes,” Scott answered. “At one time condos were scheduled to be built, then a luxury resort. With each new project, signs and advertisements went up, but nothing else. No buildings, not even a construction trailer.”

“The waterfront land has been abandoned and changed ownership many times. Since the small pier was already finished, they decided to run a ferry from it over to Nevis. It’s one of those barges and takes cars. It’s a fifteen minute ride, and you don’t have to worry about rentals or cabs once you reach the island.”

“You’re kidding me!” Scott looked astounded. “That was quick to get up and running.”

Rita agreed. “Yes and our business has also increased.”

Tomas broke into the conversation. “Scott, have you been to those other islands we saw today?”

“Only on cruises. Mel planned on taking us from here on his boat to St. Martin once but the seas were too rough, so we never made it. We’ve taken the ferry from downtown over to Nevis. This trip it’ll be nice to take the van and not wait on a rental car once we’re over there.”

* * * *

Once lunch had been finished, the adults talked for a short time. After hugs and kisses exchanged they left and drove to the next location, Sandy Bay. Scott drove down a deserted lane to a private beach. Alexandra clapped, laughed, and made moo-moo sounds. Cows and goats roamed at each side of the small dirt path.

“Tomas, wait until you see this beach,” Chad said. “It’s really cool. There are waves but snorkeling is really good and you see all kinds of neat fish.”

“I can’t wait to see it!” Tomas imitated enthusiasm but became wary of the desolate beach when Scott parked the van at the edge of the sand, as far as he could drive before getting stuck. Before them stood two mountains on each side of the pristine and crescent shaped beach. Waterfalls cascaded into the body of water. The secluded beach looked like a cove.

“Scott, we’re extremely isolated. Do you think this is a good idea given the circumstances?” Tomas whispered, as they hung behind the children and Caitlin.

“No one ever comes here, except some of the vet school students to walk their dogs. I’ll swim with the kids for a while, you stand guard and watch Caitlin. She just wants to sit on a beach towel and get some sun. Then you and your little buddy, Chad, can go snorkeling.”

“I get to have all of the fun,” Tomas replied sarcastically. “That kid would like nothing better than to show me up out in the open seas.”

Scott ran into the water with Alexandra and Chad. Tomas sat down on the sand and didn’t take his eyes off of the surroundings. Fifteen minutes later, Chad shouted out to his mother that he wanted a drink.

“I’ll get you a soda from the van. I’ll be right back.”

In a quick move, Caitlin got up and ran. Tomas barely had time to catch her before she reached the uncivilized road at the beach top.

“What the hell are you doing?” He grabbed her arm. “You can’t just up and take off, especially on a beach like this when your life’s in danger.”

“Tomas, I’m sick of this, whoever the nutcase is, isn’t going to be at this beach! You can’t even find it if you don’t know the area. No tourists whatsoever come here. It took Scott and me several times to find this road after the first time we stumbled upon it.”

“Caitlin, someone just stumbled upon it again. Look.” Tomas jabbed his index finger and pointed to a spot behind the vehicle.

Behind the van, tacked to a tree, was a cardboard sign. Red bold lettering read CAITLIN.

Tomas sidestepped through the sand and relied on his peripheral vision. Out of one corner of his eye he had Caitlin in sight while he crept in the direction of the sign. Nothing stirred or moved. In a quick move he grabbed the sign with his fingertips then heard the sound of glass breaking. He spun and focused his undivided attention on Caitlin but couldn’t get to her in time.

Caitlin gripped a broken piece of the soda bottle she retrieved for Chad, and yelled, “What the hell do you want, son of a bitch? Come face me now, you coward, and stop threatening me and my family. You want blood? Here’s blood, take it, run all of the DNA tests you want. I don’t care anymore. Don’t hurt my children!”

Before Tomas could reach her and grab the jagged shard of glass, Caitlin managed to cut the pad of her thumb. Blood dripped onto the sand and ran down her arm. She sank to her knees sobbing and in a state of hysteria. He picked her up and put her on the back floor of the van. He reached into his beach bag and found what he needed. He read the label, shook a pill into his hand, and reached into the cooler for a bottle of water.

“Take one of these, it will calm you down. Stay low on the floor,” Tomas directed Caitlin.

He ran his limited options through his mind. He couldn’t leave Caitlin alone in the van and get Scott and the kids. Someone could be waiting in the trees, hidden behind the lush tropical growth. Furthermore, Chad and Alexandra couldn’t see their mother in this bloody and disheveled state.

Speed dialing Mitch, Tomas barked, “Mitch, I know you’re on call, I need you to get your ass to Sandy Bank or Bay ASAP. Do you know where it is? This is an emergency and I’ll call Drew when I hang up to clear it. Get here now!”

“I’m at the base of the mountain that leads to that beach. I can be there in five minutes.”

Mitch pulled up and Tomas briefed him about the sign and what Caitlin had done. In a swift move, Tomas handed over the keys to the van, grabbed the deputy’s keys, and put Caitlin and the note in the back of the police jeep.

“What the hell are you doing? This is a police vehicle!” Mitch, hands on his hips, challenged.

“I can’t have the kids seeing their mother in this condition. I’ve got to get her out of here. Scott doesn’t even know what happened. I’ll take your jeep and get her settled. Meet us at the hotel. Bring Scott up to speed. Tell the kids Caitlin had to take care of business, figure something out. Just try to act as normal as possible and drive the van back.”

Driving over the mountain, Tomas looked over his shoulder to the rear seat. Caitlin must’ve been more stressed than he realized. She now snored in the back of the police jeep, thanks to the sedative.

“Did you find out anything about that lead I gave you?” Tomas spoke softly into his cell-phone and then listened to the response from the other end. “What do you mean nothing in ten years? I know this is a big hunch but what’s taking so long? You can’t find either one? Just keep checking all of those records. I need to wrap this shit up!” Tomas hung up the phone and pulled into the hotel parking lot.

He found himself in a precarious position. Caitlin’s passed out from the damn sedative. He couldn’t carry her through the lobby of the hotel. Tomas became more anxious because he knew Scott and Mitch would arrive soon. The FBI rookie he’d just spoke to, hadn’t produced any solid information. The fact that a person of interest in this case hasn’t existed in a decade, bewildered him.

Tomas grabbed his cell-phone again and instructed Mitch to valet the van and take the kids back to the room. He requested Scott to meet him in the parking lot near the tennis courts, away from the resort’s main entrance. While he waited, Tomas focused his attention on Scott’s background check. What he found out last night made sense, what Caitlin omitted in her statement didn’t. Scott’s silence left him puzzled and suspicious.

* * * *

Lukas Bucklin sat on the balcony of his Barbados villa overlooking the bay. He took his first sip of scotch when his cell-phone rang. “Dammit!” he said and got up to answer it. “So much for peace and quiet after relinquishing control to James. Who the hell could be calling?” Annoyed he answered the phone. “Hello!”

“Luke, buddy how the hell you doin’ these days?” An eerie voice laughed.

Lukas knew that laugh.

“What do you want now? We’re finished. Do you hear me? You’re not going to bleed me for one more cent!”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Luke. I love the house and the cool million but things are getting tight again. Cost of living’s gone up, not to mention gas prices.”

“That’s your problem, not mine if you can’t manage your money properly. We had a deal and I’m done with you,” Lukas commanded.

“How’s Barbados? That’s not too far from St. Kitts, right? You’re close enough to be connected to what’s happened to Caitlin Martel.”

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. I told you last time, I don’t know Caitlin. All I know about the woman is she started up a small technology and research company. I keep track of all of my competitors, small or large conglomerates.”

At once Lukas realized his mistake. He became defensive at the mention of Caitlin and opened his damn mouth about competitors, doing more damage.

“Ah yes, Luke, you do keep track of your rivals, don’t you?”

“You have no concrete proof or any directives in writing to connect me to what happened ten years ago. Stop calling me Luke. I hate nicknames. My name is Lukas.”

“Your granddaughter doesn’t like nicknames either. She refuses to let anyone call your great granddaughter anything but Alexandra.”

“I don’t have any granddaughters and you know that. Now what the hell do you want?”

“I need another mill, Luke. Here are some of the details; Caitlin’s been receiving threatening notes tied to the Bucklins. One more nugget of information, as a bonus, the kitchen floor of her new St. Kitts house is covered in blood. Think about what I just told you. I have confidence you’ll make the right decision if you don’t want your secrets out. I’ll call you tomorrow, same time, to finalize the money. That’s it for now, the FBI has most likely contacted Jamie boy. I have to keep my Ace in the hole. You do know that Caitlin’s grandmother called her Aces, don’t you, Luke?”

The phone went dead and Lukas dropped his glass of scotch.

* * * *

“What the hell happened, Tomas? She’s passed out and has blood all over her hands and face,” Scott shouted.

“Scott, let me explain, it’s not what it looks like. She cut her finger deeper than I thought. I gave her a mild sedative. That’s all.”

“Caitlin, Caitlin, wake up, please be okay.” Scott sobbed and lifted her from Mitch’s jeep. She stirred. “Thank God you’re alive. Are you hurt?”

Caitlin rubbed her blood-streaked hand across her forehead. She may be conscious but her staggered and choppy speech indicated she wasn’t fully coherent. The sedative hadn’t worn off. “S’alright. Mm kay. Sign. Couldn’t take more. Beach.” She glanced at her bloody hand.

Scott held her tight. “It’s okay. We’ll go through the side of the hotel and you can wash up at the pool bathroom.” Turning to Tomas he added, “Buddy, you have no idea what went through my mind after Mitch came to get us. You and Caitlin were gone and now I find her covered with blood.”