Then I saw the shiny metal coil slip over my head. I reached up and felt the lump on my forehead. My headache was gone, but the skin around the lump was tender to the touch. Memories slid in and out in no particular order. I tried to recall the fight but came up empty. How did I fight off such an attack, but only had the bump on my head and a laceration across my hand?
Reaching down, I pulled the cover down to my feet and looked my body over. There were no other marks I could find. It was strange but what worried me more was why he had targeted me. I tried to recall why exactly I was here. The details were there, I could feel them running around somewhere in my head, but always just out of my grasp. Looking around, I tried to make sense of it all but kept drawing a blank.
My eyes caught the wired remote near the railing on my right side. I picked it up, looked for the call button and when I found it, I depressed it and waited for the nurse to come in. It didn’t take long. There was a quiet knock, then the door opened and the nurse walked into the room. Followed by a cop in plain clothes, Marcie in her uniform, and behind her was Ronald.
When Ronald and I made eye contact it all came back to me at once. Then I knew why I was here and what had happened. But more importantly, I knew how I had survived my attack and it wasn’t because of my Bruce Lee fighting skills. I was alive because of Ronald fucking Jacobs.
Ronald had set me up to catch the professor. The same guy who was in the sedan in the parking lot, and the same one in the restaurant. He had allowed me to be used as bait to bring him out into the open. And now it was my turn to boil with murderous rage.
Chapter 23
“I believe I will have the sea bass and conch salad,” Fritz told the waiter.
“Very good sir, and for the lady?” the waiter asked.
“That sounds simply divine; I’ll take the same please,” Linda Hazelton said.
The waiter nodded his approval as he backed away from the table.
Fritz smiled at Linda then picked up his glass of wine to take a sip. The wine was a nice dry red Cab. The menu listed the price at fifty dollars a bottle and he thought it was worth every drop.
She smiled at him and then asked, “So, are you nervous?”
“About what?”
“Your speech. You know, the one you’re supposed to give in a few days?”
He chuckled. “Well, I wasn’t until just now.”
Linda was the chief lawyer for CCO. He had known her for several years, but until recently they hadn’t spent any time around each other. She had worked day and night over the past several months, putting together a prospectus for owners all over the Grand Valley. After several late night sessions, he began to sense she would be open to more than just a working relationship. Fritz had asked Pete to look into her past to make sure nothing would put his position in jeopardy.
Fritz wanted to make sure that the land CCO bought was done so quietly. In order to achieve that, he needed to make sure the landowners were given offers slightly above what the fair market value was. There had been a few who had balked at the offers but in the end, they all came around. It was why he had Pete on a retainer. It had been a long time since he had spent an intimate moment with a woman. His position assured him of plenty of opportunities, but now that he was on the verge of ridding the world of Ronald Jacobs and taking his land in the process, Fritz had allowed himself the indulgence of a quiet dinner with an attractive woman.
“You know, when I was in college eons ago, I spent time on the debate team. I could help you work out any jitters you may have,” she said in a low husky voice.
“Remind me again where you attended college?” he asked.
“Amherst.”
“Nice school.”
“So… would you like my help?”
Just then his phone vibrated. He reached into the inner pocket of his suit jacket to take it out. He held up a hand to her as he checked the incoming message, which read: ‘Check the news.’
Linda watched his eyes go wide and his lips grow into a smile. “What?” she asked.
Fritz looked up from the phone and stared at her. He had momentarily forgotten she was there.
“Nothing.”
“That smile says differently.”
Fritz waved off the comment. “Just a friend wishing me good luck.”
“What’s her name?”
The smile faded from his face, his eyes growing darker. “I assure you it wasn’t a woman, just a colleague wishing me well for my big speech.”
Linda sat back in her chair and crossed her arms. “Fritz, I didn’t mean to insinuate anything.”
Fritz reached across the table for her hand. “Please forgive me. It’s been a long time since I’ve had dinner with anyone other than myself. My social manners aren’t what they used to be.”
She relaxed and sat forward, uncrossing her arms and taking his hand. “No, please, I had no right to ask.”
His eyes warmed to her advance. “Let’s just forget it happened and enjoy our dinner.”
“Yes, let’s.”
***
Max had been trolling the news sites for Western Colorado for the last several hours, waiting to see if Freeze had been successful. Nothing had come across yet so he moved to the message boards to see if Freeze had left word. Nothing. “Damn!” he said aloud. The last time they had communicated, Freeze had said he had planned on a night-time incursion. He looked at the burner phone on his desk for the umpteenth time. Nothing had come in since he had checked it five minutes ago.
This was the worst part, the waiting for acknowledgment the job was either done or in shambles. He closed the internet window and opened another one, this time checking the various security cameras he had scattered across the US. Max knew he was still safe, but the threat from the client had put him on edge. This had to work because if it didn’t, there wasn’t a backup plan.
Max had decided to take a walk around his complex to clear his head and steady his nerves, when the news alert popped up on his screen.
‘Man attacked in local restaurant.’
Max clicked on the link and read the story.
‘A local man was attacked this evening at a local hotspot in Fruita. Police say the man was in the bathroom when he was attacked by an unknown assailant. Police identified the local man as Walter Walker, a high school graduate from Fruita Monument in 1989. Sources told KREX news that Walker was in the bathroom using the facilities when he was attacked from behind. Walker was taken by ambulance to an area hospital to treat what police are calling serious wounds he sustained in the attack. The suspect is at large and police are interviewing witnesses at the scene. This is a developing story and we are following it at this time. Tune in to KREX news at ten for more information.’
Max re-read the story three more times, then leaned back in his chair and picked up the phone to call Freeze but he didn’t answer. He tried not to panic. Walker was alive, at least for now, and they had made no mention about Ronald, so it was safe to say he was alive too. Max thought about calling the client, but decided he would wait a little longer. Hopefully by the time the client wanted an update, Max would know more.
Jessica had spent the last week hiding her emotions from Lori and the kids. It had been difficult and at times she was sure Lori was on to her, but she hadn’t said anything yet. The day she had arrived, Lori had been nervous, as had her new husband, Earl. Tommy and Cassie had squealed with delight when they had seen her get out of the cab. The first day or so, Walt’s name hadn’t even been mentioned. Lori and Jessica had made it a point not to discuss the elephant in the room. However, yesterday Lori had made a passing comment about how he and Ronald were getting along.
The trip had been made at the last minute. After the attack, Ronald had stalked around the house like a caged animal. He came and went at all hours. She wasn’t sure where he went, but every time he returned Ronald had assured her everything was just fine and asked her not to go near the windows, or what was left of them. When he had dragged the dea
d man into the safe house, that had been the final straw. She knew he wasn’t a man free from the respite of the law, but he had promised her all of that was behind him now.
She had to get away from Ronald for a few days to clear her head. When she had told Ronald her concerns, he had only balked at the idea of her leaving. After all, if she left, how could he protect her? So she had compromised her need to be alone and had offered up the idea of them both going away. After all, they had the money so why not just pack a bag and at least get lost in the mountains for a while? Hired gun thugs couldn’t kill what they couldn’t find. Again, he had scowled and stormed around the house until she couldn’t take it anymore.
At noon the following day, Jessica walked into her bedroom and told Ronald two things. One: she was leaving and wouldn’t be back until she could once again feel safe. And two: Walt was going to go into a tailspin now that the divorce was final and he had to allow Walter to come and help out.
When she mentioned her second term, Ronald had almost fallen down laughing. Walter, after all, was a drunk looking to fall off the wagon. He no longer carried a badge and as far as he was concerned, Walt couldn’t catch a cold much less the people responsible for the violation of their home.
He went ballistic when she told him she had already called him and asked him to come out. He yelled and screamed for a good forty-five minutes. She sat calmly and let the storm pass. When he had run out of steam, she tacked on one more stipulation. Nobody was to die, period, end of story.
His mouth was agape when she uttered her last term. Ronald started to shake and then vibrate with anger. But he didn’t argue. Instead, he asked her what exactly he was supposed to do when he had identified who was responsible. Her answer was predictable – let Walt build a case and then turn them over to the authorities. People who were law-abiding citizens didn’t take the law into their own hands.
He shook his head and then laughed at her, telling her she was naïve if she thought the men who were behind this would be within reach of the law. Again she held firm.
“Nope,” she had said. “That’s the way it’s got to be. You need to be free of your past to live like a normal person and Walt needs this to climb out of the hole he’s in.”
Ronald had again tried to dissuade her, even going so far as to remind her of what had happened in Florida. Walt would want no part of any amateur investigation that was going to leave him out of prison.
Jessica had turned the tables again by asking him quite simply, “Why is that again? You were never really clear about what you had done?” She knew a man had died and that Ronald and Walt were both present when it had happened, but he had been vague about the details. She also knew Ronald had left Florida that night, which left Walt to deal with the fallout.
He couldn’t bring himself to meet her eyes. Ronald wasn’t ashamed of what he had done, nor was he particularly guilty about leaving him to deal with the consequences. Walt had, after all, assured him he would be fine. So Ronald had driven up to Tampa and flown home. Walt had been suspended before Ronald had reached the county line and had been fired two days later. Neither had called the other in the days which followed, so that was that.
Jessica had followed the story and had even called Lori to see how things were but when she was honest with herself, her only real concern had been for Ronald. When she was satisfied the trouble in Florida wouldn’t land on their doorstep, her calls to Lori had dwindled to just a few times a year. That had been six years ago. Ronald and Jessica had flown to Florida twice in the intervening years to see her niece and nephew, but they hadn’t called Walt to tell him they were coming.
She felt guilty about that, but not seeing Walt had been Lori’s stipulation. She had moved on with her life. Walt was no longer living with them and rarely came around to see the kids. When he did, his booze-soaked breath had been all she needed to convince herself to keep him at bay.
The first time they had visited Florida, Ronald and Lori had kept a safe distance from each other. She suspected Lori knew what had transpired down in Immokalee, but the subject hadn’t come up and Jessica had decided to let that sleeping dog lie.
Now it was four days later and as she sat at the kitchen table drinking her coffee, Earl wandered in to get a cup for himself. Earl Reams was in his late forties. His waist was trim from the many hours in the gym. His hair hadn’t begun to recede or go to gray yet. The former she suspected was due to good genes, the latter to hair coloring. Earl was everything her brother wasn’t. He didn’t drink or smoke, had never carried a gun in the line of his occupation, and was always home by six. Lori had confided in her a while back that she wished he was a bit more of a thrill seeker in bed. She smiled at the thought of her brother being adventurous in the sack. If Walt knew that Lori still had adventurous urges that Earl wasn’t providing, it would have given him endless amounts of insults to torture both of them about.
“Sorry, we haven’t talked much since you got here. Lori told me that you and Ronald had a fight. Have you talked to him yet?”
Jessica bristled at the comment. She had told Lori things were strained, but had asked her not to say anything. “No, he’s up in the mountains on a hunting trip for the week.”
Earl’s brows furrowed in thought. Lori had told him they’d had a fight and that he was at home right now, refusing to talk to her. He decided to let it pass. After all, he wasn’t really that surprised. Walt was a drunk and he supposed Jessica probably had similar issues. It wasn’t really his business as long as Walt didn’t show up, or Ronald for that matter. Earl didn’t care for Walt and Ronald was alright, but there was something off about him that told Earl to keep his distance. “Well, sorry to hear that. I guess I misunderstood.” Earl decided to change gears. “What’s on the agenda today?”
She shrugged. “I think we’re supposed to take one of those swamp tours when the kids get out of school.”
Earl upended his cup and then walked over and put it in the sink. “Sounds like fun. I wouldn’t mind going myself. I’ll check my schedule and see if I can move some things around. Maybe I can join you.”
She nodded while she drank her coffee. Earl turned and waved as he walked out the back door to go to work.
***
Fritz and Linda finished their dinner and then had cheesecake and coffee for dessert. He was thinking about leading her down a path that would end up with them entangled in his sheets. His thoughts were interrupted by his vibrating phone again. Once again, he reached into his suit jacket to retrieve it. Fritz checked the phone and saw he had another text message from Pete.
‘Things didn’t go as planned. Need to talk. Found our lost asset.’
Fritz frowned at the phone for a moment and then pushed back his chair. “Excuse me for a minute, will you?”
“Problem?” she asked.
“No, just need to take this. I’ll be right back.” He stood and walked towards the lobby to make the call. Once he got there, he looked around for prying ears. Finding none, he dialed the number. Pete picked up on the first ring.
“Can you talk?” Peter asked.
“Not really, I’m on the cell.”
“Then I’ll make this brief. The news isn’t what we expected. And the lost asset you asked me to find has been located.”
“What’s the news?
“Our driller missed his target. One confirmed the injury, but my sources tell me it’s just a bump on the head.”
Fritz blew out his breath. “Great. Where’s the driller now?”
“In the wind.”
“Terrific. And the asset?”
“With family in Florida.”
“Make sure our employee is terminated. Effective immediately.”
“Will do. And what about the driller and the injured man?”
“The driller gets fired and the guy that was hurt, you personally see to it he is in no position to sue. Make sure it’s done as soon as possible.”
“Consider it done. Anything else?”
�
�Make sure we are covered legally. I don’t want this dragged into court.”
“Understood, I’ll brief you in the morning.”
Fritz ended the call and stood for a minute to collect his thoughts and regain some of his composure before he went back into the dining room. He wouldn’t be pursuing Linda into the bedroom tonight.
Chapter 24
“Mr. Walker, what can you tell me about your attacker?” Paul Addison asked. Normally the chief of police didn’t conduct interrogations, but this was different. None of the cops who reported to him had the skills to investigate this kind of crime. In Fruita, they mostly had domestic issues and teenage hijinks to investigate. There were issues with meth and weed, but for the most part, those crimes were left to the county and state to investigate. Attempted murder, on the other hand, was a rare event. So rare it hadn’t happened in several years. So the Chief of Police took this one.
“Paul, you can call me by my given name. You did, after all, try and defile my sister in high school. Then there was the time we drank all that cheap wine together in high school. You remember that, don’t you?”
He blushed and turned to look at Marcie. She, however, was pretending I hadn’t spoken a word. Ronald, on the other hand, turned and looked at Paul as if he were a bug.
“Alright… Walt, what can you tell me about your attacker?”
I shook my head and then said, “Not much. I had my dick in both hands and had my eyes closed.” There would be no point in withholding information from him about the professor. Marcie and the other customers in the bar would have already given him a description.
“Why were your eyes closed?”
“You ever had to pee so bad that when you did, you just closed your eyes and enjoyed the relief? Well, that was me.”
“And both of your hands were ah… occupied?”
“Well, yeah, sometimes I need three, but what’s a guy to do when he’s blessed?”
On The Devil's Side of Heaven Page 17
