by Mike Faricy
“Oh, really? That’s so sweet. Okay, Carlos, happy anniversary. I’ll write the damn report, but this is the first and last time.”
“Thanks, Mace, you’re the greatest.”
“That’s cause I’m fun-filled, right.”
She worked on their report, making sure to compliment the various agencies involved, including and especially Tampa Metro. She had it completed just before 7:00 that night. She knew Carlos would be out with Julie on their anniversary dinner. She planned to just leave the report on his desk. Dropping it off, she couldn’t help but notice his desk calendar, open to the day’s date with the notation ‘Poker, JB & Petey’.
“Poker night!” she said out loud. “And, with those two lowlife’s. Damn it. Carlos,” she shouted, gathering steam with every step.
Chapter 40
Val had let his plan percolate for forty-eight hours, distill in his mind down to its purest form. He was ready to run it past Hub and get him excited about one last, big score. He had two large steaks, garlic bread, and a refrigerator full of beer. It was the perfect meal for Hub. Now, if he would just get on board.
Hub arrived at 7:00. He had a sense something was up. He was also pretty sure he knew what his answer would be, a flat out, final, maybe.
All through dinner, Val talked about absolutely nothing. Finally, he got two more beers and a shot glass full of toothpicks. He leaned back on the rear legs of his chair, ready to launch eloquently.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said, Hub. You were right. It’s not safe for us to continue to move this stuff through Atlanta. Fact is, we’ve been on borrowed time up there in Atlanta. So I went ahead and took your advice. I said to myself, ‘Self, what were the cities my good friend Hub suggested?’”
“I’ve set up the sweetest little group of hungry folks just waiting for our merchandise. We’ll be retiring, you and I, at least for the time being. I told them we would be there in a couple of weeks. A take it or leave it, all or nothing sort of deal, exactly the way you suggested, Hub. So, what do you think? Are you in?”
“Val, where’s this new city you’re going to take all the stuff to?”
Val brought his chair down, leaned forward, looked left and right as if there were a number of people in the kitchen, and he didn’t want them to hear. In a low voice, he said, “New Orleans. Been talking to quite a few folks over there, playing it cool, stringing them along. Told them everything I’ve got is high-quality. Told them I expect the partnership I represent to be compensated fairly.” He drew out the word partnership, nodding his head and raising an eyebrow as he did so.
“I told them it was most likely the first and the last shipment I would be bringing through. First come, first serve, that’s all. I’ve got two days’ worth of appointments set up. But I’m guessing I can move all of it on the first day. Most likely moving it for more money than either of us ever dreamed of getting our hands on. So, what do you think?”
“I think it sounds pretty good. But where are you thinking of getting all this top-quality stuff? How much do you figure we’ll need?”
“I think we can review about two months’ worth of new prospects,” said Val. “Folks who offer a lot of potential. Plus, I’m thinking we alter our routine a little.”
“What do you mean, alter our routine? Alter our routine, how?” Hub asked.
“Well, this time we have a short but very high-quality list, more high quality than before, and we really hit them. I mean, clean them out, take everything. After two weeks, I’ll get everything out of town, and we just lay low.”
Hub thought about that.
“If you feel good about it, we can start up again. But only if you feel good about it. If you don’t, you just say the word, and we shut everything down immediately. What do you think? Are you in, partner?”
Hub was trying to see the downside. Taking everything was a big change from what they had been doing and what had worked in the past. He was quickly convincing himself it might just work. He was already thinking of what he would have to do, not the least of which was how he would play it extra careful before he gave Val an answer.
“What do you think? Are you in, old buddy?” Val asked.
“Yeah, maybe. Give me a few days to think about it. There’s a lot I’d have to get ready.”
“Alright, partner,” Val was up, shaking Hub’s hand, slapping him on the back on his way to the refrigerator, thinking that was easier than he thought it would be. He reached far back in the fridge and grabbed two more beers. “So, what exactly do you have to get ready?”
“Tell you what, you let me worry about that. You just get that list of folks lined up, and I’ll review it. I gotta cut keys, scope out the landscape on these folks. This is going to be a little different than the normal ring-and-run routine. We gotta think this through a little more. Keep it safe for both of us. Agreed?” Hub said and held his fresh beer out toward Val, and they clinked bottles.
Hub was up and out early the next morning. He bought a large box of surgical gloves, a new tool belt, knock-down cardboard boxes, and a shiny new, red, two-wheeled delivery dolly. In the early afternoon, he went out to the long-term airport parking ramp. In fifteen minutes, he’d stolen a dozen sets of license plates.
He was determined to play this new scenario as carefully as possible, so his next stop was an electronics store. For seventy-five dollars, he purchased a police band radio that would work off his cigarette lighter, allowing him to monitor police dispatches while driving. If there was a problem and the scanner gave him even thirty additional seconds, that could turn out to be just enough of an edge for an escape. It just might be the difference between getting away and an all-expenses paid vacation at a Florida State Correctional facility for five to seven years.
Next, he stopped at a uniform store, picked up a generic delivery-guy sort of uniform, waited while they stitched on the name tag that read Wally, and threw in a baseball cap to match.
On the way home, he drove past a costume shop, circled back, and $8.95 later, he was the owner of an Official Mustache Disguise kit.
Chapter 41
Macey and Carlos were returning from lunch. Carlos had invited Macey out a week ago as a thank you for her help with the task force. She’d had to pull extra hours, at no extra pay, and Carlos felt guilty about it last week. Now, after being taken to the cleaners by J.B. and Petey in their poker game last night, he was not a happy camper. On top of all that, he’d had to spring for lunch, since it had been his stupid idea. Macey had ordered food like he was made out of money. A whole order of wings and half a huge steak sat in the white Styrofoam container on the back seat. ‘’Damn it,’ he thought, sulking as he looked out the window. Macey had ordered enough food to last her for a week, and he had to pay.
She was still mad about the anniversary lie Carlos told her. Making her work late, having to write the whole damn report while he spent his night playing poker with those two low drippers, J.B. and Petey. The excessive lunch he’d just paid for was only the beginning. She laid her trap carefully as Carlos stared out the window.
“So, you have a nice time last night?” Macey asked
“Huh? Yeah, oh yeah, real nice, real romantic.”
“Was Julia surprised?” Macey asked.
“Oh yeah, real surprised. We had a nice dinner at a quiet little place I know. Just the two of us, thanks for asking.”
“You signed the report and put it on the old man’s desk?” Macey asked.
“Yeah, all taken care of.”
“You know,” she had her cell phone out and hit the speed-dial button. “With us working so close lately, everything with the task force, and you taking me out to lunch today, I feel bad I didn’t get you anything.” She had the cell phone to her ear and a nasty little smile on her face.
“Don’t worry about any gift,” Carlos said, watching her. His brain slowly began to engage. Afraid whatever was about to happen was not going to be in his best interest.
“Hello, Julia.
Hi, it’s Macey. No, no relax, no problem, everything is fine. Listen, just wanted to be the first to say congratulations and give you a heads-up. Carlos is running all over, telling everyone about the big night he has planned for you, and I just wanted to tell you to have fun. What? Yes, yes, you, too. Well, maybe he was planning to surprise you. Yeah, okay, don’t let him know I told you. I’d just go out and buy a new dress for the night because it sounds like it’s going to be a very special time. Yeah, love you, too. Have fun tonight, Julia, mmm-mmm yeah, good-bye.”
Carlos stared as Macey clicked off her phone, a horrified look on his face. “How could you do this to me? Are you insane? Do you even realize what you’ve just done? Macey, do you have any idea what is going—”
Macey’s eyes flashed, but before she could answer, his cell phone rang.
“Shit,” he growled. “Hello.” He gave Macey the finger, gesturing and waving it at her. “Hi, honey. What? She did? Oh, it was going to be a surprise. No, no, I’ve got the sitter all arranged. No, it’s a surprise. You can see when we get there.”
He gave Macey the finger again, eyes bulging for added emphasis.
“Yes, honey. Well, Macey shouldn’t have told you that, sweetheart. It sort of ruins the surprise. Doesn’t it?” This time, Carlos shook his fist at Macey, mouthing an expletive. “No, I don’t think you need a new dress. That ah, that sexy red dress would be great, you know the one. No. No, I know, of course not. I wouldn’t dream of just a bar. Trust me, yes, very fancy. Yes. Look, I better go. Love you, too, honey. Okay, give the kids a hug. See you tonight, baby. Bye-bye.”
“Ahh, I just really, really hate you right now,” Carlos groaned.
“Well, since I’m sure you were the big winner last night, playing with J.B. and Petey and any other dirtbags you could find, tonight should be no problem for a high roller like you. And, next time, you can write your own damn report.” She stuck her tongue out for emphasis.
He knew he was beaten. He stared at the floor of the car, shaking his head. He’d lost big time last night. Now, the dinner tonight was going to cost him a hundred and fifty, easy. He could only hope Julia wouldn’t go out and buy a new dress.
Chapter 42
Val had been reviewing a large number of applications. He’d sorted and resorted them based on location, potential, age, even pets, narrowing his list down to twenty-five extremely promising names. He wasn’t looking forward to going through the stack yet again, and he decided to hang onto all twenty-five. Keep ten as alternates just in case there were last-minute changes.
By the end of the following week, Hub had house keys made on eighteen of the twenty-five homes. Over the weekend, he drove past all eighteen in the daylight and again at night. By Monday morning, he was as ready as he would ever be.
The following Tuesday, Hub hit three separate homes, amazed at how quickly it all went. Since he wasn’t spending time sorting through things, gauging quality and what would or would not be missed, he grabbed everything he could carry that looked of value. He rolled everything out to his pickup on his new, red, two-wheeled delivery dolly.
Just like before, he called ahead on a burner phone. When he didn’t receive an answer, he drove to the location. When no one responded to the doorbell, he knocked. When no one responded to his knock, he let himself inside. He always waited cautiously inside the door for three minutes, straining for the slightest sound before going to work. The difference this time was, instead of carrying a box up to the door, Hub wheeled three large, empty boxes, stacked one on top of the other up to the front door.
Val’s choice of homes was everything they had hoped for and more. The first night, Hub had to limit what he took from each of the three homes only because he was running out of room to carry things. He took his usual assortment of trays, flatware, and jewelry, only this time he took almost all of it. Driving back to the Moonlight that night, he figured, at this rate, he could double his go to hell fund in just a little over two weeks.
The more he thought about it, the more he was convinced he could score big and retire from burglary, permanently. He would still have to work, but now he could live, play it low-key, and never, ever, have to worry about money again. He wondered what it would be like to pay a bill and never have to worry if there was enough money in the account.
He drove to the Moonlight and unloaded nine separate boxes of stolen goods in the rear of the building. All this in addition to the jewelry he held back for his own purpose. Their plan was that, at the end of the night, Val would haul the boxes to the storage facility. At the rate Hub was acquiring, Val was going to need a semi-truck to haul everything to New Orleans.
At Val’s suggestion, Hub had incorporated a series of parking ramps into his route. Each ramp had multiple exits, and he entered and exited three different ramps throughout the course of the evening just in case someone was following. There were also a number of U-turns he made, where he was able to double-check for anyone. Between the U-turns and the parking ramps, if someone had been following, he’d lost them hours ago.
Hub had been half-right. He was being followed but not by the police. Macey had never breathed a word to Carlos nor mentioned her suspicions to anyone else. But, she was convinced Hub, the Moonlight Dance Academy, and the rash of Tampa burglaries were all related. She had followed him to Val’s apartment the night he and Val decided they would go for it all. She had followed him over the weekend when he checked out the list of potential targets. And, she had been following Hub this Tuesday night, at least up until he lost her when he entered a parking ramp and left via a different exit. That was okay. She had seen enough to be convinced her initial suspicions were correct. She drove home and got ready to meet him later at the Moonlight.
Chapter 43
Once Willy had decided to kill Hub in his apartment, it simply became a matter of timing and finding a way in.
He’d spent the past few days looking for a good lock man, someone he could trust. Trust meaning someone who knew how to keep his mouth shut.
It took a few days and a number of phone calls, but Willy eventually found a guy down in Miami. His name was Dani. Dani was Israeli, at least that was the passport he was using now. Willy didn’t really care anything about that passport. He just needed to learn how to get into the apartment.
Dani had to know the make and model of the door lock. Fortunately for Willy, all that information was stamped on the front of the lock, right around the keyhole. Hub’s apartment, and in fact, the whole building, was equipped with a Citadel model 155 door lock. A little bit strange, European manufacturer rather than domestic, but workable all the same. Dani was familiar with the brand, ordered one on the Internet, and had it in his shop within forty-eight hours.
He patiently taught Willy how to pick the lock. He lubricated the mechanism using graphite powder and instructed Willy on what to feel with his fingertips. He instructed Willy how to work the probe and move the tumblers. He patiently demonstrated how to feel the slender prods, how to feel for the next of four teeth, since there were only five in the 155 model.
Willy took the model back to his room and practiced for almost twenty-four hours straight. For possibly the first time in his life, he played the part of the good student. He practiced nonstop. Turning out the lights and working over and over again in the dark. Eventually, by sunrise of the following day, he was able to pick the lock almost faster than if he actually used a key.
His plan was rather simple. He would wait patiently inside Hub’s apartment, maybe drink some of his beer, wait for him to walk in the door, and kill him. Shoot him dead before Willy’s assault case came to trial. Once the boyfriend was taken care of, Willy would send a simple message to Macey, and she would drop all the charges against him.
Ideally, he wanted Macey to fear for her life. This time, he wasn’t going to be satisfied with just giving her a beating and cutting her up a little bit. He was planning to scare her half to death, let her think about it for a long while. Then he planned to kill her but
not too quickly. He was going to enjoy her death. Make her linger a long, long while, get her to beg, make her promise, and do absolutely anything only to find out it still wasn’t going to be enough to satisfy him.
Chapter 44
Thursday night proved to be more of the same for Hub. He had to hand it to Val. If nothing else, he had chosen well. Hub had all he could do with the first two homes, just trying to get everything packed properly before leaving. It wouldn’t do, having boxes of stolen goods tipping over on the way out the door.
Just as it had been on the previous night, Hub was actually able to work faster, taking everything he came across instead of carefully looking over each piece before making a decision. Even if he examined an item for only fifteen or twenty seconds, that had added another minute to his time for every two or three items he looked at. Now, he just hit the rooms, scooped everything up, and was out the door in half the time.
Val had toyed with fitting four homes into one night’s work, but Hub was afraid that might be pushing it too much. Listening to the police band radio as he drove, Hub had picked up absolutely nothing regarding his evening activities thus far. Like the previous night, he had switched license plates on his pickup. He had checked and rechecked all his lights and turn signals earlier.
He had worn the fake mustache the first night, feeling funny initially but gradually getting used to it. He thought it might just be a good idea to leave it off tonight. Make himself appear different from the previous evening and muddy the water on any potential trail he might inadvertently leave. He wore a pair of surgical gloves all night.
It was dark when he parked on a side street, no more than a block away from his final target. He placed the usual phone call to ensure the home was empty. He had spoken to Val over two hours ago. All three targets were at the Moonlight. But after the scare of some weeks back, he was playing it very safe. Once he heard the answering machine kick in, he pulled away from the curb, around the corner to the far end of the block and parked right in front as if he belonged there.
