Chapter 22

Brayden

It was the annual Keys Children’s Charity and I’d long lobbied to have the crowning dinner and event to be held at Utopia. It had been a major coup to beat out the various Golden Coast hotels and convention centers and bring it to Utopia. I’d asked Harper the day before to be sure and be ready. With all the excitement, I wondered if she’d remembered. I texted her cell, but there was no response. I tried to call and it went to voicemail. I imagined she was in the shower and waited before trying again. In the meantime, the dignitaries were arriving in a string of black limos. It was definitely a red-carpet event and the paparazzi were in a frenzy, snapping publicity photos. Overall, it was an excellent opportunity for Utopia to be known worldwide. These were the people who formed the core blood of the resort industry.

Linda Thomalin, the grande dame of the entire affair was wobbling toward me. The woman had to top three hundred pounds but they were well-packed into a plus-size set of shapewear. Even so, she should have skipped the red stiletto heels, as her weight drove each step into the carpet like a spike on a railroad track.

“Oh, Mr. Campbell, this is simply marvelous. I’m so glad we decided to hold the event here at Utopia this year,” she said, using that affected accent that seemed to come over new money when their bank account hit the first ten million. She was wearing a floor-length red-sequined gown, far too flagrant for her shape or for good taste, but she was the decision maker, and I had to overlook the rest of her deficits.

“We’re very glad to host, Mrs. Thomalin. It has long been a sought-after prize. We hope the committee will decide to make this an ongoing tradition.”

“Yes, yes, we’ll see,” she piped up in an overly loud voice that matched the rest of her. She waved her fingers at me and moved on to socialize. It was a relief. I tried Harper’s number again. No response. A nightmare of cold dread slid down my spine. There was no way she’d been in the shower this long, and certainly not since she should have already been here. I would give her ten more minutes and then I was going in. I texted Captain Bob to make sure he was standing by at Vermillion. He didn’t answer, either.

Then I knew something was wrong. Very, very wrong. I found a couple of assistant managers I could trust and turned things over to them as I raced to the dock. I used the resort cabin cruiser, blocking guests as they arrived in their own boats. Within a few minutes, I was speeding to Vermillion.

I continued to text Captain Bob, Mrs. Sims and Meghan without response. Harper wasn’t answering anything. I felt chilled despite the heat of the evening and barely tied up the boat as I arrived at my dock.

Racing for the house, I threw open the slider and found no one. I took two stairs at a time up to Meghan’s room, but it was empty.

Bounding downstairs, I thought my heart would explode with the panic coursing through my veins. I tore open the door to the cottage and rounded the corner. Emotion overcame me at what I saw.

Harper was on the bed, but not moving. I fell to my knees at her side and felt for a pulse. Thank God, she’s just asleep! I shook her. “Harper! Harper, honey, wake up!”

She didn’t respond, but continued her even breathing. My mind was racing. Where were the others? Scooping her into my arms, I jogged for the boat and put her on the bed in the main cabin. Back on the lawn, I stood stock still, forcing my swirling panic to rationalize a plan. Grabbing my cell, I called my security detail and ordered them to get to Vermillion on the double and find Mrs. Sims and Captain Bob. I knew there was no reason to look for Meghan. She was not on the island. It had to be Collin—or at least I hoped.

Back at Utopia, I had Harper taken to my special suite and ordered the doctor to see to her. Security was already at Vermillion, and I was waiting for an update. I tried calling Collin’s phone, but didn’t expect him to answer. He didn’t. I’d grabbed Harper’s phone and found Stephanie’s number.

“Hello?”

“Stephanie?”

“Yeah. Who’s this?”

“Brayden. Is Collin with you?”

“Yeah, right. That bastard cleaned out my purse and took a hike. If you see him, kill him for me, will you?”

“Stephanie, look, I don’t have much time. I think Collin is behind something pretty bad. I need your help. Have you ever noticed him having any association with unusual people – like maybe men who come by for a few minutes and then leave? Does he come and go for short periods of time? Anyone?”

“Sure. I thought he had other women. I got pissed and told him not to come back, but he ignored me and broke in the door when I didn’t let him in. You know he’s got a gun, right, Brayden?”

“Yeah, I know. When was the last time you saw or heard from him?”

“Oh, shit, let me think. I guess it was day before yesterday. Tell you the truth, I thought I might finally be rid of him and was sort of glad. He can be a real ass.”

“Do you have any idea where he meets people or any phone numbers? Did he ever use your phone?”

“Oh, yeah, all the time. He said his phone was broke and he’d give me their number.”

“Stephanie, are you at the apartment?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m sending a car for you immediately. I want you here at Utopia and bring that phone. We need every phone number he might have called in or out. Your sister needs you, Steph. If I’m not mistaken, Collin has had her drugged and she’s with the doctor now. The car should be there in about five minutes. Be outside and ready, please.”

“Jesus, Brayden! What’s going on?”

“Just be ready.” I disconnected and sent the car for her. Checking in with the doctor, there was still no change with Harper. The doctor said she was stable but had been drugged heavily and would come out of it on her own. I ordered him to stay by her side and left word at the front desk to send Stephanie to my office.

She was there in fifteen minutes. She tapped on the door and I jerked it open, holding out my hand. “Give me your phone,” I ordered and snatched it from her.

“Jesus, Brayden, what the hell is going on?”

“I don’t have time right now to explain it all, Steph, but I think Collin is in over his head. And he may be taking us all down with him. Please, go out to the front desk and I’ll have someone take you up to my suite where Harper is. Make yourself at home, order food, drink, whatever. I have a serious situation on my hands, and you can be the biggest help if you look after your sister for me.”

Her mouth was hanging open but she snapped it shut and nodded. I could see then what Collin had seen in her. She totally lacked individual motivation; she responded best to orders. I imagined he had run her to the ground.

I left orders at the front desk and sat down with Steph’s phone, typing a list of the phone numbers in her recent calls directory that were obviously unusual. If he was doing what I thought, these people would not use phones that could be tracked. Their numbers, including area codes, would be random.

I berated myself. I should have anticipated this could happen.

I knew Collin was in over his head. Damn! I knew better. Collin was attracted to anything that was anti-social, illegal and immoral. It was his signature personality. I hated to admit it, but my brother was a sociopath. His need to live on the fringes had driven him to excess. Drink, smoking, drugs and gambling. It was the last that was getting to him first. I knew he was out there placing bets when he had no money to back it up. He’d come to me often enough to “borrow” money to get himself bailed out. He’d started small and the longer he did it, the bigger the thrill he craved. It was an addiction and his poison was the danger, not the money. I’d had suspicions for some time that he’d gotten himself in the hole with the Mafia. Perhaps even the Russian Mafia. That was what had me scared.

I’d given him money and known while I was doing it that it was like giving a bottle of Scotch to an alcoholic. I’d hoped that either Collin would see the opportunities open to him and change his course or that he’d take the big fall and have to go into hiding, which would keep him out of my hair. I felt like an asshole, but I had people to protect. He didn’t. He didn’t even see himself worthy of his own protection. You can’t save someone who wants to commit suicide; not if they truly want to do it. All you can do is close your eyes and look away.

I had to find Meghan and I knew Collin, or one of his people, had her. I was far more scared of the latter. I didn’t think Collin would let anything happen to Meghan, but he couldn’t guarantee that from the people he owed money.

I held in my hand the phone number of the person who had Meghan. The only question was, which one was it and how would they make their move? It was coming. I was scared shitless.

My cell buzzed. My answer had come.

“Hey, there, bro,” came the voice I hated and loved.

“Where is she?”

“Who?”

“You know who, god damn you, Collin.”

“The girl? Sure. She’s right here next to me, aren’t you, darlin’?”

“Let me talk to her!”

“Sure.”

“Hello?” Her voice sounded normal, even excited.

“Meghan? Are you okay?”

“Sure, why wouldn’t I be? Uncle Collin and I are headed for Paris, just like you said. I can’t wait. Thank you so much for saying I can go.”

“Meghan, listen to me. I want you to keep in touch with me, no matter what, okay? You have my email and my phone numbers. I’ll see you soon, sweetheart. Now give the phone back to Uncle Collin.”

“So, bro?”

“What do you want?”

“I’ll be in touch. We’re about to head over the water and be out of cell range. Hang in there.” The line went dead.

I stood there with the phone in my hand and wanted to throw it across the room, but I knew it was the only connection I had to Meghan.

I touched a number. “I want the jet ready to go. Paris. I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” I ordered our pilot.

A text was coming through. It was from my security detail. BOTH FOUND ALIVE BUT UNCONSCIOUS IN GARDEN SHED

I had more answers now. Everyone was, for the moment, safe. I had to get to Paris ahead of Collin. It was my only chance. I checked the flights departing from Miami. The only flight out to Paris had a short layover in LaGuardia. I was in luck.

I was in the car on my way to the airport. I sent Harper a text. I HAVE TO GO. TAKE CARE. I’LL BE IN TOUCH.