Lady Justice and the Mysterious Box

by Robert Thornhill

  “They do smell good,” Steele said. “Might as well try one.”

  Stokes took the lid off the box and they both grabbed a cookie.

  “Damn!” Steele said, licking his lips. “These are good. I’ll have another.”

  Stokes handed him the box and looked at his watch. “It’s getting late. Let’s call it a day.”

  “I’m for that,” Steele replied, his mouth full of snickerdoodle. “We’ll get a good night’s sleep and be fresh in the morning.”

  Stokes started the engine and pulled into traffic.

  Juwon Rhee and Kim Chung were three cars behind the blue sedan when an old woman came out of the apartment carrying a box.

  “Kim look!” Juwon said. “Isn’t that our box the old woman is carrying?”

  Kim looked at a photo. “It’s exactly like the one in this picture. Why would the old one just give it to the Americans?”

  “Who knows? Maybe the agents put the fear of God in them and they made a deal. What matters is that the Americans have it, but not for long. We will follow them and take it at the first opportunity.”

  I watched Bernice deliver the cookies and chuckled when she threw open her robe. I would love to have been a little mouse in the backseat of that car after she left.

  As soon as she was inside, I thanked her, then hurried out the back of the building, circled the block, and climbed into the car where Helen, Kevin and Alex were waiting.

  We were parked a half-block behind the North Koreans.

  “How’d it go?” Kevin asked.

  “Like clockwork,” I replied, “and Bernice even gave them a bonus. She flashed them wearing her titty tassels.”

  “She did what?” Alex asked, not quite sure she had heard correctly.

  “You’d have to know the old gal,” I replied, and I gave her a quick synopsis of Bernice’s idiosyncrasies.

  “You people lead an interesting life,” she said after I’d finished.

  “You have no idea.”

  At that moment the blue sedan pulled into traffic. The Koreans followed them a moment later.

  “Looks like we’re in business,” Helen said.

  Kevin pulled into traffic and stayed several car-lengths behind the Koreans. They turned south onto Main Street toward the Country Club Plaza. At 45th Street, the blue sedan pulled into the parking lot of the Holiday Inn.

  We pulled to the curb and watched Stokes and Steele exit their car. Steele had our phony box under his arm.

  The Koreans, obviously hoping to take the agents by surprise, screeched into the parking lot, threw open their doors, and ran toward the agents, guns blazing.

  Stokes and Steele, sensing the attack, crouched behind their open car doors, and were soon returning fire.

  The Koreans ducked behind parked cars and a raging gun battle ensued.

  “Time to call in reinforcements,” Helen said.

  “I’ll do it,” Alex said. “I’ve got a burner.”

  She dialed 911. “Please hurry! Men are shooting at each other in the Holiday Inn parking lot on the Plaza.”

  Minutes later, we heard sirens. Soon, the Kansas City Tactical Squad had the parking lot surrounded. Seeing they were sorely outgunned, the four combatants threw down their guns and raised their hands.

  “Perfect!” Helen gushed. “As soon as they get things sorted out, Stokes and Steele will show their Homeland Security credentials and be off scot free, but the Koreans, in the country illegally, will be behind bars for a long, long time.”

  “Looks like the odds are back in our favor,” Alex said. “Four against two.”

  “Don’t you mean five against two,” I replied. “Don’t forget about Bernice!”

  Operation Bait and Wait had gone off without a hitch.

  CHAPTER 12

  While planning Operation Bait and Wait, we decided it was time to go on the offensive. Up till now, being alone in this mess, I had simply been reacting to the various situations as they developed, but now that I had reinforcements, it was time to turn the tables.

  Helen had shadowed Stokes and Steele the day before and discovered they were staying in the Plaza Holiday Inn. Following discretely, she located their room, #218.

  When they left their room to continue their vigil outside my building, Kevin broke into their room using his electronic key card gizmo and planted a bug supplied by Alex.

  After the police had hauled off the North Koreans and cleared the parking lot, we found a spot and tuned in figuring Stokes and Steele would return to their room.

  We heard the door open and shut.

  “Jesus! What a freaking mess!”

  “You got that right. Koreans! Where did they come from and why didn’t Scarborough let us know we had competition?”

  “Damned if I know. Even more important, why were they coming after us? They had to be here for the box.”

  Then one of them must have put two and two together.

  “Holy crap! We were set up!”

  “Set up? How?”

  “The old woman and her cookies. The box was identical to the one we’re after. The Koreans must have been watching and saw her give it to us. They must have figured it was the box. They followed, planning to take it away.”

  “If that’s the case, then Williams must have known that the Koreans were out there. Damn! He has better intelligence than we do.”

  “Williams set a trap and we fell right into it.”

  “So, where do we go from here?”

  “No more pussyfootin’ around. I’m tired of sitting in the car all day hoping Williams will make a mistake. We have to get inside that building. Inside his apartment. If he’s not home, we’ll tear the place apart. If he is, we’ll just squeeze him till he talks. One way or the other, we’re getting that box.”

  “But Scarborough said ---!”

  “I don’t give a damn what Scarborough said. He’s not the one sitting in that car for hours on end. We gotta end this one way or another. My hemorrhoids are killing me!”

  “Good thing you planted that bug,” Helen said. “Now we know they’re upping their game. Pretty bold, planning to come right in. Now we can prepare.”

  “I’m all for that,” I replied, “but we’ve got another problem. No one in the building has any idea what’s going on. We can prepare all we want, but if Jerry or the Professor or Bernice unexpectantly runs into them, no telling what those two creeps might do. We have to get everyone out of the building.”

  “How do you propose we do that?” Kevin asked.

  “You and Veronica are going to throw a party. They all love parties.”

  “A party? What kind of party?”

  “I don’t know --- yes I do. You’re having a surprise party for Veronica’s birthday.”

  “But Veronica’s birthday isn’t until next month.”

  “Nobody knows that but you, Buccko.”

  “Veronica knows.”

  “Hmmm, that is a problem.”

  “How about a surprise party for my birthday,” Helen said. “Nobody knows the correct date but me.”

  “Perfect! Let’s get home and put this thing together.”

  On the way home, we stopped at the International House of Pancakes. They have a separate meeting room for informal gatherings. It was the only place we could think of at the last minute. We reserved the room for nine o’clock the next morning.

  I called ahead and had Maggie gather everyone in our apartment. Kevin called Veronica and had her meet us there.

  Back at my building, Alex and Helen went to Alex’s apartment. Kevin and I were to meet them later to formulate our plan.

  When everyone had gathered in my living room, Kevin made the announcement.

  “I just learned today that Helen, Veronica’s mother, is having a birthday tomorrow. I thought it might be nice to have a little surprise party for her. After all, she’s part of our extended family now.”

  I saw the look of surprise on Veronica’s face. “How did you know ---?”

 
Kevin cut her off. “Remember, I’m a private investigator. It’s my job to know these things. Anyway, I called and told her that Veronica and I would like to take her out for breakfast for her birthday. We’re to meet her at IHOP in the morning at nine. Boy, will she be surprised when she shows up and sees all of us there. Is everybody in?”

  Bernice was having trouble following. “Where are we going and who’s Helen?”

  “Helen is Veronica’s mother,” Dad replied, “and we’re going to have pancakes with her tomorrow.”

  Bernice clapped her hands. “Oh goody! I love pancakes.”

  So everything was set. When Stokes and Steele made their move, the building would be empty.

  Well, almost empty.

  The next morning at eight-forty-five, we all gathered on the front steps. Somehow, Jerry had managed to come up with party hats, little horns, and those goofy things you blow into and they unroll.

  Jerry insisted we put on the hats before leaving so we’d be ready to go as soon as we hit the restaurant.

  There was a lot of grumbling, and eventually everyone complied except Willie.

  “I ain’t puttin’ on one o’ dose stupid hats!”

  That, of course, encouraged Jerry to break into song. “Every party needs a pooper, that’s why we invited you. Party poooooper! Party poooooper!”

  Once everyone had donned their headgear and received their horns and blow-outs, we were ready to go.

  We were headed to our cars when my cell phone rang. It was Alex watching from her apartment across the street. We had made arrangements for her to call just as we were leaving.

  I answered, made up a fake conversation, then tapped Maggie on the arm. “That was Ox. He needs to visit with me about an old case we worked together. He said it was urgent. He’s coming right over. You ride with Dad and Bernice. I’ll meet you there.”

  I hated lying to my wife, but I rationalized that it was for her own good.

  After everyone had driven away, I climbed in my car still wearing my party hat, drove around the block and parked, then entered our building through the back door.

  Now it was time to prepare our little surprise.

  We figured Stokes and Steele would come straight to my apartment and pick the lock. Having seen us all leave the building, they wouldn’t waste any time.

  I started putting together a trick I had learned from Benny Berkowitz. Benny was an old guy who, along with two buddies, decided to become private investigators. Needless to say, they were in trouble from the get-go.

  We had been locked in a room waiting for a drug dealer to arrive to deal with us harshly. It was Benny, a retired electrician, who had saved the day with the little trick I was preparing.

  I had taken the cord from an old lamp I found in the basement, stripped the ends exposing bare wires, then split the chord down the middle.

  One of the bare wires I wrapped around the inside door knob. The other I placed under a welcome mat from the front entrance.

  Everything in place, I took a spray bottle and soaked the welcome mat until it was wet but not soggy.

  I closed the door, locked it, then inserted the plug into an electrical socket.

  When Stokes or Steele stepped on the wet mat, then touched the door knob, the circuit would be complete and I should have French-fried agent.

  I grabbed my old twelve gauge, sat down in a chair facing the door, and waited.

  “What the hell?” Stokes said as people started pouring out of the building.

  They watched in amazement as one of them produced party hats and other gizmos. Everyone except an old black guy put on a hat.

  Steele started counting. “There’s the old woman who brought us cookies. There’s Williams and his wife. I think that’s everyone, and they’re all leaving!”

  “Perfect,” Stokes said, as the last car pulled away. “Let’s get this done before they get back.”

  The two agents left their car and climbed the steps to the third-floor apartment.

  Stokes got out his lock pics. “This should be a piece of cake.”

  I heard footsteps on the stairs, then one of them spoke. “This should be a piece of cake.”

  I held my breath, and a moment later, I saw a flash, heard a ‘ZAP’ and then a scream, “AIEEEEE.’

  I heard a body hit the floor. “Holy crap! Randall! Are you okay?”

  No answer, then a low moan.

  “That’s it!” the other man said. “I’m tired of all this shit. I’m gonna kick the door down and tear this place apart.”

  I was ready. If they breached the door, they would be looking down the barrel of my shotgun. They might be Federal agents, but they were breaking into my domain without a warrant. The castle law would protect me if I had to blow them away.

  “No, no!” Randall said. “There may be more booby traps. If they did this, no telling what might be inside. Just get me out of here.”

  I took a deep breath as I heard footsteps retreating down the stairs.

  Another round going to the good guys, but I had to wonder what was coming next.

  CHAPTER 13

  While the Homeland Security agents were in my building getting zapped, Alex slipped down to their car, popped it open with a slim jim, and planted another bug.

  When I was sure the agents were gone, I headed to the IHOP. As soon as I entered, I got questioning looks from Helen and Kevin. They both broke into big smiles when I gave them a ‘thumbs up.’ I knew they were busting a gut to hear the details.

  I wished Helen a fake happy birthday, ate a couple of birthday pancakes, and listened to a couple of Jerry’s corny jokes. At last, the festivities were over and we headed home. I was anxious to meet with Alex, Kevin, and Helen to see what had transpired after the agents left my building.

  “Whatever you did to Stokes up there really took the starch out of his shorts,” Alex said, grinning. Steele had to practically carry him back to their car. I made a tape of their conversation. I knew you’d want to hear it.”

  She pushed the ‘play’ button. “Jesus, Randall! Your hand! There’s black stuff and it’s starting to swell.”

  “Just get me back to the hotel so I can get some ice on it. That damned Williams! He’s gonna pay for this!”

  “I hear ya. We’ve obviously underestimated the old goat. We’ll be more careful from here on out. I think we’d better give Scarborough a call as soon as we get back. He’ll know what to do next.”

  “Okay, but we can’t tell him about this screw up. We weren’t supposed to go inside the building without his okay.”

  Alex hit the ‘stop’ button. “That was all until they reached their hotel room. I followed them and recorded what went on in there.”

  She hit ‘play’ again. “Ice! Get me all the ice you can find! My hand is killing me!”

  “Here you go, Randall. I hope that helps.”

  “Ahhhhh! You give Scarborough a call while I let this soak.”

  “Thankfully, Steele put the call on speaker phone so Stokes could hear,” Alex said.

  “Mr. Scarborough, this is Brian Steele.”

  “Steele! What’s going on out there? Do you have the box?”

  “Uhhh, not exactly.”

  “So, no! What have you two been doing?”

  “Well, for one thing, we damn near got blown away by two North Korean agents. Why didn’t you tell us they were here?”

  “I didn’t know they were even in the country until I got the report about your little shoot-out.”

  “Williams knew, and he set us up. How come he knows and you don’t? Who’s helping him? Ishmael?”

  “It can’t be Ishmael. He’s dead.”

  “Jesus! I knew you took out his man in Springfield, but you got the big guy too?”

  “I did, so there’s no excuse for you not getting that box. What’s your next move?”

  “Uhhh, actually, that’s why we were calling. Short of bustin’ into the place, guns blazin’, we’re not sure what to do next.”

&nb
sp; “Unbelievable! I send my two best men to take one box from an old man and he’s beat you at every turn. I suppose there’s only one thing left to do. I’m coming out there myself and finish this mess. I’ll catch the next flight to Kansas City. I’ll text you my flight and arrival time. Meet me at the airport.”

  “Wow!” Helen said, as Alex stopped the recording. “Garret Scarborough himself coming to the rescue! Whatever’s in that box must really be important for him to take charge personally. This should get interesting.”

  I had heard several people describe Garret Scarborough. He wasn’t a nice man and ‘interesting’ wasn’t the word I would have used.

  The next day, we followed Stokes and Steele to the airport. In order to stay a step ahead, we had to hear everything said between Scarborough and his minions.

  Once his luggage was loaded into the trunk, Scarborough slipped into the front passenger seat.

  “Good Lord, Stokes. What happened to your hand?”

  “Oh that. It’s nothin’. Some dumb waitress poured hot coffee on it.”

  “I hope they comped your meal.”

  “Yeah, they did. Brian’s too.”

  Stokes could lie with the best of them.

  “The box,” Scarborough said. “Are you sure Williams has it?”

  “He has to. Somehow Oliver McDermont got it to him before the Russians took him out. We never did figure out what happened to the Russians. They just disappeared. Then Ishmael sent a courier to pick up the box. We saw the Chinese grab the courier and the box. We followed them to an old school where they iced the courier. Williams must have followed us both, and while we were battling it out, he grabbed the box and ran. The next thing we knew, Williams was taking the box to Ishmael’s man in Springfield, but somehow we lost him along the way. We heard you took care of the Springfield connection, so Williams must have brought the box back to Kansas City. We’ve been watching the building every day and there’s been no other activity, so --- yes, we’re pretty sure Williams has the box in his apartment.”