The Demise (23 page)

Julie kept motioning him to lower his voice. “I’m fine. But it could be a day or two before he can convince a judge to grant a search warrant. We need to see what’s on that boat, Jim. I don’t know why I didn’t think to go check it out before now. There’s no telling what we might find there.”

“I don’t know, Julie. It seems awfully risky. Besides, you heard what Matt said. He wants this done by the book. I mean, if he caught us snooping around out there—”

“But you’re an employee of the family, Jim. You don’t need a warrant to go on their boat.”

“Now Julie—”

“Fine. Then I’ll go by myself.

“And how would you get there, pray tell?”

She thought for a moment, remembering her water-logged car. She didn’t even know where it had been taken. “Gevin. Either I’ll convince him to go with me, or I’ll take his car and go alone.”

“What’s the rush? Why not just wait and do this Matt’s way?”

Matt’s way . .
 .

Sure. In her heart, she knew that was what she ought to do. Hadn’t he reminded her of that constantly since the day they met? Julie wasn’t altogether sure she knew what kept propelling her in the opposite direction,
but she was stubborn enough to follow her intuition. Which at the moment was screaming inside her head.

“Look, Jim. Without my help, Matt would be light-years behind in this investigation. He won’t admit that, of course, but with all my contacts, I’ve cut him enough corners to fast-track every angle of this case. And right now, my gut tells me that yacht may hold the secret that could answer all the questions concerning Peter’s death. Now, there’s still a chance he may walk back in here and be ready to roll on this. But if not, I’m going to that marina tonight. With or without you. So what’s it gonna be?”

Underwood dropped his head, shaking it. “Julie?”

“Yes?”

“What am I going to do with you?”

“Go with me. Pleeeease?”

He looked up with a resigned smile of surrender. “For the record,
my
gut tells me to wait on Matt. But I’m not about to let you go to that marina alone.”

“So you’ll go?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“Atta boy!”

She could hear Matt’s footsteps coming up the stairs.

“When he leaves, we’ll wait a few minutes and head out afterward,” she whispered. “If he doesn’t have to go meet Berkowitz, then you go ahead and leave, but wait in your car. I’ll convince him that Gevin can take care of me so he’ll go on back to his motel. Are you parked out back?”

“Yes, in my SUV.”

“Good. He’s parked out front.”

“But what if he—”

“Sorry about that,” Matt apologized as he opened the front door. “Berkowitz is on the warpath again.”

“Really?” Julie asked, sitting back with a trained air of innocence. “What’s he upset about this time?”

“I’d left a message telling him what happened to you, and he’s convinced I’ve let this whole thing ‘spiral out of control,’ as he put it. Never mind that I’m right on top of it.” Matt shook his head. “I’ll be so glad when I’m reassigned to another partner.”

Underwood stood. “Did you ask him about getting a search warrant?”

“Yes, and he said I should be at the courthouse first thing in the morning to convince a judge to give me one. So I guess there’s nothing more to be done about that tonight. I’ll give you a call as soon as I have that warrant. Will you be available tomorrow?”

“I should be. Mrs. Lanham told me she’ll be staying in tomorrow.”

“What’s she been like since the funeral?” Julie asked.

“How would I know? She’s never chatty with me, so all I have to go on is her moods. Which are never great, as you know.”

“Any idea what her plans are?”

“Not really. Though I did find some brochures for some properties in Maui. My guess is she’s either planning a trip or maybe buying a place over there.”

“And to think she hasn’t even gotten her hands on Peter’s life insurance money yet.”

Matt and Underwood both looked at her.

“Meaning?” Matt asked when she didn’t respond.

“Meaning, maybe she’s trying to leave the country before you find out she was behind her husband’s death. Maybe that was her up on that tower with him in Gevin’s picture. Or maybe—”

“Maybe you should leave the investigation to me. Now, where have I heard that before? Oh yeah. From me. At least a dozen times now.”

She felt the heat in her face, so she gazed over at Underwood. “He’s really quite annoying about all that. In case you hadn’t noticed.”

Underwood started toward the door. “Don’t drag me into this. I’m just a bystander.”

Matt gave him a pat on the back. “I’ll give you a call in the morning.”

“Sounds good.” Underwood turned back toward Julie. “You take care, Julie. Hope you feel better soon.”

She ignored his subtle wink. “Oh, I will. Good night, Jim.”

“Good night.”

As Matt closed the door, he asked Julie if he could get her anything.

“No, I’m good. But you really don’t have to stay. Gevin’s just downstairs, so if I need anything I can just call him.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, of course.”

“
Of course.
I’m beginning to think that’s your favorite response. You say it often, you know.”

“
Of course
I know.” Julie smiled as she tried to sit up, trying hard not to grimace from the pain.

“Well, if you’re sure, then I’ll take off. I’ve got some work I need to do.”

“Yeah? Like what?”

Matt started to answer then stopped. “Good one. You almost had me.”

“Ah, shucks,” she teased. “And here I thought I was about to hear some good stuff.”

He sat down beside her. “Nice try. Are you sure you’re feeling okay? On a scale of one to ten with ten being unbearable, what’s your pain level?”

“I guess I’d put it at a three. Or maybe even a two. I’m really feeling okay, so don’t worry about me.”

He leaned over with a questioning smile. “Why do I get the feeling you’re not telling me the truth?”

Julie felt the warmth heating her face again. She quickly flashed him her best Reese Witherspoon smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

He stared into her eyes for a moment. “If you say so.” He kissed her lips gently, then kissed her again on her forehead. “Promise you’ll call if you need anything?”

“I promise. I’ll be fine. You go out and solve crimes, Agent Bryson.”

“I will, Miss Parker. You can count on it.”

Chapter 26

Underwood turned the SUV into the parking lot of the affluent marina in west Nashville. They’d argued the entire duration of the forty-five-minute ride from Braxton. Julie had never once known Jim Underwood to be so bossy, and she didn’t like it at all. He pulled into a parking space facing the elegant security fence. Beyond it, a grassy knoll sloped gently downward to the main dock that ran horizontal. From it, she could see the six perpendicular docks of the marina housed beneath the green aluminum roofing. Here and there, lights twinkled as the vessels bobbed on the gentle waves of this inlet of the Cumberland River.

“You will stay in the car with your seatbelt on. Do you understand?”

Julie had tried every tactic she knew, but Underwood was having none of it. She drummed her fingers on her knee, looking straight ahead with her jaw clenched so tight, she thought it would lock for all eternity.

“Julie? Did you hear what I said?”

She tried to reason with him in a tone much calmer than she felt. “Look, Jim, we’re here. Why can’t I just come with you? I’ve been on Peter’s yacht before. I know my way around it, so I’d be able to—”

“I said no.”

“Why? Just tell me why!”

He turned off the ignition. “I’ve already told you why! C’mon, Julie. It’s bad enough I let you talk me into this. I’m not about to take a chance on you getting hurt or slipping off the dock and falling into the water.”

“Oh, please. Spare me the drama. I’m not some delicate china doll. Give me a little credit, will you?”

He turned to look at her. “Enough! Either you do as I say, or I turn this car around and take you home. What’s it going to be?”

“Fine! Just go. But if it takes you too long because you don’t know your way around, you can’t say I didn’t tell you so.”

“For your information, I’ve been on this yacht probably a hundred times over the years. So thank you for your concern, but I believe I know my way around just fine.”

“Whatever,” she mumbled with an indifferent shrug.

He slammed the door after grumbling something unintelligible. She watched him walk over to the gate and punch in the security code; the gate opened electronically then slowly closed after he went in. She watched him head down the middle dock where
My Baby
was moored on the last slip, just out of her sight.

Julie tried to slow her pulse rate. It was so unlike Jim to be anything but kind and helpful. Then again, she’d heard the snarky tone of her own voice as they’d argued. She could blame it on the pain meds, but she knew better. She closed her eyes for a second, trying to calm her nerves.

The problem was, she knew he was right.

When she reopened her eyes, she gazed out at the million-dollar boats docked here. She knew many of them belonged to Music City celebrities. Her favorite was the
Lady J
on the last slip on the dock directly opposite Peter’s. At the first party she attended on
My Baby
, she’d noticed the beautiful antique luxury yacht moored across from them. That afternoon, she’d looked up, and there was Alan Jackson smiling at her.

“Hey there,” he’d said with a wave. “You’re that girl on the Lanham’s commercials, aren’t you?”

She’d giggled and bobbed her head like a schoolgirl. “Yes, that’s me. Guilty as charged!”

She rolled her eyes, remembering how stupid she’d felt when those words slipped out of her mouth.
Guilty as charged?
The country mega-star had laughed and waved as he climbed back up to the bridge of his vessel.

Julie looked at her watch then leaned her head back on the headrest. She’d give Jim five more minutes, and if he wasn’t back, she’d—

Something moved in her periphery. She shielded her eyes from the glare off the parking lot security light above the SUV. There . . . someone walking briskly toward the gate. It was impossible to tell if it was a male or female because whoever it was wore dark pants and a dark hoodie covering everything but the eyes and nose.
Who wears that much clothing on a hot summer’s night?
Then she relaxed as the person punched in the gate code just as Jim had.
Must be one of the boat owners.
Or, maybe it’s someone who lives on one of boats while the owners are elsewhere. What a great job— living on a luxury yacht and getting paid for it.

She watched as the person walked through the open gate, then leaned down for a second as if he or she had dropped something. A moment later, the person headed down the dock running parallel to Peter’s.

Julie reached over to turn the AC down a notch. Then, as she sat back, she saw a flash of movement as the same person sprinted back toward the main dock then turned to his left. At the same time, she noticed Jim walking back from Peter’s yacht. She could see he was carrying a red duffel bag of some sort. From his angle, he couldn’t see that he and the hooded stranger would cross paths momentarily.

Julie felt the hair on her arms and neck lift.

Something’s not right
.

Was the stranger looking for Jim? Had he caught sight of him across the dock and retraced his steps to catch up to him? She felt like she was sitting at a drive-in movie watching as the bad guy was about to run down the good guy, but the good guy had no idea he’s about to get—

Just as Jim reached the main dock, the stranger leaped through the air tackling him.

“OH MY GOSH!” Julie screamed. She lurched sideways to get out, but the seatbelt restrained her. The pain of it almost took her breath away, but she quickly reached down to unclasp her seatbelt. She climbed over the console and slammed her hand on the steering wheel, honking the SUV’s horn. The stranger stopped punching Jim’s face for a split-second, looking straight up at the SUV. One hand still on the horn, she groped around with the other trying to find the headlights. When she finally flashed them on, the hooded stranger tucked his head down and dashed toward the gate.

Julie flipped on the brights, trying to get a better look at him. But the runner kept his head down as he slipped through the unlocked gate and took off out of sight.

That’s what he was doing before. He must have propped it open when he went in.

Adrenaline propelled her, overriding the protests of her injuries. “JIM!” she cried as she rushed toward him. “Jim! Are you all right?”

He groaned as he tried to sit up then fell back. “Ba . . .”

Kneeling beside him, she cupped her hand against his cheek. “Don’t try to sit up. I’m here, Jim. Just hold still.”

“Julie . . . bag . . .”

“What?”

“Duffel . . .”

“Don’t worry about the duffel. I’ve got to get—”

He reached up and grabbed her forearm. She yelped in pain as he growled, “Get. That. Bag.”

“Okay, okay! I’m sorry! I’ll see if I can find it.”

Biting her lip against the pain stretching across her abdomen, she stood back up and looked around. “I don’t see anything, Jim. What am I—”

“Water . . . splashed.”

“It fell in the water? Okay, I’m looking. Where did you—wait! I see it!”

“What’s going on here?” a voice called out behind the blinding glare of a flashlight.

“Julie . . . get the bag!” Jim shouted breathlessly.

“What’s the meaning of this?” another voice yelled as more flashlights bobbed along the dock.

“Please help us! My friend was attacked!” Julie cried, torn between helping Jim and his urgent pleas to retrieve the bag from the water. “Call 911!”

“Julie!” he rasped before the gathering crowd closed in on them. She looked for something to extend in the water, and noticed a boat hook hanging from a peg on the side of a dock unit. She grabbed it, got down on her knees, then lay flat on the dock, reaching as far as she could toward the bag.

“What are you doing, young lady?” someone asked, shining a light into the water.

“Oh thank you! Hold it right there so I can see what I’m doing.”

“Which is?”

“It belongs to my friend there. It’s there just out of my—wait, I got it!” She pulled it close enough to reach, then plopped the dripping bag onto the dock.

“Thank you so much. I was so afraid I’d lost it.”

“May I?” the man said, giving her a hand to help her up.

Julie cried out in pain.

“Are you hurt?” he asked, threading his arm beneath hers. “Let me help—Julie?”

She looked up and found the familiar face of Peter’s marina neighbor, Sam Olsen.

“Oh, Sam, thank God it’s you!”

Distant sirens wailed louder as flashing lights and squad cars began to fill the parking lot.

He helped her to a wooden bench. “What happened?”

“It’s a long story, but someone jumped Peter’s chauffeur, Jim Underwood.” She kept her eyes glued to Jim and the help he was receiving from other residents. “It all happened so fast—”

“Julie?”

Her heart stopped at the sound of Matt’s voice.

I knew it. I knew it!

The minute Matt had gone back to the loft to check on Julie and found her gone, he knew exactly where to find her. Gevin had no idea she’d left; even more perplexed when he found his car out back. But something had told Matt she would find a way here tonight, and he’d learned long ago to trust his instincts. Bruised and bandaged, no doubt still buzzed on pain meds, she’d deliberately defied him—
again
—and coerced Underwood to be her accomplice.

And here she was. Caught in the act.

Hands raised, she tried to plead with him. “I can explain, Matt. Just let me explain, okay?”

“Oh, sure. Like a simple explanation will make it all just fine. Well, save your breath. I’m in no mood to hear it. What happened to Underwood?”

She glanced at the paramedics attending him as she launched into one of her infamous verbal steamrollers.

“I was just telling Sam here that it all happened so fast, when someone attacked Jim, and I was in the car and saw it all unfolding in front of me, and the guy was just
pummeling
Jim, like he was a punching bag or something, but I knew I couldn’t get to him fast enough, so I laid on the horn and flashed the car’s lights, and that’s when the guy ran off and left poor Jim. So I ran to his side, and he kept begging me, ‘Get the bag! Get the bag!’ so I grabbed this pole and fished around in the water ‘til I could pull it in. So, see? I saved it. It would be lost at sea if not for me.” She feigned an awkward smile, but it didn’t come even close to fazing him.

Matt palmed a hand toward her. “Enough! Not another word. Stay right where you are.”

It would be lost at sea if not for me.
Under normal circumstances, he might have laughed at her clever poetic declaration, but he’d come to realize that with Julie, nothing was ever ‘normal.’

Her eyes wide, she swallowed hard as she handed him the bag.

“What’s this?”

“Jim got it off Peter’s yacht.”

“And . . . ?”

“And I don’t know what’s in it because I only just now plucked it from the water. I wouldn’t dream of looking inside without first showing it to you.”

“Yeah, I bet.” He grabbed it from her. “You stay right here.” He looked at Sam. “Do you know Miss Parker?”

“Yes, he’s a friend of—”

“I didn’t ask you, Julie! I asked him.”

She jumped. “Sorry! Stop yelling at me!”

He closed his eyes and counted to five. Then he turned toward the man standing beside her. “And you are?”

“Sam Olsen. My boat’s tied up next to Peter’s.”

“I’d like to talk to you in a minute. But for now, make sure she doesn’t move a muscle, got it?”

“Got it,” Sam answered.

Matt turned, anxious to talk to Underwood before the paramedics loaded him into the ambulance. They’d cuffed a neck brace on him and were just about to lift him onto the gurney when Matt approached. “Are you okay, Underwood?”

Jim waved at the paramedics. “Guys, give us a minute?”

“Make it fast,” one of them said as they both stepped away.