Adrift: The Complete Novel

by C. G. Cooper

  Max Laney rose from the table. “Henry, so good of you to come.” The two men embraced.

  “You know I’m around whenever you need me, Max.”

  Laney clapped his old friend on the back fondly. “When do I get to take your money on the golf course?”

  Henry Ellison chuckled. “I’m getting too old for golf. My back’s not what it used to be. Besides, you’ve got me too busy working. Speaking of which, did you really convince Hollie to sell?”

  “I did. We came to an arrangement. Did you bring all the paperwork? I want this to be quick and easy. Hollie isn’t feeling well.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “Mr. Watts, can you fetch Mr. Herndon for us?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Watts left to get the prisoner, who’d already been given new clothes and a swift clean-up. Watts couldn’t wait to see what happened next. His respect and admiration for the Max Laney’s cunning had only increased over the preceding days. Watts hoped it would be the beginning of mutually beneficial relationship.

  +++

  They’d warned him not to make a scene. It took every ounce of control for Hollie to hold his tongue when shaking Henry Ellison’s hand. He knew the attorney to be an honest and hard-working man, who’d been duped into believing Laney’s lies for the last thirty years.

  “I heard you’ve been a little under the weather, Hollie. Everything okay?” There was genuine concern in the attorney’s tone.

  “Just getting’ old. I’ll be fine.”

  “We’ll keep this quick. Mr. Laney’s already signed everything. I’ll give you a summary. Feel free to ask any questions you might have.”

  Hollie nodded and took a seat, feeling Laney’s stare burning into him.

  Ellison proceeded to explain the quit-claim deed, and how the transaction would transpire. Hollie wanted to vomit. His whole life’s work, the sweat and toil of generations of Herndons, gone with the swipe of a pen.

  True to his word, the paperwork took less than ten minutes. Smiling from ear to ear, the attorney shook everyone’s hands, gathered the legal documents and headed back out into the storm.

  Max Laney patted Hollie on the back. “See, that wasn’t so hard.”

  Now that the lawyer was gone, Hollie’s head hung, tears falling into his hands. “Are we done here?”

  “We are.”

  +++

  Renley Watts returned from securing Hollie in the basement. “What now, Mr. Laney?”

  Laney puffed a well-deserved cigar, ignoring his latest health kick, enjoying the pungent taste on his tongue. It had been a productive day. The fee he’d have to pay Watts was a small price to pay to gain control of the Herndon estate. “Take care of Mr. Herndon.”

  “Yes, sir. You want me to do it now?”

  “Wait until the storm dies down, then have Johnny take you out in the boat.”

  Watts was being paid twice his annual income to do Laney’s dirty work, and he loved it. He hadn’t had as much fun in years.

  Chapter 27

  The storm hadn’t subsided by the time dusk came. Watts was anxious to get paid. “I don’t mind going now, Mr. Laney.”

  “I’m still waiting on Mr. Ellison to call and confirm the transaction was recorded with the state. Last thing I want is for some government employee to need one more signature and Hollie’s at the bottom of the ocean.”

  “So…Mr. Ellison doesn’t know anything about your…extracurricular activities?”

  Laney stared daggers at the hired gun. He was beginning to have second thoughts on hiring the man again. Watts had his uses, but something about him made Laney uneasy. It was prudent to keep such men at arm’s length. Watts already knew too much. “Henry Ellison and I go back to our toddler days. He is a fine and upstanding lawyer, as honest as the day is long. My father once told me that there are only two things a businessman needs, God and a damned good lawyer.”

  Watts smiled. Hearing his employer talk of God made him want to laugh. He and Laney were cut of the same cloth. Do what you need to do to get the job done. “You just tell me when.”

  +++

  An hour later, Max Laney had finally lost patience and placed a call to his attorney’s office. The secretary answered, “Ellison and Garvey.”

  “Max Laney for Mr. Ellison please.”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Laney, but Mr. Ellison isn’t back yet. We thought that maybe he was still with you.”

  “Um, no. He left hours ago. Maybe he had other appointments?”

  “No, sir. Mr. Ellison had us cancel the rest of his appointments when he scheduled yours.”

  Laney stared at the wall. “Well, when he gets in will you please have him give me a call?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Henry Ellison missing. Maybe it was the storm.

  Laney dialed another number.

  “Defuniak Springs Police,” answered the dispatcher.

  “Max Laney for Chief Knox, please.”

  +++

  Darryl Knox was just sitting down for dinner when his phone rang. He groaned when he saw it was dispatch. It had been a long day dealing with the havoc caused by the storm. “I thought I told you I was busy for the next two hours.”

  “Yes, sir, but I’ve got Mr. Laney on the line. He says it’s an emergency.”

  Knox put his glass down and got up from the table, motioning for his date to continue eating. Once in the lobby, Knox asked for Laney to be patched through.

  “Chief Knox.”

  “Chief, I’m sorry to bother you.”

  “Not a problem, Mr. Laney. How can I help?”

  “Do you now Henry Ellison?”

  “The attorney?”

  “Yes. Mr. Ellison was here earlier in the day, and I’ve been waiting for his call. I just talked to his office and they say he never returned. I wonder if maybe he ran off the road somewhere.”

  “It’s been happening all day. I can’t remember the last time we had to call Eddy’s Towing so many times.”

  “Would it be possible for you to send out a couple units to look for him? He’s a very old friend. I would hate it if anything happened to him.”

  Knox closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, wishing he could get back to dinner. “I’ll get right on it, Mr. Laney.”

  +++

  Patrol cars scoured the routes to and from the Laney residence, spotlights shining off the roadways. They found Henry Ellison’s car an hour after beginning their search. Chief Knox called Max Laney from the scene.

  “We found Mr. Ellison’s car.”

  “Is he okay?”

  “He’s not in the car, Mr. Laney. The first officer on the scene found the car off the road, crashed into a tree. The driver’s side door was open, but no sign of Mr. Ellison.”

  Laney’s face paled. Of course he was concerned for his friend, but he was more concerned with the purchase contract. He’d already transferred funds into a pair of Hollie’s accounts to make the deal seem legit, despite the low price. “Was there…anything in the car? Any sign of him?”

  “We searched it inside and out. Nothing. Couldn’t even find a footprint what with the rain and all. I’m about to have the boys start looking in the woods. Maybe he wandered off and got lost.”

  “Please hurry. I’m scared to think of what might happen to him.”

  “We’ll do everything possible. I’ll let you know as soon as I can.”

  Laney stood in silence, save the pounding rain. Where was Henry Ellison?

  +++

  Lights flashed in the dreary night, trying vainly to cut through the darkness and sheets of rain. They called out as they walked, methodically sweeping the area.

  “I’ve got something!” came the shout.

  Darryl Knox sloshed his way toward the voice, the others continuing the search. “What have you got?”

  The officer pointed with his flashlight. “Looks like a white suit coat.”

  It was pointless trying to take pictures in the rain. Besides, it wasn’t a murder inv
estigation. Knox bent down to search the coat. On the inside pocket, clearly stitched was Henry Ellison, Jr.

  “Dammit.”

  “Is it his, chief?”

  “It is. Now keep looking.”

  The cop moved off to continue the sweep. Knox peered into the soup, hoping they’d find the old lawyer soon.

  +++

  Hollie’s head lolled to the side at the sound of the basement door opening. Max Laney walked in a moment later, a look of disgust plastered on his face.

  “Looks like this is your lucky day, Hollie.”

  A look of confusion. Hollie had expected his executioner. “What are you talking about?”

  “Well, there’s been a little…delay in getting the paperwork processed. That means that you’ll live to see another day. I thought I’d bring you the good news.”

  “Why should I care?”

  Laney shrugged. “Thought a Godly man like yourself might like to enjoy his last hours on earth. It’s a gift.”

  Hollie laughed out loud. “You fucking hypocrite. Get out my sight. You mention God again and I might puke on your pretty little shoes.”

  Pulling a chair over, Laney took a seat across from his captive. “Very well. I’m bored. How about we chat a bit?”

  “I don’t want to talk to you.”

  “Not even about Mr. Briggs, the Marine sniper?”

  Hollie’s glared. “Don’t you dare.”

  “What? Can’t we honor his memory? Such a hero and all? Seems only fitting…”

  “You don’t deserve to talk about that boy. He was a good kid and you had him killed.”

  Laney nodded thoughtfully, almost sadly. “That’s true. He might have been a mighty foe. I’m sure you were proud of his being nominated for the Medal of Honor?”

  The look of confusion on Hollie’s face said it all.

  “You didn’t know?” Laney’s devilish smile spreading. Hollie shook his head, the tears coming again. “That’s too bad. I wonder why he didn’t tell you. Why do you think that is?” Not a word from Hollie. “Maybe you weren’t as close as you let on. Did you know about his PTSD?”

  The sobs started. Hollie coughed up more blood, moaning like a man who’d just lost his wife.

  Laney went to put a comforting hand on the man’s shoulder, but thought better of it. He stood up. “Well, at least that should give you something to think about. Max Laney not only took your land, but killed your hero friend. How fitting.”

  He turned and headed to the stairs, leaving Hollie to his searing grief.

  Chapter 28

  After three hours of traipsing through soppy fields and obsidian woods, Chief Knox called the search off. They’d try again in the morning, possibly calling in the search dogs from the sheriff’s office.

  Knox sat in his car, eyes closed, heat blasting, trying to warm his shivering body. Despite being summer, the hours of trudging in the rain had taken a toll on everyone, the out of shape Knox more than the rest. A knock on the window.

  It was one of his officers. Knox reluctantly rolled down the window three inches. “What is it?”

  “You want us back at the office?”

  What Knox wanted was a hot meal and a shower. “Tell everyone to go home, get some shut eye, and meet up just after sunrise.”

  “You got it, chief.”

  Knox rolled the window up, once again relishing the hot air coming out of the vents. He waited for the rest of the cruisers to leave and placed a call to Max Laney, his fifth of the night.

  “Did you find him?”

  Knox exhaled, exhausted. “We didn’t. I’m sending the boys home and we’ll head back out in the daylight.” He waited for a reply, wondering what Laney was thinking.

  “Thank you for trying. Please let me know if there is anything I can do.”

  “I will, Mr. Laney. Have a good night.”

  Knox threw the phone on the passenger seat and shifted the car into drive. A very hot shower was calling.

  +++

  Max Laney was as close to panicking as he’d been in years, maybe decades. His plans had flown with the disappearance of Henry Ellison.

  Renley Watts watched the old man pace, wondering what his next move would be. He was ready to serve as needed, for a price. Why not make a rich deal even more lucrative? “How can I help, Mr. Laney?”

  His employer looked up in surprise, having forgotten Watts standing in the corner. “I’m not sure there’s much we can do tonight. I’ve left a message with Ellison’s firm, they’ll get new paperwork out here in the morning with or without Henry.”

  “So you need Herndon to stick around?”

  “Of course, you idiot. We’ll have to re-sign everything. I can’t do that without him.” Laney slammed his palm on the granite countertop. “Dammit.”

  +++

  Hollie wallowed in misery, second-guessing his actions. I should have let him leave. The guilt weighed heavily on his sore shoulders. He wanted to die.

  Forgive me, Lord.

  Chapter 29

  Max Laney rose before sunrise. He’d become accustomed to functioning on little sleep, mostly with the help of repeated bladder calls during the night. What he would have paid for the body he’d once had.

  Sipping an expresso, he looked up when Johnny walked in, hours before his normal wakeup.

  “Morning, granddad.”

  “You’re up early.”

  Johnny grabbed a coffee mug. “Thought you might need some help. What can I do?”

  Laney hadn’t expected Johnny’s sudden turn. The previous night Johnny had kept his mouth shut, doing his best to be useful. “Why don’t you get Hollie something to eat and drink. I don’t want him to pass out when the lawyer gets here.”

  Johnny sipped his coffee. “Did they find Mr. Ellison?”

  “No. Knox said they’re going back out this morning. I was thinking about heading out there later.”

  “Want me to come with you? I can drive.”

  Laney motioned his grandson closer, lowering his voice. “I want you to stay here and keep an eye on Watts.”

  Johnny’s eyebrows rose. “Why?”

  Laney shook his head. “He’s getting a little full of himself. Asking a lot of questions. I don’t trust him. He knows too much. Your only job is to watch him and make sure he’s not getting in the way.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Maybe he could have Johnny kill the man. It wouldn’t hurt to get the ludicrous amount of cash back that he’d paid the mercenary. Max Laney smiled, the pieces coming together in his head.

  +++

  Police officers trickled into the office, all tired from the previous night’s search. They drank coffee and devoured donuts waiting for Chief Knox to arrive. He was usually a couple minutes late, but thirty minutes was pushing it. More than one person wondered aloud whether the chief was still asleep.

  +++

  Max Laney pulled his SUV off the road, looking down to where Henry Ellison’s Cadillac still sat, surrounded by yellow police tape. Knox and his men weren’t there yet. Laney waited, counting down the minutes, listening to the rain beating down.

  +++

  “You think I should call him?” asked one of the Defuniak Springs cops.

  “I already did. No answer.”

  “That’s not like the chief. I’m gonna drive over to his place. Maybe he forgot to charge his phone again.”

  The others laughed. Chief Knox was not known for his tech savvy. He often asked his deputies to type a text for him in reply to a message from his on-again off-again girlfriends.

  “Take your time. I’m in no rush to walk around in that rain again.”

  More laughing as they continued to wait.

  +++

  He’d sat for close to an hour before calling Knox. The lawyer would be at the house in thirty minutes. Laney’s patience was paper thin as he listened to the ringing on the other end, Chief Knox’s voicemail message finally played. Ending the call, Laney dialed the police station.

  “De
funiak Springs police.”

  “This is Max Laney for Chief Knox.”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Laney. The chief isn’t in yet.”

  “He told me last night that there would be a search party out in the morning to look for Henry Ellison.”

  “Yes, sir. We’ve been waiting for him. Just sent an officer to his house. I think he slept through his alarm.”

  Laney counted to ten, breathing slowly, trying to stay calm. “Will you please have the chief call me when he gets in?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Henry Ellison and now Darryl Knox. Both missing.

  He dialed Watts.

  “Watts here.”

  “I need you to meet me…now.”

  +++

  Johnny looked in the mirror, moving his head from side to side. His wounds would heal. It was his pride that had taken a beating.

  His grandfather had tried to groom him to take over the family business for years, but he’d always taken it for granted. After his father’s death, he’d moved into the position to inherit the family fortune.

  The past week had shown Johnny that his future as head of the family was in jeopardy. He liked his life and didn’t want it to change. Things would be even better when he took over.

  A knock on the bathroom door.

  “I’m in here.”

  “Hey, it’s Renley. Your granddad just called, I’m heading out to meet him.”

  “Hold on.”

  Johnny wiped a dribble of blood from his chin with a wad of toilet paper, chucking it into the trash when he was done. He opened the door.

  “Where is he?”

  “He’s where they found the lawyer’s car.”

  “What does that have to do with me?”

  Renley rolled his eyes. Max Laney he could deal with. Johnny not so much. “Just keep an eye on Herndon, okay?”