by Mac Fortner
“How did he know a day ahead of time that she would be at the Osterman Boutique at eleven o’clock?” Bill said.
“I don’t know,” McNally said.
“Kailey, did you tell anyone you were going there?” Bill asked.
My stomach got weak. She had told me she was going there and that there was a hotel across the street.
“No, not a soul,” she lied.
Bill turned to McNally to speak. Kailey looked at me. I looked away.
“Find this man now,” he said. “And search my house for bugs. Someone has been reading our mail.”
McNally’s cell rang again. He listened intently. “Are you sure?” he said. He listened again. “I’ll be there in twenty-five minutes,” he said.
He turned to us, a puzzled look on his face. “There’s been another shooting on the other side of town,” he said. “They found a card that read “Bloodshot.”
“When did that happen,” I asked.
“About the same time as Kailey’s.”
“A copycat?” Bill said.
“Can’t be. No one knows about Bloodshot.”
I told McNally about the games in Ontario. “There were two shooters. They nicknamed the game Bloodshot.”
“Who was shot this time,” I asked.
“James Osborn. Do any of you know him?”
We all shook our heads no.
“It looks like a new game,” McNally said.
“If the shooter here is only shooting people in–our circle–so to speak, I wonder if the other group will be acquainted,” I said.
“We’ll check if it happens again.”
We left the hospital. Bill and Kailey returned to their home and Chad, and I went to my apartment. On the limo ride there, I told him about Kailey coming to my apartment again. He enjoyed the details too much. I explained to him about her telling me she was going shopping.
“What do you think?” he said.
“I think my apartment is bugged,” I said. “I think that’s how he has found out everything. I was going back over the other shootings. All three shootings occurred after someone standing in my apartment, said where they were going to be.”
“I have a team that can check your place out. Just be careful about what you say until then. I’ll send them over tonight,” Chad said.
“Thanks.”
Chad dropped me off and went to the office.
Bill and Kailey arrived at their home, and Bill walked her to the bedroom.
“You lie down for a while,” Bill said. “If you need anything ring the bell, I’ll come check on you.”
“Thanks, honey, I’ll be okay.”
Bill went to his office and made a phone call. It was answered with, “Hello Bill.”
Bill said, “Osborn has surfaced. His brother has been shot; just nicked.”
“You want me to check it out?”
“Yeah, take care of it.”
“As good as done.”
“First meet me at John’s Grill. I want to give you a calling card to leave on the body.”
~***~
I decided that I needed to talk to Diane. I sat down at the bar; not wanting my conversation listened to by Bloodshot.
I ordered a drink and dialed her number.
“Hi Daddy,” she answered.
I felt better already.
“Hey, Diane. I miss ya,” I said.
“Miss you too.”
“How’s life?”
“Not bad actually. My practice is going great guns. I might have to hire more help.”
“Great.”
“How are things in the Big Apple?”
“Crazy,” I said, dreading having to tell her about all that’s happened.
“What’s up?”
“Well,” I said, “remember me telling you about the Russian I met at the party?”
“Yeah.”
Then I told her the whole story.
“Oh Cam,” she said when I finished. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I'm okay. So is Chad, Robert, and Kailey.”
“If he missed you, do you think he’ll be back to get you?”
“Actually, I don’t know. Maybe.”
“Please come home. You can live with me until your boat is ready.”
“Can’t do that. I’m the only one who really knows what he looks like. It seems no one else at the party talked to him, so they don’t really know what he looks like. They don’t remember him.”
She was silent.
“I would like to tell you not to worry, but I know that wouldn’t do any good. I’ll be fine. Even the ones he hit are okay.”
“That doesn’t mean shit. He could accidentally kill you. You have to come home.”
“You know me better than that. I’m going to help finish this. Robin needs me.”
Silence again. “I love you,” she said weakly.
“I love you too. I’ve decided that when this is over, I’m coming back to Key West. I don’t need to be a lawyer. I liked being a private eye.”
“Please do.”
“I promise.”
Then I told her about Kailey and my two encounters with her in my apartment.
“Jesus Cam, the women just can’t keep their hands off you.”
“I know. Great huh?”
We laughed.
“Watch out for her husband. He sounds a little, let’s say–connected.”
“I’m keeping an eye on him.”
“Call me every day and let me know that you’re okay.”
“I’ll call you if anything happens.”
“Love you.”
“Love you too.”
Chapter 35
That night Chad called me and said his team would be over around nine o’clock.
They arrived on time. It took them an hour to find two bugs, one in the kitchen and one in the bedroom.
I told them to leave them in place. I would deal with them. We were very careful to not talk in the apartment.
How did they get here? Did someone break in and plant them. Kailey got in, so someone else could too. I don’t think she planted them since she was shot too.
I thought about Alexis. She had several opportunities to plant them, but I still don’t think she would.
Back to Kailey. She said her bodyguard let her in. If he let her in, he could get in any time he wanted. He could plant the bugs for Bill.
I decided the best thing to do was fix a drink. I did.
~***~
The next morning Andrei stepped off the airplane in Key West. It was a muggy ninety-five degree.
The stewardess, who had been talking to him and giving him free drinks on the flight from Miami, slipped him a piece of paper as he disembarked the aircraft.
He smiled at her and said, “I hope to see you again soon.”
“I hope you do, Demyan,” she said.
Andrei checked into the Galleon Resort in Key West’s old town. The room had a beautiful view of the marina.
A bottle of Premium Russian Vodka was sitting on the table. There was a note on it, I hope you save some for me; Julie.
The stewardess, Andrei thought. That’s why she wanted to know where I was staying. Andrei called her and thanked her for the Vodka. “I hope you will consider joining me tonight for a little celebration,” he said.
“I would love to. I’ll be there around eight-thirty.”
“I’ll see you then,” he said and hung up.
Andrei showered and changed into some more casual clothes. Shorts and a t-shirt would not draw any attention. He would blend in with the thousands of tourists that lined the streets.
He walked four blocks into old town, turned on Eaton Street and rented a bicycle. A little wobbly at first, he soon caught on. This was the first time he has ridden in over thirty years.
Andrei followed his GPS to William Street and then to Southard Street. He passed a row of Key West style homes. They were very colorful and well kept. Some, which were in need of repair, had scaffoldi
ng and dumpsters in the yards. They were trying hard to preserve the heritage of the Keys here.
He took note of a beautiful blue home with a full front porch. Diane’s house. He held his phone up and snapped a shot of it as he rode past. He would return later to meet Cam’s daughter.
Diane returned home around two-thirty. A short day at work, only three patients. She showered, changed clothes and called Jack Stiller, Cam’s friend and partner when he is working an investigation.
“Hey, Jack. Doing anything important?”
“Nothing could be more important than you,” Jack said.
“Then why don’t you take me to a late lunch?”
“Give me a half hour, and we’ll make it an early supper,” he said.
“Sounds great; I’ll meet you at Kelly’s around four-thirty,” Diane said.
“Be there or be square.”
They hung up, so Diane poured a glass of wine, picked up her new book, “Knee Deep” and took a seat on the front porch swing.
It wasn’t such a bad day for Key West. A rainstorm early this morning had cooled the temperature down a few degrees. Several tourists walked by just wanting to look at the neighborhood. A man on a bicycle with a ball hat pulled low, raised his phone and snapped a shot, as he passed, nearly falling in the process. He caught himself but not before hitting the curb. He fell slowly to the sidewalk.
“Are you okay,” Diane yelled. She jumped up and ran to the man lying in her yard.
“Yes, I’m good,” the man said in a slight Russian accent, “just a little embarrassed.”
Diane offered her hand and helped him up. “It’s been a while since I’ve ridden,” he said.
“They say you never forget, but that doesn’t mean you’re as good as you once were,” Diane said.
They laughed.
“I’m Demyan Minsky,” he said, offering his hand now.
“Diane,” she said, shaking his hand.
Now that she could see him better, he was quite handsome and not as old as she had first thought.
“Sorry to crash in your yard. Hope I didn’t hurt your landscape.”
“It doesn’t look like you did,” she said, glancing at the flowerbed he only missed by inches.
“Do you live near here?” she asked.
“I live in New York at the moment,” he said. “I came here to see the Keys. I think it would be a beautiful place to live. I have already met the prettiest girl in town, and quite by accident.”
Diane blushed. “You’re a fast mover, aren’t you?” she said.
“I am an opportunist,” he said.
She laughed.
“Maybe I could take you to supper tonight. I don’t like eating alone. People look at you as if you don’t have any friends,” he said.
“I’m sorry, but I already have a date with a friend for supper,” Diane said.
“Okay, what about dessert then. There must be a good dessert house around here.”
“There are plenty of those,” she said and looked at him thoughtfully for a second. He had beautiful blue eyes.
“Okay,” she said. “I’ll meet you at a little place called “Better Than Sex.” It’s a dessert only restaurant and excellent. How about six-thirty?”
“I will be counting the moments,” he said.
Andrei picked up his bicycle and mounted it.
“Be careful,” Diane said. “There’s a lot of traffic.”
Andrei smiled and waved nearly falling again.
Diane just laughed.
Chapter 36
I woke, not knowing that the assassin was stepping off the plane in Key West.
I was even more confused than the day before. The first thing on my mind was that there seemed to be two shooters now. If someone created a game, maybe no one we know is even involved with the planning. It could be that Bill and Alexis are both just future victims like the rest of us.
I dressed in my running clothes and went out the door. It was another cloudy day and looked as though it could rain at any minute. I stayed close to home running in a five-block area. When I was as far from home as I was planning to be, it started pouring rain. I ran into a coffee shop. I had to squeeze through the door, which was packed with men and women in business suits who had also gotten caught in the sudden rain.
I took a seat at a small table by the window and watched it rain. It was a beautiful site–the world getting a bath. God knows, it needed one.
A young, full faced waitress came to my table and asked if I wanted anything or was I just seeking shelter.
“Both,” I said. “I’ll have a cup of coffee, black, and one of those donuts I saw in the case when I entered.”
“Coming right up,” she said and disappeared into the crowd.
My cell rang. It was Robin.
“Good morning,” I answered.
“Not here, it isn’t,” she said.
“What’s the matter now?”
“Another shooting. Brady Osborn, James’s brother from yesterday.
“Same MO?”
“We found the card which read Bloodshot.”
“Which shooter was it?”
“Neither, different caliber and MO.”
“What was different?”
“He was shot in the head. He’s dead.”
“This is getting crazy.”
“Why didn’t you call me last night and tell me about a second shooter?” Robin said.
“Me? Why should I? I thought you and McNally were keeping up on that stuff.”
“Evidently not.”
“It’s not my job, and don’t rely on me to keep you informed,” I said.
“I was just hoping you would pass anything on to me that came across your desk.”
“What’s the matter, Robin?” I asked.
“Nothing.”
“Something is. You’re trying to push me away. You keep trying to pick fights with me.”
“I’m sorry. I think I might be trying to pick a fight with myself.” She hesitated. “I received another job offer–in LA.”
“Really? Doing what?” I said calmly.
“Executive Assistant for National Security,” she said, “It’s a big promotion.”
“It sounds big. We should be talking about this in person, though,” I said. “Don’t you think?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. You’re right, we should,” she said.
“Can we get together tonight,” Robin asked.
“I insist. Why don’t you come over around six? I’ll have a couple of steaks ready to grill, and we’ll pop a cork.”
“Sounds fantastic,” she said, a little more cheery.
I hung up and gave the conversation some thought. It will be a relief to her and me when I tell her that I’m returning to Key West anyway.
The waitress brought my coffee and donut. I thanked her, tore my donut in half and dunked one-half in my coffee.
It’s a good thing I work out every day because I love my sweets.
I finished my coffee and donut while reading the morning paper. There was mention of two brothers being shot, one fatally, two days apart, but no mention of Bloodshot.
Finding cards at both assassins’ shootings, leads me to believe that Bloodshot is not a man but a game. Or maybe both, and now a copycat.
The rain eased, so I decided to make a run for it. I paid the bill, left a tip and walked toward the door. A man was standing in the doorway. He wore a suit and hat. He glanced at me and turned his head away.
“Excuse me,” I said, as I accidentally bumped him.
“Sorry,” he said, in a thick Russian accent, and moved over a bit.
I looked at him again, and he turned away again.
I stepped out into the light rain and began running. I thought about the man in the coffee house. It seemed to me that he didn’t want me to see his face, but I did. I got a good look. Might not mean anything, but I’m quite paranoid nowadays. I stored his face in my memory bank. I reached my building. I was soaked, my running sui
t clinging to my body.
The doorman opened the door, and I stepped in. Once inside I turned and surveyed the sidewalks. I didn’t see anyone in a suit and hat.
Eric Meninx watched from his taxi as Cam entered the building. He looked at his watch and made a note of the time.
“Excuse me, mister Derringer,” the concierge said.
“Yes Paul,” I said.
“A young lady is waiting to see you in the bar area.”
“Thanks,” I said, and walked to the bar.
I saw Kailey sitting at a table drinking iced tea.
“Hello Kailey,” I said, approaching her table.
She looked at me. She didn’t smile. “What’s going on Cam?”
“I don’t know what you mean. About what?”
“You were the only one other than Bill, that knew I was going to the Osterman Boutique, and he didn’t know until that morning.”
“My apartment was bugged. We found two bugs last night. Someone has been spying on us. They knew where everyone was going to be. Chad, Robert, you and myself.”
Kailey looked at me wide-eyed. “Someone? You mean like a spy?”
“Kind of. They were spying on us anyway.”
“Did you get rid of the bugs?”
“Yes,” I lied. I thought it better not to tell anyone that we left one bug in place.
“I’m sorry Cam. I better not come to your apartment again until you’re sure the bugs are gone,” she said apologetically.
Really, I thought. Does she think I want her to come to my place?
“That’s alright Kailey, I understand. It would probably be better for all if you never came again.”
“That's a shame,” she said sadly. “I really enjoyed our conversation in the tub.”
“Yes, so did I.”
She stood and put her arms around me. “I’m sorry I was mad at you,” she whispered.
“That’s okay Kailey. I understand.” Looking down at her I said, “Now you’re soaked from hugging me.”
She kissed me again on the lips. “That’s okay,” she said. “And I’ll find a way to be with you.”
She turned and gathered her purse and umbrella. She gave me another light peck on the lips. “Toodles,” she said as she left the bar.