Celeste Files: Unjust (21 page)

*

“Thank you again for helping out Gabe,” Barney said, then gave her a quick hug. “I’m sorry for ruining your vacation.”

Celeste squeezed him back, and looked to the other ATL agents standing outside of Polina’s Paradise. She and John had stopped by to say good-bye to the crew, but also hoped Lola had additional information for them.

“You didn’t ruin our vacation,” she said. If anything, dealing with Denis, the women and Gabe had helped her to realize that she needed to accept who and what she was, because if she didn’t, how could she expect John to? “We still managed to salvage the last few days and had a relaxing time on the beach. I honestly wouldn’t change what happened this week. I’m glad we were able to help Gabe and Angelica.”

Jane Doe’s real name was Angelica Jiménez. She was eighteen, and from Cartagena, Colombia. Once Nick and Jerry had assured Angelica that they knew what had happened on the Cajun Lady, and that she would not face charges, she’d begun talking. She’d told the detectives how she and her sister, Valeria, had been kidnapped, and how their abductors had beaten her sister when she’d fought them. Everything else she’d had to say matched Gabe’s story, and what Celeste had seen through Denis’s memories.

As for Gabe, he’d been released from jail that same day, with all charges dropped. Once word of what had actually happened on the Cajun Lady spread throughout Everglades City, Gabe was offered several positions on other fishing boats. He’d passed for now, and had instead insisted that he fly with Angelica back to Colombia. They’d left yesterday, and Barney had told her that Gabe’s sister had said that the deckhand planned to stay in Cartagena for another week. He’d wanted to be there for Valeria’s funeral.

“I could have done without a few moments.” John placed an arm around her. “But I agree with Celeste. There’s not a whole lot I’d change about this week.”

“If Denis hadn’t appeared,” Lola began, “no one would have ever known about the women he’d abducted.” She looked to Celeste. “What you can do is so strange and cool. If we ever need a psychic, would you be willing to help us with a case?”

“Ian has been trying to get me to work for CORE. Sorry, but I have enough on my plate.”

“Told you she wouldn’t go for it,” Ryan said, and kissed Lola’s head.

The Russian held his gator’s leash in one hand, then opened his large palm toward Harrison. “Vlad told Harry not to make bet. Pay Vlad.”

Harrison shook his head. “After how many cell phones I’ve had to buy you? You should be paying me,” he said, then asked Lola, “Did you tell John and Celeste about the ledger?”

Hoping they’d find something leading back to the men Denis had sold the women to, Nick and Jerry had forensics investigators tear through Denis’s trailer again. Two days ago, an investigator finally found the ledger in a secret compartment located in an obscure spot in the ceiling of the trailer, along with over three hundred thousand dollars. Celeste hadn’t heard anything more about it since.

Lola shook her head. “It was late when Nick called me about it.”

“Well?” Celeste asked. “Good news?”

“Yep. Some of the men’s names you’d given Nick and Jerry, along with locations of the bodies, match what Denis had in the ledger. Once Nick and Jerry handed it over to the FBI, it didn’t take the Feds long to begin making arrests.”

“That’s fantastic news. How many arrests?”

“Blake Crewe, the man who killed Solana Aldez, is currently sitting in jail waiting to be transported to a Federal prison. So is his father.”

“Thank God. I was worried there wouldn’t be enough evidence to hold them. Please tell me there’s more.”

“Patience,” John said with a smile.

“Some of the women Denis kidnapped are still alive,” Celeste said. “In this case, I have none.”

Lola chuckled. “You don’t need much. Five other men have also been arrested, and Jerry said the Feds plan to arrest several more today. At the rate they’re going, every man in Denis’s ledger will be held accountable by the end of the week.”

Celeste leaned against John. “I’m saying prayers that some of these arrests lead to rescue missions.”

Lola nodded. “You’re not the only one.”

John held his hand out toward Ryan. “We need to get to the airpark. Good seeing you again. Give my regards to Shane.”

“He said he was sorry he couldn’t be here to say good-bye.” Ryan shook John’s hand. “He also told me to tell you that next time you’re in town, he’ll take you up in his Cessna and give you an unbelievable view of the Glades.”

“All the more reason to come back for another vacation. When are you two planning a visit to Chicago?”

“I think next month. Now that Ian and Cami finally set a wedding date, Cami’s anxious for Lola to go dress shopping with her.”

Lola hugged Celeste. “Is there any way you can predict how crazy my mom is going to act over this wedding?”

“You know I love your mom, so no offense when I say that I don’t need to be psychic to predict a high level of crazy.”

Lola laughed. “Well, at least my mom has a good sense of style. She’ll probably drive us both nuts, but we’ll look good on our way to a psychiatric hospital.”

After they finished saying good-bye, Barney drove them to Everglades Airpark, where the CORE jet waited—one of the perks of having a wealthy father who owned his own agency. She climbed out of Barney’s station wagon, then gave the man another hug. “I’m going to miss you.” During the past couple of days John had to train the ATL agents, so she and Barney had gone back to hanging out together. She’d loved sitting on his dock, fishing and talking, or lounging on his small patio sipping fresh-brewed sweet tea. The man had a lot of stories—half of which she was convinced were embellished or completely made up—but she loved listening to him.

Barney kissed her cheek. “I’m gonna miss you, too, kiddo.” He shook John’s hand. “Take care of our girl. I’ll see you in a few months.”

“Looking forward to it,” John said, then helped Celeste on the plane, while the pilot took care of their luggage.

Once they were settled, and the pilot had the all-clear, the jet took off down the runway. Celeste stared out the window to catch a final glimpse of the Everglades and the Gulf. “I wonder what the average cost of a home is in Florida,” she said.

John kissed her shoulder. “Don’t get any ideas. Chicago’s our home. Besides, your sister and brother would have a fit if you left, and I don’t even want to think about the crap Ian would give me.”

“Ian’s a pussycat.” She sat back in her seat. “Then instead of investing in another bakery, maybe we can buy a condo like the one we just stayed in and rent it out when we’re not vacationing.”

“Sure. Why not add more stress?”

She chuckled, and leaned against him. “We can pay Barney to handle the renters and make sure the place is maintained.”

“That’s not a bad idea. Wait, what did he mean when he said he’d see us in a couple of months?”

“I invited him to stay with us. It’s my turn to play tour guide and entertain him. Actually, he saw a documentary on how the Ford Oriental Theatre is haunted, and was interested in visiting.”

John shifted forward and stared at her.

“I’m kidding,” she said, with a chuckle. “I think we’ve all had our fair share of ghosts.”

For now…

Epilogue

Four weeks later…

CELESTE SET AN empty moving box on the kitchen floor next to the one she’d just finished packing. She cracked her back, then began pulling baking supplies from the pantry and putting them in the box. Olivia toddled into the kitchen, carrying her favorite stuffed animal—the alligator Vlad had sent shortly after their vacation to the Everglades—and chatting away. Their dog, Ruth, followed behind, then flopped to the floor when Olivia stopped in front of a sealed box.

Celeste grinned as she studied her daughter’s animated facial expressions. “That must be a serious conversation. Who are you talking to?”

“Vad,” Olivia said, referring to the stuffed animal her daughter had named after Vlad, and showing the alligator to her.

“You are? And what are you and Vlad talking about?”

“Mama, sugar.”

Celeste froze. Dread climbed up her spine. It couldn’t be. He was gone, the women had seen to it. “What did you say, sweetie?” she asked, keeping the alarm from her voice.

Olivia pointed. “Sugar.”

She slowly turned around, prepared to once again fight the bastard, then let out a deep breath. The bag of sugar she had yet to pack had slumped over, spilling on the pantry shelf. “You’re right. My sugar spilled,” she said, placing a hand to her chest to slow her racing heart.

Since they’d returned from Florida, she hadn’t seen one ghost or had a single trance. But she and Maxine had met regularly to hone in on Celeste’s skills. Fortunately, and unfortunately, she and John had sold their condo and had purchased a house last week, so she hadn’t seen much of Maxine during the past few days, and she hadn’t been able to read through her mom’s journals like she’d wanted to. Once they were settled into their new house, an adorable craftsman in the Rogers Park neighborhood that they’d purchased for a steal due to its need of renovations, she would study her mom’s journals.

“Daddy,” Olivia squealed as if John hadn’t been just down the hall all morning.

He set a box in the hallway near the front door, then did a goofy walk toward Olivia, eliciting giggles from their daughter. “How’s my munchkin?” John asked, giving her a smacking kiss.

Olivia pressed the alligator’s snout against John’s cheek. “Kiss Vad.”

“Daddy doesn’t want to kiss Vlad.”

“Kiss Vad,” she insisted.

He looked over his shoulder to Celeste. “You had to let her name the toy, Vlad?”

She shrugged. “Livy knows what she wants, and usually gets it.”

“Sounds like her mother,” he said with a grin, then set Olivia on her feet. “What time do you want to head to Dante and Jessica’s?”

“I told Jess we’d be there around three, after Liv wakes up from her nap. This way we can take a break from packing, then hopefully finish up tonight or in the morning.”

“Since the moving truck is coming tomorrow afternoon, we have no choice but to finish. But other than the kitchen and the laundry room, everything else is packed.” He took a bottle of water from the fridge. “I forgot to ask how the new house looks.”

Celeste had taken John’s advice and had hired someone to clean their condo. Maxine had recommended the crew who took care of her brownstone. Since their rates were affordable, she’d had them clean their new house so they weren’t moving in on someone else’s dirt. “The cleaners did a great job. Took care of all the windows, molding, fans. You should see the kitchen.”

“See? For not a lot of money, you saved yourself a week’s worth of stress and time. Now you can spend the extra time thanking me.”

She grinned. “Is sex the only thing you think about?”

“Who said anything about sex? But if it’s on your mind, let’s put Olivia down for her nap now.”

“It’s barely ten, she’s only been up for a few hours. Sorry, you’ll have to wait until naptime.”

He sighed. “One o’clock?

She nodded.

“Then we have a date—in our bedroom. One o’clock sharp.” He kissed her cheek. “Clothing is not optional.”

“It’ll have to be a quick date. I need to shower before we go to Dante and Jessica’s.”

“The baby won’t care if you’ve showered or not.”

“I care,” she said, looking forward to holding the newborn. Since their vacation, her baby fever had returned with a vengeance. “By the way, has Dante said anything about how Jessica is doing? It was hard to tell when I talked to her earlier.”

“What do you mean? I’m sure she’s tired.”

“You know what I mean. I know it’s been almost eight years since Sophia was abducted, but I can’t imagine they’ve let go of the hope of finding her. Their new son has to be a reminder of what they’ve lost.”

He sighed. “I don’t know. I wasn’t about to ask Dante.”

“I get it,” she said, sadness settling in her chest. “You know, I could look into Sophia’s disappearance for them. I could work with Maxine and—”

He stopped her with a kiss. “Don’t. You. Dare.”

“But.”

He pressed a finger against her lips. “Stay out of their business. I believe in you, but I don’t want you giving them false hope. Frankly, they might be better off not knowing what happened to Sophia.”

“Wouldn’t you want to know?”

He glanced to where Olivia sat on the floor, stroking Ruth’s fur and babbling to the dog in toddler-speak. “I don’t want to talk about it. Please promise me you won’t do anything. I don’t want you to try to find their daughter. What you find might devastate them.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she said, not willing to promise anything and go back on her word. “Better get to work. Those boxes aren’t going to pack themselves.”

“Your mommy is so bossy,” John said to Olivia, then after giving their daughter a kiss, he headed into the back rooms.

“Find baby?” Olivia asked, once John left the room.

“Daddy says Mommy shouldn’t, but Mommy doesn’t listen very well.” Celeste smiled at her daughter. “What does Livy think Mommy should do?”