The Long Gray Goodbye: A Seth Halliday Novel

by Bobby Underwood

  Jeanette smiled tenderly at Caroline and then at me. Laura reached out and placed her hand on Caroline’s cheek. She said, “There is no pain so great that God cannot heal it. Believe me, I know.”

  A puff of ocean breeze blew Caroline’s sandy blonde hair about her face and Laura moved it aside with her finger. There was an almost tangible bond forming between them. They really could have been sisters. Caroline’s wonder at life and her belief in the good mirrored Laura Garner’s. And then there was Jeanette Miller. While she held no such belief in the goodness of man, she was lovely and vital and had devoted her life to helping others. One could not help but wonder if the trauma these three had suffered at different points in their lives had made them better people.

  For an uncomfortable moment, I felt like an outsider. I could appreciate the light of Caroline and Laura, but couldn’t help feeling that I would always be jaded by all I’d seen, and my hands would never completely be free of Escobar’s blood. I took a deep breath and let it pass.

  I asked to use Laura’s phone and went inside. Tammy answered.

  “I was hoping you’d be getting back to me soon. Geez you need a cell. Your boy’s a bad one, Seth. A very bad one.”

  “I sort of figured he might be.”

  “You won’t believe who he used to work for.”

  “Well?” I said after nothing was forthcoming.

  “Escobar.” My entire body stopped working for an infinitesimal moment. At least it felt like it.

  “How high up?”

  “Very high.”

  “How come I never heard of him, then?”

  “Escobar had him running things down where they drink Rum and Coca-Cola, as the Andrew Sisters used to say. And believe it or not, he has a clean sheet.”

  “Then how do you know? Where’d you get this? I thought I knew everything about Escobar’s operation.”

  “We didn’t know. Like I said, on paper, he’s clean. Even the DEA didn’t know. Old pal of mine at the CIA told me.”

  “So much for inter-agency information sharing. The CIA? You sure get around.”

  “Great ass is universal.”

  I smiled. “It certainly is. But the CIA isn’t interested in drugs. How’d they get onto him?”

  “Apparently Escobar was expanding into arms. That’s all he could tell me, on the record.”

  “How much more did you get because of your great ass?”

  “Well, it had been a long time ago. I had to sort of imply that he might get to hit it some more next time he was around Miami.”

  “What about your bomb squad guy?”

  “I said I implied, I didn’t say I was gonna deliver on it.”

  “Tease.”

  “Ya gotta let the bees smell the flowers to get them to make the honey.”

  “So what did he tell you, off the record?”

  “Says Eugene Boon is one dangerous cat. Says he is reportedly an expert in weapons from handguns to surface-to-air, but likes to use a knife for his own personal kills. Sort of an up-close-and-personal kind of guy. But here’s the juicy bit. He sort of dropped off the radar when Escobar got popped out in the Keys. Recent intel, however, and old Hank stressed the recent part, says he’s operating out of Ecuador somewhere, possibly in the jungle.”

  “Not drugs?”

  “No, that’s how he’s staying under Marquez’s radar. Only weapons. But serious stuff. Big money. He’s not picky about who he sells them to, either.”

  “Your CIA boyfriend have a location?”

  “Ex-boyfriend, and no, they’ve got nothing.”

  “What do you want to bet that even if Marquez is looking the other way because it isn’t interfering with his operation, he knows something about Boon’s, just in case it begins to draw too much attention and needs to be taken out?”

  “Fifty-fifty. His intel would have to be better than everyone’s but the CIA.”

  “I’d still put my money on old Fernando.”

  “God, now I’ll be hearing ABBA in my head all day. Thanks for that.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “What good does it do you even on the chance Marquez does know something? Why would he tell you?”

  Maybe because by taking out Escobar — Marquez knew I had killed Escobar and that Sonny had taken me out there in his boat to do the deed — and then Vargas, Marques had become the main supplier of drugs in the US. Or maybe because he wouldn’t like a guy selling arms to America’s enemies. Just because old Fernando was the biggest supplier in the traffic, didn’t mean he wasn’t a patriot. But I was guessing Holly and Susan, and a young girl thrown to her death from a plane would be more likely to move him to give me the location. Marquez was Old Spanish, and he did not like the mistreatment of women. He didn’t like the sex stuff either, which is why he had never become involved in the lucrative flesh trade. Marquez, as dangerous as he was, fancied himself a gentleman. And perhaps on some level, he was.

  “My charm and wit can be as irresistible as great ass.”

  “Sure it can. Just let me know where to pick up your bullet-riddled body.”

  “Anything from the bomb guys?” I asked, to change the subject.

  “Surprisingly enough, yes. They found a piece of the timer, God only knows how.”

  “Russian?”

  “Dammit, you’re holding out on me. How’d Sonny get mixed up with the Russkies? I thought he’d gone legit.”

  “He did. And I haven’t been holding out.” At least not until now. “It’s unrelated.”

  Silence. Then in a softer tone, “A girl?”

  “Ain’t it always?”

  “She got a great ass?”

  “The whole package.”

  “Better than mine?”

  “Well, let’s not get carried away.” I could see her smiling in my mind.

  “Okay, I won’t look at it too hard. I’ll let you and Sonny handle it.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Your girl’s nice. Caroline. I like her.” Then in a different tone, “Don’t forget you owe me.”

  “I won’t.”

  She hung up without saying a word about the four bodies downtown and the Russian gun left at the scene. She knew they were connected. I really did owe her.

  I heard female laughter from outside so loud that it lifted my spirits. I dialed Sanchez’s number. Only two rings this time before he picked up.

  “Amigo. How is it hanging out with the famous?”

  “Pretty much like hanging out with anyone else, actually. That’s if they’re refreshing and wholesome, sexy in a natural way and nicer than the first warm day of spring.”

  “Careful, my friend, Caroline won’t like you getting a crush on another girl.”

  “Actually, they could be sisters. They have that same kind of…wonder about them. Nice, but in the best possible way.”

  “Sort of screws up our view of the world, yours and mine, doesn’t it, when we meet someone who turns out to be the real deal?”

  “Yeah, it makes me feel dirty.”

  “Maybe because she hasn’t been the places me and you have, my friend, and seen the things we’ve seen.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Anyway, your Mayan princess called. She has something but thinks it’s best if she tell you personally.”

  “Damn. We’re headed to Paris in the morning.”

  “She gave me her Skype password.”

  “Skype?”

  Sanchez laughed. “It’s on the computer, amigo! You know, those big screens everyone looks at to avoid actually living.”

  “Oh,” I said. Laura had a pad imprinted with puppies next to the phone. Sanchez rattled off the Skype address and I wrote it down using the matching puppy pen. Salmon shirts and puppy pens. I was certain the next step was a lisp.

  Sanchez added, “Sonny and Katarina are on their way to Miami. I think they’re planning on going to Paris with you guys. He says’s he’ll meet you at Dinner Key this evening at six.”

  “Okay.” That had
been the idea when I suggested they come back to Miami. There was safety in numbers. I hoped.

  “How’s Harry?”

  Sanchez laughed. “I don’t know how that old coot does it, but he’s found some local gal half his age to hang out with on the boat. She’s not bad in a bikini, either. Atractivo. Anne and I went out there with Sonny and Katarina to check on him before they took off to join you and Caroline.”

  He laughed again. “The gal seems kind of sweet, but she don’t speak much Inglés. Harry must have some Mexican blood coursing through those weathered old veins of his.”

  I wasn’t certain how Harry did it, either, but he’d been like a babe magnet as long as I’d known him. I couldn’t imagine how great life must have been for him when he was younger.

  I told Sanchez about Boon and how I might need to speak with Marquez at some point. Then I gave him a brief rundown on Jeanette’s observations after listening to the tape. He was silent for a good ten-count after I finished.

  “You sure can get into some tangled shit, my friend.”

  “It’s a gift.”

  “I’m off for a few more days. Anne and I are going to hang out here. I’ll keep an eye on Harry till you guys get back. Call me when you need me.”

  “How do you know I’ll need you?”

  “You white guys always need a Mexican to come save your butts.”

  “That’s reverse racism, my Latino comrade. I may have to file a formal protest.”

  “I’m not worried. Your President only speaks out when it makes you white guys look bad. He’s quieter than a church mouse when it’s the other way round. Doesn’t fit the agenda.”

  “White and good looking is the new minority, I guess.”

  “Well, white, anyway, in your case. Later.” He hung up.

  Everyone was smiling and chatting away when I returned. They stopped talking to see if I had news. I sat down and told them about Boon, but left out my feeling that Marquez might have an idea where to look. Then I told them about Harry’s new girlfriend, including Sanchez’s observations, which made everyone smile.

  “I hate to ask, Laura, but do you have a computer I could use? There’s another lead I need to follow up before we head to Paris.”

  She stood. “Sure. I’ll go get it.” As she walked away I said, “Can you show me how to get on Skype, too?”

  She was laughing as she disappeared into the house.

  Nineteen

  Laura got me all set up on her Skype account and after making a friends request which was immediately accepted, her account began to ring like an old-fashioned phone. Leaning over my shoulder, Laura clicked on the “answer” icon and then on the “video” icon. Nearly instantly I was looking at Josselyn, even more exotic and beautiful-looking than usual. Rectangular black stones of some sort, probably precious, traced a circle around her neck above diamonds inlaid in gold. The black stones in the necklace matched her long black hair, eyelashes, eyebrows and long, velvet dress which formed to her hourglass figure. The dress ended abruptly after covering her breasts, leaving graceful arms and shoulders bare; a swell of milky copper flesh above the velvet suggesting paradise lie beneath. The only splash of color was her lipstick; not quite red, not quite pink, something between. The effect was almost panther-like, or perhaps a jaguar; sleek and beautiful. Unlike Florencia, however, with Josselyn there existed just a hint of danger, and a good dollop of sensuality turned outward.

  Laura made a sound almost like a gasp and Caroline’s eyes got big. Josselyn had been standing, which gave us a full-length view, but smiled and rushed quickly to sit down. Her exotic beauty did not diminish up close as so often is the case. Proximity only enhanced Josselyn’s beauty, because you realized she wasn’t a dream, just a dream come true.

  She was outdoors, as we were. She appeared to be in a garden. Behind the table where she had sat down was green foliage. I saw bamboo and big leaves of a banana tree, and palms of various varieties. Amidst the verdure, just behind her to my right, which was over her left shoulder, stood a lovely marble fountain where an angel sat washing his feet.

  “Hi, Seth. Which one of those lovely women is your wife?” I knew that she recognized Laura Garner, and was trying to put Caroline at ease. Josselyn was not unaware of the effect she had.

  Caroline raised her hand and smiled. “Guilty.”

  “You’re just as pretty as Seth said you were. I’m sorry you didn’t get to come when he and Daniel dropped by and told me about that poor girl.”

  “Maybe next time,” said Caroline. “All of Seth’s old friends have become mine, too, once we meet.”

  “I’m sure it will be the same here. Please try to come by when you return to Ecuador, after this mess is all over. The two of us can get acquainted over coffee or tea. Perhaps my daughter can join us.”

  “I’d like that.”

  Jeanette had not been able to see the screen from where she sat and had indicated no desire to. She had been listening, however, and nodded to me and smiled, approving of the manner in which Josselyn was handling the often uneasy meeting of an old girlfriend with a current girlfriend, or in this case, wife.

  “You must be Laura Garner then,” Josselyn said, looking over my right shoulder. “I thought I recognized you. I thought they made everyone up to look better than in real life, but I see that’s not the case.”

  “Thank you. I’ll sit down and let you talk to Seth now.”

  “Okay. Seth told me about the tape. Not the particulars, of course, just that it might involve your sister. I hope he can find her for you.”

  Laura said, “We’re working on it. I hope so too.”

  “I can’t imagine. Not knowing, I think, would be the worst. You don’t want to grieve, but sometimes it’s preferable to limbo. I hope that doesn’t sound callous.”

  “No,” Laura answered softly, “it sounds exactly right. Thank you. If you and your husband are ever in Boca Raton, you are always welcome to drop by.”

  Josselyn leaned forward a moment and spoke softly. “Oh, my husband is such a fan. He watches your show every week. He would love to meet you.”

  Josselyn was absolutely serious, and it made me smile. It made Laura brighten as well. “Then you must stop by. Perhaps you can even stay overnight. It’s not a five star hotel but it is lovely here in Boca. I’ll show you.”

  Laura made a face of apology to me but didn’t seem too sorry as she grabbed up the big laptop and walked toward the dock, swinging the computer with its high-end digital camera slowly around so that Josselyn got a view of the dock, Laura’s boat, the inlet, and then Laura’s home. Caroline, Jeanette and I waved like idiots as the laptop pointed at us for a moment. Laura laughed. She was having a good time showing off her home to a woman she hadn’t even met. She was simply taking it on faith that Josselyn was a good person, someone with whom she would enjoy spending time with in her home.

  Laura had been happily narrating for Josselyn the entire time. As she set the laptop down in front of me again she leaned over my shoulder, giving it a friendly squeeze, and said to Josselyn, “Now you’ll know which place it is when you come.”

  Josselyn laughed. “It looks lovely! Once my husband knows he’ll actually get to meet you, I’m sure I’ll have no problem making our next vacation destination, Florida.” Josselyn rolled her eyes. “Getting the time to take one, with his schedule, that’s a different matter.”

  She and Laura finally said their goodbyes and we got down to business.

  “What were you able to find out, Josselyn?”

  “Okay, for months, police suspected that two American runaways, an older teenager and his younger sister, were hiding out in Ecuador, perhaps around Puerto Lopez, just down the coast. Much political pressure was being put on the man in charge there, who is a friend of Mauricio’s, to find them. Apparently they had been coming into Puerto Lopez irregularly over the past year or so. They were with another man who could not be identified. He was not from the area. The official there, Mauricio’s friend, felt
that the few people who had seen the man, and the kids, were in great fear of the man with them, more so than the police, and that is why they would not speak to him. The young girl who fell to her death fits the age and general description of the missing runaway.”

  “Was she able to get a name?” I asked hopefully.

  Josselyn winced. “No, Evilia did not want to make Mauricio suspicious. She offered to try to find out but I told her not to. She is my good friend, Seth. I didn’t want her to cause her husband to mistrust her.”

  “Don’t be sorry, you’ve helped plenty. I’ll be able to find out who she is now, easily enough.”

  “You don’t want me to ask my husband? He will know, certainly.”

  “No, I’m dealing with someone very dangerous. I don’t want you or your husband to go any further. I’ll know who she is very soon.”

  She smiled and nodded. “Fernandez?”

  I smiled but didn’t answer. “Do you always dress up for Skyping, or do they call it that?”

  She laughed. “I don’t know what they call it. I call it talking to a very special old friend, and making new ones. I had a function this morning, that’s where I’m at. Daniel called me and told me he had just spoken to you. I’d brought my computer just in case you got my message, so I came outside and waited.”

  “Well, I better let you go, then, so you can get back to it. It’s been great seeing you again after all these years. Your help’s been invaluable, Josselyn.”

  “It was nothing, believe me,” she said. She winked at me and then reminded Caroline not to forget about their tea. She hollered goodbye to Laura, then gave a little wave to me, and was gone.

  Twenty

  We headed for Dinner Key after dropping off the boat at Lauderdale. Laura had asked Jeanette to stay, or to be precise, she’d said to her, “It would be nice if you’d stay a little longer, unless you’ve called me Laura once too often.” She was, of course, indicating that she wanted to talk over things in a less casual way with Jeanette, because the tape had stirred up memories of her childhood with Susan. Their father sounded very much like another Jerry Carmichael.