Justice and Revenge Read online

  Justice

  and

  Revenge

  A novel by

  Holly Fox Vellekoop

  Copyright © 2012 by Holly Fox Vellekoop

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, incidents and places are products of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance between actual events, locations, or persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Other books by Holly Fox Vellekoop, MSN

  STONE HAVEN: Murder Along The River (Avalon)

  How To Help When Parents Grieve: Practical Methods to Help Grieving Parents (Blue Note Books, Florida)

  www.hollyfoxvellekoop.com

  ISBN-10:0615574378

  ISBN-13:978-0615574370

  DEDICATION

  This book is dedicated to those who have supported this novel:

  My husband Ronald B. Vellekoop who is my favorite editor and responsible critic.

  Authors Valerie Allen, Lee and Vista Boyland and Marshall Frank for reviewing the unedited manuscript, making constructive comments, and suggestions.

  Author and editor Mia Crews for her hard work and assistance in gaining publication of this novel.

  My six fabulous grandchildren just for being you: Josh Seidel, Rachel Seidel, Zachary Seidel and Levi Seidel; Elijah Seidel and Cally Seidel.

  To the law enforcement officials, dog handlers and others who contributed their expertise for their prospective input.

  And to those for whom justice has been denied.

  PROLOGUE

  Shivering with fright, the young boy clung to his mother. She wrapped a blanket around him and softly sung a tune to calm her only child.

  His anxious father rubbed the boy’s back, gently repeating his name. “Vincent, Vincent . . .”

  Between efforts at comforting his wife and son, phone instructions were given to Security. A flurry of calls made and received consisted of few words, but plans were in the making.

  “I want you to make them pay for this,” the boy's mother said through tears. “He could have been killed.”

  The father lifted his wife’s chin with his hand. “I vow to you with everything we have, they will be sorry they held him for ransom. They won't get away with it, I swear.” He called long-time acquaintances across the globe with expertise in such things.

  “We’ll gather tomorrow with our ideas,” some offered.

  “This may take time, expense and a dedicated group,” the father said. “But we will get them.”

  CHAPTER ONE

  Cold water from the outdoor shower-head felt refreshing on her hot body. Lissa turned herself about, cleaning the lotion, ocean salt and sand from head to toe, being careful not to dislodge the colored contact lenses from her eyes. She maneuvered her bikini, pulling each piece out from its edges, to allow the water to cleanse the skin covered by the green material. Water coursed over a tiny Atala butterfly tattoo on her supra-pubic region, unseen with this particular swimsuit. She kicked off her sandals and washed them. Bending down and exposing cleavage, she placed the sandals on her feet. Lissa turned her legs about, flexing calf and thigh muscles to show off long beautiful legs. Mindful of admiring gazes nearby, she prolonged the process.

  “Hey redhead,” one of the young men hollered to her. His eyes sparkled with interest.

  “Hey, yourself,” Lissa said back.

  “What’s your name?” he said.

  “What’s yours?”

  “I asked first,” he replied.

  “So you did.” She smiled her best and continued showering.

  The line lengthened, so Lissa turned off the water and another young woman took her place. She pulled a colorful beach towel from her bag and walked toward some trees by the bathhouse. She briskly dried her body, subtly enhancing her physical attributes with movement. When she finished, she rubbed her long, red hair, wrapped the towel around her waist and got a hairbrush out of her bag.

  Several groups of two or three young men, and a few solitary ones, pretended they were there just for a discussion, not wanting to get caught staring at the bathing girls. But they were watching nonetheless. There was the occasional whisper when a particularly pretty girl in a skimpy bikini would take her turn under the water. When two girls got beneath the shower-head at the same time, it brought the full attention of the boys their way.

  One older man was frowning as he watched the males watching the girls, including his granddaughter who was using one of the showers. When his granddaughter rinsed the sand from her body, the old man stood between her and the boys, blocking their view a bit. Occasionally, he would glare at them and mutter.

  “Hey, we're not hurting anyone,” one of the young men said.

  “Move on,” the grandfather replied. When he saw them lingering, he said, “Now.”

  A few of the younger boys went to the beach but the rest stayed put.

  The elderly man ushered his granddaughter further down the boardwalk.

  Lissa was aware of the groups of boys that leaned against the boardwalk railing, watching the females taking turns using the cold spray of water to wash away hours of lying in the sand. The males’ ages varied from early teens to early twenties. It was a pleasurable spectator sport for them. Today, Lissa was their favorite.

  One of the watchers had caught Lissa’s attention, too. A young man the other boys called Craig. She liked that he was looking at her and noticed he pretended to be embarrassed by it. He appeared to be a teenager of about eighteen years of age. Like most of the young men around him, he was slim, with a hairless chest, his skin brown from the many hours spent at the ocean’s edge. He had medium-length hair sticking out from under a “Gators” baseball cap. His bright yellow surfboard rested behind him against the outside of the railing while he took a break from hitting the waves to do some girl watching.

  Lissa was impressed. From what she had learned about him prior to this morning, he was everything she thought he would be and more...youthful-looking with a handsome maturity, self-assured and direct. You sure look full of yourself, and you definitely have the bearing of a teenager. But we know who you really are.

  Craig Bergen was not looking at the other girls. Instead, he kept his eyes on the redhead. He had seen her around and was sure she was interested in him. He felt an instant attraction. He especially liked her long, shiny red hair and fair skin. She was slim and leggy, in her late teens, and he thought her to be perfect. Just what he was looking for.

  Lissa picked up her plastic beach bag, stuffed the damp towel deep inside and readied herself to leave. She passed the staring males and padded on the boardwalk toward her job at the surf shop. Glancing to her left at the one who called himself Craig Bergen, she smiled broadly, wanting to send a signal she was interested.

  He repulsed her, but Lissa was adhering to the Script her group had written. She was baiting the hook.

  The other males appeared disappointed she hadn’t looked their way.

  As she passed, Craig tried to see if she had green eyes. He smiled broadly when emerald gems looked seductively back at him. For him, this was just another easy conquest in the making.

  “She’s a hot one,” she heard one of the boys say.

  “She’s a freakin’ doll,” another one said.

  “Cool it,” Craig said in a voice loud enough for Lissa to hear. “She’s a nice girl.”

  Lissa’s opinion of Craig’s performance jumped a couple notches when she heard him chide them. Her cell phone rang a tune, and she answered it. “I'm sure he'll be here again tomorrow. Maybe I’ll get lucky and he’ll ask me out. If not, I'll make th
e first move.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  “Maybe your little girl would like this color,” Lissa said brightly, holding up a hot pink swimsuit for the mother to see. “It would be a good shade for her, with her hair and skin color.”

  Working in the surf shop provided contact with children which Lissa enjoyed. The work wasn’t difficult, and she had a talent for it.

  “I love it,” the youngster said to her mother. “I want it. And these other swimsuits, too. I want them.” The mother agreed and purchased what her pampered daughter asked for.

  “I’ve been watching you the weeks you’ve worked for us, Lissa. You have quite a way with the customers,” Albert said to her.

  “Thank you, sir,” Lissa said. “I really don’t do anything special. I’m respectful of them and try to find items I think they would like.” She shrugged her shoulders and smiled.

  “You don’t realize it, but there’s more to it than that,” Albert said. “Customers appreciate it when a salesperson goes the extra mile for them. You’re polite, you find the things they like, and you hold the items for them, replacing them on the hanger when they’re done, and do just about anything they ask - all with a smile. I haven’t found too many teenagers who know how to do that. You’re very mature for a seventeen-year-old.”

  “I just treat them the way I like to be treated,” Lissa said. Uncomfortable with speaking about herself and feeling a little nervous the way the conversation was going, she rearranged some stock on the counter. A mental note was made to ramp up her behaviors to appear more like a teen.

  “That says it all, right there,” Albert said. “Even though you’ve not worked here long, I want to reward you for your hard work. I spoke with the store’s owner and told him how our sales have increased since you started this job. He agrees with me that you’ll be getting a raise in your paycheck next week.”

  “Thank you, sir,” Lissa said. “I appreciate it. I can use the extra money for school clothes and books. Classes will be starting soon, and I’ll need to be ready.”

  “Just keep up the good work,” Albert said. “Speaking of which, I think you have another customer.” He nodded his head in the direction of a young male who had entered the store.

  The customer was taking expensive designer eyewear from a rack and looking at them. He fidgeted with each pair, trying them on. “Of course,” Lissa said. “Thank you, again.”

  She went to see if he could use some help and recognized who it was.

  “Hi,” the young man said.

  “Hi,” Lissa said, her heart beating a little faster. Things are looking up. He’s nibbling the bait.

  “My name is Craig Bergen. I saw you at the beach today. Remember?” He smiled broadly and removed his sunglasses so she could see his eyes.

  “Yes, I do,” Lissa said. He’s even cuter up close. No wonder he’s so good at what he does. His looks pave the way for his actions.

  “What’s your name?” he asked. He glanced at himself in the mirror, saw something on his face near his mouth, and wiped it off.

  “Ice cream,” Bergen said with a self-conscious grin.

  “I love ice cream, too,” Lissa said, laughing. “Strawberry’s my favorite.”

  “What’s your name?” he asked again.

  “Lissa. I work here in the afternoons. I usually go to the beach in the morning at the same place where I saw you, then I come here to work.”

  “Maybe I’ll see you there tomorrow morning.”

  “I’ll be there.”

  “I’ll look for you. Maybe we could talk or something.”

  “Sure. Remember, I can only stay until noon because I have to work.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, studying her face. “You from town?”

  “All my life. I love this area. All my family and friends are here.”

  “Great,” he said.

  Bergen put his sunglasses on and carried two other pairs plus three beach towels to the checkout counter. He paid with cash and turned and smiled at Lissa. Just as quickly as he had arrived, he was gone.

  “Who’s that guy?” Albert asked.

  “He’s a young man I met at the beach this morning,” Lissa said. “His name’s Craig Bergen. He seems like a nice guy. He wants to see me at the beach again tomorrow morning.” She beamed.

  “Do you know anything about him?” Albert asked. “You have to be careful, you know. But I guess your parents talked to you about all that. I worry about girls going out with guys they don’t really know. It can be dangerous.”

  Even though it was the first time he had met him, something about the teenage boy didn’t sit right with Albert. It was nothing tangible, just a father’s instinct.

  “Don’t worry. I’m very careful,” Lissa said. “I’ll ask around about him before I get involved. Just to make sure he’s what he says he is. And my parents will want to meet him before we date.” She flashed a big grin. “They’re big on knowing who I’m with and where I am.” She rolled her eyes as if to indicate it was a nuisance.

  Albert was relieved to know that. Young women up and down the east coast had been put on alert since a killer the press called ‘The Beach Boy’ was wanted for the murder or disappearance of teenage girls and suspected in the rapes of others.

  Lissa stopped talking and absently rubbed her fingertips together lightly. She peered closely at the reddened areas and pulled some skin away.

  “Something wrong?” Albert asked. “Your fingers hurt?” He reached for her hands, but she put them behind her.

  “No. No. Nothing. I think I’ve developed a bit of an allergy, that’s all.” She rubbed them behind her back and said, “Here’s another customer. I’m off to make some sales.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  It was early morning and the sun was shining brightly across the sands and out onto the white-capped turquoise water. Tourists and locals were parking their vehicles, opening trunks and removing swim supplies for a fun day in the sand and the waves. As usual, Florida weather was cooperating.

  A dark car pulled up to the sidewalk at the intersection near the beach parking lot, and Lissa, wearing a green bikini with a white cotton over-blouse got out. She put her beach bag across her shoulder and, waving goodbye to the driver, headed for the walkway leading to the beach.

  “Have a safe day,” the driver called to her, before pulling out into the traffic. He watched her in the rearview mirror for as long as he could.

  “You, too,” she yelled back to him. She put in some numbers on her cell phone and spoke. “Hello, Daddy?”

  “Hi, Lissa,” a male voice said. “Where are you?”

  “I’m on the boardwalk, heading for the beach. You know my plans for here, all according to the Script. After that, I’m going to work for the afternoon. I’ll call you from there.”

  “Everything okay?” Daddy asked. He wanted to make sure his favorite caller was safe. This Play was important, but the lives of his Players trumped everything, especially Lissa. Daddy permitted himself moments of reminiscing of his immediate strong attraction to her. She was everything to him, regardless that their love broke his rule of ‘No relationships between or amongst Theater Group members.’ She’s worth it, Daddy rationalized, and permitted the girl of his dreams, kind and sweet, comforting and strong, to occupy his immediate thoughts and emotions.

  “Yep. Talk to you later. Love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Lissa walked toward the water where waves were pounding against the shore. The surf was especially high today with a strong tide. Colored flags were flying, warning of a strong undertow. She determined not to go too far out.

  Lissa spread a blanket just a few feet from the water. She placed her beach bag down and peered inside to make sure the 22 caliber handgun was safely wrapped up at the bottom. She sat down and got comfortable, feeling more secure because of having the weapon. With her knowledge of ‘The Beach Boy,’ she wasn’t taking any chances.

  Lissa’s parents approved of
the hidden firearm ever since Lissa’s sister, Kelly, was attacked in her freshman year at college.

  She shuddered at the thought of her lovely sister’s body, muscles wasting and hands and feet contracting from immobility. Kelly’s promising future was stolen by her attacker Rick Cline. The same Rick Cline who now calls himself Craig Bergen and is known as ‘The Beach Boy’ to law officers.

  Lissa felt saddened about the suffering her older sister had endured during her rape and beating, being left for dead. She reminisced about when the police picked Cline up, they had also confiscated his computer and hundreds of photographs he had bought and sold on the Internet. Some were pictures of foreign women supposedly looking for American husbands. There were also computer files of bondage web sites with images of women being sexually dominated in vulgar, perverted poses by men of all ages and enough pornographic materials to fill boxes.

  After progressing through the court system, like many others across the country, Kelly received no justice to which she was due. Her sister promised to do what she could to change that and was working on it now.

  Lissa pushed those images from her mind to concentrate on the plan for the morning. She smoothed her red hair, pulled back in a ponytail trailing down around her neck. Not wanting to suffer a sunburn, she lathered herself all over with sunscreen and adjusted her bikini, the color which highlighted her eyes.

  The sun beat down on the loose sand, reflecting shells and sargassum weed. Lissa resisted the urge to get up and poke around amongst the drying wrack for sea beans, by-the-wind sailors, sea hearts, and other lovely treasures that drift lazily across the seas, all of which get tangled in the floating plants as they follow the Gulf Stream or Yucatan current and wash up on the shores to be found.