Identity Crisis, page 18
That was an interesting fact Gage hadn’t known. “I don’t suppose you know anyone enlisted in the guard?” he asked.
“Actually, I do,” Jonah responded slowly. “A guy by the name of Rafe DeSilva. He’s stationed up at Sturgeon Bay, but they make their way all around the Great Lakes.”
“Try calling him,” Gage urged. “If he doesn’t answer, then leave a message.”
Jonah looked uncertain. “Gage, what am I going to tell him? That we suspect Jefferson is a crook and they should board his boat? What if they don’t find anything?”
Gage let out his breath in a heavy sigh. “I guess you have a point,” he murmured. “We should wait until we have a good reason to call.”
Suddenly, Jonah gripped his arm, hard. “I think we have our reason, Gage. Look! Isn’t that Crane walking down the pier with Alyssa?”
Gage’s heart leaped into this throat when he saw Crane walking alongside Alyssa, heading directly toward Jefferson’s yacht. Her wrists were free, but he could tell by the way Crane held her close to his side that the dirty cop had a gun pressed against her. “Call the Coast Guard, now,” he urged Jonah. “Before it’s too late!”
Jonah already had his phone out to make the call. Gage watched helplessly as Crane urged Alyssa onto the boat. He shouldn’t have left her alone. And he wouldn’t leave her alone now. Without saying anything to Jonah, he stood, rocking the small sailboat, and dove into the water.
Jefferson’s yacht wasn’t leaving without him.
SIXTEEN
“Step into the boat,” Crane growled into her ear. Shaking with fear, she did as he commanded. The moment she was on board the engine rumbled to life beneath her feet. Crane kept the gun aimed at her as he quickly unmoored the boat from the slip and then jumped on board. Within seconds the boat slowly drifted away from the pier.
“Welcome aboard the Lucky Lady, my dear,” a gravelly male voice said from behind her. “It’s a beautiful day for a boat ride, wouldn’t you agree?”
Alyssa slowly turned to face Hugh Jefferson. He was dressed impeccably in a white shirt and white slacks, as if they were truly headed out for a simple pleasure cruise. He flicked a piece of lint from his sleeve and then gestured to the inner cabin behind him. “Ladies first.”
She swept a quick glance around, frantically hoping to catch some onlooker’s gaze, but no one seemed to pay them the least bit of attention as the boat slowly backed away from the pier. The sun was out and seagulls swooped and dived over the water, searching for food. The scent of fish was strong, making her feel sick. For a moment she was tempted to dash forward and throw herself in the water, but she held herself back.
She needed to have faith in God. Not to mention, faith in both Gage and Jonah. Surely they were close by and would sound the alarm. Who was piloting the boat? She didn’t know and was afraid to ask. Reluctantly, she moved forward, brushing past Jefferson as she went down the short hall to the private sitting area of the yacht.
He followed right behind, too close, as she could feel his hot breath on the back of her neck. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, Alyssa,” he hissed.
The sound of her name instead of Mallory’s caused her heart to drop like a stone. Jefferson knew her real identity? She walked forward, across a plush carpet lining a ridiculously extravagant sitting room. Stubbornly, she lifted her chin. “Really, Hugh, I’m appalled you’ve mistaken me for my twin sister,” she bluffed.
“Alyssa, you underestimate me,” Jefferson drawled. He pushed her in the small of her back, making her stumble forward, pain zinging up her injured ankle. She grasped the edge of what looked to be a well-stocked bar and then slowly turned to face him, her stomach twisting with dread. “Did you really think your poor dye job and pathetic attempt to evade me actually worked? I’ve always known your true identity.” His gaze narrowed dangerously. “Now, if you want to live, you’ll tell me where to find both your sister, Mallory, and your boyfriend, Gage Drummond.”
* * *
Hearing his name caused Gage to flatten himself along the side of the luxurious yacht, his heart pounding so loud he could barely concentrate. Slowly, he inched along the wall, edging as close as he dared. Hopefully, Jonah would soon send the Coast Guard after them, because now that he was on board, he wasn’t sure what he could do to help.
He just knew he couldn’t leave Alyssa to face Hugh Jefferson and Creepy Crane alone.
“Would you like something to drink, my dear?” Jefferson asked as if he were entertaining guests. “I’m sure you must be parched. I have an excellent selection of wines or single-malt Scotch, if you prefer something smooth.”
“No, thank you,” Alyssa responded politely.
Gage could hear the distinct sound of ice clinking against glass, and he assumed Jefferson was pouring himself a drink. “Have a seat,” Jefferson encouraged. “You won’t be getting off this boat anytime soon, so you may as well get comfortable.”
“If you knew who I was all along, why attack Mallory?” she boldly asked. “Why not keep coming after me?”
“Yes, I must admit, your sister’s escape was not part of the plan,” Jefferson said, his voice taking a hard edge. “In fact, I was most displeased with the man who failed me. He deserved to die.”
Gage swallowed a lump of fear. Jefferson obviously didn’t care how many lives he took, as long as he got what he wanted.
“You should have let me take care of her, boss,” Crane said in a bragging tone. “She wouldn’t have gotten away from me.”
“You?” Jefferson’s voice was dangerously soft. “Have you forgotten how you let Alyssa escape not just once, after your pathetic attempt to run her off the road, but a second time, when you had both of them locked in the warehouse?”
Another long pause. Gage couldn’t help a sense of satisfaction at how easily Jefferson knocked Crane down a few pegs.
“Wasn’t my fault I was summoned by the chief because he wanted an update for his press conference,” Crane argued hotly. “You need me, Jefferson, and don’t forget it.”
“You think so?” Jefferson said softly. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”
Gage held his breath, hoping the two men would keep fighting. He continued to edge along the side of the boat, scanning the water for any sign of the Coast Guard.
There was another long silence, and Gage went still. Had he inadvertently done something to attract attention?
“Now what?” Alyssa demanded loudly, so loudly she was nearly shouting. What in the world was she doing? “Are you going to kill me? Toss me overboard? What?”
She was trying to warn him. Gage started to back up, but seconds too late. Crane stepped around the edge of the boat, his gun pointing straight at Gage’s chest. Belatedly, he realized the water dripping off him had made a small trickle that had rolled down, alerting Jefferson and Crane to his presence.
“Good timing, Drummond,” Crane said, flashing his evil smile. He waved the gun, motioning Gage forward. “You’re just in time to join the party.”
* * *
Alyssa was horrified when Gage entered the room, followed closely by Crane holding the gun. The moment she’d noticed the steady stream of water, she’d suspected Gage was on board, but unfortunately, being trained as a police officer, Crane had noticed it, too.
The creep had been desperate to get back into Jefferson’s good graces. Capturing Gage on Jefferson’s boat hadn’t hurt.
“Let’s kill them both now,” Crane said, his gaze darting nervously between Alyssa and Gage. If she didn’t know better, she’d think the cop was actually intimidated by Gage. “We can dump their bodies overboard and they’ll be fish bait before they’re ever found.”
“Excuse me, who put you in charge?” Jefferson asked softly. The softer his tone, the more nervous Crane appeared. Jefferson turned toward Gage, inclining his head regally. “Drummond, so glad you could join us.”
“Stop it!” Crane shouted, his hand starting to shake. “We have them both, and Holden won the election by a mile. What do we need them for? You can find some other builder to use as a front for your money laundering. We need to shut them up, permanently!”
“For once, I agree with Aaron,” a third voice said. Alyssa couldn’t believe it when Eric Holden stepped into the room. She glanced at Gage, a mirroring dismay clearly reflected in his eyes. She knew exactly what he was thinking. Their odds were dwindling fast. How many others did Jefferson have stashed on his massive yacht?
“Holden, I told you to stay below.” Jefferson’s face turned red. Alyssa edged closer to Gage, seeking reassurance.
“I don’t follow your orders,” Holden snapped. “I’m the one with the power now, remember? Without me, you’ll never get additional building permits. Besides, our boss is the one who calls the shots, not you.”
Jefferson seemed to wrestle his temper under control, staring at Holden with frank disdain. “We’ll do this my way,” Jefferson reminded him. “No one can stop us now.”
Without warning, Holden turned and shot Crane point-blank in the chest. Alyssa bit back a scream and turned away from the horrific sight.
“Easy,” Gage murmured, so close she could feel his arm brushing against hers. Bile rose in her throat and she fought the urge to be sick.
“Idiot,” Jefferson growled. “We’re not far enough from shore to dump the body.”
“He’ll keep,” Holden said, as if he hadn’t just murdered a man in cold blood. “You know as well as I do, his boss was starting to get suspicious with all the hours Crane put in. Better to get rid of him now, before he could take any of us down with him.”
“You still should have waited until we were farther out,” Jefferson admonished him. “We can’t afford to have bodies floating around too soon.”
Alyssa knew, in that moment, that she and Gage would be next. A strange sense of calm came over her. She believed in God and if she died this afternoon, she knew she’d ultimately end up in a better place. And so would Gage. They’d be together in heaven.
Gage’s warm hand touched hers, and she grasped it as if it were a lifeline. He’d come for her, just as she’d known he would. He might be stubborn and overprotective, but she wished now she’d told him how much she loved him.
She shifted slightly and saw the bottle of Scotch Jefferson had opened sitting on top of the bar. Gage met her gaze and gave a nearly imperceptible nod as he slid his hand into his pocket. He still had the pocketknife. A hysterical laugh threatened to bubble up from her chest. A half-empty bottle of Scotch and a pocketknife to defend themselves against two men with guns? What were they thinking? But then again, they also had faith and God on their side.
“So what do you think? They’re too young to use the fake heart attack ploy,” Holden was saying. “But maybe alcohol? They came on board to celebrate my win, drank too much and fell overboard?”
“Your army medic training is very handy,” Jefferson mused in admiration. “Sure, why not? We’ll claim we tried to find them but, alas, we couldn’t.”
Alyssa lifted her chin, refusing to let either Jefferson or Holden see any trace of fear. As sick and far-fetched as their plan was, she knew there were plenty of people willing to believe anything, especially the word of someone with money and prestige. Unfortunately, Jefferson and Holden had both.
How many lives had the two men taken? How many more before they were caught?
Gage’s fingers brushed hers again, and he darted a glance out the side window, which was partially covered with horizontal blinds. Through the narrow slats, she saw lights from an approaching boat. Help on the way? By the way Gage’s fingers pressed against hers, she thought for sure it was.
She glanced at him and easily read Gage’s intention. Now was the time to make their move, especially since Holden had given Jefferson the gun so he could prepare a needle and syringe.
In a swift motion, she swept the bottle of Scotch off the bar and swung it at Holden’s head, since he was closest to her. Thick glass met his even thicker skull, knocking the newly elected mayor off balance. Spinning around, she followed up with another well-aimed blow, knocking him to the floor. Alcohol spewed from the open end of the bottle, spraying over the walls and soaking into the soft carpet.
At the exact same moment, Gage rushed Jefferson, leading with the pocketknife but also going for the gun. A wild shot rang out and Alyssa ducked as pieces of the fancy chandelier overhead crashed down on them.
Sparks flew from the bulbs, and then flames sprouted like tiny, lethal fairies dancing madly along the alcohol-soaked carpet. Alyssa had knocked Holden unconscious, but she watched in horror as Gage and Jefferson wrestled for control of the gun.
Smoke gathered in the room, making her eyes water and obscuring her vision. She needed to help Gage, but how? The bottle she’d used on Holden rolled away, and she spent precious moments searching for it. But then she spied the silver blade of the knife. She grabbed it, gasping in pain as the heat from the metal burned her skin.
She wrapped part of her shirt around the knife handle and looked over to where Gage and Jefferson were rolling along the floor. Gage was on top of Jefferson, but they were dangerously close to the burning area of the carpeting. “Look out!” she cried. In a heartbeat, Jefferson rolled over on top of Gage, taking them farther from the fire.
What could she do to help Gage? The cord hanging off the horizontal blinds caught her eye and she used the knife to hack off a good-size section. Turning back to Jefferson and Gage, she was appalled to see Jefferson was on top of Gage, his hands around Gage’s throat.
Moving fast, she darted forward and looped the string over Jefferson’s head, pulling backward across his neck.
“Accckkkk,” he gurgled, loosening his grip on Gage to grasp at his throat. Gage wrestled the gun out of the other man’s grip and shot him.
Alyssa dropped the cord, watching in horror as Jefferson crumpled to the floor. The greedy flames had crawled up the walls, feeding off the interior of the yacht like a starving beast. They were almost completely surrounded by fire when she heard Gage shouting at her.
“Come on, let’s go!” He grabbed her hand and dragged her through the narrow opening leading to the back of the yacht. Soon, they reached the small deck on the back of the boat.
The oncoming rescue boat was close, but not close enough. She heard a garbled sound behind them and glanced back in time to see a figure running toward them, waving his arms, clothes and hair on fire.
“Jump!” Gage shouted.
She jumped.
* * *
Shockingly cold water closed over his head. For a few moments he floated in the muffled silence, stunned at how fast the sharp, cold temperature numbed his limbs.
Alyssa! He struggled to kick his legs, propelling himself up to the surface. His strength faded fast, his movements sluggish. He had no idea how cold the water in Lake Michigan actually was, except to know it was too cold to stay immersed for long.
His head broke free, the air amazingly warm on his face. Gasping for breath, he looked frantically for Alyssa. The Coast Guard cutter moved steadily toward them, but where was Alyssa?
Panic swelled, making it harder to breathe. He knew she could swim, but where was she? Desperately, he turned in a circle, searching for a sign of her. He couldn’t lose her now. He couldn’t!
Not without telling her how much he loved her.
A flash of pink near the surface off to his right caught his eye and he forced his limbs into action, swimming as fast as he could.
“Alyssa!” he grabbed her supine body, dragging her face out of the water. With herculean strength, he flipped her over on her back.
She wasn’t breathing!
“Gage! Alyssa!” He heard Jonah shouting at them from the Coast Guard cutter, but he couldn’t respond. Alyssa was limp in his arms, and he cradled her head in the crook of his arm, bending over at an awkward angle to administer mouth-to-mouth breathing.
Again and again, he blew life-giving oxygen into her lungs, hoping, praying his feeble attempt would work. The Coast Guard boat came closer, and he willed her to hang on long enough to be rescued.
“Life preserver!” someone shouted from the side of the boat.
The circular life preserver at the end of a long line dropped beside him with a splash. He gave Alyssa one last, big breath before grabbing on.
She coughed and immediately threw up a lungful of lake water.
Thank You, Lord! Thank You!
“Ready!” Gage shouted. Within seconds, the Coast Guard drew them to safety, pulling Alyssa up first and then reaching down for him.
Several crew members must have noticed them shivering, because they were quickly wrapped in blankets.
“Jefferson?” Jonah asked, kneeling beside them.
He slowly shook his head. “I’m not sure if he’s still on board or if he jumped into the water.”
“He didn’t jump,” Jonah said with certainty. “We kept an eye on him, because if he had gotten overboard, we would have tried to save him. But he collapsed on the back deck and didn’t move. They’re going to try putting the fire out before taking the risk to board the boat.”
Gage didn’t blame them. He closed his eyes, silently begging God’s forgiveness. He hadn’t wanted to kill the guy. All he wanted was to escape long enough to get Alyssa out of there.
“Gage?” Alyssa’s voice pulled him from his thoughts.
He glanced over at her and then reached out to pull her into his arms. Jonah backed off to give them privacy. “I’m sorry, Alyssa. I’m so sorry I left you alone at the motel.”
“Shh, it’s okay.” She clung to him, burrowing close. “It’s over. We’re finally safe.”
