Poof!

by M. Lee Prescott

  “He forbid me to blow his cover or mine unless I wait twenty-four hours.”

  It sounded like a dumb plan to me, but I kept my opinions to myself. “So, where do you think he is?”

  She swallowed hard, then peered at me for several minutes.

  “Listen, Betty, you got me down here, now what’s going on?”

  Afraid of spooking her, I then raised my hand, signaling the girls to stay put at the counter.

  “He found Kim and the kids. At least, I think he had.”

  “Where?”

  “I don’t know, or believe me, I would have gone there.”

  “Why didn’t he call the police? I thought that was the plan once the kids were located?”

  “A bunch were missing. At least four or five. He was trying to find out where they’d taken them before blowing the whistle.”

  “By Kim, you mean Kim Smith, the other teacher from Meridian?”

  “Yes, he’s been getting closer and closer to her for weeks.”

  Hmm, he left out that little detail when talking to me. “How close?”

  “You’ve seen him, he’s hot. I think Kim was pretty into him.”

  “Oh?”

  “They went out a couple of times, when she wasn’t on duty.”

  “What do you know about Kim?”

  “She’s the main person who watches the kids. There’s also a couple who feed them and take care of the houses.”

  “What houses, where are they?”

  “I’m not sure. They move ‘em around pretty regularly. Last week, I found out that Meridian has a bunch of properties north of the city. I gave Dennis the addresses. He’s been watching them, but until today, he hadn’t seen anyone around.”

  “And?”

  “He texted me around noon today. The message said—‘Bingo’ so I knew he’d found them.”

  “So Meridian probably knows he’s found them too. I’m sure your cell phone has been compromised.”

  “I don’t think so. I’m using burners, just like you.”

  “Addresses?” She stared at me blankly. “What are the addresses you gave Dennis for the houses?”

  “Oh, yes, here, I wrote them down for you.” She handed me a crumbled sheet of paper.

  “Where are you going now?” I asked.

  “Home, I guess.”

  “I wouldn’t. Who knows if they’ve grabbed Dennis and he’s—“

  “He would never betray me, Ms. Steele. Never.”

  “Let’s hope not, but I’d feel better if you went some place safer.”

  “I spose I could go to my parents. They live in Mattapoisett.”

  “Better. Take care and please let me know if you hear from Dennis.”

  “Will do.” She slid out of the booth without a sound and vanished into the shadows. We never saw her drive away.

  Chapter 40

  “This is a bad idea,” Lolly said, as we headed to the fourth and last address on Betty’s list.

  “We’ll just check this last place then we’re heading home, I promise. Besides, both Frank and Wilda are behind us.”

  “Why don’t I find that comforting?” Lolly said.

  We drove along a darkened road, bordered on one side by the Reservation. Once an Indian reservation, the property surrounds the county’s largest reservoir, many miles of undeveloped land at the edge of the city limits. Its lush pine woods were beautiful, but not particularly safe, especially at night when the gangs took over. The police patrolled, but there were dozens of dirt roads leading into the deep woods. A cat and mouse game could go on half the night with the rowdies still at large.

  “Keep checking mailboxes, we’re getting closer,” I said.

  “There it is,” Alice cried. “Number seventy-two.”

  Dandy, I thought as I turned into the dirt drive. It would have to be on the Reservation side. Woods enveloped us, overhanging branches cutting off all light from the moon and stars. Finally, we reached a clearing and spied a dilapidated farmhouse. One light shone in a front window, but otherwise the house was dark, like its surroundings. If the kids were here, they must be scared to death.

  A truck was parked to the side of the porch, but no one appeared to be in it. I drove as close to the house as possible and switched on my high beams. Cautiously, we stepped from the car and were deciding what to do when the front door opened and a tiny figure appeared, then another and another. “Call 911 and give them the address,” I whispered to Lolly. “Ask to have Sergeant Roberts respond, if he’s in.”

  Katie, Alice and I made our way slowly toward the porch, watching the shadows. When we neared the children, I heard a groan and noticed a lump to the side of the front door. Katie shined her flashlight on the lump and Dennis Leonardo sat up, his hand over a nasty cut on his head. “Check on him,” I whispered, “I’m going inside.”

  Alice stayed with Dennis as we waved the children out and told them through words and gestures to sit near Alice. Lolly ran up to assist. “The police are on their way,” she whispered, helping to herd the tiny group.

  “Disgusting,” Katie whispered as we stepped into a room littered with trash. The stench was overpowering. Blankets and what looked like yoga mats were thrown about, a few dirty pillows here and there. A table was piled with plastic water bottles, junk food and a few pieces of rotting fruit. There was no running water and what had once served as a bathroom was now a fetid, stinking, unspeakable mess. There was a second room. We slowly crept to the door, my gun drawn. It was furnished with two cots, and several boxes. As we peered in, Dennis spoke from behind us. “There’s no one else here.”

  “How do you know?”

  “They took her away.”

  “Who?”

  “Kim Smith.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I was watching them from the window, waiting for a chance to surprise them, when someone hit me from behind. I came to for a second as they dragged Kim out, then blacked out again.”

  “Why don’t you go sit on the porch. We’ll just check in here and be right out.” I wondered how much longer I could hold my breath against the stench.

  Katie and I rummaged around finding nothing except a few adult size clothes, and some kids’ stuff in the boxes. It looked used as if they’d picked up at second hand stores. We were about to head out when she shone the light on the walls where a bunch of pegs held hangers and hangers of brand new clothes in various sizes. Underneath, on the floor were piles of shoe boxes.

  “This is what they dress ‘em in when they’re placed,” I said, fighting back a wave of nausea.

  “Place them where?” she asked.

  “Come on, I hear sirens. Let’s get out of this hell hole.”

  Chapter 41

  The children were impossibly small and appeared to be malnourished. Their eyes reflected fear and resignation. They appeared to range in age from around five or six to ten, six were Chinese, the rest Indian. As the police led them to the patrol cars, one little Indian girl approached me. She reached out her tiny hand and I took it. She took a deep breath and stood very still and calm, holding tight to my hand.

  “Hey, sweetie,” I said, peering into luminous brown eyes. “You’re going to be okay now.” I picked her up and brought her to the car, seating her next to a boy, his face streaked with dirt and tears. “I’ll come see you, okay?” She gave me one last look, then turned and faced straight ahead as my heart broke.

  The kids, all eleven of them were taken to Belmont House. Ruth had volunteers standing by to clean them, feed them and settle them in. After the officers questioned him, we took Dennis Leonardo to the emergency room. I drove Dennis’ jeep and Katie followed in my car.

  As we sat waiting for him to be treated, he said, “This is bullshit. We’ve gotta get out of here. I’m fine, just feeling like a world class idiot. I let ‘em take her, Jesus Christ!”

  “What happened? Why were you there?”

  “She wanted out. The last few placements had sickened her and she couldn�
��t do it anymore. We’ve been meeting and she asked for my help two days ago. We had a plan to grab all the kids and get ‘em to safety. It was supposed to happen tomorrow afternoon when their caregivers went out to get food.”

  “Who are these caregivers?”

  “It varies, but lately it’s been this same grungy couple. She’s a junkie so they work for Meridian to feed her habit. Anyway, Kim called a few hours ago and said it had to be tonight and to come right away. I could tell she was scared. She gave me the address and I came right over. She said the couple were gone so it was just her and the kids. I had just stepped onto the porch when someone jumped me from behind and that was it. We’ve gotta move and find her soon.”

  His eyes filled with tears. Clearly, he and Kim Smith had gotten to be more than friendly. I’d never met the woman, but I didn’t like her chances. I suspected that the only reason she had been taken out alive was so they could torture any information out of her about Dennis and anyone else she might have spoken to. I very much doubted we’d find her, and if we did that she’d be alive.

  “That head needs stitches. Let them do their job and then we’ll see.”

  “Sergeant Roberts said we’re to bring him to the station,” Lolly said. “I heard the officer tell you that.”

  “Yes, but that was before we knew Kim Smith was in danger. Stay with him. I’m going to call the station,” I said and stepped out of the room and down the hall.

  I asked for Sergeant Roberts who must have been standing two inches from the phone. “Steele, this had better be good. Where the hell is Leonardo?”

  “Now, hold on, Douglas. They told us we should take him to the hospital.”

  “Bullshit. Now I want him here asap, comprende?”

  “He’s sure Kim Smith is in grave danger.”

  “That’s our concern, not yours. My people are on it, now back off. Drop Leonardo here and you and the Golden Girls call it a night or I’ll lock you all in the cells.”

  “Is someone checking Water Street? They could have taken her there.”

  “What’d you take me for, a complete idiot? Now, get off the goddamn phone and get Leonardo over here, pronto.”

  He clicked off and I headed back to the examining room. Lolly, Alice and Katie were there gathering their things. “Where’s Dennis?”

  “He left,” Alice said.

  “What?”

  “We couldn’t stop him, Rick,” Katie said. “Believe me, we tried.”

  “But how? He has no car and I have his truck keys.”

  “Actually, you don’t,” Alice said, holding up my bag. “We tried to stop him, but he grabbed your bag, found the keys and took off.”

  “Did he say where he was going?”

  “Not a peep.”

  “Christ,” I said, rummaging through my bag for the notebook where I had scribbled Wade Pullman’s address. Clearly the police were at Meridian’s offices so if Kim Smith hadn’t been taken there, the most likely people to know where she was were Winters and Pullman.

  “Come on!” I said, hurrying past the ER nurse. “Sorry, patient flew the coop.”

  *****

  Pullman lived in an exclusive condo complex bordered on one side by the river, the other the Aquinessett Country Club. A prime location the units, which started at half a million, included the initiation fees to join the club. Lah-tee-dah! Theirs was a corner unit with an unobstructed view downriver. There was a man on duty in the lobby, but he was busy on his IPad back to us and we tiptoed past him without a peep. When we reached the Pullman’s door, I turned to them. “You should go back to the car. This is my fight and these guys are worse than evil. Wilda and Frank pulled in right behind us so the parking lot’s secure and I’m okay.”

  “Nothing doing,” Katie said, one hand holding her stun gun, the other pepper spray. “We’ve come this far and we’re goin’ in!”

  The Rambettes ride again, I thought, knocking on the door. After about five minutes and several repeat rat-ta-tats, Lesley Pullman opened the door in a silky, pink robe. It appeared she had just stepped from the shower. “Yes?” she said, staring from one to the other of us.

  “May I speak to your husband, Ms. Pullman?”

  “I’m sorry, he’s not in and I don’t know you so please leave.” She attempted to shut the door in my face, but I stuck my foot in it. “Listen, you, I’m going to call security now. I don’t even know how you got in here. That deadbeat doorman must be sleeping again.”

  “It’s the age of technology,” I said, smiling.

  “Listen, lady, I don’t know what you’re selling, but this is private property and if you don’t remove your foot immediately, I’m calling the police.”

  “You go right ahead, Ms. Pullman. Please, call the cops. They’ll want to speak to your husband too. Let’s see, there’s kidnapping, child exploitation, probably abuse and pornography, too. And, let’s not forget attempted murder.”

  “What the hell are you on?”

  “Listen Les, we don’t have time for you to play dumb here. You worked for Wade so you know all about Meridian’s dirty businesses. We have the kids, by the way, most of them. Now we’re looking for the others and Kim Smith.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “But, Wade does, now, where is he?”

  “Not here.”

  “Then where? Quick, cause they’re going to kill her, if they haven’t already.”

  “He got a call about an hour ago from his partner, Oscar. He sounded upset. Wade ran out and I haven’t heard from him.” I noticed she hadn’t bothered to ask who the intended murder victim was. I felt like wringing her scrawny neck with its flawless skin.

  “Let’s go,” I said, removing my foot from her threshold. She wasted no time in slamming the door in our faces.

  Chapter 42

  Winters lived in the Highlands, his home one of the older mansions, mansard roof, multiple chimneys, brick façade, perfectly landscaped grounds. The house appeared dark, but as we drove up the side street, I noticed lights in the four-car garage, which appeared to have an attached shed. I drove past and parked a block up the street. Frank and Wilda pulled ahead of me.

  “Stay here,” I said to the Rambettes, and call the police if I’m not back in ten minutes. Wilda has my back.

  Katie, who was riding shotgun was already out, Alice too. “We’re coming,” Katie whispered.

  Geez. “Okay, but keep down.”

  As we crept through manicured shrubs, I counted five vehicles in the drive. One was a Town Car, the others a jeep, truck and two nondescript dark sedans. Looks like we have the whole crew, I thought, wondering if Wilda was armed. Pepper spray, a stun gun and my little Smith and Wesson would probably not be sufficient to subdue whomever was gathered in the potting shed!

  Just as we reached the side of the garage, I heard a click to my right. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Golden Girls. Don’t you blue hairs ever give up?” I felt steel against my temple and winced.

  “We’re here to get Kim Smith, asshole,” I said, turning to face tattoo guy. I shifted slightly so the gun barrel no longer touched my skin.

  Katie and Alice were in similar straits, tattoo’s associates with them. No sign of Wilda or Frank.

  “Move it, bitch,” he hissed, shoving me toward the shed. As we reached the door, I spied Winters, dress shirt rolled up, flecks of blood across his middle. I didn’t Kim Smith well, but I suspected that it was she, or what was left of her, strapped to a chair in the middle of the room, a single light bulb hanging above her. She had been severely beaten, two black eyes, face swollen, fingers intact so far. She appeared to be either unconscious or dead.

  “Look who we found, boss,” tattoo said, shoving me onto the cement floor.

  “Jesus Christ, why’d you bring ‘em in here? Tie ‘em up, throw them in the truck and we’ll get rid of them with this one,” he said, indicating Smith.

  “You won’t get away with it, Oskie. We’ve got the kids. The cops are s
earching for you right now. They’re on their way here.”

  “Bullshit. Rico, put some duct tape over her mouth so I don’t have to listen to any more of her yappin’. Hurry up.”

  Out of the corner of my eye, I spied two shadows just outside the door, one tall and slender, the other resembling the Hulk. I kicked back, catching Rico square in the crotch at the same time as I jabbed him with my elbow. He doubled over just as the guy holding Katie screamed and fell over. Double Whammy, stun gun and pepper spray. The third guy held fast to Alice. “Over there,” he said, indicating the inside wall, “or I shoot Granny in the head.”

  As he waggled his gun around, waving it in our faces, a black arm came down and I heard a loud crack! No doubt one or more of his arm bones. The gun clattered to the floor as Frank subdued gun waggler and his companions. In the melee, no one noticed Winters until the door at the far end of the shed closed behind him. I rushed out, but the Town Car was already speeding down the drive spitting gravel in its wake.

  “Damn, I cried, my head spinning.

  Lolly ran up, hugging me. “Are you alright? I just phoned the police.”

  “Fine, but Kim Smith isn’t,” I said, heading back into the shed.

  Katie stood over tattoo man who was alternately swearing and groaning. “Lose the attitude, your weasel,” she said, her foot now resting on his cheek.

  Frank had tied up the other two and Alice and Wilda were hovered over Kim Smith, untying her. “She’s alive,” Wilda said, but just barely. “Call an ambulance.”

  Smith opened one swollen eye and looked at us in bewilderment. “Ms. Smith, I’m Ricky Steele. Dennis sent us. We have the kids. They’re safe, now where are the others?”

  She shook her head.

  “You don’t know or you won’t tell us?”

  “Ask her one question at a time,” Alice said, dabbing her bloodied face with a clean rag.

  “Do you know where they are?” I said.

  Smith shook her head.

  “What about Wade Pullman?”

  Another head shake. I could hear sirens coming closer. Not much time.