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“Do you have any rum?”
“In the pantry.”
Ariel held out her hand, “Give me your keys.” Hunter gave them to her, and Ariel hurried to the room, returning fast with a bottle of Appleton’s, a bottle of water, and two hand towels. She poured the alcohol over the handle, rinsed it with water, then did the same thing two more times.
Hunter watched the liquid run off the pavement, forming a plate-sized pool at the edge of the lot. A glossy black, boat-tailed grackle landed on the grass and walked to it, then dipped its beak to drink.
Ariel dried the handle with the second towel. “I believe it is clean.”
Hunter looked at her, “Make sure you have nine-one-one ready on your phone it this goes south.” She grabbed the handle and opened the car door. She looked at her hand, then said to Ariel, “We’re good. Let’s go.”
As Hunter backed out of the parking space, she looked over her shoulder and saw the grackle lying on its back, with its wings open to the sides and all loose looking. She stopped the car and both women exited.
Ariel used a small twig to move the bird’s body. One foot curled a fraction. “It is alive.” She pointed at the small puddle and said, “That’s diluted. I’m glad you didn’t touch the powder.”
“Me, too. Now I want to find these bastards. We’ll stop by the office and check their security cameras from last night.” She checked the rest of the car’s exterior, but found no more powder. When they drove to the front of the hotel, Ariel could tell that Hunter was mad, and not just a little bit, but like she was ready to throttle someone.
Hunter talked to the manager and showed her badge, explaining what happened and that she needed to see the security video. A minute later, she and Ariel sat at a table and punched the Play button to watch the tape. A man wearing a hoodie that shielded his face emerged from out of the shadows, walked straight to Hunter’s car and took out a small bag from his pocket, and then he put something on the handle. He replaced the bag in his pocket and left the way he came. His face was never visible, and he wore thin gloves of some sort.
Ariel said, “He is one of those who tried to kidnap me.”
“How can you be sure? His face is covered. So are his hands. I can’t even tell if he’s black or white.”
“I am sure. His movements, and he is left-handed.”
Hunter ran the video back and replayed it. He was left-handed. “I’ll get you with a police sketch artist today and we’ll see if we can’t catch him. Good work, Ariel.”
“I’m calling the police, too, and report this. Let’s go outside and wait for them. Maybe they can take the bird and figure out what was used.”
The bird was gone.
They looked around and under the bushes and flowers, but couldn’t locate it. No grackles in the trees, either. They stood beside the car and thought of other places to look, but none came to mind.
At that moment, Ariel’s eyes widened. She said, “This one was with the others, and John and Randall stopped them.”
Hunter realized where she was going and pulled her phone. It rang in her hand before she dialed.
She answered and Randall said, “Don’t touch your car.”
“I was going to call and tell you and John the same thing.”
“I called John just now. How about your partner?”
“Call you back.” Hunter said and cut off their call to dial Andre.
He answered, “What’s up?”
“Don’t touch your car.” She told him what happened; that she had called the police, and that he should, call and report it, too.
An hour later, after talks to the police, their supervisors, and two FBI Agents, John, Randall, Hunter, Andre, and Ariel sat down together for the first time since it happened.
John said to Ariel, “The men pursuing you, that started when you ran away from the ceremony?”
“I didn’t see them behind me, but yes, that is what I think. Someone recognized my car, and maybe me, too.”
“And you drove to Dania Beach and hid under the pier all night.”
“Yes.”
