Moonshine and Malice

by J Lee Mitchell

  Jamie fussed with the image, but the quality deteriorated the more he messed with it.

  “Damn, it. The image quality sucks. The city really needs some updated tech.”

  “Don’t you have a program or something that you can use to enhance the image?”

  “Q’Bita, I’m a hacker, and this isn’t an episode of CSI. I’m doing the best I can but there’s limits to what I can do without drawing attention to myself, and trust me, I pushed past that point about two hours ago.”

  “I’m sorry, I know you’re doing everything you can. I didn’t mean to sound critical. I just got overexcited. This is the first solid lead we’ve found.”

  “Let’s finish watching the tape and see what we get.”

  Jamie hit play and the video began rolling again. They watched as Andy’s truck went a few more blocks then turned right on Casper Street.

  “Are there cameras on Casper?”

  “Sorry, Q’B-Doll, this is Castle Creek. We’re lucky they even have cameras on Main Street. Unfortunately, there aren’t any businesses on Casper, so we can’t even hack security cameras.”

  “So, what’s down Casper Street then that caused Andy to turn there?” Hadleigh asked.

  “Hard to say. We don’t even know for sure that Andy’s the one driving the truck,” Jamie said.

  “There were two sets of tire tracks at the cabin. Can we look at the footage both before and after we see Andy’s truck? I want to see if there are any other vehicles in the area.”

  They watched the footage for a few seconds and noticed a small, silver sedan taking the same route down Main Street and right on Casper Street just a few seconds before Andy’s truck.

  “Can you zoom in on that silver car?” Q’Bita asked.

  Jamie backed up the footage and clicked the keys a few times.

  “Bingo, got a license plate number.”

  Jamie slid over to another laptop and tapped a few keys.

  “Shit. You’re not going to believe this. It’s a rental from the Charleston airport and it’s registered to Lyle Chalford.”

  “Lyle? But that doesn’t make any sense. Why would Lyle kidnap Andy?”

  “I don’t know, Q’B-Doll, but what I do know is that rental car companies have GPS tracking on their vehicles, which means I can find out exactly where that car went and where it is now.”

  Q’Bita held her breath as Jamie moved from computer to computer, working his magic.

  “Got it, and I recognize the address. It’s the Social Proof warehouse.”

  Q’Bita jumped up and headed for the door.

  “Let’s go, you two.”

  It wasn’t until they reached the parking lot that Q’Bita remembered her car was still at the cabin.

  “Crap, my car isn’t here.”

  “We can take mine. It’s got more guts than Jamie’s Prius.”

  Q’Bita’s mouth dropped open as Hadleigh lifted her keys and the taillights of a sweet highland-green Mustang Bullitt lit up across the driveway.

  “Um, ya. No offense, Jamie, but we should definitely take Hadleigh’s car.”

  Q’Bita was still wrestling with the seatbelt when Hadleigh punched the gas and tore out of the driveway. They made the twenty-minute drive into town in twelve minutes. Q’Bita almost fell over as Hadleigh made the turn off Main Street onto Casper Street.

  “Okay. Slow down, Hadleigh. We’re almost there. I think we should park a few warehouses down, so they don’t see us.”

  “I’m with Jamie. We don’t know what we’re up against, so we need to be careful.”

  They parked and slowly made their way towards the building. When they reached the edge of the building, Q’Bita spotted Andy’s truck and the silver car sitting outside the loading bay of the warehouse.

  “Well, both vehicles are still here, so hopefully that means Andy’s in there, too. Is there any way to get a look inside without being seen?”

  Hadleigh nodded. “There’s a small window on the other side of the building. The cameras don’t reach that far so we shouldn’t draw any unwanted attention to ourselves.”

  Q’Bita followed Jamie and Hadleigh to the far side of the warehouse. When they reached the edge, Jamie stopped and pointed towards a camera at the corner of the building and pulled out his cell phone.

  “What are you doing?” Q’Bita asked.

  “He’s jamming the camera signal long enough for us to get by it without being seen,” Hadleigh said.

  “Wow, impressive.”

  “Okay, we gotta move, ladies.”

  They quickly made their way to the window and Jamie boosted Hadleigh up to see inside.

  “Do you see anything?” Q’Bita whispered.

  Hadleigh motioned for Jamie to let her down.

  “There’s not much light. I could make out at least two people near the front of the warehouse, but I can’t tell who they are. One was pacing back and forth, and the other is just standing there. They looked like they were arguing.”

  “So you didn’t see Andy?” Q’Bita asked.

  “I’m sorry, Q’Bita. They were too far away for me to see.”

  Q’Bita forced back her tears and took a deep breath.

  “Okay then, we need to get inside and get a closer look.”

  Jamie pulled his phone back out and motioned for them to follow him. They headed back the way they’d come and made their way toward the loading bay. Jamie stopped and crouched down behind a dumpster.

  “Stay here. I’m going to get closer and see if they left the loading bay doors open.”

  It seemed like an eternity before Jamie reappeared.

  “We’re in luck. There’s an open window near the front door. If we sneak along the edge of the building, we’re out of camera range.”

  “So, what do we do when we get inside?” Q’Bita asked.

  “I didn’t get that far yet, but we’ll figure something out,” Jamie said.

  They made their way along the front of the warehouse and paused at the open window.

  “Let me go first, take a look around, and I’ll let you know when the coast is clear,” said Hadleigh.

  Jamie cupped his hands and boosted Hadleigh up to the window. She disappeared inside without a sound. A few minutes later Q’Bita heard a soft caw-caw from the other side of the window.

  “That’s our signal,” Jamie said as he cupped his hands again to help Q’Bita up.

  “You have to be kidding me. You two really are perfect for each other.”

  Jamie lifted her up and Q’Bita grabbed for the window ledge. She almost lost her balance going over and made a less than graceful landing on the other side. Hadleigh stifled a giggle as Jamie appeared beside them quiet as a cat burglar.

  Hadleigh held a finger up to her mouth and motioned for them to follow her. They moved quickly down a hall toward a wide doorway. As they drew closer to the doorway, Q’Bita could hear muffled voices. They stopped a few feet from the doorway and Hadleigh pointed to a stack of crates.

  Hadleigh went first, followed by Q’Bita, then Jamie. From their hiding spot behind the crates Q’Bita could finally make out what the voices were saying.

  “I get it, Lyle, but what do you want me to do? We’re already in hot water up to our necks and we’ll drown if we don’t keep moving forward with the plan.”

  “No, I don’t think you get it, Carter. You killing an old hillbilly is one thing, but killing a cop is a whole other level of stupid and I don’t want any part of it.”

  Jamie clapped a hand over Q’Bita’s mouth before she could react.

  “Q’Bita, stay calm,” Jamie whispered in her ear.

  “Stay calm? Are you serious right now, Jamie? Lyle's just accused Carter of killing Jock and now they’re talking about killing Andy.”

  “Which is why you need to stay calm and help me figure out a plan to stop them.”

  Q’Bita bit down on her lower lip and tried stifling the panic rising inside her but her heart was racing and she was trembling. She watched as Jam
ie crept closer to Hadleigh.

  “Q’Bita and I are going to move in closer and see if we can spot Andy. Go back outside, call Chance, and tell him to get here as fast as he can.”

  Hadleigh gave Jamie a worried look. “Jamie, I don’t know if that’s a good idea. Maybe we should all go and just wait for Chance to get here.”

  “No, I’m not leaving until I find Andy.” Q’Bita protested.

  “I know you’re worried, Hadleigh, but Q’Bita’s right. We need to find Andy and get him out of here before Carter and Lyle take this any further.”

  Q’Bita watched as Hadleigh grabbed Jamie, hugged him tight, then disappeared into the hallway.

  “Jamie, what if Chance doesn’t listen to her? Do you have a plan B? Because I sure don’t.”

  “We don’t need a plan B, Q’B-Doll. Chance will listen to Hadleigh.”

  “What makes you so sure? Chance does what he wants, and helping us, or Andy, is seldom on his list.”

  “Think about it, Q’B-Doll. Chance answers to Red Dixon. Chance is a pain in the ass, but he’s not stupid. If he ignores Hadleigh, and something happens to Red’s only remaining child, I can’t imagine the shit storm Chance would have on his hands.”

  “Okay, good point. I just hope he gets here soon.”

  They waited a few seconds longer then belly-crawled down the row of crates until the voices were just on the other side of their location. Jamie rose up to a crouch and wrinkled his face at her.

  “Ugh, what the hell is in these crates? It’s like a cross between garlic and funk.”

  “It’s truffles.”

  “It doesn’t smell like chocolate to me,” Jamie whispered.

  “Not that kind, dork. Real truffles, the expensive kind you cook with.”

  They both flinched as a cell phone rang nearby. Carter Hawkins answered, had a brief conversation with someone, then snapped at Lyle, “Go open the door. They’re here.”

  Q’Bita heard the sound of feet moving away from them and then the sound of the bay door opening.

  “Crap, now who’s here?” Jamie asked.

  “I don’t know, but this can’t be good. I was terrified when it was two on two but we’re about to be outnumbered, which means we are in serious trouble.”

  A few seconds later the loading bay door stopped moving and Q’Bita heard four car doors open, then close. She eased up slowly and carefully peeked over the top of the crate. She scanned the room and saw Andy lying in a heap on the floor a few feet away. He wasn’t moving. His hands were bound behind his back, there was blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, and tape binding his ankles together. She felt Jamie’s hand grab the back of her shirt and yank her towards the floor before she could get a look at whoever had just arrived.

  “Are you crazy? What if someone sees you?”

  “Jamie, I saw Andy. I think he’s hurt.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Q’Bita nodded but stayed quiet as Carter Hawkins greeted his visitors.

  “Welcome, gentlemen. I’d offer you a drink but it’s the maid’s day off and I’m out of clean glasses.”

  “We didn’t come to make small talk, funny guy.”

  Q’Bita saw Jamie’s eyes go wide.

  “If that’s who I think it is, we’re in serious trouble, Q’Bita.”

  “That’s the scary guy with the limp. I recognize his accent.”

  “Damn, that’s what I thought. Once everything happened with Andy, I forgot to tell you what I found out about those goons. They’re serious bad news, like organized crime family bad.”

  “What the hell are Lyle and Carter doing mixed up with these guys?”

  “I don’t know, Q’Bita, but whatever it is, it can’t be good.”

  A voice Q’Bita didn’t recognize came from the direction of the loading bay doors.

  “Mr. Hawkins, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Gianni Marini, and I think you gentlemen have something that belongs to me.”

  “Mr. Marini, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Gianni Marini did not return Carter Hawkins' greeting.

  “So, Mr. Hawkins, my men tell me that you made a rather unfortunate blunder and killed the man who originally had my merchandise. I trust that you’ve tied up all the loose ends associated with that little misstep?”

  “All but one, and as soon as I get what I need from him, that one will be handled, too.”

  “I’ll drag you down to hell myself before I give you that recipe,” Andy growled.

  At the sound of Andy’s voice, Q’Bita lurched upward, but Jamie grabbed her again and pulled her back down. She lost her balance on the way down and thumped against the crate. She heard a small dog barking and then the clicking of canine toenails coming towards them.

  “Henri, go fetch him before he wanders off.”

  “Shit, we gotta get out of here, Q’Bita,” Jamie whispered.

  “You go. I’m not leaving Andy.”

  “Q’Bita, you have to—"

  Jamie stopped speaking mid-sentence and Q’Bita turned to see Allegro bounding towards them, and Henri close behind.

  “Henri, what’s taking so long?”

  This time Q’Bita recognized the voice of the thug with the scar.

  “Stay put and don’t make a sound,” Henri mouthed to them. “I’ve got him,” he said in a loud voice.

  “Quit messing around and get back here.”

  Henri leaned down and picked up Allegro.

  “I mean it, no matter what happens, do not move or make a sound. I’ll do what I can to protect you, but these are not nice men and they will not hesitate to kill you,” he whispered to Jamie and Q'Bita.

  Q’Bita could feel herself trembling again. Jamie wrapped an arm around her and held her close.

  “I’m sorry, Q’Bita. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Me neither, Jamie. Let’s hope you’re right about Chance and he gets here soon.”

  As Henri disappeared around the corner of the crates, Q’Bita head Gianni Marini’s voice again.

  “Normally, I would just kill you and take my merchandise, but I’m curious to know how the local law man ended up your prisoner and how you came into possession of my merchandise. The two of you don’t impress me as sophisticated criminals, so it seems unlikely you’d be capable of achieving either.”

  Carter Hawkins laughed and Q’Bita couldn’t help thinking how he reminded her of a low-budget movie villain.

  “I’m a business man, Mr. Marini, but things haven’t been so profitable lately," Carter explained. "Partnering with the publisher on the Blocks' book launch event was supposed to put me back in the black. Lyle here was a ringer. He was supposed to win so I wouldn’t have to pay out the big purse, but his incompetent ass messed up and lost to that hillbilly fellow.

  "Things started looking up when I got a very lucrative offer for the Pappy Jock’s Heavenly Hooch recipe, but the old coot wasn’t interested in parting with it. I lost my temper and things went south, but business is business and I need the money, so I went with plan B. The cop is the old guy’s grandson and the only other person who likely knows the moonshine recipe, which makes him collateral damage. After I offed the old guy, I was searching his truck for my $10,000 check, discovered your truffles, and recognized another business opportunity had just fallen into my lap. I think you’ll find my terms quite satisfactory.”

  “Ah, quiet the tale, Mr. Hawkins, but I think I’d rather kill you and just take back what already belongs to me.”

  “You do realize that if you kill us you’ll never find your truffles,” Lyle said in his usual condescending tone.

  “You two really are idiots. The truffles are in that crate right there. My dog scented them the second we came through the door.”

  Q’Bita saw a look of panic cross Jamie’s face as he pointed to the crate they were hiding behind.

  “This one?” he mouthed.

  Q’Bita nodded and saw Jamie go pale.

  Q’Bita heard the distinct sound of a rev
olver being cocked.

  “Salvatore, I’ve grown tired of this charade. Kill these morons, then fetch my merchandise. Henri and I will be in the limo. And do hurry. It’s almost time for Allegro’s dinner.”

  Q’Bita heard footsteps moving away then heard the thug with the scar call out, “Gianni, you want me to waste the pig, too?”

  “Of course. He’s seen and heard too much.”

  “Um, hello. Did everyone forget I’m the one holding the gun?” Carter bellowed.

  A single shot rang out and Lyle screamed like a blonde in a horror movie.

  “Now you’re the one with a hole in your head.”

  “Nice shot, Sal.”

  “Thanks, Lenny. I've been hitting the range in my spare time.”

  “Gentlemen, dispense with the chit-chat and clean this mess up,” Gianni called from near the door.

  “Yes, sir,” Sal replied.

  “Lenny, you handle the screamer. I’ll do the cop.”

  Q’Bita heard Sal start toward Andy, then stop as the sound of a commotion erupted near the door. She could hear muffled voices, then a loud thud, and Allegro yelping.

  “Lenny, go see what’s happening out there.”

  Seconds later, Q’Bita heard Lenny shout for Sal’s help, then rushed footsteps coming from the direction of the loading bay.

  “Henri, what the hell?” Sal yelled.

  “Freeze! Interpol! You’re all under arrest.”

  Jamie gave Q’Bita a confused look. “Did he just say Interpol?”

  Before Q’Bita could answer, Lyle came scrambling through the pile of crates as another shot rang out. Shards of wood rained down on Q’Bita and Jamie as a bullet pierced the crate next to them. Q’Bita rolled to her left and sprang to a crouch.

  “Jamie, get out of here and get help. I’m going to go get Andy.”

  Jamie started to protest but Q’Bita stared him down then pointed toward the hallway and mouthed, “Go. Now.”

  She didn’t wait to see if Jamie listened before she began crab-walking as fast as she could to the end of the row. She peeked around the edge of the crate and saw that Andy had rolled up against a table and was struggling with the tape holding his wrists. She snuck a peek above the crates and saw Sal tackle Henri into the crates where she and Jamie had just been hiding. She sprang forward and ran for Andy.