Scent of Gardenia (Scott Tucker Series) (35 page)

Chapter
87

Mercedes
was unable to do anything about what Margaret was doing with Ralph. He was a
nice guy, not deserving the kind of treatment he was getting. Several times it
sounded like Ralph was putting up some resistance. This was always met with
Margaret referring to the knife to get his attention.

If there
had been any question in her mind, she knew now it was her sister. She had
plastic surgery to change her looks, but her eyes were the match that confirmed
it. Her voice, even with the slight accent, was also very similar. However, it
was what she was doing on the other side of the partition that convinced her
beyond a doubt.

Ralph
let out a yell. “Melanie, let him go. It’s me you want to hurt,” Mercedes cried
out.

There
was no immediate answer. Finally Margaret responded, “Well the great FBI
profiler finally put everything together. What the hell took you so long?”

There
was more rattling of chains, but this time it sounded like Ralph was fighting
for his life. There was a thump and then no noise at all.

“In case
you’re wondering, Ralph is now taking a much deserved nap…he couldn’t take
anymore of my attention. He’s good, but your boyfriend Scott is really my lover
now. Did you know he came back to see me? He’s confessed his love for me…with
what I consider only minimum persuasion.”

Margaret
stopped talking. Mercedes didn’t like the sound of any of that, but was happy
Scott was alive.

“Fortunately,
he is still intact, but I really don’t know for how long. He seems to be caring
less and less about his own safety. However, he’s quite the hero when he thinks
Holly is going to be harmed. Actually in their defense, so are Jules and Nils.
Holly is my trump card, when the boys become reluctant. Now I will have you. That
should bring Scott’s focus back to where I want and need it.”

Mercedes
gave some thought as to whether Mike and Sam were successful in their rescue
efforts.

“If
you’re wondering if the real Mike was able to get to Scott…well there’s a
surprise waiting for him, or them, if that’s the case. I’m really surprised, Sis,
it took you so long to come down here to rescue these missing men. It’s a shame
some have had to bite the dust, or better said, join Davy Jones’s locker.” She
stopped talking.

Mercedes
thought of
Denny Longo,
wondering if he was coming to their rescue.
If so, where the hell is he? She remembered her sister’s past treatment of
Scott, when she tried to rescue him. The thought of Scott, and now Ralph, being
used for Melanie’s own pleasure was almost too much to accept. Is Ralph the
next one she’s going to kill? She already has a full house, why would she need
him?
She pulled hard on the chains, but they were bolted to the inside of
the hull.
She couldn’t take the chance that Melanie was going to kill Ralph,
and then dump him in the ocean.

“Melanie,
can we talk?” There was no answer. “Melanie, I need to talk to you. Please.”

There
was a sound on the other side of the partition. The door to the head opened up.
Melanie leaned against the door frame. Her naked frame looked like she had just
had a shower. “Marvelous plastic surgery job…wouldn’t you say? The plastic
surgeon, if he was still alive, could have labeled this result the ‘naked lure.’
It’s amazing the reach of this body…they have come from quite a distance to
bite this lure. What do
you
want to talk about?”

She
knew every minute she kept Melanie busy increased the chance they would be
rescued.
“Why are you doing all of this?”

Melanie
smiled, responding, “Because I can, and because I like what I’m doing. I have
this unquenchable thirst for sex. Having a selection of partners makes things
very interesting. I just have to think about one of them, and I guess I can’t
control my actions from that point on. Are you making notes for your profiling
file?”

“Not
really. You are my sister. I want to know where things went wrong.”
She
immediately remembered her comment to Scott, never to let her immobilize him
again. Do we have the same genes?

“Mercedes,
I really enjoyed growing up, and going boating with Grandpa. Things were okay,
but at times things got very confused between me and my ‘other.’ It was hard to
know fantasy from fact, at times. However, when I was raped that weekend by a
close friend, and his so called buddies, things took a different perspective
from that point on. I am now returning the favor.”

“I can
understand that…we need to get you some help.”

“They
tried that, remember? They thought they cured me, but I wasn’t cured. My
‘other’ successfully convinced them I was better. I do owe her so much for her
excellent communication skills.”

“Melanie,
please. You don’t need to continue doing these things. I can help you get some
help.”

“Mercedes
it’s much too late. I’ve killed too many men. I might be crazy, but the real
truth is this—I suffered so much that weekend. What I took away from that
experience was the power they had over me. I was defenseless and no matter how
much I pleaded with all of them…and I did…they wouldn’t stop. Well, that’s what
I now have…I have their power and I’m returning the favor. However, the
difference is, I like the feeling of power in my hands. Every time they ask, or
beg, me to stop, I remember my own begging and pleading. I guess I make all the
men pay for what the others did to me that day. Can you understand any of
this?”

“I
understand it more than you can appreciate. Melanie, please let us go. I
promise I will do everything in my power to get you the help you need. You have
a good side, and that deserves to live.”

Melanie
slipped down the door frame to the floor, putting her head between her knees.
She was quiet for the longest time, and then started quietly sobbing.

“Melanie,
it’s okay. You would make Grandpa very happy in heaven if you stopped all of
this right here and now.” Mercedes watched as her sister dealt with her demons.
She let her have her time, and she felt so sorry for her.
She remembered the
early days on her grandfather’s boat when things were innocent. She thought of
how much damage she had already done. She thought about whether Scott would be
able to finally say he loved her or not. Everything was too much for her, her
head was spinning and the tears started to flow.
As she studied Melanie, she
looked like a little girl instead of a grown woman.
Maybe she is going to
revert to her other side.

*.*.*

There
was the sound of wood hitting on wood, then a thump at the back of the boat.
Mercedes couldn’t see anything, but she watched Melanie’s head rise to
ascertain what was happening. She saw Melanie dive onto the floor, but couldn’t
see what was taking place.

“Don’t
do it Margaret. Put the spear gun down. I don’t want to shoot you but I will.
Put the
gun down, now!
”

Mercedes
recognized Denny’s voice. He had come to intervene. She heard the noise the
spear gun made, and then heard Denny yell out. There was a lot of commotion.
“Ralph, can you see what’s happening?”

“Yes,
she just shot Denny in the leg with the spear gun. She is fighting with him for
his flare gun. Denny looks severely wounded, and it looks like…” Ralph stopped
talking abruptly.

There
was a loud crash, and then Denny’s body went sliding across the downstairs
floor where Mercedes could see him. She heard the now familiar sound of the
spear gun being loaded. Melanie came into view. She quickly undid Mercedes’
foot restraints, pulled Denny over to the head area, and then put each of
Denny’s ankles in them. Denny was holding his hands over the area where the
spear was sticking out of his leg. Mercedes saw the agonizing pain he was
experiencing. She wiped her tears away. “Denny, talk to me. Denny?”

There
was no answer, but that didn’t surprise her. She regretted the whole incident
now, as it looked like Melanie was going to revert,
but not now
. The
boat engine roared to life, followed by a second engine. She saw Melanie run up
to the bow. She could hear her pulling up the anchor. Five minutes later she
came back down into the lower cabin, putting some towels around Denny’s leg.
Melanie looked up at her sister without saying a word.
Her expression said
it all.

Melanie
put on her white bikini, and then headed out of sight. She heard her yell,
“Thanks sis, we were almost sisters again…but I’m sorry for what happens next.”
The boat engines simultaneously roared loudly. The boat made a turn that threw
her into the wall of the head.
She could only imagine what was going to
happen next.

Chapter
88

Holly had
been watching the mad man trying to get into her cell for almost an hour now.
She had been careful not to indicate she knew one of the recent additions to
this hotel. Mike Miller was continually brutalized by this man, and the reason
escaped her. She thought it was because he was frustrated at not being able to
get to her. She had developed a plan of attack if he did get into her cell—she
would wrap her right hand chain around his neck and pull her right arm with her
left. When he was elsewhere, she practiced the move since she knew she would
have only one chance at it.

He delivered
a long-string of verbal assaults to each of the men in the cells. He asked
questions, but no one answered him. This also increased his volatility. He
spent considerable time in front of Scott’s cell, telling him he did him a
favor bringing him here. Margaret was a great lover. He was lucky to be one of
her stable. He would change places with Scott in a minute, if he could. She
heard him boast, ‘she owes me a whole weekend with her for bringing you here.’
There were six of them now, which when they had the chance would really put a
strain on the only pot. She was surprised; the thought forced a smile on her
face.

*.*.*

I
watched this crazy person run up and down the hall, trying desperately to get
into Holly’s cell. It was obvious he was Margaret’s accomplice, but my concern
was whether she had others. I had the feeling the end was near, and there was
nothing I could do about it. We were all running out of options. Holly and
Jules had tried to find and rescue Nils, but wound up being captured. I was overpowered,
and should have been more careful. Mike and the other man tried to rescue us,
and they were added to the group. The only ones left are Mercedes and Ralph.

For the
first time since I heard his name, I hoped he was a formidable opponent for
Margaret, I mean Melanie, and this idiot. The only other person left is
Mercedes. She is most likely with Ralph. Where are they? I considered my options,
but there weren’t any. I know she cannot keep six of us here. She only has room
for four. Holly seems to be spoken for.

*.*.*

Mike
tried to protect Sam from this jerks kicks, but he was too hell bent on giving both
of them their fare share. The last thing he wanted was to be unable to help
free these people…now he is one of them. He watched the guy pull on Holly’s
cell door, over and over again, digging at the entry way…then cussing and taking
out his frustration on the only thing available—them.

When
Margaret returns, she will probably give him Holly as his reward. That would
fit her personality. She might even enjoy watching what he does. Maybe we will
be lucky. Mercedes and Ralph will be successful at capturing her. It seemed
like they had a solid plan, and there were two of them. What the hell could she
do to overpower both of them? His mind quickly supplied a long-list of
scenarios that didn’t make him comfortable. The big question was whether
Margaret was expecting a confrontation rather than just a dive excursion. That
was when some of the pieces fell into place.

This guy
must be the one who knocked Scott out, and brought him here. Shit, Margaret
probably already expected a visit at the house and another at her boat. That
meant that Mercedes and Ralph were walking into a trap, just like they did. He
considered that Margaret was more than prepared. If the others are captured,
then that is the end of our possible rescue. Mike heard something different and
watched the guy run down the hall. Maybe someone’s coming…please let it be the
Navy, or better the Marines.

“Jules,
he’s gone. I’m sorry we’re all in this together,” Mike whispered.

“Misery
loves company. Got any thoughts as to how we’re going to survive?”

“Honestly,
I think we’re quickly running out of options. If the noise we heard is not
rescuers, and instead it’s the last of our resources…well, I think we might be
close to biting the bullet. There are already too many people in the inn.”
Someone was coming, so he stopped whispering.

Mike
heard a loud series of thumps, which sounded the same as when they were pushed
down the stairs. He heard the rattling of chains.

“Get
up…I said
get up
,” a woman’s voice yelled.

It was
quickly followed by Mercedes’ screaming. “Leave him alone, you’ve hurt him
enough. Let me help him up.”

“Mercedes
you’re pathetic. When are you going to act on your own behalf? Go ahead, get
him up and be quick about it.” They were all headed in Mike’s direction.
Mercedes was almost carrying Ralph, who was only wearing his shorts. Mercedes
was wearing a wet suit. She stopped at Scott’s cell. She couldn’t believe her
eyes. “Keep moving.” They reached the end of the hall. Margaret pushed both of
them on top of Mike and Sam.

“Well
Ray, you look like you’ve earned some extra bonus. You did very well. It looks
like there are a few too many guests now. What do you think we should do about
it?”

Ray
quickly ran to Holly’s cell, jumping up and down. “Can I have her, can I?”

Margaret
smiled a wicked smile…well; I really do think that would be a very worthwhile
prize. Sure, why not? However, get your ass over here and get these chains
lashed together.” She flipped a key to him. He quickly wrapped the chains of
the four of them together. He started to move away with the key. “Not so fast,
I’ll take that back for now.”

Mercedes
broke her silence. “What are you going to do about Denny? He’ll bleed to death
on the boat if you don’t get him some help.”

“Mercedes,
there you go again still trying to save the world. Denny is the least of your
problems. You should consider what I’m going to do with your lover—Scott.” She
turned to head down the hall. “I’ve worked up a real appetite that your friend
here, couldn’t come close to satisfying.”