Catherine's Cross (41 page)

The two men looked at each other warily, and Jenks saw that Seth was studying their reaction.

Gunnar looked back at the photo and said, “Maybe. A few months ago, there was a man with darker hair, but similar facial features, who waited for several hours for a yachting service to pick him up.”

Jenks took a deep breath as she heard this news. “Do you know where he went?”

“No, ma'am.”

Thinking they had reached a dead end, she sighed with disappointment— but then he continued. “You see that red, double-masted sailboat down at the end of the wharf, the
Alhambra
? Her Captain, Lucas Soto, may be able to tell you.”

A young man was sitting on board the deck of the handsome watercraft. “Good morning,” he said as Seth and Jenks approached.

Jenks's heart was racing, but she acknowledged the ship's mate, who appeared to be a youth of about twenty years. His dark hair was unruly, and he blushed as he looked at Jenks.

“Good morning to you too,” she replied. “We're looking for Captain Soto. Is he here?”

“No, ma'am, he's—er . . . visiting with a friend.”

“Do you know where we can find him? It's very important.”

The young man replied, “I don't think he'd appreciate my discussing his whereabouts when he's off duty.”

Determined, Jenks removed the photo of Frank Hiller from her pocket. “We just spoke with the harbor master, Gunnar Lund, and he thinks that the man in this photo chartered the
Alhambra
some weeks ago.”

“Let me take a look at it. I'm Rhett Alexander.”

Handing him the photograph Jenks introduced herself. “I'm Jenks Ellington, and this is my friend Seth Mason.”

He studied the picture and then raised his head up and looked in Jenks's eyes. “Yeah, he looks like the guy we took to Belize.”

“Belize? That's a long way from St. John.”

“Yes, ma'am, it is.”

“Do you know where he was going?”

“No, ma'am. The guy kinda kept to himself. He had dark hair—not the blond in this photo.”

He handed back the picture. “Did he do something wrong?”

“He murdered my sister.”

The young man's mouth dropped open and a look of shock went across his face. “Jesus Christ,” he murmured. “Can you come back later today after three? Lucas—I mean Captain Soto—will be here then.”

“No—our airline flight leaves this afternoon from Charlotte Amalie. Please!”

He was quiet for a moment, and then he said, “Captain Soto's gonna have my ass, but hang on a minute, and I'll give you the address where you can find him.”

They waited only a short while at the taxi stand in Cruz Bay before an open-air taxi pulled up beside them. “Good morning,” the man enthusiastically called out in an island brogue. “Can I take you somewhere?”

“Yes, we need to go to this address,” she said, handing him a note card.

“Ah yes, it will take us only about fifteen minutes.” He got out of the driver's seat and opened the rear door for Jenks and Seth. “Bad leg?”

“Yes, I'm afraid so,” Seth replied.

As Jenks climbed into the taxi, she studied the man's features. He was probably in his forties, his hair was cut very short, and he had perfectly straight white teeth.

“You have a wonderful smile,” Jenks told him.

“Thank you, ma'am. It is in my family's blood roots. My name is Elias and welcome to St. John.”

Just as Elias had said, the drive took about fifteen minutes, and they parked at a hillside home that overlooked the ocean. “Jason Brinkley's residence,” he murmured.

Jenks heard his comment and said, “Wait for us, please.”

“As you wish, ma'am.”

Jenks got out of the taxi, and Seth slid out behind her. “Let me go first,” he said.

He went ahead of her to the home and knocked firmly on the door. Within a few minutes, an attractive brunette came to the door and looked at Seth and Jenks. Jenks noticed that her eyes lingered on Seth. “How can I help you?” she inquired.

“We need to speak with Captain Lucas Soto.”

She had a shocked look on her face, and she responded, “I'm afraid you have the wrong address.”

Jenks felt a heated rush of energy caused by fear and anxiety course through her limbs and she responded, “Please! Captain Soto took a man to Belize several weeks ago. That man, Frank Hiller, murdered my sister.”

The woman looked stunned, but then walked away leaving the door slightly ajar. Within a few minutes, a handsome, sun-tanned man with dark hair and wearing only shorts appeared at the door. He was well built, and he looked at Seth and Jenks. “How can I help you? I'm Lucas Soto.”

Jenks introduced herself and Seth to him. He came outside and led them to a secluded sitting area in the yard. Jenks handed him the photo of Frank Hiller, and he studied it for a moment. “The hair was darker, but that's his face. James Jefferies. He had a Belizean passport.”

“A Belizean passport?” Jenks asked with surprise. “His name's not James Jefferies, it's Frank Hiller, and he's a US citizen.”

“I can only tell you what I saw. He kept to himself. Didn't say too much.”

He handed the photo back to Jenks. “The guy paid me cash and with the economy being the way it is, I was glad for the business.”

“Where did you take him in Belize?”

“Miss Ellington, I don't know if you're familiar with Belize, but there's a reef system that runs the length of the country. The
Alhambra
runs too deep in the water to get past that reef. When we were off San Pedro, he called a water taxi that picked him up and took him to shore. He said ‘thank you' and that was it. I figured it was his responsibility to handle any business he might have had with immigration services.”

Jenks took a deep breath and said, “Thank you for talking with us.”

“He murdered your sister?” he said as a deep frown crossed his countenance.

“Yes, he drowned her.”

Lucas's face darkened, and he replied. “If you pursue him to Central America, use extreme caution. I saw that he was a powerful man.”

“Yes, he is.”

When they returned to Cruz Bay, Elias dropped Jenks and Seth off at the Red Hook ferry. Opening the door for them, he pointed to Seth and said, “Take it easy on the leg.”

Seth nodded.

“Thank you for your help this morning,” Jenks said.

“Oh yes, ma'am . . . you never know what you'll discover on a Sunday morning.”

Jenks knew what he was referring to.

“I mind my own business. I stay out of trouble that way,” he beamed.

She paid the fare and rewarded him with a generous tip. He looked at the payment, grinned at the two of them, and said, “It is nice to be nice,” in a sweet island brogue.

On the flight back to the United States, Seth was seated in an aisle seat and Jenks sat in the center. He stretched his leg out and winced slightly as he settled in for the flight. He then took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles.

“I insist that you let me help on the cost of this trip. It's not every day a man gets engaged.”

“No—I'm going to use a little of the money that I was saving to buy the bungalow in Raleigh. That's no longer in my plans.”

He leaned back in the seat and frowned slightly.

“How are you holding up?” Jenks asked.

“Other than law school, I hope there are no pressing matters for the next several days. I'm tired.”

“I'm sorry.”

She sat quietly for a moment before saying, “Why would he pick Belize?”

“Remember what Lucas Soto said. There is a reef system that runs the length of the country. Frank Hiller is a diver. World-class diving conditions would be of interest to him.”

“You're smart.”

“Thank you, Miss Ellington.”

“But how did he get a Belizean passport?”

“I'm only guessing of course, but it's possibly a very good forgery. When we get our hands on him, we'll find out precisely.”

“How are we going to find him, and what did he do with the other artifacts he stole from Gigi?”

“The Federal Bureau of Investigation has a legal attaché in San Salvador that covers Belize and other Central American countries. As far as the other artifacts, that question can be answered by Mr. Hiller.”

“It sounds like he's attempting to disguise himself by darkening his hair, but his physique is hard to mistake,” Jenks said.

“There's no way to be sure he stayed in Belize. I'll start the investigation process tomorrow.”

Seth was in touch with Captain Barrett from the Beaufort County Sheriff's Department early the next morning. When he finished his conversation, he came into the kitchen, where Jenks was making coffee. “My captain is going to contact the FBI office in Columbia, and they'll get in touch with the legal attaché in San Salvador.”

“What we need is a break,” Jenks answered. “Maybe I should hire a private investigator.”

“Let's see what happens with the FBI legal attaché, and then you can decide what to do.”

“Good morning, Seth and Jenks,” Dr. Walker said as he entered the kitchen. “I'd like to hear about your trip, but first, I'm cooking eggs and bacon. Can I make you breakfast?”

“That would be nice,” Jenks declared. They had not eaten dinner the night before, and she found herself extremely hungry and tired from the trip to the Virgin Islands.

“Dr. Walker, we have something to tell you,” Seth said.

Dr. Walker turned to both of them, giving them his full attention. “Jenks has consented to be my wife,” Seth said proudly.

“How wonderful,” Dr. Walker said, clasping his hands together. “Sophie, where are you? Come into the kitchen, dear!”

Within a few moments she entered the room, her white linen shirttail hanging out of her lounge pants. Jenks was surprised to see her so casually attired. She was normally dressed to perfection.

“What is it?”

“Seth and Jenks have decided to become husband and wife. Isn't that wonderful news?”

Her face erupted into a brilliant smile, and she came first to Jenks and hugged her. She then went to Seth. “I am so happy for you. I think you two are perfect for each other.”

Jenks could barely control her emotions and tears welled in her eyes.

“Have you decided on a date?” she asked, her eyes twinkling.

“No, ma'am, not yet,” Seth replied.

“We can host the wedding here at our house. It would give Leslie and me great pleasure if you would allow us to do that.”

Jenks felt herself blush with excitement and appreciation. “That would be wonderful!” She spoke without consulting Seth, but when she looked in his direction, he nodded his head in agreement.

“This is wonderful news. I'll make you dinner tonight, and we can celebrate,” Dr. Walker said. He turned back to the stove and removed a large stainless-steel frying pan from the pot rack.