I fed the dogs while Rosey washed and dried the dishes. We insisted that Starnes take it easy after she had fixed such a grand feast for our coming.
The dogs were snoozing in front of the empty fireplace. Rosey sat down on the couch next to Starnes and I sat down in Spud Carver’s favorite chair.
“So who’s chasing your tail?” Starnes said to Rosey.
“Specifically or generally?”
“I like specifics.”
“Don’t know. Whoever a former employer sends after me,” Rosey said.
“Dissatisfied boss?” she said.
“Not sure. I’m still working on the details. Truth is I have no idea why I’m the target.”
“You don’t know what you did.”
“Not a clue.”
“Bummer. If someone was trying to ice me, I’d like to know what I did to irritate them,” Starnes said.
“Might be your churlish charm,” I said.
“You’re wasting those twenty-four dollar words on me. Spit it out.”
“Did someone say truculent?”
“You’re going in the wrong direction if you want to communicate.”
“That which makes you the type of stickler for gathering and investigating evidence,” I said.
“You mean my winsome, aggressive, and oftentimes quarrelsome demeanor that defies the people in charge?” she asked.
“Bingo,” I said.
8
Starnes once told me that there is an old saying of the mountains that if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute. The day after our arrival was one of those glorious times when the sunshine met the warmth and to be trite, spring sprung. Or we found favor with the weather gods.
Rosey and I took Dog and Sam for a hike along the trail behind Starnes’ house. It was an old trail for me full of dubious memories in a murder investigation from another time in my life.
The sunshine and the early flowers did a respectable job of removing some of the skewed memories of those previous hikes. A day like today was likely the reason why Starnes wanted to remain ensconced in the hills of the Blue Ridge. Can’t say I blamed her all that much. It was rather glorious.
“So tell me what you did for Thaddeus and why he might want you dead.”
“My contract with most agencies says that I am not to disclose my mission.”
I stopped in the middle of the trail and stared at him. He took three more steps and turned to look back at me.
“What?” he said, trying to sound rather innocent.
“Are you really gonna take that tack with me? These associates of yours have tried to kill me. Despite that, I’ve driven you around D.C., then on to the mountains to protect your hide, and you are going to tell me you can’t disclose your mission for this idiot who has a manic desire to kill you?”
“I signed my name to the contract.”
“And that included them removing you from the face of the earth after you have completed it?”
“A soldier’s life.”
“Talk about BS. Are you joking with me now or do I have to read you the riot act?”
“You’ve already read me some of it, I do believe. I’ll tell you what I can.”
“Listen, friend, if you want to continue to receive the benefit of my help and my affection along with the more than the able assistance of my dog and my friends, then I would recommend that you find every way imaginable to bring me up to date on this mission, as you call it, and tell me why this Thaddeus guy wants you removed from the planet so as to find some earthly reward.”
Sam turned and looked back at me. I’ll bet he was wondering what was happening between the two humans accompanying him. Dogs are sensitive to voice pitches and patterns. Sam was more so than most dogs. Dog, faithful to his disposition and DNA, never stopped to look back.
“I appreciate your position in this. I also want your help, but I will not violate my contract even if Wilkerson violates his side of the operation. One of us has to maintain some integrity here.”
“I have an idea.”
“I shudder to think.”
“Will you tell me the specific name of the operation?”
“As in code name, I presume you mean.”
“The same.”
“Bangkok Relations.”
“You jest,” I said.
“No, ma’am. Straight up,” Rosey said.
“So that we can be clear and seeking to go forward in this menagerie of a mess, at least give me your acquiescence to discover what I can about Bangkok Relations. And, if I find stuff of substance, then you will talk to me about it.”
“You won’t find anything on your own, Sweets.”
“Hide and watch. Then learn something new about this ace detective and her devices.”
The light bulb must have come on at that point. I saw something in his eyes that had that revelatory effect. He was not smiling. Said revelation must not have been a good one.
“You cannot use –”
“Don’t tell me what I can’t use. They came after me as well as you.”
“This could be a serious thing you’re delving into,” he said.
“Attempted murder usually is.”
“A word to the wise,” he said. “That’s all I’m sayin’.”
“I am a head-strong woman on a mission.”
“Be still my heart,” he said.
“And to misquote a famous movie line, ‘I have flying monkeys and I’m not afraid to use them.’”
“Oh, brother. World beware.”
It was early afternoon when we returned from our hike. Rosey volunteered to fix our supper. Starnes said she would help him since he had little working knowledge of her kitchen and her particular layout scheme. I think he must have found a way to entice her assistance so that he could plot against me in my endeavor to uncover the Bangkok Relations workings.
All I can say about that is that if Rosey thought he could persuade Starnes to keep me from digging around in something dangerous, he misunderstood the nature of my friendship with Starnes Carver. If anyone loved solving a mystery more than I did, it would be Starnes. Besides that, my overt curiosity was seldom curbed once a question was asked and not answered to my satisfaction.
Dog, Sam and I walked down the road away from the house while Rosey no doubt plotted with Starnes against me. I called Rogers.
“You’re kidding me,” she said in mock disbelief.
“Go for it. I’m turning you loose to find out everything you can about a mission called Bangkok Relations at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.”
“Now I know you’re fooling with me.”
“Nope.”
“Seriously, you want me to hack into the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and steal information about some mission, you call it. Something referred to as the Bangkok Relations?”
“Sounds funky, right?”
“Grand funk, to turn a name.”
“This is actually a serious thing and you need to be careful.”
“Honey lamb, I am always careful. I shall be the technological sleuth of the decade for you. I know tricks that have not even been invented by the world’s great hackers. Turn me loose and watch the information flow.”
“You scare me,” I said.
“Keeps you on your toes, huh? Anything else I need to know?”
“Yeah, that guy named Thaddeus Wilkerson – the one I mentioned to you before I left town … he’s the head honcho of this operation and he contracted with Rosey Washington for this mission, as Rosey referred to it. I expect that the nondescript name indicates something more sinister than some nebulous relations with Bangkok. Think hidden agenda here. Think covert operation. Think black ops.”
“My keen processing is way ahead of you. Already went there on the more serious, or as you say, sinister, side. I’ll get back to you with all due speed.”
“Don’t get caught.”
“You implied that already. This is me you are involving in the investigation.”
&
nbsp; “I got that. And I’m already frightened enough.”
9
Three days after our arrival in the Laurel Ridge community of McAdams County, I received an anonymous text which read: Meet me at the WW in Athens. 3:30 p.m. Bk room.
“What’s WW?” I said to Starnes.
“Give me some context.”
“I am assuming that there is a place in Athens with those initials.”
“There is,” she said.
“And it would be?”
“Likely the Wagon Wheel. First place that comes to mind.”
“Eating establishment.”
“Mostly.”
“And the other activities?”
“Gossip center of the known world. Suspicions, lies, and solid information bantered about most mornings. Quite the constituency which gathers there daily. Good people.”
“Can’t wait. Tell me more.”
“The locals go there for breakfast and lunch mainly. Smaller supper crowd, at least that has been my experience. Good food. Run by an astute single, shapely mother with business acumen. Friendly and efficient.”
“The owner or the establishment?”
“Both. The restaurant reflects the owner’s persona. Quiet place except for breakfast where a gaggle of guys come in for camaraderie, coffee, some good grub, and a few stories swapped. Good place to be a fly on the wall if you want to know what is happening in the county as well as the larger world. And your interest would be?”
“Received a text from someone to meet them there.”
“Someone.”
“I have no idea.”
“With people gunning for you and the black man, you really intend to go meet some mysterious texter?”
“Texter?”
“Words coined on the fly. My mind races too fast to pause and look up proper nouns.”
“Fits. Yeah, I intend to go.”
“With Rosey.”
“With Sam,” I said.
“Dogs are probably frowned upon inside the Wagon Wheel.”
“He’ll guard from inside the Jeep.”
“And break down the door if he sees you in danger.”
“Something like that.”
“You’re a crazy woman.”
“I find that comforting coming from the likes of you.”
“Touché.”
McAdams is a large county geographically speaking. The population density is perfect if you like wide-open spaces. Not sure you could even use the term density with the word population when talking about McAdams. That being said, it takes fifteen to twenty minutes to travel from Laurel Ridge to downtown Athens.
I arrived at the Wagon Wheel ten minutes early. Sam was in the front seat watching the various cars and people we encountered en route. He studies a lot. I parked near the rear of the establishment just to be relatively safe. I backed into the space so I could see the comings and goings much easier.
The weather had shifted from that warmth of our second day to what you could easily refer to as brisk and windy. Temperatures were down some fifteen degrees but the sun was doing its best to overcome the strong, mountain breezes. And failing miserably.
“From my brief and initial reconnaissance as we drove through the parking lot, I’d say that if you need to enter quickly, it would be best to go through that back door,” I said to Sam and pointed. He looked in the direction of my point.
“Stay alert for any gunfire which might erupt,” I continued my directives with him. “Any backup, including vicious barking and snarling, would be appreciated if you can’t get inside. Sometimes distractions help in tight situations.”
Sam stared at me as if he understood. With his keen mind and ever alert readiness, I had no doubt that he understood enough of what I said to come running if anything untoward occurred. I left the window on the driver’s side down for him so as to escape his quasi-containment if need be. I chose that one so that a possible thief might reconsider putting their arms inside the Jeep with such a massive canine resting pretentiously on the seat nearby. I would hope that his size and demeanor would discourage any would-be thief, despite the rampant stupidity among the criminal element. Saying nice doggy would not likely get you anywhere with Sam.
The restaurant was an open place with what amounted to three separate sections divided by faux walls that were half glass and half wood or metal. I couldn’t discern which. The faux walls allowed for the placement of more tables than if the restaurant room had simply been some cavernous space that had tables and chairs all about. The layout seemed conducive for conversations.
I nodded at the waitress who greeted me as I entered and approached the cash register. I pointed to the back room section without speaking. She nodded and smiled. She then retrieved a menu and some utensils from behind the counter before following me to the back room where I selected a table on the left where I could sit close to the windows and watch the entrance while waiting for my mysterious texter to arrive.
“Would you like something to drink?”
“Water, please.”
She left and returned quickly with the liquid.
“Are you ready to order?”
“Give me a few minutes,” I said. “I’m expecting someone to join me.”
She left.
The advantages of my particular table permitted me to not only view the main entrance to the restaurant, but also permitted me to view the parking lot through which I had driven moments earlier. I could not see clearly through the windows to my right because of the curtains. However, the curtains did allow some visual due to the nature of the fabric.
I had a view of the Jeep since I had not parked it directly behind the restaurant. I stared in that direction just to see if Sam was looking this way. No such luck. He must have been resting. I could see sufficiently into the Jeep and there was no dog on the rider’s side looking in this direction. So much for vigilance and English language comprehension.
I sipped my water and waited for the mysterious one to arrive.
I positioned myself so that shooting me from a distance would be difficult although not impossible. The terrain surrounding the Wagon Wheel was new to me and I could have easily overlooked something vital to my health upon arrival. Still, I felt relatively safe here in the confines of the popular restaurant that was mostly empty due to the time of day.
Two men were in the front section on the left from my position. I had noticed that coffee was their drink of choice when I had passed them. They were arguing politics. The second section was empty. I was the lone customer in the third.
I watched the two men sipping their coffee and debating the finer points of governmental interference. Behind me and on my left were two restrooms. I shifted my chair a little to the left to allow some peripheral vision of anyone who might be coming from the restroom area and passing by my table.
I sipped my water and wished I had ordered coffee.
While I was still pondering the coffee wish, my peripheral vision caught sight of a figure walk close to my table from the restroom area and sit down before I could move. Her movements were so smooth and swift that I was amazed that she could approach me without altering the ambience of my so-called secure space.
“Long time no see,” she said.
“Wow. Didn’t expect to see you before I heard from you.”
“You didn’t.”
“Oh, the shrouded text.”
“That would be me contacting you before a visual.”
“And so shrewdly.”
“Heard you needed some help.”
“Good news travels fast.”
“Modern technology, or so they say.”
“Did you bring some guns?”
“Does a one-legged duck swim in circles?”
10
“If I found you, then the really bad guys can find you,” Diamond said as she devoured a portion of her hamburger. I decided not to eat anything, but I did enjoy watching her indulge. I did procure some black coffee. It was much better than
the water.
The femme fatale was the name Rosey used to refer to Diamond. He was still nursing his grudge against her for trying to kill us a few years ago. Since then I had developed a tenuous friendship with her. Diamond had no friends, but I was as close as she would likely ever get to having one. She was an assassin for hire whom Rosey did not completely trust. Seriously understated. Cautiously guarded might even be a stretch for him as to his faith in Diamond’s supposed help.
“I got the word that you and your tall, muscular friend might be hiding out in the mountains.”
“Thanks for coming. I’m never completely sure that I have reached you whenever I ask Rogers to contact you. A phone number would be good to have.”
“My arrangements keep me alive,” she said and took another bite of her burger.
“I wish I could have a more direct line to you,” I confessed.
“Safer this way. This is a good hamburger,” she said while chewing.
“But if time is a constraint, then it would be nice to have you on speed dial.”
“Not in my lifetime.”
The process of contacting Diamond was so involved that I could only do it by asking Rogers to take care of it. Evidently Rogers was also aware of Diamond’s need for secrecy so that when I had tried to get her to tell me how she was able to get in touch with Diamond, she refused to disclose it. Computers and their secrets. One would think that the operator of her own computer could access the information stored therein. Not in this case.
“So I have to jump through the hoops.”
“If you want me to remain alive and kicking. I think I’ll order another hamburger,” she said.
I doubted if Diamond even knew how Rogers could find her. I simply gave Rogers the instruction to locate Diamond several years ago. She would never tell me exactly how she found her, only that she did. Diamond showed up and that was that. Efficiency.
There was also my closely guarded secret of Rogers’ mental prowess which I was not yet ready to disclose to this unusual woman sitting across from me indulging in her burgers and fries. Besides, considering Diamond was the person with whom I was speaking, she would not have believed me if I had told her the truth. A nuts and bolts kind of person sat in front of me now devouring her second hamburger. Skilled, wily, and deadly. Her ability as a shooter was nearly flawless. She had one mark against her perfect record. She missed killing me by a movement and a hesitation a few years back. She actually shot Rosey, but he survived, of course. Her singular failure, my fortune.
Out Jumps Jack Death: A Clancy Evans Mystery (Clancy Evans PI Book 8) Page 6
