The Deadliest Game: An Edward Mendez, P. I. Thriller

by Gerard Denza

  Edward reached for the phone, but stopped himself. It was only 5:00 A.M. What of it? He dialed Mrs. Silverman's number. The phone was picked up on the second ring.

  -Hello?

  -Mrs. Silverman? Edward Mendez. I hope I didn't wake you up.

  -You didn't, Mr. Mendez. I really couldn't sleep. I've been more or less pacing the floor and drinking tea which I don't even like.

  -I'm not a tea drinker either. Mrs. Silverman? Do you know where your daughter is?

  -Haven't a clue, Mr. Mendez. And, I've been thinking about it a great deal. Her only friend was your sister. And, she's dead.

  Edward sat up in bed.

  -Mrs. Silverman, did the two of them exchange letters?

  -Yes and no. Linda wrote letters to your sister when she traveled. Catrina sent only postcards, mostly from Mexico and sometimes from London. It seemed that she never went anywhere else. And, yes, I read the postcards: perfunctory and boring.

  -That sounds like my sister, all right.

  -She filled Linda's head with ideas. I don't mean to sound disrespectful, but there it is.

  -Why didn't Linda travel with her.

  -That's a question that I often asked my daughter. Of course, she would always blame me: her invalid mother. Mr. Mendez, I am no invalid and perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Granted, I have a housekeeper come in twice a week for the heavy cleaning and to do grocery shopping.

  -And, Linda had no other friends?

  -Just that oddball, Rachel; but, they were more acquaintances than friends.

  -Did Linda go out much?

  -Not very often. Always staring out the window like some young girl waiting for her boyfriend to show up. She would go for a walk in the park now and then, but not for very long.

  -Did she ever meet anyone there?

  -I don't think so. She wasn't at all the friendly type. And, I would tell her, Mr. Mendez, to take a trip to Mexico and join your sister. Although, I'll never understand the attraction to that country. Goodness! You can't even drink the water. Dreadful place, in my opinion. I do suspect that Linda might have gone outside to place phone calls to that company, Romo-Ark. She never actually worked for them, you know. She never worked a day in her life.

  -How did she come by that fund of hers?

  -I wish I knew. And, not that I haven't tried to find out. But...well, on Linda's “outings” I did sneak a peek at some of her correspondence and one name kept popping up: a Mr. Richard Aster.

  Yolanda was almost ready to leave. Edward was lighting his second cigarette when the phone rang. The two of them started and stared at the phone.

  -I'd better answer answer it.

  Edward motioned for her to do just that.

  -Hello?

  -Put Edward Mendez on. I know he's there.

  Yolanda recognized the clipped voice with the accusatory tone.

  -Hold on, please.

  She put her hand over the mouthpiece.

  -Edward! It's Linda Silverman. I'm sure of it. How did she get this number? It's not listed in the directory.

  He took the phone.

  -Edward Mendez.

  -This is Linda Silverman. You've been looking for me. I see that I've made the front page of today's New York Times.

  -And, every other newspaper. Miss Silverman? Turn yourself in. Or, if you prefer, I'll come for you.

  -You will both come for me.

  -What do you mean by that?

  Edward didn't like the edge to this woman's voice.

  -You and your ice skater girlfriend.

  -Leave my girlfriend out of this, lady. I mean it.

  -Edward what is she saying? I want to know.

  -Miss Silverman, stop this game playing. It's a pretty deadly game. Now, please, where are you calling from?

  -You and Miss Estravades will meet me at the Myrtle Ave. and Broadway transfer point. It was the route that Mr. Octavio used for his escape.

  -You know that? How?

  -I will be waiting on the train platform near where the conductor operates the doors. The time will be 10 A.M. You have approximately four hours to plan your double-cross.

  -Will you bring the segment with you, Miss Silverman?

  -I will be waiting for you. Don't be late. And, Mr. Mendez? If any attempt is made to apprehend me, I will detonate the piece of stone at that rather busy terminal.

  -Miss Silverman? Hello? She hung up.

  Edward slammed the phone down. He related his instructions to Yolanda.

  -Why is she doing this, Edward? What does she want?

  He thought about it for a second.

  -Her voice sounded more clipped than ever – like some god-damned robot giving a programmed speech.

  -Then, someone must be giving her orders.

  -Sounds like it. I've gotta call Donovan. Man, is he gonna' love this.

  Yolanda canceled her training session and was now sitting with Edward in the Interrogation Room at the 86th St. precinct. Lt. Donovan, Miss Raymond and two other police officers were there as well. The time was 6:45 A.M.

  -Okay, Mendez, was there any background noise that you could hear from where this woman was calling?

  -Some passing traffic, but no voices.

  -I'd like to know who's been helping her 'cause for someone anti-social, she's done all right for herself. Anyway, we're gonna' have squad cars tailing every train on that elevated line, from Myrtle Ave. right down to Marcy Ave. at the Williamsburg Bridge. And, they'll be undercover men on that platform. Don't worry, we'll get her.

  -How about on the train me and Yolanda will be riding?

  Lt. Donovan reached for a cigarette, but his pack was empty.

  -They'll be two men in your car. And...why the hell can't she just turn it in? She hasn't broken any laws for Christ's sake...but she's coming mighty close...mighty close. 'Cause if this dame's got that segment on her, she's endangering innocent people. And, I will throw the god-damned book at her.

  Miss Raymond spoke.

  -Eddie? Yolanda? We'll have you covered every inch of the way. On the train and on the ground. And, by the way, we've come up with a name for these pieces: trigger stones. Not very original, I'm afraid.

  Edward offered the Lieutenant a Lucky Strike.

  -I'd like to know what exactly triggers them off?

  Miss Raymond hazarded a guess.

  -Lieutenant, we're assuming the detonation device..like plastic explosives.

  Edward put his own theory out.

  -Maybe. But, when you think about it, the first trigger stone went off in a subway tunnel underwater. The second one went off descending in an elevator at a pretty high altitude. So, just maybe, it's a change in pressure...atmospheric pressure that sets them off.

  Everyone in the room agreed with his theory.

  Edward continued.

  -I heard on the radio this morning that there's a nor'easter headed for the city – like we need more lousy weather. As a matter of fact, it should hit pretty soon. That would change the atmospheric pressure, especially over water – like a train crossing over a bridge from Brooklyn into Manhattan.

  Lt. Donovan nodded gravely.

  -Then, we've gotta' grab that trigger stone before the train starts over the bridge.

  Twenty-two

  IT WAS 9:00 A.M. when Edward and Yolanda boarded the QJ train at 168th St. in Jamaica, Queens. The train wasn't crowded so the P. I. and his girlfriend got the seats they wanted: seats facing in a horizontal direction...in the direction of the train. The conductor closed the doors and they were on their way to the agreed upon rendezvous point. There were undercover men in the car and Edward thought he spotted two of them: one at each end of the car.

  Yolanda turned to her boyfriend with a worried look on her pretty face.

  -Edward, I just had a terrible thought.

  -Like what, baby?

  He took out a cigarette, but didn't light it.

  -Suppose th
ere's a delay of some kind, like signal problems or a sick passenger? It could happen.

  -Any signal problem is going to have to be ignored. And, as far as a sick passenger? He'll have to be hauled off the train and taken to a token booth clerk. This train can't be stopped for anything.

  The train traveled at an even clip and made the usual stops. More passengers were getting on at each stop than were getting off. Pretty soon there were people standing and holding on to leather straps.

  After half an hour, when they pulled out of Broadway Junction, Edward and Yolanda grew tense. Up until then, they had about twenty stops between them and the current station.

  Edward squeezed Yolanda's hand.

  -Baby, there are too many people on this train. It's going to make it plenty awkward.

  -I was just thinking that. That undercover cop is still over there. He's standing up now. I guess so that we can see him.

  Edward took a glance at the back of the car.

  -The other one's still there, too. Maybe, we should try and get some of these commuters into another car or off the damned train altogether.

  Yolanda grabbed him by the shoulder.

  -Don't do that. It would cause a panic, for sure, and that would probably delay the train.

  -I thought it was past the damned rush hour.

  -Some of these people are holiday shoppers. And, keep your voice down! Look. Only two more stops to go. We're almost there. I think we're a little early.

  -Yolanda, we'd better get near an exit door. It'll open up on the right side of the car.

  -Does she want us to step off the train?

  -I don't know. I don't think so. What worries me is that she's not asking for anything except us. Look. We just pulled into Kosciusko St. One more stop to go. Let's get up and position ourselves by the door. Come on.

  -Edward, it's starting to hail. I can hear the pellets hitting the window.

  The two of them got up and their seats were immediately taken up by two other passengers. They had to push their way past the standing commuters until they made it to one of the the exit doors.

  Edward was tempted to light the cigarette that he'd been holding on to for the better part of an hour now; but, he knew it was against Transit rules.

  -We're pulling into the station, baby. This train's moving too fast, so I can't really make out faces in the crowd. But, we're slowing down, I think. Yes! Baby, she's standing there!

  -Where? Yes. I see her now. That's her just standing there without even a hat on..

  The train came to a stop. A few passengers got off, but even more got on. It was slippery on the wooden platform and commuters had to tread carefully. A few slipped, but no one fell.

  Linda Silverman spotted Edward and Yolanda standing by the open door. Edward was hoping she'd slip so he could get her off guard; but, she held her balance as she got on to the waiting train a door further down but in the same car.

  -Edward, now what?

  -Let's walk over to her.

  The train pulled out of the station. They made their way to Linda Silverman who was standing near an undercover cop.

  -Stop right there, Mr. Mendez.

  A few of the nearby commuters turned to stare.

  -Linda? We're here as you asked.

  -As I demanded.

  -Have it your way, lady. So, now what? What is it that you want? Do you have the segment with you?

  -So many questions.

  -Just answer one, if you would. And, don't play footsy with me.

  -Yes. I have the piece in the lipstick case...so heavy; but, I imagine anything made of lead would be heavy.

  The train pulled into Flushing Ave. There were three more to go before it reached the Williamsburg Bridge.

  -Are you willing to hand it over?

  -Another question, Mr. Mendez? Let me tell you a few things that I think you should know.

  -We're listening.

  -There were two stones given to your father who in turn gave them to his wife to hold for his son. You were an infant when Manuel Mendez died. Your mother hid the stones in a lead lined compartment in the cellar of your house.

  -Tell me what I don't know.

  -Don't interrupt me!

  Yolanda grabbed Edward's arm and whispered to him.

  -Edward, let her talk. Look at her eyes...looks like she's in some kind of trance.

  Linda Silverman continued with her story.

  -Catrina confided all this to me because it was a burden she couldn't bear by herself. I eased that burden for her.

  The train pulled into Lorimer Ave.

  -It was I who persuaded your sister to sell one of the stones for a more than reasonable sum of money. We could keep the second stone for a rainy day, so to speak. I knew of Romo-Ark, Mr. Mendez. I knew they would pay generously for such merchandise. I did my research. Catrina was more than willing to take one...yes...steal it and sell it. We'd be set for life. The idea was entirely mine. Your sister didn't have the imagination to come up with such a daring plan. I did.

  The train pulled into Hewes Ave.

  -Who was your contact at Romo-Ark?

  -That, I will not tell you.

  -Did my mother know about any of this?

  -No. Catrina didn't dare tell her. Your mother would have disowned her for violating your father's trust. But, your sister was greedy. Maybe I was, too. But, then her accident occurred during that séance you held. She wanted more money to heal her scars. She planned on going to Brazil for some kind of operation. A fool's errand that would have been.

  -So, that's why she sold the remaining stone to Octavio.

  -Yes. She was a fool to trust such a man. And, it was he who gave me this “piece” of merchandise.

  -How did she come to know Octavio?

  -Through your father's rather infamous lodge, of course. Octavio had an underling working for him.

  -Linda, what do you want?

  The train pulled into Marcy Ave. When it was ready to pull out it would cross over the Williamsburg Bridge. The pressure in the atmosphere was dropping rapidly.

  -Can't you guess, Mr. Mendez? Perhaps, you can't. I want the remaining pieces that the police took from Octavio in Central Park.

  -How do you know about that? None of those details were in any of the papers.

  -Suffice it to say that I know all the salient details.

  -Are you serious, lady?

  -Yes. I am.

  -Where's your segment?

  -In my purse in the rather tasteless lipstick container your sister gave to me. Don't move toward me or I'll trigger it off.

  -So, you give us a piece in exchange for nearly an entire stone that could level half the planet? That's one rotten deal, lady. What if I don't go for it?

  The woman sitting down behind Linda and next to the undercover cop caught the full impact of that last sentence and screamed.

  -She's got a bomb! Oh, my God! The woman's got a bomb! Run for your life!

  It was enough to set off a panic in the train car. Everyone sitting down got to their feet and the shoving began. People headed to the connecting door at the opposite end of the car to get out.

  The train started to cross the bridge. Edward grabbed a hold of Linda Silverman by the waist. The undercover cop snatched her bag.

  -Here! Take her! Let me have the bag.

  The undercover cop threw Edward the bag and cuffed Linda Silverman.

  Edward opened up the connecting door and straddled the two cars He got ready to toss the bag into the river. Yolanda stood in the open doorway and screamed.

  -Edward, behind you – look out!

  He'd been facing Yolanda and now turned to see a black suited man aiming a gun at him. But, first things first and with one powerful swing, the P. I. tossed the bag into the river below.

  The black suited man cried out.

  -No!

  -Too bad, pal.

  Edward caught the man by the arm just a
s the piece exploded in mid-air. The shock wave hit the train swinging it from side to side. People were tossed to the floor and Edward almost fell between the two cars to his death. He braced his arms on the metal pinions and kicked the black suited man full in the stomach. The man lost his balance and fell into the white radioactive cloud below. Yolanda and the undercover cop pulled Edward back into the car.

  -Edward, are you all right?

  -I think so, baby. That was a close one.

  -Your hands...

  -That's from hanging on by my finger nails. Man! That guy almost pulled me over with him.

  Edward addressed the undercover cop.

  -Hey, guy? Thanks for the assist. We'd better get transit to shut down this line for awhile.

  The train crossed over the bridge and entered the subway tunnel.

  -As soon as we pull into Delancey St., we'll get right on it, Mr. Mendez. But, that radiation....it was kind of hovering over the water like some friggin' cloud of death.

  -It oughta' stay hovering right where it is unless this storm pushed it down into the water. The Coast Guard better stop any river traffic for a while or at least divert it.

  Yolanda, still holding on to him, asked.

  -Edward, is the danger past?

  -For now, baby. We'll have a patrol car pick us up. Lt. Donovan's going to want a briefing.

  -Edward? Look at Linda.

  Linda Silverman was standing stock still in handcuffs. She was staring straight ahead, but her eyes weren't seeing anything.

  And, at the 86th St. precinct on the third floor Interrogation Room...

  -So, one of those goons was on the train with you?

  -I'll say!

  Lt. Donovan opened a fresh pack of cigarettes.

  -Then, there is a definite connection between Romo-Ark and those gray vans.

  -Sure looks like it.

  -So, are all the segments and fragments of segments accounted for? Say yes. Is the city- the world out of danger?

  -My P. I. gut instinct says yes, Lieutenant. We've got three quarters and a few splinters of one stone and Romo-Ark has the other stone.

  -And, Mendez? You look kinda' puzzled about something. Give.