Page 9 of The Captive Missing

“Yessss.” Bee exhaled her satisfaction, setting down the large thermos of booze and flopping face first onto one hammock.

“I can’t even tell you how amazing this is right now.” Val dropped the towels and laid back next to her, gingerly testing the extra wide swing before reclining fully.

For several minutes the two of them absorbed the warmth of the breeze and listened to the steady pulse of the ocean stroking the sandy shore. Val lay on her back, one foot dangling low enough to touch the ground. Slowly, she pushed them back and forth, back and forth.

Finally, Bee rolled over and sat up, adjusting her sunglasses.

“Ready for that drink?” Bee smiled.

“Lay it on me.” Val cackled, then leaned over to retrieve the two cups they had brought.

Holding them steady, Val inhaled the scent of saltwater while Bee filled them with the candied concoction. The taste was enticing and sweet, hiding the shock of alcohol that promised a pleasant buzz. Together the women sank back into the folds of the hammock, shoulders touching, legs overlapping easily. Time like this had become increasingly rare. Who would have known there was something about Cambric they both would have missed?

“So, still no ring, huh?” Val began the familiar line of questioning.

“Nope.” Bee groaned, then gulped at her drink.

“What’s holding him back?” Val asked, staring up at the thatched shade above them. “You guys own this place together and the boat. You’re practically married already.”

“Again, nope.” Bee let one leg dangle over the side of the hammock. “This is Gabe’s house and that is Gabe’s boat. I didn’t help him buy either.”

“Oh.” Val bit at her lip subconsciously. “I guess I just assumed.”

“You know he was an initial investor in two of Jason’s companies.”

“Yeah, but I guess I just didn’t think much of it.”

Val sipped at her drink, remembering how Jason had gone to Gabe to pitch that startup. It was back when they first fled the country, back when he vowed to disappear, back when he promised to give up Riggs Oil.

“The investments have really paid off, Jason’s a genius.” Bee shifted to reach for the thermos and poured them both a refill. “Actually, Gabe has almost paid him back that five million from the FBI deal. Two more payments to go.”

“Wow.”

“Yeah, wow.” Bee shifted to look over at Val. “You really don’t have anything to do with his work, do you?”

“No, I guess I don’t.”

A few birds called from the tree line. Val watched the sway of the palms.

It was true, she had never shown an interest in how Jason made his money. Blame her agency training or the suppressive breeding that had surely gone into her existence. Or maybe in the end, Val simply trusted her husband. She did what he told her to, without much serious thought. And for that matter without many questions. On second thought, perhaps that hadn’t been wise. Maybe she should have been more aware. Then perhaps she would’ve seen this court mess coming a lot sooner.

“I do have a theory,” Bee said, breaking through Val’s reverie.

“About?”

“Gabe and his inability to commit.”

“What do you think it is?”

“Well, he never got to choose to be with a free woman. I think that maybe he still wants to experience that.” Bee exhaled before holding out her cup for another dose.

“You think he’s cheating?” Val picked up the thermos and topped them both off.

“I don’t know.”

“Come on, Bee. He chose you, didn’t he? And he’s been crazy about you since day one.”

“I don’t know if that’s the same thing. We were sort of thrown together, he never got to date or anything. I just think maybe that’s what’s wrong.”

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