Key West Gone into the Night

by Elizabeth Hilleren

  Sharkey awoke with a start and sat up in bed. Camie’s eyes flew open.

  “What is it Sharkey?”

  “I don’t know…I was dreaming.” He tried to figure out what he was dreaming. He took a deep breath and lay back down and rolled on his side so he could see Camie.

  “I’m afraid that we may have just lost Carl Abbott, and now those kids have no parents.”

  “You think he’s dead?”

  “It’s a possibility. No, it’s a probability. The people we’re dealing with are the kind who don’t leave messes. The case just moved to another level. I need to find the body of Carl Abbott.”

  Camie glanced at the alarm clock and saw 5:00 AM.

  She gently touched Sharkey face. “I’m so sorry.”

  Sharkey lay back down and reached for Camie. Holding her close in his arms gave him comfort from her closeness.

  “I think that I’m going to head into the office and see if the lab found anything in that syringe Cruz found.”

  “You shower and I’ll pack you a breakfast.”

  “Thanks, love.” He kissed her tenderly and ran his hand through her silky blonde hair. “See you soon.”

  He met her in the kitchen just as she was pouring coffee into a thermos and then a sipper cup.

  “Just heat up the breakfast bowl when you get to work.”

  He nodded and kissed her again. “Have a good day, Blondie.”

  “I won’t have any problem with that. It’s you who’ll have to work on that.”

  * * *

  In the morning Sloan awoke and looked over at Piper. She was sound asleep with a smile on her face.

  He smiled and leaned over and kissed her lips.

  Her eyes opened slowly, and she took a deep breath. “Hi.”

  “Hi.” His index finger followed the profile of her face. Her dark hair encircled her face like a halo.

  “Morning, Beautiful.”

  “Morning, Sloan. What a wonderful night,” she said, stretching.

  “That it was. It’s almost seven. I better hit the shower. You can sleep in if you want.”

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, he asked, “You want to take a shopping trip to Miami, maybe take Camie and Roslyn? Who knows, you may find a white dress.”

  “That would be fun. I’ll call and see if they’re free.”

  Sloan grinned. “You go, lady.”

  She jumped out of bed and headed for her cell phone.

  Sloan headed for the shower, then to the office.

  He called attorney Chelsea Burke. “Hey, you thought about my offer to become partners with me?”

  “Hi, Sloan. Yes, and yes.”

  “Fantastic. I have some news. First, my lady has agreed to be my wife.”

  “Congratulations.”

  “Second, she might be leaving the office.”

  “No.” Chelsea voice was filled with concern.

  “We’re looking to adopt a kid.”

  “That’s wonderful news, Sloan. I’m so happy for you.”

  “Thanks. I called the owner of our building and he said that I can expand into the adjoining office. I see that as yours if you like it.”

  “That sounds great.”

  “If you want to come over sometime soon, we’ll go over the plans for your office.”

  “Whenever you’re free. Things are kind of slow now.”

  “I have to go see my father this morning. He’s in the hospital. He ran into a nasty guy that decided to throw him into a hedge. Literally, tossed him almost over the hedge. I’ll tell you more later. Bottom line is he’s lucky to be not too badly hurt.”

  “Thank God for that. Let me know when you’re back and I’ll come over.”

  “Good, see you then.”

  Sloan closed the office, drove to the hospital, and was met by Cynthia at the elevator.

  “Hey, handsome, you looking for a dad in bandages?”

  “Yup.”

  “He may have a few cracked ribs. He had a lot of pain when we got him up. Ribs will do that.”

  “At least he’s up. When will he get out of here?”

  “Not sure. They’ll probably just bandage him up unless they find something else. His knee is fine, but had some tissue bruising. It’s going to be an ugly shade of black and blue for a while. But it will still work.”

  “He’s back in his room?”

  “Yes, I know he wanted to see you. Go ahead, he just finished breakfast.”

  “Thanks, Doll.”

  She laughed.

  Alex Sloan was sitting up with his knee up on a pillow.

  “Son, good to see you.”

  “You, too. I just got a report on the way in that said you’re in pretty good shape, for your age.”

  “They didn’t say that. They said I’ll be up and outrunning you in no time.”

  “We’ll put that to the test. Seriously, are you all right?”

  “I’m in need of a good meal, you know, solid food like steak, like the Beefeaters eat, but I’m okay.”

  “Good, because you’re going to have to walk Piper down the aisle.”

  Alex threw his head back and laughed. “She finally said yes?”

  Sloan grinned. “Yeah, finally.”

  “That’s great. You have a real angel. You’re very lucky.”

  “I know that for a fact.”

  “Let her know that.”

  “Now on a serious note,” Sloan said. “You need to be very careful. Those thugs are still on the loose. The fact that you saw the woman’s face, and they’re plastering it all over the city, could be dangerous.”

  “Just so I don’t have to go another round with her or him.” “I know. That’s why I need my gun. I have a permit. I have one locked in my bedroom closet.” Alex’s face was dead serious.

  Sloan looked tentatively at his dad. But knew he would be voted down.

  “All right. I’ll check it out. But they won’t let you keep it under your pillow here. So, you out soon?”

  “Hope so.”

  “All right then, I’m on my way back to the office. I’ll be back later.”

  “Okay, Son, take care.”

  * * *

  Consuela was bringing a tray of coffee to Ricardo when she heard him on the telephone in the next room. She paused and listened.

  “I understand, but you must come and get him. Take him for a ride and dump him off. Tell him his mother will come and get him…make sure he can’t find his way back here.”

  “Good. We’ll see you tomorrow.” He hung up and Consuela waited until he was seated again before entering the room.

  “Good morning. I have coffee and breakfast. Then you must come and see Mateo. He is awake and enjoying his bottle. I love him.”

  “Good. He is ours now. You know that there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do to bring you home to Chile and give you your heart’s desire.”

  She smiled at him. “I know that you would move heaven and earth for me. I love you so much.”

  * * *

  Sharkey drove straight to the station and headed for the lab.

  “Stacy, you got any good news for me?”

  “Yeah,” she said, looking grim. “There are traces of morphine and the syringe was large enough to hold a lethal dose. I’ll send the official analysis to your computer.”

  “Thanks.”

  * * *

  Sharkey went to the office from the lab and fired up his computer. He grabbed the coffee that Camie had made and popped the breakfast bowl in the microwave. Sitting down at his desk he munched on the breakfast bowl while running through the reports for the morning. The desk phone rang.

  “Sharkey here.”

  “Detective Sharkey, you’re in early. You asked for a trace of the phone records from Carl Abbott’s cell. The day you requested us to check showed that his cell pinged off a local tower. He, or at least his phone, was in Key West that day.”

  “So, he was here in Key West. Even though he said he was in Miami?”

  “That�
��s correct, Sir. I can send you a report of his calls from that night to when it stopped functioning. The battery is currently dead or out of the phone.”

  Sharkey hung up the phone…interesting…He’s probably dead now.

  He called up to the Chief.

  “Sharkey, what’s up?”

  “I need to talk to you in person, sir.”

  “Come on up.”

  Sharkey entered the Chief’s office and slid into the chair that Chief Sullivan pointed to.

  “Okay, what’s on your mind? Something’s not right?”

  “Sir, I…”

  “Spit it out, Sharkey, I’m on your side.” His eyes softened and he nodded. “Go ahead.”

  “Chief, Carl Abbott was abducted and most likely killed last night. An eyewitness saw him injected and forensics found a syringe at the scene that the lab said held a lethal dose of morphine. That leaves the seven-year-old son missing without any next of kin except Harris and Stephanie. Carl has elderly parents.”

  “My Lord, people are dropping like flies…stay on it. Any word on the kids?”

  “No, Sir.”

  “Carry on.” Chief Sullivan let out a long breath.

  Sharkey didn’t look like he was through yet. “What else?” asked the chief.

  “Harris is off the radar.”

  “How so? Where is he?”

  “That’s all I know, Chief. But Harris’s gun, phone and badge are missing. No response on the phone.”

  Sullivan leaned back in his chair. Sharkey could practically hear his brain whirling.

  “Harris is good. If he’s in a captive situation he’s at his best. He uses his brain and more than likely he’ll survive. I know he would not go off halfcocked.”

  “I agree.”

  “He called me from a local phone. He more than likely has the battery out of his and will contact us when he’s able. Most bad guys will hesitate before killing a cop. But these guys are ruthless, so I’ve got to say I’m worried.”

  “Okay, at this point Harris is on bereavement leave. He’s one of the toughest detectives we have. He’s seasoned and he can usually take care of himself. I don’t think he went rogue but was met with a situation that he feels he can handle. Keep me informed.”

  * * *

  At nine o’clock that morning, Roslyn appeared at the door to Rex’s home office.

  “I’m ready to take the kids and go to Miami with Piper.”

  “Have a good trip.” Rex smiled and took her in his arms. “I love you so much. You be safe now.” She gave him a big smile and said she would.

  “Hey, Dad, wish me luck. Mom is dropping me at the College for my interview. One of my friends will drop me back home after lunch.”

  “You don’t need luck. You’re as sharp as a tack.”

  Rex hugged Enrique. “You’re almost as tall as I am.”

  Enrique laughed. “I should be. I’m going to start my senior year with mostly college credit courses.”

  “I’m so proud of you.”

  He watched as the gang climbed into Roslyn’s SUV and pulled out. He started to close the door but was just in time to see a green SUV pull in and park by the garage. Harris got out and a tall young man followed him to the steps.

  “Harris, good to see you.”

  “Rex, this is my friend Javier.”

  “Welcome. Good to meet you,” they shook hands, “I’m Rex Jamison.”

  “Thank you for letting me come.”

  Harris nodded to Javier and they went into the house.

  “We have the house to ourselves. The family is off on a shopping trip to Miami. Roslyn left me with coffee and cake.”

  “Great,” said Harris. “You’re in for a treat, kid. She can cook.”

  “Thank you,” Javier said, sitting down in the chair to the left of Harris.

  “Okay, here’s the deal, Rex. This young man is up to his neck in crap.” Harris took a bite of cake and a swallow of coffee. “It’s imperative,” he continued, “that his presence here and his identity is not mentioned to anyone. Even the task force must not know who he is.”

  “All right,” Rex said, “I can assure you that your identify is safe with me.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Jamison.”

  “Please, call me Rex.”

  Javier nodded. “As you wish.”

  “I need to talk to Sharkey,” Harris said, “but I’m hesitate to see him in person at this time. I gave him a heads up and I believe that the Chief is aware of me being under the radar.”

  “Good, so how can I help?” Rex asked.

  “We’re dealing with sketchy thoughts and memories about the man who is manipulating Javier.”

  “All right. In a very general way can you tell me about this man, Javier?”

  “He’s a relative, my only living relative. He assisted me in getting an education in business and taking over my family’s winery in Chile. I owe him a great amount of money and gratitude. He forced me to help him in abducting my child and his mother’s other son.”

  “To what end?”

  “He would take my child as his own because his girlfriend lost her son. This he does for her. He told me the other older child will die immediately if I should betray him.”

  Rex took off his dark heavy rimmed glasses and sat back in his high-backed, rounded, upholstered chair. He was quiet for a moment.

  “Okay. That’s a good glimpse at the whole picture,” he said softly. “So now tell me more about your relative.”

  “He was my mother’s brother. Both my parents were killed in a plane crash when I was about seventeen…just hoping to start college. But after their deaths my father’s business slowed down and was in danger of closing. My uncle stepped in and found me a good business college and paid for my attendance. He also took over managing my family’s winery and kept it going. I did well and graduated with honors. I was able to take over the business and it started making money. My part was running the business end of the winery and promoting sales in America. I travel a lot making export connections. That’s where I met Susan.”

  “I see. Go on,” Rex said, taking out a pipe and without lighting it up placed it in his mouth.

  “I owe my uncle a lot of money. Hundreds of thousands for schooling and the cash loan that the business required to be kept running and improved while I was in school,” Javier said.

  “I understand,” Rex said. “I assume you don’t know where the children are being held or Harris would have the police there?”

  “That’s right. I was not told. I was told my part, for the time being, is to disappear until I’m needed.”

  “Where were you when you saw your uncle earlier here in town?”

  “Harris and I were trying to figure it out.” Javier looked uncomfortable. “He won’t be there. He won’t stay where I know where he is. He’s not afraid that anyone will find him.”

  “He believes that you will not betray him. Okay, so he owns the houses?”

  “Yes…well his corporations do. The official records will not show that he is the owner. He may even have someone else holding the children.”

  “I see.”

  “Does anyone else live at the house where you met him?”

  “No. Not on a permanent basis. This is his base for business here in America. So, his associates may stay there, but only by appointment.”

  “I take it then no one is there now?” Harris said.

  “I believe that is true.”

  “It should be empty?” Harris persisted.

  “Yes.”

  “What are you thinking?” Rex asked Harris.

  “Any reason he might go back there?”

  “He has an office but I don’t think that he would leave anything there that was important. He is like me, a frequent traveler. You become light and mobile.”

  “Okay, it was just a thought,” Harris said, feeling Rex’s eyes on him.

  “Do you have a safe place to stay?”

  “Yes, on Stock Island.”

/>   “Okay. Harris, can I talk to you for a moment in the other room?”

  “Sure. We’ll be right back, kid.”

  They walked over to the kitchen and Rex closed the door. “I get the feeling that this kid is on the up and up.”

  “I agree,” Harris said. “He has the life of my grandson being held over his head.”

  “Okay, the old ‘trust but verify’ is important now. I would like to talk this over with Sharkey.”

  “Sure. I’m going to go home to my honey and relax. He should be fine in the house there. He assured me no one knows where he is. I already checked for a tracker on his car. It’s clean.”

  “Good. I’ll be in touch and if possible, we’ll meet here.”

  “Okay. Thanks Rex.”

  Javier was looking at the books in Rex’s office. “You wrote these?” he asked as they reentered the office.

  Rex laughed. “Sure did. You want to read them?”

  “May I?”

  “Sure. I have a starter kit that you can have with the first six of the set.”

  “Thank you.” Javier grinned for the first time.

  “I’ll get them and put them in your car.”

  “Okay, Kid, let’s get going,” Harris said with a rare smile.

  * * *

  Leslie Graham pulled her car up to the dock of a friend’s house and got the kayak out of the shed and headed for water’s edge. She pushed off and paddled slowly along the bush-lined canal. The sky was clear as only a few puffy clouds made their way across the sky. She continued along, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the clear aquamarine water. An hour later she had paddled around the edge of the island.

  Mangrove trees lined that section of the shore. She found a place to stop for a rest and ate her lunch in the boat. She rested for a while watching the birds hiding in the trees. Continuing on, she saw something floating in the water ahead. Curious, she paddled closer. She gasped and stopped the kayak a few feet away from what appeared to me a man floating in the water.

  She pulled her cell phone out of the sealed plastic bag she carried it in while on the water and called 911.

  “There’s a body in the water. I was kayaking around the island. He’s about three feet from me. I’m in the channel between the salt ponds and the Ninth Street canal.”