Desperate Measures (7 page)

“So is my family being questioned and scrutinized as we speak?” Caitlin pressed her palm against her forehead, flattening her dark bangs. “God what a mess, just when everything started to straighten out with my career and company, this nightmare flares up.”

“We need to investigate all angles at this point and I’m even sorrier to tell you, Caitlin, your company, employees, and definitely Dr. Tessell, will be questioned. Here’s a cup of coffee. Give me a brief background on your family. With Tomas’s Transportation and Security Administration connections, hopefully from the customs records, we can identify someone who stands out that arrived on the island recently. Being July we might get lucky, this isn’t heavy tourist season. There are only two daily flights; one from Miami, the other from New York, and a handful of connections from San Juan, Puerto Rico this time of year.”

Caitlin sipped her coffee and raised a hand to halt further conversation. “Okay, I’ll fill you in on everyone in my family but first I’m calling my parents. If they’re going to get bombarded with questions, I need to break this news to them beforehand. Scott can give you an outline of everyone else until I finish the call. Here’s my address book.”

* * * *

Caitlin left to phone her family. Scott gave an overview of Caitlin’s relatives then called his supervisor, Frank Felton, the Director of the FBI. Scott relayed the situation. Before Scott could finish, his boss cut him off.

“Scott, of course you have my support and that of the entire FBI in this matter. From what you’ve told me, your wife appears to be the intended target. We can’t discount the fact that some whacko might be using your family to get to you, and therefore the FBI.”

“Thanks, Frank.”

“No problem. Keep me posted and I’m glad you have Tomas down there dealing with the local authorities and leading this investigation. The Bucklin family, whew! We’re going to have our hands full with them.” Frank concluded the phone call.

* * * *

Caitlin speed dialed her father’s cell-phone. He picked up on the second ring. “Dad, I need to talk to you, so I hope you’re not in the middle of anything.”

“Caitlin, what is it? Everything okay?”

Caitlin detected the fear in her father’s voice and attempted to reassure him. “Everyone’s safe. There’s been an incident. I wanted to call you before the FBI pounce on you. They’ll have quite a few questions about your real father, whoever that may be. I’ll tell you what’s going on but you need to stay put in case I need to fly Chad and Alexandra back to Florida.”

“Caitlin! The FBI!” Jack screamed, “What the hell happened? Please just tell me.”

After Caitlin recited to her father what had happened in the last two days, Jack responded in an assertive tone. “Caitlin, your safety and happiness mean more to me than anything. If this can of worms has to be opened, then so be it. Our family is more important than my real father. Call me tonight when you’re finished with the police, okay?”

“Yes, Dad. Thanks but this sucks!”

“It sucks but you’ll be safe, don’t worry.”

Caitlin turned off her cell-phone and went back into the police station to answer the barrage of questions she knew awaited. She walked into the small, but efficient conference room, and bluntly stated, “I just got off of the phone with my father, so he’s up to speed on everything that has happened so far. He’s expecting your call, Tomas, and will tell you everything he knows about his adoption.” She then looked at Drew and said, “Are there any questions after Scott gave you the rundown on my family?”

“Not yet, so let’s move onto your aunts and uncles on both sides of your family. Start with your father’s younger twin brother and sister first. Scott skimmed over them but maybe you have something to add that you remember from your childhood.”

“I told you previously that Gary was a gold digger and gambler, he currently works in Las Vegas of all places, as a dealer. He seems to have gotten his act together. I send him a Christmas card every year with pictures of the kids and a short letter about what’s going in with all of us. That’s about all of the contact I have with him. He’s been married and divorced three times and has three different children by each wife. Aunt Virginia is widowed. She likes to be called Ginny and reverted back to her maiden name of Spencer. She moved to South Carolina after her husband died. She has two sons with whom I keep in touch although no more than the occasional Christmas card.”

Caitlin halted her speech for a moment to give the men time to complete the notes they jotted down. She looked out the window. A dark cloud hovered over the mountain.

When she saw three sets of eyes peering at her, she continued. “Aunt Carol is the youngest of my father’s siblings. She and her husband, Larry, live in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. I’ve always been very close with her and we speak and visit often. Aunt Carol was only thirteen when I was born and she used to babysit me. When I grew older, she became more of a friend than an aunt. She loves both of my children, but adores Alexandra.

“My cousin Lindsey, Aunt Carol’s daughter, and I are very close. We usually take family vacations together each summer. You met her briefly last year when she joined us in St. Kitts.” Drew nodded in agreement.

“Lindsey lives in Connecticut and has a son Alexandra’s age, his name is Ryan. She and I’ve always kept in touch and speak on the phone weekly. That about sums up my aunts and uncle. I’m not that close to Gary and Virginia and neither is my father. There’s always been an underlying tension and competitiveness between the three of them.” Caitlin ended her summary.

“None of your grandparents are still living?” Drew probed.

“No,” Caitlin confirmed.

“With the contact numbers and outline you gave, we have enough information about your father’s side. Tell me about your mother’s family. You’ve already indicated that your father and two of his siblings didn’t have the greatest of relationships. What about your mother and her twin?”

“Nick?” Caitlin involuntarily gasped then rubbed her temples. “What could he have to do with any of this? I haven’t seen him in over twenty-five years.”

Caitlin’s stomach swirled as if a witch’s cauldron was at work. Acid churned and brewed. Sour bile threatened to rise in her throat. Now she had to tell them about Uncle Nick, the big loser of the family. She knew she had no choice. Her life and the safety of her family were in danger, dammit! Her life didn’t sound so ideal now instead it resembled a daytime drama.

Jack’s eyes, like his daughter’s, turned a different shade when angry or upset. They were now a dark cold blue; much different from their original sea green color. After ending the horrifying call from his daughter, Jack punched in the number he knew by heart but never used. “You son of a bitch!” he screamed when the phone was answered on the first ring.

“Jack, to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?”

“How dare you threaten my daughter!”

“Jack, you better calm down and tell me what the hell you’re talking about, you know you’re family. Why would I ever want to hurt you, or Caitlin?”

“I’m warning you for the last time, stay away from
my
family, and don’t start up your shit again. You’ve always had it in for Caitlin. You touch one hair on her head and I’ll kill you. Do you hear me? I don’t care what happens to me!” Jack slammed down the phone.

* * * *

Perfect! Just perfect! Jack would soon be on the scene. It’d been a stroke of genius to tap the phone line. Aces told him to stay put but Daddy would run to her aid.

The chain of events were in motion, the plan having fallen into place, with each piece placed where it should be. Jack and Aces. Isn’t that cute? The ten, queen, and king would do nothing for this flush. The biggest flush of the century, rivaling an international poker tournament. Soon the big payoff would set up, resulting in satisfaction and retribution. They were just as important as money.

* * * *

“Why haven’t you seen your uncle over all these years, Caitlin?” Drew asked.

“Nick Holland is nothing like my mother. From what I remember, and have been told, he was always in trouble, into drugs, burglary, you name it. He may be dead by now. The last time I saw him, he and my parents had a huge fight. Nana was there too…”

Drew interrupted her. “Wait a minute. Who’s Nana?”

Frustrated, Caitlin stood and approached the dry erase board, located in the front of the room, on which someone had sketched a family tree. The ancestry chart portrayed her father’s side, so she filled in the blanks.

Drew studied the diagram for a moment, updated his notebook, and then said, “Okay, Marie Holland, or as you call her, Nana, is your grandmother on your mother’s side. Her husband, Harold, passed away when your mother and Nick were infants. Thanks for completing that chart. I had a hell of a time filling in the who’s-who on your father’s side”

Caitlin moved on and relayed the information about her mother’s twin brother. “When Nick’s cases appeared on the docket, my father as District Attorney, was put in a difficult position. Dad bailed him out one too many times and with the last charge against my uncle, my father refused to help him anymore. Rumors of favoritism had begun to spread through the office and police department.

“Nick came to our house and barged in shouting, ranting, and raging at both of my parents and Nana. In his drug-induced state, he scared me and my brothers. Dean and Daniel were only eight at the time. It was summer so I took the boys outside to play on the beach.

“When we went back to the house Nick had left and we found Nana in tears, crying about her son. My mother and father were at an important fundraising dinner. Nana hugged and kissed us then sent my brothers to take a bath and get the sand off them. She knew I heard a lot of what happened with my uncle and made a promise to me that we wouldn’t ever see Uncle Nick again. Nana told me she couldn’t believe that my mother and Nick were twins. She said they could be from different planets.

“So whatever happened at the house that day remains a mystery and Nick Holland’s name hasn’t been mentioned since. That’s the last time I saw him. He didn’t even come to Nana’s funeral. As I said before, he’s probably dead.”

Rain pelted the windows and a booming roar shook the floor, interrupting Caitlin’s recount of the past. The lights went out and a bright arc of lightening provided the only illumination in the room.

“Can we call it a night, Drew? I need to see the kids.” Turning to Scott she said, “Can we at least do something exciting tomorrow? No evidence or clues have surfaced. I can’t imagine what else could turn up. With you and Tomas as bodyguards, can’t we enjoy a little vacation time?”

“Absolutely and I’ll drive, we don’t want to traumatize Tomas again do we?” Scott laughed.

Caitlin chuckled. Warmth spread through her body. It seemed as if an eternity had passed since she’d relaxed enough to enjoy laughter.

She had to tamp down her anticipation of the day ahead. To ease her conscience, she needed to make two phone calls.

* * * *

Tomas didn’t find Scott’s comment amusing but forced a good-humored smile on his face. Caitlin’s last remark about her uncle reverberated in his mind. “Nick Holland’s name hasn’t been mentioned since.” After the statement, the roar of thunder and power outage seemed to contain a prophetic message.

He sorted through papers and reports. He found what he needed, with the title
FBI Employee Background check of Scott Martel
, and began to shuffle through the pages. Halfway through the document he placed a tab on one particular page. He intended to review this section in its entirety tonight. Tomas stood, stretched, and rubbed his eyes in preparation for a long night ahead of him, then followed everyone out the door.

* * * *

Caitlin tried to contact Dean first but the call went directly to voice mail. It wouldn’t have made a difference if he had answered the phone. Dean wasn’t a good listener and didn’t give a damn about anyone or anything other than surfing, girls, and the beach. She left a brief message, hung up, and then called Daniel, the more levelheaded of her two brothers. He did end up being a quarterback superstar and got a scholarship to Penn State. Unfortunately, in his junior year, he blew out his knee.

With a good head on his shoulders, he managed to graduate with a media and journalism degree and became a successful sports caster in Atlanta. A wise career choice for him. Charisma and a photogenic face made him a natural at his job, and the camera loved him. He had dark hair, penetrating blue eyes, and an athletic build. He and his wife were expecting their first child.

“Daniel!” Caitlin cried.

“Catey, how are you? You’re never going to call me Dan, which I prefer, are you?”

“Not on your life, buddy, if Mom and Dad wanted to name you Dan, they would’ve christened you Dan, not Daniel. You know how I feel about nicknames, and don’t think I didn’t notice you called me Catey! Everyone wants to shorten Alexandra’s name to Alex, or Lexie. She’s Alexandra. Not much to butcher with Chad’s name except his sister calls him CC.”

“Caitlin, when you’re upset you prattle on. Dad called me and told me what happened. Is there anything I can do? If Amy wasn’t…uh, I mean if her due date wasn’t in three and half weeks, I’d be there for you.”

Caitlin caught Daniel’s stumble of words. “Daniel, what were you going to say? If Amy wasn’t what? Is everything okay with the pregnancy?”

Daniel responded, “Yes, yes. Everything’s fine. What I meant to say is that she’s been very tired and I don’t want to leave her alone in case she goes into labor early.”

Caitlin wasn’t convinced. She sensed that her brother held something back but didn’t press the issue.

“I don’t expect you to come rushing down here. I just wanted to talk to you myself since you will most likely be getting phone calls and visits from the police and FBI. Can you believe all of this is coming out now? Daniel, that article really scared me and I wonder what the hell other secrets are out there. We grew up so normal, or at least I thought we did. I’m glad Dad told you himself about his father. The way he informed me, I thought I’d have to break the news to you and Dean about our grandfather.”