“All right. Summarize this for me.”
Nathan did better. He explained things from the beginning, working up to his attempted murder, subsequent disappearance and beyond.
According to the data he snatched from Corporate Area 51, his former employer had done nothing over the previous three years to investigate why their corn was singled out as bad in Dr. K2’s research. Instead, they’d been working diligently to obscure the data by increasing the amount of plant sterols in their corn plants. Plant sterols, Nathan explained, were naturally occurring substances in many grains and vegetables that have powerful cholesterol-lowering properties. They used the Memphis food desert as a test case, flooding it with the new product but it barely altered the diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity numbers.
The decision was made to introduce insulin and statins directly into their corn plants. Corn plants that manufacturers would use to produce corn extract to be added into baby food and consumed, almost exclusively, in food deserts. And it was working. The Memphis numbers improved because parents were unknowingly feeding their children insulin and statin-laced products.
“Come by my office, I’ll have you deposed right away.” Lidia said.
“No, not going to happen.”
“I’ll need your testimony.”
“Just focus on the material I gave you.”
“I’m afraid you hold an exaggerated view of my influence. Without your testimony, this material won’t make it into exhibit. Sonanfield Reed’s attorneys will petition for a suppression order. They’ll succeed, it’ll be granted.”
“Introduce it anyway. I’m not asking you to win the case.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Introduce it and when it’s suppressed, have it leaked to a trusted news source. This is what Sonanfield Reed has been doing to a segment of our citizenry and here’s the hero attorney who’s risking her reputation in an effort to expose the truth. Public pressure alone will compel government agencies to investigate.”
“Not just my reputation. My career. I’d be facing disbarment and probably jail time over a contempt charge. My entire case could be thrown out.”
“There’s a rumor floating around, and I hope it’s true, that you might be thinking of making a senate run. Your story will lead every news broadcast in the state, maybe even the country. Name recognition. People vote on name recognition – and this country needs ethical and incorruptible people like you in public office. That folder you’re holding represents a bullet. Fire the shot that begins the revolution.” Nathan said as he picked up to leave.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“I need to find a bathroom.”
“No, I meant… how can I get in touch with you?”
“You’re not hard to find. But now that it’s been well established that you’re not a fan of spearmint, what flavor chewing gum should I bring along next time?”
“Forget gum. Bring chocolate. Chocolate always works.”
Deluxe Nicotine Chic. Wrong Side of the Tracks Mustard. Both were befitting color characterizations for the exterior paint on the small town motel that was flashing a flickering No Vacancy sign. The world’s largest ball of yarn, a childhood home of a former astronaut, a moonshine museum – something super cool was nearby.
Olive was staking out the joint, all hopped up on caffeine. She had been there for hours, a crazed look in her eyes, pacing back and forth by her Gremlin.
A cab pulled up, discharging Nathan before driving off. Surprisingly, he seemed in reasonably fine fettle considering he’d just exited a motorized vehicle’s passenger seat after a nine mile ride from his encounter with Lidia. Here’s why. Nathan had managed to bribe the cabbie into allowing him to drive for most of the journey. The cabbie drove the final few blocks, insisting on the switch before they neared the center of town so as not to be seen by the dispatch office located nearby.
Olive immediately approached him, calling out, producing her mother’s pistol and waving it in his direction, catching him completely off guard.
“They’ve got my mother! They’ve got my mother, you son of a bitch!”
“What are you doing, kid?” Nathan responded, still a little foggy from the five block ride and not yet fully recovered.
“Shut up!”
Not meaning to, Olive accidentally squeezed off a shot, barely missing Nathan and burying into a parked car directly behind him. Only a couple of seconds had passed, but by now, they were the only two people in the area who were no longer moving. Everyone was suddenly running around, frenzied, diving for cover.
One tourist, an older Asian man, brave soul, popped his head out from behind a tree, a vintage video camera glued over one eye. True American crime story. This was going to play well back at his retirement home.
“Put that thing down, kid.” Nathan said, forcing composure quicker than he felt comfortable, but still continuing to project waves of calm.
“They’ve got my mother! And now I’ve got you! Get in the car!” Olive replied, still visibly haunted that she fired a shot but trying her best to compose herself by using both hands to steady the gun.
Olive threw open her Gremlin’s passenger door when, seemingly out of nowhere, a police cruiser materialized on the scene, a pair of cops jumping out in a terrified crouch, moving crab-style, weapons drawn. Well, one cop had his weapon drawn, the other was having trouble settling his nerves long enough to successfully undo the snap on his holster. He eventually got it. It was obvious that both cops were absolutely frightened out of their wits. This was the most invigorating thing to happen to them, like ever.
“Drop the weapon! Drop it!” yelled out one of the cops, his voice cracking, breaching through two stressful pitches.
Olive slowly craned over, the insanity melting away from her bloodshot eyes as the cops circled around her. To the cops’ complete relief, she dropped the pistol.
“Face down on the ground, hands on your head!” one cop screamed.
“On your knees, hands over your head!” the other cop screamed – at the same time.
Yeah, it was a bit of a cop amateur show, but they were effective. Olive hit the pavement on her knees and then sprawled out onto her belly.
Nathan approached, clapping boisterously, waving at the Asian man holding the video camera.
“Cut!” He found Olive shortly afterward. “Wow, that was fabulous. This is going to look great.”
The cops appeared slightly befuddled all of a sudden, one of them asking…
“What’s going on here?”
“Independent film, officer.” Nathan replied as he regarded the Asian man again. “Come on, man, cut! That’s a take!”
Nathan shook his head, rolling his eyes as he found the cops once again.
“Tough working with non-union crew.”
The cops exchanged stupefied glances for a second, the tension slowly leaving their bodies.
“You got a permit for this?” asked one of the cops.
“Guerilla filmmaking, officer. We’re almost done too, we only have one more scene across the street and we’re out of everyone’s hair.”
“You have no more scenes anywhere. Pack up and get the hell out of here before we run you all in for disturbing the peace.” snarled one of the cops, completely irate now.
“But we only have a quarter of a page left, officer, mostly reaction shots. Very low key.” Nathan pleaded.
“You have a quarter of a minute, then you’re all under arrest.”
“Okay. Come on, you heard him, kid, get up, let’s go.” Nathan said before directing his attention back to the cops. “Listen, would you mind signing release forms, giving us permission to use your likenesses?”
“You have five seconds remaining.”
“Let’s go, kid. We’ll tough it out in editing.”
Olive couldn’t believe she was off the hook. She reached for her mother’s fallen gun, a harmless prop in the cops’ minds. Nathan snatched it first.
Nathan
and Olive walked along, moving away from the motel. Nathan unloaded the gun, tossing the ammunition into a trash bin as he glared daggers in Olive’s direction.
“I didn’t mean to fire that shot. And I’m sorry I overreacted, but I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You’re welcome.”
“No, you’re not getting a flower basket brimming with gratefulness from me. You may have helped me avoid a serious felony charge but this is still all your fault. They have my mother, and they want to trade her for you. So what’re you going to do about that?”
“They won’t hurt her. She’s a bargaining chip and I have things they want. I’ll get her back safely, I promise, just stay out of my way.”
“Forget that, I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“Don’t go home either, hide out somewhere for a while. Maybe fly to Hollywood and take a screen test.”
“Are you deaf? Did you hear what I just said?”
“I’ll buy you a ticket, book a hotel room, extend some spending money if you need it.”
She decided to assist in refocusing his train of thought by stomping on his foot. Hard. He dropped, stumbling to the ground over a series of footsteps like a wounded one-legged pirate who was hopelessly about to lose his battle with gravity. And as Olive ultimately stood over him…
“I’m going to be your worst nightmare until I get my mother back safe. Get used to that.”
“You realize I can dislocate something on your body and send you straight to the hospital for a few days…”
“You’ll have to kill me.”
Nathan found his feet, favoring one of them all the way.
“Fine. But if you screw up, we’re all dead.” Nathan said as he hobbled off in the same direction they had been traveling.
“Where are we going?” Olive asked.
“My motel.”
“Your motel’s back there.” Olive quickly indicated, recalling the name on the motel room key she preserved to memory while she was rummaging through his duffel bag.
“I know.”
“Then why are we walking the opposite way?”
“To make sure nobody’s more interested in us than they should be.”
And as they continued their circuitous route around the block, a late model Cadillac pulled up outside Nathan’s motel, two men emerging. Morris was short and weasel-built, glowing with Aryan wattage. Kollo was a Hawaiian mountain with a neck as thick as his head. They crossed for the lobby, ignoring the flickering No Vacancy sign.
Inside, they were greeted by a stained linoleum floor, framed by weathered Ikea furniture and surrounded by dust-covered plastic ficus plants. Zeke, a bohemian surfer type, was manning the counter, a racing form under his face.
“Sorry, no vacancy.” Zeke called out, never bothering to look up when he heard the bell chime as the lobby door swung open.
Morris and Kollo continued toward the counter, resolute. Zeke finally looked up.
“Zeke Thomas.” Morris said, as a way of asking.
“Ah… he’s not here.” Zeke responded, nervous all of a sudden.
Kollo referred to a photo of Zeke he had taped to the underside of his forearm. Zeke recognized his image and knew he had trouble.
“It’s very important that we speak with him. When are you expecting him back?” Morris asked, playing the game.
“Umm… hard to say. Maybe you’d like to leave a message?” Zeke replied, nonchalantly lowering the racing form out of sight while trying to swallow saliva that was rapidly evaporating.
“Yes, perhaps we should.” Morris replied in his immutable bland and monotonous tone. “Tell him that he’s been accumulating a significant amount of debt lately. Apparently, the poor fellow has been having some difficulty choosing a winning horse.”
“Sure. I mean, of course, I’ll let him know.”
“Thank you. We really appreciate it.” Morris responded, holding Zeke’s unsettled eyes.
Plenty of disquieting seconds lapsed over extended staring and silence. Just eyes. Morris’ were locked. Zeke’s were flitting. Zeke finally attempted another swallow but swallowing was difficult when saliva was no longer available as a lubricant. He was that nervous now.
Morris found Kollo, silently instructing him to take action. Kollo immediately hurdled over the counter in a scrambling lunge, closing ground like Judgment Day wrapped in a designer suit.
Zeke tried to bolt into a back room, but Kollo grabbed him, wrenching his neck at an impossible angle, distending muscles that screamed back in protest.
Outside, Nathan and Olive finally arrived, Nathan peering in at the spectacle. He found a cigarette and lit it.
“Wait here.” Nathan told Olive a moment after he took a puff.
The door chimed as Nathan entered. Everybody glanced over in a frozen stare, atmosphere instantly becoming even more tense. Kollo released Zeke who dropped to one knee, furiously massaging his neck. Morris broke the silence.
“Did you notice the sign out there, sport? There’s no vacancy.”
“Yeah, I saw that, but I also saw you guys in here and figured you for disgruntled customers. Maybe you were checking out.”
“I think you’d better leave.”
“I hear you. Prison would be a step up from this place, but they offer free adult channels. Keeps a guy coming back.”
A wise ass, huh? Only Morris’ eyes moved as he found Kollo. Teach him a lesson. Zeke scurried into the back room as Kollo launched himself at Nathan. Nathan responded by shooting out his foot like a pile driver right into Kollo’s groin.
Kollo doubled over, face draining of blood, desperately searching for breath. Nathan caught him before he hit the floor, easing him onto a stained sofa.
“Did you see that?” Nathan asked Morris. “He almost tripped.”
“Yes, he should be more careful.”
“Must’ve been the sun’s glare.”
“It can get very abusive at this time of day, I agree. Perhaps I should get him home, make certain to close his shutters.”
“You’re a good friend.”
“Yes, he’s a very lucky man, this one.”
Morris collected Kollo and escorted him out, helping him into the Cadillac and driving off. Nathan ground out his cigarette before tapping a rusty bell sitting on the counter. Nothing happened so he tapped it again. Half of Zeke’s face poked out from the back room this time.
“Where’d they go?” Zeke asked, eyes flashing.
“Zach, right?” Nathan asked.
“Zeke.”
“Zeke. Why are you still gambling with money you don’t have?”
“Hot tips from a friend, supposed to be sure things. They’re usually spot on.”
“Those guys will be back. And I doubt they’ll be as tolerant next time. Clear your debt.”
“I’m working on it.”
Olive materialized, the bell above the door announcing her entrance.
“Okay, that was all very exciting to witness, but can we get back to what we’re supposed to be focused on please?”
“Is this your daughter?” Zeke asked.
Nathan and Olive responded in unison. He said no. She said hell no.
“So there’s no relation?” Zeke added, hopeful.
Nathan and Olive responded in unison once again. He said no. She said fuck no.
Zeke smiled, admiring Olive’s spunk.
“Swag. What’re you doing tonight? Wanna party?”
Olive rolled her eyes, pointing out the exit to Nathan.
“Can we go, please?”
Olive followed Nathan out.
“Okay, so what’s the plan anyway?” Olive asked, as they made their way to Nathan’s room.
“We fly back out to where triple A refuses to send out technicians, we grab your mother, we leave.”
“How do you know she’s out there?”
“She’s out there.” Nathan said, absolutely confident. “They’ll be expecting me.”
“Okay, let’s get going t
hen.”
“I need to use a bathroom. Missed a chance earlier. I’ve been holding it all day.” Nathan said, a moment before entering his room… to find broken, upended furniture everywhere. Even the mattress and pillows had been shredded by knives. Nathan sighed…
“I suppose I shouldn’t have checked in using my real name.”
“Let’s get out of here.”
“Just give me a minute. Or five.” Nathan said as he crossed into the bathroom to find that it had been trashed as well. Even the toilet seat was shattered.
It was only moments later that Nathan and Olive reentered the lobby to find Zeke dancing wildly behind the counter to a tune only he could hear.
“Just hit the trifecta! Fifteen thousand, five hundred! I’m back in business, baby!” Zeke announced.
“Let me use your bathroom.” Nathan countered.
“I don’t have a bathroom.”
“Where do you go?”
“Depends. Number one or two?”
“That makes a difference?”
“Got an old iron pot in the back I use for number one. Number two, I use the laundromat across the street. Coin operated toilets. They take quarters.”
“Slap one on the counter. Do it now.”
Zeke dug into his pocket and tossed Nathan something that appeared to be a quarter.
“This is a slug.” Nathan said, upon inspection.
“Use ‘em all the time.” Zeke responded, before finding Olive. “Dinner, a movie, camp out afterwards by the lake and listen to the loons. Say yes. Let’s give romance a chance, baby.”
Olive regarded Nathan very matter-of-factly and asked him…
“How well do you know this idiot?”
“Met him when I checked in.”
“So he’s not your friend.”
“No.”
“Then you won’t mind if I kill him.”
“I wish you would. He’s been pestering me all day.” Nathan responded, half smiling. He dug Olive’s mother’s pistol out and gave it back to her. It was empty, of course, but Zeke didn’t know that.
“I’ll be right back.”
Olive watched Nathan exit and wait for traffic to calm before attempting to cross the street. She quickly turned her attention to Zeke.
Wicked Seeds Page 7
