Freedom Does Matter (Mercenaries Book 2) (54 page)

Ian looked up and said, “If we believe the
Times
, the whole case turned on Ms Rochambeau’s testimony. Were her testimony to be discredited or recanted, the defense would argue that the conviction should be dismissed. Were she to recant, it is likely that the court would agree with the defense.”

“So, the defense snatched Amy to force Abby to… to recant?” Beckie sucked her lip between her teeth. “But they’re lawyers, they can’t do… that,” she said, waving at Shen’s laptop.

“It isn’t likely,” Kevin agreed. “but we don’t know anything about the killer, either.”

“That is correct. Kevin, please see what you can learn about…”

When Ian stopped and looked at Beckie, she read, “Donato Talos. The one in jail, you mean?”

“Yes. Kevin?”

“On my way. Keep in touch.” He turned to leave. “Oops, sorry,” he said to Elena Rios, who bounced off his hip as she attempted to enter.

“It’s okay. But you might want to hear this.”

Ian nodded, and Kevin followed Elena in.

“I was ready to go through Amy’s room,” she said, dipping her head to Millie, who nodded. “Right in the middle of her desk, this was lying face up.” She dropped a pink envelope on the glass table. They all could see the addressee written in Amy’s neat hand. Elena nudged the envelope toward Beckie.

Beckie reached but her hand moved as if the envelope were a scorpion. She used a fingertip to pull it close enough to pick up. As she stared, her indecision frustrated her and she ripped the flap open to grab the folded paper inside.

She read silently until she heard a cough. When she looked up, she felt her cheeks warm. “Sorry.” She looked back down at the letter.

“‘Hi, Beckie!’” she read. “‘I don’t really expect you’ll ever read this unless I tell you about it first, but just in case. Mom’ll never look in my room, so something’ll have to really be wrong for you to see it, in which case, I want you to know what’s happened.’” Beckie looked up at Millie, who nodded slowly, though the muscles at the sides of her jaws were clenched. Beckie decided not to ask about that, now at least.

“‘I got a little package from Abby the other day, but it said wait to open it, so I tucked it away in my underwear drawer. Then early today, Monday, I got an email from Abby.

“‘She said she was able to take a week off, and if I wanted to join her, I should open the package. If I didn’t, or couldn’t, just leave the package alone. Ha-ha! You know I wasn’t going to pass up the chance!

“‘You were flying, I guess, so I couldn’t talk to you. I ripped the package open and in it was a passport with my picture in it, and Amy Rochambeau’s name. She’s eighteen, or I am, I guess, with it! Inside the passport, there’s a plane ticket from Providenciales, that’s in the Turks and Caicos you know. She said she remembered when I told her about sailing there a couple years ago. My butt’s still sore—’”

“Not as sore—” Millie slapped her hand over her mouth. “God, that was stupid! Forgive me.”

“Millie, if you would rather—”

“No, Ian, what I’d rather is that Amy was here beside us, not being raped and tortured in some shack somewhere.” She rose and walked to the rail overlooking the ocean. Her voice was clear in spite of facing away. “Forgive my outbursts, and then forget them. I’ll do my best to help us, no matter what you think that is.” She faced Ian. “As long as I am informed.”

Ian nodded, first to Millie, then to Beckie.

“‘My butt’s still sore from that ha-ha!

“‘The ticket is from Providenciales to Miami, where she’s gonna send a limo to pick me up! A big white one, she said!

“‘This will be such fun! I can’t wait!

“‘Anyway, I expect I’ll be back in about a week, and then we can laugh about this letter before I burn it ha-ha. 

“‘Hope you and Mr. Jamse work your thing out. Thanks for helping Shalin with Alisha; I really like both of them.’”

Beckie’s voice was more ragged than she wanted, but she finished. “‘Your friend.’ She ends with her initials and a smiley.” She swiped a tear away.

“Kinda scary hearing that, knowing what we know now,” Kevin said after a minute’s silence. “I’m sorry, Millie.” At the door, he stopped. “Shen, someone’s got a lot better access than they should, if they can get a picture good enough for a passport, and get a package into our deliveries.”

“That’s for sure.” He smacked his forehead. “That damn boat!” Beckie stared at him. He looked around. “Let me do some work knowing what we do now.” He focused on Ian. “There isn’t any reason to think Abby was involved in any way? Not that it would answer anything but the photo,” he finished.

“I am unwilling to dismiss the possibility completely, but it is the last thing we should spend time on.”

“I’m going to take a walk,” Beckie said. “There’s something in the video. I need to think. Want to walk along with me, Millie?”

The doctor spun around, wide-eyed, mouth open. “What? No, I’d better get back to the hospital. I’ll be in touch.” She fixed first Beckie, then Ian, with a glare softened only slightly by the tears wetting her cheeks.

Beckie took Millie’s arm and walked to the door with her.

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