DNA STALKER: Revenge or Justice? (High Seas Mystery Series Book 4) Read online

  Natalia was impressed by his appearance. He wore a form-fitted sky-blue cotton suit, a silk tie with tropical flowers, and a sapphire-encrusted tie clip. A salon obviously cared for the man’s wavy white hair and creamy bronzed skin. As he looked up, Natalia wondered if Xander wore brown-tinted contact lenses to disguise the color of his eyes.

  “May I offer my assistance?” he asked in a cultured baritone that sounded American with a hint of Latin America. His gracious smile exuded a warm welcome, but Natalia’s clairvoyant senses hit a mental barrier.

  Jason stated, “My girlfriend is unsure of her ring size, and we’d enjoy viewing several styles of engagement settings.”

  Pendleton nodded and gestured at the display cabinet. “As you can see, we stock a wide selection. Do you prefer a modern setting or an antique style?”

  Natalia leaned over the case and peered inside. “I’m not absolutely sure.” She pointed at a large diamond nestled among platinum rose petals sprinkled with smaller diamonds. Two deep-blue sapphires flanked the rose along the curve of the ring band. “Could I try that one on?”

  “You have excellent taste.” Pendleton reached into the case and extracted the ring from its royal-blue velvet cushion. “This is a particularly elegant design by Vera Wang.” He gently lifted Natalia’s hand and slipped the ring on her finger.

  In real time Xander’s face blurred as a vision of the past engulfed Natalia’s mind.

  He rode a hot motorcycle through narrow jungle trails as fear pounded his chest. A bullet zinged past his shoulder and wood splinters from a nearby tree sprayed his cheeks. Crouching lower against the handlebars, he guided the bike toward the river and prepared for a desperate jump that might end his life. He clenched his jaw and gripped the handlebars as the vehicle sailed over the cliff.

  The bike soared into space. Far below brown water rippled ominously, and he knew that gators waited for quarry to splash down into their territory. Praying for a miracle, he felt weightless and time nearly stopped. The rainforest beckoned and he worried that the bike might crash into the thick canopy, a deadly prospect.

  His stomach felt queasy with the disorienting sense of falling until a jolt reverberated painfully up his spine. Motorcycle tires sank into the mud of the river bank and spun. Jumping from the seat, he dug his boots into the mire and pushed the mechanical beast with all his strength. Slowly the wheels gripped and skidded up the muddy bank while the engine whined in protest. Covered in sludge, he climbed on and prepared to flee.

  A loud splash drew his attention.

  He grinned as he saw that his pursuers’ vehicle had sailed off the cliff and dropped like a stone into the murky river. Angry shouts hurled threats of torture and murder in his direction, but a large gator hissed before it slipped into the water.

  Waving at his adversaries, he revved the engine and sprayed an arc of grime as he took off. Safely within the dense jungle, another round of bullets reverberated from the river. Screams and shouts followed him into the jungle. He wondered if the Red Brigade might escape those gators with enough ammunition to give chase.

  Xander jerked his hand away and the vision vanished. Natalia met his shocked stare and felt his loneliness. He cleared his throat and quickly regained a business persona.

  He announced, “I believe this ring is too large for your elegant finger, miss. We really must determine the appropriate ring size.” A delicate chime sounded, and Xander glanced at the Cartier watch on his wrist. Turing to an assistant, he said, “Ginger, please determine this beautiful young woman’s ring size. I must dash to a prior appointment.”

  Ginger stepped up to Natalia. “Getting engaged?” she asked with a grin.

  Jason’s eyes gleamed and Natalia blushed. He said, “If I can save up enough dosh to afford these prices, I’ll be back to make arrangements.” The girl handed Jason a card with the ring size jotted on the back.

  “Xander’s got a sweet spot for young couples. I’m sure he’ll give you a good deal.”

  As they left the shop Natalia punched Jason’s shoulder. “Got to save enough dosh, do you? That makes me sound like a gold digger trying to secure the most expensive ring.”

  “I was joking with the girl, darling. It was ever so much fun to see that ring sparkling on your finger. Did you like it?”

  Natalia nodded. “It was beautiful. More important though, when he touched my hand I saw a memory of his past. People with guns chased him through a jungle. I can’t believe that he’d hurt those twins, but I’d love to know who was trying to kill him.”

  Jason punched the button for the elevator. “It’ll take a couple of days, but we’ll find out from that background check.”

  *****

  Xander shut the door to his small office and wiped sweat from his brow. What had just happened? She had taken him back into his past and watched like a ghost. Recalling the advertising about her psychic abilities, Xander realized the hype was deserved.

  Taking deep breaths, he stepped into the tiny bathroom and stared into the mirror. His tanned skin looked paler than usual but every hair remained in place. He hardly needed a hairdresser to color it white any longer. Age had its benefits but he missed the thick black hair he’d once been so proud of.

  Would she recognize the boy she’d once loved? It didn’t matter, since he’d never willingly place her in danger by revealing his new identity. It was a mistake to take this cruise but he needed to see them all for a brief time, although from a safe distance.

  Unlocking the security door at the back of his office, he stepped into the corridor and glanced nervously in both directions. His nerves tingled, prompting a flight response, but nothing seemed amiss. Adjusting his tie and running manicured fingers through his hair, he walked calmly down the hallway and entered the bustling atrium.

  Jacquie waved. She gave quick instructions to her staff and opened the half-door to exit the Pursers’ area. “Is something wrong, Xander?” she asked, peering into his eyes.

  “A minor disagreement with a supplier, my dear. It’s nothing to bother you with.” He took her arm and guided her toward his favorite coffee shop. “I avoid discussing business with such a lovely young woman on my arm.”

  She nodded but glanced toward Diamonds & More. Recognizing Natalia and Jason speaking with a sales associate, she felt a knot form in her stomach. What did those two want with Xander? A frown tugged at her lips, but she quickly erased the unwanted expression.

  Chapter 6 ~ Dolphin Tour, Cozumel

  Natalia and Jason joined the crowd pouring onto the concrete causeway next to the Sea Mist. Outside, brass horns and guitars blasted mariachi music as two women in vibrant Mexican skirts twirled to the beat. Tourists snapped photos with smartphones then joined the throng that swarmed toward the duty-free shopping complex. The building was the only exit from the docked ships.

  Hearing Mexican music, Jason grinned and jabbed Natalia with his elbow. “We didn’t miss the folk dancers, the troupe followed us outside,” he announced. “I heard they gave a rousing performance last night.”

  Dressed in light-weight white shorts and a filmy purple blouse, Natalia ignored the dancers as she read the directions to the Dolphin Tour printed on their tickets aloud. “Meet your tour at the exit from the duty-free shopping area. That’s pretty vague.” She flipped a long black braid over her slender shoulder and tilted up dark sunglasses to peer at nearby passengers. “There’s one set of twins just ahead. I believe they’re the fake twins, Pete and Kent. Hurry, Jason. Don’t lose sight of them.”

  “No worries, Tally. We can hardly miss blokes dressed in garish orange and green T-shirts. For a Brit, Jason looked more like a California surfer. He wore leather-strapped sandals, tan knee-length cargo shorts, and a baggy blue T-shirt with “Surfers Rule” printed on the front and a surfer riding a wave pictured on the back. A teal visor shaded his forehead with blonde spikes of hair jutting above the brim. He’d hooked mirror-finished aviator sunglasses over the scooped neck of his T-shirt.

  “I gues
s they don’t care about fashion,” she admitted. “Lucky for us.”

  Tally pointed at Matt and Felix, who posed for selfies with the Mexican dancers behind them. Jason frowned. “If they spread out like this, it makes them easy targets.” He scrutinized the crowd for possible weapons and quickened his pace. “Remain alert, Tally.”

  Natalia sensed a spike of anger from someone in the crowd directed toward the fake twins, but she couldn’t pinpoint the source. Suddenly Felix and Matthew jogged up to Pete and Kent and showed off new photos on their phones.

  Roberto shouted, “Hurry up, Geraldo! We meet for our tour at 9:00 a.m.!” Soon three sets of twins walked briskly toward the duty-free shop together.

  Melany and Penny giggled as they ran with mincing steps to catch up. “Do you know where we gather?” Melany asked breathlessly as she reached the group of men.

  Felix pointed toward the long building ahead. “We must go through the duty-free shop and watch for a tour sign on the other side.”

  “Looks crowded, let’s stay together,” Matt declared. “No stopping for souvenirs until we come back, girls.”

  Jason and Natalia hung back but managed to keep the large group in sight. The shop was long and narrow, crammed with liquor, perfume, trinkets, and T-shirts. Shoppers stopped regularly which created sudden logjams. Soon the group was forced to walk single-file, weaving like a giant snake through a maze of bargains. Spotting a clear path next to a display of cameras, Natalia moved to the right.

  An eager salesman stepped up to Natalia. “May I show you underwater camera, Senorita? You need it to take de best pictures of de dolphins.”

  “No, thanks.” She squinted at him suspiciously. “How’d you know I was going on the dolphin tour?”

  He laughed and tapped an oversized wristwatch. “It nearly be 9:00, time for de dolphin tour. At 10:00 de tequila tour leaves from de plaza, but de diving tour go already at 8:00. Sure you don’t need de waterproof camera?” He held up a camera encased in orange plastic with an attractive price on the sticker.

  She waved him away and jogged toward the front of the store. Jason slid in beside her and brandished a turquoise-colored camera of his own. “While you chatted up that salesman, I managed to buy this camera.”

  Natalia laughed. “You’re quick. Why do we need a camera?”

  Jason gestured at the crowd that surrounded the twins. “There must be twenty-five people on this tour. Photos might narrow our investigation and the price was extraordinarily reasonable!”

  They reached a group milling around the Dolphin Tour sign as the guide started trading tickets for colorful wrist-bands. The Twins Project members received violet wrist bands. Natalia felt relieved that she and Jason received the same color while other groups wore yellow, pink, and green bands.

  Jason told Natalia to remain at the front of the twins’ group as he inched his way to the tail end. Natalia exhaled a pent up breath and felt tension in her body. Luckily, she couldn’t sense anger or malice in the nearby crowd. Shaking out her hands, she forced herself to relax.

  The group followed the guide through the meandering shopping mall, a California-style open-air complex filled with restaurants, gift shops, trendy boutiques, and electronics stores.

  She glanced through gaps in the buildings and counted six large ships docked nearby. No wonder the mall teamed with bodies. This complex had cost the government millions to build but tourist dollars flooded back into the economy. Natalia preferred lazy Mexican villages filled with quaint shops and far fewer people.

  Strolling past fountains and gardens, the group finally turned into a covered passageway. Arched openings revealed a circular drive that bordered a green lawn and gardens. Taxi-vans lined up around the curve of the drive, waiting to board passengers. Their tour guide separated passengers into manageable groups using the colored wrist bands. He efficiently herded each group into a waiting taxi. The Twins Project group was too large to fit in one van, and boarded two separate vehicles with Natalia in the first van and Jason riding in the second.

  As her van pulled into swift traffic, Natalia craned her neck to get her bearings. Cozumel was an oval-shaped island and cruise ships docked on the west coast near the mainland of Mexico. This busy boulevard stretched along the waterfront which ran north and south. Traffic streamed past in both directions, but Natalia noticed another major road veer to the left to cross the island center. Driving south, the taxis arrived at their destination ten minutes later. They pulled uphill along a circular driveway and stopped before cascading concrete steps to a stucco building with a thatched roof overhead.

  The entrance breezeway opened to a photo shop, a restaurant, and an outdoor waiting area. Groups were sorted at the entrance according to colored wristbands, and they were directed to the outdoor waiting area bordered by changing rooms and lockers. Four sparkling turquoise pools enclosed by low concrete and rock walls, stretched in a clover-leaf pattern between the main building and the ocean. Thatched roof shade umbrellas were scattered between the edges of the pools. The water was full of dolphins swimming up to people who waited in lines against irregular-shaped rocky edges. The dolphins appeared to be having loads of fun, racing underwater, playing tag, or suddenly leaping into the air with arched bodies.

  Natalia’s heart pounded. She’d always wanted to swim with dolphins and now was her chance. It was nearly impossible to keep her mind on the job. Glancing toward Jason, she recognized shared enthusiasm in his sparkling eyes and she grinned. He shuddered and suddenly grew serious, scanning the waiting area for signs of danger. Natalia followed women into the changing rooms.

  Inside she heard joking and laughing, as the twins stripped outer layers of clothing and stuffed bags into lockers. As Natalia listened to gleeful chatter, filled with anticipation about the dolphin swim, she remained alert for signs of trouble.

  *****

  Jacquie Ludlow bristled at the latest request from Kate Foster, a complete list of shop owners and employees with the dates that they boarded. What? She remained responsible for crew schedules but shop owners typically maintained their own records.

  The request meant hours of work that she couldn’t delegate to an underling. Security protocol meant that she alone compiled such lists. Genetics Ultra was becoming an irritant. Its advertising banners and brochures proliferated the area and passengers proudly wore those DNA Winners buttons on bags, shirts, and hats.

  “Anything wrong, boss?” Andy, her second in command, asked. His freckled face and large round glasses gave him a boyish look that usually generated smiles.

  Taking a calming breath, Jacquie replied, “Orders from on high. Can you handle the front desk for several hours while I dive into the computer records?”

  “Sure thing,” he answered in a chipper tone. “Mexican food doesn’t agree with me, so I didn’t plan on going ashore.” He turned to help a customer at the counter.

  “I don’t plan on seeing the shore today either,” she muttered and closed the glass door to her office. She logged into the security section on her computer and typed in a set of parameters. Names scrolled down the screen and she sighed. Too many names for a quick search.

  Leaning back in her chair, Jacquie fingered the Genetics Ultra brochure on her desk. Inside were photos of state-of-the-art facilities and biographies of the professional scientists who ran the program. “Mon Dieu, professionals, they do not make the errors that kill,” she growled and crumpled the glossy paper.

  *****

  Timothy handed his sister a large beach towel as she joined him on the patio that overlooked the dolphin pool. “How can they expect us to avoid using sunscreen? My delicate skin will broil,” Shirley complained.

  Staring down into the turquoise water, Timothy pointed at the perimeter. “We’ll ask to stay in the shade like those people. I’d like to pet a dolphin, myself.”

  Shirley tied the strings of a wide-brimmed hat to keep it securely in place. “Make sure we get a chance to speak to both sets of twins. How can we know whi
ch pair are really Drew’s sons?”

  “Do you suppose they know themselves? If they were adopted by different families at birth, their true identities might have been hidden.”

  Shirley shook her head. “Now days adults can petition to see their birth records. Don’t you think they’d be curious to know about their family if they submitted DNA to be tested?”

  Tim tucked his white T-shirt into his bathing trunks, disgruntled by the lecturing tone his sister always used. “By the way, how did you manage to win the DNA contest for us?”

  “Bribery, my dear brother.” Thin lips curled into a sneer, but Tim noticed wrinkles forming in her dry skin. She’d need another costly facelift soon, but no amount of surgery would erase the permanent scowl from her features.

  *****

  Jason noticed that Roberto and Geraldo had established a friendship with the fake twins, Pete and Kent. He kept a close watch as they entered the patio with a thatched-roof bar in the center. Everyone swarmed to order drinks from the bar, where margaritas and beer were plentiful and free. Jason sipped Dos XX straight from a bottle, keeping the sips very small. He met Natalia’s gaze across the crowd and waggled his eyebrows. She grinned and drank a rum and coke. Soon her group was summoned to the pool. It appeared that all the female twins were in the same dolphin tour group.

  Paul waved good-bye to his sister, Abby, as they meandered down the steps. He joined the group of men and waited. When the men were called, Jason dropped a nearly-full bottle of beer into the trash and draped a towel over his shoulder. He sauntered down the walk. His sunglasses and visor hid his face as he listened to the twins chat.

  Roberto joked, “Be sure to keep an EpiPen ready, Pete. You’ll touch really big fish today.”