Chapter 27 #2
“Right,” Jaz said. “I hear what you’re saying. Like I could say, ‘I know this has nothing to do with you. I wonder if there’s someone else who looks like you… No offense, but old rich white guys are pretty prevalent in our circles…’ That kind of thing.”
Wright was nodding. “You go in and get out without ever letting him believe you think any of the rumors have merit. If he makes a joke about it, how if it were true, he’d have to kill you—”
“I laugh it off. I don’t believe for one second Henry would kill a man.”
Wright looked at his daughter. “That’s it. We’re just trying to put him on his back feet, get him to do something that exposes his operation, and gather enough evidence for the DEA to move in and take him into custody.”
“You think they will?” She seemed skeptical. Or maybe just nervous.
“They will,” Wright said. “I’ll get everything set up before you call so the DEA will be ready. They want this guy. If we can take him down—”
“We will take him down.” Jaz faced Kenzie and took her other hand. Now that he knew Wright’s plan, he was ready. “It’ll be a lot easier if we don’t have to worry about your safety.”
“I could help. I’m not some…damsel in distress.”
“You certainly are not.” He thought of the woman he’d witnessed on the deck of the Blue Fantasy, maneuvering the yacht to make it hard for the pirates to board.
Wielding a gun to protect herself and her crew.
Even after Jaz had saved her life, she’d stood up to him, coming off as fully in control of a boat overrun by drug-smuggling murderers.
He couldn’t help but smile. “But here’s the thing.
If your life is in danger, I’d do anything, sacrifice anything, to make sure you’re safe.
I’m sure that’s true of your father too. ”
“No question.” The words came from behind Jaz, low and serious.
“If you’re safe, we can focus on bringing him down. So by getting on a plane, you’ll be helping.”
Her smile was wry. “It’s that women-and-children-first thing.”
“Maybe we’re just a couple of cavemen trying to protect what matters.”
A burst of laughter escaped, and she pressed her hand to her mouth. “I don’t want to think of you in danger.” She looked past him to her father. “Or you.”
“We’ll be careful,” Wright said. “But until Marcus-slash-Henry is taken off the board, he’s going to be a threat, not just to your friend and me, but to our whole family.”
Jaz squeezed her hands. “You know the plan. Now, book the flight. Please.”
“I will.”
Thank God. Jaz wanted to bring down El Fantasma. He wanted Magras to be arrested and tried for his part in the man’s smuggling operation. He wanted out from under Wentz’s thumb. But none of that mattered as much as keeping Kenzie safe.
He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Thank you.”
Her smile was slight, her cheeks pinkening a little.
Wright was watching, but Jaz didn’t care. Hopefully, the man would hold off killing him until after they’d brought down their enemy.
One way or another, Jaz needed to find a way to expose Henry for what—and who—he really was. He wasn’t sure how it was all going to work, but he didn’t have to figure it out by himself. He had a former CIA agent on his side.
More importantly, Jaz had God on his side—and had all along.
Lord, You brought me here. You never let go, even when I thought You’d abandoned me. Finish what You started. Help me see this through.
For the first time in years, he believed God would.
Jaz watched Wright pace, phone pressed to his ear, issuing commands. He’d already alerted a handful of three-letter agencies to be watching Henry Sebast’s phone and accounts. Now, Wright was talking to his security. Apparently, the man had an entire team protecting his family.
“Get Brooklynn and Cici to the rooming house in Boston. Yes, now… Then she’ll have to cancel it. Delaney’s in Driftwood. I need a man watching…”
Jaz’s heart thumped painfully. If Henry knew where Delaney lived, then he could send someone to Driftwood. Delaney was Charlotte’s nanny.
Charlotte could be in danger.
“Wright,” Jaz said.
“Hold on.” He put his hand over the phone and gave Jaz his attention.
“Charlotte and Noah… If Henry sends someone to Driftwood—”
“Got it.” He lifted the phone. “Delaney’s fiancé and his daughter could be targets too. Take care of it.” He paced back the other direction.
Jaz turned to Kenzie, sitting on the edge of the bed, her knee bouncing.
“Your dad’s something.”
“I’ve rarely seen him like this. It’s a window into his other life.”
“It’s impressive. And taking care of Noah and Charlotte…”
“They’re Delaney’s family now. And yours.” As if that explained her dad’s decisions. But maybe it did.
She’d ducked into the bathroom right after making her flight reservations and changed into cargo pants, a T-shirt, and her boat shoes—no socks.
It would be cold in Boston when she got there. He dug through his duffel bag and came out with a sweatshirt. “It’ll be way too big for you, but at least you won’t freeze.”
“Thanks.” She took it and set it on top of her suitcase.
Wright headed back toward them, shoving his phone into his pocket. “I’ve got someone coming for you. He’ll be here any minute.” He turned to Jaz. “They’ve set up the trace and flagged the accounts. You ready to do this?”
“Your family’s safe?”
“Yours, too, as safe as I can make them.” Panic flashed in his eyes, gone so fast Jaz wasn’t sure he’d really seen it. “Go ahead and make the call. Set up a time to meet.”
Jaz took Kenzie’s phone, breathing a prayer, thinking through what he’d say.
“Put it on speaker,” Wright said. “I want to hear his voice.”
“The goal is just to get him to meet me, right? Nothing else?”
“And raise his curiosity. You know something, and you want to tell him about it in person. That’s it.”
“Okay.” Jaz could do this. He had to. He dialed and set the phone on the nightstand.
Two rings. Three.
And then the call connected. “This is Henry.”
“Henry, it’s Jaz.”
“Ah, the famous Jaz-man.” Henry sounded just like himself, like the kind grandfather Jaz had known for years. “Let me guess. You’ve fallen head-over-heels for a blonde Canadian, and you want me to officiate the wedding.”
Laughing, Jaz turned away from the two Wrights watching him and slipped into character. “Sadly, Simone abandoned me for the great white north. I’m still nursing the wound.”
Another lighthearted laugh. “If I know you, you’ll find a way to salve it.”
“You know me well.”
“I’m very curious. I don’t think you’ve ever called me before. Do you need something?”
“No, but…” He let his voice trail, like he wasn’t sure what to say. “I was in a game last night, and someone mentioned your name.”
“I am quite famous, you know.”
“Yeah.” Jaz gave a halfhearted laugh, drawing the word out. “This felt different.” He shifted his tone from amused to concerned. “It was honestly a little…fishy.”
“No kidding? About me? You don’t think… I mean, I’m not in any danger, am I? Should I be worried?”
“Nothing like that. And it wasn’t true, obviously. It was so bizarre that I wanted to let you know, sort of warn you?” He added the questioning tone, wanting to sound insecure.
“Lay it on me, then.”
“Uh, well.” Jaz laughed, letting his nerves bleed into it. “You never know who’s listening.”
“Ah, fear of the proverbial they.” Still, Henry sounded completely unconcerned, and Jaz started to wonder if they had it all wrong. Maybe Henry wasn’t El Fantasma. Maybe he was just who he claimed to be—a retired businessman.
Except his face matched that of Marcus Aldridge, missing for almost thirty years. And there was the coincidence of Francine being the only witness to Kenzie’s mentor’s suspicious death.
Henry was a smooth liar, playing a part. In that respect, he and Jaz had a lot in common.
“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Henry said. “People do love to gossip.”
“You’re telling me. Even so, I’m worried that people are saying things about you. It could be—” He cut himself off. “Any chance you’re in Phillipsburg? If you’re at the resort, I could swing by your room, or we could meet—”
“We sailed the yacht up from St. Barts. The family came in for the regatta. Kids, grandkids. It’s so much easier to watch from the water.” He chuckled and lowered his voice. “To be honest, I wish I were at the resort. With all of them on this boat, it’s total pandemonium.”
“I bet.” But Jaz heard nothing in the background that gave evidence to Henry’s words. “I’d love to meet those grandkids. Francine’s shown me so many photos that I feel like I already know them.”
“I don’t doubt that at all.” Henry sounded distracted now. “I guess I could send a dinghy to bring you out.”
Jaz looked at Wright, who nodded once, already tapping on his phone.
Kenzie’s eyes were wide, her skin pale.
He couldn’t think when he was looking at her and turned away again. “Can we do it this evening? Around seven?”
“I’ve got a man in town now,” Henry said. “He can wait for you at the marina, but you’ll need to meet him soon. Can you be there in fifteen minutes?”
“I’m not sure—”
“We’ve got plans tonight. Francine will kill me if I mess them up.”
“Are your plans in town? I could meet you—”
“It’s either the yacht or nothing, I’m afraid.”
But fifteen minutes was barely enough time to get to the marina.
Jaz didn’t feel ready.
Wright gave him a go-ahead nod.
“I’ll be there,” Jaz said. “Might be twenty, but I’ll do my best.”
“I’ll let him know. See you soon.” Henry told him where to meet his man and ended the call.
Jaz looked at Wright. “It’s not what we wanted.”
“We’ll make it work.” Wright was already moving, phone to his ear. He stepped into the hallway and made a call.