Hidden Hideaways (6 page)

Suzie had visited a Medical Examiner's Office a few times before but it wasn't a place that she preferred to frequent. She was always surprised by how stark it was. Everything was very clean. Everything smelled like chemicals and disinfectant. Even the receptionist who greeted Suzie with a scowl.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“I'm here to see Dr. Rose,” Suzie replied.

“Sorry, you can't see her like that,” the woman said with a sneer.

Suzie looked down at her jeans and button up shirt. She didn't see anything wrong with it.

“Excuse me?” she asked. “Why not?”

“You're breathing,” the receptionist replied. She stared sternly at Suzie. Suzie was confused until the woman erupted into loud laughter that echoed through the otherwise quiet room.

“It's a joke, you know,” she laughed louder. “Only the dead get in,” she continued to giggle.

Suzie could only stare at her, her mouth half-open. Had she been in a better mood she might have laughed. As it was she had no idea how to respond.

The door beside the desk opened and Dr. Rose stepped out.

“Are you telling jokes again, Sharon?” she asked as the receptionist finally muffled her laughter.

“I don't think she got it,” Sharon said glumly.

“I'm sorry, Suzie, things get a little tense around here, so Sharon likes to lighten them up,” Dr. Rose offered a small smile.

“It was a good joke,” Suzie said and offered a quiet laugh to appease Sharon who had returned to her sullen expression. She wasn't someone that Suzie would expect to try and brighten things up, but obviously there was more to Sharon than she realized.

“I'll take you back,” Dr. Rose said and held the door open for Suzie. As Suzie walked through it she felt the temperature drop considerably. It was a little unsettling to walk into a place where she knew dead bodies were waiting to be examined.

“Trent's over here,” Dr. Rose said. “Are you sure that you're up for this?” she asked.

“I'm sure,” Suzie replied, though she wasn't sure at all. Nervously she followed after Dr. Rose.

The body was sprawled out across a gurney with a sheet covering everything but his head and neck. Suzie shivered a little as she looked at it. It was never easy to face mortality. She hadn't liked Trent but that didn't mean she wished him dead. But Paul was in trouble. She had to figure out where he was, and if it meant facing Trent's remains, then she would have to be brave enough to do so.

“Suzie, I'm not sure what you're hoping to find,” Dr. Rose said as she brushed her dark blond hair back over her shoulders. “I've already done the initial exam.”

“Is there anything you can tell me?” Suzie asked. “Is there any sign that can clear Paul?”

“Actually,” Dr. Rose frowned. “I'm sorry, Suzie, but the killer was right handed, as is Paul. From the evidence left on the body it's clear that Paul had close contact with Trent. I even found a few hairs that match Paul's color and texture on Trent's shoulder.”

“You know he didn't do this, don't you?” Suzie asked incredulously.

“It isn't my job to know who did what,” Dr. Rose said firmly. “It's my job to report my findings. Based on the angle of the blows it is possible that the murderer was a similar height to Paul as well. Trust me, I'm not pinpointing Paul, but I am reporting my findings.”

“If it was Paul, then it must have been in self-defense,” Suzie said anxiously. “He must have been under attack.”

“There isn't any evidence to indicate that Trent was the attacker, but there isn't any evidence to dispute it either,” Dr. Rose frowned. “I will know more once the tox screens come back, and I'm able to process some DNA I found underneath Trent's fingernails.”

Suzie's stomach flipped. She wondered what would happen if that DNA came back to match Paul's. Trent had clawed at Paul's hand when he was holding him up against the wall. There was little doubt in her mind that Paul's DNA would be there. But she also knew that Paul hadn't done this. She didn't think he could, even if he was threatened.

“What about his clothes?” Suzie asked quickly. “Did you find anything in his pockets, or anything like that?”

“There was something,” Dr. Rose said with a slight frown. She picked up one of the evidence bags on the metal table next to her. “It wasn't in his pocket, but it was around his neck. Are you familiar with this symbol?” she asked as she met Suzie's eyes.

Suzie studied the gold necklace inside the plastic bag. The pendant that hung from it looked similar to a medal that would represent a saint. However, instead of there being any kind of religious symbol there was a swirl in the shape of an uppercase A.

“No,” Suzie said as she narrowed her eyes. “Should I be?”

“Not necessarily,” Dr. Rose said as she set the bag down. “The A represents a gang in Los Angeles. It's not a very well-known one, but I have heard of some very ruthless murders that these gang members are involved in. I'm only telling you this, because I want you to understand that Paul likely had no idea who he was getting onto that boat with. Like I said, I have to report the evidence, but if Trent was involved with this gang, then he was likely a very dangerous man.”

Suzie felt sick to her stomach, not just because of the chemical smell. If Trent was such a dangerous man, what did that say about the men who had killed him and were now holding Paul hostage?

“Thank you, Dr. Rose,” Suzie said with a frown. She left the medical examiner's office without much more certainty than she had entered with. But at least she had a lead on who Trent might actually be.

When Suzie returned to Dune House she noticed the door to Mary's room was closed, which meant she was likely taking a nap. Mary hadn't slept much the night before either. As tired as Suzie was she couldn't wait to get in front of her computer. She wanted to find out about the gang that Trent was associated with. After a little bit of searching she came across some information about them. Dr. Rose had been correct, they had a reputation for being especially violent and ruthless. But that wasn't the only information Suzie found. She also discovered that their main criminal activity was dealing in drugs.

Suzie suddenly recalled what the woman on the beach had said. She had dismissed it as just a little ranting and raving from an unclear mind, but now she realized that the woman had been trying to answer her question. The men who had Paul must have been looking for drugs. It all began to snap together and make sense to Suzie.

“Suzie?” a voice called out from the hallway. “Jason's here,” Mary said.

Suzie closed her computer and nearly ran out into the hall. Mary still looked a little sleepy as she followed after Suzie. They met Jason in the front hall.

“Jason, I think I've figured out just what Trent was doing on that boat, and why those men are holding Paul hostage,” she said breathlessly before Jason could even greet her.

“Wow, that's a lot of police work,” Jason said and blinked. “Could you start from the beginning for me?”

“Trent is associated with a gang that's known for dealing drugs. He didn't have any history of being a deckhand, but he wanted to get on Paul's boat badly. Why would he want to get on the boat? To transport drugs of course!” Suzie said with a snap of her fingers. “So, he gets on the boat with Paul, who has no idea what he's in for. But then something goes wrong. The deal goes bad, or Paul finds out what Trent is up to, who knows. But something happened that caused those men to kill Trent.”

“Okay,” Jason said slowly as he followed her thought process. “So, if Trent hid the drugs, then they are likely looking for the drugs. With Trent dead their only hope is if Paul can lead them to the drugs.”

“Yes,” Suzie said quickly. “Does it make sense now?” she asked with wide eyes.

“It does,” Jason admitted.

“But there's one problem,” Mary said in a whisper.

“What?” Jason asked.

“Paul wouldn't know where the drugs are, because he would never be involved in such a thing,” she frowned.

“You're right,” Suzie said, her spirits falling. “Paul's clever enough to lead those men on for a while, but eventually they're going to figure out that he doesn't know where the drugs are.”

“Then we need to find him before they do,” Mary said with determination. “Is the boat ready?”

Jason nodded. “We only have it for a short time though.”

“That's fine, I know exactly where we are going,” Suzie said.

The three piled into Jason's police cruiser. He drove them to the marina where the boat was prepped and ready to launch. Jason helped Suzie and Mary onto the boat and then took the helm.

“Are you sure you know how to do this, Jason?” Mary asked nervously.

“Don't worry, Mary, I've taken it out several times,” Jason assured her. “It's part of our training.”

“Okay,” Mary replied and tried to make her smile look a little more confident.

Suzie was staring out across the water. She was willing herself to see Paul, despite the distance separating them. The boat rocked as Jason headed out to sea.

“Can you go faster?” she asked him.

Jason shook his head. “I'm going as fast as I can,” he replied. Suzie instructed him where to maneuver the boat.

“I didn't even know this inlet existed,” Jason said with amazement as he followed her directions.

“And we need to keep it that way,” Suzie said firmly. “It's one of Paul's sacred places.”

“My lips are sealed,” Jason said.

“Here,” Suzie said and pointed to the shore. “I'll have to wade in.”

“No need,” Jason said as he pulled the boat right up to shore. “It's equipped to dry dock,” he explained.

Jason, Suzie, and Mary made their way off the boat. The beach was as barren as Suzie recalled it being. In the distance she heard Bonnie Blue's mournful cry. Her heart ached as she wondered if Paul would have the chance to hear it again.

“I'll stay with the boat,” Jason said. “If you find anything call me,” he paused a moment. “If you see anyone, I mean anyone, Suzie, call me right away. Don't approach anyone. If Paul is really being held by these criminals then they are ruthless enough to hurt anyone they see.”

“I'll be careful,” Suzie assured him.

“We'll be careful,” Mary corrected gently and fell into step beside Suzie. Suzie made her way along the sand. She was getting more disappointed by the moment. There was no evidence of any struggle on the beach. There was no sign that anyone had even been there since the last time they had visited. She took a deep breath and traced her fingertips along her forehead.

“Think, Suzie,” she said to herself. “Why would Paul lead you here?”

Suzie presumed that the only reason Paul would have left her the clue of the seashell was to guide her to his next destination. But the question remained, had he made it? Was the seashell even a clue in the first place?

“This way,” she said softly to Mary as they made their way out to the private patch of beach that Paul had shared with her.

“It's so beautiful,” Mary said as she drank in the tiny paradise. Bonnie Blue was perched in her usual spot. She turned her head towards Suzie as Suzie approached. Then she wailed and took flight.

“I know, Bonnie,” Suzie said softly to herself. “I miss him, too.”

Suzie began searching the site for anything that Paul might have left as a clue. Or even just proof that he had been there at all. Mary searched right along with her but as the afternoon sun beat down on them, she shook her head.

“Suzie, I don't think there's anything here,” she said softly.

“There has to be,” Suzie said firmly. Her phone began to ring. She knew it was Jason calling them back to the boat. She ignored it. “I can't leave here without something,” she gasped out.

“Even if he was here, Suzie, there's no guarantee that he left something,” Mary explained in a rational tone. “I think it's time we told Officer Brown what we think. Let the police search this area…”

“No,” Suzie said firmly. “They won't look for Paul to help him, they just want to arrest him. I can't let that happen. I have to catch those criminals that took him.”

“Suzie,” Mary said in a softer voice. “There's nothing here but sand. Besides we have guests coming in tonight and…” she gasped as she nearly lost her balance. Her foot had caught on the edge of something sticking up out of the sand. Suzie lunged forward to grab Mary by the arm before she could fall forward into the sand.

“Mary, are you okay?” she asked urgently.

“I think so,” Mary muttered as she straightened herself up. “I wasn't expecting to fall, that's for sure.”

“Did you trip on something?” Suzie asked with a frown.

“Yes, must have been a big shell or something,” she looked down around her feet.

“That's no shell,” Suzie said as she spotted what was sticking up out of the sand. It was a pocket-sized leather book. She plucked the book out of the sand. “I know this book,” she said in a whisper. “This is Paul's log book. He keeps track of his every movement in here when he's out to sea.”

“How do you think it got here?” Mary asked with fascination.

“He had to have left it,” Suzie said quickly. “Look, it's not wet or anything. It couldn't have washed ashore. The way it was buried in the sand means that he was trying to hide it.”

“How would he be able to hide it?” Mary asked with confusion.

“Paul is a brave and brilliant man,” Suzie said with determination. “He is trying his hardest to make sure that someone finds him. I am willing to bet that his last entry in this log book is where he and his captors went next. We have to go there, now,” she said sternly.

“But Jason said we have to go back with the boat,” Mary began to say.

“Paul is very clever, he's a survivor, he would do whatever he had to do to leave a trail so that someone could find him,” she held the log book tightly in her hand. “I am going to find him.”

Mary was staring up and down the long beach. “But where did he go?” she asked softly.

“I can find it,” Suzie said with confidence. “Paul had me download an application for my phone that will accept coordinates and give directions.”

Her phone began to ring again. Suzie finally answered it.

“Suzie, we're already late, you're going to get me fired,” Jason said with frustration when she answered.

“Jason, Mary's on her way. I'm going to stay out here for a while,” she locked eyes with Mary. “I just need some time to calm down and relax.”

“I think that's a good idea, Suzie,” Jason said. “I'm sorry that you didn't find what you were looking for.”

“I'm sorry, too,” Suzie replied. “Can I call you to get a ride back when I'm ready?”

“I can take the boat back out around sunset,” he replied. “That's the next patrol. Make sure you're ready then, okay?”

“I will,” Suzie agreed.

“I'm sorry, Suzie,” Jason said with a sigh. “I'm sure Paul will turn up soon.”

Suzie couldn't answer. Her throat had gone dry with worry. Was she going to be too late to save Paul?

“Suzie, I don't want to leave without you,” Mary said. She was looking nervously out at the water. “You aren't going after those terrible men are you?”

“I'm just going to see if I can find the location. If I check it out and there's reason to believe that Paul left it as a clue I'll call Jason and let him know,” she promised. “I don't want to waste police time on what could be a wild goose chase.”

“Still, I'd feel better if I stayed,” Mary argued.

“Remember the guests?” Suzie said. “It's their first time away from the baby. They need this to be perfect. Only you can make it perfect.”

Mary sighed. “Fine but don't stay out here long. If anything even feels funny, call Jason. Promise me?”

“I promise,” Suzie said firmly. Mary reached out and hugged her. Then she reluctantly walked back towards Jason and the boat. Suzie tapped the coordinates into her phone. She waited for the program to generate the location. As she had hoped it was along the same inlet. She would be able to walk to it. She began walking in the right direction. With every step she felt her excitement growing. She was sure that she was going to find Paul at any second. Her heart was racing.

The directions led her through a wooded area. As she emerged on the other side, she caught sight of something glimmering in the water.  As she crept out a little farther she could see that it was Paul's boat. Her heart soared as she stared at the boat. Paul was there. He had to be. A little further down the beach she spotted a small shack. It was completely exposed. Suzie guessed that Paul was either on the boat or in that shack. But she also had to anticipate that he wasn't alone. If he was, he would have called for help already. She had to fight the urge to go running towards the boat. She knew it wouldn't help Paul if she were to be captured as well.

Suzie took a breath and formed a plan. She would try to get to the boat first. With any luck Paul would be on it, and the criminals that had held him hostage would be long gone. Maybe he was tied up and not able to use his radio. Maybe, though she hoped it wasn't the case, he was injured and unable to move. She didn't allow herself to think of any other possibility.

“I'm here, Paul,” she whispered, though she knew that he couldn't hear her. To get to the boat she would be slightly exposed. Suzie guessed it would be her best bet to get to the water and then wade towards the boat. If the criminals spotted her she could at least dive under the water. As she walked down towards the edge of the water, her body was tense with fear. She recalled the information she had read about the gang that Trent was affiliated with. If they spotted her they wouldn't hesitate to shoot.

“No bangs,” she remembered the woman saying when she had described what she had seen during Paul's struggle with his captors. But that was only because they wanted Paul alive. They wouldn't care about having another body to add to their tally. In the distance she thought she heard Bonnie Blue's call.

“He'll be back soon,” she whispered more to encourage herself than to appease the bird. Suzie took off her shoes and held them in her hand as she walked into the water. She walked far enough in that she could walk directly to the boat.  The water almost came up to her knees but she was too scared to feel the cold of it. Her pants were soaked through as she waded through the water as quickly as possible while keeping an eager eye out for any sign of Paul or the criminals.

When she finally reached the boat, she could hear the slosh of the waves against the side of the boat. She listened closely, but she didn't hear any sounds coming from inside the boat. In her mind she willed Paul to be okay, and to know that he was going to be rescued. Cautiously she crept closer to the boat. She held her breath as the water sloshed and swirled around her feet. At least the sound of the waves served to drown out what she thought had to be the loudest her heart had ever pounded.