I walked over to the railing and looked out over the dark ocean. The waves crashed gently, and I inhaled the scent of salt and sea as I dialed Nick and waited for him to answer.
“How’s Miami?” he asked when he answered.
“I’m not sure,” I said. “Scarlet’s dressed like Elton John and I got kidnapped and taken for tacos. And Scarlet is trying to get me to drink so we’ll give birth to the next greatest generation.”
“Maybe you should stay away from Scarlet,” Nick said. “Do I want to ask about the kidnapping?”
“Probably not,” I said. “But guess who Angelica is.”
“I’m on pins and needles,” he said.
“Valentina de Salva.”
“You’re joking,” Nick said. “She died in an explosion twenty years ago.”
“Nope, she’s the one who flipped on her husband and sons and sent them to prison. In exchange, she got WITSEC and a face-lift. Vince and Dad worked that case with the federal task force.”
“This is not good,” Nick said. “Vince shouldn’t be involved with anyone from WITSEC. Why would he do that?”
“Angelica said she didn’t trust her FBI contact, so she’s kept contact with Vince and Dad all these years. I know Vince was looking into the case. I found a file folder in Dad’s shed with all his case notes and more of a journal as he worked the case. Not anything formal.”
“You only found one folder?” he asked.
“Yeah, in the top drawer of his file cabinet. I followed the dust trail and saw that’s where Vince had been poking around.”
“I can promise you he’s got more than one file folder,” Nick said. “He and Charlie worked on that case for two years. He should have closets of files.”
“Or a storage locker?” I asked.
“Or a storage locker,” Nick said. “Did you find a storage locker?”
“Scarlet did,” I said. “I think I found the key to the lock with the de Salva file.”
“I’ve got an uneasy feeling about this,” Nick said. “It all feels wrong. Vince shouldn’t be involved with a woman who got immunity and a free pass for the crimes she committed along with her husband. She’s a murderer. So don’t let her take you for tacos again. I need some Tums.”
I swallowed and felt lightheaded. I could have used a couple of Tums myself. “She’s a murderer? But she seemed nice. Crazy,” I said. “But nice.”
“Just be careful,” he said. “And stay in contact.”
“Kate’s talking to Savage to see if he can get a ping from Vince’s cell phone. We know he made it back home after he met with Angelica because Edna next door saw him leaving three days ago. He said he was going fishing.”
Nick snorted. “Yeah, right,” he said. “It sounds like your work in Miami is done. I’ll feel better once you’re out of there.”
“We’re flying back out tomorrow,” I said. “Are you at home?”
I’d totally forgotten about Rosemarie and Suzanne and the house renovations.
“No, I’m too chicken,” he said. “I figured I’d just work all night and sleep at my desk.”
“We still own the little house across from Savage. The bed is made, but there’s no groceries. I figure we’ll have to stay there for a while until we have to have the house condemned or they actually finish the project. The key is under the fake rock.”
“Very original,” Nick said.
I told him I loved him and then headed back to the table. Kate and Scarlet had a row of shot glasses filled to the brim with a yellow liquid.
“You’re not drinking,” Scarlet said. “So I split yours up between the two of us.”
“It’s the responsible thing to do,” Kate said, looking very relaxed.
“Before you get too relaxed,” I said, “why don’t you tell me what Savage said.”
Scarlet pushed one of the shot glasses across the table and Kate picked it up. Neither of them bothered with the salt or limes sitting in front of them, and they tossed back the drinks like water.
“I learned to drink during the war,” Scarlet said. “I had to build up my tolerance so the Nazis would pass out before I did. You know the saying ‘Loose Lips Sink Ships’? There’s a reason for that.”
“And how many ships did you sink?” Kate asked.
“Thirty-two,” Scarlet said. “I was a very good spy.”
“You should write your memoirs one day,” Kate said. “I bet you’ve got dirt on everyone.”
“Heh,” Scarlet said, taking another shot. “I’ve got dirt on every head of state and president for decades. Bunch of old pervs. I won’t tell