Chapter 8 #2
“I get by. Most of the people I interacted with knew a bit of English, some were fluent, and Google Translate is a beautiful tool.” He smiled, then sobered.
“Some of the inmates wanted to read my books, so I requested the two series my publisher had already translated into Spanish and donated them to the prison library. I figured it couldn’t hurt. ”
He studied his hands and thought about how much it could ‘hurt’. Garcia would kill him, after he tortured him, given the chance. What if Davin had inadvertently dragged innocent Chloe into his nightmare?
“There was a man incarcerated who I only interviewed twice,” he continued.
“Balam Garcia. He is a foul, large, derogatory beast. I could feel the evil radiating off of him every time we interacted.” His muscles tightened just talking about Garcia.
“He is loud, egocentric, and he terrified even the other prisoners. I initially assumed he was a common brute, as in my experience most high-level drug and crime lords are more polished and command respect in a far different way than the threatening, bullying Garcia employed.”
“I’ve seen that too,” Jaxon agreed. “At least on the outside they seem polished and cultured. Inside, they’re dark and twisted.”
“True.”
“Gratefully, I’ve only read about people like that in books.” Chloe shuddered.
Davin wanted to protect her from every evil, especially evil like Garcia’s.
“Apparently, he read both of the series I donated. One of them was about a drug lord out of Venezuela. Garcia believed it was a biography of his life and crimes, even crimes that he hadn’t been prosecuted for.
He requested that I interview him a third time.
I reluctantly agreed, after some pressure from the prison guards and the warden.
He demanded to know who my source was, who had dared to share with me all his inside secrets.
I had no idea what he was blustering about.
He became furious and swore an oath.” He cracked a slight smile.
“A real oath, but also with loads of curse words.”
They both laughed, but it was definitely uneasy. The entire story was surreal and disturbing and horrifying.
“He swore on his mother’s grave that when he was released, he would find me, torture me until I revealed my source, and then …” He swallowed and focused on Chloe, gauging her reaction. “Kill me in a very brutal manner.”
“No!” Chloe exclaimed, her eyes wide. “If he dares to hurt you, I’ll …” She shook her fist. “‘I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse’.” She quoted The Godfather.
“Oh, Chloe.” Davin shook his head, not sure if he wanted to laugh, tell her how appealing she was, or hide her away. “Please. You can never get near Garcia. Never.”
“We’ll keep her safe,” Jaxon said.
Davin echoed that sentiment and liked that Jaxon seemed to be including him in that decree. What if he meant himself and Adam, or maybe the ‘hot cowboy’ and helicopter pilot Smith?
“Have you seen anyone out of place on the island lately?” he asked Jaxon. “Garcia broke out of prison yesterday, as I’m sure Agent Florence informed you, so he couldn’t have hurt Chloe initially. He could’ve sent one of his men ahead of him though.”
“There are always a few tourists around, some who might be suspect. We’ve got a whole crowd of obnoxious new college graduates celebrating with copious amounts of alcohol in one of the rentals.
” Jaxon held up his hands. “But it’s sadly not an uncommon occurrence to have shady types checking out the island.
We get interesting people visiting for the sole purpose of finding clues about the shipwreck and the La Fortuna treasure.
I’m sure you’ve heard that a lot of people assume it’s hidden somewhere on the island.
” He rolled his eyes as if he didn’t believe it.
“You don’t think there’s any treasure?” Chloe asked.
“I doubt it. Where could it be hiding? What inch of this island haven’t Smith, Chase, Dylan, and I explored?”
“True.” Chloe’s brow squiggled. “Do you think whoever knocked me out and drugged me was looking for clues to the treasure? Every tourist who comes into my store goes straight for the local lore section. I don’t know if the store would still be open if not for all of them.
It’s fun talking to them as an expert and life-long resident of Shadow Cove and selling them books about the island and the treasure. ”
“I guess it could’ve happened.” Jaxon shrugged. “Maybe they shot you up with truth serum to get you to spill the island’s secrets.”
“You don’t seem convinced,” Davin said.
“It seems farfetched, but everything about the treasure is. The treasure hunters I’ve interacted with have some crazy theories and are pretty desperate to find clues.
It makes them dangerous. I guess you’d have to be a bit cracked in the head to spend your life searching for famed treasures that may or may not be legit. ”
“I suppose so. I’ve never written a series about a sunken treasure ship and a famed treasure that went missing.” Davin smiled. “Thanks for the idea.”
“Do you have a list of ideas for future books?” Chloe asked.
“A lengthy Word document.” He liked that she was sincerely interested.
“Back to who hurt you,” Jaxon said, looking at Chloe. “This morning I went to visit the Valentines’ home. Unfortunately, Dallas had a wood-cutting job on the mainland yesterday and can’t be our suspect.” He blew out a breath, obviously wanting it to be Dallas.
“Is Dallas Robinette’s brother?” Davin remembered the sheriff mentioning him in the hospital.
“Yes. He’s about six years younger than her and such a pain in my backside.” Jaxon rolled his eyes. “Doesn’t look like it was him. It could’ve been a treasure hunter, but I doubt it. Davin’s drug dealer friend seems a little more likely but still a stretch.”
“Please don’t say ‘friend’ in association with myself and Balam Garcia.” Davin felt sick just thinking of it.
“Forgive me.” Jaxon looked between the two of them. “The question is, should I assign you to stay with Chloe and keep her safe, or do you present more danger to her?” He picked up the pen again and flipped it in his hand. “I could have Adam stay with you, Chloe. You two are good friends.”
“Adam?” Davin pointed out into the waiting room, his voice thick with disdain. “The too-flirtatious kid out there?”
“He’s twenty-eight and an impressive officer, excelling in jujitsu, hand to hand combat, and tracking.” Jaxon gave him a slow grin. “Somebody’s jealous.”
Davin’s mouth clamped shut and Chloe looked out the window.
Of course Officer Campbell was impressive and trained in a variety of combat maneuvers.
He was jealous, but not of the man’s expertise.
Of the way he could flirt with Chloe. Davin needed to read up on charm and flirtation.
Would it help? Book knowledge was one thing; practical knowledge was quite another.
“You could go stay with Smith,” Jaxon continued when neither of them responded to the jealous barb. “He spent eight years in the Army and is almost as tough as me. Plus, his ranch is off the grid.”
Davin’s insides rolled with more jealousy. “The hot cowboy?” he asked, putting disdain into his voice and regretting it instantly. He didn’t even know Smith, and the guy was their friend.
“There’s a lot more to Smith than his hot face and body,” Jaxon said, grinning and winking at Chloe.
“Okay, stop, Jax,” Chloe said. “Nobody needs to watch over me.”
“I beg to differ,” Davin argued. “Somebody needs to watch over you, just not Officer Superstar out there or the cowboy.” In truth, both were better options than him.
But how could he convince these two otherwise?
“You’re in danger, Chloe, and you shouldn’t be left alone due to your concussion anyway. ”
Chloe’s green eyes flashed at him, the gold becoming more pronounced. “I am capable of taking care of myself.”
“Please, let me help you,” Davin all but begged. “I’m concerned it’s my fault that you’re in danger. I couldn’t live knowing that something happened to you, and not just because of me. I want you safe, Chloe.”
He’d thought that was pretty smooth and genuine, but her response didn’t reflect that.
“I’m not some invalid or a wussy woman,” she insisted, folding her arms across her chest.
Their eyes locked in a battle of wills. Davin enjoyed the interchange, but it had him worried.
Was she going to refuse his help? Was he the right one to help her when he may be the reason dangerous flunkies were knocking her out and shooting her full of Versed?
The sad fact remained that he wasn’t trained like Officer Campbell or Smith.
“Sorry, Chloe,” Jaxon said. “You either go stay with Smith, Adam camps out in your living room, or you stay with Davin.”
Chloe looked unsteady and annoyed. “Those are not great options.”
“You’re right. I’m worried that Davin might be the reason you were attacked. If that’s true, this Garcia could find his rental and come straight for you.”
“My house was rented under a shadow corporation that cannot be traced to me,” Davin piped in.
“Is that normal procedure for you?” Jaxon asked. “Like the credit cards?”
“Since Garcia began threatening me, yes.”
“Okay.”
“I think the best and most convenient solution is for Chloe to come stay with me,” Davin said assertively, looking between the two of them. “Your officers could do drive-bys, and if we want to hike, walk on the beach, or come into town, an officer could accompany us.”
“Do you have security cameras and motion sensor lights?”
“Yes. The owner put them up. I can get you his information and you can access them.”
Jaxon lifted his shoulders and his hands. “I don’t hate it. What do you think, Chloe?”
“What about my shop? My mom and Abigail Malm help me out when I need a break. Could they keep the store open, and Davin and I could come in to help as well?”
At least she wasn’t protesting staying with him.
“Anyone working at your shop could be in danger. The perp could come after your mom or Abigail.”
“Oh. I don’t want that, but I can’t just shut down. What if Davin and I came in from four to six, my busiest time of the day, and maybe noon to four on Saturday? Then I can keep my customers happy and maybe we could even draw out the attacker.”
“You’re close to the station. Adam, Johnny, and I can keep an extra eye on the shop when you’re there,” Jaxon agreed. “We can do drive-bys of Davin’s rental and one of us can come by if you need to get outside for a walk or hike.”
“Thank you. It’s settled then.” Davin focused on Chloe. “You’ll stay with me, and I’ll keep you safe.”
Warmth raced through him at the idea of Chloe at his rental home. The two of them alone. Could they grow closer? Develop a relationship like he never had? With the one woman he felt could be right for him?
“I guess so,” Chloe whispered.
She didn’t seem certain, but she had agreed.
Davin would count it as a win.
Now to hope they could find who had hurt her, and that it wasn’t Garcia.