Mango Key
Page 23
She said she liked the way the motorhome handled and thought she might like to have one of her own. I didn't say anything about her father asking me if I wanted to sell mine.
Buck, Lori and Summer slept in separate bedrooms in the guest house. Kat slept in her childhood bedroom in the main house and I slept out in the motorhome. Before going to bed, I logged into Boris' network and changed the security settings so that outsiders couldn't get in.
The next morning, Buck and I paid a visit to agent Hull at the sheriff’s annex building. When we arrived, we were separated and taken to different interrogation rooms. Hull went with me while an older agent went with Buck.
After getting my permission to record the interview, Hull asked a series of questions, all of which I answered honestly. There really wasn't anything to hide. Buck and I weren't involved with Freddie's business and it was only by chance that we met him.
Hull seemed satisfied with my statement. He had me sign an affidavit claiming everything I'd said was truthful and he advised me not to discuss the case with others. He told me to be available in the event I was needed as a witness when the case went to court.
After an hour, Hull escorted me to the main lobby where Buck was waiting. He was surrounded by agents and sheriff's deputies who were listening as he told stories about his life in Hollywood.
When he saw me, Buck thanked the agents for their service and we left.
In the car on the way back to Boris', I asked Buck, “How'd it go?”
“It went well. They asked a few questions, had me sign an affidavit, and then let me go. What about you? Any problems?”
“No, it went pretty much the same way.”
Buck nodded. “Did you hear about Freddie? About what he told them?”
“No. No one told me anything. They told you?”
“Yeah, a little. They said that when Freddie showed up at the airstrip, he told the pilot he wanted to fly his girls to the Bahamas for the weekend. He offered to double the pilot's standard rate if he could leave the bus and hot dog stand at the airstrip until he got back.
“He had the passports he needed and the pilot didn't think anything was wrong and agreed to take him.
“When the FBI searched Freddie's bags, they found half a million in cash, a hundred thousand in gold coins and a USB drive filled with records showing the deliveries he had been making under the cover of his Marine Sat boat. They wouldn't tell me more, just that his Sat business had something to do with encrypted satellite feeds.
“When Freddie was shown the overwhelming evidence against him, he agreed to cooperate in return for a chance to enter witness protection.
“When they asked him why he'd been harassing Wiener Girl, he said he was being paid by a man in Key West's zoning office to get her to move out the alley. The FBI was going to follow up on that.”
On the way back to Boris', I made a quick stop at the food pantry. Buck waited in the car while I went inside. It took me a few minutes to find Nora, the woman who had been in charge the night I worked the serving line.
She smiled when she saw me. “Ah, the mysterious Walker. Back here to help with tonight's food service?”
I shook my head and reached into my pocket. I pulled out the thick envelope Boris had given me the night before. “No, I'm not going to work the food line tonight, but I thought I'd make a small donation to help the cause.”
I handed her the envelope.
“What's this?”
“A gift. Use it as you see fit.”
I walked away and could hear her gasp when she saw what was inside. As I opened the door to go out, she shouted, “God bless you.”
Back in the car, Buck asked, “You give her the money?”
“Yeah. How'd you know?”
“Boris told me. You ever look in the envelope? See how much it was?”
“No, didn't want to be tempted.”
“Probably good you didn't look.”
Neither Buck nor I mentioned the money again.
When we got back to Boris' place, Lori was ready to head home. She had her suitcase packed and on the ground next to the motorhome. She and her sister Summer had already said their goodbyes earlier in day. Summer had asked Lori to thank me for coming down and helping her and said I'd have a lifetime free pass at Wiener Girl. She'd already gone back to Key West to get the hot dog stand open for the day.
After telling me this, I helped Lori get her bag into the motorhome, then I went back outside to wait for Buck who had gone over to the guest house to get his bag. While I was waiting, Boris came over and handed me another white envelope. “This is for the work you did on the computers. I hope it's enough.”
Not wanting to offend him, I took the envelope. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“What about your motorhome? You want to sell it?”
“No, not really. I think I'll keep it.”
He nodded. “That's what I thought you'd say. So how about this? Since you won't sell me yours, I'll pay you to help Katrina find one. Your job will be to go with her to the dealers, help her pick one out, and then teach her to drive it. I'll cover all your expenses. Would you do that? As a favor for me?”
I nodded. “I'd be happy to help her, but I'm going back to Englewood today. With her being here and me being there, it's going to be hard to look at motorhomes together.”
Boris smiled. “That won't be a problem. Katrina is going back with you. Buck said she can stay in his bus while she's there. He's not living in it right now and his place is close to yours.
“Her being around you. That won't be a problem, will it?”
I shook my head. “Problem? No, not at all.”
“Good. Just treat her nice. Don't make her mad.”
He shook my hand and went back to the main house. When he reached the door, Kat came out, lugging her suitcase behind her.
Chapter Fifty-Four
The trip back to Englewood was uneventful. Buck rode up front with me with Bob in his lap most of the way.
Lori and Kat spent most of the trip sitting side by side on the couch. They talked a lot and seemed to like each other.
We stopped for gas when we reached Alligator Alley just outside of Miami. The station had prepaid phones and I bought one so I could call Lawyer Bob when I got home. After getting back in the motorhome, I checked to make sure all my passengers were on board. Didn't want to leave one behind like I had on the way down.
Four hours later, we pulled into Mango Bay. Buck's significant other, Polly, came over to welcome us back. Buck gave her a big hug and introduced Kat. “She's the daughter of an old friend. He asked Walker to help her find a motorhome and he said he'd do it. Since no one's living in my old bus, I figured she could stay there. That okay with you?”
Polly wasn't bothered by this arrangement. Buck was living with Polly in her Airstream and his 'old' bus was empty. His “old bus” as he called it, was actually an expensive Prevost motorhome, suitable for a king. It had been sitting empty since Buck and Polly had moved in together and it would be good to have someone living in it for a while.
After everyone had unloaded their suitcases and had said their goodbyes, Bob and I had the motorhome to ourselves. After the long drive, I decided a shower and clean clothes were in order.
But first I needed to call Lawyer Bob, see what he wanted. He'd sent me four emails asking me to call him. I entered his number in the burner phone. He answered on the fourth ring. “Bobby Poole at your service. How can I help you?”
“Bobby, this is Walker. You said to call.”
“Walker, where have you been? I've been trying to reach you for a week.”
“I've been in Key West. Not able to get to a phone. So what's up?”
I could hear Bobby shuffling papers, then, “You're not driving, are you?”
“No, I'm sitting here doing nothing.”
“Good, I've got some good news.
“Remember back when you were married and your wife gave you ten shares of the company she and h
er father owned?”
“Yeah, I remember that. The shares were worthless. His company was pretty much broke. All they had was a few plots of land that nobody wanted. Is that why you called me? About that worthless stock?”
“Yeah that's why I called. You know there was only a hundred ownership shares issued and you have ten of them. Or at least you did until two weeks ago. That's when a real estate trust out of Colorado bought all the shares and paid six million dollars for them. So now, instead of you having ten shares in a company you thought was worthless, you have a check for six hundred thousand dollars. It's on my desk. What do you want me to do with it?”
Before I could answer him, there was a knock on the door. From outside, I heard Kat say, “Walker, I'm hungry. There's no food in Buck's bus. You need to take me to dinner.”
Her plea gave me an idea.
“Bobby, pay the taxes on the money and put the rest in my bank account. Send my ex-wife a dozen red roses with a card that says, 'Thanks,' and then send me a list of food banks in the area.”
I ended the call and went to meet Kat at the door.
She was standing outside, a frown on her face.
“I'm hungry and there's no food.”
I smiled. “That's a problem I can solve.”
We jumped into my jeep and headed into town. Food was just one stop away.
The adventure continues . . .
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Other books in the Mango Bob series include:
Mango Bob
Mango Lucky
Mango Bay
Mango Glades
Mango Blues
You can find photos, maps, and more from the Mango Bob adventures at http://www.mangobob.com
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