Dead in the Water (16 page)

“
It ain't The Ritz, is it?” Darlene had reentered the room, using the towel to dry her bright red hair. She had applied coral lipstick and a swipe of mascara when she was in the bathroom.

“
No.” I felt guilty. Darlene had been Winston's partner for over a year, and he had married Boris and Sophia's mother, but he left the three of them almost nothing. Yet he was willing to pay the ransom. What did he mean when he talked to me about family coming first? I thought he meant his stepchildren and Darlene. Did he remove the money from his accounts? What had he been thinking?

Darlene gestured to the couch. “Have a seat.” She fell into a matching chair and sighed.

“
I don't understand all of this.” I gestured with my hand to take in the room and its contents.

“
I don't either, honey.”

“
Why would Winston not leave you and the kids his estate?”

She shrugged. “I understand from Sophia that you were going to come through with the money and then you backed out. I guess if I were in your shoes I might do the same. I mean, you don't know their sister. Or them, for that matter. And that's a lot of money.”

“
Sophia did not let me explain what happened. All of Winston's accounts have been emptied. There's nothing left.”

I don't know how I expected her to react, but her fit of laughter took me by surprise.

“
That's rich, it is. So you've got nothing to give us.” She was laughing so hard that tears streamed down her face. She wiped it with the end of her towel.

“
I don't have Winston's money, but I have other money.”

“
You? And just where would you get ready cash? You've got that little consignment shop and your house. You get some kind of divorce settlement from your ex-husband?”

Now it was my turn to laugh. “You've got to be kidding. The divorce settlement left both of us nothing.” I decided not to share with her that I got a house through Nappi and Jerry got a job with him.

“
So?” She leaned back into the chair and crossed her arms over her chest.

“
So I've got a source, but I need a few days to get the cash together. Where are Sophia and Boris? Can they figure out a way to put off the Russians for a few more days?”

Darlene stared at me squinty-eyed, as if trying to peer into my truth center to see if I was putting one over on her. I guess she decided I was honorable.

“
I'll let them know you were here and what you said. Sophia's pretty hot over this. I think she went off for a while to think things through. She's unpredictable sometimes.”

“
Do you have a number here? I can call when everything is arranged and we can meet.”

Darlene shook her head. “She's got a cellphone, but I don't know the number. I had to discontinue my service. Too expensive. You know, when we rescue that little gal I'm going to get out of here. All this sun is too much for a redhead's delicate skin. I'm going back up north. I got friends there who'll be glad to help me out.”

“
You certainly should be commended for your support of Sophia and Boris. And they of you, letting you stay with them and all.”

She smiled. “It's what Winston would have wanted.”

“
When do you expect Sophia back? Is Boris with her?”

“
I think she may be working some kind of deal to get the money from other sources, since she indicated she couldn't count on you.”

I wondered what her other sources might be, but since Darlene had avoided answering my questions about the siblings' whereabouts and when they would return, I surmised her earlier positive assessment of me was only temporary.

“
Or she may be off diving,” Darlene added.

Now that answer took me by surprise. “What do you mean ‘diving'?”

She tucked her legs under her and leaned back into the couch. “When she gets stressed out, she goes diving.”

“
But her sister's life is in danger. Don't you think that's kind of odd?”

“
Sophia is Russian. She does all kinds of odd things. I don't pretend to understand her, but she and Boris are very athletic people. They jog every morning, work out in a nearby fitness center, and they dive. I think she also told me they've done Ironman Triathlons in places like Hawaii.”

“
Do they have jobs? Where do they get the money for all this? Renting scuba gear. Not to mention paying for airline tickets and hotels.”

“
Aren't you the nosey one? Why all the questions?”

“
I intend to give them a lot of money, as soon as I contact my, er, supplier. I am just trying to figure this all out. Sophia is a mystery to me, as is this kidnapping. She's—”

“
Abrupt? Unpleasant? Sharp? Yeah, I know. That's why I gave up asking them questions. Besides, if I get too pushy, I'll lose the roof over my head.” She rolled her eyes ceiling-ward. “Such as it is.”

I gave up trying to pry information out of Darlene about the siblings. What she knew about them, she seemed unwilling to share with me, but I had the feeling she didn't know very much. Her relationship with them seemed unusual, inexplicable, opaque. The whole situation seemed a bit fishy to me.

It was early afternoon when I returned from the coast. I assessed what the trip had netted me: aside from money for gas, not much.

I was fortunate to have Madeleine as a partner. I knew I hadn't been holding up my half of the business. When we set up our shop, we decided not to hire clerks. We'd cover the hours ourselves. In the last week, Madeleine had been responsible for opening the store and holding down the fort while I was wandering around in the swamps. Good old Madeleine. I'd stop by the store and tell her to take the rest of the day off.

When I pulled into the parking lot in front of our shop, I noticed the lights were not on inside, and the sign in the window read “closed.” What was going on? There was an envelope taped to the door with my name on it. Oh no. Maybe there was an emergency in her family. But then why wouldn't she call me on my cell?

I unlocked the store, entered and ripped open the envelope. The note inside was worse than anything I could have imagined.

T
he note read: “Missing something? Missing someone? We've got her. To get her back in one piece, we will need money from you. We'll call to make arrangements. Please don't make any trouble for us, like contacting the authorities.”

Despite its cavalier tone, the note was deadly serious. So was this what Sophia meant by the
other
sources she mentioned to Darlene? I slipped the note back in the envelope with my pointer and middle finger. There might be fingerprints on it that Frida could use, but for now, I had no intention of contacting the police. I called Madeleine's cell, then her home phone. Both went to voicemail.

If this was Sophia and Boris, they would not get away with it. I'd track her down and then I'd … I had a plan, but I wasn't going to be foolish enough to confront them by myself. I needed backup, serious muscular help for what I had in mind. And I needed it now. With Nappi in jail and Alex off on a case in the Panhandle, I had no choice but to jump in my car and head for my swamping partner, Sammy.

He was heading back up the path to his chickee with a load of tourists following him. Others milled around the chickee. With the Hardy brothers out of business, Sammy's trade was as brisk as that tea. I was happy for him, but right now I was desperate. I pulled him aside.

“
I hate to do this to you, but I need a favor. A really big one.” I explained about the loss of my uncle's money, Sophia's threat and the note, then told him my most excellent plan.

“
Don't you think you should step back and reconsider? The cops are pretty good at handling this kind of thing.”

“
Sophia is crazy right now. I'm not letting the police negotiate the release of my best friend.”

“
But you're better at dealing with her, right?”

“
Look, I can get the money needed to rescue Sophia and Boris' sister. I understand she's a little stressed out right now with her sister in Russian mob hands.”

“
I thought you said she was crazy, not merely under a strain.”

“
She is, but it's understandable, given her circumstances.”

“
So this woman, maybe crazed, maybe just having a bad day, is doing the same thing to you that is being done to her, and you think that's reasonable?”

“
Yes.”

Sammy thought for a minute. “Why me?”

“
Because you're a big guy.”

“
You're expecting trouble, physical confrontation.”

“
Maybe.”

Sammy gestured to the people still milling around the chickee. “Look, I've got business here for the first time in years, well, since the Hardy's came to town. I need the money.”

“
I do too. Who knows how much she'll ask, but she needs half a million to rescue her sister so I expect it to be that and maybe more for aggravation.”

I leaned forward and touched Sammy's chest with my hand, looked up into his face and said. “Please.” I fluttered my eyelids at him.

Despicable behavior on my part, I knew, leading him to believe there was more to my reliance on him than just accompanying me on a crazy caper, but my friend's life was at stake. I'd do anything to save her, even lie to a great looking guy who probably was responsible for saving my life.

He placed his two hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eye. “Okay. I guess I can get Grandfather and my cousin to run the show here. Give me a minute to arrange things.”

He informed his customers there would be a short delay before the next ride, then turned and ran up the path to the house. In less than five minutes he was back with Grandfather Egret and another Indian, younger than Sammy but similar in build and features. He introduced me to Willy Turtle. We shook hands.

Grandfather gave me a warm embrace, whispering in my ear a warning I knew I should heed. “Slow down and let your anger go before you take on this woman and her brother.”

I knew he was right, but I also knew my anger was what was propelling me into action, and I didn't want to lose time while Madeleine suffered who knows what at her captors' hands.

I still didn't have my damaged Mustang back and was driving a small compact rental that wheezed when I pushed it over seventy. And I intended to push it today. Sammy slid into the passenger's seat, and I took the wheel, spinning my tires as we left the parking area.

“
I brought this just in case.” Sammy held up a huge machete, which in my eagerness to get going, I hadn't noticed when he got into the car.

“
Whoa.”

“
And of course, this.” He pulled a Bowie knife out of a scabbard. The blade shone gleaming silver in the afternoon sunlight.

Double whoa.

“
So she likes to dive? But what makes you think she went to Key Largo? Wouldn't she hole up somewhere with Madeleine until she contacted you?”

“
Darlene says she likes to dive to release tension. She's stressed right now. A prisoner can only add to that. I'll bet she needs something to bring her down, the way I fancy a Cosmo after a bad day at the shop.”

“
Cold.”

“
Shaken with ice.”

Sammy glanced at me. “What?”

“
The drink.”

“
No, I meant the woman must have ice water running through her veins to be diving while her sister's being held captive and she herself is holding another woman for ransom.”

“
Not ice water. More like ice cold vodka.”

“
I don't see how you're going to find her. There must be over twenty dive boats there. Then there's the possibility she'd rent a private boat.”

“
I'll have help on this one. I called Grandy. She and Max know everyone on the water down there. They'll call around with the description. If Sophia and Boris are on a dive boat this afternoon, I'll be there to greet them when they get off.” I pushed on the accelerator and the little car gave a gasp, balked, then jumped forward.

Slowing down to 55mph on the strip connecting the mainland with Key Largo made me grind my teeth in frustration. I tailgated the car ahead of me until I got to the first passing lane, then flew by at around seventy. So did the cars following me.

“
Why do they post speed limits if no one obeys them?” Sammy gripped the door rest on his side so hard his knuckles were white. I thought it might crumble in his hand, and I'd be paying damages at the end of my rental contract. I didn't care. I'd pay for the whole damn car to be replaced if I could just see Madeleine trip or stumble her way back to us.

The next passing lane came up and the car behind me and I jockeyed for position. I won.

Worse yet, the speed limit when we entered Kay Largo was 45, and I knew the local cops watched for out-of-area licenses to give visitors a “welcome to the Keys here's your speeding ticket” greeting. I nosed in behind a truck going over 50, hoping the cops would choose him and ignore me. We made it to the marina, and I squealed into the parking area and chose a site a few cars down from Grandy and Max's dockage. Grandy met us at the dock.