The Alex Troutt Thrillers: Books 4-6 (Redemption Thriller Series Box Set Book 2) Read online

  Before I lost myself in everything Brad and started feeling like a silly little girl, I jumped off the levee and began the trek back up the beach, the southerly wind mostly at my back. It didn’t take long for the sweat to pour down my face. It felt like I was taking a shower in my own sweat. I didn’t have on a stitch of makeup, and I didn’t give a rat’s ass. I was all me…one hundred percent Alex Troutt, on my own turf, and it felt like a two-thousand-pound weight had been lifted off my back. The stress of the job, of trying to be the perfect double-parent, of trying to win against all that was evil had taken its toll.

  Yet the thought of Brad holding me tightly against his hips in my garage still popped in my mind at various times during the day or night.

  “Are you running to something or from something?”

  Those were the direct words of my wise and, at times, wise-ass nanny, Ezzy, whom I loved and respected dearly—except when she tried to read my mind. While part of me was okay with avoiding reality and ignoring my true motivations, as a thirty-nine-year-old mother of two, I knew I couldn’t play those games for long. Erin and Luke were too important to me to not evaluate everything in my life, and that was exactly what I’d told Ezzy two weeks ago in the kitchen, when I’d finally made the decision to take a much-needed vacation. She’d planted a hand on her Guatemalan hip and stood stock still…well, except for a little toe-tapping.

  “What?” I finally looked up from my laptop. “I’m trying to get some work done here, Ezzy.”

  She strummed her fingers on the kitchen counter and took a sip of her herbal tea. Then her lips pressed together, but her forehead stretched to the ceiling.

  “Okay, okay. I hear you…even though you’re giving me the silent pressure treatment.”

  She sipped from her mug, but her sights remained fixed on me.

  “Look, as my memory has gotten better over the last few months, I see a lot of Mark everywhere I go…the person I knew, the person I didn’t. There are still days when it’s not easy.” I wrapped my locks around my ear, then folded my hands just in front of my laptop.

  “So it’s Mark you’re running from?”

  “What? No, I didn’t say that. I might have been an assistant DA in a former life, but you’re acting like an attorney, Ezzy.”

  “You know I’ve only seen Dad for about ten minutes since my wreck. And I can’t wait for the kids to experience the beach the way it should be.”

  She nodded twice. “So that means you’re running to your daddy?”

  I blew out a breath. “Okay, you’ve got me on that one. I’ve told you he’s a drunk, Ezzy. Who knows if he’ll even sober up long enough to see us? So, scratch that one off the list. It’s all about the beach and finally unwinding a little. And that’s the absolute truth…so help me God.” I raised a hand as if I were taking an oath, then shot her a wink.

  Ezzy was almost seventy, but she was still quite pretty. The lines in her bronze skin only added to her natural beauty. She put little effort into her hair. Shades of silver and gray framed her face perfectly, and I couldn’t recall her last perm. Because of a heart condition, she had recently started whipping up much healthier dishes, many from her Guatemalan recipe book.

  The edges of her full lips turned upward when she said, “Remember, I was here the night after everyone left, Dr. Alex.”

  That was her affectionate nickname for me. It had something to do with a doctor on a Spanish soap opera she used to watch. I couldn’t help but smile almost every time she said it. Her comment was in reference to the night that Brad had kissed me. Even speaking about it made me tingle all over and perspire at the same time.

  She then asked me if it was the kiss or how Brad interacted with Luke that might have warmed my heart, and other regions. My response was direct and truthful. “Yes.”

  We both giggled.

  Despite some gentle pressure from the man with golden locks and a chiseled jaw to go out on multiple dates, I’d met him just once before vacation, a quick coffee one morning to let him know about our upcoming vacation. His response? “You’re drawn to the water, Alex. It’s what you need to recharge your batteries. Go and enjoy yourself with your family. And know when you get back, I’ll be waiting for you.”

  I hopped over a half-deflated float, circled three kids working on a castle that might have rivaled Downton Abbey, and then I picked up the pace. I could see our rainbow-colored umbrella in the distance, and I wanted to redline my pulse in a natural way. Well, in a natural way that involved one person.

  Ezzy was right. While I couldn’t wait to feel the salty breeze in my face, I had used this vacation as an excuse to run from Brad, even though I wanted him—badly. But that was part of it. I wanted him too much, it seemed. And was it fair of me to pounce on him just because I hadn’t been laid in eons? On top of that, I used to think of Brad as a little brother. He had just turned twenty-eight—my oldest child was only thirteen years his junior. If I actually dove into a relationship with Brad, I’d be the biggest cougar out there at the age of thirty-nine.

  But dammit, when he gripped my shoulders, then wrapped me in his arms and pressed his lips to mine, he was all man. Nothing immature or kid-like about him. He was serious, yet gentle. The sizzle was palpable, but I also felt more deeply connected to him in a way I couldn’t recall with Mark. Brad actually seemed more mature, maybe because he came across as approachable, so open with his thoughts and feelings. It just added to his sex appeal.

  A week in Padre is just what the doctor ordered.

  “Hey, Mom.”

  I’d just reached the finish line of my run. Raising both arms over my head, I kept walking as I panted from the extra push I’d made at the end. I knew I had heard Luke’s voice, but I didn’t see him right away.

  “Over here,” he said, peeking out from behind a hairy old man.

  With his green Celtics cap flipped backward on his head, Luke returned his attention to the big man.

  I sidled up to the pair.

  “And while there have been plenty of rumors, no one has ever found the money,” the man said.

  “Wow, holy sh—”

  “Hey now,” I said while still catching my breath.

  “I was going to say holy shoot.”

  I pinched his arm. “Yeah, right.”

  “Ooh, gross, Mom.” He started giggling. “You’re sweating like a pig. Are you okay?” His deep brown eyes seemed to be scanning my face.

  “Just had a good workout, Luke. It feels great, by the way. Who’s this?”

  The man extended his hand and dipped his head slightly. “I’m Rex, although most people call me Captain Rex.”

  I gave him a quick handshake so he wouldn’t be equally grossed out by my sweat, then sized him up a bit. His silver and white hair poked out from under his blue bucket hat, and his face was full of scruff. With a few soft creases in the right spots and reflective, gray eyes, he had a gentle nature about him, even if he was over six feet tall and north of two hundred fifty pounds. He wore a cut-off T-shirt with some faded logo on it. That silver hair also covered his arms and legs. He must be straight from the baboon family, or is that what happens to a man when he gets really, really old?

  “Alex. Nice to meet you. And you know my little one here, Luke,” I said.

  “Yep, he’s quite inquisitive.” Rex released a Santa-like chuckle as he removed his hat and wiped his forehead. “He just saw me meandering down the beach and started asking me lots of questions, starting with why I was walking around with this.” He held up a long, metal pole with a disc attached to the end.

  “A metal detector. You must be looking for coins, maybe a lost treasure,” I said with a laugh.

  Rex smirked, but it was Luke who spoke up.

  “How did you know, Mom? That’s exactly what he’s looking for.”

  Still panting a bit, it took a moment for Luke’s words to resonate. I wiped a drop of sweat off my nose and shifted my eyes to Rex, who was obviously a crackpot, or at least enjoyed telling fables to kid
s.

  Rex shrugged his shoulders. “It’s true.”

  I tried to smile, thinking he would follow my lead and admit he was just playing a joke on us. Instead, he arched a bushy eyebrow and drew his peeling lips in a straight line. “I’m sure you’re thinking I’m just an old coot with nothing better to do than rustle up a pot full of lies.”

  I almost cracked up at his use of the term “rustle up.” Only in Texas.

  “I’m sure you understand that I don’t want Luke thinking he’s going to stumble over a lost treasure, then kick back and coast through life without a worry in the world.”

  “Mom, it’s not—”

  “Luke, I’m talking to Rex.”

  “It’s Captain Rex,” Luke said.

  I shifted my eyes in my son’s direction, then back to…Captain Rex.

  “I don’t mean to create any family discord. I was just sharing with Luke why I’m out here. You can pay me no attention and go on with your lives.”

  He tipped his cap and began to turn.

  “Captain Rex, did I tell you my mom is an FBI agent? This Brinks robbery you told me about in Boston—that’s where we’re from.”

  I wanted to put tape over Luke’s mouth. I’d told the kids in no uncertain terms that the details of my day job were not to be shared with just anyone they came across. But he did get my attention, even if he was citing a historical crime from the twentieth century.

  Rex whirled around. “FBI, huh? You might be able to shed some light on all this, if you have the clearance to tell me.”

  I gave him a wry grin. “It’s in the history books. Four guys robbed a Brinks armored truck in 1950. I think they stole about two and half million—”

  “Two point seven,” Rex said. “Sorry for interrupting.”

  “Two point seven million,” I repeated. “Most of it was never recovered, if I recall. And no, I’m not in the loop on every seventy-six-year-old cold case originating in Boston.”

  “So I guess you’re not aware that one of the men involved in the robbery showed up in South Padre in 1959, nine years after the heist, and then lived here in peace for seven years before dying in a strange set of circumstances.”

  Was this guy for real? “No, I wasn’t aware of that. But even if it’s true, you think he buried his portion of the cash under the sand?”

  “I’ve spoken to lots of people. I’ve been working on a book, doing lots of research. He actually had about a million dollars, since he was the one who hatched the plan. And he didn’t bury the cash. Two other theories are out there: one being that he traded in his cash for gold bullion, and the other being that he swapped the cash for a large number of priceless coins. Either way, he purchased a metal chest that had a seal on it to keep the water out, about yay big.” He used his hairy hands to outline a box that might fit an oversized Vera Bradley beach bag.

  While I was mildly intrigued with his theories and research, and given the right set of circumstances might be inclined to ask a few follow-up questions, it wasn’t right for Luke to be led to believe there was a realistic chance of finding anything other than pennies, bottle caps, or ankle bracelets.

  I glanced down at a mound of sand and pushed through it with my running shoe. A memory from my past had just escaped from one of the few remaining dark spots left over from my amnesia: my high school boyfriend had actually given me an ankle bracelet for some type of special occasion. The night before I left for college, we buried it in the sand and said that if we were ever meant to be together, we’d meet up at that same location twenty years later to the day and dig until we found it.

  I scratched my chin and figured it had been almost twenty-one summers earlier. Then I caught a whiff of body odor and quickly realized it was me.

  “We gotta run, Luke.” I rested my hand on his shoulder.

  “But Mom, I want to partner with Captain Rex and try to find the lost treasure. This could be your ticket to freedom, to retire, enjoy the good life.”

  I let out a snort before my hand reached my face, but his comment warmed my heart. My little man wanted to do something kind for his mom. “I can take care of myself, bud. But thank you for the consideration.”

  “Think about it, Mom. A life with no stress. We could live on the beach forever!” He splayed his arms as if he were about to hug the ocean.

  Damn, he was cracking me up, but I knew we had a better chance of winning the lottery than finding a chest full of gold or priceless coins. “Okay, mister, let’s…”

  He took a step away from me and folded his arms. “Mom, you’ve got to be reasonable.”

  “You listen to your momma, now.”

  Lucky for Luke that Captain Rex spoke up before I gave my son an ultimatum he wouldn’t appreciate: zip it and fall in line or lose access to your phone for a day.

  Captain Rex had Luke’s attention, so the old man ran with it. “I’m sure you’ll see me out here another day. I’ll keep you in the loop on what I find…if that’s okay with your momma.”

  Two sets of eyes stared me down.

  I conceded with, “If we happen to run into, uh, Captain Rex, he can talk to you about his treasure hunt.”

  Luke and Rex gave each other high-fives, and then the captain flipped his metal detector back on and shuffled away while sticking in an earbud. I guess he couldn’t be too careful in his quest to find this mythical treasure that hadn’t turned up in eighty-odd years. Who was I kidding? Odds were the money had been spent long ago on cars, homes, and clothes. Hell, these days, that kind of money wouldn’t take long to burn through. I’d dropped over five hundred dollars alone just to get the kids updated swimsuits and beach attire.

  “Hey, where’s your sister?” I asked Luke, flipping around to see the mats unoccupied under our small umbrella. I hadn’t seen her when I finished my jog, since all of my attention was focused on Luke and the hairy beast, Captain Rex.

  “Over there,” he said, racing past me toward the water.

  I cupped my hands around my mouth. “Luke, we need to get going. Where’s your sister?”

  He had just tripped over the low tide and tumbled into the water. He came right up with a big smile on his face.

  “Sister?” I yelled again.

  He jabbed his finger to my left. I turned in that direction and initially saw only a cluster of tents with various college logos etched on the tops. Older kids were gathered there, drinking, playing horseshoes, and listening to music. I took a few steps as I scanned the area. I only spotted scantily clad girls and guys with too much chest hair and heavy beards, most of who had a beer in their hands. I guesstimated these kids were at least juniors in college—definitely not Erin’s crowd. Luke had it all wrong. She must have taken a walk down the beach. I turned back to the water, and Luke was yelling at me.

  “What?” I hollered.

  “Right behind you!”

  I slowly turned and found the back of a hunky college guy wearing some type of swimsuit that clung to his ass. His broad shoulders pitched forward, and I could hear laughter. That sounded like…Erin?

  Shifting two steps to my right, I blinked twice to realize the ever-maturing body of my daughter matched the face. Just as I opened my mouth, Luke ran up.

  “Now you see her?” he said.

  “Oh yeah, I see her,” I said, stepping between Erin and the college predator.

  “Mom, what are you doing?” she asked, a look of horror on her tanned face.

  “Luke, run and get me one of our towels.” I stuck my hand out to the right, and he scurried away.

  “Erin Giordano, what do you think you’re wearing?”

  I couldn’t believe my eyes. All I saw was skin wrapped in a few slivers of gold and black cloth. I tried to stay in front of her, but she moved away from me like I had the plague.

  “Mom, this is the same swimsuit you bought me. I wore it here to the beach.”

  I paused and did a double take. “But you had on a long T-shirt.”

  “Hello, I still had on this same bikini u
nder the T-shirt.”

  I thought I had cooled down from my jog, but her “hello” comment sent a wave of heat up my neck.

  “I guess I got you the wrong size,” I said just as Luke jogged up with a beach towel. “Here you go, wrap this around you.”

  “Mother, you’re embarrassing me. The swimsuit fits fine.”

  “Looks okay from here.” The college hunk spoke.

  I flipped around ready to impose my will on the kid, but my eyes couldn’t help but catch a glimpse of the bulge in his…I just realized he was wearing tight boxer shorts.

  “Do you mind putting on some shorts or a real swimsuit?” I gritted my teeth while staring straight into his hazel eyes.

  “Sorry, ma’am, but I just got off work and all I have is that yellow, fish-smelling bib.” He pointed to a pile of clothes next to an open ice chest.

  He must have seen my eyes shooting darts.

  “I guess I could wrap a towel around me,” he said as his forehead crumpled like fried bacon.

  He frantically searched for a towel for a few seconds, but didn’t have any luck, so he just grabbed the towel that was meant for Erin.

  I turned back around to my daughter. “I must have gotten you a size too small.”

  Erin shook her head. “You do know that everyone is staring at me.”

  My peripheral vision could make out some staring eyes, and then I noticed she had a koozie in her hand. “Are you drinking beer? Jesus, Erin, you’re only fifteen, and here you are dressed like this, drinking beer.” I tried running my fingers through my hair, but the sweaty, sand-drenched knots snagged a fingernail. “Dammit,” I said.

  “Mom, can we go now? I’m hungry,” Luke said.

  Scowling at me, Erin pulled the can out of the koozie to show me an orange Izze. “Soda. That’s all it is. And by the way, his name is Corey, and we were just talking about what it would be like to major in marine biology. He goes to school at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.”

  I’d really stepped in it with Erin, but I couldn’t dwell on it just then. “Good for him. Say goodbye to your friends. We need to get to dinner with your grandfather.”