As they reached the parking lot, Thomas stopped in his tracks and said, “What will you do if you find Alexander?”
“I don’t think that far ahead. You just get your ass to wherever it is that you are going, and stay there until I tell you otherwise.”
“Okay. And will you give Mark Rinaldo a message for me?”
“Depends on the message,” Derek said.
“Tell him that no matter what happens to my brother, that he hasn’t heard or seen the last of the O’Connells.”
“Sounds like a threat.”
“No threat. Just a promise that he will pay for the lies he told. Him and that whole team of his. My father is already in contact with his lawyer. That asshole Rinaldo and the entire team will be behind bars the second this whole mess is cleaned up.”
“Behind bars may be the safest place for them if we don’t stop your brother,” Derek said. “And, by the way, did that Ralph Fox say anything else when he spoke with your parents?”
“Just that they found a list in what they believe was Alex’s bedroom.”
“And what was on that list?”
“Names. Rinaldo, Mix, Zudak, Adams, Lucietta, Straus, Curtis, my parents, and me. Two of the names had been crossed out in what looked like blood. Adams and Curtis, two of the three killed so far.”
“No one else made the list?”
“I haven’t seen the list. Like I said, my parents had the talk with the cop, and they told me everything. At least it seemed like they told me everything.”
Derek opened his car door then paused in thought.
“You mentioned that there were three murders. Adams and Curtis. Who was the third victim?”
“Don’t know. My parents told me that Fox said the other victim was probably just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Do you know if Ralph Fox contacted the other doctors yet?”
“I have no idea. He just told my parents that he suspected that Alexander is my brother, that he killed three people, that he had a list of names, and that my parents and I were on the list.”
“I don’t understand why your parents made the list. Is there any way that they knew about Alexander and were part of the doctor’s plan?”
“No way. No way in the world,” Thomas said. “You should have seen their faces when they were telling me what Fox told them. That Alexander didn’t die on the operating table at Saint Stevens but was wanted for a triple murder.”
“Why do you think Alexander added your parents to the that list?”
“I have no idea. They weren’t involved at all and are as much of victims as Alexander. You know that my parents, especially my mom, visits the cemetery every week since Alexander died? Or at least, since they were told he died.”
“But I’m sure your parents were part of at least the decision to do the surgery that cut Alexander off from your heart? I’m not a doctor, but I have to believe that your parents had a voice in the decision.”
“Sure, but they have nothing to do with those bastards did after Alexander and I were separated.”
“How much did Fox tell you about what the doctors did?”
“My parents spent at least forty-five minutes on the phone with him. I never spoke with the guy. My parents filled me in with as much information as they could get from the talk with Fox. We still have way more questions than answers at this point.”
“Humor me, please, and tell me as many of the details of the conversation with your parents.”
“Fox told my parents that there was a strong possibility that their son Alexander did not die like the doctors at Saint Stevens said he had. He said that he was reading a lot of notes that went back to 1992 and had a lot of questions for all of the doctors.”
“And did he say what those notes contained?”
“He said that he didn’t know what to make of most of them. He said that it sounds like something ‘fishy’ happened, and he didn’t know what to believe yet. But, he was pretty certain that my brother was not dead. Too many notes referencing the doctors at Saint Stevens and my parents to not think Alexander was still alive.”
“Before your parents left,” Derek said, “you’re sure they didn’t contact any of the doctors from Saint Stevens?”
“The only calls I know they made were to my dad’s lawyer and to the airline.”
“When did their flight leave?” Derek questioned.
“About two hours before I met you here. They should land in another hour. Since I highly doubt Alexander, or whoever is behind these murders, will be able to find them, I don’t think it’s dangerous that you know where they are.”
“You never know, so please don’t tell me where they are staying. I know they’re in the Bahamas, but I don’t need to know exactly where. It’s a big ocean down there and lots of places to be.”
Derek sat behind his steering wheel, turned on the engine of his Buick, and nodded to Thomas.
“I will wait here till I see you get in your car, start it, and drive out of here. I will be in contact as needed. Get to where you’re going and stay there. Understood?”
“Got it. And Derek? Can I call you Derek?”
“Derek is fine.”
“If you do find Alexander, please don’t kill him. He is my brother, you know, and I’d actually like to meet him. I know my parents would too. At least my mom would. Honestly I’m not sure about how my dad feels.”
“You didn’t hire me to kill anyone, and I don’t kill people as a rule. All I care about is keeping you and your parents safe. Now go.”
“Okay. But if things get rough, please don’t kill Alex. Promise me.”
CHAPTER TEN
The man who answered the doorbell ring seemed disappointed. He had the look that only someone expecting someone else can display.
“Doctor Rinaldo?”
“Yes,” the aging man answered.
“My name is Derek Cole. I’m a freelance detective and have been hired by the O’Connells ...”