by JT Kalnay
Rick trailed off. His story was done. Rick had no idea what had happened between Tonia and Stan. He didn't know that they wanted her dead as much as they wanted Jay dead.
Neither Jay nor Fr. Dan said a word. Rick and the large missionary looked across at each other, each feeling the pain of their wounded friend.
"What if she did testify?" Jay asked evenly.
"I don't know Jay,” Rick answered. "I suppose we could swing some deal, maybe get her in witness relocation. It'd be very dangerous for her. But I really don't think she'll..."
"She'll testify,” Jay said.
"Now Jay. Come on. Let's be....”
"I said she'll testify,” Jay cut him off. "She tried to warn me. I think she wanted out. She said she didn't love him. She said she owed him. At the end I could see she wanted out. When we were here she didn't want to go back. She wanted to give it all up and stay here with Fr. Dan. Rick you've got to bring her in. Give her a chance. I know she'll go along with you.”
Rick and the priest shared another look. Rick brought his gaze back onto his friend. "I'll do what I can,” Rick said.
Rick and Jay spent the next days going over everything Jay could remember about his time in New York City. Rick needed to figure out how he was going to get close to Tonia. Rick's plans changed dramatically two days later when he found out that Tonia had disappeared. Rick feared the worst. He kept it to himself though. He did not tell Jay about her going missing.
Chapter
The man who Jay knew as Rick Hewlett burst into view of the shack where Jay and Fr. Dan sat talking on the steps. Rick ran up the gravel walk and skidded to a stop in front of the lodge.
"Jay. Tell me quickly. What do you know about MacKenzie Lazarus' plans to repeat the Panama algorithm on Japan?"
"Oh shit,” Jay said quickly. "Sorry Father.”
"What is it?" Rick asked.
"Revenge,” Jay answered, his eyes taking on a distant look. Father Brennan's eyebrows scrunched down toward his nose. His beefy paw came to rest firmly on Jay's shoulder.
"Perhaps you should elaborate on revenge,” Fr. Brennan said in a low voice.
Jay detailed the virus he'd planted in MacKenzie Lazarus' worldwide network. Jay explained that he'd forgotten about it in the adrenalin filled gun ride past Angus and Stan in New York City.
"So I guess it's working?" Jay asked sheepishly.
"If you call a complete shutdown of worldwide currency trading working then yeah it's working,” Rick said.
"A complete halt in trading?” Jay asked. He was impressed with himself, and a little guilty, but mostly impressed with the quality of his work.
"Complete,” Rick answered.
"So what does that mean?" Fr. Brennan asked.
"Turmoil and anarchy,” Jay said.
"Specifically,” Fr. Dan asked, looking at Rick for help.
"Specifically it means that young Calloway here has got to find a way to shut this thing down right now!" Rick explained.
"A minute on the Internet and it’ll be over,” Jay said.
“Let’s hope,” Rick answered.
Rick and Jay hurried down the drive to where Rick's pickup was parked. Gravel flew as they spun out onto the path that led to the road and then the Interstate.
"I know a place in Louisville where we can get on,” Rick said.
"I know someplace closer,” Jay countered. "And safer.”
"You do?"
"Yes.”
"Where?"
"When we get to the interstate turn East, towards Cincinnati.”
"Cincinnati's at least twice as far as Louisville,” Rick shot.
"We're not going to Cincinnati.”
"Where are we going?" Rick asked.
"Peowee Valley.”
"Where?" Rick asked incredulously.
"Peowee Valley. C. Daniel lives there. I've been getting email from him on the internet every once in a while. It's only ten miles from here.”
The pickup skidded to a halt in front of C. Daniel Kinchon's home in Peowee Valley. The front yard was dominated by an immense satellite dish, the back yard had a microwave tower.
"This has got to be the place,” Rick said.
"You know it,” Jay answered.
They jumped out of the truck and rushed towards the house. A Kentucky gentleman met them on the porch steps.
"Mornin' Gentlemen. How y'all doin' this mornin'?"
"Fine. Thank you. We are friends of C. Daniel’s and we were wondering if C. Daniel was here, and, even if he’s not, if we could please use his computer as soon as possible. This is his place isn't it? Is he here?" Jay rapid fired.
The gentleman raised an eyebrow and extended a hand to shake. They shook perfunctorily.
"Allow me to introduce myself,” the gentleman said. "Dr. C. Daniel Kinchon Sr.,” he said cooly.
"I'll inform my son that two uninvited and clearly agitated Yankees claiming to be his friends are on the porch.” The gentleman made his way into the house. Rick and Jay looked at each other, rolling their eyes.
"I see you all met my father,” C. Daniel Kinchon said as he emerged onto the porch.
"You all have to excuse him. He has yet to accept that the Civil War has concluded unsuccessfully for the Confederacy.”
"How are you Dan?" Jay asked.
"Fine,” C. Daniel answered.
"You are the last person I expected to see on my stoop today,” C. Daniel said.
"Dan, I can catch you up in a while, but right now I really need to use your computer to get on the internet,” Jay said impatiently. The urgency in his voice was clear.
"Have to check on a game of global thermonuclear war Professor Falken?" C. Daniel asked.
"Not exactly,” Rick answered, missing the movie reference.
"Don’t tell me you have something to do with this virus… Come on professor,” C. Daniel offered. He led the party into a high tech study which seemed completely at odds with the countryside.
Jay sat down at the terminal. His fingers started slowly but quickly picked up the pace as he grew accustomed to C. Daniel's machine.
"Are you sure you want this stopped?" Jay asked.
"Sure,” Rick said.
"I mean we could turn it towards someone else you know?"
"No. Turn it off,” Rick said firmly.
Jay ceremoniously typed a final command.
"Done,” he announced flatly.
"Now do you mind telling me what this is all about?" C. Daniel asked.
"Rick? Why don't you tell him what you can?" Jay said.
Rick told a carefully edited version of the story. C. Daniel listened intently.
"Didn't you all ever hear of Robert Tappan Morris Jr.?" C. Daniel asked harshly.
"Of course,” Jay answered guiltily.
"So how come you were so sure you could turn it off?" C. Daniel asked.
Jay had no answer. The student had just schooled the teacher.
Chapter
Two weeks had passed since Rick Hewlett had surprised his friend Jay Calloway at his mountain hideaway in Kentucky. Rick had spent part of the time organizing his associates in New York and part of the time convincing his superiors that Jay was innocent of any malicious wrongdoing. Finally, Rick had started a campaign to try to bring in Tonia Taggert.
Rick knew that she'd bolted, but he doubted she'd gone far. From what Jay had told him, Rick figured his best chance to find her was outside, running somewhere. It wasn't much but it was all he had. Rick had agents on all of her favorite routes, at strategic spots in Central Park and at the parks on Long Island. Rick had picked the beach at Robert Moses State Park as his personal stakeout location. For the past six days, at dawn and at dusk, Rick had cruised back and forth just offshore in an inconspicuous bayman's boat, scanning the beach with binoculars for blonde runners. Rick figured dawn and dusk would be the most likely time that she'd come out.
It was on Rick's seventh day at the beach, just before sunrise that he saw a lone figure jogging o
n the beach. Though the runner's the strides were long and powerful, like Jay had described, the runner's head was hung low, the shoulders dropped forward. That was not how Jay had described Tonia's running style. Still Rick thought this had to be her.
Rick swung his glasses towards the jogger, he tightened the focus. Short blonde hair peeked out from under the runner's hat. Rick became more interested. He knew Tonia's hair was supposed to be long, half way down her back Jay had said.
"She could have cut it,” Rick said to himself. Rick goosed the boat's engines to bring it closer in to the shore.
More of the approaching glow of daybreak curled up over the horizon. Rick could see the jogger more clearly. It was certainly a girl. A girl in great shape. A blonde runner, on Jay and Tonia's beach at dawn. Rick knew it had to be her. Once she had passed the boat, Rick let the boat nose its bow into the firm sand on the beach. Rick tossed the snag anchors on shore to hold the boat while he scrambled over the deck and onto the beach. He knew she'd have to be coming back the way she'd gone.
Rick settled in to wait for her return.
After a while, Tonia reappeared on the eastern portion of the beach. Rick waited patiently. Her head was down, she didn't see him. Rick wondered if her head was down from tiredness or guilt?
When Rick figured she was within earshot, Rick spoke up.
"How far did you go?" Rick asked.
Tonia made no indication that she had heard him.
"I've got some water if you want?" Rick offered.
Tonia closed the distance and came even with him.
"I have a friend in Kentucky who wishes he was right here on this beach right now,” Rick said softly as she passed him by. “Running to the sunrise.”
Tonia slowed and stopped. She turned slowly. She walked back towards Rick but kept a wary distance between them.
"What did you say?" Tonia asked.
"I said Jay wishes like hell he was here to run to the sunrise with his friend Tonia. He told me it was the best moment in his entire life.”
Tonia walked a tentative step closer to Rick.
"Have you seen him?" she asked.
"Yes.”
"How is he?"
"He'll be fine,” Rick answered.
"Was he hurt badly?" Tonia asked.
Rick tried to decide whether she meant physically or mentally.
"In time he'll be okay,” Rick answered.
"Did he send you for me?" Tonia asked. Rick thought he heard both fear and hope in her voice.
"Yes.”
Tonia walked right up to Rick. She looked him straight in the eyes. Rick immediately knew how Jay could've fallen so hard for her. It was her eyes. Rick felt the infinity of her gaze, he wasn't sure whose turn it was to talk.
"So what do we do now?" Tonia asked.
"That depends on you,” Rick answered.
"Explain it to me while we walk back to the truck,” Tonia said. "I don't want to tighten up and it's three miles back.”
Rick explained her options as they walked west, their backs to the sunrise, long shadows stretching out before them. Tonia was very surprised at what Rick knew, and what her choices were. Jay would have been stunned to hear the details of Rick's proposals. After an hour of walking in the sand they came to Tonia's truck. It wasn't the white convertible Jay had described. It was an old beat up pickup. Rick recognized it as Jay's old beast from Miami University.
"So what's it going to be Tonia?" Rick asked.
"I'll do it,” Tonia answered. "I'm so tired of hiding, of never knowing. I'll do it all, but when it's done, you've got to promise to let me see him at least once. To give me a chance to say I’m sorry.”
"Agreed,” Rick said.
They shook on the deal. Rick felt her hand tremble.
Chapter
"You don't have to do this,” Rick Hewlett said to Tonia Taggert.
"Yes I do,” Tonia answered.
"Alright then. Let's do it.”
Rick spoke a code word into the walkie talkie he held in his gloved left hand. The early morning fog had not yet lifted. The tops of the tallest oak trees on the MacKenzie property were still not visible. In between the wisps of fog several teams of men moved silently into position, the house was surrounded.
Rick waited for "in-position" signals from the teams and then turned his face to Tonia.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Let's do it,” Tonia said stiffly.
Rick and Tonia started a quick walk that led them right up the gravel drive to the front doors of the mansion. Tonia slid her key in the front door. It still fit. She turned the key and the door swung open. She stepped inside. Rick was right behind her.
They stood in the foyer and listened. They heard nothing. "He'll be in the kitchen watching CNN and working on his heart attack,” Tonia said.
Tonia guided them through the huge rooms towards the kitchen. As they approached, the sounds of television drifted out to them. Rick drew his 9mm Beretta.
They crossed the last room and stood on the threshold of the kitchen. Angus was seated 10 feet away, focused on his bacon and eggs and morning news. He did not hear them come in.
"Like nothing ever happened,” Tonia said.
"I wondered when you'd be back,” Angus said without looking up. "I've been expecting you.” Angus continued to eat his breakfast.
"Have you?" Tonia asked.
"Quite,” Angus said in his best Oxford English. "Rubbish like you always turns up.”
"Bastard,” Tonia spat.
Something in her tone of voice turned Angus toward her. His eyes lit on Rick, and his gun.
"Who's this then?" Angus asked. "Over young Calloway already are we? Like he'd have anything to do with trash like you anyway,” Angus finished. He knew he'd cut her. Angus and Tonia stared at each other. Neither flinched. Finally Rick broke the awkward silence.
"Angus MacKenzie, you are under arrest. You have the right to....”
"Save it,” Angus said. "I'm not going to jail and you both know it. So what do you want? A million? Two million? Just name your price and get out, I've got work to do.”
“I doubt you have a million or two after the Japan debacle,” Tonia said. “How does it feel to have presided over the largest collapse of a financial house since 1929?” Tonia asked.
“Don’t worry about me honey. I have plenty.”
Angus turned back and lifted another morsel of breakfast to his mouth.
"You have the right to remain silent,” Rick continued. "Anything you say can and ..."
A shot rang out. Rick jumped. Angus slumped forward into his breakfast. Tonia dropped her arm to her side, the smoking pistol falling to the floor.
Rick looked at Tonia. He picked up the gun. Rick walked over to Angus and saw that he was dead. He looked back at Tonia. A pained look came to his eyes, then recognition dawned, and a smile replaced his grimace.
"It's over,” Rick said into the walkie talkie. "Shot by a ruined investor I imagine the police will decide,” Rick said to Tonia. They left the house and disappeared into the fog with the rest of the team.
Chapter
A small AM radio sat on the porch beside Jay Calloway. Marty Brenneman's excited voice carried well on WLW's 50,000 watt clear channel station. Jay listened intently to the call.
"Bottom of the ninth, one out, one on. The Reds trail the Jays by 1 in this 7th and final game of the World Series.”
"Guzman looks in for the sign. He checks the runner at first. Davis levels his bat. Here's the wind and the pitch.”
The solid crack of Louisville Slugger on Spalding baseball was unmistakable even over Jay's small portable AM radio.
"It's a drive to left,” Marty Brenneman exclaimed.
"Get out of here. Get out of here. Get out of here,” Joe Nuxall urged wildly in the WLW radio booth at Riverfront stadium.
"Henderson goes back, he's at the wall, he leaps, annnnnnnd THIS ONE BELONGS TO THE REDS,” Marty Brenneman shouted over the radio. "THE 1993 WORLD
SERIES MOST DEFINETLY BELONGS TO THE CINCINNATI REDS!”
The tsunamic mix of Joe Nuxall screaming, Marty Brenneman's classic call, and 54,327 Reds fans going wild in Riverfront Stadium washed all over Jay Calloway. He'd been in his mountain retreat living a simple life since his escape in April. His one luxury was baseball.
After Rick told him that Tonia was in the witness relocation program, Jay had convinced himself that he was over her. Living in the woods and helping Fr. Dan was a rewarding life, but the hiding out was tough. He missed going to the ball park and hanging out in left field by the lemonade stand for an afternoon businessman's special. He missed programming. But there was no way he could leave the safety of the backwoods. And no way they wanted him anywhere near the Internet. He still lived in fear of leftover contracts from Angus MacKenzie and Stan Krantz and their network of evil doers. Whoever had re-aligned the dollar to the Balboa was still out there.
Though Angus was dead and Stan was safely behind bars, Jay never doubted for a moment that their influence could still reach out and touch him. He figured to live out his life quietly in the mountains in the service of Fr. Dan and the missions. Tomorrow he was leaving his Kentucky retreat for a new post deep in the Ozarks of Arkansas. Rick had promised to keep visiting him every few weeks as he had since late April. Lately Jay had noticed something different about Rick. He didn't know what it was.
Jay clicked off the radio and stepped past his already packed bag out into the early fall air. He imagined the victory fireworks going off over the stadium in Cincinnati.
"Good game eh?" came the voice from out of the darkness.
"The best,” Jay answered, unsure of where the speaker was but certain who it was. Rick liked to just appear like this. Jay felt his spirits rise as his eyes scanned the darkness. He heard footfalls on the gravel path between the tall pines in front of his shed.
"I brought someone to see you,” Rick said.
