by Richard Wren
When the table was placed to her satisfaction, she also saw to the placement of the chairs, and then invited the two to sit. Obviously not happy with the proceedings, but grudgingly accepting them, the two sauntered to the chairs and insolently sat facing the Abbess. The tall one tipped his chair back and put one foot up on the table. They were signaling that they weren’t awed by their surroundings and were in complete control.
Maria returned with a bottle of wine and two glasses and held them up for the Abbess to see the label.
“Excellent,” she said and turned to their two guests. “This is a bottle of our house-made zinfandel. You’re from California and must know your wines. We would appreciate your opinion. We call it Nun Superior, pardon the pun.” She waited for a response to her small joke, but got none. She shrugged her shoulders and indicated that the wine be poured.
Maria made a small production of the event. She first placed cloth doilies before them, and then carefully set a beautiful pair of long-stemmed wine glasses. Next she wrapped the neck of the wine bottle in a cloth and carefully uncorked the bottle. Next she poured a small amount into the glass in front of their tall guest. The whole room was silent during the pouring, and Casey was sure that at one time in her life Maria must have been a waitress and a good one.
Her guest quickly removed his foot from the table and his chair came crashing back down onto its four legs. Both of them riveted their attention on the pouring of the wine. Maria set the glass directly in front of him and gesturing, indicated that she was waiting for his opinion.
He shrugged his shoulders, leaned forward, picked up the glass by its stem, vigorously swirled it, and then to Maria’s obvious consternation, took a huge gulp. As if that was a signal, both servants went into action. With the elaborate show that Maria had put on, no one had noticed them surreptitiously removing the ropes from around their waists. Except Casey who had been hopefully expecting it.
They timed it perfectly. Each had two ropes, and they quickly fashioned a loop from the thinner of the two. Acting together, they dropped their loop over the heads and around the necks of the two and yanked backward.
CHAPTER 35
The glass flew out of the taller one’s hand and both they and their chairs crashed over backward onto the floor. Each grabbed at the tightening noose and started loudly cursing. Both guards backed up to keep the tension tight.
“Jesus, I can’t breathe,” one cried out as he tried to loosen the noose with his fingers.
“Quit struggling and we’ll loosen the rope,”
In a moment, they gave up and quit struggling. The abbess asked her men if they would be so kind as to secure their captive’s arms tightly behind their backs.
When they were tightly bound, she directed them to be seated in the two chairs which had been moved directly in front of her desk. They struggled and cursed all the way until they were forcibly pushed onto chairs.
“Well,” she said. “This’s a turn of events isn’t it?”
“What the fuck’s going on?”
Calmly, the Abbess answered him. “If I understand your English correctly, mister…” she hesitated. “You never did mention your names, did you? And you’re wondering why we’ve treated you as we have, right?”
“Smith.” The tall one offered with a derisive grin.
“Jones,” the other one followed.
Well, Mr. Smith, Mr. Jones, I’m going to read you a letter that will tell you exactly why we have treated you so,” she paused uncertainly, then continued, “so rudely.”
She reached into her desk and drew out the creased and faded document that she had read to Casey and Les earlier in the day. She carefully unfolded it and slowly read the contents out loud.
There was a moment of silence, then the so called Smith said, “That’s not us. You’re making a big mistake.”
“I’m afraid that’s not true, Mr. Smith. We not only have direct physical evidence that you are lying, but your own words have given you away. You told us the first name of the woman and told us the year she was sent here. No one would know that unless they were sent here by someone who knew exactly what happened.”
Casey was astounded. Her deductions had completely eluded him. She was right. Someone had given them information so they could be sure they found the right woman. Then another thought struck him. The only two that knew about the woman being sent to Mexico were Peterson and Earl Lanner, the guy that they thought had killed Shirl in her bar. Peterson was still being secretly held at Smitty’s house, so it must have been Lanner. But why?
The abbess was in the midst of giving instructions about where and how the prisoners should be kept.
‘Please take these two to the same room we gave to our last guests and carefully treat them with the same civility. Oh yes. I understand our last guest had some trouble with a cabinet, and I think you should remove the cabinet and anything in it. Also you should make sure the floor is carefully swept to remove any debris.” She paused and looked directly at the two peons, “Do you thoroughly understand my instructions?”
A large smile on his face, the taller one said, “Absolutamente, absolutamente.”
Casey and Les watched as the two, hanging back and swearing all kinds of retribution, were led down the same stairs that they had been led down so few hours earlier.
Gradually their cursing and yelling faded away as they were led further downstairs. As that sound faded, Casey gradually became aware of chimes ringing softly as if in the distance. After a moment or two, he realized that he had been hearing them for a few minutes, but had ignored them due to everything that had been happening.
Sister Agnes leaned across the table to touch him on his sleeve. “Follow me; it’s time for dinner.”
On the way and still astounded by the Abbess’s decisiveness, Casey asked, “Your abbess, was she a drill sergeant before she became a nun?” Immediately, he bit his tongue and wished he hadn’t said it. He turned to apologize to the sister and found her giggling.
He raised his eyebrows. She reached out and patted his arm. “Not a drill sergeant, but close. She was principal of a high-school in South Los Angeles.”
“Really? A high-school principal?”
“And a good one. Strict, smart, flexible, and tough. Also very innovative. She bent a few rules to make the place a success, and she does the same thing here. Come on, you do not want to miss dinner.”
Not that easily deterred from his mission, Casey said, “Wait a moment. We were just telling you why it’s so important that you accompany us back to the States.”
“It will have to keep,” she answered simply.
Les said, “Dinner sounds good to me. After all, we never had lunch.” He stood, ready to go.
At least she hasn’t said no yet, Casey thought.
Casey had expected a long communal table and austere settings. Instead he, Les, and Sister Agnes sat down at a table for four, beautifully set with linen and silverware. One of more than a dozen also well set tables that were rapidly filling.
Les raised his eyebrows at Sister Agnes as he picked up a piece of silverware and judged its quality.
She caught the motion and said, “We’ve been here for many years, and the locals have been very appreciative. Also we’re in the midst of the Mexican silver region right here. I told you our Abbess was innovative.”
Casey was beginning to get the idea that there was more to Sister Agnes than he originally thought. She had a sense of humor and appreciated someone who got things done.
The dinner was simple, more than sufficient, and they finished with a Mexican flan. No one spoke while eating.
Exactly forty-five minutes after they sat down, more bells started to sound. Everyone stood up and started to leave. Sister Agnes suggested the three of them stay at the table and talk.
“Exactly what is it that you would require of me?” She asked.
Casey had been hoping she would ask such a question and had rehearsed his answer. He briefly restated the case to
her and explained about Josie, her father, and the rest of the group. She didn’t raise her eyebrows when the motorcycle gang or Gus’s history as a con man were mentioned.
He finished with, “We need you to give us names and whatever you remember to confirm our suspicions, and then you would probably be called upon to testify.”
“Well. I appreciate the fact that you’re not sugarcoating the facts, and I’m inclined to go with you and I’ll tell you why. First, I wasn’t Catholic when I was kidnapped, and I certainly never intended to become a nun. When I got here, I’d been raped, kidnapped, and moved to a different country all within a matter of weeks. The nunnery seemed like an oasis to me. I guess it was inevitable that I converted to Catholicism and became a nun. But I don’t think I’m a good nun, at least not like the others here; they’re so dedicated. My life here has been more secretarial than theological. What I’m saying is that what you’re offering is maybe meant to be.” She paused for a moment. “Will you be able to provide for my safety?”
Casey had anticipated this and said, “Absolutely. There’s an almost private suite in my father-in-law’s house where my wife used to stay. It’s entirely self-contained and very safe what with several of his friends at the house almost all the time.” He paused and reflected. “What about your citizenship and a passport?”
“All taken care of,” She answered.
Casey and Les looked at each other in amused surprise. “So you had already decided?” Casey asked.
“Not quite. But the Abbess and I decided that if I were to go, I would need both citizenship and a passport. Even though I’m still an American citizen, I guess, she thought it best for me to go back as a citizen of Mexico. She said that as far as the church was concerned, I had been reborn when I took the vows and was therefore a citizen of Mexico.”
“The Abbess said that? Wow!”
“Not for public consumption and with a twinkle in her eyes, but yes. Furthermore, she told me that the church has many connections and if names and money had to change hands, it would. Also my papers will be at the airport chapel by tomorrow morning.”
“She could do all that? Even the…” he hesitated, “bribery part?”
“Of course,” she instantly replied. “After all this is Mexico; the peso is king, and it’s necessary for the nunnery to be practical in order to survive. Besides, she really enjoys tweaking the Mexican authorities.
“We’re going to need another ticket. I better call,” Les volunteered.
“You better fill Smitty in on everything and tell Josie that our guest’s going to take over her old rooms. And for God’s sake, be sure and remind Smitty that she’s a nun.”
Sister Agnes, who was still sitting with them and overheard Casey’s end of the conversation, said, “He’s that much of a reprobate?”
Les and Casey looked at each other and then chimed in together, “Oh yeah.”
“Well! He sounds interesting! Maybe I’m about ready to do a little reprobating myself,” she laughed.
Casey thought, There’s no end to surprises with this nun.
CHAPTER 36
Promptly at 6:00 a.m. the next morning, the bells started ringing again. Shortly thereafter, Casey’s cell phone buzzed. “I thought they said breakfast was at seven,” Les complained.
“I think it is, and that was a wake-up call. Regimented, aren’t they?”
No sooner had he hung up, but his phone buzzed again. The caller ID showed Smith.
“G’morning, Smitty, did you get the tickets okay?”
“You should ask? Of course I did, that’s why I called. They have a computer down there?”
“They must, why?”
“Because Josie said that if they have a computer and a printer, I can have the tickets forwarded there, and you guys can print them and you’ll be all set.”
“Great idea. Let me check with someone and I’ll call you right back. What time’s the flight?”
“Four fifty, but they say you have to be there an hour early.”
“Call you right back.”
Following his nose, Casey found Sister Agnes in the dining room helping to set tables. He spent some time following black-habited sisters and peering at their faces until he found her dressed in a conservative suit and looking quite smart. She confirmed they had a computer and a printer and they were state of the art and she could do even better.
“Give me your e-mail address, and I’ll e-mail them right now. Then they can just hit reply and send everything in an instant.” While she was working at the computer Casey studied her more closely. It must be the cloistered life; she doesn’t look a day over forty, he thought. Her hair was cut short and was streaky gray. He categorized her face as a happy one with an upturned mouth and laugh lines around her eyes. He knew her to be in her mid-fifties, but she radiated youthfulness.
In a moment, it was done and shortly thereafter, bells began to ring again.
“I assume that’s breakfast?” Les asked.
“It is and you don’t want to miss it,” she mischievously replied.
“I didn’t know nuns were allowed to wear regular clothes?” He asked Les as they walked behind the sister.
“Really? Sure they can. Anything they want, but they’re usually pretty conservative.”
Casey eyed her trim form as she walked in front of them. “She’s kinda cute, isn’t she?”
“I wonder what’s so good for breakfast?” Les rejoined.
They caught up with her at their table and discovered that breakfast was sausage, eggs, hash browns, and coffeecake. The sister caught the surprised look on Casey’s face.
“Breakfast like a king, lunch like a queen and dinner like a pauper.” She smiled. “Breakfast like a king may seem a little inappropriate for a nunnery, but it seems to work.”
“We need to leave about noon. It’s only thirty miles to the capital, but Mexican roads are totally unreliable, and we need to get there early to pick up my tickets,” Sister Agnes advised them.
At eleven thirty, they met in the Abbess’s office. Sister Agnes had a small black bag and was carrying a jacket.
“Is that it?” Casey asked, expecting at least a large suitcase.
“That’s it,” she replied with a knowing smile. “We nun’s travel light and trust to the Lord.”
Casey glanced at himself and Les. Both were wearing yesterday’s wrinkled clothing and spots on Casey’s shirt had a light pink coloring where he had diligently scrubbed blood off.
“Us too, I guess,” he replied. “Do we need to call a taxi?”
“Oh no,” the Abbess interjected. “Our driver’s taking you.” She nodded toward the corner of the room. The taller of their two jailers who had imprisoned them and kicked Casey stood up and walked toward them.
Les nudged him and whispered. “Poetic, ain’t it. First they try to kill us; then they help us get home.”
The Abbess abruptly dismissed them. “God be with you,” she said and turned around in her chair toward a computer.
Two hours later, after several stops for road maintenance work and one detour, they arrived at the airport. The sister’s papers were waiting as expected, and they had time for a quick snack before boarding.
Before leaving the nunnery the sister had modified her outfit. Now she had a high collared, priest-like blouse under her jacket and was wearing a modified veil-like hair covering which clearly signified that she was a nun. As they boarded the AeroMexico plane, she was accorded extra care as soon as the steward noticed she was a nun. Casey and Les were left in the lurch. She was seated in a front row where she had extra leg room, and they were crowded into two aisle seats in a four seat row. After they were seated she leaned into the aisle and catching Casey’s eye, winked.
Casey couldn’t help but laugh. He turned to Les, “I think she’s enjoying this too much.”
At the Oakland airport, Josie and Smitty were waiting for them.
Josie, having been raised as a Catholic, took charge. Casey noticed she seem
ed abnormally quiet.
“Sister Agnes?” She introduced herself and Smitty and then led them to a large chauffeured sedan waiting at the curb.
Josie ushered the Sister into the sedan, made sure she was comfortable, then indicated to Casey and Les that they should join her and Smitty outside the limo and away from the sister’s hearing.
“What’s up?” Casey asked.
“Somebody tried to kill Gus,” Josie tearfully said.
CHAPTER 37
It took a moment for what she said to register with Casey. “In jail?” he asked in disbelief.
Smitty answered. “With a shiv, the son of a bitch.”
“You said somebody tried, that mean he’s okay?”
Josie answered. “We don’t know. He was bleeding heavily internally and lost a lot of blood before they found him. He’s in emergency at Peralta. The doctors say there’s a chance they can save him.”
“Shouldn’t we be there?” Casey asked.
“We just left the hospital. The doctors said there’s nothing we can do, but wait and pray. We’re going to stop on the way home. The Docs say its touch and go right now.”
“What the hell happened?” Les said. “Did he get in a fight or something?”
“No way. Not Gus. Nope, this was a pure murder attempt.” Smitty swore.
“Jesus,” Les said then repeated it. “Jesus. Poor Gus.”
“What’re the cops doing?” Casey angrily directed his question to Josie.
Josie wiped her eyes and blew her nose. “As far as I can find, out not much,” she replied. “Marilyn got in touch with one of her buddies at the jail, and they’re treating it like just another jailhouse fight. She said the D.A.’s office was kind of ignoring the whole incident, like they just didn’t want to get involved, except the whole jail is locked down.”
“How come he lost so much blood, aren’t the jailers trained in first aid?” Casey again questioned.
“Marilyn said all she knew was that he had been stabbed and was in the emergency room.
Smitty was silent for a couple of moments, then said, “You know what this means don’t you. Someone’s trying to silence Gus in hopes that’ll bring a close to the old case being re-opened.”
