Chapter 24
The gentle hum of the tread striking the asphalt was soothing. Jagan stood out amongst the younger and less muscular males on board. Jagan pulled the hoodie over his head and sunk into his seat to avoid any unnecessary attention. He opened up the journal to page one and read–
Dear Jagan,
The first stop of the tour will be in Norfolk, Virginia. There you will meet with a man named Tex. Enclosed you will find his address and a letter. Make sure he gets it and whatever you do, don’t read it. Get back on the tour to your next stop. Give him the sign that I’ve drawn below. That way he’ll know I sent you. Make sure no one follows you and don’t do anything to draw attention to yourself.
Lolli
Jagan closed the book. He was tempted to keep reading, but remembered her instructions. There must have been a reason she was so adamant about him not skipping ahead. Across the aisle, he noticed a couple of girls staring at him. They turned towards each other and giggled. Thankfully, there were innocuous and just flirting with him. Still, he couldn’t let down his guard and could trust no one.
The bus reached the hotel just after sunset. Jagan checked in and called for a taxi which arrived just a few moments later. Gazing out the window upon the rolling green hills, Jagan was impressed by the landscape. He noticed a couple of quarter horses at a farm secured behind a white vinyl fence that reminded him of Buttercup and home. He had never been this far and the distance was tangible.
“Sir, we’ve reached our destination,” the driver announced. Jagan stepped out of the taxi and asked the driver to wait. Taking a deep breath, he knocked at the door.
A man in his fifties answered the door. “Can I help you?” As soon as he heard his voice, he knew immediately the man wasn’t a local. He had a thick Texan accent. Jagan handed the man the letter and flashed the sign that his grandmother described in the journal. The man took the letter and simply nodded before closing the door. Jagan let out a long sigh and got back into the cab. The first task was easier than he imagined.
Back at the hotel he ordered room service and put on the news. A reporter announced the Pope would be visiting China to commemorate the completion of a Catholic shrine. This would be the first papal visit since the Vatican and the once communist country severed ties back in the early fifties.
Jagan thought of the children in his nightmare. This couldn’t be a coincidence. There must be a connection between the Pope’s move to South America and his visit to China. He took out the cedar box from his backpack and packed the pipe with the tobacco and herbs Nia gave him. This was the only way he’d sleep tonight.
Chapter 25
Indigo gazed into the mirror and was horrified by what he saw. He didn’t have any idea what it meant, but he knew it wasn’t good. Even more confusing, he felt embarrassed. He was a Marine after all and had always been in superb physical shape. What the hell was going on? Had she poisoned him? Paranoid thoughts swirled around his throbbing head.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” Scarlet asked as she lowered the mirror. She was starting to panic. This wasn’t supposed to happen and now she had no idea what to do.
“What exactly did you dope me with?” Indigo asked, squinting his eyes in accusation. He was done playing her little games. He needed his phone so he could check in with his superiors. She was cute and all, but she needed to go to jail for what she did. Indigo wondered if she was a black widow or something.
“It was just a sedative, I swear. Actually, it was a prescription for my dogs. They freak out during blizzards. It wasn’t even that high of a dose.” Scarlet began to realize her predicament. This really looked bad. How was she going to convince him that she wasn’t some evil psycho? All she could picture was an image of herself in an orange jumpsuit.
“You gave me dog drugs?” Indigo raised his voice and thrust his fists in the air. “What were you thinking?” He could tell by her expression that she had no intention of harming him. She didn’t have it in her to kill someone, at least not in cold blood. Something else was going on, and he had to find out fast what it was. “Give me my phone,” he demanded.
“I can’t,” Scarlet replied. The blood left her face leaving her more pale than usual. The dogs came rushing in the room obviously excited over the commotion. “Not now,” she scolded them pointing her finger towards the door. With their tails tucked, they left the room.
“What did you do with it?” The veins on Indigo’s face were bulging. He needed to find something to smash and quick before he tossed the petite girl across the room.
“I chucked it out the window after you passed out in the car.” She kept telling herself not to cry. She wasn’t one to normally give in to emotions, but she was feeling overwhelmed. Everything had been going so well up until now. She thought this was a job she could handle, but she was blowing it.
Indigo stormed out of the room and made his way outside. Scarlet followed him. He picked up the axe near the tree stump and struck the log with all his might. He struck it over and over until it was shredded into bits of bark.
“I’m sorry,” Scarlet blurted out. She covered her eyes and began to sob. She never meant to hurt him. Indigo put down the axe and approached her. He wrapped his large hands around her wrists and pulled her hands away from her face.
“Come here,” he said gently and held her in his arms. Indigo felt bad, not just because he lost his temper, but because he could tell she was falling for him. He couldn’t get attached to anyone in his line of work. He didn’t want to lead her on.
Scarlet submitted into his grasp. She closed her eyes and squeezed him tight. Looking down, her attention was drawn to his ankles that had swelled to twice their normal size.
“You need to get back in bed,” she said. “We’ll figure something out. In the meantime, let me find you some medicine.”
Indigo didn’t argue but made a suggestion, “How about some human pills this time.” He was sweating profusely and a tremor emerged from his left hand. Whatever he had, it was progressing quickly. The clock was ticking.
Chapter 26
The alarm blared, jolting Jagan out of another one of his nightmares. He turned the shower knob all the way to H. The heat comforted his aching muscles and he found the scent of the heavily chlorinated water invigorating. He was accustomed to the sulfur water from a well, so this was a luxury he had never experienced.
The tour guide was downstairs with her clipboard completing a headcount. Jagan had just enough time to grab a sausage scramble and a coffee to go. As soon as he got situated in his seat, he opened the journal. He was eager to read the next entry.
Dear Papoose,
By now you’ve probably managed to meet Tex. Nice fellow, don’t you think? I’m assuming your conversation was brief as he is a man of few words. Your next stop will be in Washington D.C. There you will go to a jazz club in Georgetown called Blues Alley. You’ll meet with a saxophone player who goes by the name of Sassy. Just tell him Kimi Love sent you and he’ll have something for you. Don’t listen to any of his stories about me. He likes to gossip. You should stay for a while and listen…some of the best jazz in the country.
The tour will be in D.C. for several days, so on your second day there you need to go to Tudor Place. Once inside, locate the locket with George Washington’s picture inside. Behind the picture is a microchip. Take it and protect it at all costs. By now it is likely someone is onto you so watch your back.
Lolli
Chapter 27
Mozart stared at the letter. It was too much to take in. It had been several years since he had heard from her, but the news was almost too much to bear. How could she deal him this blow and then ask this of him after everything she put him through? He knew he would fulfill her request. Damn, she had him by the balls…she always did. Nothing could ever change that.
Tex, Wolf, and Abe stood around him not knowing what to say. Mozart just sat on the couch gazing at the document. The fearless men were suddenly gripped by the worry t
hat if anyone said the wrong thing, Mozart would become unhinged. They didn’t want a repeat of what happened all those years ago in Tampa. They would give him all the time he needed.
Mozart folded the paper and slipped it into his coat pocket. “Wolf, we need a chopper.”
“What the hell for?” Wolf shook his head and glanced over at Tex and Abe. He was wondering if Mozart was starting to lose it.
“We need to get to New Hampshire.”
Chapter 28
The ride into Washington D.C. was intense. The taxis darted past the bus like cars in the last lap of a NASCAR race as if the cabbies themselves were injected with nitrous. The tour took a few stops so the passengers could visit some of the historical landmarks. Jagan was overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the city. There was something about passing through the crowds that was unsettling on both his nerves and his ears. After everyone got back on board following a brief visit to the Smithsonian, the driver navigated the bus up the steep driveway into the parking garage. They were right in the heart of Georgetown.
As Jagan stepped out onto the streets, he was amazed by the foliage. Brilliant shades of amber and magenta colored leaves covered the grassy hills. He glanced over at the fuchsia plants that hung from the street lamps and thought of his grandmother and how much she would enjoy the blooms. Jagan breathed in the crisp air as he admired the nineteenth-century Georgian style townhouses that lined the streets. An image surfaced in Jagan’s mind of living in one of them. He could see himself cuddling next to his future wife by the fire with Bocephus at their side. There was something deeply mysterious about the town.
After a few blocks, he turned onto Wisconsin Avenue. The outside of the club was covered in brick and there was a small sign on the front that read, “Blues Alley & Jazz.” Jagan found an empty table near the stage and took a seat. The waiter crinkled his nose at him after he ordered a cup of coffee.
A female singer announced the final song of the set, Round Midnight by Thelonious Monk. She waved her hand towards the piano player and stepped offstage. Jagan had never heard jazz in person before, and particularly a mid- twentieth century number. He found the choppy chords of the piano and the sounds of the drum brushes soothing. This would be the perfect place to bring his bride someday.
Once the man picked up the saxophone, Jagan knew it was Sassy. The sounds of the horn were mesmerizing and people walking by stuck their heads in to steal a listen. Once the song ended, the various band members sat down at a table near the side of the stage.
Jagan approached and cleared his throat. “Excuse me, Mister Sassy?” The men glanced at one another and laughed.
“We don’t give autographs until after the show, son.” The saxophone player said as he puffed on his cigar. The vocalist came over and sat on the pianist’s lap. “Well aren’t you a fine specimen,” she remarked to Jagan. “The boys call me Pearl,” she added with a wink. The club was too dark for anyone to notice the flush on his face.
Jagan turned away from the singer and directed his gaze towards Sassy. “It’s not that. I mean, I enjoyed your playing and all but I need to speak with you regarding a personal matter.”
“If this is about your dreams of becoming a musician, I give lessons on Thursdays. There’s a flyer and a sign-up sheet by the front door.” Sassy gently set his cigar in the ashtray. He bit the olives off the toothpick and took a sip of his Manhattan.
“No sir, it’s nothing like that. My grandmother, Kimi Love sent me.”
The horn player spat one of the olives back into his drink. “Have a seat, kid. You can call me Sass.” Jagan thanked him and sat down. The others got the hint and took their places back on stage.
“When you’re feeling down and out,” Pearl sang softly. As the tempo of the Chuck Mangione piece increased, so did the pitch of her voice. A trumpet mirrored the melody. Jagan was distracted by the haunting tune.
“You know, when Kimi told me years ago that a young man would come to see me at the club, I kind of thought she was pulling my leg,” Sass stated. The candle on the table flickered. “Excuse me for a moment.” He said as he limped towards the back of the club.
The song couldn’t have been more apropos. Jagan felt like he was in a Land of Make Believe. Here he was in a big city meeting a mysterious man in a club and traveling across country chasing clues left in a journal. Even though he was out of his comfort zone, for some reason he found the whole experience exhilarating. Still, he hated to admit to himself that he was a little homesick.
Sass returned to the table with a rather large saxophone case that he placed on the table. “Before I give this to you, I want to tell you something about your mother.”
Jagan leaned in. “Grandmother,” he said softly as if he were revealing the nuclear codes.
“You don’t say,” Sass said rubbing his fingers against his chin. “Guess she started young. Anyway…” He leaned in closer, “She ever tell you how we met?”
“No, sir…can’t say that she did.”
“Well, don’t tell her I told you this, but I was working a gig down in Florida. She was on patrol at the time, before she went inside, you know to the bureau. We were playing at a seamy joint near the interstate.” His wrinkles deepened as the corners of his mouth lifted. The candlelight reflected in his eyes.
“Go on,” Jagan encouraged, eager to hear.
“Let’s just say I had a few too many glasses of Chianti that night. There was a dude in the audience hitting on Pearl and it ticked me off. You see, I had a thing for her way back then.”
“She’s a beautiful woman,” Jagan remarked. He got the impression from the way he spoke her name that Sass still had a thing for Pearl.
“That she is,” he agreed. Sass gazed up at Pearl and he became misty-eyed. “That she is,” he repeated. “Anyway, after we packed up our equipment…that guy was waiting for her out in the parking lot. Whew, it got ugly.”
“Did you shoot him or something?” Jagan inquired eager to get to the point but he just couldn’t imagine the gentle man sitting in front of him having a violent bone in his body. There was something peaceful about the man.
“Oh mercy no. Nothing like that. But the fight got out of hand and I ended up busting his nose pretty good. Guess he was some hot shot lawyer’s son. You know big money and all. Anyway, Kimi cuffed and stuffed me after the brawl.”
“Wait a second. She took you to jail? So why are you helping her now?”
“Now hold on, you’re getting too far ahead. I was so inebriated, and well, your grandmother back then was quite a looker,” Sass began to chuckle. “Let’s just say I blurted out some stuff I probably shouldn’t have said, like what I wanted to do to her.”
“Oh geesh,” Jagan put his head down and placed his hand on top of his forehead. “I don’t think I want to hear any more.”
“Don’t worry, son, I won’t give you the gory details. Turns out during my entire drunken come-on, well the whole steamy seduction was transmitted over the department radio. She was sitting on her mic so it was keyed up the entire time.” Whew-hoo-hoo-hoo. Whew-hoo-hoo-hoo. Sass laughed so hard, even the band members turned towards the table. “And we’re not talking minutes; we’re talking almost an hour of it. Since the button was pushed down, no one could reach her to tell her to turn it off.”
Jagan moved his hand from his forehead to cover his mouth. His shoulders rose up and down as he chuckled. Every time the hoo-hoo sounds increased, it made him laugh even harder. If ever there was an infectious laugh, it was Sassy’s. Heads shot up and turned towards them like jack-in-the-boxes going off without warning. Even an elderly couple sipping wine at a nearby table began to cackle.
After Sass composed himself he continued. “So while we were crackin’ up over the matter, she glanced at me through her rear-view mirror and noticed my Marine tattoo. She must have known an arrest would have tarnished my service record. So, short story long, she took me home instead of to the pokey, all the way across the county line. Wasn’t that sweet of h
er?” I had a feeling she did that for a lot of folk. Anyway, of course I continued my verbal seduction for the entire ride. I wasn’t shy about telling her what I wanted to do to her. I could tell by that twinkle in her eye she was tempted.”
“Awkward,” Jagan stated drawing out the first syllable. This was a story he would have been better off not hearing. He wondered if Pop knew.
“Sorry, I keep forgetting you’re her grandson. Anyway, I guess you could say I owed her my life. Specially ‘cause when her superiors found out she didn’t arrest me, they hauled her into Internal Affairs. I guess they thought she let me go on account of the sexual favors.” Whew-hoo-hoo-hoo. Whew-hoo-hoo-hoo. Sass laughed so hard this time, he started to cry. “If only I were that good. Anyway, she was cleared of course, but it caused her a lot of grief. I heard after that she always compulsively checked her phones and the car radio to make sure they were off.” He took a napkin and wiped under his eyes. “That arrest would have changed everything for me. So here we are,” he said tapping on the case.
“Yes,” Jagan said, his eyes fixated on the container.
“Do me a favor, son. Don’t open it until you get to a safe place. You don’t want anyone seeing what’s inside. I sure hope she taught you how to use this stuff.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Oh and I slipped one of Kimi’s CD’s in there too. She wrote a few numbers for me a while back. Sang the lead on ‘em too.”
“Really? Lolli?” Jagan wondered why he was finding all this stuff out about her from other people. It was almost like she led a secret life.
“She sure did and hey, one more thing. Anytime you’re back this way, come back to the club and I’ll make sure you’re taken care of. We’re here every Friday and Saturday nights…and give Kimi my best, will you?”
The Predecessor Page 9