[Lady Justice 39] - Lady Justice and the Raven

by Robert Thornhill

  He thought for a minute. “How about this? Remember when we pretended to be from the gas company and that got us into the house of those meth dealers? I could borrow my friend’s truck and a couple of pairs of gas company coveralls. We could be checking for a gas leak.”

  Maggie shook her head. “Won’t fly. First of all, there’s no gas lines in the middle of the park, and even if there were, they wouldn’t send two guys in their mid-seventies to dig it up.”

  Kevin shrugged. “Well, there is that.”

  An idea popped into my head. “Remember when we went looking for the gold coins in St. Clair County?”

  Kevin nodded.

  “You brought a fancy metal detector.”

  He snapped his fingers. “Yeah, the Garrett Infinium.”

  “Do you think you could borrow in from your buddy again?”

  “I don’t see why not.”

  “Then how about this. We take the metal detector to the park during the day. I’m sure there have been lots of other people with detectors out there hunting for coins or lost rings. We locate the spot, mark it, then go back after dark and dig it up. What do you think?”

  Kevin shrugged. “Works for me.”

  “Maggie?”

  She rolled her eyes again. “I’ll make sure Ox is available in case you get thrown in the pokey.”

  The next morning, metal detector in hand, we headed to Loose Park.

  When we pulled into the parking lot, we were surprised to see so many cars already there. People dressed in shorts and headbands were jogging on the trail that circled the park. Dogs were pulling at their leashes trying to get to the squirrels that played around the trees. Several kids were throwing Frisbees, and an old guy was sitting on the edge of the lake with a fishing pole. I wondered if he knew I had blown up all the fish just a few years ago.

  “Maggie was right,” Kevin observed. “Two old guys digging up the park would probably be noticed.”

  We arrived at the rose garden, I realized we had a problem. The garden itself was huge.

  “The map said the money was buried two hundred paces from the rose garden, but it didn’t say from what part of the garden. That will make a huge difference.”

  “And that’s not all,” Kevin added. “Two hundred paces. How big is a pace? Will our pace be the same as his pace?”

  “I was thinking of something else last night,” I said. “If the money is even still there, it has been in the ground forty-six years. Old Carl wasn’t planning to leave it there forever. If he buried it in a sack or even some kind of satchel, it could have deteriorated over the years. There may be nothing left but a pile of mush.”

  “We didn’t really think this through, did we?”

  “You wanna quit?”

  He grinned. “Hell no! Let’s pick a spot about the middle of the garden and head south.”

  We found a spot and Kevin turned on the metal detector. “You count,” he said.

  “You also realize,” I replied, “that if Carl buried the loot in anything but metal, that thousand-dollar gizmo won’t be worth a damn.”

  “You’re a real party pooper. Start counting.”

  We had gone about seventy-five steps when we approached a young couple who had been tossing a Frisbee. Now they were on their hands and knees frantically scouring the ground.

  “Lose something?” I asked.

  “We sure did,” the man replied. “Nancy’s wedding ring. We were tossing the Frisbee and her ring slipped off. It has to be here somewhere.”

  “Let me give it a shot,” Kevin said.

  He set up a search grid and began systematically sweeping the ground. Ten minutes later, he stopped. “Got something.” He reached down and picked up the ring. “Here you go.”

  Nancy was beside herself. “Oh, thank you! I would have been heart broken if I’d lost it.”

  “Glad to help,” Kevin said, obviously pleased with himself.

  He turned to me. “Okay, where were we? How many steps?”

  I gave him a blank look. “I don’t remember.”

  We trudged back to the rose garden and started over.

  As we approached a hundred and fifty feet, I stopped and pulled out the map. “See those squiggles. I think those are supposed to be trees.” Then I pointed up ahead. “The line from the rose garden to the X seems to lead to those trees. If we had started twenty feet to the east, we would be right at the trees. What do you think?”

  “I think you might be right. Let’s go twenty feet east and keep counting.”

  By the time we reached two hundred paces, we had found nothing.

  “It could be anywhere,” Kevin said. “Fifty feet in any direction.”

  “Okay,” I said. “I’ll stand right here and you start circling out from this spot. Maybe we’ll get lucky.”

  Kevin started an outward spiral and after he’d gone about twenty feet, his face lit up. “I’ve got something! It’s a strong signal. Really strong!”

  I rushed to his side. “Do you think this could be it?”

  “Won’t know until we dig, but yes, I think we might have found it.”

  I pulled out a can of white spray paint. “Right about here?”

  He nodded.

  I sprayed a big X where he was pointing.

  I looked around, and nobody seemed to be paying any attention to us.

  “Until tonight!” he said.

  “Until tonight!” I replied, giving my partner a high five.

  CHAPTER 11

  We had planned to hit the park around eleven, so Kevin came to our apartment about nine to make preparations.

  We both dressed in black pants and black hooded sweatshirts and liberally coated our faces with grease paint. Stealth was the name of the game.

  “How do we look?” I asked Maggie when we were finished dressing.

  “Like a couple of morons,” she replied. “What if you get caught?”

  “No guts, no glory,” Kevin replied.

  “We’ll be careful,” I said, giving Maggie a hug. “If there’s anyone around, we’ll abort and try again another night.”

  “For heaven’s sake be careful. I don’t want to lose my husband and my brother on the same night.”

  Kevin looked at his watch. “Ten thirty. Time to make like a cow pie and hit the trail.”

  Maggie just shook her head. “You two are impossible.”

  We headed out the door of my apartment and had just started down the steps from the second-floor landing, when we heard. “Okay, assholes! Hold it right there!”

  We looked back up the steps and saw Bernice drawing a bead on us with her .32.

  For several years now, Bernice has packed her pistol in a little ankle holster. Dad teases her and tells her to be sure and wear her Depends so the pistol won’t get rusty.

  “Don’t move a muscle or I’ll blow you both to kingdom come! Come out here, John. I’ve got ‘em covered.”

  “Bernice!” I said, holding up my hands. “It’s me, Walt --- and Kevin. Don’t shoot!”

  Dad appeared and they both gave us a closer look. “Walt! What the hell? Why are you dressed like that?”

  “We’re on a case, Dad. Tell Bernice to put that thing down before one of us gets hurt.”

  Dad put his hand on Bernice’s arm. “It’s okay, Sweetie.” Then he turned to us. “You should warn us next time. Bernice has an itchy trigger finger. Now get out of here before she accidently puts a hole in you!”

  “Geesh!” Kevin said as we bounded down the steps. “Better not tell your wife we almost got blown away before we got out of the building.”

  We just made it to the front sidewalk when we saw Jerry getting out of his car.

  “Oh, crap!” I muttered. “This is amateur night at the Comedy Club. Jerry’s just getting home.”

  “Swell!” Kevin replied.

  Jerry about dropped a load when he spotted us.

  I held up my hands before he could scream. “Jerry, It’s me, Walt --- and Kevin.”

 
His mouth dropped open. “Holy cow! You two look like a couple of geriatric ninjas.”

  I saw him pause and I knew what was coming.

  “Do you know why no one can hear a ninja fart? Because they’re silent and deadly. Seriously, what are you guys doing dressed up like that?”

  “We’re on a case.”

  “Really? That is so cool. Is it dangerous?”

  “Not really,” I replied. “We just don’t want to be seen.”

  I saw the wheels turning in his head. “Any chance I could go with you? I’ve always wanted to tag along on one of your gigs. I’ll be really quiet.”

  I was going to let him down easy, but Kevin jumped right in. “No way, Jose!”

  “Aww, please! Just this once. I’ve got skills.”

  “Oh, please,” Kevin replied, sarcastically, “do tell.”

  “Well I --- ,” he stammered, “I ---.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”

  “I’m really sorry, Jerry,” I said, hoping to smooth things out. “Tonight’s not a good night. We have to get in and get out quickly without being seen. I’m sure you understand.”

  He shrugged. “Yeah, I guess.”

  “Good!” Kevin said, then tugged on my sweatshirt. “We gotta get going.”

  We left Jerry standing forlornly on the sidewalk.

  As we were getting in the car, Kevin asked, “How do you stand living with all those nut cases?”

  “They grow on you,” I replied.

  “Yeah, so does athlete’s foot.”

  As Jerry watched Walt and Kevin get in their car, his disappointment turned to indignation.

  “It’s just not fair,” he muttered. “They get to have all the fun and excitement.”

  Then he pumped his fist. “They’re not leaving me behind tonight. No Sir! I’ll show ‘em. They won’t even know I was there!”

  He climbed in his car and followed Kevin’s tail lights.

  When we reached the park, we patrolled the perimeter streets several times just to make sure no one was around. The last thing we wanted was a couple of lovers who were using the park for some hanky-panky to see us digging a hole.

  Seeing no one, we parked and unpacked our gear. Kevin had brought shovels, a trowel, and a canvas bag in case we needed something to haul our treasure back to the car.

  We also brought flashlights, but the moon was bright enough we could find our way without them. In the distance, we could see the dark outline of the trees where I had painted an X on the ground.

  I swung the shovel over my shoulder. “Hi ho, hi ho. It’s off to work we go. That’s from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

  “Which two dwarfs would we be?” Kevin asked.

  “Maggie would probably say Goofy and Daffy.”

  “I don’t think those were dwarfs, but if the shoe fits.”

  When we reached the trees, I turned on the flashlight just long enough to locate the X I had painted.

  “Well,” Kevin said, digging the first shovel full of dirt, “here goes nothin’.”

  We carefully removed the first layer of sod and set it aside to be placed back on top when we’d refilled the hole. Hopefully, no one would even notice that we’d been there.

  We dug for about twenty minutes and had a hole three feet in diameter and two feet deep when my shovel hit something solid.

  “Sounds like we hit pay dirt,” Kevin said, getting down on his hands and knees.

  Using the trowel, he removed the dirt from around the object.

  “There’s a handle on top,” he said, grunting.

  A few grunts later, he pulled our prize from the depths of the hole. It was an old ammunition box.

  “Pretty clever of old Carl,” Kevin said. “Ammo boxes are watertight and practically indestructible.”

  We opened the box and there it was --- the money Carl Unger had stolen from the Plaza Bank & Trust.

  “Holy Moly!” Kevin said. “It’s really here!”

  “Indeed it is,” said a voice behind us. “I want to thank you both for a job well done.”

  We turned toward the voice and found ourselves looking down the barrel of a .45.

  I was stunned. We were certain that no one was in the park, and we’d seen no car lights since we left the parking lot. “Who are you and how did you know we were here?”

  “Well, I suppose introductions are in order, Mr. Williams. My name is Henry. Henry Baskerville.” He pointed to Kevin. “And this must be your partner, Mr. McBride.”

  “Do you know this guy?” Kevin asked.

  “I don’t know him, but I know of him. If I remember correctly, you worked for Roderick and Madeline Unger.”

  He sighed. “Ahh, yes, that I did --- until he let me go. For twelve years I cut his lawn, trimmed his shrubs, fixed his leaky faucets, and cleaned his toilet. Then one day, he just says ‘Thanks, I won’t be needing you anymore.’ Just like that. TWELVE YEARS!”

  “That must have hurt,” I said, hoping to sound sympathetic. “But how did you know about the money?”

  “One day when I was in the house cleaning, I heard Roderick and Madeline talking about Carl and the money he stole. I heard them planning to give Carl’s map to their son, Jacob. I watched and saw them put the map and a letter into an envelope.

  “I knew that both of them were not long for this world, so I decided to just bide my time, and when they were dead, I’d get the map for myself. Then the fool fired me.

  “I figured my plan would still work. I just live down the road from them a mile or so. I’d watch and when I knew they were both dead, I’d get the map.

  “Then you showed up. I couldn’t imagine why, so I followed you, did some research, and found out you are a private investigator. I put two and two together. Old Roderick was so sickly, there was no way he could leave the house and search for his son. I figured he hired you to do it for him. Turns out I was right.”

  Henry had the details wrong, but ended up with the right answer.

  “So what now?” I asked. “Are you wanting to split the money?”

  He laughed. “Split! Hell no! Why should I split anything? In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m the one holding the gun. No, you boys go right ahead and fill up the hole, then we’ll see what happens next.”

  “Surely you’re not planning to shoot us right here in the park,” Kevin said. “That cannon you’re holding doesn’t have a silencer. Two shots and the whole neighborhood will be wide awake and calling 911. Remember, the Plaza is just over the hill. Cops would be swarming the place before you could get the money back to your car.”

  Kevin was trying to buy us some time.

  Henry looked at the .45. “Hadn’t thought of that. I guess that means we’ll be taking a little ride. Now get shoveling!”

  When the hole was refilled, he pointed to Kevin. “You bring the tools.” Then to me. “You bring the ammo box. You try anything funny and I’ll shoot you both. I don’t care who hears.”

  Back in the parking lot, Henry produced plastic ties, bound our hands, and ordered us into his car.

  I had no doubts that Henry intended to kill us once we were in some secluded location.

  Jerry had followed Walt and Kevin to Loose Park just south of the Country Club Plaza. He watched as they circled the park, then pulled into the lot by the rose garden. He parked on the street and hid until they unloaded their car and headed across the park.

  The moon was bright enough to see them in the distance. They headed for a stand of trees and stopped. I’ll come into the trees from the other side, he thought. They won’t even know I’m there.

  Walt and Kevin were so busy digging, they didn’t hear or see him crouch behind a huge oak.

  He watched, enthralled, as his friends pulled an ammo can full of money from the hole. His excitement turned to fear when he saw another man approach them with a gun. His whole body shook as heard the words exchanged between the three men. Walt and Kevin were in trouble!

  As the three headed back to the park
ing lot, Jerry ran to his car, found his cell phone and dialed. “Maggie! This is Jerry. A man with a gun has taken Walt and Kevin!”

  “Jerry, slow down. How do you even know that?”

  “I asked if I could go with them. They said no, so I followed them. They dug up some money, and a man came with a gun. He’s taking them somewhere. What should I do?”

  “Listen very carefully,” Maggie replied. “You follow them and don’t lose them. I’m going to call Ox and give him your number. When he calls, tell him where the man has taken them. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, I understand.”

  “Jerry, this is very important. If you lose them, we may never see them again.”

  “I won’t let you down.”

  Baskerville said he lived close to the Unger’s, so I wasn’t surprised when he turned into a driveway just past the Unger house.

  As soon as he pulled to a stop, a huge blood hound with floppy ears and droopy jowls trotted up to the car. He sat on his haunches, raised his head and howled. “Owwwww! Owwww!”

  Baskerville patted the big dog on the head, then ordered us out of the car. The minute I stepped out, the dog, jowls dripping with slobber, sauntered up, stuck his nose in my crotch and rooted around, leaving a big blob of slime on my fly.

  “Get back, Rufus,” Baskerville ordered, and the dog slunk away.

  Kevin took a look at the goo on my fly. “I hope when they find our bodies, they won’t think you’re some kind of pervert.”

  “Instead of cracking jokes,” I replied, indignantly, “shouldn’t you be thinking of a way out of this mess?”

  “I have been,” he replied, “but I got nothing. How about you?”

  “Nope.”

  At that moment, Baskerville approached with a coil of rope. “Back up to that tree,” he ordered. “I have to stow away that ammo box, then I’ll be back to take care of you two.”

  After binding us to the tree, he called the dog. “Keep an eye on them, Rufus. If they move a muscle, bite ‘em!”

  The dog laid down with his head resting on his paws and looked at us through his droopy eyelids. In spite of his size, I didn’t figure he was much of a threat.