Karen Rose - You Belong to Me

Copyright 2011 Karen Rose Hafer

The right of Karen Rose Hafer to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.

First published as an Ebook by Headline Publishing Group in 2011

All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Cataloguing in Publication Data is available from the British Library

eISBN : 978 0 7553 7393 2

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Table of Contents

In loving memory of A. C. Barrett, who taught me binary when I was seven, gave me my first Poe story when I was eight, and taught me to box using a Hoppity Donald Duck so that I could defend myself against schoolyard bullies when I was nine.

He employed creative means to help me master parallel parking so that I could get my drivers license. He retyped my final university paper from my handwritten draft when my computer crashed the night before it was due, so that I could get a much-needed nights sleep and my degree, and only scolded me a little for not having my files backed up.

He made sure nobody ever told me that I couldnt do anything I set my mind to.

Most of all, he always loved me, every day, every year. I miss you, Dad.

And to Martin, my rock.

Acknowledgements

Marc Conterato, for all things medical. And for everything else.

Danny Agan, for answering all my law enforcement questions.

Frank Ahearn, for the wealth of information on skip tracers and the art of making someone disappear.

Laura Cifelli, Vicki Mellor, and Robin Rue, for your constant support.

Kay Conterato, Terri Bolyard, Sonie Lasker, and Cheryl Wilson I love you guys.

As always, all mistakes are my own.

Prologue

Bayview, Delaware, Sunday, March 7, 11.15 A.M.

E xcuse me, sir, you cant go up there.

Malcolm Edwards ignored the marina managers deep voice, his eyes fixed on his destination, his weakened body already aching. The Carrie On beckoned, rocking as the Chesapeake Bay churned. A storm was coming. It was a perfect day to die.

Just a few more steps, then I can rest . Then the dock began to rumble beneath his feet as Daryl charged up from behind.

Hey! Stop right there. This is private property. Hey, buddy! I said

Malcolm winced as a beefy hand grabbed his upper arm and spun him around. For a moment he looked into Daryls face, waiting silently as recognition flickered and the mans mouth dropped open in shock.

Mr Edwards. Daryl took a step back, his ruddy cheeks gone pale. Im sorry, sir.

Its all right, Malcolm said gently. I know I dont look like myself.

He knew what he looked like. He was surprised Daryl had recognized him at all, despite the years theyd known each other. Malcolm doubted many of his so-called friends would recognize him, not that theyd given themselves the opportunity. Only Carrie had stood by him, and there were times Malcolm wished she had not. In sickness and in health. This was definitely the former.

She thought he couldnt hear her sobs in the shower, but he did. Hed give all he owned not to put her through such hell. But man didnt get to make those calls. That was Gods territory. Carrie had cursed God as shed watched Malcolm waste away, but Malcolm didnt have that luxury. He already had enough black marks on his soul.

Daryl swallowed hard. Can I get you anything? Help you in any way?

No. Ill be fine. Im going fishing. He held up a bucket of bait hed bought for appearances. I just want to feel the wind in my face. One last time , he added to himself. He turned toward his boat, determinedly putting one foot in front of the other. The dock rumbled again as Daryl walked beside him, clearly hesitant to speak his mind.

Sir, theres a squall comin in. Maybe you should wait.

I dont have time to wait. Truer words were never spoken.

Daryl winced. I can get a crew to take you out. My grandson is a fine sailor.

I appreciate it, I truly do, but sometimes a man just wants to be alone. You take care, and thank you. He made it on board, his body sagging as his hands closed over the wheel. It had been far too long since hed spent a day on the Bay. But hed been busy. Thered been doctors and treatments and... He looked up at the forbidding sky.

And making things right. Hed had too many things to make right, especially the one thing that had burdened his mind for twenty-one years.

He thought about the letter hed sent and hoped it wasnt too late. He hoped he could handle the wheel long enough to get far enough out to do what needed to be done. He hoped drowning really was just like going to sleep.

The water grew choppier, the wind more brutal the farther out he got. Finally he killed the throttle and listened to the waves, his eyes closed. He drew the salty air deep into his lungs, savoring this, his final day. Carrie would be sad, but part of her would be relieved. Shed put on a brave face that morning when he kissed her goodbye. Hed told her he was going fishing after his doctors appointment. When the authorities knocked on her door to give her the bad news, shed swear that her husband could never have taken his own life, but deep down shed know the truth.

He stepped onto the deck, setting up his fishing poles. There were appearances to be kept up in case someone found his boat intact after he was swept overboard by a rogue wave. He was baiting a hook when a harsh voice broke into his thoughts.

Who are the others?

Malcolm spun around, the bait sliding through his fingers. A man stood a yard behind him, feet planted firmly, arms crossed over his chest. There was hate in his narrowed eyes and Malcolm felt fear shiver down his spine. Who are you?

The man took a steady step forward despite the rocking. Who are the others?

The others . I dont know what youre talking about, he lied.

The man pulled a letter from his pocket and Malcolms stomach roiled, recognizing both the letter and the handwriting as his own. Malcolm thought back twenty-one years and thought he knew who the man was. He definitely knew what the man wanted.

Who are the others? the man asked once again, carefully spacing each word.

Malcolm shook his head. No. Im not going to tell you.

The man reached into his other pocket and pulled out a long filleting knife. He held it up, examining the sharp edge. Ill kill you, he said, with little emotion.

I dont care. Im going to die anyway. Or had you not noticed?

The boat pitched and Malcolm stumbled, but the man stood firm. Hes got sea legs . If he was who Malcolm thought he was, that made sense. The mans father had been a fisherman back then.

In the years since, businesses had been lost, lives splintered. Ruined. Because of what we did. What I did. Hell kill me. And Id deserve it . But he had no intention of divulging the others identities, nor a wish to die horribly. He lunged toward the side.

But the man was fast, grabbing Malcolms arm and shoving him into a deckchair, binding his hands and feet with a length of twine he pulled from his back pocket. Hed come prepared.