Page 18 of Pirates in Calusa Cove (Everglades Overwatch #2)

CHAPTER 15

Trinity sat on the floor in the cuddy of a larger fishing vessel, her hands and feet bound. The air reeked of five-day-old fish. She coughed and gagged as she stared into the eyes of someone she’d once called a friend while she waved a gun in her face. “This was you all along?” She swallowed the bile that bubbled from her stomach to her throat. “Why? Why would you do this?” She blinked, shifting her gaze, not wanting to look her in the eye. She stared over Mallary’s shoulder. Something shiny glimmered on the small table.

A knife?

God, she hoped it was a knife.

“You can never just walk away from anything, can you?” Mallary lowered herself, grabbing Trinity’s face and forcing her to look into her terrifying eyes. “You had to call the Coast Guard that night. You had to see what was happening at sea in the middle of a storm instead of doing what a normal person would do and turning around to go home. ”

“Are you kidding me? Normal people don’t let boats sink.” Trinity squared her shoulders. “Did you kill your brother?” she asked softly. Visions of that night flashed in her brain. The storm. The massive waves. The lightning. The rain. The small vessel bobbing up and down.

Mallary narrowed her stare. “Of course not. I loved Jared. He wasn’t supposed to die. He was supposed to be on that boat with Ralph and a few other boys. It was supposed to look like pirates got them. But when my friends got to my brother’s boat, they were shocked to find Jared alone.” Mallary shrugged. “They had to make the tough call. Someone had to go down with the boat.” She waved her gun. “But then you showed up, causing a ruckus, making it impossible for them to snag the jewels. They had to sink the ship and haul ass. But I guess I need to be grateful it was you.” She smiled wickedly. “My dear, sweet friend who would do anything for me, including spending a year looking for sunken treasure.”

“You used me,” Trinity whispered.

“As if you haven’t been using me our entire friendship.” Mallary rocked back on her heels before sitting on her ass and crisscrossing her legs. “You only became friends with me because I made you ‘regular.’ If it weren’t for me, you’d just be the rich bitch on the block that everyone hated. Because of me, you became relevant. You had friends.”

“That’s not true.”

“Oh, please.” Mallary rolled her eyes. “You rolled up to the dorms in your expensive SUV like you were Elle in Legally Blonde. You were such an elitist. During our freshman year, everyone talked about you behind your back, and it wasn’t to call you sweet names like a princess. Sadly, I wanted to be you. I wanted money. I was so tired of being the girl who smelled like rotting bait. Do you have any idea what it’s like to grow up with a dad who runs a fishing charter business? I thought when he married the witch and she owned a floral shop, I’d get to work there, but no, I had to work for Daddy. What a joke.”

This was not the Mallary that Trinity had been friends with on and off for years. This was a bitter, angry woman, and Trinity wanted nothing to do with this version of Mallary.

“You tried to kill me.” Trinity sucked in a deep breath. Her own rage bubbled to the surface. “Three times.”

“Not me personally.” Mallary laughed. “And they weren’t supposed to kill you. Not without finding the jewels first. I need them. They’re the key to my happiness.” She leaned closer. “Something you took from me.”

“Excuse me? How did I do that?”

“Fenton.” Mallary raised her hand—the one with the gun in it—and smacked it across Trinity’s face.

The taste of metal filled her mouth. Her eyes watered. Her cheek felt as though a bomb had gone off inside the bone. She groaned. “Fenton?” she managed. “But you always wanted me to get back with him.”

“You’re such a dumb bitch for someone who thinks she’s so damn smart.”

“Why don’t you explain it to me because I don’t understand?” Trinity’s cheek throbbed. Her eyes watered. Her insides trembled. But as she sat there and stared at someone she’d once thought was her friend, she honestly wanted to know why Mallary had decided kidnapping and killing her was the answer to whatever problem she had.

Even if she was going to die after finding out the truth.

Mallary leaned closer. Her lip twitched. “Fenton, like most men, believes you walk on water. I can’t understand why he loves you, but he does.”

Trinity gritted her teeth. “He only wants my father’s money, and he’s a cheater.” She gasped. “He was sleeping with you, wasn’t he?”

“Technically, that only happened twice while you and he were together.” Mallary sneered. “When you found those texts and my earring, I thought maybe he’d realize I was the better choice. But he didn’t. He decided he’d made a mistake and lost the best thing that had ever happened to him.”

“But if you wanted him, why encourage me to take him back?”

Mallary laughed. “At first, all I wanted was to crush you and destroy your confidence in him. I would text Fenton when I knew he was with you, hoping you would see the sexy talk. I left my earring in his car on purpose. But after Jared died—after you and Fenton broke up—he still didn’t want me. He wanted you . Loved you . He’s been determined to win you back. To prove to you that while working for your dad has been a dream come true, it’s not the only reason he wants to be with you, which is a crock. That man cares more about money and prestige, about his place in the world, and these jewels are my way of giving him that.”

“Are you kidding me?” Trinity swallowed, choking on some blood. “You think that money will make him love you?”

“It will help him forget about you,” Mallary said.

“Hey, boss,” a male voice yelled. “Fenton just pulled into the marina. What do you want us to do?”

“Don’t let him on this boat, that’s for damn sure, but maybe he made good on his word.” Mallary jumped to her feet. She leaned over. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be back.”

Trinity spat the blood that had pooled in her mouth at Mallary.

She just laughed as she wiped her face and walked away.

Trinity dropped her head back and tried to keep the tears at bay. How had she not seen it? How could she have been so blind and stupid? She sucked in a deep breath and pushed it out through her nose. She blinked, glancing around the small cabin. She needed to find a way out.

The knife! Thank God Mallary hadn’t seen it.

She shimmied her way up the wall and hopped across the small cabin. She fumbled with her fingers until she clutched the knife. She managed to hobble back to her spot and began cutting through the restraints. That was priority number one.

She’d figured out the rest once she managed that.

One thing at a time.

Keaton took the binoculars that Chloe handed him and peered through the lenses. They had perched themselves across the street and up on a hill, overlooking a marina on Gullivan Bay.

“That’s the boat my buddies at the Coast Guard saw a few mornings ago. It crossed into the Bahamas later that day, but there was no word on it returning to US Waters,” Chloe said. “It’s registered to Riggs Oppenheimer. He’s been a fishing charter captain out of Marco Island for twenty years, and my contacts just informed me he has a connection to Fenton.”

“Obviously, since Fenton is parked down the road,” Keaton said with a little too much sarcasm. “We need to have Bradley stop him if he enters the marina.”

“I agree,” Chloe said. “Eight years ago, Fenton hired Riggs. Since then, he’s hired Riggs exclusively for fishing charters. But Riggs also knows Mallary and her family. Riggs got his start working with her dad.”

“Wonderful,” Keaton mumbled.

“Also aboard that vessel that morning was Eddy Ives,” Chloe continued.

“I take it he has a connection to Fenton as well,” Fletcher said.

“Just Mallary and her dad. He worked as a mechanic at their shop until about five years ago. Now he owns his own engine repair shop,” Chloe said. “Wille Avery, now he’s the man we need to be worried about.”

“Why?” Hayes asked.

“Ex-Army,” Chloe said. “My contacts tell me he was given an other-than-honorable discharge. I pulled in a few favors to find out more, and he was sent packing for breaches of military orders.”

Hayes snorted. “We all sat in front of a review board for that—twice—but it wasn’t because we didn’t want to follow orders. It was because if we did, civilians would’ve died.”

Keaton set the binoculars aside. Whatever was going on down there, he couldn’t see it. “Do you know more?”

“Yeah.” Chloe nodded. “This asshole got lucky he didn’t get court-martialed. He broke the chain of command more than once. He put his men in danger. He put civilians in danger, and according to one of the team leaders I spoke with personally, he’s reckless and a menace.”

“This just keeps getting better,” Keaton muttered, glancing at his watch. “How far out is Dawson?”

“Ten minutes,” Fletcher said. “He had to ditch the uniform and fly under the radar of the locals. This isn’t his jurisdiction, and he’s putting his job on the line.”

“He doesn’t have to participate.” Keaton rolled his neck. “We’re not even a hundred percent sure Trinity is on that boat.”

Hayes slapped him on the back. “Maybe not, but that looks an awful lot like Mallary, and she’s holding a weapon. It doesn’t appear she’s being held under duress.”

Anger boiled over. He snagged the binoculars and slammed them against his face. “I’m going to?—”

“Don’t finish that statement,” Chloe said. “I might be off duty, but I’m still an FBI agent.” She crooked her finger. “But now that we have a visual on something, I get to put my official hat back on and make some calls on your behalf.”

“I’m not waiting for your friends to show up. That could be too late,” Keaton said.

“I’m not asking you to.” Chloe arched a brow. “But since we just happened to be in the area and saw a girl we thought was dead, I can call a few people I trust for backup. That way, whatever does go down will be official, and no one will get away with anything today.” She smiled.

“I think I’m ‘hearting’ on your girlfriend.” Keaton chuckled.

“How many times do I have to… Never mind. Sorry for my friend, Chloe,” Hayes said.

“He’s cute, so he’s forgiven.” Chloe pulled her weapon from an ankle holster and checked the chamber. “Since none of them would know me, I’ll go meander down by the docks. You boys take cover behind that building over there.” She pointed. “Have Dawson meet you there. We’ll text in five to ten with a plan.”

“How about I just go walking up to the boat?” Keaton said. “That’s a plan.”

“Might be what we go with, but for now, let’s keep watching.” Chloe jumped to her feet. She held Hayes’s gaze for a moment.

That moment wasn’t lost on Keaton or Fletcher.

“Be safe.” She squeezed Hayes’s biceps.

“You, too.” He nodded, raising his hand, but before it landed on anything, he dropped it to the side .

“Looks like Fenton is on the move. Let’s roll.” Keaton wasn’t sure he could wait ten minutes. They didn’t know if Trinity was on that boat, but Mallary was, and that was a start.

Keaton paced behind one of the storage buildings in the marina with Hayes, Dawson, and Fletcher. His heart pounded in his ears. “What the hell is taking so long?”

“Chloe didn’t want to risk anyone on that boat having a visual of her and Fenton together.” Dawson stuffed his hands in his pockets. “She made contact and said he should be driving by in less than a minute. The plan is for him to make the turn around this building and park over there, which is out of sight from the docks.”

“Unless he keeps going because he’s guilty as sin,” Keaton mumbled.

Dawson shook his head. “Chloe says he wants to talk. She texted and said he looked scared shitless.”

Fenton’s car took the corner. He pulled into a parking spot, bolted from the driver’s seat, and raced toward them, panting.

Keaton took two steps, but Fletcher grabbed him by the forearm, yanking him back. “Let Dawson handle this.”

“Would you be standing down if it were Baily who was missing?” Keaton turned and glared.

“You’re running way too hot, and the last thing we need is for you to sucker punch him.” Hayes placed a gentle hand on Keaton’s shoulder. “We need you to be calm.”

Keaton took in a long, slow breath and nodded.

“Care to explain why you’re here?” Dawson asked as Fenton approached. “Is there something you didn’t tell me this morning when I questioned you?”

“Yes and no.” Fenton wiped his brow. His face dripped with perspiration, and it wasn’t even that hot out. “I suspected a couple of things but wasn’t completely sure. Now I am.”

“That’s called obstruction of justice, and it’s an arrestable offense,” Dawson said.

“Then arrest me, but you’ll be wasting valuable time.” Fenton raised his hand and pointed toward the docks with a shaky finger. “Mallary is alive, and she needs help.”

Keaton stole a glance toward Dawson, who shook his head. “How long have you known she wasn’t missing or dead?” Keaton asked.

“She texted me a couple of days after she went missing,” Fenton admitted. “I was gobsmacked. She’s being held captive for ransom, but Trinity wouldn’t give up the jewels.”

“No one ever contacted Trinity, or the police for that matter,” Dawson said, planting his hands on his hips. “Why didn’t you come to me when she reached out?”

“She told me her life was in danger, and then the next day, I got an alarming message from some man who said they were going to kill Mallary if I didn’t do what they asked.”

“And what was that?” Dawson asked calmly .

“Find out where Trinity was and who was staying with her. I gave them that information.” Fenton wiped his hand over his mouth. “I’m sorry. I had no idea they would set Keaton’s home on fire and kidnap Trinity, but Mallary’s life is also in danger, and you have to help her.”

“Is Trinity on that boat?” Keaton clenched his fists at his sides.

“I don’t know. I saw a man standing guard with a gun, and then that FBI agent sidetracked me.” Fenton blew out a puff of air. “I’m glad you’re here. You have to help Mallary.”

“How did you know to come here and that Mallary was on that boat?”

“The phone number,” Fenton said softly. “After I learned about the fire, I found the message from the man who called me, and I searched the number. I couldn’t believe it, but it was from someone I knew. Someone I had taken my boat to for service a few years ago. It got me thinking about Mallary and her past. How the guy I always used for fishing charters—Riggs—was connected to Eddy, the service guy, and he was always a bit shady. It’s why her dad fired him. He thought he was using his charter boats for his own side gigs—like pirating.”

“Still doesn’t tell us how you knew she’d be here,” Keaton said.

“Because Mallary told me to come here. She said she could see out the window, and she knew the marina,” Fenton shouted. “They have Mallary. Maybe they have Trinity, too. You have to do something. We can’t stand back here and do nothing.”

“We need more,” Dawson said. “This isn’t adding up.”

“After you visited me this morning, I called the number that Mallary first reached out on. She answered. She was so scared. I told her I wanted to help, and she said the only way I could help was if I had the jewels. She asked me if I knew where they were. I told her I suspected Keaton had them and that I would get them. I would do anything to make sure she was safe. I might not love the woman, but I don’t want anything bad to happen to her.”

“So, you thought you’d come here, alone, and save her?” Dawson asked.

“Okay, so not my brightest move, but I didn’t exactly expect a tattooed man with a machine gun.” Fenton slumped his shoulders. “What would you have done in my shoes?”

“Called for backup, for starters,” Keaton mumbled. “And I’m still struggling with your story.”

“It’s not a story, man. I’m telling you the truth. Mallary?—”

“Is not who she seems.” Chloe came around the corner. “Earlier, we saw Mallary with a weapon.”

“What? You didn’t tell me that. You're lying.” Fenton stared at Chloe. “That can’t be. She’s being held against her will. They kidnapped her for the jewels from the Flying Victoria . They tried to kill Trinity…” Fenton let his words trail off. His eyes grew wide. His face turned bright red. “No. No. That can’t be right. Are you su ggesting that Mallary has been behind all of this? Why?”

“You’re going to stand there and pretend you weren’t in on it with her?” Keaton took a step closer.

“Me? Why the hell would I blow up my life over jewels from a stupid sunken ship? Why on earth would I go along with kidnapping? That’s crazy.” Fenton stared at Keaton.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Keaton said. “Maybe because Trinity rejected you, and you wanted revenge?”

“That makes no sense.” Fenton shook his head. “I love Trinity. I was doing whatever I could to win her back.” He held up a shaky hand. “That certainly doesn’t include hurting her friend or stealing jewels. How would that help me get her back or extract this so-called revenge? If I wanted that, I would’ve done something to you, and no, I didn’t set fire to your home because she was in… Oh my God,” Fenton said softly. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.” He covered his eyes with his hands.

“See what?” Dawson asked calmly.

“Mallary and her games. I’m so stupid.” He shook his head and dropped his hands to his sides. “She was always playing stupid games, like agreeing to be the other woman when I was dating Trinity. Or how she’d tell me that she understood how important money was to me, and that’s why Trinity was more important when that wasn’t the truth at all.”

“But you did say you wanted Trinity for her father’s money,” Keaton said.

“That was taken out of context.” Fenton glared. “I will not apologize for my success in the business or wanting to go as high as possible. But that’s not why I was with Trinity, and I have always regretted saying those words and being with Mallary while I was with Trinity. Two things I can’t apologize enough for.” He shifted his gaze toward the water. “If Mallary is behind all this, and she does have Trinity, then she’s a woman who no longer has anything to lose.”

“Why do you say that?” Dawson asked.

“Because Mallary has always wanted what Trinity has, and that’s money and the respect of her family. If it’s the jewels she’s after for money, she won’t have that. And her father hasn’t appreciated the way Mallary has lived her life. My God, I’ve been such a fool.” Fenton stuck his hands in his pockets. “I know saying sorry isn’t enough, but I truly am. What can I do to help?”

“Stay out of our way,” Dawson said. “And I’ll need a full statement when this is over.”

“I’ll do anything.” Fenton nodded, staring at Keaton. “I hope you’ll be able to forgive me.”

All the air in Keaton’s lungs flew out like a flock of birds taking flight. He hated this man. Despised him. But if everything he said was true, the only thing this dude was guilty of was being an asshole—and stupid—and every man was guilty of that at least once in his life.

But forgiveness, in this case, wouldn’t come easily to Keaton. “If anything bad happens to Trinity, I will personally hold you responsible.”

“I suppose I’d feel the same way if I were you,” Fenton mumbled, nodding like a freaking bobblehead.

“I hate to break up this party,” Chloe said. “But we need a plan, and we need to act.” She glanced at her watch. “The Coast Guard is in place, and honestly, there are way too many civilians in this marina to do this here.”

“Bradley has secured two speedboats.” Dawson jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Me, Keaton, and Fletcher on one. Chloe, Bradley, and Hayes on the other.” He pointed his finger at Fenton. “You are to stay right here. Do not move. If you signal them or do anything to make me regret not slapping handcuffs on you, so help me God, you will regret ever meeting me.”

Fenton held up his hands. “I won’t. I promise.”

“You better not.” Keaton inched forward. “Because if you do, it’s not Dawson you need to worry about.” With that, he turned on his heel but paused without taking a step and glanced back. “Hang on.”

“What?” Chloe asked.

“We’re forgetting one thing,” Keaton said. “We don’t know if Trinity is actually on that boat, but I think we can use Fenton to find out.”

“I’ll do whatever you want,” Fenton said.

“What are you thinking?” Chloe asked.

“She wants the jewels, and Fenton here led her to believe he could get them. She likely saw him pull in.” Keaton rubbed his jaw. “Let’s have him call and tell her that he got them. During the rush at my house, while they were taking Monty and me to the hospital, he was able to get in and get them. But when he got here, he saw Bradley and got scared, so he rented a boat, and he’ll meet her out at sea, but…” Keaton raised his finger. “I want him to ask about Trinity, whether the kidnappers have her, too.”

“Let’s do it,” Chloe said.

Fenton pulled out his phone.

“Put it on speaker.” Keaton waved his hand.

It rang twice. “Hello? Fenton? Is that you?”

“Mallary? Are you okay?” Fenton asked in what could only be described as incredible acting. As if he cared. Maybe he did because one didn’t turn off feelings that quickly.

“Barely,” she whispered. “I’m so lucky they haven’t found this phone.”

“I have good news,” he said. “I’ve got the jewels.”

“You do? How did you manage that?”

“Trinity’s dad was hurt really bad. Last I checked, he was still in surgery. And Keaton, they had to take him to the hospital, too. While all that was going down, I poked around and found them. But when I got to the marina, a cop was hanging around, so I got scared. I didn’t want to do anything that would upset those who kidnapped you. I will call them now and tell them I rented a boat and to meet me out in open water. I think that’s safer.”

“You’re probably right,” she whispered.

“Did you know that Trinity is missing now, too?”

“She’s here,” Mallary said. “You can save us both.”

“Okay. Hang tight. I’m on my way.” Fenton ended the call. “That bitch. She plans on killing me, too.”

Keaton coughed, pounding his chest. “What makes you believe that?”

“And you don’t?” Dawson glared .

“Just asking the question as to what brought him to that conclusion so fast.” Keaton raised his hands.

“What else is she going to do with me after I bring her the jewels I obviously don’t have,” Fenton mumbled. “Don’t you think I should call the other number now to make it all legit? Otherwise, they might think something is up.”

“Good idea.” Keaton nodded, rolling his neck. He still didn’t like the guy, but he hated him a little less.

That call lasted only four seconds. The man grunted a few coordinates at Fenton and then hung up.

Chloe stuck her head out around the side of the building. “They’re firing up the engines. They took the bait. Let’s roll.”

That’s all Keaton needed. Trinity was on that boat, and he wouldn’t wait another second to get to the woman he knew he didn’t want to live without.