Deception (18 page)

In a twinkling, she knew without a doubt what Jamie would do. She flung her head back with a careless attitude and gave a deep, throaty laugh. “But I’m an American woman and we’re not passive little wallflowers who sit around and look pretty. That’s not who I am. If you want someone like that...” She moved away from him.

It worked.

The hand on her arm relaxed. “I know. I know. But you must learn to control what you say. Your tongue could get you in trouble, especially with Rahmed. Let’s not fight.”

“Let’s not.” She scooted closer to him, trying to forget that the man made her skin crawl. She willed her body to not tremble. Patti felt beads of sweat pop out on her hands.

Only three cars before their turn.

Hopefully, she would meet this Rahmed soon, learn his name, and get off the yacht so she could contact Carter.

Her heart lurched at the thought of Carter. It had been a mistake to run off and leave him. He could be here helping her had she not been so quick to judge his motives. People didn’t always have to conform to her way of thinking. If she’d learned that sooner, she and Jamie might be sitting on Jamie’s veranda enjoying the Florida sun. Instead, she was about to come face to face with a monster.

Staring at the yacht, she wondered how she’d get through this.

“I had no idea,” she mumbled. She looked back at him. “Wow! It’s amazing.”

Joseph nodded. “Her family dates back to the beginning of the oil business in this country. The yacht belongs to her family. H.H., of course, has his own money, but nothing like Kathryn.”

As they waited to disembark from the limo, Joseph picked up her hand.

Patti fought the urge to pull away.

The car moved up and it was their turn.

Rakeem opened Joseph’s door and then Joseph walked around the limo to open her car door.

If things went her way, she’d meet Rahmed soon and then she could leave this whole nightmare behind. She took a deep breath and stepped out.

He very gallantly offered his arm to Patti, and they walked up the gangplank of the enormous yacht.

Patti imagined herself as Jamie, the actress, and held her head high. She walked languidly up the red carpeted gangplank as if she didn’t have a care in the world, knowing at any minute she’d meet a terrorist.

Once on board, she saw a receiving line. More butterflies.

Did Jamie know any of these people?

Her stomach churned.

With a gentle touch, Joseph guided her towards the line, his voice solicitous. “Come, I will introduce you to our hosts.”

“Why don’t we wait until later? When the line is shorter.”

He scowled and shook his head. “It is important we follow protocol.”

“Of course, it was just a suggestion.” Patti thought she might be sick. In the best of times, she wasn’t the most socially graceful person.

Act like Jamie. Act like Jamie.

Joseph pointed out a woman as they waited for their turn. “The woman in blue is Kathryn Hart.”

“Pretty.” She was beautiful, but not flashy. Her long brown hair blew in the wind. She had on a mid-calf length turquoise dress that was sleek and accented her curves, but the summer print made her appear ready to take a walk on the beach, not host a party on a yacht for hundreds of the rich and famous.

When it was their turn, Joseph guided her forward with his hand firmly on her elbow, as if he thought she might bolt.

It seemed like a good idea to her.

“Kathryn, this is Jamie Jakowski.”

Kathryn grabbed Patti’s hand as if they’d known each other for years. “Jamie, it is wonderful to finally meet you. Joseph’s told me all about you. He’s been like a different man since he met you. You’ve made him very happy.”

“Just as he’s made me very happy.” Smiling, Patti tried to match her hostess’s gracious manner. “It’s nice to meet you. Everything looks simply fabulous.”

The man standing beside Kathryn looked over and smiled. He was tall and older than Kathryn. “Not as fabulous as you.” He held out a hand. “I’m Harold Hart the third, but everyone calls me H.H.”

“Well then, I guess I’ll call you Harry.” Patti tilted her head and winked. The group laughed. “I like to be different.”

H.H. turned to the man and woman standing beside them and made more introductions. “This is Raymond and Maria Hammond. Maria is the co-chair of the event and has been so helpful with all of this. She was indispensable to Kathryn and myself. We couldn’t have pulled it off without her. Raymond is a fellow financier, much like yourself.”

As H.H. spoke, Joseph squeezed her hand, hard enough to make her glance at him.
Raymond Hammond. Rahmed Hamed.
It made sense. This had to be the man Jamie wanted to meet so desperately.

Patti wanted to cheer. Time to leave, now that she’d learned his alias.

Raymond’s gaze met hers. His black eyes blazed and his mouth twisted in rage.

Her heart stopped beating.
He knows I’m not Jamie...
Patti trembled, not wanting to think about what it meant. If she fell apart now, it would ruin her plan.

In an instant, Raymond replaced his sneer with a gracious smile, but his eyes were cold as he stared at her. He reached for her hand, but she was frozen, not able to move.

Joseph nudged her arm forward.

Every part of her wanted to scream—
terrorist
. In her mind, she saw herself announcing to the others that the man was a terrorist. But in the next second, she saw Raymond and Joseph laughing and telling the others she must be having a mental breakdown, and they would take her to the hospital.

No one would ever hear from her again.

Not a good idea, she decided.

“It’s nice to meet you, Jamie.” His mouth twisted into a sneer as he said the name. He grasped her hand, but instead of shaking it, he moved it to his lips and gave it a gentle kiss. His eyes mocked her.

Patti wanted to slap the man.

“And this is my wife, Maria. The two of you must make time to talk later. I’m sure you will both find it very enlightening.”

What kind of a woman married a terrorist?

Pulling her hand away from his, she turned to his wife.

Maria Hammond didn’t look well. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot. She looked as if she hadn’t slept in days.

Patti looked back at Raymond, taking him up on his challenge. “Sounds like a great idea. Maria, are you a native-born...Californian?”

“Not at all. I grew up in Pennsylvania.”

As Patti shook her hand, Maria’s fingers trembled. “Then, I guess we were practically neighbors growing up, since I’m from Ohio.”

“Ohio?” Joseph sounded confused. “I thought you were from New York.”

Raymond laughed. “Oh, I’m sure Jamie has a few more secrets that you know nothing about, Joseph. American women are like that. Are they not, Jamie?” His tone was soft enough others around them would not hear. Raymond leaned forward. “Please stay in this area. I will need to talk with both of you. We have urgent business to take care of.” His words were a command, not a request.

I’m the urgent business he’s talking about.

She had to get off this ship.

Joseph nodded. “Of course, Raymond, Jamie and I will be waiting for you.”

Looking at them, Patti saw a family resemblance and wondered if anyone else noticed it.

Joseph appeared to be the older, but there was no mistaking who was dominant—Raymond.

They walked away from the receiving line and wandered among the other partygoers on the deck.

Her mind raced, trying to figure out how to get away.

Raymond Hammond
.

“We need to stay close by. Remember, Raymond wants to talk with us.”

He doesn’t want to talk with me. He wants to kill me.

She grabbed Joseph’s arm and urged him forward. “He’ll be able to find us, but let’s look around. No reason not to have fun while we wait.”

Joseph planted his feet and the stubborn look on his face told her it wasn’t going to be that easy.

She leaned close and whispered in his ear. “Come on, Joseph. We won’t go far, but it’s a shame to miss a great party.”

He relented. “I suppose.”

Servers in brightly colored Hawaiian shirts with white shorts and real leis around their necks wove their way through the crowd, offering drinks and appetizers. Long black wigs adorning the female servers made them look even more exotic.

A waitress stopped in front of Joseph and Patti. “Sir, what would you like? These Bahama Mamas are tasty, but I can bring you something stronger if you wish.”

Joseph looked at Patti. “What would you like, Jamie?”

The last thing Patti needed was alcohol, but she was supposed to be having a good time. She smiled at Joseph. “Bahama Mama sounds great to me.”

His eyes widened, but he said nothing.

Too late to make a different choice.

She picked up two glasses and handed one to Joseph. She held hers up and clinked Joseph’s glass.

He tapped his glass against hers, but didn’t smile.

29

An old Springsteen song blared as they strolled along the deck.

Several well-known actors and one of her favorite writers were among the partygoers, not that she cared.

Her mind was focused on only one thing. Finding a way off the yacht.

Her attempts to leave had been unsuccessful so far.

Joseph was sticking to her like glue.

If she tried to leave again, he’d become suspicious.

Joseph looked at his watch. “We need to find Raymond.”

In spite of the heat of the sunny day, a chill crept down her spine.

This was it.

“You’re right. You go find Raymond while I find the powder room, and then I’ll be right back.”

Joseph tightened his grip on her arm. “What is wrong with you? For months, all you wanted to do was meet Rahmed and now you act as if you’re trying to avoid him. Rahmed wants to speak to both of us.”

“And he will, as soon as I find a bathroom.” Her voice was firm, but her insides were quivering. Her gaze roved over the sea of people. If she could just mix in with the crowd of people, she could disappear. She attempted to move out of his grasp, but he held on firmly.

Joseph spotted a group of two men and one woman who were standing apart from the crowd. He waved a hand and caught their attention. The group moved towards them. “There is Dennis with Suzanne. She can help you find the restroom.”

Patti protested. “I’m quite capable of finding it myself.”

“Suzanne is your friend. You do not want to see her?” Joseph spoke in such a sharp tone, Patti had no choice.

She’d find a way to ditch the woman as soon as they were out of Joseph’s sight.

Joseph leaned close to the one man and said something.

In turn, Suzanne’s escort whispered something in Suzanne’s ear.

Joseph looked at Patti. “Suzanne will help you find the powder room.”

Joseph was becoming more suspicious by the moment.

The men walked away, leaving Patti and Suzanne alone.

“Jamie, Jamie.” Suzanne sounded breathless. “Isn’t this divine? Have you ever seen such extravagance? Isn’t it marvelous?”She laughed and Patti joined in, not understanding what she was laughing about.

Suzanne was short, even shorter than Patti’s five feet, four inches. But shortness didn’t stop Suzanne from being elegant. She wore a white full-length dress which complemented her deep tan. The dress itself was strapless with a bodice that sparkled more than snow on a moonlit night. She showed enough cleavage to be more than a little noticeable.

“Great dress,” Patti commented.

Suzanne cocked her head and stared at Patti. “You were there when I bought it.”

Oops.

“I know. I meant it looks wonderful on you.”

The woman twirled.

Patti noticed Suzanne’s heels were at least three inches high.

Patti looked around, trying to figure out how to get off the yacht.

“What’s wrong?” Suzanne asked.

“Nothing. I need to powder my nose. That’s all.”

Suzanne grabbed her arm, her voice desperate. “Come on. Let’s get some food. I haven’t eaten for a week.”

Looking at Suzanne, Patti could believe she was telling the truth.

“Where’s Dennis and Joseph?” Patti asked.

They walked into a ballroom. Music blared. The band played another Springsteen tune. She looked closer at the band and her mouth fell open.
Never mind. Focus on getting off the yacht, not the man entertaining.

The crowd sang and a few brave people were dancing.

Others stood in small groups talking, and still others were sitting at tables.

At one side of the room were large buffet tables laden with food.

“Let’s eat,” said Suzanne. She grabbed Patti’s elbow and led her towards the food tables.

Patti pulled away from Suzanne. “I’m not hungry. You go get food and I’ll find us a table. But first, I need to find a bathroom.”

“No.” It came out sounding like an order. There was a desperate glint in Suzanne‘s eyes.

Patti stopped and looked at her “Why not?”

Suzanne looked sheepish and shrugged. “No reason. I didn’t want to go to the buffet by myself.”

“Let’s go get a table first.” Once they found a seat, Patti took another sip of her drink.

Suzanne stopped talking and gawked at her. Patti’s stomach churned. Looking at Suzanne’s face left no doubt she’d make a mistake. “What’s wrong?”

“What are you drinking, Jamie?”

“Bahama Mama. It tastes great.”

Suzanne stared at Patti for a moment.

Her demeanor changed and a look of puzzlement graced her face. Her voice echoed the same confusion. “But I thought you were an alcoholic. I’ve never seen you drink before.”

Patti looked at Suzanne and then at the drink.

Her heart sank as she remembered when Joseph handed her the drink.

He hadn’t just given her a drink. He’d given her a test and she’d failed.

****