“No, not really, they told the judge I had issues and paid no attention to them which, of course I denied. However, they ended up with a big settlement, they seemed happy. I just thought I may get a smile from you.”
She has a ring on her finger. I wonder if her husband has ever seen her smile. When I was growing up, I was taught to smile a lot, talk nice, and dress appropriately.
She quickly comes back at me, “I never smile when I’m working; now tell me about the man who came to service your copy machine yesterday.”
“I don’t know anything about that, detective. The first time I knew anything about it was last night when I heard it from Jean. That was when I told her to tell you about him. My copy machine works fine, or at least it used to.”
“Okay, tell me about your friends from the airport?”
“What do they have to do with last night’s fire?” I ask rather curtly.
She crosses her arms over her chest and stares at me with bemused eyes. Nary a sound falls from her pursed lips. It’s as if she is daring me not to answer the question.
“I can’t tell you much, they own a company called SIL and they came down for a weekend of golf. I had not seen them in over fifteen years and one of them did not make the trip back.”
“We checked with the Grand Strand Airport and they show your friends scheduled to leave but there is no record of them arriving at the airport. Since you took them to the airport when they left, did you also pick them up when they came in and if so, where was that?”
“Don’t really know detective, they just sort of appeared at my backdoor.”
Sam looks at me with a smirk on her face, not a smile, and says, “And I have a funny feeling you are not going to elaborate on that, are you?”
I give her the cold shoulder look this time and don’t answer her question. I just shrug my shoulders, arch my eyebrows and stare at her. The interview is quickly becoming a game of interrogation chess.
Sam has a disgusted look on her face. She throws a yellow legal pad and a ballpoint pen on the table. She then proceeds to tell me to write everything down I have just told her and not to leave town without checking with her. Sounds like she got that line from an old movie, I think.
“Is there anything else you want to tell me, Mr. MacCandlish?”
I opt not to tell her about my business deal with SIL until I find out the real reason for my friends visit to the beach.
“No detective, that’s about it.”
Detective Sam Concile doesn’t believe a thing Mickke D has told her except the part about his three ex-wives. The problem is that she has no proof or evidence to prove otherwise. Her gut tells her that Mickke D is probably a decent person but he is hiding the truth. And she wonders what “issues” he had with his ex-wives.
She is the lead detective in the fire at his office and she is working on the plane explosion at the Grand Strand Airport. As far as she is concerned, they are both connected. However, unless someone starts telling her the truth, she has no way of figuring out who the bad guys are. She is sure it is not Mickke D or his golfing friends, although she is still having trouble collecting detailed information on SIL.
Sam orders officers Stratten and Woolever to tail Mickke D for the rest of the day to find out if he is up to anything fishy. She informs them to just find out where he goes, who he talks to and report to her in the morning.
“But be careful or this guy will spot you, he’s ex-Green Beret and he’s probably investigated more crimes than both of you combined.”
“We’ll be fine, Chief,” they both say in unison.
“I told you not to call me Chief, my name is Sam.”
She goes back into her office, shaking her head.
I have followed a few people during my career at Fort Bragg, so I figure out very quickly Sam has put a tail on me. I am beginning to think that she doesn’t trust me or maybe she is a good detective and just doing her job.
I need to find a way to lose the tail. I am on my way to the police station in Murrells Inlet and I don’t want Sam to find out about Rusty McRichards, at least not yet.
The majority of the stoplights along the Grand Strand are very long lights so if I time one correctly I will be able to lose my pursuers at one of these lights. As I approach the intersection of 17 and 22 near the Tanger Outlet Mall and the Myrtle Beach Mall, I notice the cross street traffic is backed up which means the light is getting ready to change. As I approach the intersection, the light turns yellow and then red, but I continue on. This will not be the first time someone has run a red light in Myrtle Beach and surely not the last. The car following me has to stop.
Now if I can just get to the split at Business 17 and Bypass 17 before they catch up, I may be able to lose them. As I near the split, I notice another white Trailblazer in front of me taking Business 17. I follow the Trailblazer but I turn off into the parking lot of the Carolina Opry and Pirates Voyage. I pull beside two vehicles, which will block my pursuer’s view of my SUV. I watch as the unmarked police car continues down Business 17 following the other white Trailblazer.
I wait for about five minutes to be sure they do not turn around and back track. I see no sign of them. I go back out to Business 17 and take an around about way down to Murrells Inlet via 31.
Stratten and Woolever reluctantly call Sam and give her the bad news. “Sorry Chief, I mean sorry Sam, we lost him.”
Sam almost curses but instead she says, “You lost him; you’ve only been gone twenty minutes, how could you lose him already?”
She hangs up and shakes her head again. She thinks to herself, Mickke D, you’re good. Then after looking around to make sure no one is watching, she actually smiles.
Chapter 24: SIL
(Fifteen years earlier)
Back at Fort Bragg, Barry, Bill, and Ted are planning their last vacation before they muster out of the army to start their new company. They are taking a thirty-day leave and are genuinely looking forward to the time away from army life.
They are hitching a ride on a cargo plane from Fort Bragg to Charleston, South Carolina, where they will board a salvage ship on its way to the Bahamas. They will work their way over to the islands. They are not paid but they get free room and board and all the while they are gaining experience in the art of treasure hunting and deep sea exploring.
They have been doing this for the last three years and have loved every minute. Each year they have delved into a different aspect of the salvage business and are keeping daily journals of all they have learned.
This year they plan to work with the divers on an actual wreck on the sea floor. Their ultimate goal is to own their own salvage ship and search for treasure all over the world.
The problem with this lofty goal is the type of ship they would like to own is very expensive and they probably will not make the kind of money they require by just being spooks. Therefore, their vacation will end in Miami, completing plans for the real money-making business end of SIL.
After three weeks at sea and one day on land, they catch a commercial flight out of the Bahamas to Miami. They make several business calls once they arrive.
They also plan to make some time for the ladies while they are in town. None of them has had any type of a relationship while at Fort Bragg because they are afraid someone will slip up and say too much about their future plans. However, in Miami the gloves are off.
They are planning to start two side businesses at SIL. The first is the sale of illegal arms, including but not limited to everything from small arms to Stinger missiles. They will not actually handle any of the physical weapons. They will be the intermediary on the deals, although they will provide transportation, if needed, for a fee.
They will find buyers for the sellers and sellers for the buyers, and of course, both parties in the transaction will pay them well for their part in the deal. There are times when neither party in an arms deal wants to know who the other party is or for the other party to know who they are. That is where SIL co
mes into the deal. If asked, one or both parties’ identity will stay a secret.
The second business they are establishing is the farming and transportation of human organs. This will work the same way, buyers for sellers and sellers for buyers. SIL will get a call from a donor and then it will be their job to find a person or organization looking for that organ. This business is very hush, hush so SIL fits perfectly into the equation.
Chapter 25: Gary and Dean
(Earlier)
Gary Sherman puts in a call to Dean Rutland, “Dean, I read about the death of Trever Byers. Had he written his report for Brazile before his untimely demise?”
“As a matter of fact, he had started on it. His widow gave me the draft and all of his notes at the funeral. I’m just happy the senator was not available to attend the funeral or he may have received it.”
Gary hesitates and then asks, “What was the verdict?”
“It wasn’t good so I edited all of the bad stuff out and did the report over myself before handing it to the senator.”
“Thank you, Dean, I’ll make sure there is a bonus in your envelope next time. Keep me advised.”
Gary is becoming apprehensive and a little bit nervous about Dean. He is the only link between him and the killing of Trever Byers. He is not sure if Dean would ever use any of their phone conversations to blackmail him later. Those phone calls could implicate him in the killing. He has always made his payments to Dean in cash so there is no paper trail but the phone calls are a different matter.
He has no idea who Dean hired to kill Trever Byers and he does not want to know. He also does not want any kind of a trail back to him. He has two choices: One, he can continue to keep Dean on retainer and hope nothing goes wrong. Two, he can have Dean eliminated and hope that Dean has not anticipated this and made plans. He decides to hold off for now and see how things transpire.
The murder of Trever Byers is weighing heavy on the mind of Dean Rutland. He is becoming very concerned about Gary and Barry. Gary doesn’t know Barry and Barry doesn’t know Gary but Barry and Gary both know him. He is the only common link to the killing of Trever Byers. If he should die, they would both be safe from implication in the murder. He is angry, but only with himself. How could he have allowed himself to become a part of cold-blooded murder?
Dean is more afraid of Barry than Gary. He knows Barry’s background. Barry will not hesitate to get rid of him if he thinks there is any chance of him spilling the beans.
Gary is more of a businessperson and not a killer, but he could hire someone to do it for him. Dean needs to purchase an insurance policy and then let Barry and Gary both know that he has one. If they do not know, the policy is no good. He needs to make it very clear to them that he should live to a ripe old age.
Dean elects to write down everything that has transpired between the three of them. He starts with the illegal campaign fund payments to Senator Brazile. He includes the retainer fees to himself and the payments to Barry to have Trever Byers killed. He includes as many dates and times as he can remember.
He rents a box at the local Mailboxes in town, pays in advance with cash for ten years. He then mails the letter with the information to himself. He figures ten years will be a good length of time for his insurance policy. Now the only problem is how he gets the authorities to open the box upon his premature death. He would hope that if he dies, the police would look into all of his safe deposit boxes. In one of them, next to some old jewelry, they will find a key to the mailbox taped to an index card inside an envelope. On the card he writes, I am truly sorry. If he dies accidentally, who cares, the truth will rear its ugly head.
Chapter 26: SIL
Barry and Bill finally have a solid lead. They know the name of the assassin, that he lives in Las Vegas and drives a white Highlander SUV. It’s time for another trip to Sin City. However, this time they hope the outcome will be better.
They are still waiting for the insurance company to settle the claim for the Gulf Stream, which they say they can’t until the police department in North Myrtle Beach files a final report on the accident, which of course has not happened as yet.
Barry has leased a twin-engine turbo prop and is billing the insurance company. So far, they are paying the lease but that won’t last forever. He has his pilot’s license so he lays off Rob Logan, his regular pilot until he gets the new company plane. He will fly them to Vegas to see if they can find Paul Hills.
Before they leave, they check on the Internet for Paul Hills in Las Vegas and low and behold, there are three of them in town. This sounds much too easy and of course, that is what got them into trouble the last time. They underestimated the assassin, which will not happen this time. They pack up weapons, explosives, and whatever else they think may be useful to take with them. However, one thing is for sure, this time they will be more attentive to business.
They land at a small field just outside Vegas, different from the one they used the last time. They rent a car, not a spooky black SUV, use fake names, and cash, and proceed into the city. They check into a medium-priced hotel along The Strip and go out for dinner. They choose to have a nice meal and a full eight hours of sleep before going on the hunt for the assassin.
The following morning, after a huge breakfast, they proceed to check the addresses they found on the Internet. Two of them are single-family homes and neither one of them think Paul would live in a house. He probably is a condo guy. The third address is a condo complex located next to a nice resort. It is an attractive, well-secured building. All of the tenants are using pass cards to get in the front door. This looks and feels like Paul’s type of domain.
They drive around the area several times looking for a white Highlander but come up empty; of course, it could be parked in a garage somewhere. They park in the resort’s over-flow parking lot across the street from the condo complex and begin the tedious job of a stakeout. They see little to no activity. Barry would like to just follow someone into the building, break down Paul’s door and shoot him. Cooler heads prevail and they elect to be patient for at least an hour or so. Bill brought along a Steve Berry novel so he begins reading.
After two hours of forced patience, the mail carrier shows up and Barry opts to take a chance. Bill continues to read.
Barry goes up to the mail carrier and says in a very soft, can you please help me, tone of voice, “I’m trying to locate an old Army buddy of mine, Paul Hills. Does he live in that building?” Pointing toward the address, they had found.
“Yes he does, but he must be out of town because his mail is being held at the Post Office. But you didn’t hear that from me, if you know what I mean.”
“You know, I sort of thought that. I have been trying to call him for days now and no one answers. Thank you very much and I did not hear anything from you.”
As the mail carrier leaves, Barry is thinking. They should fire your sorry ass. You don’t tell a stranger that someone is out of town.
The guys need to go to Plan B, but they are not sure what Plan B is, so they improvise.
Plan B actually turns out to be quite simple.
“Let’s talk to the neighbors and use the Army buddy approach,” Barry suggests.
They put on dark glasses, ball caps and wait for someone to come out of or go into the building.
They elect to take turns questioning the complex dwellers. Bill gets the first shift and as an older man approaches the building, he gets out of the rental car and does his thing.
“Excuse me sir, do you live in this building?”
“Why, yes I do young man. How can I help you?”
“I have an old Army buddy who I think lives in this building, but I have been unable to get him to answer his phone. Do you happen to know Paul Hills?”
“Why, yes I do, seems like a nice man. I’ve talked to him several times. He isn’t around all the time, travels quite a bit, some kind of a sales job I think he said.”
Bill continues, “Do you have any idea where he could
be off to this time?”
“Not really, he doesn’t talk much but when he does, it’s usually about golf. He loves to play golf.”
Bill continues, “Any particular course he prefers to play?”
“Oh, he likes all of the courses around here but I think he once said his favorite course of all times is The Hombre in the Panhandle of Florida along with some courses in Charleston, South Carolina.”
They now have another lead, although still a long shot. Barry opens his laptop and gets on the Internet. The Hombre Golf Course is located in Panama City Beach, Florida. They did bring their clubs along so if this turns out to be a wild goose chase, they can play a little golf while deciding on their next move.
While online, Barry checks on small airports in the Panama City Beach area and finds one which will work for them. They call ahead, make arrangements and proceed to the plane. Barry figures it will take six to seven hours with a good tail wind to get there.
Paul is finally enjoying himself. He is in Panama City Beach. He has played golf every day, laid on the beach, met a few women, played a little poker, and is just enjoying the good life. However, he has not dropped his guard. He is always aware of his surroundings. He is always on the lookout for the unexpected in his line of work, something to do with sales, I think.
He never takes the same route twice and he is always looking in his rear view mirror, whether it’s to the golf course or the grocery store. When he arrives at the golf course, he drives around the parking lot at least three times and is looking for anyone sitting in his or her car for any extended period. He always tries to park his vehicle away from other cars if possible and he has a weapon in his golf bag, just in case. He is almost paranoid when it comes to being careful, that is why he left Myrtle Beach; he felt he was no longer in control.
Murder on the Front Nine Page 10
