by Kyle West
Back at The Abbey, which is now wall to wall full of police personnel. Det. Roussel stands in the middle of the dance floor yelling, "Wake up N.O.P.D.! Look alive! We got somebody out here killing people!
6:37 am
McKenna and Starr are driving up Elysian Fields Ave. They have not uttered a word of conversation, or even looked at each other. McKenna is driving slightly above the speeding limit as he runs a red light at Robert E. Lee Blvd. A block later, a police cruiser gets behind McKenna's blue Suburban, and puts on its flashing lights for McKenna to pull over. McKenna and Starr sit calmly in the truck as they watch the officer approach the truck from the rear view mirror. The officer tells McKenna that he ran a red light, then asks to see his license and registration.
McKenna smiles and says, "Sure, officer. How are you tonight?" As he reaches inside his jacket pocket to pull out his license. McKenna gets his license out one fourth of the way before he tells the officer, "Officer, you won't believe this but I switched jackets tonight and left my wallet with all of my identification in it, at home."
The officer doesn't look too forgiving as he responds, "Sir, you know it’s a violation to operate a vehicle without having your license in your possession."
McKenna replies, "Yes sir, I know. Well, I do have my registration and insurance card here in my glove compartment." He retrieves the documents, and hands out of his window to the officer.
The officer questions, "Sir, what is your name?"
McKenna answers, "Scott Tomlin." Again, his alias.
The officer looks at McKenna's registration, stares back at him. Then looks over the insurance card and tells him, "Sir, I'll be back in a minute. Sit tight for me." The officer then walks back to his patrol car. McKenna whispers to himself, "Left hand, index" McKenna and Starr remain eerily quiet and calm in the truck, as McKenna watches from his rear view mirror as the officer sits in the patrol car, talking on his radio. A minute later the officer hangs up his radio and exits his car. McKenna watches as the officer approaches, walking towards the front window. He softly says to Starr, "Left hand, index."
The officer attempts to look through the side back windows of the Suburban, as they are heavily tinted. For safety, the officer stops approaching about five feet from McKenna's front window, touches the rear side of the truck and proceeds, as he politely tells McKenna, "Sir, please step outside." Before the officer can finish his command, four shots come smashing out of the back seat, driver side window of the truck! McKenna positioned his arm, anticipating where the officer would be standing when he returned from his patrol car, then opened fire on his target. The officer is killed instantly! McKenna puts his truck in gear, and he and Starr then speed off, leaving the dead officer lying on Elysian Fields Blvd. and Mexico St.
7:12 am
Back at the Westin New Orleans Hotel, Vivian is sitting in a chair in the dining area, still handcuffed. She is not speaking to Vaughn, who again, is still Keith to her. Keith tells her about the change in plans, and how they will not be dealing with the three former military soldiers to locate the money.
Keith then asks, "What the hell happened up here? We gotta get those things off of you."
Vivian softly asks, "Where did you go? Why did you leave me with a killer? I saw sheer evil in his eyes. Why did you leave me here alone?" Keith doesn't respond. As he walks around the hotel room looking for something to possibly break Vivian from the hand ties, "I wanna move you. We gotta get outta here. What time is it anyway?"
Vivian questions Keith, "I asked you, where did you go? Did you go meet the guy with the White Hat? I heard you on the phone with him. I heard everything. Who are you?
Keith turns to Vivian and says nothing.
Vivian continues, "I heard everything so don't lie to me. You aren't Jesse's brother, who are you? How could you take advantage of me like that?! Did you kill my husband?"
Keith interrupts, "It's not what you think Vivian. Listen, I'm sorry I lied to you like that."
Vivian calmly interrupts so not to excite Keith in any way, "No…it’s ok whoever you are, just please get me out of here and take me down to the police. Right now."
Keith quickly responds, "I can’t do that Vivian."
Vivian says, "Or just let me just call Roussel and he can come pick me up. You can leave me in the lobby and take off, just let me…"
"Vivian I can’t."
Vivian starts to get a little nervous, and continues, "I won't tell anybody about you. You can have all the money. I don't care about any of that. Just leave me alone."
Keith doesn’t respond, and walks towards Vivian, still sitting in the dining area with hands bound. She stands up from her chair and backs away in fear. Keith stops walking towards Vivian, and puts his hands up to gesture that he has no intentions on hurting her.
"Relax, I just want to get those (hand) ties off of you, that's all.
Vivian keeps retreating from Keith, "Don't come near me. There are federal agents in the hotel. I told the F.B.I. about all of this and they been watching us for days! All I have to do is scream! They know which room and everything!"
Keith turns around and walks to the couch, "Yes, and those agents did a great job. Look at you, those hand-ties go so well with your shoes by the way." Keith sits on the couch and kicks his feet up.
"I swear! Mr. Clark from the F.B.I. is on you guys right now!"
Keith turns around, sits up on the couch, and responds, "Who??? Vivian, please tell me you didn't get the FBI involved?"
Vivian yells, "Who the hell are you?! Where are those other guys?! It’s after 7 o'clock! Did you make a deal with them or something?! Damn. What the hell did you do?"
Before Keith can responds, Vivian runs for her cell phone, on the end table near the sofa. She grabs her phone, then runs back to the bathroom to lock herself in, to call the police and Inspector Clark. Keith jumps up but can't catch Vivian before she locks herself in the bathroom. Keith bangs on the bathroom door, pleading for Vivian to unlock it. He can hear Vivian placing a call on her cell phone, she does not respond to his orders.
Keith shouts through the bathroom door, "Vivian, let’s not do this again! I’m Keith! My last name doesn't matter right now! Vivian, I'm a friend, I’m on your side! I’m a friend of Jesse's! I've known Jesse for about twelve years now, back when he was first stationed in San Antonio. I was in the service back then, left and went to school after a few years! Anyway, I live in Austin now. Jesse called me a few weeks ago and told me he was in trouble. I helped get him back in the States." Keith continues, "I drove down and got him through, then I went back home to Texas! He called and told me to meet him here in New Orleans on Monday, to take care of the money for him. For my help, he told me I was gonna get a 'nice chunk of cheese'." Keith continues, "I'm a stockbroker, I was gonna invest the money in a few of my good friend's businesses, and on the market for Jesse. But when I got here, Jesse was dead! Vivian, you listening?!"
Keith doesn't hear Vivian dialing her phone, or talking on the phone, so he continues, "So, yes I'm guilty of being a greedy, lying, insensitive asshole. But I'm on your side. I just want to find that money, Vivian. Three hundred million is a lot of money, we can't just walk away from it! I'm sorry I lied to you, I really am. I never asked Jesse where the money came from, I didn’t want to know to be honest. So when he turned up dead, I knew I needed to get close to you to get my piece of the money that Jesse promised me. Then I find out that you don't even know where the money is! I definitely didn't expect military killers to be looking for the money too! But I know I'm close, and I can't turn back now. We can't turn back now.”
Keith continues, "So Vivian, if you still want to call the police on me, or the FBI, I won't stop you. But whatever you choose, I need to get you out of here and get those hand-ties off of you. I'm sorry I left you up here by yourself, but we have to get out of here before anyone comes back. Open the door please.” After a few moments of silence, Keith hears the bathroom door unlock, the doorknob slowly turns, and the door slow
ly creeps open.
7:28 am
Det. Huntley is sitting in his car, parked in front of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The detective went looking for McKenna to bring him in and question him in connection with Rome’s murder. Det. Huntley is on his cell phone talking to Det. Roussel, who is back at the District 7 Police station. Det. Huntley tells Det. Roussel, "No luck finding Scott Tomlin. He checked out yesterday. But yes, both vics were registered here and staying together in the same room. Tomlin took care of the arrangements for that room and two other rooms here. One registered to himself, and one registered to a Reggie Pierce."
Reggie Pierce is Marlon Starr's alias.
Det. Roussel states, "Let’s find this Pierce guy."
Det. Huntley responds, "Both him and Tomlin are gone."
Det. Roussel tells Det. Huntley to hold on the line as Officer Dees walks up to inform him, "Detective, here's that file you wanted. I can bring it up on your computer if you want." Off. Dees hands the investigation file of Rome's death to Det. Roussel.
Off. Dees is sitting in front of the computer as he continues, "Sorry, dead end with those prints on the DOA tonight. They came back ‘Classified’. I'm checking DMV to see what I can get from them on this guy. I'll keep working on it. They said they should have something in a few hours."
Det. Roussel walks over to his desk, casually opening a file folder that is on his desk. The detective sits at his computer, and from the file pulls out a police photo of Barone lying dead at the Hyatt Regency Hotel pool. Det. Roussel enters information into the computer, trying to get results from Barone’s fingerprints. After a second or two, the screen reads in bold red letters, ‘Classified’. Roussel sits down in his large black leather chair, kicks his feet up on his desk, and does not respond. Det. Huntley is still on his cell phone calling out to Det. Roussel, "Hello? Hello? Detective, you still there?"
7:40 am
Keith and Vivian are still at the Westin, in their hotel room. They are both sitting at the dining table, Keith is trying to unlock the hand-ties that Vivian still has on. Vivian asks, "I don't know why I'm trusting you because I don't. It's either the lions or the fox, not much of a choice. Just be honest, did you really know Jesse? Are you his real friend?"
Keith explains, "Yes, I really knew Jesse. We used to hang out over the years. I did a lot of business down here in New Orleans, and Jesse always came up to Austin for the big University of Texas football games. The last few years we didn't hook up as much though, but we talked often all the time. He’s been there for me in tough times too.” Keith continues, "Vivian did you really call the F.B.I.?"
"Can you just get these things off please?"
"I'm trying! If you'd stop moving, I can get it right off."
"So why did you lie about who you are in the first place?"
"I didn't think you'd believe who I was, or think I was just someone trying to get at the money. I mean, you still don't believe me right?"
"Yeah, you're right."
Keith shares with Vivian, “The dude with the White hat (Rome) told me last night that the C.I.A. is out to silence Jesse and his buddies. That's why those guys are running. He told me, they are out for you too. Plain and simple, Jesse robbed the wrong people. When you screw over the C.I.A., they don't care and everyone involved will be killed, even if you have the money or not! He said they got N.O.P.D. in on it too! That's why Roussel is on you so tough! He's trying to get you to run so they can hunt you down and blow your pretty little head off! You probably don’t believe me Vivian, but I’m telling you we are in the middle of something real serious here! All of us are the hunted.”
Vivian takes a moment then asks, "So where did Jesse's friends go? Why did you meet with the guy with the White Hat (Rome) last night?"
"He knew I wasn’t Jesse’s brother. He wanted me to tell him where the money was so he could take it all for himself, or he was going to have his buddies kill both of us. That’s all.” These guys don’t care about each other as you see.” Vivian asks, “So again where are they? The crazy guy that was going to kill me, just walked out and he didn’t even lock the door!” Keith tells her, “I don’t know? Maybe the police caught their asses tonight. They’re running just like we are. I really don't care, we just gotta get outta here. We might just have to put a towel or something over your hands for now."
Keith then gets up from the dining table, and gets a large bath towel to put over Vivian's hands to hide the hand ties. He then says to her, "Yea, this is good. Them guys are coming back here. I know it." Vivian jumps up from the dining seat and tells Keith to grab her small luggage bag and Jesse's travel bag. As Keith and Vivian quickly step to the room door to leave, they hear and see someone turning the doorknob, trying to enter the room. Their attention is riveted on the door. Keith aggressively asks who is at the door. A voice rings out, "New Orleans Police! Need to talk to you sir! Open the door please!”
Keith and Vivian are frozen in their tracks. Vivian starts to back away from the door as Keith tells the officer through the door, "We're asleep! What do you want?!"
Det. Huntley responds, "Need to speak with Mrs. Baylor! Open the door please Sir!
I can have hotel security open it for me if that's what you want!" Vivian whispers to Keith, "Me? How did he know I was here?" Keith quietly tells Vivian to sit on the sofa and wrap herself in the blanket from the bed.
Keith yells to Det. Huntley, "Let me put something on!" Keith tucks the blanket around Vivian and assures a frightened Vivian that he will protect her from the police. He tells her not to say anything as he walks to the door to let Det. Huntley into the room.
Det. Huntley and Off. Dees both enter the hotel room to see Vivian sitting on the sofa. Det. Huntley confirms Vivian's identity, "Mrs. Baylor we need to come to the station with us for more questioning.”
Before Vivian can respond, Keith asks Det. Huntley why they need to take her in.
The officers totally ignore Keith and tells Vivian that New Orleans Police has enough evidence that supports her involvement in Jesse's murder. Det. Huntley also tells Vivian that there is possible evidence connecting her to the death of Barone and the murder of Rome.
A terrified Vivian responds, "What?! Who?! I have no idea who you are talking about?!" Det. Huntley opens up a folder and shows Vivian pictures of Barone and Rome, dead. From Vivian’s reaction Det. Huntley figures that she does know who these men are. He tells Vivian, "Mrs. Baylor we need to do this uptown. Get dressed please."
Keith tells the officers that Vivian is not going anywhere unless she is under arrest.
Keith questions, "Do you have a warrant?"
He is told no.
Keith continues, "Until you do detective, Mrs. Baylor isn’t going anywhere."
Det. Huntley asks Keith, “Who are you sir? You need to step back.”
Keith looks at Vivian and responds, "I'm Vivian's brother, Keith."
Det. Huntley tells Keith that he will be arrested for obstruction if he interrupts again. Then continues to tells Vivian, "I know you know what this is all about Mrs. Baylor. I have an eyewitness that saw you with this guy (Rome) yesterday in the hotel lobby downstairs."
Keith sees that Vivian is emotionally overwhelmed by Det. Huntley's questions and interrupts, “She's not under arrest, right? Then good bye officers!" Det. Huntley and Off. Dees walk to the door. The detective stops and says, "You’re in deep Mrs. Baylor. Next time we see you…you will be under arrest. Have a good day."
Chapter 15
Keith definitely embellishes his stories to put fear and doubt in Vivian’s head. He tells Vivian, "See, what did I tell you? The police are trying to set you up. We're getting outta here."
A panicking Vivian shouts to Keith to get the hand-ties off of her. Vivian throws the blanket off of her, onto the ground as she asks, "The guy in the White Hat (Rome) is dead?! Dead?! Keith where did you go last night?! What did you do to him?!"
"Vivian. I didn’t do anything! The C.I.A. got him. Remember what I told you that Jesse to
ld me. They killed that guy! The other guy, I don’t what happened to that dude! I bet they had something to do with that, too!"
Keith glances out of the window to see if he can spot the two policemen leaving the hotel. He continues, "When I left that dude, he was alive! He was chasing half the broads in the club we were at! I was just trying to keep you and me alive! Vivian, I had nothing to do with him being dead!" Keith looks down at Vivian trying her best, fumbling with the hand-ties. He tells her they will figure out the hand-ties later, "Those guys are coming back here. I don't wanna be here when they do. Is this your stuff?!" Keith picks up the towel off the floor and wraps it around Vivian's bound hands. Keith grabs her bags and rushes her out of the hotel room.
Keith and Vivian rush off of the elevator and through the hotel lobby. No one notices anything out of the ordinary about them. Now outside the hotel, Keith and Vivian hurry towards a cab at curbside. Before Vivian enters the cab, she notices Ronelle's car parked in the valet parking area, right in front of the hotel. Keith rushes Vivian to get in the cab.
Vivian responds, "No! Wait! Something's not right!" Vivian quickly walks back into the hotel lobby. Keith apologizes to the cab driver, then follows right behind her.
Vivian, still with hand-ties hidden by the large towel, briskly walks to the hotel elevator. She hears Ronelle's voice call out to her. Vivian stops…turns 360 degrees in a circle, looking to see where Ronelle's voice is coming from. Keith is now standing with Vivian in the middle of the hotel lobby. They both hear Ronelle call out again. Vivian and Keith see Ronelle and her son Alex standing under the lush trees and flowers in the hotel atrium. They are uncomfortably waving, they are standing right next to McKenna and Starr.
8:35 am
Back up in Keith and Vivian's room in the Westin hotel, a frightened Ronelle is sitting on the sofa, holding Alex tightly by her side. Starr is standing behind them with a pistol drawn. Vivian is sitting at the dining table, she doesn't want Alex to see that her hands are bound. McKenna is standing at the front door. Keith is sitting on the edge of the sofa.
