Forbidden Touch

Chapter Three

"Are you calling from Mariposa? Is something wrong?"

Tears stung Iris's eyes at the sound of her sister's concern. "Yeah, Lily, there is."

She told her older sister, Lily McBride, what she knew about Sandrine's disappearance, including the Cassandra Society. "Ever heard of it?"

"No, I haven't."

"I need to find out more about who they are and if they're somehow connected to what's happened to Sandrine. You got a minute to do an Internet search for me?"

"Don't start playing Nancy Drew with this. Iris. Take the next flight home and let the police handle it."

"They're not handling it, and I don't think they will unless there's someone here to push them into it, I have to stay, at least a few more days. I'll be careful, I promise."

"No, you won't. You never are."

Iris couldn't blame Lily for thinking so, she'd always had an impetuous streak to go along with her insatiable curiosity. But the last couple of years had taken a toll on her impulsive tendencies. She couldn't afford to take too many chances; her body wouldn't hold up.

But Lily didn't know that. Iris hadn't told either of her sisters just how bad the pain had become. Her younger sister. Rose, was still a newlywed who deserved a little uninterrupted happiness, and Lily was eight and a half months pregnant with her first child and didn't need any added stress. Iris couldn't burden either of them yet. Not until she figured out how to stop the pain from rendering her an invalid.

"Lily, please. I just need you to do a quick Web search."

Lily exhaled audibly. "Cassandra Society, you said?"

"Thanks. I'll call you back in ten minutes."

TEN minutes later, Lily told Iris all she'd found, which was next to nothing. "It's mentioned on a few paranormal Web sites, but none of them really say much about the society and what it's about. Do you want me to read what the pages say?"

"No, thanks." Iris said, hearing weariness in Lily's voice. "How's Mc Bride Junior?" The baby Lily was carrying was a boy.

"Playing soccer with my bladder as we speak."

The joy in her sister's voice brought tears to Iris's eyes. She didn't begrudge Lily a minute's happiness-God knew, she'd earned it-but she couldn't help feeling sorry for herself at the same time. Her sisters had found something she'd begun to fear she could never have in her own life.

She cleared her throat. "Lily, I'd better go-"

"Please reconsider catching the next flight out of there."

"Just a few more days. Lily."

Lily sighed. "All right. I'll see if McBride has ever heard of the Cassandra Society, Okay?'

"Okay."

Her brother-in-law was a policeman. If the Cassandra Society wasn't legit, he might know about it.

"Just stay safe, okay?" Lily said, "It's bad enough that Rose has gone all crime fighter on us-"

"Love you, Lily. Talk to you soon."

Iris rang off, tucked her phone in her purse and slumped on her bed, glancing at her travel alarm clock. Almost two. Still plenty of daylight left if she felt like venturing out for another round of "Have you seen this woman?" Or maybe she could start looking for an Internet cafe and look up more on the Cassandra Society herself.

Maddox slumped back against his desk chair, his eyes narrowing as he read through Celia Shore's bio and a rundown of her claim to psychic fame. She listed several mid-tier actors as satisfied clients, and her photo page included images from television and red carpet appearances.

What the hell did a woman like that want from him?

He glanced at the clock over the piano. Just after two. He'd been in Mariposa long enough to adjust to living on island time, but somehow, he didn't think the same could be said of Mr. Charles Kipler. If he wanted to reach the hospital by two-thirty, he had to get moving.

He was tempted to call back and blow it off. But he couldn't shake the feeling that meeting Celia Shore was important. He'd learned long ago not to ignore his instincts.

Iris never imagined she'd have reason to contact "Maddox" again. But her search for an Internet cafe with computer terminals was proving fruitless. Half the people she asked gave her blank stares, and the others had no clue where she could find such a place.

At her next stop, a chocolate-skinned waitress with a Dutch accent couldn't help with her search for an Internet cafe, but her interest perked up at the mention of Maddox's name.

"You want to find Maddox. Go talk to that crazy Claudell at the Beachcomber. He knows everything. But don't fall for his lines. Maddox's, either." The waitress gave Iris directions to the bar.

Outside, the sun had dropped lower, shadows lengthening across the busy streets of Sebastian's commercial district. The day's heat was fading, cooled by the fragrant ocean breeze.

A sudden gnawing sensation fluttered through Iris's chest. Emptiness, as if someone had scooped out her insides and left her body hollow. She tried to sense what direction the feeling was coming from, but it was faint and fleeting.

She looked around her, keeping her movements slow and calm. There were pedestrians moving all around her, tourists and locals alike, alone or in pairs or groups. Black faces, brown faces, people with tropical tans, people with bright pink sunburns and people with milky-white skin dotted with freckles.

A tall redhead wearing a straw hat to hide her pale complexion approached, deep in conversation with a shorter woman with mousy brown hair tucked up under a baseball cap. They passed Iris, leaving a cloud of jasmine in their wake. A broad-shouldered man with sandy hair and a goatee lounged against a building nearby, talking on a cell phone. The emptiness nibbling at her insides could be from any of them.

She ignored the sensation and headed for the Beachcomber, where the waitress said she could find Claudell. By the time she reached the Beachcomber, her feet were beginning to hurt and the sunscreen she'd applied before leaving the hotel was nearly melted off by perspiration.

Her head was pounding, her knees stinging beneath the Band-Aids, and the full spectrum of human misery surrounding her here in the throbbing heart of paradise had weighted down her aching shoulders with an invisible rucksack.

The bartender looked up when she entered the mostly empty bar. He started to look back down at the shot of whiskey he was pouring but did a comical double take at her approach.

Without looking, he slid the shot glass down the bar to a dread locked man sitting at the end and wiped his hands on his apron.

"What can I get you?" he asked.

"A bottle of water and some information." she answered.

For his trip to the hospital, Maddox had donned a pair of khaki chinos and a navy golf shirt picked upon his last trip to Miami, his concession to civilization, and tied his shoulder-length mop of sandy hair into a ponytail at the base of his neck.

It had taken him five minutes to reach St. lgnacio Hospital and another five to find a parking space within sight of the tiny security kiosk. The Harley-Davidson Road King was his baby, and he didn't like leaving it out in a public parking lot where anyone could jack it.

But a twenty passed to the guard in the kiosk would ensure the Harley would be sitting there waiting for him when he got back. Money well spent.

A dark-haired man in an Italian silk suit far too heavy for the tropics stood in the hospital lobby when Maddox entered, his arm lifted in the act of checking his watch. Had to be Charles Kipler, Maddox thought. He had lackey written all over him.

He stepped forward as Maddox approached. "Maddox Heller?"

"Charles Kipler?" Maddox mimicked Kipler's imperious tone.

Kipler's lips flattened into a thin line. "Follow me "

"You might want to add a pretty please to that."

Kipler, who'd already moved toward the elevators, turned to look at Maddox. "Do you have an issue with me?"

An issue? Maddox stared at the man. Did people really talk like that?

"I'm here for me. Not for you or for your psychic friend."

Kipler's expression shifted at his use of the word psychic. "I suppose this is your way of saying you want some sort of compensation."

Maddox bit back a laugh. "No. This is my way of saying I'd like to know what your client wants with me."

Kipler sighed."I don't know. She asked me to track you down and bring you here, so that's what I'm doing."

"Don't worry. Chuck. I'm sure you'll get some sort of compensation." Maddox clapped the agent on his shoulder and crossed to the elevators.

Kipler joined him as he waited for the car to reach the lobby. Maddox slanted a look toward the manager, whose face had reddened. Most of Maddox's irritation faded into pity for the man.

It was hard, catering to the whims of someone who held your livelihood in her hands. He'd seen a lot of men and women play that role in his so-called father's life-including his mother. There were always people willing to linger around the perimeter, waiting for crumbs to drop. But it wore on a fellow.

"How's she doing?" Maddox asked as they stepped into the elevator and began the ascent.

"Well enough. She has a concussion and some abrasions."

Maddox could tell by Kipler's tone that something else was wrong. "Did she tell you what happened to her?"

Kipler eyed him warily. "That's still being investigated."

The elevator stopped on the third floor. The door opened and Kipler stepped out, turning right.

Maddox caught up with him, falling into step. 'What aren't you telling me. Chuck?"

"The name is Charles."

"What aren't you telling me. Charles?"

Kipler stopped in the middle of the corridor and turned to look at him. "She doesn't remember what happened. She doesn't even remember arriving here on Mariposa. Her last memory is of the airport in Miami."

"Because of the bump on her head?"

Kipler didn't answer right away, gazing down the hall. "The doctor doesn't think the injury should have been enough to cause amnesia." he finally admitted in a hushed voice.

"Which means what?"

Kipler's gaze swung around to clash with his, "Are you a reporter?"

Maddox frowned. "No."

"You certainly ask a lot of questions."

"I like to be prepared." Maddox lowered his voice as well. "I"m here out of the kindness of my heart, because your client wants to talk to me. And because right now, I don't have a good reason to say no. But it won't take much to change that."

Kipler glanced down the hall again, "Promise me you won't upset her."

"I don't plan to."

Kipler's mouth tightened again, but he didn't respond except to motion Maddox to follow him down the corridor. They stopped in front of a closed door with the number 312. "She said to send you in alone."

Kipler looked queasy, obviously not happy about that directive.

Maddox entered the hospital room. It was a semiprivate room, all the hospital offered, but the bed nearest the door was empty. He crossed to the second bed, where Celia Shore lay propped on pillows, bandages wrapped around her head and wrists. The bed sheets hid her ankles but he guessed they were probably bandaged, as well. Her eyes were closed, her expression placid, but Maddox was pretty sure she wasn't asleep.

"Trying to read my mind?' he murmured.

Her eyes opened slowly. "Just resting"

And trying to present a pretty picture to the grubby islander, Maddox added silently. He hid his cynicism and pulled up the armchair stashed in the corner of the room. "Your cabana boy said you wanted to see me."

Her lips quirked. "I take it Charles didn't make a good impression?"

He ignored the question, "I hear you can't remember how you ended up on the beach."

"I remember nothing since transferring planes in Miami."

"Mr. Kipler traveled with you?" He tried not to imply anything with the question.

"We had business to discuss."

And a phone conference just wouldn't do, Maddox supposed, getting a little clearer picture of the kind of woman he was dealing with. "What would you have done if Chuck out there hadn't been able to make it?" Maddox asked.

"That wasn't a possibility."

Maddox felt sorry for Charles Kipler all over again.

"What I came here to do was business-related. I wanted Charles nearby if I needed him. That's what he's paid for." Celia gave him a pointed look, "You don't have to approve."

The woman might or might not be psychic, but she was perceptive. He'd been trying hard not to show his distaste for her attitude.

"Fair enough. Unlike Chuck, I don't have to be here, though. So tell me what you wanted to tell me and we can be done."

"I saw you leaving with a woman this morning at the beach. I need to know how to contact her."

Maddox sat back in the chair, surprised. "Why?"

"I wanted to thank her for her aid this morning"

Maddox wasn't quite buying that excuse, but he played along. "I don't know her that well. She's a tourist."

"You normally put your arm around tourists you don't know well?" Celia arched a perfectly plucked eyebrow.

"The heat got to her. I helped her get somewhere cool."

"Aren't you the Good Samaritan?" The other well-shaped eyebrow rose to join the first. "Where'd you take her?'

"I'm not at liberty to supply you with that information."

"I can make it worth your while."

He chuckled. "Lady, I'm not for sale. Tell you what I'll do, though. I'll try to find her for you and tell her you want to see her. Then it'll be up to her. That work for you?"

He could tell she wasn't entirely pleased. Probably wasn't used to being at the mercy of other people's whims. But she finally nodded her assent. "I'll be released from the hospital tomorow. If I don't hear from you or your tourist friend by then, I'll have Charles contact you with our location."

"So you're staying on the island?" he asked, surprised.

"Yes. I came here for business, I intend to keep to my schedule as much as possible."

Maddox stood. "Well, I really am glad you're feeling better. I hope the police can find out what happened to you."

"Thank you. And despite what you seem to think, I am grateful for your help this morning." She turned her head toward the window and closed her eyes, ending the conversation. He took the hint and left the hospital room.

Outside, Charles Kipler was pacing in front of the door. "Everything okay?"

"Everything is fine, Chuck." Maddox gave a polite nod and headed for the elevators.

Out in the parking lot, the Harley was where he'd left it. The guard in the kiosk gave a wave, and Maddox waved back before straddling the bike and strapping on his helmet.

He headed south toward the St. George, trying to figure out how to approach Iris, the Jet-lagged Tourist with Celia Shore's request. From what little he knew of Iris, she'd probably volunteer to camp out in the woman's room just in case she needed help. Fortunately, he could assure her that Celia had Chuck the Cabana Boy to fetch and carry.

Maybe he was wrong about Iris. Maybe her friend had finally turned up and Iris was out on the beach right this minute catching some sun. Maybe she wouldn't give a damn that Celia Shore wanted to talk to her. But his gut told him he wasn't wrong. Iris had Goody Two-shoes written all over her.

As he slowed at a crosswalk on Seville Street near the club district, he heard someone call his name. He turned and saw Claudell standing in the doorway of the Beachcomber.

"Maddox!" Claudell flapped a bar towel at him to get his attention.

Maddox drew the Harley to the curb, "What now, Claudell?"

"Woman come looking for you. Name Iris"

Anticipation fluttered through Maddox's chest, catching him by surprise. Ignoring it, he pulled off his helmet, "You didn't take any of her money, did you?"

"No, sir. I figure you wanna see a pretty girl like that. I tell her you probably at the Tropico."

"Damn it, Claudell, you sent that girl to the Tropico?" Anxiety washed into Maddox's gut on a wave of acid.

"You know them guys not gonna give her no trouble. She safer down there than up at the Tremaine "

Claudell was wrong. Iris wasn't safe alone anywhere, not in her fragile condition. "If she gets hurt, I'm coming after you, Claudell."

Stomach clenching, Maddox whipped back onto the street, weaving through the haphazard traffic congesting Seville. A couple of blocks down, he took a left, heading into a seedier part of the club district.

From the outside, the Tropico looked like a dive. Flaking paint on the clapboard facade suggested that at some point, the place had been painted a lively mango-yellow, but the color had long since faded under the tropical sun. A single wood door sagged off glittering the storefront, about as uninviting an entry way as Iris had ever seen. Figured a guy like Maddox would frequent a place like this.

The street was dark and growing darker, a dilapidated two-story' building across the street casting shadow's on the scene. A glance at her watch told her it was nearly four. She was running out of time before the cocktail party. Taking a deep breath, she opened the sagging door and stepped inside the bar.

The bar's interior looked as disreputable as the outside. A scuffed wooden bar took up the far end. Rickety' shelves lining the walls behind the serving area were laden with dusty, half-full bottles that looked to be on the verge of tumbling off the shelves and shattering on the grungy concrete floor.

Several customers-all men-turned at the sound of the door opening. Most of them wore jeans and faded T-shirts stretched over bulging muscles or bulging bellies. Tattoos darkened their arms and necks and even faces.

It was a biker bar Iris realized with a combination of fascination and dismay. Who knew there were biker bars in the Caribbean?

A large black man with a snake tattoo coiled around his neck stepped away from the billiard table wedged into a cramped space on the left side of the bar. "You lost, missy?"

She debated asking for Maddox, but he clearly wasn't here, and she didn't need to be here, either. "Must have taken a wrong turn." she murmured and backed out of the bar.

The empty feeling that had begun to fade as she approached the Tropico slammed into her chest the moment she stepped into the street. Reeling from the sensation, she groped for the wall, the rough clapboard scraping her palms. She slumped against the bar front, trying to regain her equilibrium.

"Miss?"' The raspy masculine voice was tinged with a foreign accent.

She jerked upright, opening her eyes.

A pair of hazel eyes stared back at her from a craggy face only inches away. It took a second to realize she'd seen the man before. He was the sandy-haired man with the Vandyke beard she'd seen earlier outside the cafe, talking on a cell phone,

"What do you want?" she asked, apprehension clenching her heart.

The man bent closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "I may know something about your missing friend"

Iris stared at him, suspiciously. Had he been following her? "What are you talking about?" she asked.

"My friend Hana Kuipers was at the St. George for the conference, too." he said. "She disappeared yesterday, just like your friend Miss Beck."

Iris couldn't tamp down a flutter of hope. But before she could speak, the door of the Tropico opened, and an enormous Mariposan biker emerged, his gaze moving immediately to the bearded man.

"You bothering the lady" The biker towered over the man.

The bearded man shook his head. "I'm just talking to her."

The biker stepped forward menacingly. "Go back to fancy town, Dutchman."

Iris slumped against the wall of the bar, overcome by the fierce anger coming from the biker. The bearded man looked her way, his eyes darkening. For the first time, the sense of emptiness around the bearded man disappeared, tilled in by a flutter of emotion she thought might be concern.

She looked up at him, releasing a small hiss of surprise. The emotion cut off immediately, as if she'd suddenly run headfirst into a brick wall. The bearded man's gaze shifted.

The biker lunged suddenly, driving the bearded man against the front wall of the bar. The impact made the clapboard rattle. As the biker reared back to deliver a punch, the bearded man rolled to the side in one nimble movement. The biker's hand slammed into the clapboard, splintering the wood. He yelped in pain.

Iris gasped as shattering pain sped through her hand. She pressed her fist into her belly, trying not to cry out.

The bearded man delivered a pair of vicious jabs to the biker's kidney, grunting with satisfaction at the man's howl of pain. The biker slid face-first down the wall, landing on his knees. Iris fell with him, her back aching in sympathy. The bearded man knelt by Iris. She stared at him realizing he was no ordinary tourist.

"Who are you?"

He didn't answer. The door to the Tropico was opening, about to spill a dozen of the Creole biker's comrades to join the fray. Somewhere down the street, a feral growl of a motorcycle approached, getting louder. The bearded man gave Iris one last look and took off running.