Page 69 of Wild Tempest

"Harcourt. I tried calling her a few times, but she never got back to me. I thought it was kind of odd. I mean, I would have considered us friends. But you know how it is. Sometimes when you leave something behind, you want to leave all of it behind.” Her plump lips scrunched with a frown.

Veronica was an attractive brunette in her mid-20s. Martin didn’t hire ugly women.

“I really didn't think any more of it,” Veronica continued. “I may have checked her social media page a couple of times to see if she had made any posts, but she hadn’t. I asked Martin about her, and he told me she met some guy and went to Europe with him." Veronica shrugged. "Seemed plausible enough.” With a wistful sigh, she said, “I’d love for some rich, handsome man to sweep me off my feet and take me to Europe.”

"And you say that was about two months ago?”

"Give or take.”

“Do you know if Chelsea has any family in town?”

“I don’t think so. She told me she was an only child, and that both of her parents were dead.” Veronica frowned. “Poor girl. She had just moved here last year. Said she was getting away from an abusive relationship and wanted to start over.”

“Have you ever seen Martin get violent?”

“I’ve seen him in a bad mood, that’s for sure. When he gets pissed, he gets pissed! Best to avoid him.”

“What’s his wife’s name?”

“Camilla.”

I gave her a card and took her information.

Veronica bit her bottom lip. “Does this mean I’m going to be out of a job? I mean, he’s going to jail, right?”

“You might want to get your resume in order.”

She sighed. “I definitely need to meet a rich guy.”

I’m sure Veronica would have no trouble.

I left the office and rejoined JD outside in the parking lot. After filling him in, we headed over to the Trident Tower. With a search warrant in hand, I banged on the door to unit #2207 and shouted, "Coconut County, we have a warrant!"

There was no response.

The building manager gave us access to his condo, so we didn't have to break down the door.

We flooded in with the tactical team and tore the place apart.

It was a nice unit with a large terrace that offered a view of the ocean. Vaulted ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an open concept kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances. Sleek, modern furniture decorated the space. An 85-inch flatscreen display and surround system, along with a pool table and a well-stocked bar, provided entertainment.

We cleared the condo and didn’t find any trace of his wife, Camilla. I wondered if she knew about the affair with Chelsea.

In the nightstand drawer by the bed in the master bedroom, we found a 9mm pistol. Something told me the shell casings would match those found on Whistler Cay. But without a body, it would still be an uphill battle. Not impossible, mind you. We had plenty of circumstantial evidence. Given Martin’s current financial situation, he might be stuck with a public defender.

We bagged the evidence, then searched his boat in the marina.

The New Development was a nice starter yacht. At 36 feet, it was just enough for a nice afternoon or evening on the water. It had a teak swim platform with comfortable seating. Steps led to the main salon and forward helm. A centerline companionway led down to a small galley, lounge, and forward V berth. Sun pads on the foredeck provided a place for lovely ladies to tan themselves in the Florida sunshine.

JD and I looked for any evidence. You couldn’t move bodies without leaving residue behind.

Unfortunately, the boat was spotless.

The faint trace of bleach still lingered in the air. I cringed when I smelled it. Martin was no dummy. He'd gone to great lengths to clean the boat. Upon our initial visual inspection, I didn't see any blood drips, hair, dirt, or anything else that might indicate he stored or transported victims aboard this boat.

I smelled bleach here, but that didn’t prove anything. It was suspicious. But I needed something more.

It was an older boat, circa the mid-2000s. Martin kept it in great shape. But the chart plotter was brand-new. It still had the plastic protector on the screen. He hadn't bothered to peel it off yet. I get it, a lot of people leave that on to extend the life of their display. But this was fresh. It hadn't bubbled or peeled with the sun or elements. There was no wear or tear from daily use.