Rising Tide Read online

  ‘I know why I’m up at this ungodly hour, but what are you doing up? Hope we didn’t wake you.’

  ‘No, no. I didn’t hear you guys at all. Thomas and I are going sailing. Just for a couple of hours, but we have to get an early start.’

  ‘So what’s the story with you two? Like I said, Sarah mentioned something. He seems nice, a little quiet, and damn, he’s good looking.’

  ‘No story yet, but we’ll see.’

  She and Peggy had a quick breakfast at the beach bar, the only place to eat since the restaurant was being prepared for the wedding reception. Annie joined them for a few minutes.

  ‘You two, or three, I should say, are up early. How did Maggie sleep, Peggy? And how did Ariana work out?’

  ‘Maggie slept great. She’s a good sleeper, but an early riser. And Ariana was a godsend. She’s obviously good with kids. But you must be exhausted, Annie.’

  ‘A little tired, but last night worked out so well. Everything went smoothly and I think everyone enjoyed themselves and it ended early! Just as we planned. You’re up awfully early, Emily.’

  ‘Thomas and I are going sailing,’ Emily said, and couldn’t help the wide smile that crept across her face.

  ‘How wonderful. Perfect morning for it,’ Annie said with a smile just as wide. ‘Don’t forget Marietta’s advice, “not too much sun” or you’ll never hear the end of it. Now I better get back to the restaurant. We have a ton of things to do. Ah, there’s Thomas now.’

  Thomas stood at the top of the path near the main house and waved. Peggy’s right, he is damn good looking, Emily thought as she hurried toward him.

  It took only a short time to reach the Varadero Marina where Thomas had docked his boat, and Emily could sense his pride as he showed it to her. ‘It’s an old boat, a 1977, called a Bristol Channel Cutter,’ he told her. ‘It was a real mess when I bought it. I did most of the restoration myself. Actually took me a couple of years.’

  ‘It’s beautiful, Thomas,’ Emily said, taking in the dark blue hull, teak deck and tall mast, everything gleaming in the morning sun. ‘How big is it?’

  ‘Twenty-eight feet. The cabin’s got a galley, a head and a small salon. It’s amazing what fits in there – a table and benches that unfold into a bed. I’ve taken her out for a week at a time. Sailed islands east and west. Now, it’s time for us to get to work.’

  The morning flew by as Emily and Thomas sailed the bay waters. They relished the warm sun, billowing clouds and brisk morning breezes that filled the sails. Emily was a quick learner, doing everything from securing the lines to unfurling the sail. And Thomas was a patient teacher. She was amazed at his skill and strength as his muscles strained to turn the stern into the wind.

  ‘Maybe after the wedding we could go out for the whole day. Try the ocean. It’s tricky but exhilarating,’ Thomas said as they headed back into shore.

  ‘I’d love that, Thomas.’

  It was late by the time Emily got back to the Bluffs, and the wedding preparation seemed to be in full swing. A bamboo arbor dressed in white netting and flowers stood on the beach with white wooden chairs positioned in rows before it. The restaurant dining room was abuzz with workers, setting tables, arranging flowers and polishing silver, and Annie and Martin were right in the middle, directing everything.

  Emily grabbed something quick to eat and headed for the beach. It was busy and she was glad to find a lounge chair over where Peggy and Maggie were sitting in the shade of a palm.

  ‘How was the sail?’ Peggy asked.

  ‘Glorious,’ Emily answered. ‘I’ve never sailed before and I loved it.’

  ‘And the story?’

  ‘Hmmm? Oh, that story. I think it’s coming along. Coming along nicely. How was your morning?’

  ‘Good, but busy. Mostly spent trying to keep Maggie entertained. She actually took an early nap right here on the beach.’

  ‘You must be exhausted. Why don’t I keep an eye on Maggie and you go get some rest. You have a long night ahead of you and I can nap later.’

  ‘Really, you’re a saint, Emily. If I can just get forty-five minutes that would do it.’

  Emily spent the next hour with Maggie. They played in the sand and sat at the water’s edge. Maggie splashed in puddles and picked up tiny handfuls of wet sand that invariably ended up all over her. Then Emily would pick her up and slowly wade into the bay, letting the warm water wash over them. Maggie thought this was great fun and they did it five or six times before she got bored. Emily was just about to take her for a walk when Peggy emerged from her suite.

  ‘My God, I’m a new woman,’ she said with a laugh. ‘I owe you big time. How was she?’

  ‘Great, easy as anything,’ Emily answered, realizing that it was true. ‘Well, time for me to head to my suite. What time is Ariana coming?’

  ‘’Bout five-thirty, I think. I’m getting dressed up at the main house and we’re doing pictures and stuff. I hope Maggie will be OK. It’ll be a long night for Ariana.’

  Emily headed to her suite. As always, a snack plate and split of wine waited for her. Before napping she took a few minutes to relive her morning with Thomas. The sail had been great, but even more engaging had been Thomas’s company. Seeing him like that, so carefree out on the water, so open and animated … It was another side of him that drew her to him even more. The night promised to be special in so many ways.

  Emily showered and dressed, choosing to wear the same navy silk dress she had worn last year at the Bluffs. She loved the light, soft fabric that skimmed her body as it floated softly to the floor. It was perfectly simple, the only adornment a beaded clasp at the single shoulder, and she accessorized it with just her mother’s sapphire-blue earrings, their deep color bringing out the blue of her eyes. For a moment she looked at herself in the mirror – her red hair drawn back and piled softly at her crown, her pale skin with its light freckles and soft blush from the sun, her tall, thin body almost shimmering as she moved. She was content with what she saw.

  When she arrived at the bay beach she paused at the beauty of the setting. The sun was just beginning its slow descent and the sky was marbled with gold, lavender and pink streaks. A white runner ran the length of the sand and urns with tall green sea grass stood at the end of each row. Most of the guests had arrived, mingling and greeting each other. Emily was pleased to see Jessica, Roger Stirhew’s wife. Roger had both saved and almost destroyed Jessica, although he wasn’t the only one.

  ‘Jessica, it’s so good to see you. How are you?’ Emily said, noting how good Jessica looked, rested and relaxed. Her hair was cut short and her eyes had lost that haunted look. She wore a simple patterned silk dress with peach slides. She looked … how to describe it? She looked comfortable.

  ‘Emily, you look wonderful. Good to see you too. It’s hard to imagine that the last time … I couldn’t miss the wedding but I couldn’t stay here at the Bluffs. Annie made arrangements for me to stay in town, at a lovely guest house, quiet and secluded.’

  ‘That sounds perfect. How has life been treating you?’ Emily asked, not sure whether Jessica wanted to share news of what must have been a very difficult time.

  ‘It’s been OK. It was hell at first, for me and even more so for Jason.’

  Emily could imagine how difficult things were for Jason. In spite of everything, Roger had been Jason’s father, after all. ‘But I think we’re doing all right now. We’ve moved, you know. That house was too big and held too many memories. My mother is with us now. It’s been good for her … and for us. What happened with—’

  ‘Michael? That’s over. It was over the day I left the Bluffs. It’s been a year of incredible changes, but I have to say I think I’m doing OK too. Did Jason come with you?’

  ‘No, he’s at home with my mom. I won’t be staying long, but I so wanted to see Sarah and Jon. And Annie and Martin, of course. They’ve been so kind over the past months, always keeping in touch. There at my side during the trial; Martin visiting when he’s in th
e States. It’s meant a lot.’

  At that moment a string quartet started playing and the guests began to take their seats. Emily and Jessica sat together just behind Marietta and Nora. Emily recognized a number of the other guests: the psychiatrist and his wife, the doctor whose daughter, or was it son, was looking for an internship; Carter Phillips and his wife two rows ahead, and next to them the Thompsons.

  The mood was joyful as Annie and Martin stepped down the aisle. Then Jon’s parents, followed by Peggy and Alex, Sarah’s sister, and finally Sarah, who looked breathtakingly beautiful wearing a simple silk satin dress with beaded chiffon appliques at the shoulders and a simple V-wrap front with an inset sash at the waist. She carried a bouquet of long-stemmed white calla lilies tied with raffia. Jon stood up front at the arbor, watching with wonder as she walked toward him. And Emily’s eyes were drawn towards Thomas standing beside him.

  The ceremony was simple as Emily had imagined it would be. Annie and Jon’s mother both said a few words; the vows, written by Sarah and Jon, were exchanged; they were pronounced man and wife; a quick kiss and the crowd applauded. The steel band struck up a lively number as the wedding party and guests headed for the terraces. Smartly dressed waiters passed trays of hors d’oeuvres and glasses of sparkling champagne. Martin, his face the picture of love and pride, gave his father-of-the-bride toast that was both uproariously funny and amazingly touching.

  The restaurant looked stunning. The glowing candles and twinkling chandeliers leant an air of romance. The pristine white linens were set with Christofle and Limoges, and the only color came from the burst of birds of paradise − vibrant orange, deep purple, touches of gold and red − that formed each table’s centerpiece.

  Emily had been amazed at the food last year when she visited the Bluffs, and tonight’s was even better. The chef, Jean-Pierre Rozan, known for the subtle blending of French, Caribbean and Asian flavors, had created the menu and supervised the cooking of the dinner, but only that. Having been at the Bluffs for over fifteen years, he was considered part of the family, and tonight he was a guest. As were Nelson and Johnno, the resort manager, both of whom were having a hard time not reverting to their daytime selves and overseeing the staff. ‘No you don’t, Nelson,’ Emily heard Annie say at one point when Nelson started to organize the dinner service.

  ‘I just had to check – there are so many new faces here. I know we trained them, but in such a short time. Maybe—’

  ‘Tonight you are a guest. And Dawid is keeping a close eye, so please come and enjoy yourself.’

  Sarah and Jon did not want a formal head table so the young crowd again sat together, although tonight there were several tables of them. Sarah and Jon were popular on the island and both of them also had a number of friends from New York. They had met in Manhattan and Jon had gotten his start there as a chef. Sarah had never really taken to the city, not to live in, anyway. But they were both excited to be returning for their honeymoon. The talk was livelier than last night and Sarah was pleased to see that Thomas was more relaxed and a part of things. He and Jon and a few of the others told funny stories of their growing up. They were quite the crowd, daring and occasionally reckless, although it was Thomas who always seemed to have had the more serious side. Thomas talked about their early morning sailing trip, looking lovingly at Emily. And it was clear that the others had noticed when Peggy leaned over at one point and whispered to her, ‘Hmmm, you’re right, the story does seem to be coming along.’

  Annie introduced Emily and Peggy to Christiaan and Katrien Van Meeterens, Ariana’s parents. Katrien was tall and pretty, with hair that must have once been blonde but was now pure silver. Christiaan was tall also; it was easy to see where Ariana’s long legs came from. Katrien seemed quiet and a bit reserved, while he was more animated and full of laughter. They were friendly and easy-going and Emily immediately felt comfortable with them.

  ‘Ariana is wonderful. She’s been such a godsend,’ Peggy told them. ‘She’s so good with children. Maggie loves her already; she barely bothered to wave goodbye when I was leaving her this afternoon.’

  ‘Oh, she’s just great with kids,’ Christiaan said proudly. ‘They’ll miss her when she heads to college.’

  ‘I bet you’ll miss her too,’ Emily said, thinking back to that time when her brother and sisters had headed off. ‘Do most of the kids leave the island for college?’

  ‘Many of them. Some even leave for high school,’ Katrien said a little sadly. ‘But it will be good for Ariana to see something beyond the island. We’re headed to the States at the end of the week to look at colleges. She’s a good student; she has lots of choices. It’s time for her to go … And after all, it’s not forever.’

  ‘No, Kat, you’re right. Look at Jon and Sarah,’ Annie said. ‘And I get the sense that Alex is thinking about coming home. So it’s certainly not forever.’

  As the night went on, the music got louder and the crowd livelier − a decidedly more spirited evening than most at the Bluffs. Martin, an avid dancer, danced with half the women in the room, doing a mean tango with Marietta, a spirited foxtrot with Sarah and a gallant waltz with Nora. Annie moved from table to table, gracious as always, making sure that everyone was enjoying themselves. Emily discovered that Thomas was a great dancer and the two of them danced all night. At midnight, when the DJ came on and the disco balls dropped from the ceiling, the room shook to the beat of the drums.

  Peggy was one of the first to leave, stopping to say goodnight to the Van Meeterens. ‘I hope I didn’t stay too late,’ she said. ‘Shall I have Ariana walk up and meet you here?’

  ‘No,’ Katrien answered somewhat enigmatically. ‘Teenagers are complicated creatures. Ariana has a friend picking her up.’

  Emily and Thomas left soon after, exhausted now and anxious to be together. Tonight, as they walked down to the beach, their hands tightly entwined, they rehashed the day, relishing the time with friends but also their early morning sail together. ‘What a perfectly wonderful day,’ Emily said. ‘So much joy. I never want it to end.’

  Thomas was quiet for a moment and then, turning towards Emily and looking deeply into her eyes, he murmured, ‘I could stay.’

  She held his gaze, and her heartfelt response, when it came, was almost a whisper. ‘I’d like that, Thomas.’

  SEVEN

  Bzzz … bzzz … bzzz. Emily awoke groggy and couldn’t figure out where the sound was coming from. For a moment she ignored it and, looking sleepily over at Thomas, she allowed herself to savor thoughts of last night. Bzzz … Bzzz. She looked around her, her dark blue dress lying on the floor, Thomas’ suit jacket on the chaise. Bzzz … bzzz. She looked at the clock on the nightstand, its green numbers glowing: 6:45 a.m. The persistent buzzing kept intruding and she sat up, rubbing her eyes. On the table was Thomas’ cell, vibrating loudly.

  ‘Thomas,’ she said, shaking his shoulder. ‘Thomas, it’s your cell.’

  Thomas woke immediately, sitting up and running his hand through his hair. He looked as if he wasn’t sure where he was. ‘My cell? Uh oh, my cell. This is never a good sign.’

  ‘Moller,’ he said, already starting to pick up his clothes. ‘Moller here.’

  This was followed by a number of ‘uh huh’s’ and a final, ‘OK, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.’

  Putting down the phone, he immediately started to get dressed. ‘Sorry, Emily, I have to go.’

  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘That was my assistant. There’s been a … a body washed up on Manchebo Beach. A young girl.’

  By the time Thomas drove the ten miles from the Bluffs to Manchebo Beach there was a crowd already assembled. ‘Move everyone back,’ he ordered, taking command of the situation. ‘I want everyone off this beach.’ Although early, the sun was already hot and Thomas could feel the sweat soaking the back of his shirt. The beach was swarming with police. Revolving red and blue lights formed a perimeter around the body and a detective was circling it, taking pictures from ever
y angle.

  He walked over to the officer who had called him. ‘What do we have, Hendricks?’

  ‘Not much. Body must have washed up early this morning. Found by those two kids over there.’ Thomas looked over to see the kids, a boy and a girl, ten or eleven − they looked to be pretty shaken. ‘Tall, probably about five-nine or five-ten; young, maybe seventeen, eighteen; wearing white linen pants and a light green halter top, definitely expensive. Can’t be sure of the cause of death, not till the ME gets a look, but I don’t think she was in the water too long. Oh, and she was wearing a gold bracelet, engraved. There’s a name on the inscription – Emily.’

  For a moment, Thomas was struck by the name, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it. ‘OK, I’m going to talk to the kids. You start with the usual. Have them check the airlines, all the manifests, begin with the past week then go backwards. Look for any missing persons report and call the embassies. Check out any Emily that you find.’

  Thomas walked over to the two kids seated now on the sea wall at the edge of the beach. He bent down to be on their level and spoke slowly and softly. ‘I’m Inspector Moller,’ he said, putting out his hand to the boy. ‘What’s your name?’

  ‘Kiko,’ the boy answered, his dark brown eyes wide and his hand shaking a bit.

  ‘Con ta bai, Kiko?’ He asked in Papiamento, the most common language spoken on the island, trying to put the boy at ease.

  ‘OK,’ the boy answered.

  ‘Is this your sister?’

  The boy shook his head up and down. The sister, obviously younger than the boy, stared straight ahead, not even looking at Thomas.

  ‘What’s her name?’

  ‘Dury.’

  ‘Bon dia, Dury, con ta bai?’ At that, the little girl started to cry.