Key West Gone into the Night

by Elizabeth Hilleren

  * * *

  R. Sloan’s phone rang. It was McCabe.

  “Cynthia and your dad were in an accident. They’re here at the hospital.”

  “I’m on my way. I thought he just got out?”

  “Yeah, he just left. Sorry, Sloan, just wanted you to know.”

  “I’ll see you there.”

  * * *

  Stephanie packed her things in her hotel room. She then checked out of the hotel and walked to a small Bed and Breakfast.

  “I need a room,” Stephanie said, looking around the lobby.

  The clerk smiled. “We just happen to have a nice one.”

  “Oh, thank you. Do you have a computer I can use?”

  “Sure, I’ll take your bags to your room and you can use our computer room.”

  “Thanks.”

  She sat down at the computer and pulled up the local online newspaper section. She found the personal ads and placed an ad.

  “Grandmother searching for information on the incident that Carl messed up at the Sands Inn Motel. Call 555-8802. I have the ransom.”

  She had withdrawn fifty thousand dollars from her savings account and had it in a bank money bag. The number was for a new throw-away phone she had purchased.

  Now all I have to do is wait. Carl didn’t offer them enough money, and then he only gave them half. I’ll offer them real money. I have a gun to defend myself. I’ll show Burt how to get things done.

  She decided that she needed to get some sleep.

  She got ready for bed and sat watching out the window while she sipped on a double rum and coke courtesy of the room’s mini bar.

  * * *

  Sloan turned to Piper as he closed the phone.

  “What is it, Sloan?”

  “Dad and Cynthia are in the hospital. They had a car accident.”

  “Are they all right?”

  “No, but they’re stable now.”

  The doors of the emergency room swished opened as Sloan and Piper walked in. The charge nurse, Kathy, was on duty and came to meet them.

  “Sloan, your dad is with the doctor. He has some minor injuries but his heart was out of sync. Cynthia has a mild concussion and bruised ribs. The doctor will talk to you after if you will wait in the waiting room. I’ll take you there.”

  Sloan walked into the waiting room that he knew so well. He looked at Piper. “I waited here for you.” His eyes puddled up and he fought to control himself. “It’s a place full of fear and tension.”

  “He’ll be all right. He has to be,” Piper said. “Call Sharkey and see if he has heard what happened.”

  Sloan pushed Sharkey’s number on the phone, and he answered on the first ring.

  “Sloan, I’m on my way in. Your dad was attacked. It wasn’t an accident. I’ll be there shortly.”

  Rex and Roslyn came through the door next and were shown to the waiting room. Rex shook Sloan’s hand.

  “We’re here for you, whatever you need,” Rex said.

  “Sharkey said it wasn’t an accident. They were hit by someone from behind and pushed into the intersection,” Sloan said.

  “You think it was the people who killed Carl Abbott?” Rex asked.

  “Yeah, I do. My dad saw the woman’s face. Killing him was an insurance activity.”

  Sharkey came through the door and joined them. “Sloan, any word?”

  “Not so far. They’re trying to get his heart back in sync and Cynthia has a concussion and bruised ribs and a few cuts on her face, nothing that can’t be fixed.”

  “We’ll find these people. We have people working on it. The officers are talking to people who were at the scene.”

  The doctor entered the room and asked to speak to Sloan. They walked out into the corridor.

  “Your father’s heart is back in sync and he sustained other minor injuries. They had their seats belts on, or it could have been much worse.”

  Sloan felt his heart beating in his temple. The doctor was watching him closely.

  “You need to sit down, and I’ll have the nurse check you out. Nurse. Attend to Mr. Sloan, please.”

  A young nurse guided Sloan to a chair. “Let me make sure your vitals are good.” She smiled. “You’re dealing with a lot this morning.”

  Sloan sat down in a chair and she took his blood pressure and pulse.

  “Take some deep breaths for me. That’s it.”

  “You’re in a little bit of shock. I’ll bring you some cold water. Stay here.”

  Piper walked over. “You all right?”

  “Yeah. It all just hit me hard.”

  “Try and relax. He’s in God’s good hands.”

  Sloan held on to Piper’s hand tightly.

  Rex and Sharkey sat together.

  “I’ve got to get going and check on the scene. There was foul play here.”

  “We’ll stay with Sloan and Piper,” said Rex.

  “I’ll be in touch. Let me know if anything happens here.”

  “Will do.”

  * * *

  Sloan sent Piper and Rex home to get some sleep. He sat down in a soft chair with a footrest and finally fell asleep. He awoke to the smell of coffee and Nurse Kathy White standing over him.

  “Hey,” she said softly. “Here’s some coffee and a sandwich from the cafeteria.”

  “Thanks, Kathy.”

  “I have some encouraging news. Your dad and Cynthia are much better. The doctor said you can visit them shortly.”

  She set the tray on the table and Sloan sat down and ate. A doctor stopped by his chair.

  “Mr. Sloan, I trust the nurse told you that you can see your father and Cynthia soon?”

  “Yes. How are they doing?”

  “Cynthia has a concussion and some bruised ribs but nothing to worry about.”

  “I’ll see them after a little freshening up.”

  “I’ll keep you posted.”

  “Thanks, doctor.”

  Sloan finished the sandwich Kathy had brought and was just walking out of the room when Sharkey appeared.

  “What did you find out about the accident?”

  “I was right. The breaks were tampered with and the accelerator was stuck down.”

  “If Alex hadn’t turned off the engine just before the car turning right came into their path it would have been worse, much worse.”

  “You still think it was that couple that Alex fought with?”

  “I’ve got no proof, yet, but I’m pretty sure. The officers got statements from other drivers and people on the sidewalk but I haven’t seen those yet.”

  “I just asked to see Alex and Cynthia. Have you seen them yet?”

  “No, but you go first. I need to wash up a little.”

  “Thanks, see you soon.”

  Sharkey headed upstairs to their rooms...Kathy White was at the front desk and smiled when she saw Sharkey.

  “Hi, Kathy. One hell of a day. Can I see them?”

  “Sure. Visit Alex first and I’ll go see that Cynthia is ready for a visitor.”

  Sharkey tapped on the door and Alex said, “Yeah?”

  “Hey, man, how are you?”

  “Been better.” Alex coughed and took a sip of water.

  “I won’t keep you long. Can you tell me anything about the accident?”

  “It wasn’t an accident. Somebody tried to kill us. Sharkey, it was planned.”

  “Same people who tackled you and threw you in the bushes?”

  “I didn’t see them. But it was them.”

  “Okay, we have an APB out on the car as described by the driver behind you who almost hit them when they pulled back and made an abrupt right.”

  “Bet you find it was stolen. Those guys are out for blood,” Alex said.

  “You and Cynthia were lucky,” Sharkey said in agreement.

  “I know that Sloan is outside waiting to see you, so I’ll get to work. Get better.”

  “Okay, send the kid in.”

  Sharkey saluted Sloan as he headed for the elev
ator.

  “Dad, how are you?” Sloan said, pulling a chair up to the bed. “You could have been killed, again.”

  “That was the intent of all this.”

  “You scared the hell out of me,” Sloan said, looking sternly at his dad.

  “They said it was touch and go when they had to get my heart back in sync.”

  “Must run in the family,” Sloan muttered.”

  “I understand that Cynthia is stable.”

  “That’s what the doc said.”

  “I can’t believe that they came after me with her in the car.”

  “They must be watching you. Sharkey said the brakes and the accelerator were tampered with. Cynthia has been working night shifts. The security in the parking has always been less than stellar.”

  “Piper is at the office trying to hold down the fort, so I better get going. You stay safe. I understand that there will be a guard on duty until they find those two. Love ya, Dad.”

  “Love ya too, son.”

  Sloan stopped next door at Cynthia’s room where the nurse was just leaving. “She’s all ready for company.”

  Sloan’s heart stopped when he saw her. One side of her face was covered with gauze.

  “Cynthia…”

  She smiled. “It’s just glass cuts. The bandages make it looks worse than it really is.”

  Sloan took her hand in his. “Hey, I love you, you know?”

  “You too. How’s your dad?”

  “He’s much better. He loves you.”

  “He saved us by turning off the engine. The car wouldn’t stop. It went faster and faster.”

  “He’s still quick on his feet.”

  “Yeah. You all right?”

  “Better now that I know you and Dad are all right…yes.”

  “I’m sleepy. Thanks for coming.”

  “With you here, there’s nowhere else I’d be.”

  She tried a smile again.

  “Sleep.” He kissed her hand and tucked it under the covers.

  Friday Morning

  Clancy O’Brian came into the main office of the newspaper and headed to Barney’s office. Barney looked up from his computer, irritated to see O’Brian standing there.

  “Who let you out of the backroom, O’Brian?”

  “Ah…sorry, Sir. I thought you should see this.” He held papers in his hand.

  Barney grabbed the papers out of O’Brian’s hands.

  “What’s this about? The personals?”

  “Well…read it,” he stammered.

  “So what?”

  “It…it’s like the other one.”

  “I don’t know what you’re stammering about. Mckenzie,” he shouted. “Get him out of here.”

  Mckenzie rose from her desk and glared at Connor.

  “What did I do?” he asked.

  “How am I supposed to think, let alone work, with him ordering me around? I’m busy.”

  “I’ll get him.” Connor strode out into the main office and over to Barney’s office door.

  “Get him out of here,” Barney growled.

  Connor looked at the young man and didn’t smile. “Come with me.”

  O’Brian looked like he might faint. Connor walked the kid out of Barney’s office. “We’ll be back,” Connor said, “on a coffee run.”

  Barney didn’t look up.

  “It’s just that…this is like the other one,” O’Brian said. “He didn’t read it.”

  “What other one? Walk. Now explain the problem,” he said as they turned the corner and headed for the coffee shop.

  “You know when that woman was found dead earlier this week?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, a few days ago a personal ad was put in my section of the paper. They put me in charge of the personal ads.”

  Connor held the shop’s door open for O’Brian. “Wait here. Sit.”

  The young man sat and watched Connor make his order. He also ordered a bear claw in a separate bag, with a large coffee. Then three more coffees in a tray.

  “Here, give me a hand,” Connor said. O’Brian was handed the coffee and the white bag.

  “That’s enough coffee and sugar to sweeten up the gang. People are a little growly back there. We distribute this stuff, then you show me what you wanted to show Barney.”

  O’Brian nodded.

  As they walked back Connor questioned O’Brian. “This has something to do with the murder of that woman?”

  “No. Ah…it…ah…is more.”

  Connor looked at the young man. “Just take your time and tell me what it has to do with.”

  “Both personal ads were asking about the disappearance of a couple of kids.”

  Connor stopped. “Don’t say another word until we get to the office.”

  O’Brian’s face drained of color.

  “Keep walking. How old are you?” Connor asked.

  “Twenty-two.”

  “How long have you had this job?”

  “Month and a week. I’m trying to be careful.”

  “You did the right thing,” Connor said.

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  “Just Connor, not sir. I’ll hold the door. You take that into Barney. Tell him Connor will solve your problem. Nothing else. Then come back to Mckenzie’s office.”

  “Okay.” He headed for Barney’s office and saw Barney look up and smile.

  “Thanks. Okay, that’s a good lad.” Barney looked in the bag and smiled. O’Brian smiled, turned and left.

  O’Brian entered Mckenzie’s office and was told to sit down.

  “Have a doughnut. And coffee.”

  “Thanks.”

  Mckenzie was also smiling as she took a big bite and washed it down with coffee.

  “Now. What’s up?” Mckenzie asked.

  “Apparently unbeknownst to us, there were a couple of kids abducted the same night that the Abbott woman went missing,” Connor said. “And O’Brian here knows this because there were two separate personal ads placed about it. One a few days ago and another this morning.”

  “What?” Mckenzie’s eyes opened wide.

  “I think we need to go see Detective Sharkey and see if he knows about them.”

  Mckenzie smiled broadly. “O’Brian, good work. You did the right thing. Barney’s just in a bad mood. Don’t worry about him.”

  O’Brian nodded. “Okay. Thanks, Miss Jones.”

  “Mckenzie is fine. We’re colleagues.”

  “We’ll need you to come with us and bring any information that you have on the person who wrote the ad. Billing information would be good.”

  “Okay, I’ll be right back.” O’Brian smiled and seemed to relax a bit.

  “I’ll call Sharkey and tell him we need to meet with him.” Mckenzie called Sharkey and got the okay to come over.

  * * *

  Sharkey wasn’t looking forward to talking to the press. He had already told them not to bother him with questions until the case was closed. He was working himself up to be abrupt with Mckenzie.

  He leaned back in his chair and waited. When the intercom buzzed, he went to greet them at the door.

  “Mckenzie and Connor. And this is?”

  “This,” Connor said, extending his arm toward the young man, “is Clancy O’Brian, our person in charge of the Personal Advertisement Department. You’re going to want to know him.”

  “Good to meet you, Mr. O’Brian. I’m Detective David Sharkey. Just call me Sharkey.”

  “Nice to meet you,” O’Brian said.

  “Now, how can I help you?”

  “Oh, we’re here to help you. O’Brian here noticed a personal ad for information on two missing children from the Sands Inn Motel. The first one was a few day ago,” Connor said. “Then another one came in during the early hours of this morning.”

  Sharkey’s face didn’t change. “May I see it?”

  “This is the first one with the billing information and credit card, and this is the current one,” O’Brian said, lookin
g as serious as he could muster.

  Sharkey looked at the ads and whistled softly. “You say this just came in this morning?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “And who paid for this one?

  “Mrs. Williams.”

  “Oh crap.”

  Mckenzie looked like a snake about to eat a juicy mouse. She leaned forward. “You care to tell us what happened at the Sands Inn Motel?” she said evenly.

  Sharkey leaned back against the chair back and ran his hand through his thick, sun-streaked hair.

  “No, I don’t. Look, as I explained to you before, we have a very sensitive case.”

  “I know what you said. And I agreed to let it go. But now it’s different. Two kids missing?” Mckenzie’s face told Sharkey that she was not about to take no for an answer.

  “I’ll check it out and let you know if there is anything to it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. I’ll handle it. We’re dealing with a very delicate situation. You do anything with the information you have and you’re putting those people in jeopardy if you go public with it. I know that you wouldn’t want that on your heads.”

  Connor stood. “We did our part, now we’ll leave it in your capable hands. Mckenzie, O’Brian, let’s let the detective do his work.”

  Mckenzie was about to have none of it. “Unlike some people here, I feel bad when I lie to the people. Sins of omission are lies. The people can handle the truth. If the police won’t talk to us we should print what we know.”

  Connor turned Mckenzie toward the door and smiled at Sharkey. “I think us mushrooms can hold off for a while, but I’d bet you can guess there’s a time limit on patience of sitting in the dark and being fed horseshit.”

  Mckenzie turned and they left.

  “You did well, O’Brian. Now the police will handle it. Thanks.”

  O’Brian looked nervously at Mckenzie and said, “Sure…ah… thanks.”

  “We’ll talk about it later, Connor,” Mckenzie said, getting into the car and slamming the door.

  * * *

  Sharkey waited until the newspaper trio left and called Harris about Stephanie and the personal ad. Harris answered when he saw it was Sharkey.