Noreen took the package out of her handbag and handed it to the man, ignoring Clyde and the man’s lack of civility. Obviously this was the client, Mr. Erickson.
He disappeared into a small room off to the side then came storming out. “Where is it?”
“What do you mean?” Clyde asked and took the package from him. He checked then glared at Noreen.
“Where is it?”
“You have it.”
Clyde showed her the empty box.
Noreen stared, stunned. “It was there when I checked last night, I swear.”
He slapped her across the face so hard that she saw stars. His voice dropped in volume. “I’m going to ask you again. Where is it?”
A cold knot formed in her stomach—a mingling of rage and fear. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“She’s lying,” Erickson said.
“She’s not lying,” the driver countered.
The two men turned and stared at him.
Clyde spoke first. “What?”
“She’s not lying,” he repeated. “She doesn’t have it.” He held up the ring. “I do.”
“Who are you?” Clyde demanded.
“An old acquaintance,” the driver said then removed his disguise. Within seconds the bearded driver turned into Michael.
N
oreen gasped but no one paid attention to her.
“So we meet again,” Clyde said with a sneer. “We have to stop doing that.”
Erikson frowned. “What the devil is going on?” He pushed a button located on the wall. “Where’s Smith?”
Michael absently rubbed his knuckles. “He’s indisposed at the moment.” He nodded to the button. “And you can keep ringing that, but no one is going to come. Now, here’s what I want.”
Clyde fumbled for something at his side then froze.
Michael held up a small gun and waved it as though Clyde had misplaced a toy. “Looking for this?”
Clyde swore then bent to reach for his leg. Michael cocked the gun and pointed it straight at him. “Please
stand still. I don’t want to kill you. There’s a lady present.”
Clyde grabbed Noreen and wrapped his arm around her neck. “A lady?” he sneered. “I wouldn’t call her that.” He saw Michael’s grip on the gun waver and smiled. “Women are still your weakness.” He put his lips near Noreen’s ear and whispered. “Did you fall for him? I worked so hard to make sure you were loyal to me, but you still fell for him. Poor, stupid Arlene. You think your shipboard Romeo really wanted you? This was all a game. We both used you. You know why
I
needed you. He needed you to get to me. He’s always traveling on cruise ships, wooing woman to get the info he needs. What’s the name he’s using now? Michael? Maurice? Matthew? I’ve lost track. But that doesn’t matter because you’re not his first. Jen fell for it too.”
Noreen didn’t move, both because she couldn’t and didn’t dare to.
“That’s enough, Alvarez,” Michael said. “It was clever of you to hide by using Clyde Harris, the name of one of your minions, but it didn’t fool us for long.”
Alvarez ignored him. “Did he tell you about Jen? She was my wife and a beautiful woman. But the most interesting part about her is how she died.” He looked at Michael. “Would you like me to demonstrate? I am a businessman so I don’t mind a little negotiation. You put down that gun and I won’t break her neck.” He stroked the side of Noreen’s face. “She’s so small, it won’t be difficult.”
Noreen knew she had to save herself. She came up with a daring plan she wasn’t sure would work, but she
didn’t know of another option. Standing still so that Clyde could either strangle her or break her neck didn’t seem like a good alternative. What she needed was a diversion. She caught Michael’s eye then glanced down then back at him.
Michael pulled the trigger and shot the wall behind a large vase. Erickson screamed like a woman. “Stay still. Next time I won’t miss.” He returned his attention to Alvarez. “I’m also a businessman. I want to know where the stash is,” Michael said.
His change of topic distracted Alvarez enough for Noreen to slip her hand into his pocket. She fought to keep her breathing even so he wouldn’t suspect anything. She slipped her hand in and quickly pulled out his cigarette lighter. Working only from touch she flipped the top off and struck it. It didn’t work.
She heard Michael talking but didn’t understand what he was saying, desperate to get the lighter to work. She tried again and felt it come to life, then she held it up to his linen shirt. The smell of burning soon followed and she felt him stiffen.
“What’s that smell?”
Michael nodded at him. “You.”
He glanced down, stunned, and released Noreen to pat out his shirt. Michael rushed him and pinned him to the floor. “Where is the property?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Michael looked up at Erickson. “I’ll give you the ring intact and you give me the location and we’ll pretend we’ve never met. I know what’s supposed to be inside the ring and I know where you can get more. Quickly.”
Alvarez laughed although his face was pressed to the floor. “You can’t believe him. He’s a common thief who is in over his head.”
“He’s right. I’ll just shoot the vase instead.” He raised his gun.
“A barge on the other side of the island,” Erickson blurted.
“Thank you,” Michael said.
He made a quick motion with his hand and four island officers entered. He spoke to two of them in a low voice then to Erickson. “Take them to the site.” He then addressed the two other officers and gestured to Alvarez. “Take him away.”
“Don’t think you’ve stopped me,” Alvarez said.
Michael ignored him and walked over to Noreen. “Are you okay?”
Noreen hugged herself, unable to speak.
Alvarez snorted. “I should have known you’d try for a bigger fish. He’ll drop you right where I left you.”
“That’s enough,” Michael said.
“Did she tell you about the baby?” Alvarez asked as the officers cuffed him. He smiled maliciously when he saw the shock on Michael’s face and the horror on Noreen’s. “I saw the pregnancy test in your trash, baby. How far along are you? Do you think anyone will want you when you’re carrying my child? I’m going to get out and I will get you.”
His cold words sent a shiver of fear through her.
“Take him away,” Michael said in disgust then turned to Noreen and again asked, “Are you all right?”
Noreen stared up at the man who was suddenly a stranger to her. “Who are you?”
“You know who I am.”
Noreen shook her head. “No, I don’t. He said that this is what you do. Not only are you a thief, but you use women to—”
Michael shook his head. “I’m an investigator and I’m everything I’ve told you. I’m just doing this job for a friend then I plan to go back to my ordinary life. I write travel articles. I’ve been doing this investigative work on and off for a long time. My cousin Undy saw I had a knack of charming people.”
“Particularly women?” Noreen asked sourly.
“He taught me to use what talents I had to help people.”
“He taught you well.”
Michael paused, unsure if that was an insult or a compliment. “Yes, but I wasn’t using them with you.”
“Okay.” Noreen turned to leave, not knowing where she would go, but just wanting to get away from him.
Michael jumped in front of her. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you anything, but Erickson just gave me the location where Alvarez has been stashing his stolen antiques, which is the information I was after.”
“So you sought me out to get to Clyde, uh, Alvarez.”
“At first yes, but—”
“And this was all a game…”
“No, I mean, it started out just being a job but when I realized you were in danger I wanted to protect you. When I saw what you had in your suitcase—”
“You went through my things?”
“I had to if I was going to keep you safe. Do you know what was inside that ring you were carrying? It’s a new designer drug that St. Lagans has banned. His last two carriers ended up in prison. When I discovered what was really going on and why The Shark was following you—”
“The Shark?”
“Yes, that’s the nickname of the man who grabbed you on the dance floor. He’s a dangerous man and got that nickname because people around him usually end up dead. Alvarez sometimes uses him to monitor high-risk situations. Erickson doesn’t like anyone close to him to handle certain transactions, which is why Alvarez uses unsuspecting go-betweens who will be linked to whatever false identity he’s using. When I discovered what I suspected was going on, I contacted Darren, my client, and we came up with a plan to trick Alvarez into coming here, by having someone send him a message that you couldn’t be trusted.
“He’s eluded police for so long and I wanted it to end. My only assignment was to get the property location and find ‘Harris,’ but when I saw Erickson’s man I knew something more was going on.
“I discovered that Alvarez had killed Harris and taken over his business and identity. I had to do my job no matter what. This is my last assignment and a favor for a friend. I didn’t want it to end with losing a woman like you.”
He sighed fiercely. “Arlene, I’ve never felt this way for someone. I know you’re scared but I know you feel
it too, and it’s real and we can’t let it go. I don’t want you to worry about anything. I’m not worried about the baby. I knew there was something that tied you to him and now I know what it is. I’ve never had a family and I wouldn’t mind being a dad, just the way Undy was to me. Whatever is part of you is part of me.”
Noreen opened her mouth, but no words emerged. It was all a charade. A lie. Noreen couldn’t focus on his explanation although it made sense. He’d saved her life. Who knew what would have happened to her if Michael hadn’t been there. He’d lied to her, but she’d lied to him. All this time they’d both been wearing masks, both pretending to be someone else. Noreen didn’t realize she was crying until Michael brushed a tear away. “I know it’s a lot to take in.”
“Sir!” an officer called out to him.
“I’ll be right with you,” he said, his gaze never leaving Noreen’s face. “There are several things I have to take care of first. There’s a taxi outside that will take you back to the ship. Angel, I’m sorry, but—”
“No, don’t apologize. I think it’s better we remember everything as it was. It was a good time and now it’s over. Goodbye, Michael,” Noreen said then ran outside.
When Michael returned to the ship he went straight to Arlene’s cabin and knocked.
“She’s gone,” Joy said from behind him.
He turned to her. “What do you mean ‘she’s gone’?”
“She cleared her room and took a plane to the mainland.”
“And you didn’t stop her?”
Joy raised a mocking eyebrow.
Michael swore fiercely. “Sorry, it’s not your fault.” He went to the railing and watched as the ship left the dock. It was too late for him to go after her. She’d once called him a pirate and she was right. But he’d found a treasure he was not going to stop looking for.
North Carolina, two months later
A
chill December wind knocked bare branches together as snow drifted past a festively dressed house where fresh evergreen garlands swept from window to window and hung over the front door. A large wreath above the door and side windows offered a traditional welcome, while a bundle of greenery and a crisp, red bow trimmed the lamppost.
Inside the foyer a large oval table sat in the center of the entry hall, featuring fresh fruits and flowers of the season. Noreen stood by the window in the family room, in awe of the room’s floor-to-ceiling windows and the ten-foot Christmas tree that was expertly decorated, providing the perfect background for the festive occasion.
Her friend Suzanne’s parties were always spectacular affairs, but her holiday parties were exceptional. Everyone in town and abroad wanted to get an invitation. Garlands hung over the grand banister and fireplace. The scent of gingerbread cookies and peppermint candy filled the air, and large scented wax candles sat in various locations throughout the house. In the formal living room, sparkling gold decorations and white lights provided a cheery welcome for visitors. Creamy white poinsettias and grapevine trees wrapped with tiny fairylike lights filled the space beside the staircase.
Waiters in tuxedos slipped soundlessly through the crowd with trays of hors d’oeuvres, including smoked salmon canapés, ham-and-cranberry-cream-cheese sandwiches, black-bean tartlets and curried chicken turnovers. The dinner for the evening consisted of endive salad with pancetta, pecan-crusted rack of lamb, roasted vegetables and smoked mozzarella bread puddings and, for dessert, pear frangipane tarts were served on elegant custom-designed Christmas china.
People laughed and talked, clearly enjoying themselves. Noreen wished she could too.
“What happened?” a female voice said behind her.
Noreen spun around and looked at Claudia, whose festive outfit could rival a Christmas tree.
“What do you mean?”
“Your revised manuscript is wonderful. Did you send it in to your editor?”
“Yes. Right after you and Suzanne had given me your feedback.”
“Great, now back to my question. What happened?”
“Why do you keep asking me that?”
Suzanne joined them. “Because your story was amazing. I’m jealous. How did you come up with such a delicious hero?”
“Thank you for your compliment,” Noreen said primly, keeping her emotions in check. “But this is a party. I really don’t want to talk shop.”
“I can’t help it,” Claudia said. “I need answers.”
Noreen shrugged. “I just made a few revisions.”
Claudia shook her head, unconvinced. “Approximately three months ago I read a manuscript that almost put me to sleep. Then I get your newly improved story and I couldn’t fall asleep for two days thinking about the characters. Their love is so strong I nearly wept and I’m not a mushy romantic. An emotional power pulsed from every word. Those love letters were inspired.” She tapped her chin. “So what happened?”
“I told you,” Noreen responded with irritation. “I just decided to revise it based on your suggestions.” She couldn’t tell them the truth about the cruise and definitely not about Michael. He was an experience that no one would know about.