Claire Gulliver #02 - Washington Weirdos (26 page)

Marcus’ cell phone rang. He stepped out into the hall to talk and when he returned Jack and Wiley paled at the grim look on his face. “I guess getting the name and call frequency came too late. That was the Coast Guard. A boat responding to an emergency flare found some drifting debris. The Coast Guard is sending their choppers to search the area.”

They all stood as if frozen.

“I think we should get out there and see what they bring in. My office is sending a helicopter for us. I assume you both want to go?”

Jack was already on his way to the door.

Wiley ordered tersely, “Guy, stay close to your phone and don’t let one word of this out. We don’t want panic before we know if there is a reason for it.” The big man was out the door on Jack’s heels while Marcus grabbed his briefcase, jammed his papers in it and hurried after them.

They were still in the elevator when Marcus’ phone rang again. He turned it on and barked, “Hold on,” until the door opened in the lobby and he could hear his caller.

“Okay, they’ve had a call from another yacht reporting they picked up two survivors,” he informed them. “They’re on their way to the Coast Guard Station. We’ll meet them there.” He led them to a dark four-door sedan waiting at the curb, the driver ignoring the heavy traffic which had to swerve around him.

“We’re going to the heliport, Bill. I think you’d better join us, so find a parking place.”

Jack got into the front seat with Bill, nodding in recognition. Bill had been at the meeting at the Lickmans’ and had taken the detailed notes for the meeting. Wiley and Marcus no sooner closed the back doors when Bill pulled out into traffic, reaching out to stick a red light on the top of the car and then hitting his siren.

Wiley said what Jack was thinking. “Did they say who the survivors were?”

Marcus shook his head. “The Coast Guard got the call. The yacht said they were bringing in two survivors in an inflatable raft, who reported their boat exploded.”

“The boat exploded and two of them had time to launch the life boat?”

Wiley looked at Jack. “It’s got to be them. What are the chances of another boat exploding out there today just when we’re looking for them?”

Jack agreed. He tasted bitter acid roiling up from his stomach. No matter how controlled he looked, his nerves played havoc with his body. He just prayed Claire was all right. He cursed himself for not thinking to review all the evidence from London again. Maybe he would have noticed Neil in that picture. Damn, he was getting sloppy! And he hoped Claire wasn’t paying the price for his omission.

He braced himself against the dashboard; Bill was using all his skill to maneuver through the heavy traffic, which very reluctantly gave way to their siren and flashing light. He wanted him to go faster but knew he was going faster than was really safe already. He thought about Claire. He really liked her, maybe more than liked her. Even though he knew it was impossible for him to have a relationship and still honor his commitment to the Company, he hadn’t completely let go last spring. He thought about the postcards he had sent her. And when he found out she would be in D.C. while he was here, he wasted no time looking her up. Thankfully, as that had probably saved her life.

Still, he thought, she’s a survivor. And she’s gutsy. He hoped she was using those attributes right now. God, he prayed she was one of the survivors.

Bill pulled into the heliport and they all ran for the chopper, ducking under the rotating blades as they sorted out who would sit where. They fastened their seatbelts, and while they clamped on the headsets that would allow them to have a conversation, the chopper had already lifted off.

Jack felt his stomach lurch and glanced at the others. Bill and Marcus didn’t seem to be fazed by their sudden rise in the air, but Wiley looked a little green, making Jack feel better about his own queasiness.

Bill gave the pilot the coordinates where the explosion had been reported, and he skimmed the craft over the bay until he hovered near the area, careful to stay out of the path of the two Coast Guard Choppers searching the surface of the water. They all strained to see something, but there was nothing ominous about the spot at all.

“How far is this from the Lickmans’ house?” Jack asked.

The pilot and Bill discussed it and then agreed it might be fifty miles.

“How long would it take them to get here?”

Wiley was more knowledgeable about that. “Well, full out maybe a couple of hours, but just cruising along more likely three or four hours. Why would they be clear down here?”

“I’d hate to even speculate until we get some facts. We know Claire didn’t like the idea and that’s why she had Charlie call to tell me. And I know from past experience that Claire has good instincts. That makes me think the worse.”

Their helicopter had turned and was heading for the Coast Guard Station. They passed a variety of boats on Bay. Any one of them could be the one which picked up the survivors and was transporting them to the Coast Guard Station.

Claire and David stood back and watched Billy John throw the lines to the sailors, who then tied the Emma Louise to the dock.

This yacht had looked big to them when it suddenly loomed over their little boat out on the Bay. But here, tied up next to a Coast Guard Cutter, it was dwarfed. Rhea had called out to them, asking if they needed help. And when they gratefully accepted, she and Billy John had tied their little boat off the stern and helped them onboard. When David explained about their boat sinking and their missing friend, the captain, Rhea’s husband Jerry, wasted no time in using his radio to notify the Coast Guard. Then they immediately headed for the Coast Guard Station as instructed.

Rhea had lavishly slopped a rich moisturizer on both of them as soon as they were onboard and had kept plying them with big glasses of cold water until Claire now felt as if she was sloshing every time she moved.

“You all are going to peel, but this will take the sting out of your sunburn and help your skin heal,” she explained, overseeing the application of the cream as if they were her children.

Both Claire and David were grateful to be rescued, but neither was inclined to answer the many questions about the fate of their boat. Jerry and Rhea were quick to catch on, concentrating instead on getting them to the Coast Guard as fast as they could.

“Lordy, the poor things. What an awful experience. I told you, Jerry. Didn’t I just say that something wasn’t right about that kind of boat being out so far on the Bay. Aren’t you glad we went over to see if they needed help? They’re just about cooked. And they had no water with them.” Rhea loved to talk. Fortunately her husband was content to listen and nod. “You know you said you thought you saw a flare a while ago. It must have been them. David said he shot one off.”

“Must have been, but I thought it was just leftover fireworks from the holiday.”

“Well, anyway, we did see them. I’m sure they would have eventually made it to shore, even if they had to row, which they probably would have, because they didn’t have much fuel left. But they would have been in poor shape with all that sun and no water. And even after they made shore there isn’t much there. They would have had to look for help.” She shook her head vigorously. “No, it was lucky we came by.”

David and Claire relaxed in the sumptuous lounge, sitting on towels draped over the chairs to prevent the lotion from staining the upholstery. Billy John laid out some crackers, cheese and cold cuts for them to munch on while he kept them company, entertaining them with tales of his travels with Jerry and Rhea. He had been friends with them for years and frequently joined them onboard where an extra hand was always welcome. The couple spent half of the year traveling by boat between Florida and Newport. And he loved the life on the water almost as much as they did.

“And besides,” he said, “they have to have someone around they can beat at Hearts.”

Claire had been grateful for his lighthearted chatter, which prevented her from dwelling on the memories of those awful hours on the Bay.

Now, with the boat secured and locked, Jerry and Rhea climbed the ladder to the top of the dock with David following right behind them. Now it was her turn with Billy John bringing up the rear.

When Claire got on the dock she saw that Jerry, Rhea and David had been swallowed up in a crowd waiting for them. She saw Wiley’s beaming expression and understood his relief at finding his boss was safe.

Billy John muttered behind her, “Wow, this is some welcoming party.”

But Claire had been swept into Jack’s embrace and was holding onto him for dear life. For a moment she just rested her head in the crook of his shoulder, breathing deep, trying to clear her mind.

“It was Neil,” she whispered as soon as she felt the words could squeeze past the lump in her throat. “He did it. Everything! He was behind the bomb on the plane. He hired the man to attack me in the park. It was his plan to poison the spinach at the Lickmans’.”

“We know.”

“You know?” She pulled back looking at him with surprise. “How did you know? When did you know?”

“As soon as we started to look closely at the pictures Liz took.”

Her eyes opened wide.

”I don’t know how you remembered, but Neil was right there. Two of Liz’s pictures showed him with Rosa at the Camden Market. They must have had a meeting.”

She trembled, leaning on Jack heavily. “That’s why I kept dreaming about Liz. That’s why I kept thinking Neil looked familiar. I had studied those pictures for hours while I was sequestered in London. Every face must have been burned into my brain. But of course, then, I didn’t know Neil. I didn’t ever expect to meet him. So when I did, it’s no wonder I didn’t recognize him.”

“Come on. Let’s get you inside where you can sit down before you fall down. There will be lots of questions. You know how it is. It will be a while before you can go home.”

“Oh, no. You don’t mean I won’t be able to go home tomorrow, do you?”

He shrugged.

“Jack, I really want to go home. I’ve been here long enough. Please, please, do what you can to make sure I get on that plane tomorrow.”

She knew she was shamelessly working a guilt trip on him, but she didn’t care. She wanted to go home to her safe and sane life. The bookstore seemed a little bit of heaven to her right now.

“I’ll do what I can, but I can’t promise anything.”

She nodded, letting him steer her into the building on the far end of the dock.

As they passed the group on the dock she heard David say stubbornly, “I’m not going anywhere or telling you anything until I’ve talked to MiMi. She must be sick with worry by now.”

Wiley handed him his phone and ushered the rest of the group toward the same building Claire and Jack were heading for, leaving David a little privacy to talk to MiMi.

Charlie drove them up to the portico just as he did the first time Claire came to the Lickmans’. But this time when the door burst open, MiMi led the charge almost bowling David over before he had completely emerged from the backseat. The girls hung on him and MiMi covered his face with kisses. Mrs. Kramer stood slightly back, her face beaming. Charlie held the door open for Claire to get out, followed by Jack. Wiley rode shotgun and he had gotten out behind David. Claire felt tears in her eyes as she watched David’s welcome. Then, MiMi swept her into a big hug, murmuring, “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” in her ear before turning back to wrap her arms around David once more.

Amy came and hugged Claire tight around her waist. “I’m so glad you and Grandpap are safe, Claire.” Her face lit up with joy.

Then JoJo approached, she smiled shyly. “Me too.” She hugged her while planting a kiss on her cheek. “I was mad when Gramimi said she hadn’t said I couldn’t go,” she admitted, embarrassed, but she finished her thought. “But Gramimi said you probably saved my life and for sure you saved Grandpap’s. So I’m not mad anymore.”

This time the tears ran over, sliding down her cheeks as she gave JoJo a big hug. She was unable to speak over the lump blocking her voice, but she was grateful for JoJo’s generous forgiveness.

Mrs. Kramer ushered them all into the small dining room where a meal was waiting for them. Cook herself came in to serve the platter of fried chicken as she wanted to tell them how glad she was they were safe.

And they were hungry. Especially Wiley, who worked through the fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, creamed corn, green salad and heaps of golden biscuits like he had been starving for days. Claire found she had an appetite too and concentrated on her food, content to listen as Wiley and Jack told the story.

Like Neil had said, it was a new boat. There must have been a problem in the fuel line. The boat had died and as the electronics weren’t working, David and Claire had lowered the life raft to go for help, leaving Neil to guard the boat. After they left he had apparently been able to get it going again and was on his way to pick them up when the boat exploded, right before their eyes.