Frank, Alicia and Ella locked up the shop for the evening. Alicia headed home for some rest and Frank and Ella made their way to Frank’s hotel room.
Frank an Ella lay on the bed for some time. Talking about the days events. Ella was worried Alicia might talk.
“Ella, you don’t have to worry about Alicia talking. She seems rough around the edges but that kind of lady will not talk. She’s been around and she knows opening her mouth can get her in a lot of trouble. Frank told Ella trying to get her to stop worrying.
“You think so, Frank?” Ella said with relief in her voice.
“She likes you and she will always be there for you. She’s the kind of friend everyone should have.” He assured her.
THIRTY-TWO
Days passed and the flower shop continued to be busy. Ella was happy with LuAnn and she knew Alicia enjoyed working with her. They kept everyone laughing. The stories they would tell even made Ella blush and poor Susan would sometimes run to the bathroom holding her ears. Now, they were ladies and didn’t say anything when Ron or a customer was in ear shot.
Ella invited Alicia to have lunch with her. The ladies ended up at Joe’s Coffee House. Coopersville’s most popular restaurant for the local crowd.
“What do you have on your mind Ella?” Alicia questioned as she fiddled with the menu.
“I haven’t heard a thing from the FBI.” She whispered.
“Has anyone contacted you?” Ella asked.
“No, Ella I wondered why everything was so hush hush.” Alicia said a she slapped the menu on the table.
“Ma’am.” Alicia hollered as Carol neared their booth. “We working girls need to put our order in.”
Carol wasn’t in a hurry as she waltzed over to the ladies booth.
“What’s it gonna be?” Carol asked in her usual calm attitude.
“I’ll have a hamburger, fries and bring me a big strawberry shake, I need the nourishment. This woman works my tail off over there at Ally’s Flower Shop.” Alicia giggled as she rocked on her seat pulling on her pants that had crawled up during her bout of wiggling.
“I’ll have a Caesar salad and water will be fine for me.” Ella said as she smiled at Carol handing her the menu.
“You got it ladies.” Carol said as she flipped the page over in her order book. Pushing the order book in her apron pocket and sliding her pencil in her hair above her ear.
“Alicia, I haven’t heard from Frank since the night we found the bodies. I’m worried about him. He doesn’t answer his home phone. I called his office and they said he took a few days off work. Ella said.
“What do you think happened to him?” Alicia said as she tried to lower her voice.
“I don’t know I’m going down to the FBI office in Baker tomorrow to see if they know anything. Alicia we haven’t heard from the FBI since they picked up the bodies. Don’t you think they would have contacted us?”
“I should think so.” Alicia said unfolding her paper napkin.
“It’s important we keep all this quiet.” Ella told Alicia. Carol served the food and Alicia was only interested in stuffing her round face. The ladies finished their lunch and headed back to the shop.
Ella dropped Alicia off and headed for the motel. Maybe he was there. She didn’t see Frank’s car in the parking lot. Ella parked and walked up to the front desk. A nice gentleman dressed in a white shirt and brown tie offered his assistance.
My friend, Frank Smith is staying at your motel but he doesn’t answer my knock on his door. Can you tell me if he checked out?” Ella looked up at the desk clerk with a plea in her voice.
“I’m sorry ma’am we can’t give any information out on our guests. It’s a privacy thing the main office holds us to.” I hope you understand. He politely told Ella.
“I understand, can I leave a message for him?”
“Of course. I’ll get you a piece of paper?’
“That would be nice.” Ella said as the desk clerk handed her a note pad.
Ella scribbled down a note. Tore it from the pad and handed it to the desk clerk.
“I’ll put this in his box. If he is here he will get it.” He said.
The clerk slid the note in the cubby hole behind the counter as Ella walked to the parking lot. Ella pulled from the parking space just in time to see the blue sedan on the other side of the lot. Damn stalker! She thought to herself. The stalker is around so much maybe I will pretend he’s my body guard. Ella wondered if the stalker was protecting her or was obsessed with her. She wondered if he was protecting her why didn’t he show his face? Was there a reason he couldn’t let his presence be known?
Ella drove out of the parking lot but didn’t notice the blue sedan following her. Maybe he’s given up for the day.
Ella didn’t know how to get in touch with Franks father. Frank helped him move to an assisted living home in Sacramento. But she didn’t know anything about it. He wouldn’t be able to help anyway and if Frank wanted to talk with Ella he would call. She didn’t have any information on Linda and wouldn’t want to concern her. Maybe he’s with Linda.
Ella drove back over to the hotel and checked the cubby hole where the desk clerk stuffed the note in the cubby hole. The note was still there. Which meant Frank had not returned to the hotel? Ella knew she must get to the FBI office in Baker first thing tomorrow.
Ella’s night was filled with nightmares of bodies being stuffed in the freezer. Frozen over like blocks of ice. Screams of Paul and Nellie as they were being murdered. Paul helplessly looking on as every murderer had their way with Nellie. Laughing and cursing ran in Ella’s ears. How could anyone be so cruel? Freeze them preserve them like a game hunter would his kill.
Ella woke with a start. She set straight up in bed. Jumping from the bed she ran to the gapping drape pulled it wide open and gazed out into the night. The night was calm and peaceful not like her mind. A cloud moved across the full moon darkening the night sky. There was peace in the night but turmoil in Ella’s mind. This is way too much to handle she thought as she unclenched her fist released the drape and set it free.
It was a cold February morning hopefully the highway to Baker would be clear. A winter storm was in the forecast but Ella had to make it to Baker and hopefully she could beat the storm home. The trees are like skeletons on the horizon. The hillside spotted with patches of snow from the last storm. It was the dead of winter.
Ella dropped into the valley and the buzz of the cars filled her ears. This isn’t the place she would want to live. Baker is a town with a lot of industry. Causing smog to permeate the San Joaquin Valley. Many people live here but for Ella living over the mountain in the clean air is a privilege.
She remembered how to get to the Federal building and found a place to park a distance from the high rise building. The walk was refreshing. She ran the events of the past few days through her mind as she made her way through the crowds.
The federal office was located on the tenth floor. Ella was greeted by a nice lady dressed in a blue suit with small gold wire frame glasses.
“May I help you ma’am?” She asked Ella.
“Yes, I need to speak with Agent Peterson.’ Ella told her.
“I need to know the nature of your business.”
Ella took a big breath and said, “It’s about a homicide.” She said quietly.
The greeter buzzed someone and announced. A lady needs to speak to someone about a homicide.” The lady in blue relayed the message.
“I’ll be right out.” The deep voice replied.
Agent Peterson opened the door.
“Ms. Smith, nice to see you again. Let’s go back to my office where we can discuss what’s on your mind.” He said as he showed her to his office. He escorted Ella to the same leather chair she sat in when she and Frank visited the agency. Agent Peterson sat behind his desk.
“Do you have more information to tell me?” He asked as he turned his tape recorder on.
“I came to talk to you about the bodies my e
mployee and I found frozen in a deep freeze in a secret room we found by accident in my shop.
“Wait a minute, slow down. I don’t have any knowledge of bodies in a deep freeze.” Agent Peterson said as he set forward in his chair.
“You didn’t receive a call about the bodies? My friend, Frank called the agency from my shop phone. Two men wearing coverall’s with ‘FBI” on the back of the coverall’s came in a van truck and loaded the deep freeze.” Ella told him.
“Did they show you credentials?” Agent Peterson asked.
“I think maybe someone flashed a badge but I didn’t pay much attention. They had FBI on their coverall’s. I assumed they were your agents. One man was Hispanic the other walked with a limp. I didn’t get a good look at either.
Would you like a glass of water?” He asked.
“That might help, my mouth is dry.” Ella said as Agent Peterson put a glass of water in her hand. Ella took a big drink and set the glass on the desk.
Ella, we don’t have a record of anything you have told me today.” Agent Peterson said shaking his head.
“I don’t understand…” Ella became quiet.
“Frank was supposed to call the FBI to report the bodies. I can’t believe what I’m thinking. Could Frank must be in on all this murder. But he’s a nice guy.”
“Sometimes people aren’t so nice when money is involved.”
“I’m going to call Agent Bill Harris and put him on this. Agent Harris is working under cover in Coopersville trying to put a stop to and arrest the people involved in body smuggling in the Coopersville area. He seems to run into a block wall every time he thinks he’s getting close to solving the case. Do you have a picture of Frank Smith?”
“Yes, I have a small picture in my wallet. It was taken a couple years ago but he hasn’t changed much.” Ella said as she plundered through her overstuffed purse. She located her wallet, pulled Franks picture from its home between the clear plastic and handed the picture to Agent Peterson. Ella felt like she was turning her back on a good friend.
“Ms. Smith you must keep this to yourself. We will start a search for the deep freeze. A deep freeze won’t be easy to hide. Go about your business as usual.” Agent Peterson told her.
As soon as Ella walked out of his office Agent Peterson was on the phone with Agent Harris. He explained everything Ella told him.
“Let’s put an all points bulletin out on Frank Smith. She left a picture of him. This may be our lucky break.” Agent Peterson told Agent Harris.
Upon Ella leaving the hotel late February 14th. There was a knock at Frank’s hotel door.
Frank thought Ella was back maybe she forgot something went through his mind. Just as Frank unlocked the door two men in ski masks holding pistols pushed their way through the door.
Frank didn’t resist knowing this must have something to do with the frozen bodies. He didn’t want to do anything to put Ella in harms way. He pushed a lamp over as he walked out the door. Maybe this would be a sign of a struggle when someone decides he’s missing.
They put him in a van, tied his wrists together and blindfolded him. They drove a few miles and loaded him in a helicopter and flew for what seemed hours. Frank didn’t have a clue where they were taking him. Surely someone would realize he was missing.
He knew Ella would call the hotel but would probably figure he went back home. The captors spoke in Spanish. Frank is fluent in Spanish but he wasn’t about to let them know.
The helicopter smelled of nasty cigars. The Mexican men kicked Frank around but didn’t hurt him. It was more of a game with them.
The helicopter descended to the ground and the door opened. Frank could see the sun coming up through the slit in his blindfold. It was cold he could feel the sand under his feet as he walked for quite a distance. A rifle jabbing his ribs with every step. The men tied his feet and threw him in the shack.
He heard the helicopter ascend. Frank knew his transportation out of this hell hole was gone. For God’s sake why has he been kidnapped and where is he?
The blindfold was still covering his eyes. The shack had a dirt floor. The cold early morning air was brisk. He cuddled in a corner. Frank heard the door slam as the captors left the shack.
“Hey, take this damn blindfold off. I don’t know where I’m at and I sure as hell can’t run.” He yelled.
Hours passed and no one came by to check on him. Frank managed to untie his feet. Giving him a chance to stretch his legs. There wasn’t a window in the building or at least not one Frank could see from the slit in his blindfold.
He was shivering from the cold. He knew when the sun was high it might warm up some but he also knew the desert nights are very cold in February. He could hear voices outside his door. Discussing whether to give him a blanket or not. He heard a female voice.
“Give the bastard a blanket we need to keep him alive.”
A senorita busted through door tossing a blanket in Frank’s direction.
“Hey good lookin’ you untied your feet. Don’t matter there’s no where to run out here in this God forsaken hell hole. You would just die in the desert and the vultures would feast on your pretty ass. You best stay put for your own good.” She told him as she ripped the blindfold from his head.
The lady was young maybe in her mid thirties. Maybe she would help him if he was nice to her. He thought. An attractive Mexican woman but rough around the edges. Her hair black, wavy and fell to her waist. She pulled it back and tied a scarf to keep it from her face. Her jeans were worn and her blouse was off the shoulder, moccasin’s covered her dirty feet. Frank wondered what they wanted with him. What were they planning on doing with him? He certainly didn’t have any money and his dad’s pension wasn’t much. This has got to go a lot deeper than money. No one knew he and the ladies found the deep freeze. No one but the FBI and he called the office in Baker and reported it to the dispatcher in charge that night. He requested they not call the office in Coopersville.
Is the whole damn FBI corrupt? Frank thought to himself.
The captors brought a bowl of cereal with nasty milk in the mornings and at night they brought cold tacos laden with lard. So much lard it coated his tongue. They supplied him with a jug of water. Once in the morning and one time before dark they took him to a make shift toilet. A hole in the ground, the stench was so vile he gagged. The one good thing about going to the toilet not only to relieve himself, they untied his hands. He rubbed his hands trying to keep the circulation going. The ties cut into his wrists. Frank knew he needed to keep the circulation going as much as possible or gangrene would set in and his hands would need to be amputated or he would die. He knew he wouldn’t be any good to them dead.
Frank started a calendar in the corner on the dirt floor. He knew he was abducted on February 14th. He marked off each day. Day ten arrived and he was still living in the shack.
When the suns went down the men built a fire and danced around the fire. Drinking themselves to a stupor. They had their way with the young woman. Each throwing her from one to the other. Frank could hear what was going on and it made him sick to think men were so disgusting.
Frank wished he knew what was going on in the real world. This was hell, no place for a human to live. There must be a reason I’m here. But, what is it? He asked himself. The nights are dark, he could hear the hissing of snakes around the shack. Coyote’s barked in the distance. The sound of buzzards wings fluttering overhead. The wind howling through the cracks in the shack made the night even colder. Frank wrapped the blanket tightly around his body and propped up in a corner.
The helicopter descended early one morning. Day fifteen if Frank has his calendar correct. He heard a voice without an accent. The man walked past the shack. Frank looked between the boards of the shack and caught a glimpse of the stranger. He didn’t recognize the man dressed in a white suit with a wide brimmed white hat.
Everyone followed the man into another shack. Frank wanted to know what was going on. He got to his feet and
hobbled to the shack. He leaned against the back wall. He could hear one man without the accent talking. He spoke of a van ready to take a load of Mexican men to the United States. He talked about the last van not taking care of business and being gunned down by the FBI. He warned the men. Do not let this happen again. You get the bastard’s to the drop-house and if the family doesn’t pay the ransom in three days you take them to the desert and blow their friggin’’ heads off. We aren’t taking anymore chances.
Frank knew the meeting was about to end. He ran as best he could back to the shack hoping not to be seen.
He watched the men bowing to the stranger in white. He noticed a red carpet on the ground for the bastard to walk on. This must be the leader of the Coyote’s. Frank got a good look at the mad man. He didn’t know him although he looked familiar. He would be able to identify him if he ever saw freedom again.
The big black bird sprouted wings and was up and away carrying the mad man dressed in white.
THIRTY-THREE
Mark Brandon stopped off at the flower shop to remind everyone about the Wilson’s barn dance. An annual event for the town folk. They have the dance every year in celebration of the first day of spring. The event is the third Saturday evening in March.
“The weather will be starting to be nice the end of March.” Mark said as he pushed his cowboy hat back heading out the door. Looking back over his shoulder he reminded Ella she owed him a dance.
“Thought I took care of that at the New Year’s Eve party at my house.”
Ella hadn’t heard anything from Agent Peterson. She and Alicia were wondering why. The phone rang.
“Good morning, Ally’s Flower Shop, may I help you?”
“May I speak with Ella Smith?” A deep voice came from the hollow of the phone.
THE BLUE STALKER Page 25