His face turned the color of curdled milk and he steadied himself against the desk. “Prison? Now wait a minute—”
“Yeah, you’ll soon forget what a woman feels like.”
“I can’t go to prison. No prison...no more talk about prison. Okay?”
She folded her arms across her chest. “Now that I have your attention, here’s the way it’s going to be. You’re going to tell me without further bullshit everything you know about Gail’s money and the purchase of that condo. It better be the truth and it better be good or I’m walking. And if I walk I’m coming back with an arrest warrant.”
“And then you’ll drop everything?” Tiny beads of sweat had formed on his forehead.
“You talk. I decide.”
“Okay, I know a little bit, I hope it’s enough,” he started. “Gail stole that money. The money was from some crooked deal that had just gone down for several hundred grand. I could tell she didn’t really understand the details. All she knew was it was easy money. Her sister-in-law’s boyfriend was going to pick it up and deliver it to someone. Anyway, to hear her tell it, the money was just hanging out there waiting to be taken. She wanted me to go with her and rob the guy. Not interested. The most I’ve ever stolen was a sugar packet off a restaurant table. I told her the guy wasn’t just going to hand over the money without an argument. And if we did manage to rob him, he’d scream to the police. She said no he wouldn’t do anything, because he was one of the crooks. That’s what she said. I told her to stay away from it...sounded like mob money to me.”
“Where was all this happening?”
“Up in Park Beach. Does that help? Am I off the hook? Months in prison would kill me. I can’t be away from my friends.”
Chapter Forty-three
Sandy threw her fist in the air as she skipped over to Mel Shapiro waiting in his car behind the used car office building. “We were on the right track!” She explained what Brad had just told her and it fit perfectly, “His statement definitely puts Gail up at Park Beach going after Boyd for the money. As far as I’m concerned, the Park Beach park murder is solved! It's up to the police now to nail down the evidence.”
“So, she wasn’t Jane, and she wasn’t part of the extortion plot.”
“That’s right. Gail didn’t know what she was getting into. All she knew was Boyd was picking up some money and she wanted it. We now know positively that Gail shot Boyd and has our money.”
“And if Gail has the money, then Jane doesn’t have it.”
“Yes, Jane is still out there and wants her money back. Remember, I saw a dark Honda following Gail from work yesterday.”
“That has to be Jane.”
“Even so, I‘m going to worry about Jane later. Getting the cash back into my hot little hands comes first.” She unlocked her car. “Thanks for your help and support through all of this.”
“I’ll follow you back to your hotel.”
“Not at all necessary. I’m learning I-95 by heart. I need to wash off the jail before I do anything else today.
“We’re both going that way. I might as well follow you. We can say goodbye there.”
He followed her to the Marriott, they parked and both got out.
“Thanks again for being here.” She gave him a hug.
His face turned serious and he looked at her closely. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.” And in a soothing tone, he said, “Can’t help thinking about you being down here alone.” He put his arms back around her.
She moved away.
His face flushed with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. You know there was always something between us. At least, I’ve had feelings for you for a long time...oh, that just slipped out.”
“Don’t make it difficult.”
“What’s difficult?”
“I’m not ready.” She was being honest. She did like him and knew he’d been quietly waiting around for the day she broke up with Chip. Perhaps in his mind he saw himself as next in line.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t plan that, Sandy. I assure you I’d no intention of disclosing my feelings for you, when I came down here.” She was looking away from him. “I want your mind to stay on Chip as long as you want.”
“I like my mind on him.”
“I understand. But when you’re ready, will you give me a call?”
“This isn’t the time to talk about this, Mel. I’m not ready. I’m still living in my old world, not ready for something new.”
“Meanwhile, what happens while you’re getting ready?”
“There is no meanwhile and nothing happens.”
“I understand.”
“For chrissake, don’t say it like that. There’s still a you and a me. There just isn’t any us right now. You are ahead of time, is what you are.”
He leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. “Okay, I’ll see you in Park Beach.”
Through the rear lobby window, Martin had been watching them. He’d started out to greet them, had even opened the door and then stopped, as their discussion appeared to be personal. Soon others would line up for her, and he wouldn’t be one of them. Long ago, she had indicated it wasn’t meant to be for the two of them. He turned and went up to his room to wait. Sooner or later, she’d need him and she’d call him. At least she always had.
Chapter Forty-four
Not more than an hour later, Sandy and Martin were sitting in his car in the large customer parking area behind the Gardens Mall watching Gail’s green Ford. He had suggested a brunch before leaving the hotel. No time, she said, have the hotel make us two box lunches. After a quick shower, she changed into jeans, walking shoes for trailing Gail and her pink baseball cap.
They took Martin’s car as it was less conspicuous. This time Martin parked next to some trees in the last row far to the side in case Jane’s dark blue Honda was also waiting nearby out of sight. They could just see Gail’s car where she usually parked at the end of the row near the rear mall entrance.
“It’s still several hours until Gail gets off work,” he said.
“I know what time it is.” That came out a bit snippy so she added, “We’re assuming she hasn’t picked up the cash yet, but she could leave work early. We can’t take that chance. We need to stick to her tail from now until the closing tomorrow afternoon. Just keep that air conditioner running.”
“Relax, Sandy. You’re really wound up. I don’t believe anything is going to happen tonight. From the way Gail was talking, she wasn’t going to retrieve the cash and take it to the bank until tomorrow morning.”
“We have no choice. She’s the only person who knows where that cash is. She hid it somewhere. What if she decides to pick up the cash and take it to the bank today? No, we’ll stay on her back. We’ll camp outside her condo all night if necessary.”
“Do you believe Jane is parked someplace around here also watching Gail’s car?”
“Yes, I do. I just hope she isn’t watching us as well.”
“We’ve come a long way with all this haven’t we?” He started to say a long way from her being in the Everglades, but that would trigger thoughts of Chip. “I don’t know if we’ll ever see our money again, but I feel we’re close to wrapping up all of this.”
“How are you feeling, Martin? This is the exciting part—the moment of truth.”
“El momento de verdad,” he replied. “The point in a bullfight at which the matador makes the kill.”
“The excitement gets the adrenaline surging and you know you’re alive.”
“I guess it’s fun, in a way, except people can get hurt, or dead,” he said.
“You’re getting good at this. You’ve a knack for finding out things without getting your hands dirty. Absolutely masterful the way you found out from Gail what you wanted to know. Then took a phone call in the middle of the seduction and ran out of her apartment.” She was teasing, he wouldn’t mind. “Sounds just like a man.”
“Come on. Bad enough I compromised my ethics and mislead the
woman to get her to trust me. Now you’re making fun of me.”
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I couldn’t resist. You see, my concern was about her doing the seducing. Whatever, you were very successful. You discovered she had an alibi for the night of the abduction thereby eliminating her as Jane, found that she was renting and hadn’t closed on the condo, and that the cash was hidden and not already in the bank.”
He thought he’d run a little tease. “I’m glad you’re not the least bit curious about how I got all that information out of Gail.”
“Martin! How could you even think that of me? Of course, I’d never go so far as to pry. It’s simply none of my business. I couldn’t care less.” She gave him a sidelong glance. “So, what happened?” She started laughing. “I’m joking. I’m joking...anyway, I know you did nothing inappropriate, or you’d never have brought it up. Actually, you are to be congratulated. You misled her but promised her nothing. Also, from the sounds of it, she wanted to get you in the sack, and you didn’t take that easy way out.”
They weren’t laughing four hours later, when they were all talked out and still taking turns staring at the green Ford.
“So I can’t run in, fetch a couple of coffees and use the restroom, right?” he said.
“Right. Jane might see you. Any lunch left?”
He shook his head. “That apple was good.”
“Yeah, good apple.” She stretched her arms once again to keep her body roused. “For one solitary girl, Gail certainly stirred up a lot of trouble.”
“Unlike you.” Then he leaned over and nudged her. “There she is!
Finally.
They held back as long as they dared, but didn’t see any dark blue SUV pull out after her. They followed the green Ford out of the mall parking lot. They assumed she was heading for I-95 but didn’t dare take a chance on losing her. Martin was driving and Sandy was alert but saw no sign of the SUV. She was somewhat surprised since the Honda had followed Gail the day before. Sandy settled back in her seat. They followed Gail out the access road, onto PGA Boulevard and onto southbound I-95.
It was fifteen minutes later when Sandy first noticed the Honda SUV.
“Geez, Jane is right behind us!” Sandy scrunched down in the seat.
“Right behind us?” Martin looked wildly between the side and rear view mirrors. “I don’t see her.”
“Thank God there are seven lanes. She’s a couple cars back in the next lane.”
“Are we in trouble?”
“I guess she doesn’t know your car. And I don’t suppose she can see in through these tinted windows. Move into the right hand lane as though you’re exiting.”
They did and the Honda went on past without hesitation. Martin moved back off the exit lane.
“We’re good now,” she said.
Trailing the other two cars on the expressway with no traffic lights to interfere was easy. They played follow the leader on down I-95 until Gail exited at the Okeechobee Boulevard exit where she turned east.
After another three miles east on Okeechobee, Gail drove beyond her normal turnoff, so they knew she wasn’t headed home.
The parade continued on until Gail pulled into the wide curving driveway of a fancy Lexus dealership. The place was lit up like a baseball field at night with large glass-sided showrooms and endless lines of gleaming cars. Martin held back while the Honda stopped along the far entranceway. Martin parked to the side not visible to the Honda.
Through the huge glass windows of the showroom, they saw Gail talking with a salesman. He went into the large office off the showroom floor and came back with a handful of papers. At one point they got up and walked over to one of the cars on display, he was pointing and explaining something.
They watched as Gail signed some papers and walked outside with the salesman, talking and browsing amongst the line of the new cars.
“I’d like to know what’s going on.”
“She’s spending our money, Martin, that’s what’s going on. We’re about to buy her a brand new Lexus.”
“Perhaps I can find out something. Slide over here behind the wheel. We may need to get out of here in a hurry.” He got out and leaned back down to say, “Phone me if she heads back to the showroom or looks like she’s leaving.”
“You don’t have time for this,” she said, shaking her head. “Don’t let her see you.”
Gail and her salesman were still talking outside.
Martin strutted in and, after a token glance at a car in the showroom, told another salesman he already knew what he wanted, “But I absolutely don’t want to wait for delivery.”
“Is that your black Lexus I saw you get out of a minute ago?”
“You don’t miss anything, do you? Yes, I’ll be trading it, plus cash. You do take cash don’t you?”
“We have the largest Lexus selection in the southeast, sir. Give us a half-hour to dust off your next beautiful Lexus, and you’ll be sweetly coasting down the highway of life.”
“Nice sales pitch, but I happened to notice that women who just left. She signed up with you folks, yet isn’t coasting away sweetly in her new car.” Martin’s phone buzzed but he ignored it. “Is the woman coming back or something?” His phone buzzed again. “My wife,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“That woman is coming back tonight—the salesman, leaned forward speaking confidentially, “With cash. We’ll have her new Lexus prepped by the time she gets here.”
“I have to talk to my wife.” He grabbed his phone, turned away and spoke low, “Start the car. Gail is going where the cash is. Did you hear me? She is going right now for the cash.”
“I’ve been calling you! She has already pulled away. She’s gone...and the Honda is already following her!”
“Okay...okay.” He tried to think fast. “Leave, Sandy. Go on after them. I’ll take a cab back to the hotel and wait there for your call. Be careful.”
“I’ve already left—I’m after them. Hold on, Martin...I’m catching up. I need to make this light...then I’ll be fine. Damn! Watch it! Sorry about that fella...I’m okay, following both of them again now.”
“Don’t drive and talk.”
He noticed the salesman politely turned away behind him.
“Is there a problem, sir?”
“Yes, marriage.”
“I saw your wife drive away. Might I suggest you buy two new cars?”
“Oh, she has plenty of cars. Can you call me a cab?”
“Not necessary,” the man checked his watch. “Our Courtesy Limo is on the way back. It’ll be just a slight delay. To where in South Florida would you like to go?”
Chapter Forty-five
Sandy braked to a stop out of sight at the curb on the side road that cut off from the main street and ran alongside Gail Cramer’s Magnolia Palms condo. She watched as Gail’s car swung around and disappeared into the resident’s private parking area beneath the building. A second later, the Honda SUV pulled into the outside parking area and backed into a guest parking spot along the back of the property. Backed in, Sandy assumed, for a possible fast getaway.
She sat there in her car looking across at the Honda and nervously gripping the steering wheel. She realized she’d see Jane for the first time; it would be Jane stepping out of that vehicle. Finally, she would encounter the treacherous woman who had burst into her life, abused and threatened her. And caused her the grief of this long and dangerous undertaking in pursuit of the extorted money. She was eager to engage this woman and find out her story. Where was she from and how did it happen that she had targeted Sandy? First Sandy must capture her.
The woman left the SUV, stopped and looked around before hurrying across to the indoor parking area. Too dark for Sandy to make out any facial features of the woman; however, the woman appeared to be of average height, well dressed with shoulder length hair. In the darkness, Sandy could not be seen leaving her car and following the woman. The lighting was much better inside in the parking area, and Sandy wished the wom
an would turn around and possibly be recognized. She now noticed the woman had a gun in her hand.
Sandy watched as the woman watched Gail, who at first seemed to be heading for the elevator, but walked past. To the right of the elevator, across the back of the parking area, was a solid wall with large double doors marked “Storage.” Gail tapped in a code on the adjacent keypad and opened the door. She went into the storage area and out of sight. The woman followed walking cautiously and stood beside the doorway. She carefully leaned in and peeked into the storage area. Then she stepped on in and was out of sight. Sandy took a couple of fortifying breaths, tiptoed across the parking area and waited by the doorway. She peeked in.
The storage area was sectioned off into dozens of identical storage cages with thin, floor to ceiling wrought iron bars. Apparently, each resident was assigned a storage enclosure secured with individual padlocks. The cages were filled with boxes, luggage, bicycles, sporting equipment and small furniture.
Sandy took a step into the storage area, then thought better of it and stepped back beside the door opening. The wrought iron door of Gail’s enclosure was standing open, and she was bending over a small travel case. The woman stealthily approached Gail. Her hand with the gun was outstretched.
Sandy looked down at her own hands. Her phone was in her pocket, but her hands were empty. At some point, the woman was going to come running out of the storage area. Sandy hunted around for something to defend herself with. She spotted a fire extinguisher across on the adjoining wall. She gingerly stepped over to it and tried to unsnap the latch securing the fire extinguisher from its holder on the garage wall. It wouldn’t unsnap. Some great piece of emergency gear this is, Sandy cursed beneath her breath. Suddenly it gave way. It slipped, but she was able to catch it just before it hit the concrete. She lugged it back to her position outside the open storage room door. It was heavy and she almost dropped it. She set it on the concrete between her feet.
She took another peek into the storage area. Gail had straightened up, had a package under her arm and was starting to close the storage cage with a padlock.
Alive After Friday (Sandy Reid Mystery Series) Page 25
