The Final Shortcut

by G. Bernard Ray

  When he locked the door, he felt good that he had done everything his Dad had wanted, now he could relax and figure out what to do next. Maybe he would just go and talk to Daddy face to face.

  Chapter 17

  Before Junior hung up the phone he knew he should have planned better what to say. But before he realized it, he had made the deal and Tree hung up. Junior had barely slept, he spent the entire night thinking and tending his young captives. He had a frantic desire to make sure the two girls were comfortable, constantly checking on them. Finally after the sun had risen high in the sky he remembered the phone number in his wallet. The big guy that helped him out of a jam once before. He had said he could provide anything, even young girls. It seemed logical that he would want to take these two. He regretted telling him to meet at the crossroads to his private road, but Tree insisted on something very secluded. And after the deal was struck Junior felt better about taking the risk. At least he would be able to wash his hands of the girls in a little less than twenty-four hours. Getting paid hadn’t entered his mind so when Tree offered him a thousand dollars each for them, he easily accepted. His only goal was to cover his tracks and get back to normal.

  The fact that strangers had snuck up on him was a constant irritation for him. An accident that would not happen again. He had already repaired the glitch in the door and his system was up and running. There were also some options he wanted to activate. A beeper to call him if he had an alarm was the main one he needed. The whole incident shattered Junior’s confidence. He kept checking and rechecking his security panel. Several times he walked outside to trip the alarms and time his beeper response. And at regular intervals, responding to a spiritual voice, he would drop what he was doing and check on the girls. Twice during the day he took them to the restroom and he even hooked up his game machine in the van. By nightfall he had exhausted all his busy work and took to watching his captives. He sat with the doors open watching Tonya play Space Destroyers for nearly three hours. She was only six, but she responded to Junior’s kindness well. But Keisha still stared at him unblinking, quiet and grim. He spoke to her but her expression never changed. When he began yawning, he locked the doors and stretched out on the steps of his apartment right next to the van. He could hear the girls talking in the still of the mine. It made him feel better that they were both ok.

  “You see Daddy. I didn’t hurt ‘em.” Before he nodded off, a grin crept across his face as he heard Marty say.

  “That’s good Junior.”

  ***

  From Mom’s mountainside lodge the view was spectacular. The early morning mist had lifted and the sun was quickly drying the dew from the grass. Taipei leaned on the deck railing, breathing deep and sighing deeply. He had stepped outside for a breath of fresh air and after a few breaths he began to feel the chill. When he returned to the den, Fudd was just hanging up the phone.

  “I love the mountains!” Taipei stopped at the coffee pot and motioned to Fudd about coffee. “Who was on the phone?”

  Fudd declined the coffee but he joined Taipei at the counter. “That was trusty Mary, she just dropped a dime on her boyfriend.”

  “Really, you must have had more than a talk with her. Or was it your James Bond influence, where you just make love to a woman and she is forever your slave.” Taipei grinned as he sauntered over to the couch.

  “I just convinced her that Tree was going to drop her like hot rock when he made some more money. And she just told me that he has a deal cooking.” Fudd crossed his arms and walked over to stand in front of Taipei. “She said he got a phone call and all of a sudden he started making plans to himself. Said he’s supposed to meet at ten o’clock in the morning.”

  “She heard all this?”

  “She heard enough, but she also knows him well enough that she can read his body language.”

  “Mmm…you know it doesn’t say a lot about Tree that a space monkey like Mary can figure him out. What else did she say?” Taipei sipped his coffee, grinning slightly at his little quip.

  “Tree never has been very smart, that’s why I wanted to watch him. Stupid criminals make excellent snitches. She said he checked his bankbook and set his alarm clock, for him that’s unusual. I say we wait for him in the wee hours and follow him tomorrow. What do you say?” Fudd leaned forward half-expecting the answer that he already knew was coming.

  Taipei looked up from his coffee. “I’m ready for a little action and this is shaping up to be a twisted Machiavellian saga. You know I might write a book about our travels one day. What do you think?”

  “If we live long enough to retire, I’d love to read it.” Fudd smiled and walked over to look out of the window gazing long at the scenery he began to ponder a plan of action.

  The next morning started like a thousand others. Just another Friday, but for a few people it would be a day to remember. The Wanderer’s farm was dark and quiet in the early morning light. All the buildings were empty except one. The small apartment was attached to a barn and was just perfect for Tree and Mary. When his alarm sounded, he bounded from the bed to shut it off. And gave a hard look at Mary to see if she had stirred. Waiting long enough to see that she was still asleep before stepping lightly away, he eased outside before putting on his jacket and shoes. He had parked the pick-up truck behind the barn on purpose. Knowing that if he could get away without waking Mary she would sleep till noon. Tree drove off easily confident that he hadn’t been seen. Now he could get to the bank and then meet that guy from the leather shop. It was almost nine o’clock when he turned onto the State road heading for Brayton. He had just enough time to eat breakfast.

  Under a very large oak tree next to the road Fudd peered through his binoculars at the black Ford pick-up about forty yards away.

  “There’s our boy.” He knew Taipei had seen him too so without a word he dropped his glasses and Taipei pulled out after Tree. They followed him to Brayton where he made a quick stop at the bank. Then he went half a block away to a pancake house and parked at the counter for over half an hour. The two men watched patiently in silence from across the street. After Tree had checked his watch for the fifth time they knew it was time to move, and their instincts were good. Tree drove out the way he had come in, headed now for Bontonville. He turned onto the shortcut without the knowledge that he was being tailed by two of the best. Fudd noticed him slowing down and waved Taipei down as well.

  “Where are you going Tree? It looks like he’s looking for a turn off. There’s nothing out here, is it?”

  “Nothing but trees and rednecks.”

  “He’s turning off, slow down. He’s riding his brakes. It must not be very far.” Fudd stared through the binoculars watching every move. “He’s stopping just ahead, pull past this road up the hill.” Fudd pointed uphill in jabbing motions until he was at the perfect spot to watch Tree. “Stop right here. This is perfect. Now we can see what our old friend is working on.”

  Taipei just nodded and started watching the road, “I think I might get out and act like I’m on the phone. Nobody will stop if they think I’m calling for help already, and besides… a big bruiser like me….”

  Fudd laughed and dropped his glasses for a second, “I wouldn’t want to meet anybody that stopped to help poor little you.” He quickly put the glasses back up and kept studying their target. “I don’t think we have long to wait. I see another truck coming from the backwoods.”

  When Junior stopped at the crossroads Tree was standing in front of his truck with his arms crossed.

  “Hi, you’re right on time.” He hopped out of his truck and walked around to the passenger side. “I guess as quick as we can do this and go, the better.”

  “That sets well with me.” Tree just smiled and reached for his wallet. Junior lifted the two girls out and stood them on the ground next to Tree. They were both staring wide-eyed at the men aware that something terrible was happening. The smell of death clung to their soiled clothes and their tears had made tiny rivulets of mud in
their cheeks. “Damn man. You could’ve hosed him down at least. Or sprayed some Larsol on ‘em. Phew.”

  Junior hadn’t until this moment realized the condition the girls were in. Their pitiful appearance made him feel ashamed. “They’re all right though, I didn’t hurt them at all.”

  “You can do what you like. As long as they’re in one piece when I get ‘em.” Tree handed Junior a bank envelope and grabbed Keisha by the arm pulling her toward the truck. She offered a little resistance but Tree pushed her in the truck roughly and turned to get Tonya.

  Junior watched Tree and his conscience began to talk to him. “What are you going to do with them?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “They aren’t going to get hurt are they?” Junior started to feel awkward, like he never had before.

  “I don’t ask questions, why should you?” Tree shut the passenger side door after throwing a blanket over the girls and pushing them onto the floorboard.

  “I don’t know if ….”

  “Look, we’ve already made a deal…. You want to keep them now?” Tree stared Junior down hoping to stop the chatter and get on with it.

  “No, I just didn’t want them to get hurt.”

  “Well, I’ll see to it that they both get real nice homes, ok?” Tree smiled for a short second and then jumped in his truck. Junior just looked at him, not caring to respond to his last sarcasm. His heart was racing and sweat was popping out on his forehead as Tree drove away. An unhappy voice in his head was getting louder and louder with each passing moment. He steadied himself by leaning on his truck, his vision blurring from the booming in his head.

  “Never, ever harm children!”

  “I didn’t know he was gonna do something to them. I’m sorry. I’m SORRY!” he pulled himself in the driver’s seat and drove back to the mine. The tears running down his cheeks were stinging his skin and he nearly hit a tree turning onto the path. “I didn’t mean to do it. I’m sorry.” After he parked in the mine, he sat in the truck crying, muttering to himself.

  ***

  “Well, I will just be damned. Get back in. He’s headed out.” Fudd dropped his glasses and sat back in the seat. Taipei stepped in the other side and slumped down to hide. “I don’t believe it. Tree just picked up a couple young virgins, younger than even I take.” Fudd hid behind the headrest as Tree pulled around the corner a few dozen yards behind them.

  “Really? Expanding his business eh?” Taipei sat up straight and started the car.

  “There can be only one place he’s headed now.” He looked over at Taipei and they both answered together. “Faruk.”

  “Let’s follow him home and make sure he doesn’t have any more surprises.” Taipei just nodded and drove off after Tree at leisurely pace.

  Ten miles away at the Redy Shop in Kitty city, Agent Hitchcock walked away from the counter with a cup of coffee. His forth this morning. Over the last few days he had knocked on every door on Randy Street asking for information about his case. It wasn’t a big surprise that most of the residents weren’t friendly to the police. But since he hadn’t any other clues he did what he could to find some. He wanted to find a quiet place to rest for a minute and call Jenkins. So he drove half a block away and pulled into the huge parking lot of The XXXperience strip club and parked under a shade tree at the edge of the lot. After letting the seat back and loosening his shoes he reached for the phone and dialed.

  “Jenkins.”

  “Hello, how are things at your end?” He took a sip of coffee and closed his eyes.

  “Hi Ray, nothing new. I haven’t heard back from headquarters but they told me this morning that they may have the flea market vendor with all the InTroniKa toys.” Jenkins held the phone with his shoulder as he continued to work.

  “That’s great. Maybe we can catch a break. I haven’t been able to find anything new. But if we were vice we could have a field day.” Ray repositioned himself getting comfortable.

  “Oh I’m sure. You aren’t the only one that has said that.”

  “As a matter of fact I wanted to pass a contact onto those guys. I’ve been passing out my number for a few days and I got a call from a girl that wants to turn states evidence.” He leaned up to get his coffee and slunk back in the seat to the point where he could just see over the dash.

  “I’ll be glad to pass it on. What’ve you got?”

  “This dancer at The XXXperience called me in a near frantic state, I could tell she was plenty scared. She told me that the owner of the club, a fat perv named Faruk, had forced her to take care of another younger girl after he had beaten her up. It seems that he likes to beat up on some of the other girls as well. But this girl said that the other girl was seriously whacked out of her skull, and couldn’t have been more than sixteen. She thinks that she was kidnapped because he threatened to kill her if she told anyone about her.” Ray sat up a little and readjusted his chair.

  “Wow, sounds like vice should put him on their list. Does the girl want protection?”

  “Oh yeh, she said that a couple other girls would go along with her if we could get them out. Apparently Faruk dominates all the girls with the threat of violence.”

  “Well all I can do is pass it on, the Senator doesn’t want anything to go down until we find out something about his nephew.” Jenkins pushed away from his desk and sat back.

  “Yeh, I know. But this is the damnedest case I’ve ever worked on. Every lead evaporates into thin air.”

  “What have your local villains been up to?”

  “Nothing!” Ray waved his hand as he spoke and knocked his coffee over on the dash. It quickly ran down into the seat and his lap, “Ahhh…ow! Hang on. I spilled my coffee.” He got out and fanned his pants cooling down his legs.

  “Give yourself a thrill? You need a medic?” Jenkins closed his eyes trying to imagine the scene and he laughed under his breath.

  “I heard that! I’m going to walk over to the station and get something to clean this up. But as I was saying the band of hoodlums have effectively disbanded. They left a minder at the farm but everybody else just went home and chilled. I wouldn’t bother looking at the farm for any drugs right now either.” He entered the store and went straight to the restroom. “ And the two new faces have been hanging out in a mountain lodge keeping a low profile. We need to cut our losses and raid this hell hole, take what we can get.”

  “I’m inclined to agree with you, but our hands are tied. When the hatchet falls it will cut very deep, rest assured.” Jenkins secretary waved at him and pointed at her watch and he nodded in response. “Have you got anything else?”

  “No, but hang on a minute, I left the girls number in the car.” Ray bought a roll of paper towels and headed back to his car still talking. “I won’t make you late. The car is very close.” As he approached the car he glanced across the lot and saw a familiar black pick-up truck parked at the side door to the strip club. Tree got out and walked nervously to the door and rang the bell. Ray’s instincts kicked in and he crouched behind his car out of sight. “Wait a minute man, something’s going down right in front of me.”

  Jenkins sat up straight in his chair, “What’s happening?”

  “Just hang on.” As the next moment passed Ray dictated a detailed story to his Boss, who in turn typed every word into his computer. He told him how Faruk barged out of the door and seemed to be talking angrily to Tree. There was a lot of waving their arms around and arguing, then an agreement was made. Faruk went back inside for a few seconds and returned with an envelope, which Tree quickly grabbed and inspected. They both went to the passenger door and they each grabbed a girl and carried her inside. Keisha exploded into a rage and kicked and scratched Faruk until he almost dropped her. But he just tightened his grip until she screamed and then they disappeared inside. Ray wanted to shoot Tree when he left the club. Wanted to kick down the door and rescue the two girls. “Jenkins we have got to do something. Those girls were obviously taken against their will. Can’t we call t
he locals or something?”

  “Hang on, there are ways of getting things done, you just sit tight.” Jenkins grabbed another phone while holding the other with his shoulder. “Give me that girl’s number and stay on the line Ray.”

  Anxious minutes passed and Ray thought he would go mad waiting. Then after what seemed like an eternity Jenkins came back to the phone.

  “Ok pal. The cavalry is on the way. A guy I know at the CIA talked to the girl and they are coming as we speak, you should see some action soon. But stay out of the way. We can’t let anybody know we had anything to do with it. The Senator is bound to be suspicious as it is.” Jenkins rubbed his eyes and rolled his head around trying to loosen up. “Now just keep me posted on your real case and don’t interfere with the CIA, I’m serious!”

  “Ok, I’ll walk the line on this one.”

  “You’d better! Now I’m late for a meeting, stay out of trouble.”

  “Ok, bye.” Ray looked at the cell phone for a minute before putting it away. His sweat had soaked into the display causing it to cloud up, and he was still sweating. With each second he grew more impatient. Every breath came with great agony thinking of what could be happening behind that door. Then at long last he saw three unmarked sedans converge on the side door in front of him. Two of the dancers opened the door as soon as the cars stopped and showed the cops the way. After only two minutes Faruk was being ushered into one of the cars in cuffs and in the same instant several other vehicles arrived including an ambulance. Ray couldn’t stand any more and he ran over to see what he could find out. The children seemed to be in good health as they were being helped into the ambulance. And when he got closer he saw the girl that called him standing by the ambulance. She was one of the girls that had opened the door. Several other girls were in the parking lot and all were happy to tell the agents everything they knew. Ray decided to get back to his own business feeling confident that everything would be well-taken care of. He had given them a description of Tree and that was all he could do for now. His lazy morning had turned into a day that he would never forget. And since he had a lap full of coffee he decided it was time to return to his hotel for a long break. When he pulled away from the club, he felt elated. The long months of fruitless investigation had brought nothing but frustration, but right now he felt glorious.