Desperate Measures (31 page)

“So you know Constance booked a flight to St. Kitts?”

“Of course I know dammit! Do you think the FBI is completely out of the loop? Here’s something you don’t know. Someone impersonated Mabel Thompson on yesterday’s flight and poisoned Tomas and our friend Linda. All passengers have checked in for today’s flight to St. Kitts. No one fitting Constance’s description has been located. The plane will be delayed as long as possible but you can count on one empty seat when it takes off. The woman who checked in as my mother-in-law is long gone.”

“Where’s Chris? I can’t reach him,” Barry asked.

“Neither can I, or Caitlin. According to this note, they’re together. She managed to con him into taking her to that damned warehouse to meet the realtor. I left them both messages regarding Constance and Mabel. Chris needs to get Caitlin the hell out of there now! Tomas and I are on our way as soon as I get off the phone.”

“Oh shit! Look I don’t have the whole story yet from my dear buddy and traveling companion, but I will soon.” Barry turned and gave Lukas a death stare.

They’d just reached the Barbados airport. Both men sprinted to the waiting plane. The engines revved ready for takeoff as soon as they were seated. Barry continued his conversation as he entered the cabin. Any breach of client confidentiality would be dealt with at a later time, when the killer was identified and behind bars. “Lukas Bucklin says it’s Nick Holland. He’s also retained me to find Michael Holmes. I’m sure you know what happened twenty-five years ago. I haven’t come up with squat. The guy just disappeared from the face of the earth.”

“I know and Tomas thought it was a long shot but went down that avenue too, came up with nothing. Until this Ian character surfaced, there was no connection to Michael. How the hell does Lukas Bucklin know about Nick and Michael? He’s in this up to his eyeballs and I can’t believe you’re socializing with the bastard.”

“I’m not socializing with him! Right now he’s flying me to St. Kitts and swears to spill the whole story.” Another threatening look from Barry made Lukas cower in his seat. “I’ll call you back as soon as we touch down. Lukas and I will be landing in about an hour.”

Barry sat next to Lukas, the plane started to taxi down the short runway. Not much time remained for phone conversations. He turned on speaker phone so he could buckle himself into the seat.

Scott had one last thing to say before losing communication. “Mackenzie Zegar. Mention the name to your travel advisor and see what he says.”

A quick glance told Barry he didn’t need to ask Lukas the question, he responded to Scott instead. “He heard you and from the expression on his face he knows him and it doesn’t look good.” To Lukas, Barry yelled, “Keep it short and sweet but what does this Mackenzie Zegar look like?”

The powerful, strong, and confident corporate leader could only whisper a response. “He looks just like Caitlin’s mother. They’re twins.”

Scott heard the response. “Did I just hear what I thought I did, is he senile or what?”

“Let me grill this asshole. The quicker we take off, the faster I’ll have the answers straight from the horse’s mouth, and we can get there. No, he’s not senile so be on the lookout for a man who looks like Constance if that makes any sense, and for God’s sake find Caitlin and Chris!”

She’d arrived at her home on Seabrook Island, South Carolina, in the early morning hours. Ginny now nestled under the covers of her bed in a deep slumber. She roused and turned on her side at an annoying and persistent ringing. In her half awakened state, she assumed it was the doorbell. Grumbling, she pulled the pillow over her head and burrowed deeper under the covers. That didn’t work, the noise continued to escalate. Someone banged loudly on the front door, the never ending piercing shrill of the bell continued.

“Dammit!” she yelled, now fully awake, certain that if she didn’t answer the door she’d never get back to sleep. “I’m coming, hold on!” Padding down the steps in fluffy slippers, she saw two men through the glass doorway. They both held badges in their hands. Annoyed, she flung the door open. The look she received in return from the two men shocked her. Intense, serious, and angry. She shrunk back before asking, “What is it?”

The taller of the two FBI agents led the introduction. “Ms. Spencer, you do still go by your maiden last name, correct?”

“Yes, would you mind telling me who you are? I’ve been traveling and was attempting to sleep.”

The second agent stepped forward to create a friendlier atmosphere. “Ma’am, we’re very sorry we interrupted your sleep but it’s imperative that we speak with you.” Holding his badge closer to Ginny, the man continued, “We’re FBI agents. I’m Agent Tim Poole and this is Senior Agent Ken Knight. We’ve been trying to reach you all week. If you would answer a few questions, we’ll be on our way as quickly as possible. Would you mind if we came in for a few minutes?”

Ginny realized the phone calls from her brother might have been more serious than she thought. She ushered the two FBI agents into her foyer and pointed toward the living room. Before she closed the door, she poked her head out to see if any of her nosey neighbors had witnessed the two suited men entering her home. She closed the glass door and made her way into the brightly lit, colorfully decorated, living room.

Ginny sat in the overstuffed love seat across from her unexpected guests. Each man had a notebook and pen, anxious to write down the details of the conversation. On a table at the other end of the room, the answering machine sat in Ginny’s line of vision. It blinked, blinked, blinked. Lots of messages. She cursed herself for not hitting play before this damned intrusion.

Ginny asked nonchalantly, “What questions could the FBI possibly have for me?”

Agent Poole, the more amicable and personable of the two, stood. Apparently he was going to take the lead. Senior Agent Knight settled comfortably in his chair. His eyes didn’t leave Ginny’s face. Ginny knew she was being studied. Her every movement scrutinized and analyzed, sure every twitch and gesture would be recorded in that damn notebook propped in Agent Knight’s hand. She might as well have been under a microscope.

Agent Poole began in a reassuring voice. “We don’t mean to upset you, Ms. Spencer, but we need to ask you some questions. Can you tell us where you’ve been?”

Ginny crossed her legs, uncrossed them, and then leaned back. She couldn’t find a comfortable position. She was nervous and Ken and Tim knew it. She noticed Ken Knight jot something down. “I’ve been in Maine. Has something happened?”

“Not yet, but your niece may be in some trouble.”

“How could Caitlin ever be in trouble, she’s perfect, didn’t you know that?” Arms crossed over her chest, she looked defiantly from Tim to Ken. Her confidence deflated like a popped balloon when Ken flipped through pages in his notebook. Dammit! She said the wrong thing and knew her voice projected fury and jealousy. She should have bought herself more time and asked which niece was in trouble. She cursed herself for giving away too much information. She knew she sat in the hot-seat when Ken Knight stood. A critical situation and she had to play it cool.

With notebook in hand, Ken asked, “Ms. Spencer, do you know a Mackenzie Zegar?”

Ginny’s body tensed. She answered the question and did not elaborate further. “Yes, I know him.”

“When was the last time you saw him?”

She couldn’t lie. She already admitted she’d been in Maine. Surely if they had Max’s name, they knew where he lived.

“Yesterday, when I left Maine. What does Max have to do with Caitlin?”

“That’s what we’re trying to find out. When you left Maine yesterday, did Mackenzie Zegar say whether or not he’d be traveling in the next day or so?”

This question was easy. “Of course he’s traveling. He left for New York City to finalize a business deal. Is that all? If you don’t mind, I would much appreciate it if you gentlemen would be on your way so I may go back to sleep.”

“If you would be patient a while longer we’d appreciate it.” Ken paused and studied something in his notebook. He looked up at Ginny. “Have you ever met Macken…um excuse me you refer to him as Max. Have you ever met his wife or granddaughter?”

Inflamed and insulted, Ginny stood with her hands on her hips. “What do you take me for? I’m not involved with a married man. Max doesn’t have a wife or children. So how the hell could he have a grandchild? You must have the wrong person.”

Ginny caught the look Tim shot in Ken’s direction. She knew he would take over. She had to get them the hell out of here and check that answering machine. It continued to blink, blink, blink. What the hell was going on? Max had a wife? Was that where he went when he left her alone in Maine? He said he loved her and the deal he was working on could make the news. Was that a lie too?

Ken sat and Tim took over. “Ms. Spencer, please calm down. If it’s any reassurance, we haven’t been able to find any Mrs. Zegar either. Just a few more questions and we’ll leave you alone.”

“Please hurry. I don’t see where any of these questions are leading. You still haven’t told me what has happened to Caitlin!”

“Did you receive the birth announcement that Caitlin sent out when her daughter, Alexandra, was born?” Tim asked.

That stupid picture again. Why had it become the focal point of an investigation? Ginny received an intense stare from the agents, they didn’t waver, hell they didn’t even blink. She couldn’t be intimidated and lose it in front of these two men. She had to pull off this charade. She just had to.

“Yes, my niece sent me the birth announcement and picture.”

Ken and Tim looked at each in silent agreement. Ken took over again. “What picture is that?”

“Oh you know damn well what picture, the one everyone always talks about!” Realizing her fatal error, Ginny clasped her hand over her mouth for a moment before she attempted to conclude the meeting. “If you’re through, please leave, I’m very tired from driving most of the Eastern Seaboard.”

“We’re not quite through yet,” Ken continued. “Do you still have that picture?”

“No.”

“Why not? It was a great photo taken sixteen hours after the birth of Alexandra, the whole family looks great.”

“I misplaced it.”

“Has someone mentioned that picture recently?” Ken inquired.

Ginny knew Ken asked the question in an attempt to trip her up and rattle her. Well they succeeded, she
was
rattled but tried hard not to show it. She struggled for a response, came up with the perfect answer to satisfy the FBI agents and deflect suspicion off of herself. She needed some time to figure out what was happening and what part the damned picture played. Furthermore, she needed to find out what Max was up to.

Ginny began the set-up. “The last time I visited my brother Gary, he had that picture displayed on his fireplace mantel. He commented about how great Caitlin looked and couldn’t believe she’d just given birth. The same thing everyone always says.”

“Did Max Zegar ever mention your niece’s picture?”

Show time, Ginny had to lie her ass off. Anger pushed aside the insecurities she had previously exhibited. She refused to let herself be used as a pawn again by a man she thought she loved. Attempting to imitate a confused look, she asked in surprise. “Why would Max want to know anything about my niece? He’s never met her.”

Ken looked at his notes once more. “Did you meet Ian Yates while you were in Maine?”

Perplexed by the question, but also relieved, she didn’t have to act or lie, since she’d never heard the name and could answer the question honestly. “Ian Yates, you said? I’ve never heard of him. Who the hell is he?”

“What about Michael Holmes?”

Ginny’s reprieve ended. She struggled but managed to maintain the cool attitude she attempted to project and laughed. “Got me again, don’t know him either. Are we through?”

The agents closed their notebooks. Agent Knight replied, “For now, Ms. Spencer. Don’t leave town. We’ll be back with more questions.”

When they left, Ginny sagged against the wall. She shook so hard she doubted she would make it to the blinking ominous light to hit the play button. She slid to the floor clutching her knees. She had no idea what she’d gotten herself into but something terrible was about to happen.

* * * *

Agents Poole and Knight didn’t believe Virginia Spencer’s whole story but they didn’t have enough evidence to take her into custody. Ken flipped through his notes as Tim drove. The woman was a good actress but not that good. She had no idea how many times her eyes flickered with fury, especially at the mention of Caitlin. Why? It was a known fact that Gary and Ginny were estranged from their brother and his family. When the picture came into the conversation, Ken thought Ginny would unravel before their eyes. She did her best to recover and implicate Gary. Quick thinking provided a strategy to suit her and keep her ass out of trouble.

Who the hell was Mackenzie Zegar and where did he fit in? Ian Yates’ story corroborated Virginia Spencer’s. The man wasn’t married and didn’t have children. Why book a flight for a wife and granddaughter who didn’t exist?

* * * *

Caitlin continued snapping pictures and taking measurements inside the deserted industrial building. The abandoned structure would work well for the design function and layout Caitlin had in mind. She heard the rumble of a vehicle engine and assumed Laura had arrived.

A shadow loomed at the dilapidated door, the only entrance or exit from the building, barring the semi open roof, fifteen feet above the ground. Caitlin clicked the last picture then squinted into the bright sunlight filtering through the passageway.

“Chris? I’m almost finished up here, and we can go. Was that Laura? I’m sure you’re getting impatient and nervous. I know I’m in for the lecture from hell for dragging you out here. I’ll be done in a minute.” Caitlin’s ramblings were an attempt to calm her raging nerves. She retrieved her paperwork and made one last observation of the building.

“Take your time, Aces, I’m in no hurry.” A hoarse voice said, sounding neither male nor female, but it definitely wasn’t Chris.