Starfish Island (21 page)

“Michael,” she screamed as she spotted his motionless body on the floor. She ran to his side and dropped to the floor beside him. “Michael?” she called, her voice laced with concern.

She sat down and cradled his head in her lap, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of Zander. Nothing. She whooshed out a breath as Michael’s face began to show signs he was coming around. His breathing seemed shallow. She fished his phone out of his pocket. Tugging at her lower lip with her teeth, she fumbled with the buttons.

“Michael, please wake up,” she pleaded, giving up on the phone for the moment. She pressed his face against her breasts and whispered his name.

“Where’s Zander?” he groaned, rolling out of her arms, catching his head between his hands.

“I don’t know. When I ran into the room, he was gone. I’m calling the police.”

“No,” he yelled, grabbing his phone out of her hands. “I’m going to handle this quietly by myself. No police; there’s no good way to explain what happened tonight. We’d all end up needing lawyers.”

“What did you and Zander talk about? Why did he hit you?”

“Not now, please, my head is killing me.”

Nicole’s emotions burst to the surface and erupted in fury. She jumped to her feet. “What?” she yelled. “A strange man holds us at gun point, and you insist on talking to him alone. Then he knocks you out and escapes, and when I ask what’s going on, all you can say is ‘not now’?”

“You’re going to have to trust me on this one.”

“
Trust
you?” she yelled. “This is my business, and I have a right to worry about this and get some answers. It’s my life, inheritance, and money we’re dealing with. I thought we were in this together. How about trusting me?”

They stared at each other, their eyes locked in a silent duel.

“Leave, I’m tired,” Nicole said, giving him a disgusted look. “I will not be treated like a recalcitrant child. I will not let you make all the decisions and act like my only role in this is to do what I’m told, like I’m not worthy of having my questions answered about my own damn life. From now on, I’ll handle my own problems. Lock the door on your way out.” She brushed past him and raced up the steps.

Chapter Twenty-One

THE WALLS OF Michael’s study were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookcases, the books’ leather bindings reflecting the sunlight pouring through the French doors. There was a massive desk, deep, comfortable leather chairs, and ambient lighting, which allowed a person to work and read in comfort. The doors stood open, giving a clear view of the backyard, which led down to the private beach. Cecilia had put her personal stamp on the room, with its soft blue walls and fresh greenery from their garden.

“I’ve always liked this room,” Private Investigator Gentry Swain said as he looked around. “This is a room where a man can think undisturbed.”

“I like this room too,” Michael said. “Cecilia took everything I wanted into consideration when she designed it. She did a great job.”

“She’s quite a woman, isn’t she?” said the third man in the group, who stood in front of the open doors.

Michael stole a quick look at Sebastian Brant’s face. Apparently, his matchmaking idea hadn’t been so bad after all. Brant never took his eyes off Cecilia’s face when they were together.
I’m positive she feels the same way,
Michael thought. She’d been different of late, quieter, caught up in her private thoughts.
I hope it works out.
Sebastian was a great guy and a good friend—an excellent choice for Cecilia; he could make her happy.

For a few minutes, the three men sat, caught up in their thoughts.

Sebastian was the first to speak. “Well Michael, are you going to tell us why you called us all together? I’m sure Gentry is just as curious as I am. What’s up?”

“There’s one thing I have to let you in on, Sebastian,” Michael started. “As you know, Gentry has been a friend of the family for a long time, as well as a respected member of our business community.”

“I know all that, Michael,” Sebastian said.

“What you don’t know is that Gentry is also an ex-FBI agent. He’s here to help us get this case solved.”

“Why the big secret?” Sebastian asked.

“Gentry felt that as few people as possible should know. In light of what I’m about to say, I thought I should fill you in on what’s been happening. I just got a report,” Michael continued, “that our assumption that the hacking of our computers began in our New York office was correct. Now, however, it seems the base of operations has been switched to the Miami area. They have the same type of land scheme going on in the next county over. And once again, Edwards Inc.’s name is appearing on the transactions.”

Sebastian sat up with a jerk.

Michael turned to Gentry. “Give us your latest update.”

Gentry nodded. “They started in California, then moved east. After running their land-fraud a while in New York, they set up shop here in Florida, recycling their already successful scam. They’re clever and highly-organized, and have managed, with a few exceptions, to stay beneath the radar of most government agencies. It’s a good thing you convinced Nicole not to sign any agreements.”

“I can’t shake the feeling that Ellis is tied up in all this,” Michael said.

“I’ve had a chance to do some checking on him, and I don’t think he’s the man we’re after. His record is clean; his only concern is his public persona. However, I have a few more doors to kick in before I give you my final report on him.”

“I know you don’t like Ellis, Michael,” Sebastian said. “But what does the man stand to gain by taking part in such a scheme? The way I see it, he stands to lose everything, not to mention risking disbarment and a prison sentence.”

“You’re probably right.” Michael shook his head, but he wasn’t able to shake his gut feeling. He chuckled. “After I told her about the buyers, Nicole called Ellis and stopped the sale then and there. He put up an argument, said it was too late to do anything, but Nicole made it clear that either he would handle her affairs her way or she’d find a new lawyer. So he stopped the sale.”

“He’s not one of my favorite people,” Sebastian said. “But in all fairness, he could’ve been taken in by these people. He just assumed they were reputable because they were introduced by a friend of Nicole’s. Ellis getting involved in a land fraud scheme seems highly unlikely. He could just be a pawn.”

Gentry took off his glasses and polished them absently while he talked. “Exactly who brought these people here?”

“A man named Greg Templeton,” Sebastian said.

“Templeton?” Gentry jumped up, then sat back down slowly. “I watched him hanging all over Victoria Peters at your party and wondered what his agenda was.”

“You needn’t worry about Templeton,” Michael said. “Time has run out for him.

The FBI is closing in. They have some men on their way to his hotel to pick him up now. The two women were already picked up at the airport; they got scared when Ellis cancelled the sale and were preparing to board an international flight out of Miami. Their version is that Templeton set up the whole scam.”

“I hope they throw the book at Greg,” Sebastian said. “As long as I live, I’ll never understand men like him. It’s a wonder he can sleep nights.”

“In this case,” Gentry said, “sleep takes a back seat to cold, hard cash to maintain his lifestyle. Ran a check on Templeton; he’s a slick con artist in debt up to his eyeballs to finance his lavish lifestyle. It doesn’t bother the man to spend money he doesn’t have. His biggest ambition is to be rich, and marrying money, rather than working for it, suits him just fine. He’s got a history of setting up phony marriages, cleaning out his supposed wives’ bank accounts, and disappearing.”

“Phony marriages?” Michael asked.

“He preyed on women without family to see that all the legalities were followed. Hired an actor to perform the ceremony, leaving him an easy out. Word is, he bragged to his friends about plans for a third marriage, but something went wrong. It’s easy for anyone who knows his history to figure he’s for sale to the highest bidder. Also easy to see how he went from con-jobs to real-estate fraud; the stakes are higher and the bottom line is money.”

“There’s one question left. We know he isn’t in this alone,” Michael said. “The whole scam is too well-organized. He’s clever, but this is not a one-man operation. And he used information supplied to him from Edwards Inc.’s files, which there’s no way he could access himself. There’s someone out there who used our computers to make us look like the bad guys. It’s only a matter of time before they’re back in business.”

Gentry’s phone rang, and he checked the screen. “I have another appointment.” He shook hands with the two men.

Michael went to the door with him. On his way back inside, he noticed something on the ground in front of the open French doors. He walked over to pick it up and found that it was a woman’s locket with the initials VP monogrammed on it.
How did Victoria’s necklace get here
, he wondered as he moved slowly back to his chair.

Sebastian sat without moving, his eyes on a framed picture of Cecilia. When he saw Michael watching him, he smiled broadly. “I have a favor to ask, Michael. I've asked your sister to marry me, and she said yes. I'd like you to be my best man.”

Michael jumped to his feet and shook his friend’s hand. “That’s really great. There isn’t a man I’d rather see Cecilia marry.”

“Thanks, Michael. I believe you mean that.”

“She’s a great woman, and not just because she’s my sister,” Michael said. “Life hasn’t always been fair to her. I can’t tell you how glad I am that she’s going to have some happiness at last.”

“I’ll do everything I can to make her happy,” Sebastian promised. He looked at Michael, and his eyes narrowed at the other man’s changed expression. “What’s wrong? Did you change your mind about us already?”

“Of course not. I’m just wondering how Cecilia feels about moving to New York?”

“That question also worried me, but she’s really excited about the move and has already begun making plans.”

“Then everything is perfect.” Michael’s face lit up with a smile. Seeing Cecilia happy was a relief. At last she’d put her past behind her and was looking toward to the future.

Leaving Sebastian in his study, he found his sister returning from a long walk, her cheeks flushed and eyes bright from the exercise. “Michael,” she began, the color in her cheeks deepening, “has Sebastian told you?”

“Just now,” he said and kissed her cheek. “I’m really happy for you, Cecilia. He couldn’t be a better choice for a husband if I’d picked him myself.”

She laughed. “It’ll be nice having someone to share all the little things with, things as small as morning coffee. It’s strange, Michael, how hard it is to get used to the idea of being happy. Now it’s your turn for a share of the same happiness. Since Katrina, you’ve acted as though you just don’t want to be bothered. Until lately.”

He changed the subject. “Sebastian tells me you’re going to live in New York.”

She lifted her head and smiled. “It’s going to be a big change from Starfish Island, but it’ll be interesting to live somewhere that has actual seasons. You know me, my head is full of plans. I’m going to love it; I’ve always loved New York.”

He shook his head. “Who’s going to look after me?” He smiled ruefully. “Sounds selfish, doesn’t it? I’m trying to say I’ll miss you.”

“Michael,” she said, her voice choked with emotion.

“Hey.” He pulled on a strand of her dark hair. “This isn’t supposed to be a serious conversation. Things have turned out exactly the way I hoped they would.”

“Love you, big brother.” Cecilia glanced at her watch. “We have to hurry; I walked longer than I intended and lost track of time. We’re having dinner guests. Has Victoria arrived?”

He thought briefly of the locket, but shook his head. “Not yet.”

“That’s odd, she’s always early.” Cecilia sighed. “She’ll probably be here any moment. I’m trying to improve our relationship for Jake’s sake. There’s no reason to let Greg Templeton ruin a good friendship.”

“With all of us working together, we can’t lose.”

“Thank you, Michael.”

Michael watched as Cecilia went up the stairs, tall and graceful, a lightness to her step. Half an hour later, she returned, wearing casual black pants and a button-down shirt. Her eyes twinkled as she sought out Sebastian, who was in the living room with Michael. The two men smiled as she came toward them. She looked around and frowned.

“Where’s Victoria? Hasn’t she arrived yet?”

“I haven’t seen her,” Michael said.

“This isn’t like her. She’d never accept an invitation and then just not show up. I’m worried.”

“She’ll be here soon.” Thinking about that necklace again, however, Michael wasn’t sure it was that simple.

“If something has happened to her, with everything else going on, how would we tell Jake?” Cecilia questioned.

“Tell Jake what?”

They all turned and saw Jake standing in the doorway.

“Well,” he said, laughing, “Isn’t anyone going to tell me what’s going on?”
 

Chapter Twenty-Two

NICOLE WALKED SLOWLY down the staircase, stopped, and sat down on a step. She dreaded going in to dinner. Eating alone had never bothered her before, but with Chester hovering and watching her every bite, she didn’t know how much more she could take. As beautiful as the surroundings were, she felt lonely and as if danger was snapping at her heels, just waiting for her to make the wrong move. Was there really someone out there who wanted to harm her?

The phone rang, interrupting her thoughts. She got up and ran the rest of the way down the stairs.

“Nicole, it’s me.”

“What do you want, Greg?” she said.

His voice shook as he said, “Nicole, I have to see you.”

“This is absurd. There’s nothing left for us to say to one another. Our relationship is dead—never to be revived. Stop calling me.”

“Please,” he implored, “meet me—”

“It’s too late,” Nicole cut in. “Much too late. Nothing can be changed now. I know all about you.”