The most beautiful home means nothing if it has no soul or character. Some things can be added, but you can’t mimic the real thing.
—HAMMER GIRL BLOG
The beautiful estate looked empty, but Wang’s reconnaissance had told him the Robbs were here for the weekend. They were the only ones in residence too. Her parents had left this morning on a trip to Europe, so no one would interrupt the little tête-à-tête. He’d pretended to be an installer for a new, free security upgrade to their current system, and Terrance had given him a code to get in. All he had to do was wait until they were in there alone, then let himself in through the back. He’d parked around the block and had walked here so no one saw him. Easy peasy.
He could have instructed Nasser to take care of this loose end, but it hadn’t seemed prudent. He no longer trusted Nasser.
Wang crept through the darkened rooms toward the family room where the two of them were watching a movie. From here it sounded like a cop show with guns blaring and people yelling, a perfect cover-up for any noise they might make. Though there were no nearby neighbors, so he should be able to do what was necessary without incident.
He stopped in the doorway and peered into the room. Dimly lit by one lamp and the television, the room held overstuffed leather furniture, recliners, and several expensive tables. It was a cozy room, the perfect representation of the perfect place to curl up with popcorn and watch TV.
Their backs to the door, the Robbs sat at opposite ends of the leather sectional. Candace held a Kindle and wasn’t looking at the TV at all. Terrance seemed engrossed in the action taking place. Neither seemed aware that everything was about to change.
He pulled out his gun and stepped into the room, moving quietly until he stood between Terrance’s view and the TV. “Hello, old friends.”
Terrance sprang to his feet and reached for the gun lying on the coffee table beside him, but Wang got there first. “Uh-uh, that’s not okay. Sit down.” He motioned with the gun, and Terrance sank back onto the sofa.
His mouth tight, Terrance glanced around as if looking for a weapon. “What are you doing with that gun?”
Candace edged to the front of the seat cushion and sent a thousand-watt smile his way. “Well, hello there, it’s good to see you.”
“I’m sure it’s not.” He waved the gun in his hand. “At least not with this pointing your direction. The safety is off, by the way. It won’t take much for me to blow your brains out. I don’t trust you, Terrance. It’s coming to an end tonight.” Wang swiped his arm at the lamp by his side and swept it off the table to the wood floor where it shattered.
Both Robbs jumped, and Candace finally lost her superior attitude. She huddled in on herself, and tears began to leak from her eyes.
Terrance clenched his hands together in his lap, and his face went red. “We can end our partnership. Just tell me what you want me to do.”
Wang had to hold back a grin. Terrance would clearly love to tackle him and bash his head in. Luckily, he had no weapon that could stand against this gun. “What did you tell Ellie and Bradshaw?”
“Nothing. She asked if Mac had come to me and asked me to pull strings to get the flotilla canceled. I told her that she had, but that I’d investigated and found nothing.”
“Did she accept it?”
“I think so.”
“You’re the loose end, Terrance. They’ll find the money in your overseas accounts, and it will all come crashing down. You’ll tell everything you know, and I can’t have that.”
Terrance reached toward him. “Look, we can work this out.”
Moments later Terrance and Candace were both dead. He grabbed the candle lighter on the fireplace mantel and lit the curtains on fire, then some paper he found. Smoke billowed as he walked away.
He’d thought clearing out the deadwood would feel better than it did, but the only sensation he had was emptiness as he walked away.
Grayson’s jaw dropped the moment he saw the flotilla of tall ships. Their sails billowed grandly, and their masts reached for the clouds. He could have sworn heavenly music played as he stilled his oar and watched as they sailed past.
“I’ve never seen a more beautiful sight,” Ellie whispered. She was in the stern of the kayak, and she’d stopped paddling too. Her large eyes glowed with fervor. “Now I know why Mac wanted them here. It’s like stepping back to another time, one populated with the myth and magic of the sea. I can almost hear pirates and the clash of swords.”
Grayson grinned and began to row again. “And I thought I heard music. Got any idea which one is Elyssa Marie?”
“I saw a picture. She’s a clipper like Lavender Lady. Most of the ships in the flotilla are barques and schooners.” She reached for binoculars and focused them. Moments later she pointed. “There!”
The ship was the one closest to them. It had three masts and a square rig. Fully manned, the crew scurried around the deck, and he saw no way of sneaking aboard.
Ellie rose and waved to the crew. Most of them waved back, though the ready smiles ceased as Grayson brought the kayak closer to the boarding rope.
A man in a blue uniform leaned over the railing. His beard and mustache were more white than brown, and he wasn’t smiling. “We can’t allow you to board, miss.”
“I’m Mackenzie Blackmore. I’m here to welcome you.”
The man’s mustache twitched, but Grayson wouldn’t call it a smile. “Captain Arnett, Ms. Blackmore. I know your name, of course, but I still can’t permit you to board. If you’d like to tour the ship tomorrow, I’ll be happy to escort you personally.” His gaze flickered over Grayson.
“I have a clipper too, did you know? Lavender Lady is beautiful.” Ellie gave a vague wave. “She’s moored over there.”
“There aren’t many of us in the flotilla. Are you going to join us tomorrow?”
Ellie’s smile faltered. “I plan to.”
“I will look forward to it.” The captain tugged the brim of his hat. “If you’ll excuse me, I have quite a lot to attend to. I hope to see you tomorrow.” He moved away from the side and out of sight.
Ellie slumped. “Well, that was a bust.”
“Let’s just hang out here a bit. Maybe act like you’ve got a problem so they’re not suspicious.”
“Oh dear, my contact popped out.” Ellie spoke loudly as she began to feel around the bottom of the kayak.
The murmur of voices was too soft and distant to make out any words, and Grayson wished he had a listening device. They weren’t going to get anywhere with this. He shook his head at Ellie, and she climbed back onto her seat and picked up her oar.
The captain’s voice bellowed out, “Move it! Wang will be here in two hours. It had better be shipshape.”
Wang. Could it be the same man they’d been looking for? It had to be, didn’t it?
“Did you hear that?” Ellie climbed back onto her seat and picked up her oar. “Could we just have the FBI move in after we think he’s aboard?”
“I’d better at least let Lance know.”
He paddled them a distance out from the boat, then pulled out his phone and called Lance. His friend promised to pass along the information.
Ellie’s nose and cheeks held a bit of pink from wind and sun. “What’d he say?”
“He’s going to let those in charge of the investigation know.”
Her golden-brown eyes examined him. “But you don’t think they will? You look down.”
The kayak’s bottom bumped sand at the boat launch by Harvey’s Pier, and he jumped out and pulled it ashore. Holding out his hand, he helped Ellie out. Her face was set and strained.
“I’m tired of bumping into dead ends.” He tossed his oar into the bottom of the kayak. “I want Nasser. He gave me this limp, and he killed my best friend. I’m beginning to fear he’ll never be brought to justice. He’ll just go on killing and destroying people’s lives.”
Ellie reached for him, and he pulled her close enough that he could feel the thump of her heart.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t know. No wonder you’ve been so driven. What happened?”
He rested his chin on her hair and inhaled her sweet aroma. “We were hot on his tail and thought we had him cornered on a remote farm near Chicago. It was an ambush, though, and I heard him laughing as his men rushed him out. The guy’s a devil.”
He felt her head move as she nodded. Nasser couldn’t get away with this. Grayson couldn’t live with it.