by L C Hayden
Leonardo lowered his head and remained quiet.
“You don’t? Then let me enlighten you. All of the inmates will fight for you. The beefiest, ugliest, cruelest will win, and you will become his property.”
Leonardo squirmed and cleared his throat.
“You know what it’s like to be someone’s property?”
Leonardo bit his lips. “Why are you here? Are you gloating? Is this your way of getting revenge?”
“No, this is my way of helpin’ you.”
Leonardo’s eyebrows rose in an arch. “What do you mean?”
“You don’t have to go to jail. If you cooperate, Daniel, Sandy, and I will not press any charges. That only leaves Olivia, and maybe I can convince her it would be to her advantage to not do so.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Because I need answers.”
Leonardo shrugged. “I don’t know anything.”
“I beg to differ with you. You start talkin’ and I can guarantee no prison term. Maybe you’ll get community service and a slap on the hand. You have no prior record. That speaks well of you. Don’t blow off this opportunity.”
Leonardo remained quiet, his lip constantly moving as though he were a cow eating grass. “If I tell you anything, then I’m no better than Sandy. She betrayed us, and that’s what you’re asking me to do.”
“Sandy didn’t betray anyone. She’s simply tryin’ to correct a past mistake. You can’t fault her for that. You’re a smart man. You can see that.”
“What do you want to know?” Leonardo rubbed his forehead.
“Let’s start out easy. The three of us—we took back roads. We didn’t know which direction we were headin’. But you knew exactly which motel we were in. How did you know?”
“You removed the bug from the car.”
“I most certainly did, and I checked for others. Didn’t see any.”
“There are two more. One inside Daniel’s shoe, and the other in Sandy’s shoe. That’s why Aunt Bobbi didn’t have you followed. We always knew where you were.”
The shoe. Interesting. “Thank you. You’re doing a good job. That was an easy question. So let’s ask you another easy one. Where can I find Bobbi?”
“You can’t. She finds you.”
Bronson exhaled loudly. “Perhaps I asked the wrong question. My fault.” He stood up and crossed his arms. “Your instructions were to get The Ledger and Sandy. Correct?”
“Correct.”
“Once you had these two, what were you supposed to do?”
“I was supposed to text Bobbi the special code, then meet up with her and hand her The Ledger and Sandy. And before you ask, she was going to take The Ledger and Sandy to Papa Lazzarone, and he’s the one who decides what’s going to happen next.”
“What were you supposed to text Bobbi?”
Leonardo smiled. “That’s the key point to all of this.”
“One of them.”
“If I tell you what it is, what guarantee do I have I won’t do jail time?”
“I’m a man of my word. I will not press charges.”
“What about Daniel and Sandy? Do you have enough control over them to convince them not press charges?”
“They listen to me, especially when I explain why I did it—or in this case, didn’t do it.”
“I don’t want to go to jail.”
“I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t either, and this is the interestin’ point. You don’t have to go to jail. All you have to do is tell me the code.”
“It’s Secrets are safe.”
“And after you send this text, you’re supposed to meet her. Where?”
Leonardo lowered his head and shook it. “You’re asking me to really betray my family.”
“I’m askin’ you to do the right thing and remember, the judge will know of this. I’ll make sure he’s aware that you fully cooperated.”
Leonardo leaned back on his chair and stared at the ceiling as though he could find all of the answers written somewhere in there.
“You’re wastin’ time.”
Leonardo shrugged.
“The way I see it, the more time that passes, the harder it’s going to be for Bobbi to think you were successful. You wait much longer, she’ll smell a trap, and you will definitely smell the inside of a jail. And not just any jail. I’ll guarantee that I’ll find one that harbors the meanest, cruelest, and horniest inmates. Your choice.”
Leonardo frowned. When he spoke, his voice was barely audible. “She will answer my text and tell me where to meet her.” He threw his arms up in the air as though surrendering. “That’s all I know. I don’t know where she is right now.”
“Where’s your phone?”
“Don’t ask me. The cops took it away from me.”
Bronson headed out. “I’ll be back. Wait here.”
“Where else would I go?”
Soon as Bronson closed the door behind him, he saw Davis heading toward him. “I believe this is his.” He handed Bronson the cell.
“Thanks.”
“You must have been one heck of a good cop. Those are great interrogation techniques you have,” Davis said.
“Just luck.” Bronson accepted the cell. “But thanks.” He headed back to the interrogation room.
“That was fast,” Leonardo said. “Was someone standing outside the door waiting to give you my cell?”
“Seems like it, huh?” Bronson handed Leonardo the phone. “Use it.”
Leonardo opened and closed his hand several times before reaching for the phone. Bronson watched over his shoulder as he texted: Secrets are safe.
Less than a minute later, his phone buzzed. Leonardo looked at the caller I.D. “It’s Aunt Bobbi.”
“Answer it and put it on speaker.”
Leonardo tapped on the green phone and on the microphone symbols. “Aunt Bobbi?”
“Any problems?”
“No. None whatsoever. I had to knock Sandy out though. She wouldn’t cooperate. I don’t want her to wake up in the back of my car seat.”
“Is she tied up?”
“No.”
“Do so and make sure she can’t escape. Put her in the trunk if necessary.”
“I can do that.”
“You have the book, too?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I’ll make sure to tell Papa Lazzarone. He will be so pleased. I’m sure you’re in for a good reward.”
“No reward is needed. I just want to help.”
“Good for you. Bring them to me.”
“Where are you?”
“You’re still in McPherson?”
“Yes.”
“Take 56 out of town and travel east. About ten miles down the road, you’ll see a dirt road marking the entrance to the Earthly Wheat Farms. Three miles down that farm road, you’ll see a wooden structure no bigger than a barn. That’s the headquarters for Earthly Wheat Farms. I’ll be there, waiting for you.” Bobbi paused for a few seconds. “Did you get all of that?”
“I believe so.”
“Remember, if you reach Lehigh, you’ve gone too far. Turn around.”
“Got it.”
“See you in half-an-hour or so.” Bobbi disconnected.
Leonardo cleared his screen and handed Bronson the cell. “Now what?”
“Now let’s you and I go for a drive.”
Leonardo lowered his head and remained sitting down.
Seconds later, the door to the interrogation room flew open, and Davis burst in. “Not so fast.” He looked at Bronson. “I know you promised him no jail time. I’m fine with that. After all, he did cooperate. But we’ve broken enough rules over here to get me fired. You’re not going to ask me to release my prisoner to you. He stays here.”
“Bobbi will get suspicious when he’s not the one drivin’ in.”
“That’s your problem. Not mine.” He crossed his arms, daring Bronson to contradict him. Seconds dragged by before he caved in. “Best I can do is provide
you with back up. You won’t have to do this alone.”
“I’m sure she’s got eyes on that road. She sees a bunch of police cars headin’ in, she’ll run.”
“So, what do you suggest?”
“Check on the existence of any back roads and surround the area. I’ll drive in myself, using Leonardo’s car. Sun hasn’t really come all the way out. Maybe the shadows will hide me.”
Davis nodded. “I’ll get several unmarked cars heading that way.” He turned to Leonardo. “Where’s your car?”
“In the motel’s parking lot.”
Davis turned to Bronson. “I’ll take you there and meet you at the wheat farm.” He looked at Leonardo. “We took a set of keys from you. Is one of them the car key?”
Leonardo nodded and Davis stepped out.
Bronson followed Davis out but stopped at the door and turned around. As he did, he saw a faint smile on Leonardo’s face. But as soon as it appeared, it was gone, leaving Bronson to wonder if he saw anything at all. “You did the right thing.” He walked out.
Chapter 68
Davis turned onto the street that would take them to the Quality Inn. Bronson sat on the front, clutching the bulletproof vest he had borrowed from the police department. Looped to his belt were the two handcuffs he had also requested. Daniel and Sandy occupied the back seat.
“I was thinking.” Davis snuck a quick glance at Bronson. “What do you think about Daniel and Sandy staying with me? It would be safer for them.”
Daniel began to protest, but Bronson hushed him. “I thought about that, too,” Bronson said. “But then I thought better. They can help me, especially since I’ll be basically by myself. They know what to do. We’ve worked out a system. Thanks for the offer, but no, they’ll come with me.”
Davis shrugged. “Suit yourself, but won’t Bobbi see Daniel in the car and wonder what he’s doing there?”
“Both will be in the backseat, lying down.”
“And that’s not dangerous for them?”
“We wouldn’t have it any other way,” Sandy said, and Daniel nodded.
Davis pulled off into the motel’s parking. “Good luck, then. Hope to see the three of you safe and sound soon.”
Bronson and the young couple stood in the parking lot, watching Davis drive away.
“What was all that about?” Daniel asked. “I know you, Uncle Harry. There’s no way you’d allow us to go, not even if we begged.”
“So don’t beg.” Bronson headed toward their room, and Honey greeted him at the door, her tail constantly wagging. She jumped and ran small circles around Bronson. He bent down and patted her. Honey gave him kisses.
Bronson stood and wiped his face. “I want you both to barricade yourselves in this room. When I walk out, move the dresser so that it covers the window, and move the bed against the door.”
Sandy reached for Bronson’s hand. “Speak to me. Tell me what’s on your mind.”
“Somethin’ doesn’t add up.”
“What do you mean?”
“That thing back there.” Bronson pointed behind them, toward the location of the police department. “It was way too easy. First, Davis allows me to interrogate the prisoner. No way anyone would allow that to happen. Then I see Leonardo’s smug smile when he didn’t think I was lookin’. He was mockin’ me. They wanted me to know where Bobbi is. I’m walkin’ into a trap.”
Sandy gasped. “Then don’t go.”
“I need to end this.” Bronson splotched water on his face. “The only way to do that is to stop Bobbi. I have no choice.”
“What about the police? Why can’t they help?” Daniel asked.
“If Davis has been paid off like I suspect he has, who else is tied to Bobbi’s pockets? As long as I can’t answer that, we’re on our own.”
“How can you be sure Chief Davis is part of Aunt Bobbi’s team?” Sandy asked.
“Hoover hasn’t called me.”
Daniel frowned. “Mike Hoover, your ex-partner in Dallas? That Mike?”
“Precisely that Mike. Supposedly, Davis called the Dallas Police Department twice to verify the information I had given them. He also called the Pennsylvania Police. Neither Detective Randig nor Mike has called askin’ me what trouble I got myself into.” Bronson grabbed the car keys. “Not sure if word would have gotten back to Joe Randig in Pennsylvania, but the gossip would have surely reached Mike’s ears.”
“We could leave town,” Sandy said. “Forget about capturing Aunt Bobbi for the moment and concentrate on getting out safe.”
Bronson placed his hand on Sandy’s shoulder. “We are never going to be safe until she’s stopped. You understand that, don’t you?”
Sandy nodded. “I do.” She looked at Daniel. “We do, but you’re only one man going after who knows how many.”
“True, but I do have an advantage.”
“Yeah? What’s that?”
“They won’t kill me until I’ve handed them The Ledger and Sandy.”
“Not much of an advantage,” Daniel said.
“I’ll take whatever I can get.”
“Uncle Harry, I don’t like this.” Daniel paced in the small motel room, groping haphazardly like a blind man in a maze.
“Can’t say I blame you. But I’m not a fool. They’re expecting me to walk right into their hands. That will be the last thing I will do.”
“What do you have planned?”
“I’m still workin’ out the details, and I don’t want to jinx them by talkin’ about them. But here’s somethin’ I want to see happen. After I leave, give me forty-five minutes tops. If you don’t hear from me by then, I want you two to sneak out of town. Call Hoover. Let him know what’s going on. Somehow, he’ll find you and help you. Promise me you’ll do that.”
Daniel frowned. “Like you, we don’t have much of a choice.” He reached for Sandy’s hand. “We promise.”
Sandy nodded.
“Good. Just one more thing. Give me your shoes.”
“What?”
Bronson explained about the bugs. The couple exchanged looks and removed their shoes. Daniel found his first. The tiny bug was located deep inside the top of the shoe. Sandy searched for the same place and found hers. They handed them to Bronson. He pocketed them. “You may want to spend some time lookin’ for more.” Bronson gave them what he hoped was an encouraging smile. “Take good care of Honey.”
“Shouldn’t she go with you?” Sandy asked.
Bronson shook his head. “I want her to stay and protect you.” He headed out the door.
Chapter 69
Bronson leaned on the closed door of the motel room and studied the parking lot. Coming from inside the room, he could hear the scraping of furniture. Good for them. They will be safe.
Bronson stepped away and saw that three doors down, a young couple loaded their three kids in their Subaru and drove off. Next to them, a well-dressed middle-aged woman hurried back and forth between her Madza and her motel room. Each time she headed to her vehicle, she carried another bulky box and loaded it in the car.
Bronson approached her. “Mornin’, ma’am.”
She abruptly stopped and stared at Bronson. “Morning.”
“Need any help carryin’ those boxes into your car?”
Her eyes narrowed, and she bit her lip. “Uh, they’re not really heavy. I can manage but thanks.”
“You sure now? I don’t really mind. I won’t even ask what’s in them.”
She smiled, and her shoulders relaxed. “Okay, sure. I could use the help. I’m a traveling salesperson. Not many of us left, nowadays.”
Bronson nodded as he picked up the first box, thankful that it was fairly light. “You’re probably right.” He set the box down in the back of her open trunk and scooted it down to accommodate the other boxes. “You do this every day?”
“Unfortunately, most days. Depends where I’m going and what my sales presentations look like for that day.” She picked up a box and handed it to Bronson. “Today I deliver th
ree boxes a bit over one hundred miles away, and then I have to drive over four hundred miles to make it to my next destination.”
“Sounds like no fun.”
She shrugged. “Actually, I do enjoy it once I get there. This is the only part of the job I don’t particularly enjoy. Thanks for helping.”
“My pleasure, ma’am.” Bronson loaded seven more boxes. “Any more?”
“That’s it.”
“Okay. Shall I close the trunk then?” He placed his hand inside his pocket, felt for the bugs, and held onto them.
“Yeah, sure, please. If you don’t mind.”
Bronson scooted the boxes enabling the trunk to close. As he did, he dropped the bugs on the outer edge of the boxes. As soon as she opened the trunk and retrieved those boxes, the bugs would fall to the ground. He closed the trunk and doubled checked to make sure it had closed all the way. “There you are. Have a good day and good luck on your next presentation.” He walked away.
“Thank you,” he heard her say behind his back. He raised his hand, waved it, and headed for the sedan he had been using. From the back seat, he retrieved the map and headed for Leonardo’s car. He opened its door and wasn’t surprised to find it unlocked. Leonardo had planned to make a quick getaway if things had gone differently. Bronson slid onto the driver’s seat and spread out the map.
Bobbi would be expecting him to arrive via the main road leading to the wooden structure. She would post a couple of guards along the way to make sure all worked according to plan. But she would also go a step further. Assuming a back road existed, she would post some guards there. He studied the map. Yep, sure enough, a back road wiggled its way to where the structure should be.
That made it harder for Bronson. He’d be trapped whether he came in through the front or the back. But no one would be expecting him to arrive from the side. Seeing how no side roads existed that led to the Earthly Wheat Farms Headquarters, he would have to do some walking which he wasn’t particularly thrilled about, but for now, this remained his best choice.
He turned on the engine and eased out of the motel’s parking lot. It wasn’t long before he could see in the rear view mirror the Pizza Hut with the sign on its median that read McPherson City Limits. He made a mental note of the mileage. Ten miles down the road, Bobbi had said, he’d come across the dirt road that would lead him to the Earthly Wheat Farms Headquarters.
