by Sims, R.
“How well do you know Mr. Ames?”
“Just met him for the first time two days ago. I checked him out, though. He’s legitimate, owns a popular restaurant in Pasadena, so I took the job. Can you take these damn cuffs off? I’m cooperating with you, ain’t I? What the hell are you afraid of? We’re just talking.”
“Afraid? I’m afraid I’d have to kill you with these bare hands.” Dexter held his palms out for the bondsman to see.
CHAPTER 83
Patricia was still in Barry’s office when her cell phone rang. Her caller ID told her it was Barry. “Where the hell is Dexter?” she asked him.
Barry said, “He wouldn’t get in the car with me. I met another guy who had just gotten released, and he swore he would take me to where Dexter had a house in Riverside.”
“Why didn’t you call to let me know?”
“I stopped by the office to see if you wanted to drive the guy to Riverside, but when I opened the glove box the kid sucker-punched me and grabbed my gun. He made me take him to San Diego. Motherfucker even got my wallet.”
Patricia said, “I saw you when you arrived. Where are you now?”
“Coming back, maybe twenty minutes from the office.”
“Let me make a few phone calls. I’ll see you when you get here.”
***
Barry was no longer in handcuffs. He was sitting in Dexter’s living room feigning admiration for a wall painting. “What’d you pay for that thing, a hundred grand?”
Dexter shook his head. “This whole house was fully furnished for just under $15,000, which means the painting probably cost fifty dollars. I’m not interested in…” He saw headlights and heard a vehicle pull into his driveway. Less than a minute later, someone knocked lightly at his door without even considering the doorbell. Dexter said, “Come in.”
Janet Ingram opened the door but did not enter. She wore shades — even though it was dark outside — jeans, sneakers, and a sweatshirt. She had a scarf wrapped round the lower half of her face. Janet set a Nike gym bag inside the house then left without closing the door.
Dexter got up, retrieved the bag, and closed the door. He said to Barry as he tossed the bag to him, “That’s $100,000 cash, as promised, all hundreds. Now you can afford a better painting than mine.”
“I’ll pass on the painting.” Barry unzipped the bag and saw new, bank-wrapped money.
“You’ll get another $100,000 when Patricia Teague is in my custody.”
“Well, she’s waiting for me now, but I wanna make sure nothing happens to her that would lead back to me, you know?”
“Mr. Fitzgerald, I could have easily killed you. Instead, you’re about to leave here with a bag of money. I just want to bribe my way to the top. Patricia will have the same opportunity given to you.”
“What happens if she refuses to turn over her boss?”
Dexter said, “Do you really care? You said you had heard of her but had never met her before today.”
“I don’t want the cops hooking me up to a cold case years from now.”
“Toss the bag back to me. I’ll get her boss another way.”
Without hesitation, Barry said, “Okay. I’ll get Patricia for you.”
“Good. Nobody knows I live here and neither will you. I can put a bag over your head or you can get in the trunk of your car until I drive you to Whittier, and from there you can show me how to get to your office.”
“That trunk shit is out of the question. When do I get my gun back?”
“You don’t. I bought that gun from you. Wait two days then report it stolen from your car.”
CHAPTER 84
Dexter said to Barry, “There’s a black Mercedes outside, and it will follow us until we’re about a block from your office. Two people in that car are being paid tons of money to do whatever I ask of them. If you talk to the police about me, or cross me in any way, my partner will pay those people bonuses to get at you and your family.”
“You don’t have to worry about me.”
Dexter didn’t even blink when he said, “Three sons, a daughter, a wife named Lydia, a $600,000 home at 322 Olive Lane in Anaheim.” 60/40's report on the bondsman had been brief, promising more tomorrow.
“I said you don’t have to worry about me. My family…I get your fucking point.”
“Perfect. When I tape a bag over your head, I want you face-down in the backseat area of your car.”
“I’m too big for that little area.”
“Trust me, you’re not.” Dexter wanted to tell him that he’d seen him folded up in the backseat area like a yoga master.
“And when do I get the other hundred grand?”
“If Patricia is in my custody tonight, the cash will arrive by mail no later than Tuesday.”
“For some reason I believe you,” Barry said. “Let’s get to it.”
***
Patricia heard the car when it arrived, but this time it was in the front area. She heard the horn as it was tapped twice, so she headed for the front door of the office.
She could see Barry’s car through the front window of the small office building. When the horn was tapped again, she opened the door and stepped outside, wondering why Barry wouldn’t come inside. She saw him in the driver’s seat, and he appeared to be on his cell phone.
Dexter had a cell phone to his ear when he lowered the driver’s window and waved Patricia over. Then, he leaned over as if to retrieve something from the glove box.
On her way to the car, Patricia was hoping Barry had gotten a lead on Dexter’s whereabouts. She knew that was unlikely, though.
When she was only three feet from the driver’s window, Dexter pulled away from the glove box, turned toward her, and extended an arm out the window. Barry’s handgun was no more than eight inches away from Patricia’s stomach.
Patricia froze-up, realizing she was now looking at Dexter. She, too, was armed but couldn’t think about going for her weapon.
Dexter said, “You spent $3 million to find me? As they say, you get what you pay for.”
CHAPTER 85
Janet drove the black Mercedes while Dexter and Patricia sat in the backseat area. Patricia was in handcuffs and had been thoroughly searched by Dexter, almost to the point of being sexually assaulted. She was fully dressed in sweat pants, dirty Reebok sneakers, a T-shirt, and a windbreaker jacket. Her gun and leather shoulder holster had been confiscated, as well as her phony ID and iPhone.
Dexter said, “Your name isn’t Susan Oglevee. You’re Patricia Teague, wanted by the FBI for impersonation and obstruction. You were hired by Peter Boone, but he obviously wants you to bring me in for his personal interrogation.”
Patricia kept looking out her side window with no response.
“Since I don’t know Mr. Boone, and since it doesn’t appear that he’s a direct victim of the Herbyte Investment Scam, he’s obviously hired you on behalf of his good friend, Doug Ramsey.” He let that sink in, giving her an idea of how well-informed he was.
Janet glanced at Patricia in the rearview mirror.
After fifty seconds of silence, Dexter said, “But I could be wrong. Maybe you were hired to kill me. In that case, it wouldn’t make sense for me to let you live.”
“I was not hired to kill you,” she finally said. “You got it right the first time.” She still didn’t know how he had gotten it right, though. Sure, Barry had set her up, but he didn’t know much about her or the job she had taken.
“How much am I worth?”
“A lot. Twenty million for success, five million for expenses.”
Dexter smiled. “A $25 million bounty. How well do you know Mr. Boone? No, let me ask that another way. Is he a good friend, or is the relationship mainly business for you?”
Janet pulled into a restaurant parking lot.
Patricia said, “We’re friends, fifteen years.”
Janet parked the car but left it running. She got out, removed her shades, and headed inside with the scarf still covering th
e lower half of her face.
Dexter said, “Would you lure him to me for $50 million?”
“Can’t do it,” she said. “He’s not going to give you his best friend, not even for all the money you stole, and that means you’ll probably torture and kill him.”
“Well, using your logic, doesn’t that mean you’ll get the same treatment if you don’t lure Mr. Boone to me?”
“I suppose so. We’ll just have to find out what my pain-tolerance level is.”
Dexter said, “You’re a tough lady, perhaps too tough, and that makes you unattractive. I must admit, however, I do respect your loyalty to Mr. Boone. That ought to be reason enough to spare you from torture and murder.” Then, suddenly, he wrecked his left elbow against her temple.
Patricia was out cold before her head bounced off the side window.
Dexter straightened her up so that her head was tilted back against the seat. Her mouth was open and he was tempted to close it.
CHAPTER 86
Minutes later, Janet was leaving out of the restaurant with a small bag and a small drink. She got in the car, gave the bag to Dexter, and began driving. She said, “What did you do to her? Is she dead?”
“She’s unconscious. I need for her to wake up with retrograde amnesia, nothing permanent.”
“What if she doesn’t have amnesia?”
“She will. I’ll keep knocking her out until she does, which could also give her brain damage.” He removed a chicken sandwich from the bag and began unwrapping it.
“Then what?”
“Well, I don’t want her with brain damage.” He bit into the sandwich. Talking with a mouthful, he said, “I have no choice but to take a chance with her safety.”
Janet could half understand what he had just said. “Why do you want her with amnesia?” She held her drink as she drove.
“She’s going to give me Peter Boone.”
“I doubt she’ll do that with amnesia.”
Dexter said, “I saw Mr. Boone’s contact information in her phone. I’ll have to send him a convincing message in Patricia’s name. I’ll send him one tonight just to let him know that I got Dexter in custody. The message will ask him to meet Patricia tomorrow so that he can take custody of Dexter.”
Janet glanced at the unconscious woman again.
“I’ll release her tonight near a homeless shelter if she has amnesia.”
Janet took the ramp to an interstate. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For not killing her. I was trying to prepare myself in case you had to.”
He bit into his sandwich again. “Pass me your phone.” He dabbed at the corner of his mouth with a napkin. “You’re never going to see me hurt a woman. I really have qualms about doing this even when you’re not around. But that reminds me…” He retrieved the phone from her and placed a call.
“Que Films, Marquise speaking.”
“Change of plans. We have to speed things up. Can you have that package ready for me in the morning?”
“I don’t see why not. The scene is already set, and Dr. Singh was paid a hundred grand just to be on standby for you.”
“Good. Also, schedule a flight to Los Angeles and be here by tomorrow at one. I’ll email you some general details to explain what I want you to do for me.”
“Okay. Let me know.”
Dexter terminated the call.
CHAPTER 87
The 8,000-square foot warehouse was once illegally used for fighting pit bulls, and before that it had been leased and used as a flea market. Located on the outskirts of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, its closest neighbor was a large farm two miles down the road. The latest owner was leasing the place with claims of turning it into a fishing supply store, whatever that was.
The warehouse was clean inside, spacious, and had been partitioned into three large rooms. One of the rooms was now furnished with the living room furniture from Janet Ingram’s Harrisburg home, including her coffee table, end tables, and a cordless phone that was the same model she’d had.
Dexter entered the room and headed toward Janet’s ex-boyfriend, who was on the sofa in handcuffs. Louis’ ankles were cuffed, too, and somehow crudely chained to a large bolt that had been driven into the concrete floor.
Dexter removed both sets of cuffs, took a few steps back, and watched the man massage his wrists. Dexter came out of his Armani sport coat and placed it over the back of Janet’s love seat. Then, he retrieved the cordless phone from one of the end tables and set it on the coffee table in front of Louis.
Finally, Dexter sat in Janet’s armchair, looked the man directly in the eyes, and said, “Do you have any idea who I am?”
“I believe so. I’ve seen you in the paper and on the news.”
Dexter nodded. “Do you have any idea why you’re here?”
“No, not really. I…Not at all.”
“You’re lying. You know why you’re here.” Dexter looked around the room. “You can see some of them; there are eight cameras strategically situated in this room. The cameras are all linked to a computer that records this meeting. I’ll have it edited later to see which scenes and angles I like best. The important thing is to look confident about the part you choose to play on film. Got it?”
“I don’t…I’m not sure I understand where you’re going with this.”
Dexter said, “Do you have anything against me?”
“No. Why would I? We’ve never even met before.”
“Okay. Do you have anything against my woman.”
“I’m not…No. Absolutely not. Who is she?”
“Janet Ingram. You do recognize her furniture don’t you? I thought I did a good job with the interior designing this room.”
“Uh, no. I have nothing against Janet.”
Dexter smiled. “That doesn’t make sense to me. Can you explain why you attacked her with a cordless phone?”
Louis Johnson was trying to be calm, but the look on his face told a different story.
“That was a mistake, and I…”
“An intentional act followed by regret, remorse, or an apology doesn’t make it a mistake. A mistake is an error that was clearly not intended. Would you like to make things right with her?”
“Definitely. Whatever she wants, and we don’t have to ever see each other again if that’s what she wants,” Louis said. He assumed a call would be made to Janet so that she could make her demand.
“Well, actually, she wants to see you again. At least on video. Here’s what she wants: Janet wants me to sit here and describe how well I fucked her in Italy. She doesn’t want me to leave out the licking, the sucking, the positions, or the eating. She warned me, though, that when you’re fed up with all the details, you’ll attack me with that phone.” Dexter glanced at
the cordless handset
CHAPTER 88
Louis didn’t know how to respond to that.
Dexter continued. “I told her that she didn’t know what she was talking about, because you probably have too much respect for a man, and you therefore would never attack me for that. Am I right?”
“I…” Louis cleared his throat. “I just want to put the whole thing behind me.”
“Be patient. It will all be behind you soon. Now, I’m not a bad guy, irrespective of what you may have read about me. I don’t have any weapons on me, and the unruly gunman who plucked you out of your home, stashed you away for three days, then brought you here is away on more business for me. When you reach your boiling point, just grab the phone and teach me a lesson. Deal?”
Louis squirmed on the sofa then nervously said, “No. I don’t want to play this game. There are other ways for Janet and I to square things up, I’m sure.”
“We’re not playing a game, Louis. This could be a matter of life and death. You could kill me with that damn phone.”
Louis shook his head. “That’s not going to solve anything.”
Dexter laughed. “Why couldn’t you be this rational or reasonable when Ja
net needed you to be? It’s apparent you’re too much of a coward to do to a man what you did to a woman, which means I have to improvise with this boring script.” He leaned forward, picked up the cordless handset, and said, “Tell me about the last time you and Janet had sex, and don’t leave out any details.”
Louis hesitated. “I can’t. That’s not…”
Dexter stared at him for a few seconds then suddenly sprang from the armchair and leapt across the coffee table. Louis was startled, instantly lowering his head and cowering behind his forearms.
Dexter paused to find an opening then swiftly delivered an uppercut to Louis’ mouth, simultaneously smashing the phone against chin, lips, and nose. When Louis rocked back from the force of the blow, lowering his guard, Dexter whipped around a teeth-breaking elbow to the mouth.
Louis keeled over and fell of the sofa. When he hit the concrete floor, he did not holler or make a sound. The first blow had ended the fight, knocking him out, but the second blow had done the most damage. With a split chin, severely busted lips, a broken nose, and eight teeth missing, Louis was bleeding profusely.
Dexter knew the man would need medical assistance soon, and that’s just what he was going to get. Dexter had blood on the sleeve of his shirt and blood speckles on the front of his shirt. He retrieved his smart phone from his jacket pocket then dropped the sport coat back onto the arm of the chair.
He placed a call to Dr. Rajiv Singh, a former physician from India who was now making black market money.
Illegal substances and prescription drugs were Dr. Singh’s specialty now. Life was never going to be the same for Louis Johnson, but at least he would still have life.
CHAPTER 89
Dana had driven Que from the airport in Los Angeles to Barry’s office. She pulled up next to Patricia’s SUV then gave Que the keys to it. Que said, “I was told that you would have a Glock for me.”