Colton Banyon Mysteries 1-3: Colton Banyon Mysteries (Colton Banyon Mystery Book 20)

by Gerald J Kubicki

  “My name is Judy Kroll, and I have something for your eyes only, Colt.” She pulled out a check and waved it in the air, brushing her lips as she let him look at it.

  “Perhaps we should sit on those couches over there,” Banyon said as he indicated with his arm they move over to the furniture.

  Judy Kroll’s hips were the main attraction as she crossed the room. Banyon thought that Mrs. Kroll was attractive, and, more interestingly, was someone who had more experience at being a seducer than reading reports. When she sat down, enough of her thigh was exposed to interest Banyon. Banyon sat across from her. Chen sat at the other end of the couch on Banyon’s side. Opening his bag, Banyon pulled out the report he had printed, along with a business card and a legal pad to write on. It was a ritual which allowed him time to evaluate the posture, mannerisms, and attitude of his adversary. He was pretty sure he was dealing with a vixen today.

  “Would you mind giving my assistant the check before we start, just so we don’t forget?” Banyon was dripping with charm.

  “I’m not used to paying up front,” Judy Kroll replied, flicking her long lashes as she spoke.

  “Well, in this case you are,” Loni hissed.

  Judy Kroll didn’t seem to notice the sarcastic comment.

  Banyon panicked and quickly said. “We can’t pass you any of our information until we receive payment. It is customary in this business field.”

  “Oh, well, if you insist,” Judy blurted. Reluctantly she extended her arm with the check toward Loni. Loni crossed her legs taking her time, and took the check with the tips of her long fingernails. Her smile to Banyon required little interpretation.

  Chapter Sixty-Five

  Meanwhile, the six FBI agents, sent to the high point on Pierce’s land, were busy digging in the sand. “Got something here,” one yelled out.

  Agent Booth rushed over and found that the agent had uncovered a skull and some bones. He wondered if they had discovered Captain Kidd’s treasure? Pirates sometimes killed, and buried the men that carried the treasure to its hiding place. This prevented them from divulging where the treasure was buried. Volunteering to help with burying treasure was a risky business. Upon closer inspection, Agent Booth realized some clothing and shoe soles were with the bones and would be identifiable. They looked too modern to be pirate clothes. This was an unsolved death. Work immediately slowed as they began to collect evidence.

  Agent Booth whipped out his cell phone and called Agent Gamble at the motel in Riverhead where he returned after the Walter Pierce interview.

  “Agent Gamble, this is Agent Booth.”

  “What have you got for me?” Gamble replied in his southern drawl.

  “We found a body, but no treasure sir.”

  “A body you say? Was it near the marker?”

  “It was thirty steps due south of the marker.”

  “Huh? I think Mr. Pierce has some explaining to do. Keep working.”

  No sooner had Gamble hung up the phone when it rang again.

  “Gamble here.”

  “This is Agent Krist.”

  “Where’ve you been? I’ve been waiting for your call.”

  “I needed some sleep and some time to analyze the tapes from last night. I was also told you were not available until eleven o’clock.”

  “So, are you going to keep me in suspense? What have you learned?”

  “In a nutshell, Walter Pierce has promised the cause something like a hundred million dollars, over five thousand acres of land, and an ancient translation of the true Aryan history. It is in the form of a stone tablet. Joe Kroll intends to start a new nation on the land Pierce has promised them. The new nation will be called Aryanna. Many splinter groups have been asked join them under the Altar of the Creator banner. This is big boss. We know they’ve required a list of all members from the other splinter groups. The lists are being kept in the church.”

  “Christ!” muttered Gamble as he thought about the implications. “Thanks for the update. You had better put some surveillance on the church. Have them stop anyone from taking any papers out. Also, get a warrant to search the church for subversive materials. But don’t go in yet. Wait for me to tell you when to hit it.”

  As Gamble sat and pondered his new knowledge, he realized that Pierce had told him several lies. He grabbed his gun and, with two escorts, headed back to Tanners Neck Lane.

  Chapter Sixty-Six

  Joe Kroll was feeling pretty good. He had dispatched his wife to get the location of the marker. He knew she would not fail. He told her to use her sexuality to get the location. To do whatever it took. After all, no man would pass up her sweet ass.

  His intention was to immediately head off to the spot, and secure the tablet. He instructed Judy to call Pierce right after the meeting, but not give it to him. She was told to tell him she had a map, and would fax it to him when she returned to the office. This would enable his men some time to get to the site first.

  Although Kroll wanted the money and land, what he really craved was the tablet, and he wanted it before anybody else could claim it. He had already rented a private plane to fly him, and four others to Westhampton Airfield, only a few miles from the Pierce land. He also rented a van. He then assembled Gary, Teddy, and Harry and called Michael Dean. He instructed them all to bring guns with them.

  ***

  Michael Dean was furious. He could not believe Joe Kroll decided to bring guns. Dean was thinking only he and Teddy would have guns on the trip. Dean had made arrangements with an Italian friend he had met during his stay at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Anthony was to deliver two guns to Michael on Monday afternoon on the island. Now he had to change plans; he needed some backup. Dean opened his cell phone.

  Anthony wanted fifty thousand dollars to cover Dean’s back. Anthony would supply two shooters with submachine guns to take care of Dean’s needs. In the end, Dean agreed, and they discussed the specific plan.

  Chapter Sixty-Seven

  The lawyer Seith Paul was resourceful, determined, and connected. He managed to obtain a cell phone while in the lockup. Another Streamwood policeman had snuck it in to Paul. The policeman was one of those under suspicion, and Paul promised he could get him off. Paul knew the Woods’ gang was all in custody so he placed his first call to Billy Brown, Judy Kroll’s current chauffer. Billy was the only member of the gang who was still on the loose.

  Billy Brown knew most people saw him as a street-smart black gangbanger. But he wanted out of the current game with Dean, and thought this job might accomplish that for him and save him from being arrested. As ordered, he had driven Judy Kroll to the meeting, but the lawyer Seith Paul had told him the meeting was important, and he needed to find out what was happening. He watched from outside the Marriott Hotel. The large front windows afforded a clear view of the lobby. He recognized Detective Heinz, and hoped he would not have to use his gun. He didn’t see any other cops, but they could be hidden. What was Judy Kroll up to?

  Paul knew something big was going on. He had been involved in crackdowns and cleanups before. He used his cell phone like a weapon, and spoke to several gang members and a dirty cop that he knew. It took him two hours to find out about the surveillance on Dean’s house, the FBI tapes from the church, and the mission of Heinz and Agent Chen. He also learned about the planned flight to New York and the guns. What the hell was going on here?

  Chapter Sixty-Eight

  In the middle of the stakeout, Heinz’s cell phone rang again. Acting nonchalant but feeling a little irritated, he answered it.

  “Patrolman Lopez here sir.”

  “Lopez, I’m on a stakeout — I can’t talk now.” Heinz said forcefully in a low voice.

  “It’s important, sir,” he persisted.

  “Go ahead then,” Heinz relented as he peeked over the top of his newspaper, and observed the creamy thigh of Judy Kroll’s crossed leg. He felt she was putting on a show. He also noticed Loni, as she seemed to be enthralled in the conversation. That’s my girl,
he thought.

  “Dean is flying out somewhere today,” Patrolman Lopez said. “He’s taking a private plane, and he mentioned something about guns. We picked this up from his conversation on his home phone with the listening device from the station. It has all been recorded like you wanted.”

  “Today?” Heinz repeated and scratched his head.

  “Yes, they want to get to some meeting place before the scheduled time, and dig up something. I don’t know what.”

  “Okay, this all has to do with my stakeout. Good work. Stay with them. Tail them to wherever they are going, and get information on the plane and where it’s headed. Then report back to me immediately.”

  “Right, Chief.” Officer Lopez responded and hung up.

  Heinz quickly dialed Gamble’s phone. He appeared to be an executive making business calls on his cell. No one paid any attention to him.

  “Gamble, Heinz here. I just learned that Joe Kroll, Dean, and some other supremacists are leaving the city in a private plane. I believe they are headed to Long Island. I expect to get their flight plans soon and will pass them on to you. I think they will have guns on board the plane.”

  “Got it,” Gamble responded. “Thank you for the update, I’ll get some agents to track them down, and arrest them as soon as they land.”

  “Anything new on your end?”

  Well, we found a body at the marker site on Long Island. It appears to be an unsolved murder,” Gamble explained. “Have you figured out what is really going on yet?”

  “It seems this whole business is about an ancient tablet concerning the Aryan race. Pierce supposedly knows where to find it, and the Altar of the Creator wants it,” Heinz said.

  “Hah,” Gamble laughed. “That’s just a myth by stupid people. At least we can nab them for interstate transportation of guns if nothing else. It’ll get them off the streets. We’ll pick them up at the airport.”

  “But what is Pierces’ angle?” Heinz asked.

  “More bad news I’m afraid — Pierce has disappeared.”

  “Pierce has disappeared?”

  “Yeah,” Gamble replied. “We talked to him this morning, but discovered that he had lied to us. When we went back to question him, he was already gone. He won’t answer his cell phone either. He’s in the wind.”

  “This case is getting stranger and stranger,” Heinz muttered into the phone. “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to round up all of these sleazebags now, raid the church, and figure this all out later.”

  “Wait,” said Heinz. “Maybe we should let this play out a little longer so we can get to the bottom of it. What do you think?”

  “It is risky,” Gamble responded. “But I’ll give it some thought and call you back.”

  Chapter Sixty-Nine

  Detective Heinz hung up the call. He looked over the top of his newspaper just as Banyon was finishing his presentation on the future of retailing in the lobby of the Marriott. He noticed that Judy Kroll was yawning.

  “So, in conclusion, I feel the landscape for retailing will continue to change. Dollar stores will continue to grow, the internet will become more important, and there will be more consolidation in the mass market.”

  As he recapped his presentation, Judy came alive. “Colt, that was so fascinating. I do so love strong men who make bold, hard thrusts into a subject.”

  As Colt handed the presentation to her, she grabbed his hand and stroked the back. Loni was inching closer to the edge of the couch, ready to pounce like a panther if Judy tried something to harm her new friend.

  Suddenly Judy got up. She came around the coffee table between them, and seated herself right next to Banyon, so close their thighs were touching. She leaned closer, and her breasts brushed his arm. Banyon mouthed to Agent Chen for her to stay put. He knew Judy would now try to get the location of the marker.

  “Sweetie, why don’t we lose little brown eyes here? We can go up to my room to discuss the rest of my questions.”

  “I’m comfortable here for now.” He had a little twinkle in his eyes as he looked at Loni.

  “I could make you more relaxed. I could give you a wonderful massage while we talk,” she cooed as she continued, and rubbed his arm up and down.

  “I’m okay, really,” Banyon said as he brushed her arm aside. “What else do you need to know?”

  She seductively pulled a picture from her bra and showed it to Banyon. “Do you know who this is? Where was it taken?” Her hand was inching toward the inside of his thigh.

  Banyon didn’t hesitate. “Sure, that’s my buddy Lorenzo,” he said amiably “He was helping me dig the hole you see in the picture for a college class.”

  “I love when you talk dirty. Do you know the exact location?”

  Banyon was starting to feel a tingling inside. Judy was good. Even though he knew she was after the location, and sex was the catalyst, she was very good. “I can write down the exact location, if you wish. But how did you get this picture, and why do you need the location?”

  “My employer found this picture and wants to identify the person in it. He also thinks it was taken on his land. He wants to know exactly where. He wants to put it in his archives. He’s very rich you know,” she purred and rubbed against him.

  “Well, I took the picture, but I wonder how your employer was able to get it?” Banyon was digging for information.

  Judy Kroll seductively said, “Write down the directions sweetie, and I’ll tell you.”

  “I can do that,” Banyon agreed readily. He then wrote the exact directions he had given the FBI the day before, and even drew another map of the area. Judy now had her hand in between Banyon’s legs and was attempting dig deeper. He once again moved her hand away. Loni had steam coming from her ears.

  When he finished the map, he held out the paper to Judy, but didn’t give it to her. “So, how did he get it?”

  Judy grabbed the paper and shoved it inside the top of her dress. “You will have to ask my employer. I don’t know.”

  “And how do I contact your employer?” Banyon asked calmly.

  “I’ll give him your number.”

  “I don’t think that’s good enough,” he replied coldly

  “It’s the best I can do,” she replied as she went back to seducing him. “Come on Colt, I’m real hot now.”

  Loni Chen suddenly yelled loudly, “Take your hands off of him.” She had become unglued and unprofessional as she watched Judy attempt to seduce Banyon. “Colt is not interested in you. I’m his friend; I know.”

  “Look, little slant-eyes, this is between Colt and me, back off.”

  Loni was off the couch, and standing over Judy in a heartbeat. “You take that back. There is no need to call me childish names.”

  “I’ll call you anything I want, Chink.” She then pushed Loni, causing her to fall backward over the coffee table in front of the couch. She sprang back so fast Judy didn’t have time to prepare.

  Loni pulled Judy up to her feet by her hair, and tried to look her straight in the eyes. “You have nothing over me,” she sneered.

  “Want to bet?” Judy was five foot-nine inches tall, and towered over the diminutive Loni. She also knew how to defend herself and fight. After all, she was married to Joe Kroll.

  The fight was on. The two women were suddenly wrestling on the large coffee table. The sight was surreal. Two good-looking women were rolling around on a low table, pulling hair, each doing their best to humiliate the other. Bare legs were flying, and animal sounds pierced the air in the lobby. Loni soon had Judy trapped on her back and slapped her across the face. Judy reached out with her free hand and grabbed the front of Loni’s blouse, ripping it open, bra and all. Loni immediately went to cover up her breasts with her hands. This afforded Judy the chance to throw her off.

  Detective Heinz launched himself off the chair, and ran towards the fighting women. He was unsure of what to do.

  Loni quickly rolled over and sprang to her feet, assuming a Mar
tial Arts position. She then stepped inside Judy’s defenses, twirled, and hit her with a leg kick that knocked Judy to the floor, leaving her dazed and spread-eagled for all to see.

  “Now who is superior?” Loni picked up her small purse, and she headed off towards the ladies’ room. Judy lay on the floor — clothes ripped and legs askew.

  Banyon got up to help her to her feet. “Are you okay?”

  Judy said nothing but quickly got to her feet. She adjusted her dress as she strutted out the door with her head held high just as Detective Heinz reached the scene.

  ***

  Loni managed to pin her clothes together in the ladies’ room. She said nothing to Detective Heinz as she left the building. She indicated that Banyon should come with her. She turned to Banyon and ordered him to drive as they left the building. There was a frost in the air. Banyon was concerned and shot a side glance at Loni. She had done a good job with a couple of pins. But you could see that her legs had some bruises, and her beautiful hair was less than perfect. He felt proud of her for trying to defend him but also needed to tell her that it wasn’t necessary.

  “Are you all right? Why did you attack her?”

  “I was trying to protect you, my friend. Now, I’m in trouble,” she muttered. “I’ll understand if you no longer want to be friends.

  “You should worry more about Carl than me. You need to talk to him to make him understand what happened.”

  “It sure seemed like you were letting her get to you,” she cried out in frustration. “I had to stop that from happening.”

  “Look, I knew what I was doing. I didn’t want her to be suspicious. By the way, that was a nice move you made on her.” He smiled while saying it.

  “I didn’t think you noticed.” She smiled back at him. “I got her good, didn’t I?”

  “You I will always notice,” he replied.

  “Are we still friends?” She asked in a little girl voice.