“I can see why you would be upset. If this were my Calinda, I would be too.”
Then he leaned forward. “Walt, look into my eyes.”
I leaned forward and we were staring at one another just a few feet apart.
“Walt, listen to me carefully. I swear on my mother’s grave I did not send these messages and I do not have your wife. Do you believe me?”
There was no question that he was sincere.
I considered my answer very carefully.
“Yes, I believe you --- for now, but if I find out you’ve lied to me, I’ll be back.”
“I can live with that,” he replied, leaning back in his chair, “because I’m telling you the truth.”
One of the goons whacked me on the head. “What shall we do with him, boss?”
“Let him go, of course. I like him. He’s got one big pair of cojones for an old guy. I have to admire someone who would barge in here and disrupt the dinner of Carmine Marchetti. A man who would risk his life for the woman he loves deserves our respect. Good luck, Walt. I hope you find your wife.”
He waved again and I was jerked to my feet and escorted to the front of the restaurant and shoved out onto the sidewalk.
I sat quietly in my car thinking about what had transpired.
Both Carmine and Mark swore they had nothing to do with Maggie’s disappearance. Either one of them was lying, or there was another player in the game I was not aware of.
I headed back to my empty apartment. I had to drive very slowly because it was hard to see through the tears which wouldn’t stop falling.
CHAPTER 18
Needless to say, it was a rough night.
I knew I needed to sleep because I would need my strength and my wits about me for whatever might happen the next day, but it just didn’t happen. I tossed and turned, then finally gave up and just paced the floor, reviewing over and over what had transpired up to that point. I knew I was missing something, but I had no idea what it was.
As the first light of the morning came peeking through the window, I put on a pot of coffee. My stomach was too upset for my bowl of Wheaties, but I needed the caffeine jolt to wake me up.
I climbed into the shower and stood there until the water turned cold, hoping some detail would pop into my mind which would possibly give me a clue about Maggie’s abductor, but nothing came.
I was drying off when the phone rang.
“Mr. Williams, undoubtedly you have been concerned about your wife. Let me assure you she is safe and unharmed --- for the moment.”
“Who is this?”
“My name is not important. What is important is you do exactly what I ask if you want to see your wife again.”
“Well, it’s important to me. I need to know who I’m dealing with.”
“Very well then. My name is Angel Alvarez. Now, shall we get down to the business of getting your wife back to you?”
“I have no idea who you are. What could you possibly want from me?”
“The computer, of course.”
My first assumption was he was looking for Jack Carson’s computer which contained all his chemtrail research.
“Look, I don’t have Carson’s computer. I never did. What makes you think I have it?”
Silence on the other end. “Who is this Carson person? I don’t know him and I certainly don’t want his computer. I want the one that your wife has hidden away.”
“You want Maggie’s laptop? If you have her, you must also have her computer. She always has it with her.”
“Not her computer, you fool. The one that was given to her. Let’s stop playing games. You will get that computer to me or you will never see her again.”
“No, please! I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about. Let me talk to Maggie. Maybe she can help me figure out what you’re looking for.”
I heard a disgusted sigh. “Bring the woman.”
A moment later, I heard him whisper, “I will be listening to every word, so be very careful what you say.”
A shaky voice came on the line. “Walt, is that you?”
“Maggie! Are you okay? Have they hurt you?”
“I --- I’m okay for now, but I’m so frightened.”
“I know you must be. We’ll get through this. We always have. Who is this Alverez guy and what computer is he talking about?”
“Walt, this is all my fault. Remember my new listing --- Hector Ramirez’ house which was seized by the DEU?”
“Yes, the Columbian drug guy. What about it?”
“If you’ll recall, I had Consuela and her daughters clean the place from top to bottom. While they were cleaning, they found a secret compartment in one of the kitchen cabinets. There was a laptop computer inside. The drug guys just missed it. Anyway, Consuela brought it to me and I fully intended to turn it over to the DEU, but just got busy and it slipped my mind.”
“So that’s what he wants? Any idea what might be on the thing?”
“From what I’ve overheard, it has the record of all Ramirez’ contacts, his suppliers and his dealers. Apparently Alvarez is planning to move into the Kansas City drug scene and needs that information.”
“Enough!” Alvarez shouted in the background. “Tell him where you hid the computer.”
“I --- I didn’t hide it. Walt, the computer is in our office under my desk. It’s in a brown paper bag --- just like it was when Consuela dropped it off.”
I figured our conversation was about to be cut short. “Maggie, one more thing. Has Alvarez blindfolded you at all?”
“No, why do you ask?”
“Just curious. Maggie, I love you and I’ll get you out of this --- somehow.”
I heard Alvarez say, “Take her away!” Then he came back on the line. “So, Mr. Williams, now you know about the computer I want. It’s very simple. I will exchange your wife for the computer. Bring the computer to a warehouse at --- .”
“Stop right there,” I interrupted. “If you think I’m coming to a deserted warehouse, you’re sadly mistaken. I’m more than willing to trade some stupid computer for my wife, but I need a show of good faith on your part. I need to know you’re really going to let her go, so if you want this thing to go smoothly, I’ll pick the spot for the exchange.”
He thought for a moment. “Where do you suggest?”
“It has to be somewhere public --- somewhere with lots of people around --- the J.C. Nichols fountain on the Plaza. It’s out in the open and there are plenty of witnesses. If you’re on the up and up, we can make the exchange and no one will be the wiser.”
“Very well,” he conceded, “but remember this, those innocent bystanders you mentioned could easily turn into victims and I know you don’t want that. If I even think I see a cop, you’ll never see your wife again. Do you understand?”
“Perfectly.”
“Good. I will expect you to arrive at noon, alone, no cops. Bring the computer, we’ll make the exchange, and you and your lovely wife can have lunch on the Plaza.”
“I’ll be there.”
When I hung up, I had a momentary sense of relief. At least I knew what I was dealing with. In a way, I was glad it was not a government assassin or a mafia hit man.
Then the feeling of relief turned into a feeling of dread. Alvarez had not been shy about telling me his name and he hadn’t bothered to blindfold Maggie. I was sure Alvarez was not planning on leaving any witnesses who could identify him.
There was no way I was going to call the cops. I just couldn’t risk it. I thought about calling Ox, but he’s so huge, he doesn’t exactly blend into the background, and if Alvarez had done his homework, he might even recognize him as an officer.
No, my best chance was with the old-timers I had used on many other occasions, Kevin, Willie and my dad. They were all old, but they were tough as nails and had been down this path before. I almost didn’t call Mary Murphy, but I knew if she found out I had launched a rescue mission without her, she’d be pissed and not speak to me for a mon
th. Actually, she was as formidable as any of the others on my team, having whacked an assassin with her baseball bat and shot an intruder who had threatened her with a switchblade.
I called Kevin first and asked him to meet at my apartment and bring a couple of extra guns from his stash. Then I called Dad and Willie. I told them to meet in my apartment as soon as I returned from the hotel with Mary in tow.
As I expected, she was almost giddy I had included her in our adventure. She grabbed her bat, took a couple of practice swings and declared she was ready for action.
When we were all gathered in my apartment, I shared what had transpired. Their first reaction was shock that Maggie had been abducted. Soon, the shock turned to anger and then to determination as we discussed how we were going to get Maggie safely away from the drug lord.
We decided Kevin would leave at eleven with Dad, Willie and Mary. That way they would already be at the fountain long before I arrived. They would fan out, blend into the crowd which was sure to be there, and have their weapons concealed, but ready if things went south.
When they were on their way, I checked under Maggie’s desk, and sure enough, the laptop was there, wrapped in a brown paper bag.
I couldn’t help but play the ‘what if’ game.
If the DEU guys had found the thing when they first searched --- if the Broker had given the listing to another agent --- if Maggie had turned it in the day Consuela brought it to our door --- none of this would have happened and Maggie would not be in the hands of a Columbian drug lord.
Then my mind switched gears and I did the same exercise with the chemtrail conspiracy. If Dale Fox hadn’t contacted Jack Carson, both he and Jack would still be alive as well as Frank Katz and maybe even Louise Shipley. But he did and now they were all gone, and for what? We were no closer to learning the truth about the chemtrails than when we started.
It is said that justice is blind, and indeed Lady Justice is depicted with a blindfold covering her eyes. It almost seemed in this situation, her eyes were covered to prevent her from seeing the truth, and yet, in spite of the blindfold, somehow she keeps the scale balanced. With the deaths of these four good people, the scale had been tipped in favor of the bad guys, and I couldn’t help but wonder how she would balance things out.
I looked at the clock. It was eleven-thirty. I just had time to get to the Plaza for my date with destiny.
It’s sometimes strange where the mind can wander. On my way to the Nichols fountain, I thought about Gary Cooper in the 1952 western classic, High Noon. His destiny was to face a gang of thugs at the very hour I was to face Angel Alvarez. Cooper was all alone. My comfort was knowing my people were there and would have my back.
I parked and walked a block to J.C. Nichols Park.
As usual, there were people all around, enjoying the fountain and the bright sunny day. There was a young couple with a baby in a stroller, a mom and dad trying desperately to keep their toddler from splashing in the water, and an older couple walking hand-in-hand. In the grassy park next to the fountain, a dozen men were engaged in a game of flag football.
Interspersed with this group were my four friends. Dad and Willie were huddled over a checker board, Kevin had set up an easel and pretended to paint, while Mary was just laying back in a lawn chair, catching some rays.
I had just entered the park when two vans pulled up to the curb on J.C. Nichols Parkway. Three men got out of each van. I assumed the one in the lead was Angel Alvarez. He came directly to me while his men fanned out around the fountain.
He looked at the package I was carrying. “That better be my computer.”
“It is,” I replied, “and it’s all yours as soon as I have Maggie.”
He motioned to one of the vans and a seventh man opened the cargo door. I could see Maggie inside. She looked frightened, but otherwise unharmed.
“Your wife,” Alvarez said, pointing. “Give me the computer, then you may go to the van and take her.”
I shook my head, “It’s not going to happen that way. You bring her to me and we’ll make the exchange right here.”
“I don’t believe you’re in a position to negotiate, Mr. Williams,” he replied, patting the bulge under his coat. “There are a lot of nice people here and I know you don’t want to see any of them hurt. Now get to the van!”
“No, I certainly don’t, and I’m sure you don’t want any of your people hurt as well.”
I looked around, assuming my little posse would spring into action, but to my dismay, each and every one of them were being held by one or more of Alvarez’ men.
“Sorry to disappoint you,” he said with a sadistic smile. “I’m afraid your little ruse has failed. I knew you would try something and I’ve been following you all morning. Very clever idea, hiding your friends, but just not clever enough. Now give me that computer and we’ll all just head to the vans and leave before some innocent bystander is injured.”
Alvarez’ men started pushing my friends toward the vans. Mary, of course, had no intention of going peacefully. She jerked her arm away from her captor.
“Your momma must be proud, you beatin’ up on an old woman. If you didn’t have your gun in my back, I’d show you a thing or two!”
The man just scoffed and gave her another shove.
I knew once we were in the vans, we were all dead meat. Alvarez had no intention of letting us go. I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of a complete victory.
“Sure,” I replied, “we’ll go quietly, but there’s something I have to do first.”
“And what might that be?”
“This!” I replied, tossing the computer into the center of the fountain.
I saw the look of shock on his face and figured he would probably gun me down right where I stood, but after a moment, he composed himself.
“I had planned to make your demise as swift and painless as possible, but now you will die a slow and agonizing death as will your wife and friends. Now get to the van or I’ll gun you all down right here, along with these innocent people.”
Just as we all started moving away from the fountain, the twelve men playing flag football suddenly sprinted to our little group, and in an instant, Alvarez’ men were disarmed and their hands bound with plastic ties.
I heard a familiar voice. “I’m afraid, Senor Alvarez, that you’re not going anywhere but to jail.”
The voice was that of Carmine Marchetti.
“Good day, Walt. I hope I’m not intruding.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “Quite the contrary. But how --- ?”
“Let’s just say you got my attention. I’m rather proud to say I have a reputation as a man not to be trifled with, and yet two times yesterday, you got in my face, first accusing me of murdering Jack Carson and then abducting your wife. Few men would have the audacity to do such a thing.”
“Sorry about that. I was at my wit’s end and audacity was about all I had left.”
“It served you well. After your last visit, I just had to know what you would do next, so just like Mr. Alvarez, I had you followed. Fortunately, my men spotted his men following you. “
“You knew Alvarez?”
“I knew Hector Ruiz. He had come into my city with his Columbian drugs. I must say I was pleased when your Drug Enforcement Unit put him out of business. We had heard Alvarez was following in his footsteps. I simply put two and two together and surmised that your wife must have found something of value in her listing on Sunset Drive and that Alvarez had abducted her to get it back.”
“You don’t miss much, do you?”
“In my business, it’s important to be well informed.”
He looked at the bag in the fountain. “I suppose that’s what he was looking for.”
I nodded. “Laptop. It had all of Ramirez’ contacts, both his suppliers and his dealers.”
He looked at it wistfully. “Too bad it’s ruined. With that information, you could have put an end to the Columbian’s drug activity once and for
all. It would have been good for my business”
“Probably still could,” I replied. “I might have copied the files on a thumb drive before I left the house.”
His face broke into a big smile and he clapped me on the back. “Well done! I knew I liked you.”
About that time, Maggie rushed to my side and threw her arms around me.
“Ahhh, yes,” Marchetti said, taking Maggie’s hand. “You must be Mrs. Williams, a very special lady indeed to have your man risk his life to save you.”
He bowed and planted a kiss on her hand.
Carmine was one suave Italian.
I gently removed Maggie’s hand. “Yes, she is special, and I want to thank you for what you did today. I owe you.”
“Nonsense! We both simply did what was right. Maybe someday the shoe will be on the other foot and I’ll need the assistance of a fine private investigator. Who knows?”
It wasn’t exactly comforting, knowing I was in debt to a mafia godfather, but at that moment, I was just happy we were all alive and in one piece. If Carmine wanted to call in my chit later on, I’d deal with it then.
I heard sirens in the distance.
“I took the liberty of calling your Detective Blaylock,” Marchetti said. “If you have things under control here, I think it might be best if my men and I were not here when he arrives. Too many questions, if you know what I mean.”
“I think we can handle it from here,” I replied, extending my hand. “Thanks again.”
“You’re most welcome,” he replied, giving my hand a firm shake.
After he was gone, Mary came huffing and puffing to where Alvarez was standing. She got right in his face. “This is for abducting my Maggie, you scumbag.”
Without another word, she planted her foot squarely between his legs.
He crumpled to the ground moaning and gasping for air.
Mary turned to the other seven and sneered, “Anyone else want a piece of this action?”
They all cowered in fear.
Just before Blaylock arrived, I pulled Alvarez into an upright position.
“I need you to answer a question for me.”
“Screw you,” he retorted.
The Chemtrail Conspiracy Set (Lady Justice Book 22) Page 12
