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

by Gerald J Kubicki

  “He wanted my family to have it to raise money. We are poor. He even had a will that gave his money to my family.”

  “Was he giving it to the Handa clan or the Yakuza? Those are Yakuza tattoos on your body, are they not?”

  A small ray of concern passed across Jin’s eyes. If the Yakuza was implicated in this murder investigation, his life would be over very soon. “I have nothing more to say.”

  “In that case, I am placing you under arrest for the murders of Juro Nara and Akio Suzuki. You will return to Japan with me. Your friend, Windy, is also under arrest.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “The binding and the paper appear to be genuine,” Dr. Thorne said. “Of course, we will need to do some testing. That sure looks like Hitler’s signature and there is a number two in a circle here in the corner.”

  “What is that writing down at the bottom?” asked Loni. “It looks faded, I can’t make it out.” She was looking over the shoulder of the curator and she noticed that Dr. Thorne had quickly become more docile and cooperative.

  “It says, ‘To my Eva, love George Gerut.’ He must have been a lover or something,” Dr. Thorne said as she began to turn pages of the book.

  Banyon had positioned himself to view Hal Jones as they looked at the book. Jones was sitting about ten feet away. He could see the jolt of recognition pass through the old man as Dr. Thorne said George Gerut’s name. It was now replaced by an evil stare at Banyon. He is “the one,” thought Banyon. Everyone in the group was intently looking at the book; the FBI was breaking down the monitors; and the people arrested were sitting with their guards.

  Banyon softly said, “I have got to use the restroom,” and left the room. He returned shortly and realized that no one had missed him. He touched Loni on the shoulder and said, “Didn’t you say that you had to go to the bathroom?”

  “Not now, Colt,” an irritated Loni replied.

  Meanwhile, Dr. Thorne was zipping through the book, looking at every page. She would periodically pick it up and shake it to see of anything dropped out. Banyon wondered if she knew about the secrets. She had reached the back cover and was examining it when the Japanese detective approached the table.

  “Well, what do you think, Dr. Thorne?” he inquired.

  “The book does appear to be genuine. I want to take it to our labs for testing,” she said in her most official tone.

  “We will run our own tests, thank you.” There was a politeness in his voice, but it was firm. He stuck out his hand and she reluctantly gave him the book.

  “Did you find the notes?” he suddenly asked.

  Dr. Thorne was once again flustered when the picture and two notes appeared and were passed over to the detective. She glared at Banyon, but he didn’t care. He was watching Hal Jones, who was nodding at Billy Bond. Bond leaned forward with wide eyes and a smirk on his face. At least one of these clues means something to them, Banyon thought. I wonder which one is important to them?

  “When can I get the book back? I will pay top dollar for it,” Dr. Thorne blurted out.

  “Once this case is tried, we will attempt to find the rightful owner of the book. It will be up to them to decide to sell it to you.”

  “But, what if the owner can’t be found?” Loni asked.

  “Well then, it will belong to my government, and they will put it up for auction, probably on eBay.”

  “Oh, my God,” Dr. Thorne reacted a little too strongly. She immediately left and pulled out her cell phone.

  The detective turned to Banyon and handed him a card Asian-style, with both hands. “You have been a great help to my country. If I can ever repay you, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

  Banyon looked at the card. It was two sided and the back was in English. His title was chief of detectives at the Tokyo Police Department. His name was listed as “A. Kim.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Soon the room started to empty. The Japanese detective left for Japan with his two men in custody. Agent Kriss sent two additional men with him to the airport. The old couple that had bid on the book left after complaining about the poor treatment. Billy Bond and Hal Jones remained seated and cuffed. Banyon was off in the corner with Myra and Loni. The good Doctor was nowhere to be seen.

  “What did you make of the note in German?” Banyon asked Mayra.

  “It was definitely account numbers and passwords. There was also a reference to additional instructions, but they were not included.”

  “Do you think that you can remember any of the numbers?” Colt hoped for at least one good lead.

  “Colt, I do have a photographic memory, you know. I remember all the numbers. I’ll write them down for you later, if you like.” She gave him a brilliant smile that spoke more than her words did.

  “I could only read a part of the Chinese on my note,” Loni anguished. “It appeared to be a recipe for tea. Probably was a favorite blend for the owner. I don’t think that it was important.” She hung her head as if she had failed.

  “Loni, we didn’t even know that there was a Chinese note. You also identified the city in the picture, and because of it, I know where to look next.” Banyon attempted to bolster his partner by pointing out the positive.

  Before she could formulate a reply, she heard her name.

  “Loni,” called out a breathless Dr. Thorne. “Loni, I need to talk to you right now.” She skidded to a halt inches from the startled woman. “In private,” she added and proceeded to pull the smaller woman away from the group.

  Banyon turned to the Patel woman. “Thanks for the help. I owe you.”

  She smiled at him demurely. “Yes, you owe me dinner at your house tonight,” Myra replied with a hundred-watt smile.

  “It would be my pleasure,” Banyon answered.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Agent Kriss decided that he could no longer hold Bond and Jones. He had them released and apologized for any inconvenience. Billy was hopping mad.

  “I want the book,” he said through clenched teeth.

  “The book has been sent back to Japan. When the case is settled, the book will be returned to the proper owner. They can then do what they want with it. Even sell it to you if they choose.”

  Hal Jones now entered the conversation. “Billy, we don’t want the agent to get the wrong impression. Let’s get out of here. We can still make the last flight back to Atlanta.” Jones picked up the case and headed for the door. Billy waddled after him.

  Once they were in the tunnels under the hotel, Jones spoke again. “It is the right book. George Gerut was my brother. The notes are still in the book. We just have to keep track of it until we can grab it. I can’t believe that we were so close.”

  “Hal, with legal systems the way they are, it could be years before the book is free. And what if they find the owner?”

  “I don’t think so,” replied Jones. “I think this is a political nightmare for Japan. They will convict someone very quickly. We need to watch this Banyon guy, though. He will lead us to the owner of the book.”

  “Hal, how much did you say that these accounts are worth?” Bond was calculating how much he had invested and what kind of return he could expect.

  “I don’t know for sure, but something over two hundred million. And that was the value during World War II.”

  Billy gave the matter some thought. “I do know someone who can keep an eye on Banyon. I’ll call him when I get to Atlanta.”

  “Good,” answered Jones.

  “But one thing bothers me, Hal.”

  “What is that?”

  “If someone finds the secret note and translates it, they will know how to access the accounts. They can steal our money.”

  “They don’t know where the accounts are located. That is my part of the secret,” replied a confident Hal Jones.

  “Hmmm,” was all that Bond offered.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Banyon now wanted to get going. Myra had promised to entertain him during dinner
—and afterwards, as well. Loni was still deep in conversation with Dr. Thorne at one of the tables. Everyone else had left

  “Loni, we can talk in the car,” he yelled across the room.

  “Wait,” she yelled back. “I’m negotiating.”

  Myra and Colt looked at each other and shrugged. They sat down at the table and made small talk as they waited.

  “I understand that Grandfather’s curse is working,” Myra said, watching his face closely.

  “Yes, I hear from Pierce on occasion. He calls himself ‘Wolf’ now. It scares me, but I think that if I can find the rightful owner of the book, I can break the curse. Doesn’t this scare you, too?”

  “Dear Colt, you don’t understand. My sisters and I have lived with Grandfather’s curses all our lives. He even put a curse on us.”

  “What?” replied a startled Banyon. “What kind of curse?”

  “I don’t know if I want to tell you,” she said softly. She then dropped her head and appeared to be looking for pennies on the carpet.

  “Tell me Myra, it couldn’t be worse than the one he put on me.” Banyon pleaded in a soft voice.

  “Yes it could, for us anyway. The curse is that we are overwhelmingly sexually attracted to intelligent and compassionate men. That would include you, Colt, and explains why we cannot keep our hands off of you.”

  A perplexed Banyon had many questions now, but settled on one. “Why would he do that?”

  “He hoped that it would help us find the right man,” Myra said. “The curse ends when one of us gets married. Since the curse started, we have not found a suitable candidate to marry. That is, besides you.”

  “So, let me get this straight. Every time you meet an intelligent and compassionate man, you are compelled to have sex with him?” Her statement had put a completely different twist on his relationship with the Patel sisters.

  “Well, we are compelled to try, anyway. It doesn’t always happen. There are few men that qualify.”

  “But, what if the men resist?”

  “We become more animalistic, lose our inhibitions, and exude the lust you have seen in my sisters. I, too, am part of that curse. For you, any of us would gladly have sex with you on TV, if that was what you wanted.”

  “My God, I didn’t know. I thought that it was all part of a plot. I thought that you were paid to entertain me. I have misjudged you all.” His mind was processing the ramifications of what she said.

  “So, I’ll understand if you don’t want to have dinner with me. It can only lead to the bedroom.” Myra said with sadness in her voice.

  “Well, Myra, a man’s got to eat,” Banyon replied.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Loni finally returned with the curator in tow and the smile of a Cheshire cat on her pretty face.

  “We have a meeting tomorrow, Colt. Hope you can make it,” Loni announced with the confidence that he usually heard in her voice.

  “That depends,” replied a weary Banyon. He just wanted to go home and spend some time with Myra.

  “Dr. Thorne has hired the agency to find the rightful owner of the book. She will bring us a check for fifty thousand dollars tomorrow, in the morning,” Loni said. “She also wants to work closely with us on the case.”

  “Fifty thousand dollars?” Banyon gasped.

  “She drives a hard bargain,” Dr. Thorne said. She then turned to Myra and said, “On the way back, I want to discuss a visit to your university. I have some things that I want you to look at. Perhaps we should talk about this from the back seat where our discussions would be more private?”

  The drive out to the suburbs was uneventful. They discussed the book and the notes. Myra didn’t tell the doctor that she had memorized the account numbers and passwords. She just said that they appeared to be some sort of code. Dr. Thorne kept repeating that she must get the book for the museum. Soon, they arrived at the office. Dr. Thorne lingered as if waiting for an invitation for dinner, but when no one asked her, she finally said goodnight and promised to be at the office by ten o’clock. She then left. Loni was, once again, her usual exuberant self. Myra stayed in the Jag as Colt walked Loni to her car.

  “Colt, why don’t I call Carl and tell him that I am staying at your house tonight? We could work late and get up early.”

  “Loni, I’m afraid that I will have company tonight,” Colt reluctantly offered, knowing that Loni would be upset.

  “No, don’t tell me that the Patel woman has her grip on you. She just wants sex. I can’t let that happen.”

  “Well, Loni, maybe I want sex, too,” Colt replied bluntly. “Besides, I want her to write down the contents of the note.”

  “I won’t let her screw you up,” a determined Loni answered. “I won’t allow it. What has she got that I don’t have?”

  “Loni, this is not about you. You know how I feel about you. Let it go. You cannot control and judge my life. I have needs, too, and you have Carl.” Banyon had taken a big step. He had told her that he was attracted to her, but she was untouchable.

  A suddenly panicked Loni said, “Colt, if this is about sex, I could–”

  Banyon cut her off before she made an offer. “Stop. Don’t say things that you may regret later. I do need you, Loni, but maybe just as a companion and partner right now. Besides, I have work for you to do tonight.”

  “What are you talking about?” She was near tears again and Banyon didn’t want to talk about it anymore.

  “You need to book us on a flight to Shanghai as soon as possible.”

  “Why Shanghai? We don’t have anything to lead us there.”

  “Yes, we do.” He produced a blown-up copy of the picture from the book. He had made the copy when he had pretended to go to the bathroom. He handed it to Loni. “We are going to find that synagogue.”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Loni arrived at Colt’s house a five in the afternoon three days later. He greeted her at the door. She immediately kissed him on the lips and gave him a hug. As far as he could remember, she had never kissed him on the lips before. She was dressed for the long flight. She had on skintight black leotards and a loose-fitting, medium-weight, yellow sweater. Banyon thought that the look was extremely sexy, but decided that he wouldn’t tell her. He figured that she was still steaming from their discussion of the other night. He hardly had spoken to her since the night of the sting.

  He couldn’t help but think about the weekend. Myra had decided to stay through Sunday evening. Friday evening was just as he expected. Myra was seven years younger than her twin sisters, but her athletic enthusiasm made up for her lack of experience. The problems started for Banyon on Saturday morning. He got and made some eggs and coffee, intending to make the ten o’clock meeting with Loni and Dr. Thorne, but Myra sidetracked him when she climbed up onto the center island in the kitchen, naked. He eventually called Loni and told her that he couldn’t make it to the meeting. Loni asked why and Banyon said that something had come up. Loni didn’t see the humor in that.

  Things got worse for Banyon when he tried to watch a football game. He was seated on the long couch in his family room, watching the game, when Myra came into the room and started to dance a belly dance. She had found some erotic music and she wore only a smile, nothing else. He attempted to ignore her, but she planted herself right in front of him and would not move to the side. He told her that he had to watch the game.

  “Watch your game, then,” she had replied. “I’m going to do what I want to do.” She sprawled on the couch and put her head on his lap. At the end of the game Banyon couldn’t remember the score.

  By the time he left her at the airport, he was sure that the curse was working. Every time he attempted to resist her charms, she got more aggressive. He was both happy and sad to see her go. She was a great sexual partner, but he knew that it wasn’t real.

  ***

  Loni was perched on the corner of the couch in a provocative manner. She didn’t ask about Myra.

  “Colt, I am so excited
to travel with you, especially to some place as exotic as Shanghai. I love adventure, especially if it is with you.”

  Banyon was a little unsettled by the way Loni was talking. She didn’t usually make personal references. He wondered if his weekend with Myra had affected her attitude.

  Colt could see a change in her body language. She appeared to be more relaxed. “The old Loni can come back now,” he said.

  “I don’t know what you mean.” Her voice was sincere. Then she asked a question. “Colt, what I still don’t understand is why we are going to Shanghai. The book left there over sixty years ago. How can we find the rightful owner in Shanghai?”

  “Good question,” replied Banyon. “I do know a couple of things about Shanghai. First is that the people who live in Shanghai tend to stay in the same part of town for their entire lives. Surely, we will find someone who remembers the women in the photo. The second fact is that the older sections of Shanghai haven’t changed very much over the years, especially in the foreign section of the city. The entire section is slated to be torn down in two years and many new buildings will be erected. I’m sure that the building will still be there and I’m betting that the synagogue will have records. Those women were European, probably Jews.”

  “Wow, that is good deductive reasoning. Tell me more.” Loni was now bouncing on the corner of the couch like she was riding a horse.

  “Well,” he added sheepishly, “Wolf also told me to go find the synagogue.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  The flight to China was a long one. Banyon was surprisingly comfortable despite having spent over eight hours in one seat. He still had over five more hours to endure before they arrived in Shanghai. He had napped for a couple of hours but now was deep in thought. Loni was still sleeping with her head on Colt’s lap. Somehow, she’d managed to curl up into a little ball on the seat next to him. Without an armrest, he had no place to rest his arm except on her body. He found himself slowly stroking her hair as he wondered which Loni he would see in China.