“What did they say?”
“Basically, they said for us to fuck off, mind our own business and that the next time it will be your daughter they take and that you’d never see her alive again.”
There was the sudden sound of an angry car horn. Marc had inadvertently blocked a gas-pump lane. He waved his apology and pulled around the pump to a parking spot in front of the station.
“So, why did they take you?”
“How the hell do I know? To deliver the warning, I guess.”
“How many were there?”
“Two. Both fairly good-sized, white, and like I said, assholes.”
“Did they hurt you?”
She hesitated, rubbing her wrists, “No. Handcuffs were too tight, but nothing other than that.”
“Was the guy we talked to at Apex Irrigation one of them?”
She snuffed back more tears. Marc handed her his handkerchief. She took it, blew her nose and wiped her face, then let out a long exhale. “No. I don’t believe so.”
“Look, Laura, I apologize for getting you involved in this. It was a bad call on my part. I was curious about the alleged accident that occurred there earlier in the week, and, at the time, it felt like portraying us as police officers would work. Obviously, I underestimated them. The good news is no one got hurt.”
“Easy for you to say,” Laura replied, clearing her nose again.
Marc sensed that although Laura was still upset, she had relaxed to the point where she might become reasonable. He put the car into drive and turned toward Rose Hill.
“So, you said there were two of them. Can you remember anything about them?”
“Yeah, they were both assholes.”
Marc’s lips turned up into a small grin. He turned toward his side window in an attempt to hide his amusement.
“It is not funny,” she said.
“Didn’t say it was,” Marc said, attempting to plead his innocence.
They rode in silence for about a mile. “One of them was big, strong as a fucking ox. His hands were like a vise grip. He’s the one that grabbed me, put me in handcuffs and threw me in the car.”
“Did he say anything?”
“No, the other guy did all the talking, what there was of it. They were both big, but the other guy, the driver, warned me that the trick we had played, impersonating police officers, was pretty dumb and that we should be paying attention to Jake’s golf game and stop nosing around.”
“Wonder how they knew who we were, and about Jake?” he said.
“I have no clue. But I assure you, as soon as Jake finishes the tournament tomorrow, we’re getting the fuck out of South Carolina and back to Ontario.”
When they arrived at their hotel, they found Ann Marie asleep. Jake had covered her with a blanket and was sitting on the edge of her bed. When he saw his mother, he went to her and wrapped his arms around her.
“Mom, you okay?”
“I’m fine, but it’s been a long day for all of us, and obviously, tomorrow’s going to be another long one for you.” She glanced at the clock on the bedside table. “It’s already after ten and you need to get some rest.”
“But…” Jake started to protest.
“No buts, Jake. You need to be at your best tomorrow. The only way we can do that is to put today’s events behind us and get you ready for the tournament in the morning.”
“Come on, Jake,” Marc said. “Your mom’s right, you need to conserve your energy and get some rest.”
Jake knelt down next to Ann Marie and gave her a peck on her cheek. “Suppose you’re right,” he said as he straightened up. “See you in the morning.”
Jake left the room, leaving Marc and Laura alone with Ann Marie sleeping soundly. “Guess I should be getting along as well, but before I do, I just want to say that…”
“Save it, Marc. You’ve already apologized and I accept it. I’m too tired to get into why you did what you did. I’m sure you had your reasons, but I think it’s best to save this argument for another time.”
The two held each other’s gaze for a moment, then Marc nodded his assent and left.
When Marc opened the door to his room, Jake was already in bed.
“Marc, is everything alright with you and my mother?”
“Everything’s fine. Why?”
“It’s just, I know how Mom can be, and if we are going to be a family some day, I think it’s important that we get along, that’s all.”
“I appreciate your concern, Jake, and I agree. We just have to get past tomorrow.”
Jake was quiet for a moment, “You have to understand. She can be kind of funny, but her intentions are good. She just has an odd way of expressing them.”
Marc grinned. “So I’ve learned.”
Then they were both quiet. “Look Jake, I’m going to turn the light off and let you get to sleep.”
“Where are you going?” Jake asked, stifling a yawn.
“Downstairs to the bar. I can use a nightcap.
“All right. See you in the morning,” Jake said as he pulled the covers up to his chin.
“Goodnight, Jake,” Marc hit the light switch next to the door.
Chapter Thirteen
Marc quietly shut the door and made his way down the hallway toward the stairs and the hotel’s bar, where he saw that business appeared to be slow. The sound of piped-in jazz filled the room. He slid onto a stool and ordered a bourbon, Woodford Reserve, on the rocks. When it was delivered, he took a slow sip, savoring its smooth oak finish. Reflecting on the events of the past evening he felt the presence of someone sitting next to him. He set the glass down on the bar and looked over. It was Laura.
“You always drink alone, Mr. LaRose?”
“Only when there’s no one with me.”
Marc was puzzled by Laura’s sudden appearance. “Is this a social visit, or do you want to continue to complain about our episode at the irrigation plant?”
Ignoring Marc’s question, she said, “I like my martini dry, with olives.”
“Yeah, I know.” Marc motioned to the bartender and ordered Laura a double martini, dry, with olives, rocks on the side.
“You remembered,” she said.
He glanced at her. “Some things are hard to forget.”
Her drink was delivered. She spooned a few of the ice cubes into her glass. “I’m sorry,” she said, then sipped her drink.
“Not sure exactly what you’re sorry for, but I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.” Marc took a sip of his bourbon, “I accept.”
“I apologize for overreacting. I shouldn’t have said some of those things. I was pissed about the way those men treated me and I took it out on you.”
Marc set his glass on the bar, “I appreciate that, but just so you know, I think you had every right to be upset. I miscalculated and didn’t think they would come back at you and Ann Marie the way they did. That’s on me, and I like I said before, I’m sorry.”
“So, now that we got that out of the way, where do we go from here?” Laura asked.
Marc glanced at his watch, “I suppose we should be going to bed, er, maybe that didn’t sound right, I mean…”
She placed her hand on his arm, “I know exactly what you meant, Marc. You want to do the right thing, the thing that brought us to Aiken. You want to get ready for my son’s tournament tomorrow. Trouble is, those bastards who roughed up your daughter, then threw me in the back of a car and dropped me off in the middle of fucking nowhere are up to something and we both know it. They know who we are and that my son’s competing in the tournament. They fucked with us. I think we need to fuck with them.”
Marc swirled his drink as he thought about what Laura had said. “You know they’re not just a bunch of smalltown goons. What are you proposing?”
“You suspect they may have something going on at the golf course, the Savannah River Golf Links, don’t you?”
“That’s a distinct possibility. But like you said, it’s just a suspici
on. I don’t know for certain, otherwise, I’d alert the authorities.”
“And what is it that’s so suspicious?”
Marc took another swallow as he thought how to answer, “It’s not just a thing, it’s more of a feeling. You have the Apex employee that died, Zach Saylor. He supposedly died from chlorine inhalation. Apex happens to do a lot of work for the Savannah River Golf Links and this is their big week, with the tournament and all the out-of-town patrons attending, not to mention government officials.”
“Government officials? What are you talking about?”
Marc swirled the remains of his drink. “I learned from a source at the club that the U.S. Secretaries of State and Energy as well as a few other government officials will be attending tomorrow’s tournament.”
“First time I’ve heard. Is that supposed to mean something?” Laura asked.
“Not sure, but it’s been my experience that cabinet level officials don’t usually attend a public event unless they intend on making some kind of policy announcement.”
“You were at the golf club caddying for my son. A place that, until recently, you’d never been, and while there you had time to get this information from ‘a source’ at the club?” Laura asked, making air quotes with her fingers.
“Let’s just say that I get around, and I like to ask questions.”
Laura took another swallow while she seemed to digest this new revelation. “So, why do you think the Secretary of State is attending the tournament? I can understand the Energy guy coming, with the Savannah River Site just down the road, but the Secretary of State?”
Marc glanced over at Laura with a surprised look, “Didn’t realize you knew about the Site?”
“You think that because I’m Canadian I don’t read the newspapers? You forget, when the U.S. sneezes, Canada catches a virus.”
“As long as it’s not of the novel corona variety,” Marc quipped. “Look, I don’t know about Canada, but to have these government officials at the tournament tomorrow gives me the creeps,” Marc said.
Laura threw back the remains of her drink. “So, getting back to those two jerks who manhandled your daughter and me, what are we going to do about that?”
Marc hesitated. “I don’t think we should do anything. In the first place, we don’t know who we’re dealing with. They could be just a couple of goons hired to protect the irrigation plant. Like the old saying goes, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. But I didn’t come here to fight a fire, I came here to be with my daughter and watch your son play golf.”
“So you don’t care that Ann Marie may have been scarred by the way those assholes manhandled her?”
“Of course I care. But you have to remember, we’re on their turf. I have an idea what they’re capable of, and if my suspicions are right, they will stop at nothing to carry out what they’ve been hired to do. They’ve warned us and I think it’s prudent to back off, at least for now.”
“So you’re afraid?” She said, almost tauntingly.
“Maybe I am, but not for me, for Ann Marie, and...” Marc let his thought drift off.
“And, who else?” Laura asked.
Marc exhaled. “For your son and you.”
The two remained silent for a full minute.
Marc glanced at the time on his cell. “It’s just nine-thirty. I wonder if Zach Saylor’s widow is still up?”
“Who’s Zach Saylor?” Laura asked.
“He’s the guy that died at the Apex Irrigation Plant. I hate to bother her. It’s only been a couple days since her husband died, but I wonder if she has any thoughts about his death and what’s been going on at the plant.”
“Let me see your phone,” Laura said.
“Why?”
“Maybe I could find a phone number.”
Marc slid his cell across the bar.
Laura fiddled with it for about a minute, “Here it is, Zachary Saylor, Colleton Avenue, Aiken.” Laura pushed a button and held the phone up to her ear.
As Marc was about to protest, Laura held up her hand, “Hello, Mrs. Saylor?” She paused before continuing. “Yes, Mrs. Saylor, my name is Laura McKay. You don’t know me, but my associate and I are familiar with the unfortunate passing of your husband. Please forgive me for calling at such a late hour, but we were wondering if it would be possible to talk to you tonight?”
Laura looked at Marc and gave him a wink.
“No, we’re not selling anything. We’re just in town for a few days and it appears that we’ve come across a few things that seem to be connected to your husband’s previous employer that we’d like to speak to you about. No, unfortunately, it really can’t wait until tomorrow.”
There was another short pause.
“Yes, we understand the inconvenience, but…alright, that would be great. Hold on a second.” Laura made a writing motion with her hand toward the bartender, who gave her his pen.
“Okay, Ms. Saylor, go ahead with that address.”
Laura scribbled the address on a napkin.
“Great. We’re staying at Rose Hill.”
“Five minutes? Okay, see you then,” Laura ended the call.
“Good luck. Seems Mrs. Saylor has got about as much use for the Apex Irrigation Company as we do. Said ‘she’d love to speak with us.’ Here’s her address,” Laura said, sliding the napkin with the address on it toward Mark.
“According to Mrs. Saylor, it’s about a five-minute drive from here.”
Marc stood, finished his drink and glanced at his watch, “Guess we shouldn’t keep the lady waiting.”
Using Laura’s cell phone, they quickly located the Saylor residence. A light was on above the expansive porch that curled around the side of the house leading to a three-car garage. After parking the SUV, the pair climbed the three wooden steps to the front door and as Marc was about to knock, it was opened by an attractive woman about the same age as Marc.
“Hello, Ms. Saylor? He asked.
“Yes, yes, come in, quickly, please,” she said, holding the door open. Before closing it, she glanced up and down the street.
Marc could see she was nervous about something. “Ms. Saylor, my name is Marc LaRose and this is Laura McKay who spoke to you on the phone. I apologize for calling on you at such a late hour, and please, accept our condolences for your loss.”
“It’s Eleanor, and thank you. As I mentioned on the phone,” she glanced at Laura,
“I haven’t slept much since the, uh, accident at the plant, but if there is any way I can help, I’ll be happy to do what I can.”
“Thanks, we appreciate that.”
“Can I get you anything? Coffee, something a bit stronger perhaps?” Eleanor asked.
Marc noticed an open bottle of brandy and an empty glass on a stand next to an overstuffed chair.
Marc and Laura exchanged glances. “That brandy looks good,” Marc replied.
Eleanor Saylor led Marc and Laura away from the main entrance to the dining room. Eleanor moved the chairs so they could sit close around the massive oak table, then, retrieved two glasses from a nearby hutch and the bottle of brandy. She poured them each a drink.
“How long had your husband been working for Apex?” Marc asked.
Eleanor hesitated, “Let me think. He worked there before we married. Actually, I am, was, Zach’s second wife. He started there as a landscape designer, then made his way up to the head of the design staff. That’s where he met his first wife, but the marriage didn’t last. Zach didn’t talk about her much, but I learned she had been running around on him.”
“Uh huh. Had he said anything about his work lately? Did he enjoy working at Apex?”
“He did, until about a year or so ago when the company was bought out. The new owners wanted him to do different things. Zach wouldn’t say much about it, something about changing his design models. I know he wasn’t happy about what they wanted him to do.”
“Design models?” Marc asked.
“Zach designed irrigation systems for
residential and commercial clients, and his team was well equipped to do that. Just after the takeover, however, when Apex was bought out, he was tasked with re-designing the job at the Savannah River golf course. He told me that what Savannah River wanted and what the new management at Apex told him to do were two different things.”
“Why would the owners at Apex do something that the golf course didn’t ask for? Besides, I would think that to get the job, the people at the golf course would have to approve the plans.”
“Mr. LaRose, I assume you’ve heard the term, bait and switch?” Eleanor asked.
Marc glanced toward Laura. “You saying the people at Apex promised the Savannah River Golf Links one thing, but delivered something else?”
“That’s pretty much it. And when Zach discovered this, he brought it to the attention of the new owners.”
“What did they say?”
‘“Oh, at first they came up with some excuse, ‘that there must be some kind of mistake,’ blah, blah, blah. That’s when Zach told them, as diplomatically as he could, that someone, preferably himself, had to advise Savannah River of the error.”’
“So, what did they say to that?” Mark asked.
“Simply that they would handle that end of it…that Zach had more important things to take care of and shouldn’t concern himself with this detail. Trouble was, Zach knew what they had done was no small item. Besides substituting lesser grade materials, they had retrofitted parts of the system so it could be controlled directly from the Apex office, right here in Aiken.”
Marc thought about what Eleanor had just told him. “I wonder why Apex felt they needed to control the irrigation at the golf course? You would think that the golf course superintendent would be in charge of that.”
“That’s what Zach said, and when he asked management about it, he was told that the main controls were still located at the golf course and that the controls at Apex were simply a back-up system that was an option they were providing the course. Naturally, Zach had never heard of such an arrangement and decided to go to the company’s new owner, Sajak Akhtar, and ask him. Mr. Akhtar, who is a recent immigrant from Iran, told him that he shouldn’t concern himself with the Savannah River project, that it was completed and he should move on. That was six months ago.
Masters of Terror: A Marc LaRose Mystery Page 11