Page 32 of An Epic Voyage (The Epic Beauty Salon Files #1)

I t took Griffin only a few minutes to pop the lock on his handcuffs. After snapping off the flex cuffs like Indigo had when he’d put them on her, he went to work on the shackles around his legs.

“Are you still with me, Jordy?”

“Yeah.”

His voice sounded defeated. Griffin didn’t have time to placate him.

He needed to get loose, see if he could disarm the bomb, locate the nuke, and find Indigo, not necessarily in that order.

Worry for her ate at his gut. Yes, she could handle herself, but she was probably chained up and at Van Houten’s mercy.

That would hinder her abilities significantly.

He forced the thoughts aside and focused on his task. He knew Jinger’s corpse would start to smell come morning. He hoped to break them out long before that happened.

“Griffin?”

“Yes?”

“Are we going to die?”

The lock around Griffin’s feet sprang open. “No, Jordy. We’re not.”

He removed the chains and scooted over to Jordy. “Hold out your hands.”

Picking the lock went much faster when it was someone else’s. Once Jordy was free, Griffin helped him stand. He was still green around the gills and shaking, but he firmed his spine.

Jordy would be an anchor around Griffin’s shoulders while he did his job, but he couldn’t leave him unprotected. “Can you swim?”

“Why? Are you going to toss me over the side?”

“No, Jordy. I’m going to save you.”

He exhaled. “Thank you, and yes, I can.”

“Good.”

“Are we swimming somewhere? There are sharks and bad things in the water.”

“No, we aren’t.”

“Okay. What do we do first?”

“I’m going to be honest with you, Jordy. There is a bomb over there. I need to see if I can disarm it.”

Somehow, Jordy paled even further. “O-okay.”

“You are going to keep watch on the hatch to see if anyone shows up. Then we’ll get out of here. Can you do that?”

“What do I do if someone comes?”

“Stand here behind the post.” He positioned him in place. “You’ll see the opening before anyone sees you. Come and get me. I’ll be right back here.”

Jordy nodded. It wasn’t convincing, but Griffin would have to take it.

He jogged over to the explosives. He’d had bomb disarmament training, but this one was too complex for him to mess around with.

Additionally, there could be a dead man’s switch that would trigger it if he were to tamper with it. It wouldn’t be wise to try anything.

Van Houten would not blow himself up, so they had time. Finding the nuke would have to be the top priority . . . after rescuing Indigo.

#

I n the struggle with Gordon, they had knocked over furniture and broken statues and lamps. It looked as if a fight had taken place, which it had. That’s when an idea came to Indigo.

Blood stained her clothes. She was going to pitch them anyway, so she ripped her top almost in half. Then she hurried to the sink and dribbled water on her face to mimic tears. Her hair was already mussed, and her face was swelling, thanks to that rat bastard. Dead rat bastard, she amended.

Too bad she hadn’t grabbed Gordon’s cell. She could’ve called Evangeline and Jackson to let them know what was happening. She’d missed checking in with them. They would be concerned, but that was a worry for later.

With a deep breath, she sprinted down the hall and pounded on Van Houten’s door. It swung open to reveal Zisk.

“Come quick,” she urged. “Gordon fell over the rail and into the ocean.”

“Garcia,” Zisk called over his shoulder as he took off after her. When they entered the room, she pointed out the sliding glass doors.

The men rushed forward and peered over the side. “I don’t see him,” Garcia said.

“Doesn’t matter. He can’t swim,” Zisk remarked as he turned around. “He was dead when he hit the water . . . What happened to you?”

Indigo nervously clasped her ruined top together. “H-he tried to rape me.”

“What?”

“Are you serious?”

“Y-yes.”

“He saved the boss the trouble of killing him,” Zisk claimed. “How did he fall over the side?”

“I got away from him and ran out here. I was going to jump into the ocean to save myself. He came charging after me. I sidestepped at the last second. He pitched forward and over the side.”

“Are you okay?” Garcia asked. He seemed genuinely concerned.

She tentatively touched her cheek. “I-I think so.” They’d bought the story about Gordon quickly, and it was essentially the truth. She changed the subject to avoid any further scrutiny. “How is Benny?” Still vomitous, she hoped.

Garcia wrinkled his nose, and Zisk mimicked gagging.

“Not good,” Garcia said. “We wanted to take him to a hospital, but he refused.”

Zisk shuddered. “I swear, I’ve never seen anyone hurl so much. There can’t be any fluid left in his body.”

Aw, too bad.

“Get some rest. Boss wants you to attend the meeting. It’s been rescheduled for the early morning, so you only have a few hours.”

So, it had been moved. That must’ve been the call Van Houten had received—the one that had allowed her to drop the drug mixture into his drink.

“I’ll be ready.”

Indigo waited until they left and locked the door. She found the stocked closet. Most of the wardrobe consisted of designer dresses. They were beautiful and expensive and soon to be blown to smithereens. What a shame.

She found a pair of pants and a top she could maneuver in. Van Houten probably wanted her in one of the gowns to meet Abdullahi, but for now, she was going to be comfortable. Plus, she needed a place to stash the weapon she’d confiscated from Gordon: Griffin’s gun.

A drawer held a selection of lingerie in different sizes. She picked out a black bra and matching panties.

Indigo entered the bathroom and winced when she glanced in the mirror.

Her face was bruising already, and the swelling was closing her eye.

She gently probed the area. It hurt, but nothing was broken.

Her body was sore from Gordon’s bulk crushing her twice and all the punches he’d landed, not to mention the pounding she’d taken on the speedboat as they’d navigated the rough waters.

A hot shower would feel good, but she didn’t plan on lingering.

It made her uncomfortable to be naked with Van Houten a stone’s throw away.

After she showered, Indigo blow-dried her hair and then found a small scarf to strap the gun above her ankle. The wide legs of the pants would disguise it.

There was nothing of hers in the room. If she could get out before anyone saw her, she might be able to hide until the deal went down.

Van Houten should be incapacitated for several hours.

Even if there were security cameras, no one was monitoring them since he’d sent the crew away.

Considering what would happen in the morning, she figured Van Houten wouldn’t want any evidence of his crime.

Indy unlocked the door and stuck her head out.

No one was around, so she eased into the hallway and walked in the opposite direction from Van Houten’s suite.

She found a stairwell with lights illuminating each step and descended to the first floor.

There were three levels on this boat, not counting below deck where Griffin and Jordy were being held.

She’d free them after she made an initial search for the nuke.

This yacht was outfitted with teak wood and glass everywhere. Indigo checked each space as she passed. She came to one that had to be either an office or a library, with a wall of books and a spiral staircase leading to a catwalk. She started to go in when she heard voices.

Her head darted around in a panic, looking for a place to hide. She spotted a ladies’ room across the hall. Perfect. Indy ducked inside and cracked the door to see Zisk and Garcia approach.

“Do you think the boss will pull off the double-cross since he’s been praying to the porcelain god all evening?” Zisk questioned.

“He’d better—” Garcia’s voice cut off as they entered the office, leaving the door open.

Garcia moved a clock on a shelf, and the wall slid open.

Good grief, Van Houten needed to see a psychiatrist. He had a major hidden door fetish.

Garcia came out with the case containing the nuke.

Damn. She’d hoped to find it first. Garcia placed it on the desk, opened it, and inspected the canister.

It was smaller than she thought, but big enough to cause significant damage.