Trouble in Paradise (19 page)

“I’m surprised you didn’t pull your gun, threaten to shoot a
random body part and force it out of him.”

Creole looked at Fab as if she was one of his shifty street
informants. “Thanks for the warning.”

“Let’s go out by the pool. There’s no way for Fab to listen
in without us seeing her,” I said.

Once we got outside and out of earshot we pulled our chairs
next to the pool. “Madeline called, she wants me to have lunch with her
tomorrow,” Creole said. “At her house.”          

“You’re in trouble,” I said. “Or she’s planning our wedding.
We did go out on a date after all.”

“What do you think she wants?”

I felt bad he looked so unhappy. “My guess is that Zach told
her to get her daughter away from you, and fast. Cheer up. What’s the worst
that can happen?”

“Madeline could throw me out of the family.” Creole frowned.
“I like being a part of the Westin family. Damn Zach Lazarro.”

“Listen to me. I’m giving you my best advice: fix your
relationship with Zach.”

Creole ran his hands through his hair. “Why couldn’t he just
mind his own business?”

“First off, you have unanimous approval of the Westin
family. Mother is every bit as understanding as Elizabeth. You can tell her
anything, she’d never betray you. And neither will I. You tell Zach what you
want and we’ll back you up.”

“How did I get so lucky?” Creole tugged my hair.

“Number one son spot is taken but if you want to slide into
number two, confide in Mother and more importantly ask for her help in solving
your Zach problem. She won’t let you down.”

Creole lowered his mouth to mine. “No more of that.” I put
my fingers on his lips.  

He nibbled on the tips of my fingers.

“Want to stay for dinner?” I asked.

“I’m starving.” Creole stared into my eyes.

“Focus. I’m talking about food.”

“I have to go, meeting a low life for beer. I’m setting up a
drug buy with a low link on the chain, to inspire confidence so I can work my way
up the dealer network.” He stood up, pulling me into a hug. “Fair warning: I’m
going to kill your boyfriend,” he whispered in my ear and left out the side
gate.

Creole barely cleared the patio, when Fab appeared in front
of me. “I can’t believe you wouldn’t let me listen.”

“You tried though, didn’t you?”

Fab’s phone rang. “You promised tonight!” she yelled into
the phone, as soon as she put it to her ear.

I wondered what the other person was saying.

“Don’t screw this up,” Fab said. “Timing is everything. We
only get one chance. Tomorrow at Bakery Café. You don’t deliver and you’ll be
the one explaining to Brick.” Fab disconnected, threw her phone on the table,
and sat in Creole’s vacant chair.

“The final phase of our plan happens tomorrow. We’re moving
Rachel and her son, Michael. Instead of driving her son to school tomorrow,
she’ll stop at Chunkster’s, park around the back, jump into your SUV and we’ll
drive them to their new life.” Chunkster’s was a gas, beer, and donut dump on
the Overseas.

“Where are we taking them?” When I had met Rachel at the
school, she looked like a woman who lived in fear. Her right eye had faded
yellow bruising and there were also faint bruise marks on her neck.

“A private airstrip in Palm Beach.” Fab scribbled more notes
into a ratty notepad she always carried. “This has to go off like clockwork, no
mistakes. We have a limited time before the school will call Sabrosa and tell
him his son didn’t show up. We need to be at the airport before that happens.
If Sabrosa alerts the cops, it’s Casio Famosa’s job to derail any potential law
enforcement problems.”

“This is a good thing you’re doing.” It scared me to think
about what Sabrosa would do if we didn’t make that airstrip before he found
out.

“I’ll feel better when they’re both safe,” Fab said.
“Sabrosa gets his hands on them again, he’ll make good on his threat to kill
her. We’ll leave early and pick up the new identification for our travelers and
I figure we can hit the turnpike and be in Palm Beach in less than two hours.”

My phone started ringing from inside my pocket. “I’ll be
happy when the plane takes off, with Rachel and Michael safely inside.”

“Are you going to answer?” Fab asked. “Who’s on the phone?”

“What’s new?” I asked Zach.

“Winding it up early. How about
dinner?”

“No, thanks. I’m tired; going to
bed early.”

Fab moved her chair next to mine,
so she could listen.

“What the hell’s the matter with
you?” Zach said. “The one time I’m not waking you up in the middle of the night
and you’re tired.”

“I’m tired of you running to my
mother with your stupidness. You need to be reminded that Elizabeth, your
friend, loved Creole and he’s now a family member and not going anywhere. You
have a problem with Creole, talk to him. Would that be so hard?”

“My problem is with him involving you
in anything illegal.”

Fab hung on every word.

His high and mighty attitude drove
me crazy. “Do you ever do what I tell you to do?” I yelled. “No! Do you even
listen? No! Talk to Creole. You two are worse than high school girls.”

“You’re sticking up for him?” Zach
yelled back. “Who’s your boyfriend?”

“You still are. I’m not kicking
you to the curb for a shinier model. But you do make my ass tired.”

Fab covered her face and laughed.

Zach paused. “You just make that
up?”

“That was my grandmother’s way of
saying you’re about to get your butt kicked if you don’t settle down.”

“You can kick my butt anytime
you’d like.”

“Laugh now. It won’t be all that
pleasant.” I hung up the phone.

“I love listening to the two of
you fight.” Fab laughed.

“Happy to be a source of
amusement.”

“Creole is nice enough, but I
don’t trust him. The biggest red light? He doesn’t check out and you’re
ignoring that fact. Zach might be right about this one.”

“I’m going swimming. Want to
come?”

“I know your looks too. What do
you know about Creole that I don’t?” Fab yelled as I disappeared into the
house.

“You need to stay in the car.” Fab screeched into a vacant
space in front of the Bakery Café. People sitting on the sidewalk turned to
stare.

“You’re buying my next set of tires. Don’t come back without
my usual,” I reminded her as she leaped out of the SUV.

Fab disappeared inside. I counted to five and followed her
in. There was zero chance she’d ever ‘stay’ in the car if I asked her to. I
spotted her in the corner at the back of the café with Gunz, both of them
facing the door. Gunz shoved a manila envelope across the table and at the same
time, I slid into a chair in front of them.

“Not one word of argument. I should’ve known it was too good
to be true that you’d do as I asked,” Fab said.

“You must be the ID expert.” I smiled at Gunz. “That’s
useful to know. I might need your services one day.”

“Why would I help you?” He looked only slightly amused, his
eyes steely.

“Because I’m a useful person to know. And I know how to keep
my mouth shut, Theodore.”

“We’re leaving.” Fab nodded to Gunz.

“Bald looks better than the painted on hair,” I told him.

“You sure?” He ran his hands over his head. “What do you
think?” Gunz asked Fab.

“Have you lost your mind? I need a double espresso.” Fab
pulled my arm.

       Fab and I pulled into a parking space at the far end
of the convenience store, and she left the engine running. “What if Rachel
doesn’t show?”

       “According to Brick, Sabrosa’s threats to kill her
have escalated along with the violence. Rachel doesn’t want to leave her son
unprotected when he makes good on his threats. All she needs to do is follow
Brick’s instructions and Sabrosa will never find her. Like witness protection,
only better.”

       “Why Chunkster’s?”

       “No cameras. The ones that line the streets are
decoration only, like the Christmas lights that never get taken down.” Fab
pointed. “There she is.”

       “What’s with the crappy Taurus?” It was an old grey
eyesore, dented and rusted. “Isn’t her husband an executive at Cove Bank?”

       “It’s all about control.” Fab pulled up alongside of
her, and we both jumped out.

       “We both snuck out two suitcases each,” Rachel said.
“They’re in the back.”

       “I’ll get them, Mom,” Michael offered, grabbing a
suitcase.

“Crap.” Fab pointed to Julie who was coming across the
parking lot towards us. “You make sure she doesn’t tell anyone,”

I cut Julie off before she got a good look at Rachel and
Michael. “I need to ask a big favor.”

“Anything. Are you in trouble?” Julie looked confused.

“Just promise me, you won’t tell anyone you saw the four of
us together. I don’t want to be rude but turn around and walk away.”

“I won’t say a word.” Julie turned and left.

It took a minute to pile the suitcases in the back. Rachel
winced in pain when she grabbed her purse; her wrist hung at an odd angle.
“What the hell happened?” I whispered. “Michael you ride in the front and
remind Fab to slow down once in a while.”

I got in the back with Rachel. “You need a doctor.”

Fear filled her eyes. “Don’t say anything, we can’t stop
now. Sabrosa will find out and there will be no second chance. If I see a
doctor, he’ll find me for sure.”

I pulled my trusty aspirin bottle out of my purse. “Here.
These will take the edge off. I’ll call Brick. He’ll make arrangements for you
to see a doctor in San Diego.”

“Mr. Famosa’s done too much already,” Rachel said.

“One more thing won’t kill him.” A scarf hung out of her
purse. I pulled it out, untied it and wrapped it around her wrist for support.
Hardly adequate but maybe better than the constant pain from the slightest
motion.

Rachel looked like a woman on the edge. Her large sad eyes,
and long dark hair, reminded me of an art print that had once been popular.
Hopefully, one day soon she could smile for real.

Who knew Fab would be great at entertaining Michael? She
kept him laughing, pointing out stupid drivers in traffic. To my surprise, she
didn’t constantly change lanes or make the non-existent stop at the stop signs.

“I admire your strength, protecting your son in such a bold
way,” I whispered to Rachel.

“Why do I feel like a coward?”

“Because you wanted things to go differently. You have to
accept there are some things you can’t control. You’re making the best decision
for you and Michael. Your son would not be better off with a dead mother.”

“You know the right things to say,” Rachel said.

“It took me a long time to learn that my determination alone
wasn’t enough when it comes to a relationship between two people.” I learned
this in my life with Jax.

“I called the police once,” Rachel whispered. “They could’ve
cared less. When they left, that’s when he told me he’d kill me if I ever told
anyone or tried to get away. I didn’t think I’d survive the beating that
followed.” She turned away, wiping her eyes.

“You’re safe now. You do what Brick tells you and Sabrosa
will never find you.”
And if he does, Brick would surely have him killed, if
it isn’t too late.

Rachel rested her head against the seat, closing her eyes. I
listened to Fab and Michael joke around. A Volvo cut Fab off, causing her to
pull suddenly into the next lane. To her credit she didn’t chase after the
driver and run him off the road.

Fab pulled up to a private gate at the edge of the airstrip.
She inserted an access card, the gates opened and she drove the short distance
to the hangar.

Looking at the clock on the dashboard, we were right on
time. The pilot stood talking to a mechanic. I grabbed Rachel’s purse and
helped her out, hanging it over her shoulder. The pilot and Michael grabbed the
suitcases, carrying them to the plane.

“Enjoy your new life.” I smiled at Rachel. “It’s going to
take a while for you to stop looking over your shoulder. Be patient with
yourself. If you ever need anything, you can call Fab or myself.” I handed her
one of our business cards. “There’s only a phone number on this card. Call and
leave a message. If anyone ever finds it, it won’t do them any good and the
number can’t be traced.”

“Thank you, both,” Rachel said, with tears in her eyes that
darted around nervously. She hugged Fab.

Fab, to her credit, didn’t squirm away. “Just remember to
follow instructions and you’ll be fine.”

We watched Rachel and Michael board the plane, and waited
for the doors to close. Fab and I waved to Michael who had his face pasted to
the window as they taxied away.

“You need to call Brick and arrange for her to see a doctor.
That bastard broke her wrist.”

“Brick should’ve made
him
disappear, instead of
them,” Fab said.

“I agree.”

Fab cut across the safety zone on I-95 making her usual last
minute swerve to exit the freeway.

“Why are we getting off here? I want to go home.” I needed
to make a note of this area; the shopping looked good. It was a trendy area
with boutique stores, outdoor dining and a neighborhood book store.

“Stop whining. We’re repossessing a Mercedes for Brick,” Fab
informed me.

“Two jobs in one day? And that last one was emotionally
draining. How about asking?”

“It’s a surprise.” Fab gave me a creepy smile. “Like one of
yours.”

“The last time we jacked a car, it was all fun and games
until the guns came out. What’s the deal with this one?”