Maximus: A Harvey Nolan Thriller #1 (Harvey Nolan Thrillers)

by Abbey, S. C.

  Harvey tiptoed into the elevator shaft, reaching out his hands to feel for the maintenance ladder. He felt his fingers wrapped around a steel bar before launching the rest of his body in. The man pressed for the elevator to go down and climbed onto the opposite ladder. They waited for the lift to come up in the shaft as Harvey prayed that no one would see the open elevator doors before it did. After a moment, the elevator came up to the 23rd floor where they stood hanging from the ladder right above it. The man hopped onto the top of the elevator and Harvey followed suit.

  “The lifts have surveillance cameras in them.” Said the man as he started unscrewing a control box on top of the elevator. He connected a small microcontroller to the main circuit board of the elevator. “We just have to make sure the guards at the security room see what we want them to see. There, perpetually empty now.”

  The man pried opened the elevator roof vent after he had unsecured all 4 screws. They entered the elevator via the opening on top and pressed for the 1st and 2nd floor, riding it like a regular passenger.

  “Here, take this phone.” Said the man as he passed Harvey a cellphone. “This lift will ride all the way to the 2nd floor where I will get off, you’ll stay in the elevator and get to the 1st floor. I have already disabled the main functions, so the doors won’t open until you press the open button. In approximately 60 seconds after I get off on the 2nd floor, you will hear a fire alarm, do not panic. I want you to press the ‘Open’ button in exactly 15 seconds after the alarm and walk out of this building as naturally as you can. It’s a Sunday so there shouldn’t be many people in the building. Did you get all of that?”

  Harvey nodded his head, not trusting his voice to come out the way he wanted it to.

  “It was nice meeting you, Professor Nolan, very nice meeting you.” Said the smirking mask as the elevator reached the 2nd floor and the doors began to open. “Remember Harvey, things aren’t always what they seem to be, and people aren’t always what they appear to be.” He strolled out of the elevator as if he was taking an afternoon walk in a park. “Adios.” The elevator door began to close.

  Harvey felt confounded about the masked man’s parting words, he couldn’t decide if it was merely theatrical or it actually served a purpose. He rode the elevator to the 1st floor and true enough, the door did not open. He stared at the ‘Open’ button counted to 60 in his heart. When he counted to 53, a fire alarm sounded.

  That was fast.

  He started counting to 15, as fast as he could, unwilling to wait an additional second more. He pressed the ‘Open’ button and strolled out of the building, he could see the security guard at the main lobby running about, trying to get people out of the building. Harvey cruised out of the building, and felt relaxed as a gush of cool wind hit him. The cellphone the masked man had passed to him vibrated with an incoming text message.

  ‘Is Scofield out yet? B.’

  Harvey smiled at the phone, he really owed Bertram one after this. He stood by the street and hailed a taxi with his left hand as a yellow cab stopped in front of him, he received another text message.

  ‘448 West 19th Street.’

  “Chelsea. Step on it please.”

  Chapter 40

  CHRISTINA SHIFTED FROM the cold concrete bench she had fallen on asleep after her miserable dinner of sweet potatos, her stomach grumbled in protest from the hollowness it was suffering from. She thought that she should have had gotten used to it by now. She stood up from one of the only sitting fixture in the cell and faltered toward the iron bars. Her hands retracted involuntarily from the chill of the metal. Her eyes met Shia’s as she caught her friend’s empty gaze.

  “Can’t sleep?” asked the blonde girl.

  Shia shook her head listlessly. “I have not slept for more than an hour at a time ever since I got here.”

  Miranda turned her head from her reclining position and looked the exchange from her bench, her eyes still clouded with sleep.

  “I go to sleep every single night praying to God, hoping to wake up from this nightmare.” Said Christina. “Looks like God can’t hear us from here.”

  “I have long since gave up praying.” Replied a voice from the back of the cell. Christina jumped a little inwardly from the surprise. It was one of those rare moments her cellmate made her existence known. “I just wish Death would come swiftly and painlessly for me, if he would be so kind to not make me wait any much longer. Like Charlotte.”

  “Don’t say that.” Snapped Christina. “We will get out of here if it is the last thing we do.”

  “I don’t wanna die here–” whimpered Shia as tears started to flood her beautiful eyes.

  Christina glared at Samantha, faulting her for giving up so easily. She then softened her glance as she recalled that Samantha had been here the longest of them all. It was a miracle she was still sane. Samantha blinked at her speechlessly.

  “That’s it. I’m not dying here. We have to escape this place. We can do it if we work together. We must.” Said Christina with a newfound conviction.

  “But how?” Miranda said as she sat up from her bench and lifted her arm, momentarily drawing courage from Christina. “These chains, we will never break out of them.”

  Christina sat on the floor close to the iron bars in silence for a moment. She looked up after a while. “We don’t have to. I got a plan. Are you girls up for it?”

  “Count me out.” Samantha said as she reclined back into her bench. “The last time someone tried something stupid like that, she was chained from all fours and starved. She lasted 6 days.”

  “We can’t just sit here and do nothing! Suit yourself. I rather risk that for the chance to see the sun again.” Christina challenged, unwavering from her conviction. “What say you, Shia? What about you, Miranda? Are you all game for it?”

  Shia nodded slowly, unsure of her decision. Miranda rose from her bench with a never before seen energy and gave Christina a thumbs up hand signal.

  “Time to rock ‘n’ roll girls.”

  “Hey! Anybody out there! Help, we need help here!” Yelled Christina as she continued to scream out of her cell. “Help!” She kept up with her shouting, half expecting the bald man to appear any time soon. Her wish came true after a good 15 minutes of patience.

  “What is it this time?” barked Tom. “You better have a blood good reason for screaming like a crazy bitch–”

  “You’ve got to help her. It’s Shia. She’s sick. She’s not responsive at all.” Begged Christina.

  “What is with all you dumb girls dropping dead one by one, must be the air here, I better not be coming down so often?” Grumbled Tom as he fiddled with his ring of keys at the gate of Shia and Miranda’s cell. “Outta of the way, you. No funny business.”

  Tom approached the unmoving body of Shia Jamison with her back facing him, as he place his hands on her shoulder and shook her roughly, a single terrible clatter filled the dungeon.

  “Wha–”

  CLANK–

  The bald man turned around and looked into her eyes, she felt as if she was staring into the eyes of the devil. He lunged forward in a speed that was unexpected from his short stocky frame and wrapped his strong fingers around Miranda’s neck. Miranda dropped the metal tray on the ground and attempted to pry his fingers loose but he was too strong. A metal chain came from behind Tom’s head and found itself surrounding his neck, choking him. He loosened his grip on Miranda as his face turned purple, he tried to grip the metal chain from his neck. Miranda coughed painfully and took long breaths as she tried to recover from the bruising attack.

  “Miranda! The tray!” Shia shouted. “Can’t. Hold. Him. Any. Longer.”

  Miranda bent forward to grab the tray from the ground and brought it down once more upon Tom’s head with all the strength she could muster from her petite frame. Tom’s body fell on to the ground with a heavy thump. She wasted no time in digging for the metal ring that held the keys to their freedom and fished them out of his pocket. Shia straightened up and sw
ung her foot into Tom’s face, bloodying a nose. Miranda looked up in surprise.

  “I just wanted to make sure.” Said Shia, shrugging her shoulders with a sheepish grin.

  Miranda unlocked the cuffs from her own wrist and ankle. She haven’t felt so in control for a long time, she had forgotten how liberating it was. She threw the ring of keys to Shia and Shia did the same. They then approached the gate of their cell and unlocked it with a larger key from the ring. Their hearts thumped with excitement and fear as the gate sprang open.

  “Quickly.” Christina said fanatically, unable to contain her eagerness to get out of her bonds.

  Miranda opened the gate to Christina’s cell and entered it hesitantly toward Christina. Her fingers shook as she tried to unlock the cuffs on her wrist and ankle. Shia stood guard outside the cell, peeking into the darkness where Tom had approached from earlier. The clattering sound of chains hitting the ground filled the damp air of the dungeon. It was music to Christina’s ears.

  “Samantha, come with us. There is nothing for you here.” Said Christina.

  “I wish you all good luck.” Whispered Samantha as she took a last look at the other women before she turned her head back to face the wall.

  “We will send help for you.” Christina said before she stepped out of her cell. “Take care.”

  The three ladies walked toward the door of the dungeon by memory and soon found the familiar flight of stairs.

  “Ouch.” Cried Shia.

  “What is it?” whispered Miranda.

  “I think I might have sprained my ankle kicking that boar.” Shia said as she hobbled up the stairs. “Continue moving, don’t stop.”

  They soon found themselves in the familiar room they always appear when they got out of the dungeon. Christina supported Shia around her shoulders as they strolled through the opening into the fresh night air. The smell of fresh pine never felt so good. Christina took a moment to breathe in the night breeze as she found herself smiling.

  “Christina?” said Miranda in a shaky treble.

  Christina and Shia turned their heads back to see Miranda being held captive by a lean man with a wicked look on his face, holding a 9-inch military knife to her neck.

  No–

  “My ladies, I do not wish to mar her beautiful face. Would you be so kind to allow me to escort you all back to your suites?” said Kaul with an evil smirk on his face.

  “No! Christina! Shia! Go! Leave me! Bring help! Go!” cried Miranda.

  “No! Miranda! We will not leave you here with this monster!” Christina shouted as she brought her fists up in front of her. “Fight like a man you coward! Fight us like a man!”

  Kaul’s smirk widened in amuse. “Feisty little thing. As you wish.” Said Kaul as he sheathed his knife in his boot.

  Snap!

  Kaul twisted Miranda’s neck with ease in a sickening crunch.

  “NOO–!” Christina screamed. “MIRANDA! NO–”

  Christina stared at the body of Miranda in disbelief as she fell to the ground like a broken rag doll. The last thing she felt was a blow to the back of her neck before darkness consumed her.

  Chapter 41

  HARVEY STOOD IN front of the black framed glass door, staring at the intercom system beside it. The newly renovated white building was situated on a beautiful tree-lined street on the architect's row in the heart of Chelsea. Two vintage black street lamps hung out from the top above his head, one of them was lit, and the other doesn’t seem to be working. Harvey looked for the unit number that Bertram had given him on the cell phone that was given to him as well, ‘#2EF’. He spotted the corresponding button on the intercom system which matched the unit number and pressed the discoloured dirty brown button. He didn’t even thought of what to say before the ringing stopped and a firm female voice answered his call.

  “Lee residences. Who’s there?”

  “Hi, does Miss Gillian Lee live here? May I speak with her?” said Harvey.

  “Speaking. I’m a little occupied at the moment though, if this is a sales call I am not interested, if this is unimportant could you drop by another day please? Who is it I’m speaking to by the way?”

  “This is Harvey Nolan, Miss Lee. It is regarding your sister, Samantha Lee. I wish to speak to you about the circumstances of her disappearance.”

  “Why is–” Gillian said before she seemed to be interrupted by another person in the apartment. “–hold on a minute.”

  The sound of silence gave Harvey a moment to relax ever since he had broken out of custody. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, the quiet street and trees that swayed in the breeze provided him a short moment of solitude. The magic broke with the introduction of a more familiar voice.

  “Harvey?”

  “Katie, I was hoping you were still here.” Sighed Harvey, relieved but unsurprised.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” Katie barked. “Aren’t you supposed to be at Federal Plaza? I didn’t receive any news about them releasing you.”

  “That’s because they didn’t.”

  “What do you mean they – holy crap, please don’t tell me you broke out.”

  “Katie, I would much rather have this conversation in the comforts of the sheltered apartment you are currently in. I didn’t exactly had the chance to retrieve my coat before leaving, you see.”

  “Harvey Nolan, what in the world were you think–”

  “Katie–”

  Harvey could hear the sound of Katie speaking to Gillian in the background before the door sprang open. Harvey did not wait to be told to enter. He took the stairs to the 2nd floor of the building, not wanting to step into another elevator for the day, it just didn’t seem all innocent anymore. Katie was at the opened door of the apartment when he reached it.

  “How did you do it? I don’t think I have personally ever encountered anybody who has successfully escaped an FBI holding cell in a Federal building.” Asked Katie, perplexed as she ushered Harvey into the apartment.

  “I had a little help, from Mr. Fawkes.” Grinned Harvey.

  The look on Katie’s face was worth the entire escape, thought Harvey. He entered the luxurious apartment, his brogues clicking on the wide plank ebony hardwood floors. Oversized windows provided a sun drenched living room, complete with a leather sofa against exposed brick walls. An open gourmet kitchen with Carrara marble counter tops and stainless steel appliances appeared on his left. It was a Spartan and yet tastefully lavish apartment. Harvey wondered what the occupants did for a living as he noticed a second woman in the room.

  “He escaped the FBI?” said the woman with a look of shock on her face. “Should I be concerned there is an escaped convict in my home?”

  “Accused, not convicted.” Harvey said. “And I’m afraid the reason for the escape might be beneficial to your sister, so please hear me out.”

  Gillian folded her arms in distrust. “Keep talking.”

  “Your sister. Could you tell me how she disappeared?”

  “Like I have told Agent Moulin here, she went out for groceries one day when I was out for work.” Gillian said as she leaned against the edge of the sofa. “She never came back.”

  “No clues, no news, no signs, no nothing. It was as if she had disappeared from the face of the earth.” Gillian said calmly. “I made a police report 2 days after. I’m afraid they have not gotten back to me since.” Gillian glanced at Katie.

  “I’m sure the authorities are doing as much as they can, trying to look for your sister.” Said Katie as she eyed the beautiful apartment.

  “What do you work as, Miss Lee? If you don’t mind me asking.” Said Harvey.

  “I work at a diner down the street, as a waitress. It was convenient, considering we live so near from it.” Gillian said. “There used to be the 3 of us. My father, my sister, and I living in this 3-bedroom apartment. Now it’s just me. It does seem a little lonely sometimes.”

  Harvey took a moment to consider all the pieces of the puzzle. Something jus
t didn’t quite fit somewhere. “I suspect that your sister might be a victim of a drug ring, Miss Lee. If you don’t mind me asking, when did your father passed?”

  “Approximately 8 months ago. And Samantha disappeared not long after.” Replied Gillian.

  “Strange thing is,” added Katie with a look of contemplation, “the number of busted drug mules has been on a slight steady decrease since 6 months ago. It just doesn’t make sense at all. Either they are getting better at what they do, or the dealers have found other methods to import their goods.”

  The ring of a cellphone disturbed the conversation. Katie fished out her cell from her pocket and looked at the caller ID. “Sorry, I have to take this.”

  Agent Moulin walked away from the pair toward the huge balcony of the apartment and stared at the withering willow outside the building sway in the breeze. “Moulin speaking.”

  “I’ve heard about Port Chester. Was that entirely necessary?”

  “Colonel, sir. It wasn’t my intention to engage, I ensure you. It was out of no alternative.”

  “Tone it down a few notches, Moulin. We deal with intelligence, foremost, not kicking down doors and Special Forces shit. Leave that to the local authorities.”

  “Understood.”

  “How’s the investigation coming about? Is the trail still hot?”

  “I’m afraid I have hit a couple of brick walls, sir. I’m doing all I can.”

  “I just returned from an important meeting with some friends of the free world. One of them found out something that might be useful to our case. It is a circus named Maximus by the Raritan River, New Jersey. Smelled something off about it. I didn’t even know we still had circuses in the United States. Take a look, will you?”

  “I’m on it.” Said Katie as she ended the call and walked back into the apartment. The pair were exactly where she had left them, they were both still deep in thought.

  Harvey looked up from staring at the floor and broke the silence. “Something’s not right about Deacon Novak. He was hiding something for sure. And I didn’t like the look of the circus crew as well, they just seem too roguish to be simple performers.”