by Mac Fortner
Chapter 16
The guests started arriving around two o’clock. The list had definitely grown from the intimate little wedding Chad had agreed to.
His parents, Chesterfield and Addie, arrived and were directed to our room. Hugs and kisses all around. It was good to see them again.
His mother excused herself and went back downstairs to mingle with the guest.
“Dad, have you talked to Robert today?”
“Yes, I just saw him downstairs at the bar.”
“Great. Is he doing okay? I mean does he look upset?
“Seems fine to me. Why?”
“Oh, nothing much. We just had a little disagreement.”
“Well, you know Robert; he’s probably forgotten about it by now.”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Would you care for something to drink Chester?” I asked.
“Don’t mind if I do,” he said.
“Follow me,” I said.
I led him down the hall to yet another bar.
“My god, this place is fantastic.”
“I know. I hope Chad moves in here and brings me with him,” I said.
We fixed our drinks and took a small tour of the area before we returned to our room. Chad was hanging up his phone when we entered.
He looked pale.
“What’s the matter?” I said.
“That was Robert. He told me why he was so upset. It appears Alexis called him last month and assured him, that we would help him financially, and if I died, he would inherit five million dollars.”
“Did you know that?”
“No, I had no idea.”
“Wonder why he would be mad about that?” I said.
“He said it sounded like she was hinting to him, that my death would be beneficial to him.”
“Do you believe she would insinuate something like that son?” Chester said.
“No. I think Robert misunderstood. I tried to tell him that, but he insisted he understood very well.”
“What do you think Cam?” Chester said.
“I agree with Chad, but if it makes everyone more at ease, I’ll check into a few things.”
“No,” Chad said, “I don’t want to start this marriage out investigating my wife.”
“Very well Chad,” I said, “I’ll be here for you if you need me, but I think her father will kill you first anyway.”
“Crap, I had almost forgotten about that.”
“Shall we refill?” I said, holding up my empty glass.
“Might just as well,” Chad said.
~***~
Andrei arrived back in New York at Two o’clock. He dropped his rental car off at Hertz and took a taxi to the Viceroy New York Hotel. He checked in under the name Demyan Minsky. Demyan meaning, “to kill.” He always liked that name. It made him feel charged.
He fixed a bourbon, ran a hot bath and climbed in. Tomorrow was going to be a busy day. The day after would be very hectic.
~***~
The wedding went off without a hitch. I think Alexis was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen, that is, after my own wife, Melinda.
I congratulated Chad and kissed Alexis. We danced and drank the night away.
Robert and Chad seemed to get along just fine as if nothing had happened.
Kailey Arlington asked me to dance. I reluctantly accepted. She held me close and pressed her breasts firmly to my chest, and I mean firmly.
“Want to come see my bedroom?” she whispered.
“I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
“I do, but I wouldn’t want to force you. We’ll be around each other often now. I’ll get you sooner or later.” She kissed me and walked away.
I looked around to see if anyone saw us. Several people, who I didn’t know were looking at me.
“That’s all I need,” I murmured.
I didn’t see her anymore that night. She must have found a taker.
Around nine-thirty, I said my goodnights and took the limo back to my place.
My apartment door was ajar. This was never good. I drew my gun and entered quietly. I heard someone in the kitchen going through my cabinets, so with my pistol held in front of me, I came in low and fast.
“Where do you keep your wine glasses?” Kailey said.
“Shit, you scared me. I could have shot you.”
“How would you explain that to my husband?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Looking for a wine glass.”
“Over there in the dry sink,” I said, pointing to the corner.
She walked to the dry sink, removed two wine glasses and her dress and walked back to where I was standing, my mouth agape.
“Corkscrew?” she said.
I just stared, still trying to comprehend what was going on. She was a beauty, but she was married, and her husband was deadly.
“Corkscrew?” she said again.
“Look Kailey; you really need to put your clothes back on and leave. You’re stunning and a very nice person, but I don’t date married women.”
“Wow, you’re beautiful and have morals. There’s a lucky girl somewhere. Why isn’t she here tonight? I am.”
“Please, let’s don’t make a big deal of this. I’ll call my limo to take you home.”
“I don’t want to go yet,” she said. With that, she removed the rest of her clothes.
Christ, this was getting crazy. What can I do? I can’t dress her. If I get that close to her, I’ll never get away. I can’t call Chad. I’m sure he has his own hands full by now. Then my worst nightmare happened. From my front door, which I left open, I heard; “Cam, it’s me, Robin.”
Chapter 17
We’re in the kitchen,” Kailey said as if she were inviting in our best friends.
Oh shit, nowhere to hide. I thought about climbing into a cabinet, but I knew Kailey would give me up. I could lie on the floor and then tell Robin she knocked me unconscious when I came in.
Then before I could come up with an excellent plan, Robin was in the kitchen.
“Uh, what is this?” Robin said, looking at Kailey.
I couldn’t speak.
“This is Kailey,” Kailey said, extending her hand to shake Robins.
Robin didn’t reciprocate.
Kailey withdrew her hand. “Let me get you a glass,” she said.
Kailey walked back to the dry sink and removed another wine glass.
I looked at Robin, who was still looking at Kailey. When she looked at me, I just shrugged my shoulders, as if this was the first I noticed Kailey too.
Robin gave me the look.
“May I ask what’s going on here?” Robin said calmly.
“Well,” I said, “This is Chad's mother-in-law, and uh….”
“Is he always this short and sweet with his explanations?” Kailey said and poured three glasses of wine.
She handed me one, which I took, then offered one to Robin, which she took.
“Thank-you,” Robin said. “Are you chilly?”
“No, I’m fine thank-you,” she said,
I turned to Robin, who was looking at me.
“Cheers,” Kailey said and downed half her glass.
Then they were both looking at me.
“I wish I could explain, but I don’t know where to start,” I said.
“Kailey, would you like to explain?” Robin said curtly.
“Sure. I’ll give him a break. I thought he was cute, so I left the wedding before he did, and came here. I have ways of getting in anywhere. Money will do that. Anyway, when he came home, about five minutes before you, I took off my clothes and tried to seduce him. He turned me down and told me to leave. Then you came in and, well, you know the rest.”
“Cam?” Robin said.
“I couldn’t have done better. That’s what happened.”
“I guess I could still hang around if the two of you could use a third for the night,” Kailey said.
“Cam?” Robin said again,
her tone sounding a little sharper now.
“No Kailey. I think you had better leave,” I said.
“How did you get in here?” Robin said. “This place is supposed to have excellent security.”
“My private security guard let me in,” she said.
“How did he do that?”
“You ask a lot of questions. What are you the FBI?”
Robin pulled back her jacket and flashed her FBI badge.
“Well fuck me,” Kailey said. “You are. That’s hot.”
“I think you should go,” Robin said.
Kailey set her empty glass down on the counter and slowly dressed. “I hope we can do this again sometime,” she said.
She picked up her handbag, turned and kissed me then turned back around and kissed Robin. “Call me some time,” she said to Robin. “I know my way out. Toodles,” she said as she walked out the door.
Robin looked at me.
“How was your night?” I said.
“Cam, how can one guy get in so much trouble so often?”
“I don’t know. Karma I guess,” I said, shaking my head.
“What would you have done if I hadn’t come in?”
“I don’t know. I’m glad you did.”
“Well, never mind for now. I need a drink,” Robin said, surrendering.
I fixed us both a Wild Turkey on the rocks. I gave her hers and watched her drink half of it down. I kind of wish she would yell at me or something. It’s as if she doesn’t care.
“Why are you back in New York? Did you get your man?”
“No. I just came back to get some clothes. I think it might take a few days. We believe he’s still there.”
“What makes you think that? He probably killed the Senator last night. He could be long gone.”
“There was another call intercepted last night. It was to the assassin from a burner phone. The call was traced to DC. He has orders for another hit, but not until he’s told to. It sounded like the Senator wasn’t even a target.”
“What about the first killings?”
“He wrote on the back of his card. This is the first time he ever did that.”
“What did it say?”
“This was just for fun.”
“Cold guy,” I said.
“Yeah, he is. They needed killing, but wow.”
“When do you have to go back to DC?”
“Tomorrow afternoon.”
“Good, you can spend the night here with me.”
Robin looked at me, “Do you think I already forgot about Kailey?”
“You know that wasn’t my fault.”
She thought for a minute, “Okay, but you better be thinking about me.”
Chapter 18
The next morning Andrei rolled out of bed at six-thirty, hit the button on the coffee pot and took a hot shower. The room was adequate, but not exactly the five-star he was used to. He poured his coffee and pressed the button on his voice recorder. He listened intently. He could hear someone moving around. It sounded as if they were making breakfast.
He drank his coffee, leaving the machine on. The voices began. He smiled at the conversation. “Poor guy,” he said aloud.
When he finally heard the part he was waiting for, he changed channels and listened to another conversation. They would all be recorded so he could listen at his leisure.
Andrei opened the case and removed his rifle. He disassembled and cleaned it. The job ahead would call for precise accuracy. This will be a real challenge. It might be the most fun he ever had on a hit.
~***~
Chad and Alexis spent most of the day in bed. Around noon Chad went to the market and bought two Filet Mignons. He was in a fantastic mood today. Alexis was the girl of his dreams, the weather was perfect, and he was wealthy. Filthy rich.
Then he thought about what Robert had told him about his suspicions of Alexis. That was crazy. She would never do anything like that. He was sure.
Now, if Alexis died, he would be very rich also. Didn’t Alexis tell him they had to be married for a year for her to inherit all her money, and then ten years for her to keep it? I guess if he died, though, it would still count.
Why in the hell was he thinking about all of that? Was he trying to ruin a perfect day? “Get a grip and push all those thoughts out of your mind Chad,” he thought.
Andrei watched as Chad left the market and hailed a taxi. “This will be fun.”
~***~
I escorted Robin to the FBI building at one o’clock. We didn’t talk much, and I had the feeling she might still be mad about finding a naked woman in my apartment.
“Are we good?” I asked her.
“Yeah, we’re good. I could tell by the way she kissed me and you when she left that she didn’t care who she fucked as long as she fucked someone. I could see her doing exactly what she said she did.”
“Yes, she is a little forward.”
We laughed.
“Are you worried about Bloodshot?”
“Yes, he’s changed his MO. That worries me. He’s up to something big this time. I’m sure of it.”
“Be careful. I don’t want you getting hurt.”
“He probably doesn’t know I even exist, but he does know the FBI is looking for him. That’s why he left the first card on those gang-bangers. He loves teasing us.”
The cab pulled to the curb in front of her building. “I love you,” I said and kissed her.
“I love you too,” she said. “Try to stay out of trouble this time while I’m gone.”
“I’ll try,” I said. “Promise.”
~***~
It was Sunday, and I had no plans, so I dressed in my running clothes and went to the park. I ran harder than usual. The more I thought about Kailey and Robin the more I ran. None of it was my fault, but now I have two women I have to tip-toe around. I wished I was back in Key West.
That’s when I decided that I was finished with New York. I had a good life as a private investigator in Key West. I don’t need my license to practice law. No one likes lawyers anyway.
I was still running, but I was much lighter. A load had just been taken off my back. I’ll stay long enough to tie loose ends with my cases for Chad. Then I was gone.
I finished my run with a big smile on my face.
Andrei stood across the street and watched Cam return from his run. He looked happy. He won’t be tomorrow.
Chapter 19
I received a call early the next morning. It was Chad.
“Good morning lover-boy,” I said.
“I didn’t know it was going to be this good. You should jump in the water yourself,” Chad replied.
“No thanks. Not just yet. I think I’ll wait a few more years. Maybe I’ll find a rich one too.”
“There aren’t anymore.”
“There’s one. Your mother-in-law paid me a little visit a few nights ago, after the wedding.”
Chad sat up straight. “Do tell.”
“Later. It’s a funny story. I don’t want you to have to explain why you’re laughing.”
“Okay, but don’t forget the story.”
“Not a chance. What’s up?”
“I’m going to be in a little late this morning. Just wanted to give you a heads-up.”
“Take the day off. We don’t have any court cases today. I can handle it.”
“I’ll check in sometime today. How’s the Bloodshot case going?”
“Haven’t heard anything yet. It could take a while,” I said, thinking I wish she’d call. I worry about her, in particular in a case like this. He’s outsmarted them before.
“Let me know if you hear anything. I’ve been thinking about her.”
“You’ve been thinking about Robin, while you’re in bed with your wife?”
“Sure. Who do you think about when you’re in bed with Robin?”
“Robin, of course. She said I had to.”
Chad laughed. “I can’t wait to hear your story.”
�
��Enjoy your morning. I’ll see you later today.”
“Good-bye,” Chad said and hung up.
Andrei turned off the listening device. “Good to know,” he said.
~***~
I worked in the office until noon. I hoped to have lunch with Chad, but since I hadn’t heard anything from him yet, I left to get a bite to eat.
I chose the hotdog stand on the corner a block away. “One chilly dog with cheese,” I said.
“These things are going to kill you, Cam,” Arnie the vendor said.
“You shouldn’t tell people that. It could be bad for business.”
“I figure it’s kind of like putin’ the warning on a cigarette pack. You can’t sue me ‘cause you’ve been warned.”
“Maybe you’ve got a point there. Extra cheese please.”
Arnie gave me a look. “You live on the edge, don’t ya?”
“That I do.”
~***~
Andrei parked the stolen SUV on the third floor of the parking garage. He still had fifteen minutes before the target would arrive. From his vantage point, he had a clear view of the spot where he knew his target would be standing. Removing the rifle from the case, he assembled it, slid in the magazine and inserted a bullet into the chamber. One shot is all it would take, but he always liked having the fifteen extra rounds just as a precaution.
He opened his soft drink and took a big swallow. A little extra caffeine was always good. His father told him to always be sharp before a hit.
He saw the blue limo pull to the curb across the street. Andrei raised his rifle and placed the barrel on a pad he had laid on the wall. His crosshairs were lined up on the door, waiting for it to open.
There it was. It opened, and the man stepped out and closed the door. The profile was perfect. Andrei didn’t hesitate. He lined the crosshairs and squeezed the trigger. The bullet found its target.
Andrei watched the commotion across the street. He had made a good shot from the parking garage. He left his card on the wall and placed a brick on it, and stowed the rifle back in its case. Taking the elevator down to the first floor, he left the parking garage at the opposite end, away from the carnage on the sidewalk. “One down, three to go,” he said.