psychic crystal 03 - killer cruise (17 page)

Jack put his arm around Kate. “Meanwhile, I’ll contact the captain and alert him that they might try to sneak back on the ship.”

“What about the paintings? We can’t just leave these here. We need to return these to the French government, get them back to a museum or trace them back to their rightful owners before they disappear again.”

“We will,” Jack assured her.

“I don’t care about the paintings,” Will objected. “We can’t just stand here and do nothing. We need to find Juliette. Let’s go to where the boats are docked.”

The police captain laughed. “This island is surrounded by water. Almost everyone on Bermuda has a boat. They could conceivably leave from anywhere, the wharf on the harbor, a private club, a private residence. We have no idea what type of boat they’re on or what their destination could be.”

“Could they possibly be headed for Europe?” Kate suggested. “Maybe to Hungary?”

“It’s as good a hunch as any,” said Captain Smith. “We can start out with the yachts.” The officer made a call. “Let’s head to the wharf at Hamilton. That’s most likely where they’ll be.”

The four headed for the front of the house, where they piled into the police car. The officer circled around and headed back on the road to Hamilton.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Help me get her out of the car,” Gedeon ordered. He lifted Juliette by her head and shoulders, and the driver lifted her feet. Passed out, her body felt like dead weight. They boarded the yacht and walked down to one of the bedrooms below and tossed Juliette onto the bed. Gedeon watched for any signs of movement and, satisfied, saw none.

“Get my luggage stowed,” said Gedeon. “I’ll take the big package myself.”

Gedeon handed the driver a hundred-dollar bill. “Now, not a word to anyone. If anyone asks, you didn’t see me or the woman. If I find out otherwise, you’ll be sorry.”

The driver held up his hands. “I never saw you.” He scurried off the ship like a rat.

A man in uniform introduced himself. “I’m the captain. Welcome aboard. The chef will have dinner ready in about an hour. Meanwhile, we’ll have some appetizers brought out for you and the lady.”

Gedeon scowled. “The lady is rather ill, and she gets seasick, I’m afraid. She’ll be spending most of the trip in her cabin. So she’s not to be disturbed. She’s heavily medicated, so I don’t want to take a chance of having her on deck. She might slip into the ocean. I’m not hungry.”

The captain nodded. “Well, if that’s everything, we’ll be setting sail within minutes.”

Gedeon carried his paintings into the second cabin, opened the Murphy bed, carefully placed the package on the mattress, and folded it into the wall. Unfortunately, he’d had to cut this trip short and so would be bringing back several of the paintings he had hoped to sell. He didn’t want any of the crew snooping around. He’d be spending the trip in Juliette’s cabin, so they’d be sharing a bed. No need for a bed of his own. But in case Juliette woke up, he didn’t want her to have access to his priceless package.

He walked into Juliette’s room. She was still asleep. She hadn’t eaten anything since he’d taken her this afternoon, but leaving her in a weakened state fit his plans. If she was good, he would feed her a few morsels, maybe offer her some water in return for—he stopped himself before he got too excited. Plenty of time for that once they were under way. She could either spend the voyage tied up and hungry, or they could be lovers. The decision was hers. He hoped she had better sense than her mother. Making love on a boat at sea was sublime, and it was a long voyage. The next time the sedative wore off, he might add something extra to the mix, just to get her in the mood. Some women needed help jumpstarting their desires. He had a lot to offer, and the sooner she realized her future was with him, the better it would be for her.

He didn’t want to have to gag her, but even on this large yacht people would be able to hear her screams, and he couldn’t afford to draw any attention to himself. She would be out for several more hours, and when she came to, he’d be there to quiet her and smother her screams, with a gag or with his mouth; it would be her choice. He anchored her wrists—for her own protection. She would still be listless when she woke. He couldn’t take the chance that she would wander about the ship and accidentally fall overboard.

He breathed in her alluring scent and studied her body as he sat beside her on the bed. She was irresistible—beautiful and curvy, a heady combination. He ventured a touch to the tips of her voluptuous breasts. He could easily slip off her panties. No, first things first. He would go out on deck, make small talk with the captain. Then, after they were under way, he’d come back to the cabin to see how his captive was faring. See if she had grown any more receptive to his attentions. She would if she knew what was good for her.

Gedeon was looking forward to walking the deck and breathing in the cool night air in the shadow of the stars. He desired to spend as much of the night outside as possible, to recharge, and the daylight hours occupied in Juliette’s cabin. She would soon learn his daily rhythms and adjust to his requirements. Sunlight was overrated. He contemplated the wonderful life they’d have together. He couldn’t wait to share it with her. She would be his Persephone, his possession in the bowels of Hades or within the walls of his castle, at night; free to wander about in the daylight, but under heavy guard.

Of course she had been hesitant, at first. That was only natural. He’d half forgiven her already for trying to escape. He believed in second chances. He had looked for her for half a lifetime. She needed time to grow used to his touch, to his lips on her body, before he entered her. He was throbbing. He couldn’t wait to taste her. Would she be as ripe as Marika? Could he tame her like he’d failed to tame Marika? He would certainly have fun trying.

He left his sleeping beauty, calm and peaceful and happy. Was that a faint smile on her lips? Was she dreaming of him? In the end, her body would betray her, just like Marika’s had.

Gedeon tiptoed out the door, so as not to wake his sleeping princess, and went up the wooden stairs to the upper deck to stretch and seek the moonlight.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The police captain hung up his phone. “We’ve got several large yachts docked at the wharf. We’ll have to board them one by one.”

“There’s no time.” Will jiggled his silver handcuffs relentlessly.

Jack’s firm hand calmed Will. “Kate, concentrate. Can you see Juliette? Can you help us find her?”

Kate closed her eyes and leaned back in her seat. Her face grimaced in pain, and she clutched the armrest.

“Kate,” Will prompted.

“She’s concentrating. Give her a chance. These things can’t be rushed.”

Blocking out all noises, the constant lap of the water against the dock, disembodied voices, she saw—not Juliette but the man, Wade Russell. But he wasn’t a man. He was a monster, cloaked in darkness, clothed from head to toe in black. His white teeth glistened in a mouth twisted into a satisfied snarl. He was here, but on which boat? She made out the name,
The Marika
, and the horizontal tricolored red, white, and blue flag with the Croatian coat of arms in the center. She felt Juliette’s presence, but her mother was asleep, thankfully passed out in oblivion.

“
The Marika
,” Kate mouthed, her throat parched, her head pounding.

Jack looked up at the captain. “Could that be the name of a ship?”

The captain consulted his computer. “Not registered in Bermuda. There is a ship called
The Marika
registered in Croatia. That’s a popular place to charter yachts, especially for owners who live in landlocked countries like Hungary.”

“Let’s go.” Will was out the door.

“You don’t have any jurisdiction here,” the captain said. “You have no authority to carry a gun. Without a weapon, what can you do?”

“I have my bare hands,” Will answered. “And I’m going to rip this murderer apart.”

Will raced up and down the dock until he spotted a sleek black yacht called
The Marika
. Jack and the captain followed.

The yacht was about to pull out of its slip.

“Hold on,” Will shouted to the man unmooring the boat. “We’re with the police, and we need to ask you some questions.”

A man clad in black sat next to the captain’s chair, and when he saw Will and the others approaching, he fled down the steps, calling out, “Set sail, immediately.”

The captain, garbed in white, approached the group.

“What’s this about? We need to get under way.”

“What’s the hurry?” The police captain stepped in front of Will. “How many passengers do you have on board?”

“In addition to the crew, two. The owner and a female passenger.”

“Where is she?” Will demanded.

“Below deck. She’s not feeling well. Haven’t seen much of her since she boarded.”

“It’s her. It’s got to be her,” Will pressed. “How did she look when she arrived?”

“They carried her in because she was on medication.”

“He’s drugged her, the bastard. I’m going after him.”

“She wasn’t drugged,” the captain of the vessel insisted. “She’s seasick. She’s staying below, confined to her cabin.”

“I’ve been with this woman on a cruise for almost a week, and she showed no signs of seasickness. Something fishy is going on.”

Three large black crows landed on the yacht’s railing and started squawking.

Will pointed to the birds. “They’re Juliette’s crows. They’re trying to warn us.”

The yacht’s captain scratched his head. “That’s strange. You don’t usually see crows out here, and never at night.”

“It’s a sign,” said Will. “Where is this woman you’re talking about? Show us her room.”

“The count is down there with her now. He asked that they not be disturbed.”

The vein on Will’s neck began to pulse.

“The records say this ship is registered to a Mr. Nagy Gedeon?” asked the police captain.

The captain of
The Marika
nodded in confirmation. “Yes, that’s right. Count Nagy.”

“We’re going to need to interview the count and see his passenger.”

“I have my instructions,” the captain insisted.

Captain Smith was equally forceful. “I will impound this boat if you don’t cooperate. Permission to board.”

The ship’s captain threw up his hands and ordered one of his crew to re-secure the boat to the dock.

Will was first to jump aboard, followed by Jack and then Captain Smith. They took the wooden steps that wound down into the bowels of the boat at a furious pace.

“Ilona. We have to go.”

Juliette stirred, her mind in a fog. The man was shaking her awake, slapping her. He carried a package and was untying her from the bed.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Don’t ask any questions.” He grabbed her hands and tried to pull her to her feet, but she stumbled, too weak to keep her balance.

He lifted her up, trying to balance the package at the same time. He ran up the stairs and plowed into Will, who almost knocked the breath out of him. Thrusting Juliette into Will’s arms, he clutched the package and ran by the police captain and right into Jack.

Jack grabbed his hands and wrested the package out of them.

“My paintings,” cried the man.

Jack tossed the package to Kate.

“Those are private property.” The man scowled.

“Somebody’s private property, but not yours,” Kate accused. Will ran up the stairs.

“How’s Juliette?” Jack asked.

“She’s foggy and shaky and dehydrated. The ropes left some bruises. She’s resting comfortably in the cabin. She’ll need a doctor.” Will walked over to the fugitive in Jack’s iron grip.

“Is this the man?”

Jack nodded and asked Captain Smith to call for an ambulance.

Will drew out his handcuffs, grabbed the man’s hands, and cuffed him to the yacht’s steering wheel. At the touch of the cuffs, the man’s wrists began to sizzle, and Will’s captive screamed in agony.

“Take off the handcuffs! The silver is burning my hands!”

“What are you talking about?”

Juliette climbed up the stairs. “Will, he’s a vampire. Silver burns him.”

“You don’t actually believe that, do you?”

“I don’t know what to believe.”

“I thought vampires were afraid of the sun.”

“And silver.”

Kate ran over to Juliette and wrapped her in an embrace. “Juliette—Mom, are you all right?”

“A little hungry and thirsty and sore. This man kidnapped me and drugged me and threatened me and starved me.”

“Let’s see if vampires can bleed.”

Will pulled back his fist and punched the man squarely in the nose. Bone crunched and blood flowed out of his nose.

“I know you’re a beast, but I don’t believe you’re a vampire. Either way, I’d love to put a wooden stake through your dark heart.”

The man wouldn’t stop screaming, and the crows were making a riotous noise in concert. They flew over to Juliette and landed, one on each hand and one on her shoulder.

Juliette soothed them, and when they were quiet they flew off.

Will hugged Juliette. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“I’m okay now that you’re here.” Will kissed her tenderly and led her over to the captain’s chair. “Rest here until the ambulance comes.”

Kate brought the brown paper package over to Jack. “These are the paintings we’ve been looking for. This artwork is priceless. The Monets are gone, but they’re hanging in the yellow house in Tucker’s Town. I think we have our proof. ”

Jack turned to the handcuffed man. “We have some questions to ask you.”

“Take these handcuffs off, and I’ll answer you.”

Will stayed Jack’s hand. “The cuffs stay. In fact, I’m going to keep you cuffed until sunrise, and we’ll put you to the ultimate test. If you disintegrate, then we’ll know you really were a vampire.”

The man howled. “You can’t do that.”

“I can and I will, and I’ll enjoy watching you burn, Gideon.”

“Gedeon.”

“Whatever.”

“Did you kill the gallery auctioneer on the cruise ship?” Jack asked.

“I won’t tell you anything until you remove these handcuffs.”