Unforgettable (35 page)

35

A
w, shit! He’d walked right into a trap. He should have waited for the FBI agents, Greg thought, cursing himself. He released Dodger’s collar as the gun prodded his chest. It was too dark to see the person, who was concealed behind the packing cartons.

Dodger whined, his tail thumping against Greg’s leg. The sound echoed through the silent warehouse like a cannon volley. The barrel of the gun disappeared.

“Dodger? Greg?”

Relief shot through every inch of his body, leaving him breathless.
She was alive!
Thank God. “Lucky! Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” she said, but she didn’t sound fine. She didn’t sound like herself at all.

He reached for her, groping in the darkness. She came into his arms, the gun against her chest with the barrel pointing at her chin. Greg gen
tl
y took it from her and guided her out from behind the cartons.

“What happened?” he asked. “What are you doing back there in the dark?”

“Waiting,” she told him, her voice so low that he had to lean down to hear h
er. “I turned off the lights…
to think. I always think better in the dark.”

He knew this was a throwback to the only memory of the past that she’d managed to retain. A bitter, cruel memory of a mother who’d proved to be the mother from hell. Greg hugged Lucky to his side, silently promising he’d make things right for her in the future.

“
Did you come looking for Brad and Judd?
”
he asked as they approached the shafts of light emanating from the computers.

Her head brushed his shoulder as she nodded.

“You were smart not to confront them. Who knows what they might do.” He was downplaying it, of course. He knew exactly what the bastards would do. “Tell me where the light switch is.”

She turned, his arm still around her, and led him to a spot outside the glass-enclosed office. He flipped the switch, then stared at her, stunned. Dodger whined again, moving closer to Greg.

Blood coated one side of Lucky’s face, running down the side of her neck. In her left hand she was clutching something. Blood dripped from between her fingers, splattering her dress and shoes.

Aw, hell! Something terrible had happened to her. Again. “Lucky, what’s in your hand?”

She stared at him, her face pale, her eyes icy and unresponsive. Slowly, she lifted her fist and opened her hand. It took a second for him to recognize what she was holding. Rudy’s tooth.

“Did you know that in ancient times Hawaiians made all their weapons from shark’s teeth?” she asked, speaking in a monotone. “They didn’t have metal until Captain Cook arrived.”

She was scaring him now, the way she had that night in the
tent. He put his hands on her shoulders and gently shook her. “Lucky, this isn’t the time for a history lesson. Tell me what happened.”

She swallowed twice, her nostrils flaring slightly. “Do you love me?”

“I love you more than I ever thought possible.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “I’ll love you forever.”

She pulled back and gazed at him with those magnificent green eyes. “No matter what I’ve done? Even if I’ve killed someone?”

He almost flinched at her words, and at the anger that underscored them. The gun. The bloody tooth. Had she killed someone? The magnitude of his own emotions hit him hard, and he spoke from the heart. “If you’ve killed someone, I’ll still love you. I’ll stand by you. But I can’t imagine you hurting anyone.”

She offered him a suggestion of a smile. “I came here because I had to know what happened that night. Why was I wearing the shoe of a woman who’d died a year earlier? You didn’t meet Brad’s partner, Judd. He’s a monster. He told me what he’d done without a hint of regret. He admitted forcing me to perm and bleach my hair.”

“So no one would recognize you.”

“Exactly. And Judd’s the one who actually tried to kill me.”

But Brad was in on it, Greg thought. His gut instinct had been correct, not based merely on jealousy. He’d hated the son of a bitch on sight.

“I was unconscious and they dressed me, putting on one of the shoes by mistake.” She looked over her shoulder at the large metal vault. “Judd knew I was bluffing when I said I was going to shoot. He jumped me and knocked the gun out of my hand. The revolver was under me. I couldn’t reach it unless he got off me. I jabbed him in the eye with Rudy’s tooth.”

“Good thinking,” Greg said, looking around, wondering where the bastards were. The metal chamber, of course.

Lucky ran her fingertip over the serrated edge of Rudy’s tooth. “The jagged edge really slashed Judd’s cheek.”

“That’s where all the blood came from,” he noted, relieved.

“No. I shot Brad in the foot,” Lucky announced with unmistakable pride. “Then they knew I meant business. I herded them over there into the orchid vault and turned off the ventilator.”

His heart swelled with love—and pride. She’d given them a dose of their own medicine. “Why did you turn off the ventilator? I don’t get it.”

“The orchids produce deadly fumes. Brad and Judd are in there right now with minor wounds. But their lungs are burning and their eyes are watering. They know I’m a new person, but some of the old toughness is still there. By now they think I’ve left them to die.”

“But you haven’t. You’ve called the police.”

“You’re right. I just called the local FBI office, then turned off the lights to pull myself together. When you came in, I thought it was one of their buddies, or I wouldn’t have pulled the gun on you,” she explained. “I want Brad and Judd to really believe they are going to die. I want them to know what it feels like.”

“I’m so damn proud of you. Thank God, you’re all right.” Greg gathered her in his arms and gently rocked her.
“
I love you so much.”

“I love you, too. I missed you every minute. If it hadn’t been for Julie—”

“Woof!” A sharp bark from Dodger interrupted them.

“Couldn’t be,” Greg muttered. Yet knowing Dodger had proven to be an infallible S and R dog, he realized it was a signal. Dodger was pointing toward the orchid vault.

“What is it?” Lucky asked, then she understood. “Oh, no! What have I done? I didn’t mean to kill either of them.”

“How long have they been in there?”

Lucky checked her watch. “Ten minutes. Judd said it takes much longer than that to kill someone.”

“Someone’s dead in there, but don’t worry. You did the right thing. You called the authorities.”

“The FBI should have been here by now. If they’d come sooner, no one would have died.”

Greg grabbed the gun off the table. “It’s hard to find this place unless you know your way around Chinatown. Open the vault and we’ll see what happened. Maybe one of them is still alive.”

They approached the metal chamber with Dodger at their heels. Greg had the gun trained on the door.

“Please, God,” Lucky prayed out loud. “Don’t let Brad be dead. I don’t want to be responsible for killing Julie’s father.” She released the lever on the steel door. Greg kept the gun pointed at the opening, not knowing what to expect. Out staggered a man he’d never seen. It had to be Judd Fremont, because his cheek was gouged and bloody. The man stumbled across the floor, clutching his throat and gasping for air.

“Oh, my God!” Lucky cried. “Brad must be dead. I didn’t mean to kill him. Honest. I just wanted to teach him a lesson, then let justice take its sweet time with him.”

She started to move into the chamber, but Greg stopped her. “Stay here. Keep the gun on him and don’t hesitate to shoot.” The orchid-filled vault was a disaster. Orchid plants had been knocked over, many delicate blossoms crushed. In the back Brad Wagner was sprawled across the floor. His death had been neither easy nor quick.

Greg left him for the authorities and returned to Lucky’s side. “It’s okay, angel. You didn’t kill him. His partner strangled him.”

Lucky stared at Greg in disbelief as he took the gun from her. “Why?”

Judd Fremont had recovered somewhat and was sitting up
now, taking deep and ragged breaths. He managed to lift one eyebrow as if to say they were incredibly stupid. A few seconds later, he spoke.
“
There’s only so much air in there. Not enough for both of us. I knew you’d call the police. But when so much time went by, I had no choice—”

“Open up!” yelled a male voice. “FBI.”

Greg shook his head. “The door’s open. Come on in.” They turned Judd over to the two field agents, who immediately called the local authorities to remove Brad’s body. Greg guided Lucky outside into the bright sunlight, where they waited to give their statements.

“I didn’t want Brad to die,” Lucky said, the threat of tears in her voice.

He put his arm around her, wondering how he could love someone so much and how he could make up for all she’d suffered. “Look, it’s for the best. Would you want Julie to see her father on death row for murder?”

“No,
but… s
he loves him. How am I going to tell her that he’s dead?”

“I’ll come with you. We’ll bring her to Maui and you’ll stay with Sarah. Being around other children will help.”

“Yes, Sarah will know what to do.”

“Julie’s very young. It’ll be easier on her now than if she were older.”

Lucky gazed up at him, nodding. “Are you? Are we?
…
”

“Going to be together?” he finished, and she nodded. “I’m never letting you go. Do you know what I thought the first time I saw Julie?”

Lucky shook her head. “What?”

“That I should have been her father. It hurt so much that I wasn’t,” he said, still remembering how devastated he’d felt when he’d seen the little girl. “It’ll take time to work through this mess and for Julie to accept me.”

“We can do it. I know we can,” Lucky told him. “I love you so much.”

Dodger whined and licked her hand.

“I love you, too, Dodger,” Lucky said, patting his head. “And you’re going to help us with Julie, aren’t
you?”

Dodger wagged his tail enthusiastically as Greg
pulled Lucky into his arms. “
I’m never letting you go. I love you too much.”

Epilogue

Six Months Later

T
he
Atlantis
sailed across the channel toward Niihau. Lucky stood on the bow with Sarah at her side and gazed at the private island, home to the monk seals.

“The trial’s over,” Sarah said quietly, even though the children were at the back of the boat with Cody and Greg. “It went much faster than I expected.”

“True,” Lucky agreed, “but my testimony seemed to last two lifetimes.”

Sarah touched her arm, her dark brown eyes sympathetic. “I know it was difficult for you, but Judd Fremont got what he deserved.”

“Now that the trial’s over, I can get on with my life. We’re planning a small wedding next month,” Lucky announced with a smile, happy to be able to tell Sarah their plans. “Greg’s selling his place on the beach. With the money, we’ll be able to buy a home like yours in the up-country. Julie’s determined to have her own pony and get a cat to keep Dodger company.”

“She and that dog are inseparable,” Sarah said. “He sleeps beside
h
er bed and follows her around everywhere.”

“She’s adjusted much better than I expected. Dodger helped, and you and your family have been wonderful to her.”

The breeze fluttered Sarah’s dark hair, flinging it over her shoulder. “In time, Julie will love Greg as much as he loves her.”

“I know.” Lucky smiled, closing her eyes for a moment and blessing Greg for all he’d done to make a new life for them. “I love my life. I’m happy now.”

“Sometimes good things come from our worst nightmares,” Sarah said. “God never closes a door without opening a window.”

They rode in silence, leaning over the bow rail, keeping watch for a shark named Rudy. He’d been sighted by divers the week before. Lucky wanted to see him again, to see how big he’d grown. And to thank him for providing the lucky, lifesaving tooth.

The water was crystal clear, and below she could see the dark shadows of the reef and a school of yellow clown fishes with the distinctive black rings around their eyes. No Rudy. No sharks at all, and Lucky decided this would not be the best time to encounter a shark. Today they were releasing Abbie, setting her free off the Niihau shore to join the other monk seals.

“Mommy,” yelled Julie as the boat slowed at the reef protecting the island. “We’re ready.”

“Coming,” Lucky called. She glanced up at Nomo, who was at the helm on the deck above them. He gave her the thumbs-up sign.

In the fishing cockpit, Abbie was surrounded by the twins, Cody, and Greg. Nearby played Molly and Julie in orange life jackets. Dodger hovered around the young girls, his eyes watchful. Abbie was much larger now, no longer a pup but a full-grown seal weighing more than a hundred pounds. Nomo
and Lucky had shown her how to fish, although Julie was convinced she’d been the one who’d taught Abbie.

“Wark! Wark!” barked Abbie, the way she always did when Lucky appeared.

Lucky glanced at Greg, loving him. He beamed one of his reassuring smiles. Saying goodbye to Abbie was going to be much harder than releasing Rudy.

The boat slowed and Nomo dropped the anchor, the chain thunking as it fell into the water. He reversed the engines, allowing the anchor to take hold in the soft sand below the surface. He cut off the engines and the boat bobbed, swaying with the current.

Lucky smiled, realizing the rocking deck didn’t faze Julie. In the few months they’d been here, she’d discovered her sea legs. Julie and Molly were squatting over a bucket that contained a starfish they’d found and planned to return to its home with the denizens of the deep.

A sailfish swam by, its fanlike dorsal fin skimming along the surface of the azure-blue water, catching everyone’s attention. Lucky took the opportunity to drop to her knees and have a last word with Abbie. She fondly petted the seal’s smooth coat as Abbie looked at her with adoring eyes.

“
Remember everything Nomo and I taught you about fishing. Keep an eye out for sharks, and if you see Rudy, tell him to keep his teeth to himself.”

Abbie cocked her head and gazed at Lucky with soulful eyes. Lucky ran her palm over the seal’s sleek back, thinking again how much she’d grown. But she’d always be “her” Abbie, a tiny, orphaned pup. Without a mother.

“This is it. I have to say goodbye. You’ll be back where you belong—with your relatives. They need you.” Lucky grinned, conscious of Greg watching her but knowing he’d understand why she was talking to a seal. “Think of it. Every woman’s dream. One female to fifty males. You’ll have your pick. Just don’t let them mob you. Select one of the strongest males so the others won’t bother you.”

Greg swung open the cockpit door and the water lapped against
t
he opening. “We’re ready. Okay, Abbie. Go for it.”

“Go for it! Go for it!” chanted the twins.

“Go, go! Go, go,” cried the little girls, while Cody and Sarah looked on.

Abbie didn’t seem the least bit inclined to go for anything. She looked beseechingly up at Lucky as if to ask,
Do
I
have to?

“You’ll be okay, sweetie,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. Would she be okay? Would she survive the year until they returned to count the seals and give the males their shots? There were no guarantees.

“Go on, Abbie. Go on,” Lucky pleaded. “This is home— where you belong. Know that I love you and my thoughts are with you
…
always.”

Abbie scooted toward the opening, then stopped, looking over her shoulder at Lucky. Everyone was silent. Only the gulls circling overhead and the thump of the water against the hull
of the boat broke the stillness.

“Go on, Abbie. I’ll be back for you next year. I’ll bet that by then you’ll have a pup of your own.”

Abbie couldn’t have understood what she meant, but the seal plunged into the water. She pivoted in place and barked,
“
Wark! Wark! Wark!”

At Lucky’s side Dodger whined, and she reached down to fondle his ears, tears blurring her vision. Greg moved beside her, his strong arm circling her the way it had so many times. Abbie shot one final look at Lucky, then disappeared beneath the waves.

“
Aloha! Aloha!”
bellowed Nomo, and the children joined him, chanting goodbye.
“Aloha! Aloha!”

“Abbie will be okay,” Greg whispered into the wispy hair growing around Lucky’s ears. “You’ll see her next year.” Lucky turned to Greg, grateful to find Sarah and Cody helping the girls return the starfish to his home. Julie was talking to
the starfish, giving it instructions about watching out for bigger, meaner starfish.

“Lucky,” he said. “Don’t be upset. This is what we do. Returning animals to their native habitat is never without risk, but Abbie is going to make it. She’s like you—a survivor.”

An ache lodged deep in her chest as she turned to Greg, thinking how happy she was
to be alive…
to have her daughter and a new life. “I wouldn’t be alive without
you…
”

“No, you made
me
feel alive again. I loved you instinctively without knowing why. But then, you quickly showed me why.”

She touched his brow where his dark hair fell. “I love you, darling. More than I can ever say.”

“We’re together. That’s what’s important. We’re building a life together with Julie.”

Her lips found his, and he cradled her in his arms the way he had so many times. Lucky quivered at the sweet tenderness of his kiss. An amazing sense of completeness swept through her. This man was her destiny, and even though she’d gone through hell to get here, she had no regrets.

I once was lost but now I’m found.