A Price for Balancing the Scales

by W Earl Daniels

  After fifteen minutes of riding, Walker said, “Excuse me, sir, but I will be getting off at the next stop.”

  Smiling, Cedric replied, “What a coincidence. That’s also my stop.” Walker smiled back at Cedric. For some unknown reason, Walker felt secure sitting next to this man. She thought, I hope he’ll be walking in the same direction as my apartment so that I can walk beside him.

  When the bus stopped, Cedric stood and backed up to permit Walker to exit and to put more people between her and Redhead.

  After exiting the bus, Walker crossed in front of it to reach the same side of the street as her apartment. The man with the cane was right beside her as she crossed the street. Once on the opposite side of the street, she turned right and started in the direction of her apartment. To her surprise, the man with the cane turned the same way.

  Walker said to Cedric, “I’ve never seen you before. Do you live this way?”

  “Oh no,” replied Cedric. “I’m visiting with some friends who have an apartment nearby.” With a smile, Cedric continued. “This is the first day I have had the courage to venture out. I rode down to a coffee shop just beyond where I boarded. My friends are working, so I decided to familiarize myself with the bus system while searching for a place to have a coffee.”

  “I think I know the coffee shop where you visited. It’s just beyond the place where I work. Is this your first trip to Germany?”

  “No. Several years ago I was in the army and was stationed in Heidelberg. This is the first time I have visited Frankfurt since I was stationed there. Things have really changed from what I remember.”

  As they talked, Cedric kept his eye on Redhead through his peripheral vision; the man was keeping a distance of about thirty feet behind them.

  Cedric was enjoying his conversation with Walker when she suddenly stopped. “It has really been nice talking to you. Here is my apartment. I hope you enjoy your visit with your friends.”

  Cedric said, “Thank you. I have also enjoyed our short visit. I may see you again on one of my next ventures from my friend’s apartment.” Cedric then extended his hand.

  Walker shook it. “I hope so. Goodbye for now.”

  Cedric walked to the next intersection and crossed to the opposite side of the street in front of Walker’s apartment. Once on the other side, he called Huck.

  Huck answered after a couple of rings. “Cedric, I gather that you’re calling to let me know all is well.”

  “Yes, she is safely in her apartment. I’m going to catch the bus back to Walker’s office. I left the car there. Once I retrieve it, I will return here to take up surveillance on Redhead. He was easy to spot as he followed Walker to her apartment. He’s coming in my direction now, so I will talk to you later.”

  “OK, and be careful. By the way, both Berger and a police officer are currently questioning Scar Face. Everything is being recorded. Later.”

  As Cedric put his cell phone in his pocket, Redhead walked past him, moving in the direction of a sidewalk bench that was across from Walker’s apartment.

  Cedric thought, I hope you will be there when I return. We just might have to get to know each other a little better.

  Within the hour, Cedric had secured the BMW and returned to a parking place that was four spaces from where Redhead was sitting on the bench. He seemed to pay no attention as Cedric parked. Cedric sat in the car, watching as the day began to turn to night and the streetlights began to provide some illumination.

  At 10:30 p.m., the only person on the street was Redhead, who was still seated on the sidewalk bench watching Walker’s apartment. It was now time for Cedric to test some of his old skills. He got out of the BMW and put on his leather coat. Grabbing his cane from the car, Cedric closed the door and moved in Redhead’s direction.

  When Redhead saw the man approaching, wearing a dark leather three-quarter-length coat, he immediately figured him for a German police officer and realized that he’d best have a reason for being there and to let him know that he was in the process of leaving. As he stood up, he realized that there was something familiar about the man. It was the limp and the cane. He appeared to be the same man who he had seen earlier in the evening with Walker.

  Concluding that the man with the cane was not a police officer, Redhead said, “Anything I can do for you?” By now the man was only a few feet away.

  Cedric replied, “Not for me but maybe for the man coming from that direction.” Cedric pointed his cane behind the man.

  Redhead’s mistake was turning around to look in the direction Cedric was pointing. As he did so, Cedric slid his right hand to the toe of the cane. With the swiftness of a striking snake, Cedric hooked his cane behind Redhead’s left ankle and hit him hard in the chest with his left hand while snatching the cane up and back.

  The movement was so swift that Redhead lost his balance and fell hard to the sidewalk on his back. Although momentarily stunned, Redhead rolled over onto his stomach and started to push himself up with his right hand. Again he felt the same hook that had grabbed his ankle take hold of his right wrist and snatch it up, causing him to fall again to his stomach. This was followed by what felt like a sledgehammer hitting him in the back between his shoulder blades.

  Cedric had left the ground, with his 180 pounds shifted to his right knee, which he drove into Redhead’s back. The impact was so great that the man started to gasp for breath as his arms spread out in the style of a flying eagle. Cedric grabbed Redhead’s left wrist and pulled it behind his back. At the same time, Cedric retrieved from his coat pocket the handcuffs he had gotten from Huck. With the swiftness of a man who has had some practice, he quickly secured one link around Redhead’s wrist.

  No sooner was the man’s left wrist was cuffed and pulled behind his back than he felt his right wrist wrenched in the same position and a metal bracelet latched into place. Redhead was now totally confused. He thought, I must have wrongly assumed that my attacker is not a police officer. He has been so quick and proficient in subduing me.

  Cedric pulled Redhead to his feet. “If you will come with me nicely, I will try not to hurt you.” He steered the man in the direction of the BMW. When they reached the car, Cedric spun him around, unbuckled the man’s belt, and shoved him into the back seat of the car. He then put the belt around the man’s feet and, after pulling it as tight as possible, tied it to a bar underneath the front passenger seat. Retrieving from the floor of the car the hood Huck had used on Scar Face, he pulled it over the man’s head. It was then, Redhead knew for certain that the man who had taken him was not associated with the police.

  When Redhead was secured in the car, Cedric said, “In your best interests and for now, all you say can be used painfully against you. However, that will all change when we reach our destination because then all you don’t say will be used painfully against you. You need to understand that I am not the police and therefore I am not bound by any legal politeness. My best advice is for you not to utter one word before we reach our destination; otherwise, I will have no choice but to stop the car and shut your mouth. If you understand my instructions, nod your head in the affirmative.”

  Redhead did as he was told. Cedric closed the rear door and got behind the steering wheel. Soon he was racing to the building that had been the office location of Empire Enterprises. As he did so, he called Huck.

  “Have the lawyer and the police officer left?” asked Cedric.

  “Yes,” said Huck. “The policeman took Scar Face with him.”

  “Good, because I am delivering another package to you.”

  Chapter 33

  According to the weather forecast, it was suppose to be a beautiful sunny day on Catalina Island. At eight o’clock the temperature was already approaching eighty degrees, and if the meteorologist was correct, it would reach ninety-five before the day was over. Of course, the beach lovers could expect to feel temperatures in excess
of one hundred. Thus, many of the sun worshipers had already started staking their small sand claims around 7:00 a.m.

  Those who glimpsed the majestic mansion that overlooked the beach may have concluded that there was a small coal-burning freight train making circles on the mansion’s patio. The source was the chain-smoking Harris, who lit her next cigarette from the one she had in her mouth. She had been pacing in the same circle since about six o’clock.

  Harris wondered why the Parisian hadn’t called. She had told him to call only when the mission was complete, but considering the length of time, he should have contacted her by now with an update. Surely she hadn’t sent two fools to make things even worse? As she pondered whether she should call him, she wondered if there had been a mess up and he’d been caught. Would he talk? She needed to know what was happening.

  Harris lit another cigarette. She puffed and paced as worst-case scenarios ran through her mind. She could not think of anything that could tie her to the events in Frankfurt. However, there could be sufficient evidence to tie Mr. S. to potential involvement. Never before had one of her aliases been linked to any of her other for-hire activities. She needed information to plan her next strategy. And she needed the information now because things were not going to get better with time.

  Huck was waiting when Cedric pulled the BMW next to the curb in front of the office building that previously housed Empire Enterprises.

  Cedric rolled out of the car, grabbing his cane as he did so. “Don’t say one word! The opportunity presented itself and I took advantage of it. Besides, we already knew only Redhead was left.”

  “I’m not saying anything, but had he whipped your butt on that pubic street, you would have felt like, ‘Huck told me not to do it.’ Let’s get him in the office before anyone sees us.”

  Huck opened the back door of the BMW and seized the man by the back of his neck, pulling him from the car. As he did so, he heard something metallic hit the pavement. Looking down, he saw a weapon that he did not recognize. Picking it up, he discovered that he was holding a 9mm Cabot S103. Although considered to be an Irish weapon, it was actually manufactured in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Looking over at Cedric, he said, “You’re not going to believe this one. Read the writing along the barrel.”

  Cedric took the gun from Huck and read. “‘Forty-fifth president of the USA.’ What the heck?”

  “It’s one of those collector items. It’s called the Trump 45. I just may claim this one.”

  “Enough gun talk. Let’s remove the hood and get him inside.”

  Huck and Cedric soon had Redhead handcuffed to the bed in a manner similar to how they’d placed Scar Face. Before doing so, they removed all he had in his pockets and gave him a thorough pat down. He also had a cell phone and a hotel key, with the name of the hotel written on it.

  Before dropping the cell phone and hotel key into his own pocket, Huck checked the numbers listed in the phone directory. There was only one and it was labeled F.

  Looking at the Irishman sitting on the bed with his hands cuffed in a spread-eagle manner, Huck asked, “Is the F for the Frenchman?”

  Redhead made no comment.

  “Well, let’s see,” said Huck as he dialed the number.

  The phone on a nearby table began to ring.

  Redhead looked in that direction.

  Huck grabbed Redhead by the chin and looked into his eyes. “Does that tell you anything? We have the Frenchman, and he proved very talkative once he learned that we’re not police and that we don’t interrogate in their manner. We get to the truth faster because it’s more painful. We know you were the triggerman for the assassination of the member of the Bundeskabinett.”

  “That’s a lie!” were the first words out of the Irishman’s mouth.

  Cedric responded, “He does talk. He might want to share with us his version of the assassination of the representative. I suspect it might differ from what we have already been told.”

  “I want a lawyer. Even in Germany, one is entitled to a lawyer.”

  “What is it that you do not understand about our not being German law enforcement? We are Americans who are here to prove that you and not Number Four killed the representative. Number One, the Frenchman, named you as the triggerman. He is currently in a secure place waiting to testify against you. So unless you want to go away for a very long time, you might want to calm down and give us your version of events. Short of that, I will ask this gentleman with the cane to give you a few painful reasons why you might want to start telling us your story.”

  As Huck stepped away from the man, Cedric came forward with a menacing look on his face. “I think I may enjoy this more than the Frenchman. Some say that redheads are tougher than the average Frenchman. I’m anxious to find out if that’s true.”

  “Wait! Wait! I’ll tell you what I know, and I can prove that I’m not the man who killed the representative. I never knew the target; I don’t believe any of us knew.”

  “Why don’t you start when you entered into a contract with Mr. S. to make a hit on someone in Frankfurt,” Huck said as he released Redhead’s left hand to make him more comfortable.

  Redhead’s eyes widened when he heard the name Mr. S. It was now evident to him that these two men knew more than he initially thought.

  Redhead began. “I was called by Mr. S. to help with a Frankfurt situation. It was the second time I had worked for him. I knew none of the others on the team. It is for that reason that I was surprised when the Frenchman called me to help him tie up a loose end. As I said, I have never worked with any of the same team members before.”

  “Don’t jump ahead; stick with your role in the Frankfurt event,” interjected Huck.

  “I was told to meet here at Empire Enterprises. After the orientation by Mr. S., I was given my assignment. It was to provide surveillance to a resident. I was to document times and dates as well as who went into or out of the house. I also had to precisely locate every entry and exit point to the house. It was while doing that that I noted the upper door on the side patio was always ajar. I could tell because the wind caused the curtains to ruffle inside the house.”

  “What did you do with your documentation?” asked Cedric.

  “I gave it to Mr. S. I was pretty sure I was not going to be the shooter when he only sent me to the firing range once a week.”

  “Did you see any of the other team members at the shooting range?”

  “No.”

  “Tell us who you saw entering and leaving the house,” said Huck.

  “A very attractive middle-aged woman lived there. She left for work between one and two p.m. every day except Sunday. Monday through Thursday she normally returned by ten p.m. and around midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.”

  “Do you know where she worked?” asked Cedric.

  “Yea, she worked at the QCL—Quite Cozy Lounge—in the nightclub section of Frankfurt.”

  “Who else visited the house?” asked Huck.

  “The maid came every Wednesday and an older gentleman arrived around seven p.m. on Fridays and remained there until around six a.m. on Mondays.”

  “How long did you provide surveillance on the dwelling?” asked Huck.

  “About two weeks, the best I recall. On a Wednesday, I was told to provide my last report to Mr. S. and to return on Thursday for my final instructions. It was then I was paid and told my services were no longer needed.”

  “So how can you prove that you were not the triggerman?”

  “I checked out of my guesthouse around ten o’clock on Friday morning. Sometime around noon, I caught a direct flight to Dublin, Ireland. I’m sure my picture is recorded on the airport cameras.”

  “Final question,” said Huck. “Do you know who killed the representative?”

  “I do not. As far as I know it was the American, but then it could have been the Frenchman or anyone e
lse on our team. We did not see or communicate with one another. That was one of Mr. S.’s rules.”

  Huck turned to Cedric. “Step outside with me.”

  Once outside the room in which Redhead was handcuffed, Huck said, “I’m going to call Berger and have him to return with the policeman to transcribe what we have been told. You take the Trump 45 and the key and see what you can find at the hotel where Redhead and Scar Face were staying. I’ll secure their cell phones and hold on to Scar Face’s gun. Before this thing is ended, we may need a weapon. Besides, there are some things the police do not need to know for now. After Redhead is in police custody, I’ll meet you back at our hotel.”

  Returning to the room where Redhead awaited his fate, Cedric secured the Trump 45 and the hotel key and departed. Huck called Berger to tell him that he had another package for him and his police friend.

  Chapter 34

  After Redhead had given his testimony to Berger, and in the presence of the police officer, Huck returned to his hotel room to await Cedric’s arrival. After about an hour, there were two raps on the hotel room door and Cedric entered. Cedric noted that Huck looked much worse than he did when he’d last seen him at the office building.

  Careful not to mention Huck’s appearance, Cedric asked, “Do we have a problem I don’t yet know about?”

  “Yes, and it’s a three-pronged one.”

  “Enlighten me.”

  “Well, the problems are domestic, foreign, and the case itself.”

  “I think I know how you feel about the last but give me your take on the first two.”

  “Had you been here ten minutes earlier, I wouldn’t have to explain the first. I just finished a three-way phone conversation with Rose and Alice. I was reminded of how, before coming here, we made Alice and Rose a promise. The promise, which I am sure you will recall, was that we would only review the situation and then turn our findings over to the local authorities. In short, we were not to get involved.”