He needed to get out of here … to clear his head. As he moved into the musty hall, he received a surprise greeting from a man and woman who introduced themselves as Anna and Ling’s neighbors. Their body language said they were suspicious of his presence, likely sparked by the loud bang of the television hitting the wall.
“I am Anna’s father,” he announced with pride. “I was going to surprise her by installing a new air conditioner. But as I’m sure you heard, I dropped it. I have to go get some tools, and then I’ll return.”
He flashed them the charming Jack Hammer smile, and headed toward the exit, already thinking about the best way to get to Florida.
Chapter 48
At approximately two o’clock, Ling returned early from Boston. She had a huge test on Tuesday and she couldn’t stop thinking about it. It finally got the best of her and she decided to cut her trip short and head home.
She would grab a quick bite to eat and then head to the library. The first thing she saw was the TV smashed against the wall. They had been burglarized, no doubt about it. She crept to the living room and grabbed the baseball bat the two girls hid behind the couch for protection.
She did a quick sweep of the apartment, finding nothing stolen, except some of Anna’s photos were missing from her bulletin board. Weird, she thought. But Ling had been so busy lately, that she couldn’t say for sure whether Anna took them down herself.
She returned to the kitchen and called the Rosarios, who lived next door. They often kept a watch on each other’s apartment.
Susan Rosario went through the whole story from earlier about the creepy guy with the devastating smile who claimed to have dropped the air conditioner.
“Anna’s father?” Ling responded with puzzlement. “Her father is dead.”
“Is anything missing?” Susan asked, her voice suddenly concerned.
“Not that I can tell, but our TV is smashed,” Ling said, as she surveyed the apartment. There was no sign of an air conditioner.
Her best guess was that it was just some homeless guy who needed to get out of the rain. She thanked Susan and then called the police. The officer told her he would be there in about forty-five minutes to an hour—it wasn’t a top priority, especially with nothing valuable missing.
There went Ling’s plan. She would have to stay here until the police arrived. She would grab a bite to eat and then retire to her room to study. She moved casually to the refrigerator and opened it.
Chapter 49
Anna stood frozen, just as she’d been since she strolled upon the chaos of fire trucks and police at what used to be her apartment.
At first, she was relieved that Ling was in Boston. But then she overheard a couple of police officers talking about how she’d called in a break-in to their apartment. Ling told police that the neighbors had seen a strange man outside her apartment, who claimed to be Anna’s father, but the officers were convinced it was a cover. They believed it was retaliation by Cuban militants in response to Teo’s defection.
Anna wasn’t as sure—in fact, every bone in her shaking body was telling her that the man in the hallway was telling the truth. And it seemed like too much of a coincidence that right after Tim “found him” he ended up dead, and now someone claiming to be her father was responsible for targeting her building. It was a cruel, unimaginable thought that her own father would try to murder her. And ever crueler that Ling and others in the building were killed because of her.
Anna was paralyzed with sadness and fear, but she had to pull herself together. This was her only chance for survival—the only way to beat a ghost was to become one herself. She would be included among the missing and presumed dead. She quietly walked away from the horrific scene before she was noticed.
She needed to get hold of Teo to warn him, but he was currently in his big press conference, and her most urgent need was to hide. The only place she could think of was O’Connell Investigators. Sam was in the office and looked all cried-out from the last two days. The dark circles under her eyes looked like she’d been in a fight.
She immediately sensed that something was wrong. Anna couldn’t hold it together anymore and began sobbing. “It’s Ling … she’s dead.”
“Ling? Dead? What are you talking about?”
“My building. An explosion. Ling was there.” Anna couldn’t even connect thoughts at this point.
“I thought she went to Boston for the weekend?”
“I guess she came back … she was probably worried about her test. It’s all my fault,” Anna exclaimed through tears. Sam wrapped her arms around her, but she could no longer feel anything.
“What are you talking about?”
“I put Tim and Ling in danger. I just wanted to find him to understand why he left us; I didn’t know he was dangerous. I swear, Sam, I didn’t know.”
“You think your father had something to do with this? That doesn’t make sense—Tim died in a car accident. And it was an old building … it was probably a gas leak, or something like that.”
“I’m not so sure—I read an article online from an Arizona paper. The police think foul play could be involved in Tim’s accident, and the two lead investigators in the case flew to Las Vegas this weekend to interview suspects. That’s where Tim was going this weekend … to meet with Natasha Kushka. They didn’t tell you that part.
“It also said he died on Wednesday, so I think whoever did it was the one who was messaging me. Tim told me that he’d found him, and he wouldn’t have said that unless he was sure.”
“Anna, you’ve just had a really traumatic experience. Maybe we need to take some time to think this through.”
“Ling called the police because someone had broken into our apartment today. She reported that the neighbors said a man was in the building who claimed to be my father.”
“You do know you’re saying that your own father attempted to kill you?”
“He didn’t just try to kill me, Sam … he succeeded. The police are reporting that there were no survivors, which, when I don’t show up at work or school, will include me. And it needs to stay that way until I figure out what to do.”
Sam nodded with resignation. “Well, if you’re dead, Anna, then I know the perfect place to bury you.”
Chapter 50
Geoff couldn’t decide what he hated the most about malls. The chain stores, the mobs of high school kids hanging out, or the trailer-trash convention they referred to as the food court. But he lived to keep his clients happy, and Teo Stepania had talked non-stop about going to the mall since he’d stepped ashore.
So he accompanied Teo, along with the posse of bodyguards and translators, to the Blue Marlin Mall, which he picked because he thought it sounded very Hemingway. Geoff didn’t read much fiction, but he did have a thing for Hemingway. He loved tough sons of bitches willing to fight and scratch each step of life from cradle to grave. And Hemingway often wrote about the plight of the man fighting the uphill battle, like Santiago in The Old Man and the Sea. Geoff could relate.
And his most recent struggle was trying to scale Mount Cam. It had been over twenty-four hours, so he figured he would give him a call, toss in some Mom and Dead Dad guilt. But when he reached Cam’s hotel, he was told that he’d checked out. Bolder than normal, but not totally surprising—he was still confident he’d be back.
He returned his attention to Teo, who appeared to be having the time of his life. He bought a pair of sneakers in the Foot Locker, which made Geoff ponder the possible shoe contract he would get him. A Rihanna CD in a music store, a pair of jeans from Old Navy, and a colorful Polo shirt from Abercrombie that would fit perfectly into the Miami landscape. In Macy’s, he eagerly picked out a leather jacket and a pair of gunmetal black Ray-Bans.
Teo Stepania was shaping up to be the lowest maintenance client he’d ever had. Geoff had offered to set up a meeting with a couple of well-known designers who were willing to provide him custom suits, which probably cost more than the home he grew up in back
in Cuba. But Teo declined—same for Geoff’s offer to lease him a Ferrari from a local dealership.
And when he proposed bringing Teo to his choice of the trendiest and most expensive restaurants in South Beach for lunch, Teo requested a slice of greasy pizza from the mall food court. It made Geoff wince as Teo scarfed it down, but as the old saying went, a happy client makes a happy agent.
Except that Geoff Myles was programmed to never be happy. He always focused on what he didn’t have. And right now that was Cam. He excused himself, and walked off to the side to make his call in private—at least the most privacy he could find in this godforsaken place. But he kept an eye on Teo, still paranoid that Rafael or some crazed Cubans would swoop in and steal his meal ticket away. You could never be too careful.
Chapter 51
The plane touched down in Miami International Airport on Sunday night.
For obvious reasons, he hadn’t flown since arriving back in the United States, ten years ago. But he didn’t have much choice, having to get to Florida before any more damage occurred. He made it easily through airport security, using a fake ID that matched the hair he’d dyed snow white, and since he only spoke in Spanish, the questions he received from security weren’t very detailed.
Once in Miami, he rented a white Nissan Maxima and checked into the Breezy Palm Motel, whose guest list was made up mostly of hookers and drug dealers that likely wouldn’t remember him, and waited impatiently.
On Monday morning, Geoff foolishly held an open workout to the public to show off his new toy. The Jack Hammer was impressed with Teo’s pitching, which was very generous, since he was historically a very hard grader when it came to both pitchers and his children. He might have to actually work up a sweat to get a hit off the kid, he thought, as he watched amongst a herd of spectators at a local school … which still wasn’t too bad since he was in his mid-fifties.
After the dog and pony show, he followed his sons to something called the Blue Marlin Mall. Geoff’s pathetic security team was able to throw off the fans and media by creating misdirection, using multiple, similar-looking SUVs. It worked, except they didn’t know who they were dealing with in the Maxima, two cars back.
Once inside the mall, the security, and he used that term loosely, spent more time ogling over the constant stream of gorgeous South Florida women than protecting Teo. So he was able to trail them undetected—a bookstore, a department store, and a nutrition store. He needed to get Geoff alone, and when the opportunity presented itself, he pounced.
Geoff had walked away from Teo, and appeared to be completely lost in his phone call. Not a smart move.
Before he could even see the man coming toward him, Geoff hit the floor with a thud. He looked up angrily at the man wearing sunglasses and an aqua Miami Dolphins baseball cap. He had no worries about his son recognizing him, since they’d never met. And it wasn’t like he wanted the world to know that Geoff Myles was his son. He’d always been embarrassed by his physical shortcomings, and while he did admire his fight, it couldn’t overcome the reality that his son was a total failure. And that was a reflection on him.
“Are you blind? Watch where you’re going,” Geoff shouted from the ground.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there,” he said and extended his hand.
Geoff predictably refused his offer, but the Jack Hammer felt it was the right time to insert his will. He lifted Geoff to his feet with one yank of his arm.
“Get your hands off me, you piece of shit!”
He bent over and scooped up Geoff’s phone in one motion, then handed it back to him. But instead of walking away, he wrapped his hand around Geoff’s wrist and locked it in a vice-like grip.
“If you make a sound I will kick that fake leg of yours off, and toss it into the fountain for good luck. And if it comes to that, you’re going to need all the luck you can get. Got it?”
Geoff looked stunned, so he did the talking, “Do you know who Natasha Kushka is?”
“Um … yeah … of course.”
“Look natural,” he instructed. “I’m her father. I’m not happy with her current management team, which happens to be run by my ex-wife. I met secretly with Natasha following one of her most recent tournaments in Las Vegas, and we’ve mutually agreed she will be better off with me in charge.”
“I’m listening. Go on.”
“First of all, it’s very important that what I’m about to tell you is kept in strict confidence. If word gets out, Irina will have me in court before sundown.”
“Who’s Irina?”
“Rule two is you shut up and listen, unless I ask you a question. When we start negotiating for you to be Natasha’s agent, then you can start talking. We have to move fast, did you see her last match in Vegas?”
“Um, just some highlights. I’ve been busy with a new client,” Geoff bumbled a reply.
“Then let me fill you in. She lost to this fat Italian named Leoni in straight sets. We have no time to waste; her game is degenerating right before our eyes. Irina has her posing for magazine covers more than playing tennis. Tennis is her ticket. Do you agree?”
Geoff nodded.
“Good, I’m glad we’re on the same page. That’s why you’re my first choice to represent her. I saw your press conference with Stepania and I liked what you said about caring about him like family, not just looking to get a good contract. I love my daughter, so whoever is her agent better be thinking about her as a person first … or they will have to answer to me. Understand?”
“Yes, of course.”
“The next step is we meet and work out an agreement. We can’t sign anything until I officially become her business manager. I expect that to happen by the end of the month. But I want to be up and running the second Irina is out of the picture.”
“How do I know you’re telling me the truth?”
“Listen, Myles, most agents would give up their firstborn to represent Natasha. If you say no, I go to Steve Green and my guess is he’ll be quite receptive.”
“I have a rented apartment outside of Miami. Let’s meet tonight at eight,” Geoff offered.
Like taking candy from a baby.
“Agreed, but on my terms. There will be three people present—you, me, and your client from the press conference, Stepania. I want to talk to him to make sure that ‘family atmosphere’ stuff isn’t just agent talk?”
“What about security?”
“I’d say hire better ones. If they were any good, I wouldn’t have been able to knock you on your ass. And if people can get to you, then they can get to Stepania. But my terms are non-negotiable. Just the three of us.”
Without warning, he walked briskly away. He felt Geoff’s eyes on him as he disappeared into the herd of shoppers, and vanished … like a ghost.
Chapter 52
Geoff recognized the strength of the hand pummeling the door. The same one that had sent him to the mall floor. You don’t forget that kind of power.
He checked his watch. Exactly eight. Kushka certainly meant what he said. But he was also a little too eager, Geoff thought. He was a skeptic by nature and knew this guy could be a con. His request that Teo be present, without security, added to his suspicion—and couldn’t rule out that he was interested in stealing Teo away. He normally did extensive background checks on potential clients, but he hadn’t had time in this case. He didn’t really know anything about Natasha Kushka or her father, except that he knew signing her would be the coup of the century. And he’d easily be able to decipher if the guy was a fraud. And while the man was strong, he would be no match for the gun Geoff had hidden under his bed.
But if he were telling the truth … it was too delicious to even ponder.
He called for Teo, but got no response.
Geoff freaked, just like every time Teo left his presence for more than a moment. He scurried to his room, where he found him blaring music through headphones and playing a video game on a just-purchased Xbox. He was still wearing his leather jacket
and sunglasses. Geoff let out relieved laughter. A couple of days and the kid was already a full-blooded American.
Everything was prepared. It would be just Teo and himself, as requested. The bodyguards weren’t in agreement, but how many megastar clients had they brought in?
Rafael was suspicious of any time Geoff and Teo spent together, but Geoff could read Rafael. He knew he was a man with a price, and loads of green cash would tempt him to take the group out for the evening. Geoff instructed Rafael to give the crew the “time of their lives” for their hard work the last few days. He was sure it would include hookers. If he got lucky, they wouldn’t be back until morning.
Geoff moved to the door, slightly limping from his mall fall. A peek through the keyhole confirmed that it was the man from this morning, wearing the same Dolphins hat and sunglasses, and he appeared to be alone. Geoff released the bolt lock and opened the door.
Kushka burst through, with a black bag strapped over his shoulder. “What took you so long? I thought I made it clear I can’t be seen here? You obviously don’t understand the lengths those in Natasha’s camp will go to retain power over her.”
He tried to move past Geoff, but he wasn’t just letting this guy near Teo without checking him. He grabbed hold of him and patted him down like he’d seen the bodyguards do. He was clean. Geoff then made him open his bag. It was full of binders, folders and other business-related items—no weapon of any sort.
“If you’re done feeling my ass, Myles, now it’s my turn.” He proceeded to search through the apartment like he had a warrant. There was a mutual distrust here—a perfect way to start a partnership.
Satisfied that Geoff had met his demands, he got down to business, “Okay, Myles, I’m not one for small talk. I’ve done my homework on you and you’ve had all day to come up with ways you can help my daughter. I’m ready to deal. It will be one offer—mine—and it‘ll be take-it-or-leave-it.”
The Jack Hammer Page 16
