A Fortune in Blood: A Florida Action Adventure Novel (Scott Jarvis Private Investigator Book 7) Read online

  A Fortune in Blood

  Scott Jarvis Private Investigator - Book 7

  Scott W. Cook

  A Fortune in Blood

  Copyright © 2020 by Scott Cook

  All rights reserved.

  Book Formatting and Cover Designed by Ardent Artist Books

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Epilogue

  Author’s Notes

  Other books by the author…

  Prologue

  The Delaneys – mid-February

  “You think he’ll want the company?” Missy asked her husband as they exited the 528 Bealine Highway at Goldenrod.

  Clay shrugged and hit his blinker, “He’s getting it whether he likes it or not.”

  “Clay…”

  Clay Delaney was in his mid-forties. He was of medium height and build and possessed an open honest face whose handsomeness still contained something of a boyish quality. Missy could never quite figure out if that was because of his genes or his nature. He was the kind of man who was quick to laugh and slow to anger.

  They made a good pair. Missy was a year or so younger. She was small and slim with a beauty that belied her age as well. She was intelligent, thoughtful and tough. While Clay had served in the Marine Corps in his early twenties, his wife had spent some time traveling to third world countries after college as an active member of the Peace Corps.

  Both of them had learned, partly through upbringing and partly through seeing the world from a different point of view, what was really important in life. Family, friends and occasional service to others. They were imparting these values to their three children as well, and the fruits of proactive parenting were certainly showing. All of their children were creative, studious and adventurous. Not that they didn’t have their problems, but with strong, determined and loving parents, they were on a good track for a successful and productive not to mention happy life.

  “He needs us,” Clay stated, as if that were all that needed to be said.

  In a way, he was right. Boiled down to its simplest form, the sentiment was correct. Missy knew it as well as he did. It had been her suggestion that they go and see their friend to begin with.

  “Yeah,” She said, “but you know how he is… has to maintain the stiff upper lip. Be strong and not show any weakness for the rest of our sakes.”

  Clay grinned, “I know, what a jerk, right?”

  Missy laughed, “Yeah, sounds like somebody else I know.”

  Clay sniffed, “I’m sure I don’t know who you mean.”

  “He’s got to be hurting,” Missy said as they headed east on Lee Vista Boulevard.

  Clay sighed, “Yeah, and not just from the bullet… that’s why I brought you. He might talk about it to me, but he’s more likely to open up a little more to you.”

  “Well, I’m way cuter,” Missy said with a wry grin.

  Clay laughed his ebullient laugh, “No argument here… but he’s cuter than me… so don’t get too chummy.”

  Missy punched him in the arm, “That’s true, too… Hmmm…”

  “Uncle Scott is okay,” their ten-year-old son Declan stated with the absolute authority that only a child can command. “He’s tough.”

  “And not scared of anything,” Their middle child, Aubrey stated, “not even ghosts.”

  Aubrey and their friend had a special relationship that went back to when Aubrey was five. They’d gone to The Magic Kingdom and Scott had carried her all the way through the line for the Haunted Mansion and had ridden with her through the ride. He’d helped turn her fear into a fun memory. The kind of memory that stuck with a child all through their life.

  Their oldest daughter, Shelby, only smiled. At nearly fourteen, she was already mature for her age. Both physically and emotionally. Both of her parents could easily see the signs of womanhood that were far outpacing the last vestiges of childhood.

  “He just needs a little time,” Shelby stated finally.

  The three kids didn’t know the whole story, yet even from the bits and pieces of what their parents had told them, they’d all been able to glean at least some of the larger truth. They’d known and loved Scott Jarvis all their lives, after all. On top of that… they’d all read his books.

  “He’ll be fine,” Missy added, “but a lot has happened over the past few months.”

  She caught Shelby’s eye and the girl nodded. Somehow, the two women, who were very obviously mother and daughter and who in very short order would be taken for sisters, understood exactly what was meant.

  “Let’s not be overly dramatic,” Clay suggested. “He’s tough, like Dec said, and he’ll be fine.”

  Missy knew it was true, of course. Yet in her husband’s light-hearted declaration she could detect a note of concern. Not that any of them were truly worried about Scott’s long-term emotional health, just that they felt he needed a little support. He was alone, except for Morgan, and a little dose of love never hurt anybody.

  They parked in Scott’s driveway and climbed out of the truck.

  “Should we get the cooler, dad?” Declan asked.

  “No, buddy, we’re gonna talk Scott into going to the park,” Clay said, “so we’ll just leave it there for now.”

  “Cool,” Declan declared.

  The garage door was open. Evidently Scott had been doing something in the garage or outside and hadn’t bothered to close it. The Delaneys filed past the new Jeep and Clay rapped on the inner door before opening it.

  “Surprise!” he bellowed.

  There was a single bark and Jarvis’ ninety-pound Doberman Pinscher, Morgan, came running into the kitchen, tail wagging with unbridled enthusiasm.

  “Am I being robbed?” Asked a strong voice from somewhere in the house.

  “More like invaded!” Missy called out.

  Scott appeared from the master bedroom and came around the pass through bar and into the kitchen. He bent down and hugged and kissed the kids. Then he hugged and kissed Clay.

  “Queer,” Clay jibed.

  Scott scoffed and wrapped Missy in his arms. She held him tightly, but not too tightly as to hurt his healing wound. A bullet had grazed him under the right arm and broken a rib only a few days before.

  She had to raise up on her tip toes just so he could kiss th
e top of her head. Scott squeezed her back and said: “See? Clearly not gay.”

  “Don’t forget whose wife she is,” Clay reminded him.

  “We’ve had twenty years,” Missy said as they broke apart. “Might be time to get a younger model.”

  “You guys suck,” Clay pouted.

  “To what do I owe this unexpected surprise?” Scott asked them all.

  “Just wanted to see how you were doing,” Missy said casually.

  Scott’s sea blue eyes locked onto hers and he smiled wryly, “Checking up on me, huh?”

  “We were in the neighborhood,” Clay offered. “Figured you had nothin’ going on… y’know… since you didn’t invite us to go sailing or anything.”

  “It’s blowing like twenty over on the coast,” Scott stated, wagging a finger at his friend, “Four to six foot seas. I’m ready whenever you guys are.”

  Missy and the girls grimaced.

  “We brought burgers and corn and stuff,” Declan declared proudly.

  “Oh yeah?” Scott asked, “All ready for a cookout? It’s about lunchtime, should I light the grill?”

  “Why don’t we go over to J. Blanchard,” Clay suggested. “Claim a picnic table and do it by the river. We can bring this guy”—he rubbed Morgan’s head—“and toss the Frisbee and stuff.”

  “Sounds good,” Scott said. “Want me to pack anything?”

  “We’ve got it all,” Aubrey said.

  “Even brought beers,” Shelby said with a wink.

  Scott laughed, “Oh, really? Think you’re getting’ one?”

  Shelby snorted, “No way, that stuff is gross.”

  “Yeah…” Scott said with a smile, “alcohol and boys… blech!”

  “We’re pretty packed up in the truck, though,” Clay said with a frown.

  “That’s cool,” Scott said. “I’ll meet you there. Who wants to ride with me?”

  Declan indicated that he did, naturally. Declan, like many boys, had a bit of hero worship for Scott. Already being a friend of his dad’s and being a bit younger, and therefore closer to Declan’s age… even if they were separated by twenty years… the boy looked up to the tall, strongly built young man.

  “I’m gonna ride along,” Missy stated.

  Clay sighed, “I knew it…. I knew this would happen sooner or later…”

  Missy punched him.

  Scott’s right eyebrow cocked but he didn’t object. As he began to assemble a water bowl, food and some toys for Morgan, Shelby came over and stood on tip toe to whisper, “Mom is worried about you.”

  “Oh yeah?” Scott whispered back. “Mom is?”

  Shelby smiled and hugged him but said nothing else.

  “Okay, let’s have it,” Scott said to Missy as they drove out of the neighborhood.

  “Let’s have what?” She feigned ignorance. “We just wanted to have a picnic with you.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Uh-huh,” She teased.

  He grinned at her, “I’ve got a mom, a sister and a Sharon to fuss over me already, Miss. Not to mention all my guy friends.”

  Missy made a rude noise, “You men. You don’t talk to each other about stuff.”

  “Sure we do,” Scott said. “There’s sports… fishing…and chicks…”

  “Ha, ha,” She said, “I mean important stuff.”

  “Boats are important,” he said with a raised finger.

  “You know what I mean,” She chided with a smile.

  “Oh!” He said in mock revelation, “you mean like feelins’ n’junk?”

  “You’re lucky you got shot,” Missy said, “or I’d frog the crap out of you.”

  “Yeah, lucky me,” he half-grumped.

  “Are you okay?” She asked with such sincere concern in her voice that he had to smile.

  “I’m as right as rain,” He stated.

  “Yeah… you mean you’re all wet,” She said.

  “Nothing that won’t heal,’ He said after a pause.

  “The wound in your side… or your heart?” She asked.

  He smiled and took her hand, “Both. The bullet wound is no biggie. Pretty mild considering.”

  “But the losses?” She prodded. Not many people would get away with bracing Scott Jarvis this way, but Missy Delaney was one of the few who could.

  He sighed and didn’t say anything for a long time. Finally he said: “It’s part of life. Part of what I do. I didn’t know Imani… Ariel… very long, but…”

  “She touched something in you.”

  He nodded.

  “Is that because you admired her and liked her… or is it, at least in part, because of Lisa?”

  He actually chuckled, “I’m gonna kick Clay’s ass for this…”

  “It was my idea to come today.”

  He squeezed her hand, “I’m glad you guys did. It’s always good to see you and… and I appreciate what you’re doing. And to answer your question, I’m not sure. Ariel was admirable in her own right for a lot of reasons. She was brave, smart and dedicated as well as very kind.”

  He smiled at Missy and she actually felt herself blush a little.

  “But yes… I’m sure that Lisa’s leaving as well as what happened to Ariel… and Audrey’s… unmasking…? Didn’t help any.”

  “I hate to say this,” Missy said, “but that Lambert woman only slept with you to screw with your head.”

  He treated her to a crooked smile, “Of course. Why else would any woman want to sleep with me?”

  “Ass,” Missy said and flicked his ear.

  “You’re right, though,” Scott stated with a sigh. “That’s why Ariel’s… attention… came at the right time. But all of it made me think of Lisa. It’s been almost five months, so at least in part, I’m over it. I’ve proved to myself that I can move on and that guilt won’t keep me from moving on.”

  “But you’re not over her,” Missy pointed out.

  He shrugged, “She’s not somebody you get over fast. Maybe I will, if and when I meet somebody else. Yet she’s a strong, smart and brave woman. A person of above average qualities. I’m drawn to that type. I’m lucky to have a few examples of that in my life, too. There’s Sharon, Lauren… and you.”

  “Thanks.”

  Scott beamed at her, “Clay and your kids are lucky to have you. And what’s even better is that I think they appreciate you. As I do. So yes, I’m okay and will be okay. I’m Scott Motherfuckin’ Jarvis, after all.”

  She laughed, “I wish I’d said that.”

  He chuckled, “Since when do you swear?”

  “Sometimes…” She insisted, “it’s just that I’m around kids a lot, so I don’t get the chance.”

  “Well,” Scott said, patting her knee, “don’t you worry, little lady. I’m sure something will come along to make you want to curse a blue streak. Your dishwasher will break… you won’t be able to buy another pair of shoes that you like… your knitting circle will cancel on you… y’know, woman shit.”

  She did punch him in the arm this time and laughed, “You’re an asshole.”

  “Ow!” he whined, “I’m telling!”

  Missy giggled, “Oh yeah? Who ya’ gonna tell, tough guy?”

  “I’m telling Clay on you,” He sniffed.

  She snorted, “Go ahead. What’s he gonna do?”

  “He’ll protect me.”

  She scoffed, “Doubt it. I have sex with him.”

  “Blast!”

  It was the kind of winter day people flocked to Florida for. Seventy degrees and clear blue skies. The food was great, the laughter almost non-stop and the love a true comfort to the detective’s aching heart.

  As Jarvis and his friends were separating, Jarvis pulled Clay aside, “Thanks for coming up today, man. A great idea.”

  Clay grinned and studied his friend for a long moment, “Missy thought you might need a nice family day like this.”

  “Missy thought?” I asked.

  He scoffed, “Of course, I don’t care if you’re sad.�
�

  That was clearly not true. The two men hugged and Jarvis squeezed Clay’s shoulder as he was getting into his truck, “Prechiate you guys!”

  All five of them waved and said good-bye. Jarvis couldn’t help but smile. They’d come just at the right time and brought enough warmth to help to ease his heart a little. He and Morgan watched them drive away.

  “We’re pretty lucky, Pupson,” Scott said to his four-legged friend.

  Morgan indicated that they were indeed lucky. Especially since he’d gotten no less than two burgers out of the deal.

  Chapter 1

  Second week of June…

  The woman stepped through the open door from her suite and onto her private balcony. In one hand, she held a tumbler filled nearly to brimming with pale brown bourbon and only a very little ice. In her other she held an almost full pack of Viceroys with a solid gold and engraved Zippo lighter against her palm.

  The bourbon wasn’t her usual Jefferson’s Ocean Aged or Michter’s and certainly not anything like the rare bottle of Pappy Van Winkle’s she could get her hands on. Neither were the cigarettes her usual Newports or even Capris. Considering that she wasn’t in the U.S., some adjustments had to be made. Certain temporary sacrifices were necessary in order to achieve the greater aim.

  This flexible and adaptable mindset ran to other aspects of her current situation as well. For as she sat on the balcony of her cliff side suite and looked out past the rainforest and over the sparkling Pacific below, she felt that while the view of the oncoming sunset was admittedly spectacular, the five star Arenas Del Mar resort was only just adequate. The room was nice, the service was above average and it couldn’t be argued that the cuisine was delectable. Most people would classify those as absolutely top notch… but then… she wasn’t most people.