Chapter 11 #2
She sucked in another breath, her emotions warring with her resolve. “Anyway, when the tide went down, I was able to swim out. I climbed on some rocks outside the cave and waited for help.”
Jason rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.
She pushed the tears off her face and sniffed. “The police told me later Spencer wrecked his jet ski. They found his body and the jet ski near a rocky area not far from the cave.”
Leland leaned forward with more emotion on his face than Jason had ever seen. “Why didn’t you tell me the whole story? The police told me they found both of your jet skis wrecked. They said you both tried to swim to the beach. Spencer hit his head on some rocks and you made it to shore.”
Tayla nodded. “That’s what the police assumed.
When they asked me, I just nodded. I didn’t want to talk about it.
So they thought I was confirming their theory.
Then when his parents showed up . . . I couldn’t .
. . I just couldn’t tell them the truth.
I always liked his parents. They were wonderful to me. ”
Jason wasn’t sure if he was holding her hand, or if she was holding his, but he felt her squeeze his fingers when she looked into his eyes again. “What was I supposed to say? Tell his mother that her son tried to kill me? He was dead. She was mourning. I just couldn’t do that to her.”
“I understand. I do,” Jason said.
She looked back at Leland, whose expression twisted with everything from anger to grief to guilt.
“I’m so sorry Leland. I didn’t mean to lie to you.
I just couldn’t admit the truth out loud.
Not to his family. Or anyone. It was easier not to talk about it.
That made me a coward, I know. But not anymore.
I hate that it happened, but I’m not afraid to talk about it now. No more secrets.”
Leland nodded. “It’s okay, Tayla. It’s okay.” He sagged in his chair and hung his head like the truth just ripped years off his life. He raised his eyes to Tayla. “But why? Why would he do that to you? I didn’t see that coming. Why?”
“I’ve asked myself that question a million times.
” She sighed. “I always come to the same conclusion. It was easier for him. Easier, and better for his reputation, than a divorce. He wasn’t happy, Leland.
He wasn’t the man I thought he was. He was tired of me a few months into the marriage.
I kept telling myself things might get better, but they never did. ”
Her voice tripped over the emotion building in her throat.
She coughed and started again. “His reputation was always very important to him. A divorce would have hurt his business and devastated his family. But me dying in a tragic accident would have made everyone feel sorry for him. The image of the mourning husband might even have helped him with some business dealings. He would have done anything for money. And I do mean anything.”
The emotion on Leland’s face squeezed Jason’s heart. He’d wanted to protect Tayla so much that he hadn’t told her what he did for a living. But she’d suffered unimaginable trauma, and he hadn’t even known.
Now, Jason understood why Tayla gave away Spencer Carmicheal’s billions. It probably felt cathartic to give away his fortune.
Jason was sure she didn’t realize her hand was still in his.
But it was. And he wasn’t ready to let go yet.
As much as everyone wanted this conversation to end, they still hadn’t discussed what triggered this truth-session.
He looked into her moist eyes and brushed his thumb across her knuckles.
“Tayla, Enzo didn’t grab you tonight because he rented you jet skis that day.
Why was he afraid of you? What does he think you know? ”
That’s when she looked down and seemed to fully process that they were still holding hands. She slipped her hand from his, wiped her eyes, and sat up straighter. He missed the warmth of her touch, but he was relieved to see familiar determination returning to her expression.
“I think Enzo was helping Spencer with his plan that day.”
That’s what he was afraid of. “What makes you say that?”
“While the tide was rising, I kept watching out the mouth of the cave. Hoping. But all I saw was Enzo’s yacht.
Spencer sidled up to the yacht and Enzo helped him off his jet ski onto the deck.
Instead of securing the jet ski on the back of the yacht, Enzo pushed it away from the boat.
Let it float with the tide. Then he turned the yacht around and they left. ”
“I blocked out some of those memories for so long. I knew what Spencer did. Or tried to do. But I never wanted to relive all the details from that day. I didn’t think about how Enzo must have helped Spencer until tonight, when I was in his car. It all clicked.”
She pushed some of her long, dark hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. “It was hours before I was rescued. By that time, Spencer was dead. I don’t know exactly how that happened, but I’m sure Enzo does.”
Leland stared at her. “Enzo killed Spencer. And he was afraid you knew something about it.”
Tayla nodded. “I know. But I can’t prove a thing. I told you everything I know. I’m really not a threat to him.” She looked at Jason. “He believes that, right? That I’m not a threat?”
“Yes, I think so. But you’re probably why he’s been living in a non-extradition country. You weren’t supposed to survive that day. When he learned you were alive, he probably feared how much you knew.”
A knock on the door made her jump.
“It’s okay,” Jason said. “That’s Knox and Rowan.” He walked to the door and let them in.
Knox’s expression proved he read the tension in the room.
Rowan did not.
The youngest agent, still sporting his Batman t-shirt, sat behind one of the laptops on the dining table and kicked off his flip-flops. “Aren’t we meeting tonight? About our plan tomorrow?”
Knox raised a questioning eyebrow at Jason.
“No,” Jason said. “Get some sleep. We’ll go over things in the morning.” He noticed Rowan ogling the charcuterie board. “That’s Tayla’s.”
Tayla smiled for the first time since the party. “I’m finished with it. You guys can have it. Unless Jason or Leland—”
“Not hungry,” Leland said.
Jason picked up the tray and handed it to Knox. “Enjoy. See you in the morning. Eight o’clock.” He could tell Knox wanted to know what was going on. But it could wait until the morning. He tried to give him an everything-is-fine look.
Knox nodded. “No problem. See you in the morning.” He looked at Rowan. “Come on, kid. Let’s go.” He pointed to the charcuterie board. “And let’s get something straight. All the things that look like meat are mine. You can have the grapes.”
Rowan rolled his eyes. Which was probably the reaction Knox was aiming for.
They finally left, and Jason locked the door behind them. When he looked back into the living room, Tayla was standing. Leland walked over to her. And hugged her. For several seconds.
Jason was sure Leland was whispering to her as he held her. He needed to give them some privacy. The best he could do was step into the kitchen and pretend to look for something in the cabinets.
He stared at coffee mugs and cereal bowls until he noticed Tayla returning to her room.
Leland entered the kitchen. Jason closed the cabinet door and faced the senior agent’s glare.
“We’re going to find Gus’s killer,” Leland groused.
“Of course we are. That was never in question.”
“And if we can find a way to do something about Enzo—”
Jason held up both hands and lowered his voice. “That will be more difficult. I believe Tayla. Completely. But we have no evidence. Nothing that would stand up in court. It’s pointless anyway because he’s too smart to return to the states. The only crime he’s committed here is kidnapping.”
Leland’s lips pressed into a thin line.
“Hey, go get some sleep. We’ll tackle this tomorrow.”
Leland didn’t move.
“What’s wrong?” Jason asked.
“I can’t believe I’m about to say this.”
“Say what?”
“Go check on Tayla.”
What? He’d love an excuse to check on Tayla, but that was not what he expected to hear from her grouchy, overprotective uncle. “Um. Okay. Why?”
“I’m not good at . . .” He glared at Jason. “Don’t ask me stupid questions. Just go check on her. She needs . . .oh, just do it.”
He made a huff-slash-grunt noise, stalked off to his room, and shut the door.
Jason had to smile. That was the normal, crusty Leland he was familiar with. The senior agent wasn’t mad. He was just more comfortable sounding like Scrooge than showing emotion. And it was obvious Leland Faraday was emotional about his niece’s welfare. Past and present.
He looked at Tayla’s closed door and hated that he felt nervous. This needed to be quick and simple. Not that what her presence was doing to his heart was simple. But it was late. They all needed rest. He just needed to reassure her he would protect her. That she was safe.
He approached her door and said a quick prayer. When he raised his hand to knock, the fire alarm sounded.