No Place for Vengeance Page 5

  “Tye’s a strong guy,” Jack answered fitfully as more little bugs flew into the boat. Olivia wondered how Jack knew Tye was strong, but said nothing.

  “Tye’s good at keeping up a front at least,” Weston answered.

  Jack turned a moment and looked at him. “What else can he do? Will it bring his wife back if he crumbles and falls?”

  “Nothing will,” Weston murmured under his breath. “Once someone is gone, it’s over.”

  Olivia took a deep breath. “You’re being pessimistic,” she said.

  “Realistic,” Weston instantly countered.

  “Why are we here if it isn’t possible to bring her back?” Olivia retorted.

  Jack and Weston smiled at each other.

  “We have to go through the paces,” Weston finally replied in a low tone. “The law requires it.”

  “We have to look like we’re searching, but not search really?” Olivia was offended.

  “I didn’t say that,” Weston replied, staring out at the darkening sky. “We can search all we want, so can everybody, but what will we find at this point? Be realistic!”

  Olivia wondered what Weston had been through in his life to feel hopeless.

  “Maybe the most realistic thing is expect a miracle.” Olivia was determined to counter the heavy mood he was creating around them. She wasn’t just going through the paces for show, or to fulfill an official requirement. Olivia was determined to find out where Amanda was now and what actually had happened to her.

  Weston scoffed and was about to reply when the boat shook and made a sudden halt.

  “This is it, this is the stop the tour took a break at. Take a look around,” Jack announced.

  As far as Olivia could see, they were squarely planted in the middle of nowhere. Weston walked to the edge of the boat and leaned over.

  “My God,” he exclaimed, “no-man’s-land.”

  Jack came over. “No, it’s alligator land, snakes land, this is their habitat. And there’s a hiking trail right there, carefully carved around the swamp. It goes on for a while, leads to the back of the swamp and beyond.”

  “It leads to the huts in the back?” asked Olivia.

  “Yes, that’s right,” said Jack.

  Weston was fascinated by the trail. “You mean Amanda got off the boat and walked out onto that?”

  “She did,” answered Jack glumly. “You can’t blame us that she did something so crazy.”

  “Crazy is right,” Weston flung back.

  “She was obviously looking for something important to her,” Olivia murmured, staring at the strange hiking trail.

  “A Nile croc,” Jack answered in a scathing tone.

  “I don’t believe that for a minute,” Olivia replied.

  “That’s what she told us,” Jack retorted.

  “Olivia’s right,” Weston chimed in. “No one in their right mind would go off on a trail like this, looking for a croc. And there’s no evidence that she was crazy.”

  “Her action is evidence enough, isn’t it?” Jack said strongly.

  Weston shook his head. “I agree with Olivia on this point,” he said. “There’s something else Amanda had to be after.”

  Jack stared at both of them. “Whatever Amanda really wanted is your business, not mine,” he said, irritated. “I just take people for tours and ninety-nine point nine percent of the time, bring them back safe and sound. And happy.”

  “Okay.” Olivia had enough of the banter. “Do you have boots for me and Weston to put on?”

  “Why?” Jack became fitful. “You now plan to go out and walk that trail like Amanda?”

  “We have to,” said Olivia. “There’s no choice about it. If she left something behind chances are that’s where we’ll find it.”

  “What do you expect to find? Everything’s washed away by now.” Jack was incredulous.

  “So, I’ll see what she saw, I’ll feel what she felt.” Olivia wasn’t budging.

  “Go get the boots,” Weston said to Jack bluntly. “I’ll go sloshing along with Olivia for a little while.”

  Without another word Jack went to the back of the boat to get big, heavy rubber boots for them to wear.

  *

  Once they were out of the boat, the boots hugged the shifting ground Olivia and Weston walked on. She was glad to have Weston beside her as they slowly trudged along. The squishy sound of boots in water, bird cries above, and the plop of animals falling into the water and up on the stones accompanied them as they moved along.

  They had to walk carefully, as all kinds of animals slithered along. Amanda had done this alone, Olivia thought. Where was she going? What did she want? Maybe just to break free of other passengers on the tour for a few minutes? Olivia could relate to that; she wanted to break free of Weston herself right now. Had Amanda wanted to stand alone amidst untouched nature? There was something ennobling and powerful about walking a trail like this alone. Had Amanda felt stifled or controlled in her relationship with Tye? Maybe Amanda craved freedom and nature, without any holds. It seemed that way to Olivia as she stood there in Amanda’s footsteps.

  “Only a few steps more. We’re not going far.” Weston held tightly onto Olivia’s elbow.

  “We’ll be fine,” Olivia countered, wishing that she was out here alone. Weston was oppressive.

  “Nothing’s fine out here,” Weston replied as Olivia looked through the high grass and in between the shadows that were forming.

  “Everything is fine,” she responded. “Everything is exactly as it should be.” Olivia was moved by the life around her, living together in harmony.

  “Okay, enough.” Weston was irritated. “A few more minutes and we’ll return.”

  “I first want to go to the hut up ahead,” Olivia objected. In the far shadows Olivia could make out the shape of a small hut. It was close enough on the trail. Had Amanda gone into it and gotten caught? “I want to look inside it.”

  “Wait a minute. There’s no reason for it.” Weston was adamant. “That hut’s deserted, probably filled with spiders and bugs of all kinds.”

  “Let’s get closer and see,” said Olivia. “We’re only a few feet away.”

  Weston suddenly put both hands on Olivia’s shoulders to stop her.

  Olivia shook him off. “We’re almost there,” she repeated. “A few more steps.” Then she ran up ahead as fast as she could through the mud and high grass.

  Weston came up behind her quickly and they both arrived at the hut at the same moment.

  “See, it’s deserted!” he yelled.

  “Maybe not!” Olivia yelled back as she leaned forcefully against the fragile, moldy wooden door.

  “Stop!” Weston demanded. “The place has got to be filled with cobwebs, beetles—”

  Olivia thrust her body against the door and pushed as hard as she could, until part of it fell to the side.

  Amazed, Weston grabbed her hand as they stared inside.

  “Empty,” Olivia breathed, as she looked around carefully.

  “I told you, no one’s been here in ages,” Weston echoed.

  Suddenly Olivia spotted a long, slithering snake gliding toward them at top speed.

  “A snake,” she called out as it started hissing.

  Weston thrust Olivia quickly to the side, pulled a large piece of wood from the splintered door and placing it in front of them as a shield.

  “We’ve invaded his home! Let’s get out of here!” Weston demanded. He grabbed Olivia and pushed her back onto the wet hiking trail to the waiting boat.

  “What are the chances Amanda’s alive? None.” Weston breathed hard. “If the alligators didn’t get her, the snakes did. I told you, there’s nothing left to find.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Upon returning to her hotel in Key Largo, Olivia immediately called Wayne and told him what was going on.

  “Talk to Frank next,” Wayne said without a moment’s hesitation. “The news is out that he was the guide on Amanda’s tour. He was the last to see her alive.”

  “Haven’t the police spoken to Frank already?” asked Olivia.

  “They probably have,” Wayne responded. “But it’s not the same. He’s got to have seen something that no one is aware of. Help him remember it. Let him tell you something he wouldn’t otherwise say. Go, give it a try. And do it fast. This case could go cold in no time.”

  Olivia shook her head hard. “But we’ve just started.”

  “I know,” said Wayne. “But time is of the essence, especially in the glades. Every day that passes the chances of finding Amanda alive go dramatically down.”

  Olivia knew it was so.

  “Are you okay down there?” Wayne suddenly sounded concerned. “They’re taking good care of you?”

  “Yes, the cops are watching over me,” Olivia replied. “They sent Weston to join me on the tour of the swamp.”

  “Who’s Weston?” asked Wayne.

  “He’s a cop on the force. Weston’s smart and careful, but he has no hope of finding Amanda alive,” Olivia replied downheartedly.

  “It’s hard to keep up hope in conditions like these,” Wayne replied. “Lots of police give up early on. They’ve seen too much bad stuff. But it’s true, someone like that can be a downer. I’m glad you’re keeping in touch with me, though.”

  “I’m grateful for your input,” Olivia responded.

  “The most important thing is to keep your spirits up,” Wayne continued.

  “Don’t I know it,” said Olivia.

  “Our dinner date’s still on, isn’t it?” Wayne quipped lightly then, changing the tone of the conversation, causing Olivia to smile.

  “Absolutely,” she said, “the first chance we get. Dinner in Key West near the water.”

  “Great,” said Wayn
e, “I’m looking forward to it.”

  “Me too,” Olivia responded.

  “Please keep in touch,” Wayne repeated. “Let me know how it’s going. These are murky waters you’re swimming in.”

  “I will for sure,” Olivia replied, hanging up the phone, encouraged. Talking to Wayne gave her just the boost she needed. She felt ready now to get in touch with Frank and see what he had to add to the picture.

  *

  Jack gave Olivia Frank’s phone number grudgingly. When she called, Frank reluctantly agreed to meet her downtown early the next morning.

  “Do I have a choice about it?” he asked Olivia.

  “It’s important,” Olivia urged him. “Amanda’s life is at stake.”

  “Okay, I’ll come,” Frank relented. “I’ll be waiting at the Blue Marlin, a fishing shack near an inlet at eight a.m. It’s where the diving boats take off. Don’t be late.”

  Olivia wondered why it was so important to be prompt, but didn’t dare ask. Frank sounded skittish enough as it was and she didn’t want to push him further. So, the next morning, she put on a paisley summer dress, smeared on lipstick, and took a cab to the Blue Marlin. Olivia wondered if Frank lived or worked in that part of town. She’d find out soon enough, though.

  As the cab drove through the open streets, Olivia realized how much calmer and more relaxing Key Largo was than Key West. There wasn’t that flow of Key West activity that constantly kept you swept you up in a whirl at all times of day.

  Olivia leaned back against the cab and thought about Amanda and Tye for a moment. She needed to stay in touch with Tye as well. The police were keeping him informed of developments, but Olivia also wanted to know him better. As time went on Olivia’s questions about Amanda were growing. Tye might well hold the key to the answers. Olivia still couldn’t get her mind around how it was possible that Amanda got off the tour and went on a hike like that alone. On the surface it seemed she was asking for trouble. Only on the surface, though. And that was not good enough for Olivia.

  The cab arrived in front of the Blue Marlin in no time. It was a small shack which sold sandwiches, coffee, and some last-minute equipment for divers. Olivia got out and walked in, hoping that Frank would spot her. In the photo Jack showed her of him, Frank was young, slim, and agile with dark, messy hair and very big eyes. Jack had said that Frank was basically shy about personal matters and Olivia should tread lightly. That was good advice, thought Olivia, excited to meet Frank.

  Olivia stood inside for only a moment before a young man who looked like Frank’s photo rushed up to her. He wore ripped jeans and an old shirt and had tattoos on his forearm.

  “Frank?” Olivia asked.

  “Yeah, Jack described you to me perfectly.” He scrutinized her carefully. “You’re pretty young to be doing crazy work like this, aren’t you?”

  “Thanks for coming to meet me,” Olivia replied.

  “What choice did I have?” Frank was defiant.

  “I’m sorry to put you out.” Olivia decided to tread very lightly with him.

  “Okay, okay.” Frank wasn’t going for it. “Let’s just sit down and get this over with.” He walked in front of Olivia then to two stools at a counter at the edge of the restaurant. Olivia followed behind him with trepidation.

  “What do you want from me?” Frank then asked when both of them had been seated and billows of a light breeze thankfully blew in from the water.

  “I need to know more about the tour you took Amanda out on,” Olivia started.

  “You’re blaming me for what happened?” Frank’s head shot up swiftly.

  “Nobody’s blaming you for anything.” Olivia was taken back by his response.

  “They’ll never find her. She’s done,” Frank continued. “Nobody survives something like this. And everyone knows that!”

  For a second his words brought Olivia to a standstill. Along with those trying to find Amanda a dragnet of hopelessness was forming everywhere. Olivia was determined not to get pulled into it.

  “Tell me about Amanda, what did you notice?” Olivia plunged forward.

  “Why should I tell you?” asked Frank. “What difference does it make?”

  “Even if she’s not alive, at the very least we need to find her body, don’t we?” Olivia tried to soothe the rough waters she was in with Frank. “You might have noticed something about her that could help me locate her.”

  Frank scoffed. “What would I notice? I don’t pay attention to the passengers when I lead the tours. I pay attention to the scenery. All different kinds of people come on board. Who cares who they are? They all just come and go.”

  Olivia didn’t understand why Frank was being so defensive. What exactly he was hiding?

  “Did Amanda talk to anyone in particular on the tour?” Olivia asked then. “Did you happen to notice that?”

  “Actually, I did,” Frank said, surprising Olivia. “She talked to someone who had a big camera with him. A good-looking guy named Denton. He was a little older than her, and came down from the state of Washington.”

  “You know a lot about him.” Olivia was surprised. This was something new, and she found it interesting, even if it didn’t amount to anything.

  “I just happened to overhear them talking,” Frank replied. “We get people from all over. Lots of filmmakers come down to spot a location.”

  Olivia found that fascinating. “Do you think that’s what Denton was doing?”

  Frank shrugged and looked up at the ceiling. “I have no idea and I couldn’t care less. The two of them seemed to enjoy talking, though.”

  “Did they know each other before they got on the boat?” It was all Olivia had and she had to pursue it.

  “Listen, enough’s enough! I have no idea and nobody does,” exclaimed Frank. “And it doesn’t matter anyway. People meet all the time and talk on the tours. Most come with someone, a few come alone. These two came alone, so they did some talking. Big deal. It’s not my business, is it? And if I learned one thing in my life, it’s to mind my own business.”

  Olivia smiled. Frank was shifty and restless, but smart in his own way.

  “You haven’t learned to mind your own business, though, have you?” Frank suddenly turned on Olivia. “One question after another. It’s never enough, is it?”

  Olivia quieted down and looked back at him. Something was definitely bothering him and Olivia needed to know what.

  “You didn’t know Amanda before the tour, did you?” Olivia asked bluntly then.

  “No, I didn’t.” Frank shook his shoulders quickly, as if shaking off a bug. “Did I know her? Did I kill her? The questions never end.” Frank’s voice grew higher, ringing out into the hot day.

  “I didn’t ask if you killed her, just if you knew her,” Olivia corrected him.

  “Same thing, isn’t it?” Frank shuddered. “You cops have all kinds of ways of playing with our heads. But I’m onto you.”

  “I’m not playing with anything, I just need a straight answer,” Olivia retorted.

  “Straight, crooked? What are you talking about?” Frank grew angry. “Are you saying now that I’m not answering right? I’m not giving you what you’re after?”

  “I’m not saying that at all.” Olivia was put off. “I just asked if you knew Amanda.”

  “Yeah, and what else do you want to know? Did I steal her away from her husband and sleep with her down in the swamp? Next thing I know you’ll haul me in for rape, like a lot of the poor idiots down here.”

  Olivia had no idea what he was talking about. Frank was off the charts and Olivia briefly wondered if he was on a drug of some kind.

  “I wasn’t thinking that,” Olivia answered quickly. “How could anyone sleep with Amanda down in the swamp? She was in the boat the whole time, and you only took a rest stop for a few minutes.”

  “Exactly my point,” Frank shot back. “I never left the boat, everyone saw me there. She said she’d be gone about ten minutes or so. We all waited for her a long time.”

  “Why did you let her go by herself?” Olivia had to know more.

  “Why did I let her go?” Frank was indignant. “She was a big girl, wasn’t she? What business was it of mine? I don’t run a babysitting service. The passengers get to do what they want!”

  “Did Denton advise her not to go?” Olivia was fascinated.

  “How would I know that?” asked Frank. “What do you think, that I’m in charge of what people do and say? I’m not. I never was! And neither are you!”