'Perfect,' I said. I looked at Rota. 'Rota, I know you are hurting and I know it may not be possible for you to understand but I need you to try. We are leaving here... for good. Are you going to try to stop us?
'What?' Rota said. She sniffled and wiped her eyes. 'Stop you? For heaven's sake, no. I have only one question.'
'Yes?'
'Can you take me with you?'
'Do you know what you're asking?' I said.
'Yes. I know you can't leave here without help and I know that help will probably mean that I serve some time behind bars,' she said. 'But I want you to know that I can tell whoever is helping you everything they want to know about that monster,' she replied, pointing to Carlos. 'I will tell them everything and perhaps they will take pity on an old lady and let me serve a light sentence and put me into protection.'
'Rota, are you sure?' I asked.
'Yes,' she said. I want to help you get away from him and I want to make sure he cannot hurt anyone ever again.
'Then I will do everything I can to see that you get the support you need,' I said. 'I need to make a phone call. Faerys, where's your brother?'
'Right here, Mom,' he said, as the penthouse elevator closed its doors. 'Oh my,' he said. 'What's going on here?'
'Alasdair, I need you to use your knowledge of all the building's systems to make sure that penthouse elevator does not go anywhere. Can you do that?'
'Sure.'
'I also need to use your mobile phone. I've got to make a phone call.'
'Would you tell me what's going on here?' he asked.
'I'll explain it all but for now, I need you to trust me and just do as I ask. Can you do that please?'
'As you wish,' he said. He handed me his mobile phone. I'll go to my room and disable the elevator from my laptop.
'Thank you,' I said.
'Mom, do you think we need to take care of Carlos before he comes around?' Faerys asked.
'Right,' I said. 'Hand me that curtain cord.' Faerys handed me the length of cord she had.
I tied it around his ankles and dragged him, with Faerys' and Rota's help, into the furthest walk-in closet. Using the remainder of the cord, I hog-tied him so he wouldn't be able to move when he came around.
'Faerys, you and Alasdair need to pack things for the children and take whatever valuables you can conceal in a diaper bag. Pack a few days worth of clothes, like you're going camping. Rota, I'll need you to help me pack my jewels and a few things, too. We'll pack a bag for you, too. We want to be able to leave here looking like we're going out for the day to the park. Can you make that happen while I'm on the phone?'
'Sure,' Faerys said. Rota nodded.
'Right. I'll be with you in just a few minutes.'
They left me to get started and I phoned Miriam.
'Hello,' Miriam said.
'It's time, Miriam.'
Escape
'Right,' Miriam said. 'Where are you now?'
'We are in the Foundation,' I replied.
'Do you know where Carbinicci is?'
'Yes,' I answered, 'he is hog-tied in my second wardrobe. He won't be going anywhere soon,' I said.
'Wow!' Miriam said.
'Miriam, what do you want us to do?' I asked.
I tapped in the code to the safe and grabbed the documents I had originally brought with me, pushing them inside my purse, followed by the handgun, and then stuffed the jewelry into the bag. I was not about to leave without that, irrespective of where it came from. That would now serve as payback for the cut lip.
'Louise, are you there?'
'Yes, I'm still here. What do you want us to do?' I asked nervously.
'I will come to that in a moment, just trust me,' she insisted.
'Sorry, I'm still jittery what with all that's just occurred.'
'You need to keep things together,' she reminded me. 'Do you think you can get to the Federal Building without a worry or do we need to separate you all and have you come in two groups?' she asked.
'Well, we were going to come in two groups. The kids were going to go to Washington Park and then grab a taxi to you. Rota and I were going to grab a cab together and make our way there. We don't want to alert anyone here to what we are planning. Do you think that will work?' I asked.
'You trust her... Rota?'
'With what has happened, she is determined to give evidence against Carlos,' I said. 'Whether I trust her or not, she insisted on coming with us. Is that okay?' I asked.
'Wow!' Miriam said.
'We've got to get going Miriam. Is it okay that she come with us?'
'You bet,' Miriam said. 'Get yourself together and leave in fifteen minutes. I have something to arrange here and we will see you soon.'
'What are you planning?' I asked.
'I'm going to help by providing a distraction for you so there will be no worry with anyone trying to interfere with your escape,' she said. 'Now, get going.'
'Was that your friend?' Rota asked.
'Yes,' I said. I approached her and gave her a hug. 'Don't worry, everything is going to be okay. Now, let's get everyone together.'
Faerys, Philo, Sabene and Alasdair joined us in the common area.
'Are you ready for a game?' I asked the children. They shook their heads in eager agreement. 'Okay, this is what I need you to do. Catch your breath, gather your things, freshen up and then go down to the lobby with the children and hail a cab. I want you to go to Washington Park for an afternoon outing.'
'Yay! We're going to the park!' Philo said. He clapped his hands and Sabene and he both exclaimed their delight.
'But I thought...' Faerys said.
'Change of plans,' I said. 'Just do as I ask, please. When you get there, wait a few minutes and then get another cab and go to the Federal Building, 26 Federal Plaza. Get inside and take the elevator to the 23rd floor. You will be expected to arrive. Do you understand?' I asked.
'But, the Federal building... that's the FBI, isn't it?' Faerys questioned.
'Yes, it is. That is where we are all heading.'
'I don't think that I've enough cash on me,' Alasdair said.
'Here, take this,' Rota said. She lifted her skirt to reach for the roll of bank notes she always carried concealed on her thigh and peeled off several twenty and fifty dollar bills. She passed them to Faerys. 'You should have ample there.'
'Okay, we've got fifteen minutes. Get everything together: identification papers, valuables, baby stuff, you know. Alasdair, be sure you take your laptop with you, too. If anyone asks where you are going simply tell them that you're going to catch the sights. I need you both to stay on top of this and leave in the next ten minutes.' I said. 'Alasdair, before you leave, activate the elevator. Rota and I will finish off here and then we'll follow right behind you.' Hugs and kisses were exchanged and I returned the phone to Alasdair. 'Don't worry, everything is going to be okay.'
Rota, left for her room and I followed her.
'It's our turn. Are you ready?' I asked. 'We need to check on Carlos to make sure he is still breathing,' I said.
We approached the wardrobe and opened the door. Carlos was sleeping like a baby and I knew it wouldn't be long before he came around with a massive headache.
I grabbed my coat and made a last minute check. I didn't want to leave anything behind.
'Okay, deep breath... let's compose ourselves and then we'll be ready,' I said.
Rota gathered her purse and checked her hair. She paused to inspect her neck. 'I'm ready.' She hesitated for a moment and faced me. 'Thank you,' she said. She clutched my hand to reassure me that she was ready to make the run towards freedom and an unknown future.
We entered the elevator and managed our bags. We needed to appear casual and composed. The elevator stopped and we stepped out into the lobby.
The receptionist gave a chirpy, 'Have a nice day,' and we went through the front door and out onto the sidewalk. We weren't safe yet.
We walked down the block to a taxi rank and hailed a
cab. A yellow car stopped and we opened the door, threw our bags inside and climbed into the cab.
'Where to ladies?' the driver asked. He turned his head toward the small opening in the Perspex panel that separated driver and passengers.
'Federal Plaza, Lower Manhattan,' I said.
The driver pulled away from the hotel and slowly made his way through the traffic. He turned left at 45th and Madison and left again on 5th Avenue to 8th Street. He turned left on 8th Street to Broadway. We were almost there. He took a left on Canal Street and Rota and I looked at each other. Something wasn't right.
'Where exactly are you going?' Rota asked. She tapped the plastic screen to get his attention. 'We should have kept going on Broadway,' she said.
'I thought we'd take a little ride to beat the traffic,' the driver said. 'There's construction further down and we need to catch another street. Sit back, enjoy the ride. We'll get there soon enough,' he replied.
When he turned left on Canal Street, I knew he was playing us. The driver leaned forward and flicked a switch on the dashboard. The locks on the doors engaged with a loud clunk. Neither of us knew who this guy was or the plans he had in store for us. Whatever they were, I was determined that we were not going to be a party to them.
I kept my eye on the rear view mirror and slid my hand inside my bag. I located the handgun and my fingers grasped the grip as I slowly lifted it out. I placed it in my lap, and then waited for the right moment to pull back the slide and point the muzzle through the rectangular hole toward the driver's head.
'If you don't want to see your brains splattered across the dash, I suggest you turn this puppy around and head back towards Federal Plaza,' I said. His smile quickly changed to one of surprise. 'Any sudden movements and I'll blow your brains out, is that clear?' I asked. He nodded his head.
'We go there now lady,' he said.
'Unlock the rear doors and then keep both your hands on the wheel,' I said. He unlocked the doors and returned both hands to the steering wheel.
'Turn right on Lafayette. That will get us going back in the right direction,' Rota said.
'Do as my friend said and turn right on Lafayette at this next intersection,' I said, 'or I promise, you won't make it through the lights to the other side.'
'Who exactly are you anyway?' Rota asked.
'No one, just a cab driver trying to make an extra buck or two,' he replied.
'Well, you picked the wrong day, and the wrong fare, to mess with us,' I said. 'Trust me, if you want to end the day with a smile, you'll drop us both off at Federal Plaza,' I suggested.
'You're making me nervous, lady, pointing that gun at my head,' he said.
'You decided to make this a fun day out, not us! So, keep your hands on the wheel, your eyes on the traffic and your mind on getting there in one piece,' I said.
'Really, lady, get the gun out of my window, please,' he said as he drove through the intersection. 'Now, look what you made me do. I missed the turn.'
'Take Baxter,' Rota said. 'And stop talking. You need to concentrate on your driving.'
'Had you done just as we had asked in the first place, there would be no need for this, would there?' I said. I relaxed my hand and allowed the heavy gun to rest against the open aperture.
'You know the Federal Plaza is the home of the FBI,' he said.
'No kidding,' I answered.
'You know if they found out I took you there, I'd be dead,' he said.
'Then don't tell them,' I said.
'I can't...'
He reached for the barrel of the gun and the car swerved. Rota was thrown against the side and I was thrown against Rota. Instinctively, I gripped the gun even harder and my thumb automatically connected with the safety catch, releasing it.
The loud bang resonated in our ears. It made the two of us scream loudly and we covered our ears with our hands. In one fluid motion, the driver had caused his own demise and had pulled the gun out of my hand so that it dropped into his lap in the process. The car slowed, and then swerved onto the shoulder. It scraped along the sides of a row of parked cars and came to a halt.
It was obvious that the driver had been shot and was dead. Blood was spattered all over the front seat and dashboard. The driver's window was shattered. The bullet must have exited through it.
'Quick, get out!' I screamed at Rota. I reached to pull the door catch and open the door and pulled her out of the car. The bags soon followed. We still had quite a bit of ground to cover and I needed to find a way to go the remaining distance.
Thankfully, there were few, if any, people about on either side of the sidewalk. No one bothered to pay any attention to us as we made our way.
'Okay, we need to head back down there,' Rota said. She pointed in a general direction.
We walked at a brisk pace down the street and turned the corner to get out of sight of the cab. Our pace slowed.
'I need to find somewhere to freshen up,' I said. I was really puffing hard as my lungs threatened to leap out of my chest.
'Oh my goodness! Look at your arm,' Rota said.
The driver's blood had splattered my hand and arm.
'Oh fiddle! I can't go to the feds looking like this,' I said. 'What do we do now?' I asked.
'We can go in there,' she said. She pointed to a shop across the street. 'I'm sure they will have a restroom and they will want to help you.'
'Can I help you?' a young girl asked.
'My friend has just tripped and fallen. Do you have a restroom we can use to freshen up,' Rota asked.
'Yes, it's just down here,' she said, 'if you will follow me.' She walked with us toward the restroom. 'Will you be okay?' She seemed concerned that I'd done some real harm to my hand. 'Did you know that you've cut your lip as well?' she asked.
'Yes, I'll be fine,' I said.
'That's who you are,' she said. 'I thought I recognized you. You're Louise Deveraux, the famous writer.' She clasped her hands together and opened the door to the restroom for us.
I took off my sweater. I would have to rinse that sleeve out, too. 'It's best if you just let that be our secret,' I said. 'We certainly don't want loads of folks in on this, do we?'
'Of course not,' she said. 'We have some proper towels somewhere,' she said. 'Let me just get you one. Oh, and don't worry about the sweater, I'll take care of that, too.' She grabbed it and left to fetch a towel.
'Now what?' I asked.
'Don't worry,' Rota said. 'We are on the edge of Chinatown and there is always a way.'
'Here is a towel for you and your sweater will be just a few minutes,' she said. 'So are you filming today?' she asked, 'only I watched you the last time, when you were in Times Square.'
'No, we're doing something totally different today,' Rota said.
'There we go, all nice and clean again,' a woman commented. I looked beyond the girl to see a woman smiling back at me. I smiled, took the folded sweater and pushed it inside the bag. I found my stash of cash and pulled two fifty dollar bills.
'I want you to take this,' I said to the young girl. I passed her the two fifty dollar bills. 'Buy yourself something nice for being so willing and helpful.'
'Oh, but I couldn't,' she said.
'You can,' I answered. I reached for her hand and folded her fingers around the money. 'You've been very helpful' I said.
'Well, if you say so,' she said. 'Thank you. May I possibly have your autograph, before you go,' she asked.
'Of course you can,' I said. I waited as she gathered a piece of paper and a pen together so that I could sign my name, adding a smiley face and a 'thank you' as a keepsake.
'There you go,' I smiled, handing back the pen and paper.
'Oh you're just wonderful!' she said. 'This is the best day ever!'
A commotion at the front of the shop grabbed our attention.
'Wait here,' she said. 'I will find out what is happening.'
Rota and I looked at each other and stayed in the back of the shop until she returned.
'My father has just come in,' she said. 'There is great commotion as a cabbie was found dead not too far from here.'
'Really?' I asked.
'Yes,' she said. 'You don't have to tell me anything, but please do let us help you.'
'I couldn't,' I said.
'Yes, you can,' she said.
'And you should,' a woman's voice said. 'You are obviously on your way to somewhere,' she said. 'Let us help you get there.'
'My mother is right,' she said. 'Please. Let us help you.'
I looked at Rota. She nodded her head.
'You're right,' I said. 'We are on our way to the Federal Plaza and the FBI. Can you help get us there?'
'Of course,' her mother said. 'Leave it with me. I will be back very soon.'
'Until then,' the girl said. 'Please make yourselves comfortable through there.' She pointed to a curtained doorway.
'Thank you,' I said.
We went through the curtain and into a kitchen area. Thankfully, there were chairs and we each sat, already weary from the events of the day.
'I feel like Thelma and Louise,' I said. I laughed and tried to enthuse some energy into my calves by rubbing them.
'So who is Thelma? Is she a friend of yours?' Rota asked.
'No, it's two female characters, from a film,' I replied. 'Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis.' I looked at her blank expression. 'It doesn't matter.' I said. I had to pace the short two to three steps I had in the space.
'So, were they friends, this Thelma and Louise?' she asked.
'Yes, they were good friends, they looked out for one another,' I said.
'Then we are Rota and Louise, two friends helping each other,' she said. She smiled at me.
'I'd like to think that, so yes, we're Rota and Louise.'
Thankfully, it wasn't long before we were ushered out of that space and led through the building to the outside. A pedicab was waiting for us.
'Do not worry,' the girl's mother said. 'You will arrive at the Federal Building but please let the driver go the way he needs to in order to evade the police. We have pulled up the canopy so you will be able to travel concealed from most eyes. May you find what you need on your journey,' she said.
'Thank you,' I said. 'Thank you all.' I took her hands and hugged her daughter.
Witness to a Murder Page 9
