FACETS (JAKE SCARNE THRILLERS Book 6) (18 page)

“Where is your villa, Miss …?”

“Brandeford, Alana Brandeford. It is called Villa Amaryllis. On Cole Bay.”

“A beautiful property,” Bastian commented.

Scarne looked at his watch.

“I am afraid I have made Monsieur Poirot very late for his dinner. We’ve been haggling. I’m sorry Poirot, but $4 million is a bit more than I am willing to go. And the last place you showed me does not even have a heliport! You will just have to keep looking. And perhaps the lady is right. Why don’t you scout up a couple of rentals for me.”

Bastian feigned frustration and then shrugged.

“As you wish. Please come by the office tomorrow and I may have something else to show you.”

“Of course.”

Scarne turned to Alana.

“Please excuse me for a moment. I want to walk Poirot out. Can I buy you another drink?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Scarne signaled the waiter for two more drinks.

At the rope where they came in, Scarne and Bastian shook hands.

“I probably won’t be seeing you again, Farron. The rest of your fee will arrive shortly. You do excellent work.”

“So do you, my friend. But I don’t know what you are up to now. Isn’t this risky?”

“She doesn’t know who I am. I just want to get a feel for her.”

“She is quite lovely. Much too good for that man she is with. Good luck.”

Bastian, being French, obviously misunderstood Scarne’s intentions. He did not correct him. The less he really knew, the better. 

“You really bailed me out with all that real estate stuff. How do you know so much about upscale villas?”

Bastian laughed.

“At one time or another, they all were involved in marital disputes, or were properties some of your American schemers bought with their ill-gotten gains. I was hired to find assets or people. I could have listed a dozen more, on both sides of the island. Au revoir. And be careful with these people.”

Scarne walked back to the bar

“I’m sorry if I interrupted something,” Alana said.

“Don’t be. He is a nice fellow, but I’d have to be insane to talk to him rather than you.”

Alana plucked one of the olives out of her martini and took a nibble. It was the sexiest nibble Scarne had ever seen. He wondered how she did it.

“You are with that man who is playing at Table 6,” Scarne said.

“Yes.”

“At Amaryllis?”

She smiled.

“My, aren’t we nosy? But, yes, we are together.”

“Yet, you came all the way over here to ask me to light your cigarette.”

“I saw you staring at me.”

“Me, and everyone else in the room.”

“Not the way you were. It’s almost like you knew me. And I have to say, it’s almost like I know you. You are not a movie star, are you?

Scarne had to laugh.

“Ouch! What a horrible thing to say.”

Alana Dallas laughed.

“I didn’t mean it that way. You are certainly good-looking but in the way a lot of stars are nowadays. Not classic good looks, you know, but kind of rough around the edges. Like Liam Neesen or Tom Hardy. A bit beat up, you know. Ruggedly handsome.”

Scarne laughed harder.

“I’m digging myself a hole, aren’t I,” Alana said. “Well, after all, anyone can tell your nose has been broken.”

“Yes, it my most endearing trait. I got it trying to pick up some other man’s girl.”

She looked startled until she realized he was joking.

“Actually, it’s an old rugby injury. College days.”

Alana nibbled another olive.

“Are you trying to pick me up?”

“I think you might be a bit young for me.”

“I like older men,” Alana said, her eyes boring into his.

“Double ouch.”

“How long will you be in Sint Maarten?” she asked.

Before Scarne could answer, her eyes widened fractionally and he felt a large presence at his back.

“Mademoiselle, Monsieur Lucas would like you to return to the table. He is undergoing a period of bad luck. He said the cards started running against him after you left.”

It was Jobert.

“Well, duty calls, Mr. Scarne. Thank you for the drink. Perhaps we shall meet again.”

She offered her hand. It was warm and inviting, and she held his for a beat longer than normal.

“I am looking forward to it,” Scarne said, drawing a sharp glance from the bodyguard.

As Alana left, Jobert looked back at Scarne. There was no animus in the look. It was centered at the left side of Scarne’s jacket, where his shoulder holster made an almost imperceptible bulge. Imperceptible to anyone but a professional.

A slight smile creased Jobert’s lips.

CHAPTER 24 - INFINITY

The following evening, Scarne drove out to Princess Juliana International Airport to pick up Anastasia at the Private Aviation Terminal. He parked his rental car next to the hangar and went inside just as the Dallassio private jet taxied in. It was a Dassault Falcon. He smiled at the thought of Anastasia filling out the Dutch customs form and listing his weapons and ammunition. He could just see the old hit man scribbling “filed off” in the spaces reserved for serial numbers.

The door to Dassault opened and Anastasia started down the stairs.

Followed by Maura Dallas. Scarne was surprised. When he’d called Anastasia, he assumed that Vincent would not want her involved in what they had to do. It was a needless complication, and that worried Scarne.

Maura strode purposefully up to him. She looked different. Tense. Older. Distracted. There was something in her eyes he did not like. She did not offer her hand.

“Where are they?”

“They have rented an isolated villa on Cole Bay.”

“Will they be there now?”

“I can’t be sure, but I know they had a late night at the casino last evening and I understand they rarely go out two nights in a row.”

“Take me there.”

Scarne looked at Anastasia. He couldn’t read anything in his face.

“Listen, Maura. Let’s go to my hotel and discuss this. As I’ve explained to Vincent, the villa is well guarded. There is a gatehouse that is always manned. The fence surrounding the property is alarmed. The beach behind the villa is flanked by high rock promontories that stretch well into the bay. Brandeford has hired three armed bodyguards, at least two of whom are always with him and Alana. All three will be at the villa if they have not gone out. I planned on working out a strategy with Vincent to grab your daughter without having to shoot our way into the compound. That would be too dangerous for her. We can perhaps create a diversion in the front of the property and then land on the beach behind the house and get in that way. We can’t just barge in the front door. Even better would be to grab her when she is out shopping during the day. But it will take time to set up either scenario.”

“I appreciate your concern, and what you have done so far, but my plan is much simpler. I am going to ring the front bell.”

A smartly uninformed man wearing a badge that said Sint Maarten Customs Department walked up to them.

“Ms. Dallas? Your forms appear to be in order. If you will kindly step over to the booth, I will stamp your passports and you can be on your way.”

She followed the officer. So, the Dallassio fix was already in. Scarne grabbed Anastasia’s arm as he walked past.

“What the hell is going on, Vincent?”

“Not now,” he hissed. “She won’t listen to me. We’ll have to play it by ear. Just make sure you have a round in the chamber. I have a bad feeling about this.”

“What aren’t you telling me?”

***

Scarne drove up to the gatehouse at Villa Amaryllis. The guard, a skinny white man with a scraggly handlebar mustache, came out of the booth and held up his hand. He was wearing a generic guard uniform of the type that can be purchased at any military surplus store. There were dark splotches of sweat on the rim of his baseball-type hat and under his armpits. He was wearing a holster with what looked to be a Sig Sauer automatic on his right hip.

“You folks lost? This is private property.”

His tone was neutral.

“We’re here to see Brandeford,” Scarne said.

“He’s not expecting any visitors.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I’d a been told, mack.”

A little more bite to the response.

“Well, we just thought we’d drop in. I think he’ll see us.”

“Why is that?”

“Just call the house and tell him that Maura Dallas is here to see her daughter, Alana.”

“Her daughter?”

Now he was confused.

“Make the call.”

The guard went back into his booth and picked up the phone. A few minutes later, he came out, looking worried.

“When I open the gate, drive up slowly and stay in the car. You unnerstand?”

Scarne did as he was instructed. Jobert and the Asian guard were waiting for them in the circular driveway by the front door. They had guns out. Jobert motioned for them to get out of the car. When they did, Scarne noted that the gate guard now brought up the rear. He also had his gun out.

“Search them,” Jobert said.

The other two guards quickly removed Scarne and Anastasia’s guns and did a quick pat down. They weren’t pros. Scarne had only brought his Hechler-Koch, which was now in Jobert’s pocket along with Anastasia’s Glock. He felt naked without it and could only hope the Dallassio assassin had a second piece somewhere on his body. Whatever Maura’s plan was, they were now outgunned.

The white guard made a move to search Maura.

“Touch her and I’ll kill you,” Anastasia said.

“Sure you will, tough guy,” the man sneered.

“I’ll do it,” Jobert said. He looked at Anastasia. “I will be proper.”

Scarne braced himself for what might happen.

“It’s all right, Emile, it is my mother.”

It was Alana, who had come out to the driveway and walked up to Maura and Anastasia. They did not embrace, but Alana took her mother’s arm and started leading them both into the house. She stared at Scarne and smiled.

“Bring him back to the pool, too. But be careful with him. He is obviously not what he seems.”

***

Villa Amaryllis was indeed magnificent. They walked through a large entry hall into a spacious two-story great room featuring massive wooden beams and hand-troweled stucco walls. Sliding doors led to an enormous patio, with an outside bar, cabana and zero-entry pool. On the lanai was a large covered area with wicker furniture, a gas fire pit, a dining table and chaise lounges. Scarne was slow walking through the open sliding doors and the gate guard jabbed him in the back with his gun, for about the fifth time. Scarne had enough. He pirouetted and got behind the man, put his foot on his back and pushed him onto the patio where he sprawled on all fours. The gun clattered across the marble floor. The man craw-walked after his weapon. Just before he reached it, Jobert put his foot on it.

“He pokes me with that gun again and I’m going to make him eat it,” Scarne said.

The man came up snarling.

“Hold it!” Jobert snapped.

“We are not armed,” Maura Dallas said. “I don’t know why you are pointing guns at us.”

“My mother is right,” Alana said. “Put them away.”

The guard got up off the floor and Jobert handed him his gun with a look of disgust on his face.

“Put it away.” He looked at the Asian guard and nodded. “You, too, Shing.” Then he holstered his own weapon. The man Scarne had kicked kept his hand on his holster and stared malevolently at him.

“Well, well, look who is here.” It was Brandeford, who was sitting in a chaise lounge by the side of the infinity pool. “Hello, Maura. It’s been a while. To what do I owe the plesasure.”

Brandeford was trying to act nonchalantly, but Scarne could tell it was an act.

“I came to take my daughter home.”

“Well, she may have something to say about that, Maura.”

“You kidnapped her and stole $20 million from me.”

Scarne looked at Jobert, who was listening intently to the byplay. He suspected that this was all news to him.

Brandeford sat up and poured himself a drink from a frosted pitcher on a table next to his chaise.

“Guavaberry rum daiquiri,” he said. “Can I interest anyone? You haven’t lived until you’ve had one. No? Perhaps some champagne? Alana loves the stuff. I’m sure she’ll share.”

There was a bottle of Krug in an ice bucket next to a chair where Alana now sat. She poured a glass and lit a cigarette.

“Nobody wants a goddamn drink, Lucas,” she said.  “My mother is here for her money.”

“Well, that’s interesting, isn’t it,” Brandeford said. “Because I think a case could be made that it’s also your money, isn’t it? We may have borrowed it prematurely, but surely we didn’t steal it.”

“I came for you, Alana,” Maura said.

“Sure you did, Mama. That’s why you didn’t contact the police or F.B.I. when I disappeared. You left me to rot, and probably die. If I’d been taken by anyone else but Lucas, I probably would have. But we fell in love. And I saw a chance to get out from under you, to lead my own life.” She looked at Anastasia. “Vincent, I’m sorry if I worried you. You have always been so wonderful to me. The father I never had. But what’s done is done.”

“How did you find her, Lucas?” Maura asked. Her voice was like ice. “How long have you been tracking me?”

“You have it all wrong, Maura. She found me. By accident of course. It was a million to one shot that she would wind up in my English Lit class at Columbia. Poetic justice, if I may make a terrible pun.”

Brandeford then calmly explained how surprised he was when Alana walked into his class at Columbia. The same last name, Dallas, and, despite the blond hair, the obvious resemblance to her mother. He wanted to be sure, of course, so he did made some inquiries with the bursar’s office at Columbia. He was only an adjunct, but that had been enough. Then, despite her family’s desire for privacy, it did not take long in the Internet age for him to find out who the girl’s mother was. It was a God-given opportunity to pay back Maura Dallas for what she did to him. Oh, yes, he knew it was her who planted the cocaine in his apartment. It couldn’t have been anyone else. She was the reason his academic star crashed and his life went to shit. The reason he had to change his name and muck around in demeaning jobs. Yes, get even, and perhaps get very rich at the same time.

Brandeford became animated. He poured Alana more champagne and sat next to her. She patted his leg.

“It’s over, honey,” she said, gently. “Ancient history.’

But he wouldn’t stop. He was proud at how things turned out. He was not afraid. What could the Dallassios do to the man Alana loved?

“It’s crazy how things turned out,” Brandeford continued. “I admit that at first I had not thought things through. But I soon realized I could never hurt Alana. I grew to love her. I may have been a little rough in the beginning, but I never did anything bad to her.” He looked at Alana and smiled. “Not that I wasn’t tempted. And, of course, things have changed between us since. But that was more her idea than mine. In fact, the ransom, the diamonds, the scuba pickup” — Brandeford waved an arm — “all this, is her idea. We are together, in everything.”

Scarne turned to Alana.

“I suppose it was you who shot off the rocket to distract us at Pecks Pond,” he said.

“Yes. And to blind you temporarily, of course. That was my idea, as well.” She looked at Maura. “You never even let me watch fireworks, let alone play with them. They are quite safe, Mother, when handled properly.” She smiled. “And, as it turned out, very useful.”         

Alana lit a cigarette and took another sip of champagne. Scarne did not smoke. Or rather, he did not buy cigarettes. But he was no fanatic about it, and occasionally took one if offered, especially in times of high stress. He was quite sure that if he were ever put in front of a firing squad and was asked if he wanted a last cigarette, he’d accept. Now, as the pool deck crackled with tension the old craving came back with a vengeance.

“Mother, admit it,” Alana said as she let out a luxurious stream of smoke. “You never had time for me. Lucas has shown me more affection than you ever did. I really don’t know what you are so upset about. It must be the money. How hypocritical of you. It’s not as if you haven’t stolen as much in your career. Probably more than once. I would think you would be happy that I turned out to be just like you.”

“You little fool! Don’t you know who he is?”

“Of course I do. Lucas told me everything. You’re not jealous that I’ve slept with him, are you? I know, it’s kind of weird that he’s had both of us. But this isn’t
The Graduate
and you’re certainly no Mrs. Robinson. Get over it. We can work this out. I suppose I can give you back some of the diamonds. There is still a big pile left. But not all. Lucas and I want to buy this place, or something like it. And we don’t plan on ever working a day in our lives. We’re even thinking of having a baby. Your grandchild. I should think you would be pleased.” She dropped her cigarette into the almost-empty champagne bottle, where it hissed briefly. “Of course, I’ll have to give up smoking and drinking for a time, I suppose.”

Brandeford smiled and looked at Maura Dallas.

“Grandma,” he said. “Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

Scarne looked at Anastasia, whose face had a look of apprehension on it. In anyone else, he might have said it was fear. Something was wrong. Very wrong.

Maura Dallas stood and slowly walked over to Brandeford.

“You despicable, fucking pervert. You will never touch our daughter again!”

Brandeford looked at her, his face a mask of confusion.

“Our daughter?”