A Dangerous Taste of Passion Read online

  The momentary hope Lily had had that she’d left her shoes on the pier was dashed when she saw the woman was carrying them. Without leaving any word for Ray, there was nothing to indicate where they were.

  ‘What are we waiting for?’

  The woman was getting impatient and, unless she refused to go down into the cabin, Lily knew there was nothing she could do. This wasn’t a situation she’d ever had to deal with before—thank God! And, although she was sure she ought to make an effort to deal with the woman more firmly, something about her put Lily on edge.

  What would her father do? she wondered, as she descended the steps into the main saloon. Pray for guidance, she guessed, only in her case her mind was blank.

  She wished Dee-Dee was here. For the first time in her life, she wished she’d taken more notice of the West Indian woman when she’d tried to persuade her to attend one of her ceremonies.

  Was it possible to influence someone by getting inside their mind?

  Something told her that whatever she did, Sally Frances was unlikely to be impressed.

  Concentrating hard, Lily brought Dee-Dee’s face into her mind. She’d never tried to communicate with the West Indian woman in this way before, but there was always a first time. Her father might not believe in ESP, but Lily had seen enough to know that it was a reality.

  But, unfortunately, it seemed, Dee-Dee had powers she didn’t have.

  As she’d anticipated, nothing happened. It would have been a miracle indeed if it had, she thought ruefully. Instead, she put the width of the cabin between her and her visitor. If Dee-Dee couldn’t help her, she would have to help herself.

  She found herself thinking about Rafe. It was ironic that he should come to the forefront of her thoughts at this time. She wondered where he was, what he was doing. Would he ever forgive her for accusing him of having an affair with Laura Mathews? Or of wanting to get back with his ex-wife?

  Meanwhile, the woman was getting impatient. Gesturing towards one of the banquettes, she said, ‘Why don’t we sit down? It’s so much easier to talk if we’re relaxed.’

  Relaxed!

  Lily felt a spurt of hysteria rising in her throat at the idea that she might ever feel relaxed with this woman. But she had to remain calm and, because her legs weren’t entirely steady, she subsided onto one of the cushioned seats with some relief.

  ‘Now, Ms Fielding...’

  To her surprise, Sally Frances didn’t sit down, but opened the bag she’d had tucked under her arm instead. Lily stiffened, half afraid the woman was going to produce a gun. But that was ridiculous, she told herself, only to jump back when Sally Frances tossed a cell phone onto the seat beside her.

  ‘I want you to make a call for me.’

  ‘A call?’ Lily was confused. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘You know how to use a cell phone, don’t you?’

  ‘Well...yes.’

  ‘Okay. I want you to make a call.’ The woman leaned back against the polished wood behind her. ‘Don’t look so surprised...um... Lily, isn’t it? Did you honestly think I’d hire a boat from you?’

  Lily blinked, trying not to look as anxious as she felt. ‘Then what are we doing here?’

  ‘You’ll find out.’ The woman bent and put on her shoes again. ‘I assume you’ve guessed the number I want you to call.’

  ‘No!’ Lily stared at her in confusion. But when she tried to get to her feet the woman left her stance and moved intimidatingly towards her.

  ‘Stay where you are,’ she said. ‘I don’t want to hurt you. But I’m bigger than you are and I’m quite an expert in martial arts.’

  ‘But who am I to call?’ Lily asked again, her throat dry. ‘I don’t have any money, and if you’re thinking of blackmailing Ray—’

  ‘Be quiet!’ The woman spoke coldly. ‘I know all about the agency: who owns it, what you do there, where you live. I’ve had someone watching you for days, Ms Fielding. I know everything there is to know about you.’

  Lily swallowed. ‘Why would anything I do interest you?’

  She blinked rapidly, suddenly remembering the man who they’d thought had been following Rafe. Perhaps he’d been following her instead.

  And that night on the beach when she’d gone swimming...

  She shivered, recalling her apprehension.

  But why?

  Then another thought occurred to her.

  ‘If you’re from the United States government, I can tell you I’ve never been involved with drugs in my life!’

  ‘I believe you.’ The woman was sardonic.

  ‘Then—?’

  The woman suddenly lost patience with the delay. ‘Pick up the phone,’ she ordered grimly. ‘I won’t ask you again.’

  Lily reached for the cell phone with hands that were damp with perspiration. She was sweating freely and the slim cylinder slid uselessly from her grasp.

  It landed at Sally’s feet. And for a brief moment Lily speculated whether she could pretend to stumble as she reached for it and knock the other woman’s legs from under her.

  But, even as she considered this, Sally kicked the phone away.

  ‘Don’t even think of it,’ she said contemptuously. ‘You may be expendable, Ms Fielding, but not until you’ve made the call to Rafe.’ She paused. ‘Now, pick up the phone. And if you insist you don’t know what number to call, I’ll tell you.’

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  RAFE WAS STARING unseeingly out of his study windows when the phone rang.

  He waited for a moment, expecting his PA to answer it, and then remembered he didn’t have a PA. He wasn’t living in New York anymore. He was here, in Orchid Cay, wondering how the hell he was going to live without Lily in his life.

  Reaching for the receiver, he glanced automatically at the caller’s identity. But the screen showed only the word ‘Unknown’ and he felt an uneasy prickling at the back of his neck.

  He was tempted not to answer it, the image of his ex-wife flashing briefly into his mind. But then, with an exclamation, he reached for the receiver. If it was Sarah, she’d get bloody short shrift from him.

  ‘Sí?’ he said crisply, not identifying himself or his number, and heard the caller take an unsteady breath before replying.

  ‘Mr Oliveira?’

  The female voice was unfamiliar to him. Not Sarah then, he thought, not sure whether he was relieved or sorry. Until he knew exactly where his ex-wife was and what she was doing, he would always have this feeling of unease.

  ‘Yes,’ he said shortly. ‘Who is this?’

  ‘My name is Dee-Dee Boudreaux, Mr Oliveira,’ said the woman at once. ‘I work for the Reverend Fielding, at the rectory.’

  ‘Sí, I know who you are.’

  Rafe knew his voice was becoming more clipped by the minute, but he couldn’t help it. Why was someone who worked for the Fieldings calling him?

  Unless... He swallowed. Unless something had happened to either Lily or her father. Once again, he thought of Sarah. But he still had no proof that she was on the island.

  Dee-Dee didn’t seem to notice his abruptness. But she was nervous. He could tell. ‘Um...sorry to trouble you, Mr Oliveira, but...well, is Lily with you?’

  ‘Lily?’ His worst fears were realised.

  ‘Lily Fielding,’ agreed Dee-Dee. ‘You remember her, don’t you, Mr Oliveira?’

  Rafe swore. ‘Of course I remember her!’ he exclaimed harshly. How could he forget? ‘What is this all about?’

  ‘Well, is she with you or not?’

  ‘No, she is not with me.’ Rafe curbed another oath. ‘Why would you think she was?’ He paused. ‘Did she tell you she was coming to Orchid Point? Because, if so, she has not arrived.’

  And that was disturbing in itself.

  Dee-Dee sounded agitated now. ‘So where is she?’ she muttered, but Rafe had the feeling she was talking as much to herself as to him. ‘She’s not answering her phone or the phone at the agency. No one is. And that’s odd, ’cos she always told me th
at man, Myers, he don’t like closing in the middle of the day.’

  ‘Wait—’ Rafe broke in, his own nerves jangling now ‘—let me get this straight. You have been trying to reach Lily on both her own phone and the phone at the agency and she is not answering either, sí?’

  ‘Yessir.’

  ‘Well—’ Rafe could feel a headache coming on, and the pulse in his temple was throbbing painfully. ‘She could be anywhere, could she not? Does she not sometimes have a picnic lunch in...in Palmetto Park?’

  And why had he thought of that?

  ‘She always has her phone with her, Mr Oliveira. She keeps it in her bag.’ Dee-Dee groaned, muttering to herself under her breath. ‘I got this feeling, see, Mr Oliveira? Like she was trying to tell me she was in danger.’

  ‘And you immediately thought of me?’ Rafe’s tone was bitter. ‘Bien, it is good to know you have such a high opinion of my character.’

  ‘I didn’t know what to think,’ retorted Dee-Dee defensively. ‘I get these messages sometimes and I don’t always know where they’re from.’

  ‘Messages?’

  Rafe must have sounded incredulous because Dee-Dee clicked her tongue. ‘I knew you wouldn’t believe me. But I don’t care what you think, Mr Oliveira. I’m sure Lily’s in danger. And, whatever you say, the feeling ain’t going away.’

  Rafe sucked in a breath. He didn’t have a reason for doing so, but he believed her. After all, he’d lived much of his childhood amongst people to whom black magic was a way of life.

  Macumba, voodoo, juju...whatever name it went by, he respected its power. And he also knew that not all experiences could be explained away by logic.

  ‘Okay,’ he said, and he could tell by her sudden expulsion of breath that she’d sensed his capitulation. ‘What do you want me to do?’

  ‘Could you go to the agency?’ asked Dee-Dee at once. ‘Find that man she works for and ask him where she is. Believe me, Mr Oliveira, I wouldn’t be asking you to get involved unless I was certain something bad is going down.’

  ‘And have you spoken to her father?’

  ‘No!’ Dee-Dee was scornful now. ‘I love that man, Mr Oliveira, but he won’t listen to me. If I tell him I got one of my feelings, he’ll tell me to go and pray for forgiveness, you know what I mean?’

  Rafe did know. Much as he respected Lily’s father, he could well believe that William Fielding closed his eyes to anything he didn’t want to see. Or hear.

  ‘Bien,’ he said, pushing back his chair. ‘I will go to the agency. Give me your number and if I find her I will let you know.’

  ‘You’re a good man, Mr Oliveira. I don’t care what anyone says.’ Dee-Dee was passionately grateful. ‘I’m afraid, wherever Lily is, she’s in a whole heap of trouble!’

  * * *

  Rafe left Orchid Point ten minutes later.

  He was alone because, although he’d tried to get in touch with Steve, he wasn’t answering his phone.

  Rafe had sent the other man to the airport, to check out the Cessna for their flight to Miami the following day. He guessed Steve had turned his phone off before he entered the airport buildings.

  It was a little after two o’clock when he got to the small town of Orchid Cay. Parking the car in a no-waiting area across from the agency, he strode over the road and into the building.

  So someone must be here, he thought, acknowledging the unlocked door. He hoped it was Lily. It would be worth the drive just to reassure himself that she was safe.

  There was no one behind the counter so he wasted no time in rounding the partition into the back office. But its only occupant was Myers, seated at his desk, his scowl directed towards the visitor.

  ‘Where the hell have you be—?’

  He broke off abruptly when he saw Rafe, but it was obvious what he’d been about to say. Myers hadn’t seen Lily either and the ominous feeling in Rafe’s stomach kicked up another notch.

  ‘Oh—sorry, Mr Oliveira.’ Myers got hurriedly to his feet, colouring with embarrassment. ‘I thought you were my assistant. Lily hasn’t shown her face since lunchtime and I’m just about at the end of my patience.’

  ‘Really?’

  Rafe’s response was bland, but he found he needed a moment to absorb the situation. Lily wasn’t here. That was obvious. And, from the expression on Myers’ face, he thought Rafe agreed with him.

  ‘Yes, really,’ he said vigorously. ‘And this isn’t the first time she’s taken off without my permission. It’s not good enough, Mr Oliveira. I’m her employer, for God’s sake. I expect some loyalty from my staff.’

  Rafe’s head was throbbing now and, although he would have liked to expunge some of his frustration by giving this cocky little man the hiding he felt he deserved, he restrained himself. Instead, he said, ‘If you mean the other day, she was with me.’ He paused, endeavouring to calm himself. ‘So, where is she now? Have you tried to find her?’

  ‘To find her?’ Ray blinked. ‘No.’ He broke off and then continued defiantly, ‘I assumed she was with you, actually. I’m not a complete fool, Mr Oliveira. I know what’s going on.’

  ‘Do you?’ Rafe’s tone was menacing. ‘Well, we will not go into what you mean by that right now. Where do you think she might be, Myers? And, I warn you, do not try to be clever with me.’

  Ray’s face grew sulky. ‘It’s not my place to go looking for her,’ he muttered. ‘Maybe she’s showing someone round the marina. The door was locked when I got here. It was lucky I had a spare set of keys.’ He snorted. ‘Maybe she’s got some other mug on the side.’

  ‘And maybe you would like to take a swim in the harbour,’ said Rafe savagely, somewhat mollified when the other man looked alarmed.

  Swearing, he strode across the office, aware that Myers cowered away from him as he did so. ‘Have you checked to see if she has left any message about where she might have gone?’

  ‘No.’ Ray was distinctly unhappy now. ‘Look, it’s not my fault if she’s not here. I’m the one who should be angry, not you. She’ll come back when she’s ready and not before.’

  ‘Imbecil!’ Rafe riffled through the papers lying beside Lily’s computer and then, finding nothing, he pulled open the cupboard below the desk. ‘Mierda!’ he exclaimed, finding Lily’s bag and holding it up for Ray to see. ‘Does she usually go for lunch without her handbag?’

  Ray was still searching for something to say when Rafe’s phone rang. Pulling the cell out of his pocket, he checked the identity of his caller and was reassured when he saw it was Steve.

  ‘You got my message,’ he said at once, without giving the other man time to speak. ‘Good. We’ve got a problem.’

  ‘Haven’t we just?’ Steve’s response was totally unexpected. ‘Where are you?’

  ‘I’m at the Cartagena agency,’ said Rafe. ‘Where are you?’

  ‘I’m on my way into town,’ said Steve grimly. ‘Stay where you are till I arrive.’

  He paused and then added reluctantly, ‘Sarah’s got Lily. She had her ring the house to speak to you, but you weren’t there. Luckily I was, so I took the call. Apparently, Sarah knows about you two, and she’s not happy.’

  * * *

  Lily knew the call she’d made to Orchid Point had angered the woman. She’d been infuriated to hear that Rafe wasn’t there. Lily had tried to tell her it wouldn’t have meant anything anyway, that she meant nothing to Rafe, but obviously the woman didn’t believe her.

  The woman still hadn’t told her who she was, although Lily had guessed. Her references to Rafe, the fury she’d shown when he hadn’t been available to answer the call, had proved her identity.

  Besides, she still wore a wedding ring and a huge ruby on her third finger. Who else could she be but Rafe’s ex-wife?

  Yet what could she possibly hope to gain by kidnapping her? Lily wondered uneasily. Didn’t the woman know he’d gone looking for her a few days ago? It couldn’t be because she believed Rafe cared about Lily. That was nonsense. Rafe had made his feelings a
bout her very plain by staying away.

  But perhaps she didn’t know that. And would she believe it if Lily tried to tell her?

  ‘Jesus!’ the woman swore angrily. Since Lily had ended the call she’d been striding restlessly about the cabin. Lily wondered if it was done to calm her nerves. Or perhaps she was hoping to frighten her companion.

  She was certainly making Lily nervous. The thought had crossed her mind that maybe Sally intended to knock her out and dump her body in the harbour. With the water in the marina probably polluted with diesel oil, she wouldn’t give much for her chances if that was so.

  But to imagine Mrs Oliveira as a murderess was pushing the bounds of belief. Or so Lily told herself.

  ‘We can’t waste any more time.’

  Lily’s mouth dried. What now? After forcing her to make that phone call, Lily had few doubts left about the woman’s balance of mind.

  She’d told Lily to tell Rafe—or, as he wasn’t there, his assistant—that she had his girlfriend. That he’d better get himself down to the marina post-haste or she wouldn’t be responsible for the consequences.

  Watching the woman circling the cabin, Lily tried to calculate how much time she’d have if she attempted to escape. She could make her bid when the woman was furthest away from the companionway. She might have five seconds to reach the stairs. Would that be enough?

  And what did she have to lose?

  ‘Okay, we’re going back on deck,’ said the woman abruptly, and Lily blinked in surprise.

  Plan B, she thought, wondering if this might work for her too. On deck, she might have a chance of attracting someone’s attention. Or had the woman decided she couldn’t wait any longer to exact whatever revenge she planned to take?

  Lily got up from the banquette on legs that felt decidedly unsteady. She doubted now that she could have raced up the steps if she’d had the chance. They were steep and possibly slippery and her hands were sweating. She would have been more likely to slip and break her neck.

  Which might have saved Sally a job.

  Then another thought occurred to her: if the woman was behind her, could she kick out and maybe knock her back into the cabin? All she needed was a bit of luck. Then she could run like crazy back to the quay.