by Mac Fortner
Tracy fixed another drink. Halfway through it she set it down on the table and walked to the wall closest to Kailey’s room. She stood on her tiptoes and looked at the vent.
She looked worried. She went to the table and picked up a chair taking it back to the wall with her. She stood on the chair and looked in the vent again.
“Son of a bitch,” she growled. Her teeth gritted. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
Kailey surmised Tracy didn’t have the diamond anymore. Someone stole it.
Tracy dressed and started for the door. Then she turned and came to Kailey’s door separating the rooms. She tried the door. Of course, it was locked. She went back to her door and left the room.
Kailey called me as I was on my way home.
“Cam, where are you?”
“On Roosevelt, heading back to Dave’s house.”
“Turn around and come toward The DoubleTree. Tracy is leaving, and we need to follow her.”
“Where’s she going?”
“Someone has stolen the diamond from her, and I think she’s going to get it back.”
I turned around and kept an eye out for Tracy’s car. There wasn’t a real good chance I would see her.
Kailey called me again. “She’s heading out of the parking lot toward Highway One.”
“I’m there,” I said. “I’ll turn now and be in front of her.”
“Will she make you?”
“I doubt it. I’m in a 1995 LaBaron. Black and rust, with a big dog in the passenger seat.”
“Sounds safe.”
“I’ll explain later.”
A minute later and Tracy was tailgating me. “I’ve got her,” I said.
She pulled out to pass me. I ducked my chin and looked the other way. She flew around me.
“She’s in a hurry,” I said. “Now she’s on her cell.”
“Don’t lose her.”
“How’d you know about the diamond?”
“I was going to steal it myself, but she found it was already gone before I could get to it.”
“She’s pulling into the gas station.”
I watched Tracy pull to the side of the gas station. I pulled in to but kept my distance. She sat in the car and waited. Five minutes later a sheriff car pulled in beside her. She got out and climbed into the sheriff car.
“It looks like she’s having a meeting with Toby,” I said.
“That figures. She probably thinks either he stole it, or he knows who did.”
“I wouldn’t want to be them right now.”
Chapter 58
Tracy got back in her car and left the station. She looked mad. I guess I would be too if I lost a fifteen million dollar diamond. The sheriff car started and I slid down in the seat. After I heard it pass I got up and started my car. I followed Tracy again.
“She just left,” I said to Kailey.
“Yeah, she just passed me. I’m gonna follow her for a while,” Kailey said.
“I think we need to get Robin involved. With her badge, she could question the hotel to see who’s come and gone from Tracy’s room.”
“You’re right, Cam. I can’t hide the truth any longer. It’ll come out that I hired Bloodshot.”
“Just deny it, Kailey. You didn’t sign any contract, and as far as we know, Bloodshot didn’t know who hired him.”
“That’s true, but Tracy sure seems to have figured it out.”
“I think she’s bluffing. I don’t think she has any proof,” I said. “No matter what comes up, you just stick to your story. We’ll make her look like a vengeful murderer.”
“Okay, I hope it works,” Kailey said.
She followed Tracy back to her hotel.
“She’s going back to her hotel,” Kailey said.
“Okay, I’ll see you tonight when you come to walk Walter.”
“Tootles, Cam. Tootles, Walter.”
We hung up, and I called Robin.
“Hi, Cam.”
“How’d you know it was me? I’m on my burner.”
“I know the number. Photographic memory, plus I put it in my phone. You came up on caller ID.”
“Is that safe?”
“You came up as Walter.”
“Smart,” I said.
“Whatcha need?”
“I think it’d be a good idea for you to go to the DoubleTree and ask some questions about who’s been visiting Tracy. Kailey learned that someone stole the Foxhound from her. When Tracy discovered it was gone, she jumped into her car and met up with Toby.”
“Toby?” Robin said. “At least we know they’re in cahoots, but I just saw Toby about five minutes ago.”
Well, she met someone in a sheriff car. Wonder who?”
“Don’t know, but I’ll head over to the DoubleTree right now,” she said.
“Tracy just arrived there. We should probably wait until she’s gone.”
“I’ll get someone else from the FBI to question the staff. It probably wouldn’t do for her to see me there.”
“However you want to do it,” I said.
“Should I ask you how Kailey learned about the diamond?”
“No.”
“I’ll talk to ya later.”
Walter and I went back to Dave’s house. When we turned onto the street, Walter started barking. I think he was glad to be home. He jumped out and peed on the tire again and then ran for the door.
When he got inside, he made a b-line for the food bowl. After a drink of water, he scarfed down his food. Poor guy has probably been starving all day.
When he finished, he looked at me.
“Nothing going on here,” I said.
He turned and retreated to his bedroom.
Diane called and wanted to know if she should come and walk Walter. I told her of our adventures and that Walter was resting.
“Kailey is coming tonight,” I said.
“Think you’ll get lucky?”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Goodbye, dad.”
“Goodbye.”
~***~
Kailey returned to the hotel, managing to get to her room before Tracy saw her. She flipped on the laptop and pulled up Tracy’s room.
Tracy was sitting at the kitchen table. There was a rifle case on the table and a disassembled rifle next to it. Tracy was cleaning it. When she finished she assembled it and pointed it out the window, adjusting the site.
Then she pulled a handgun from her purse and took it apart and cleaned it as well.
These were her assassin tools. Kailey thought the rifle might even be her brothers, Bloodshot.
I think someone’s in real trouble, Kailey thought. She looks ready to kill.
Tracy oiled the handgun, assembled it and put it in her purse. She then broke the rifle partially down and placed it in the case.
She pulled out her cell phone and made a call.
“Meet me at Cudjoe Key. Blimp road and Spain Boulevard. I can follow you from there. The diamond had better be there.”
Tracy was quiet while she listened.
“No,” she said. “Now!”
She listened again.
“You had better not be screwing me around. Call me when you’re ready,” she said and hung up the phone.
Kailey watched as Tracy picked up a glass off the table and hurled it across the room. It shattered when it hit the wall.
It was almost time to go see Cam and Walter. Kailey programmed her cell phone into the laptop. Now she could keep an eye on Tracy from her phone.
She watched Tracy go into the bedroom. This was her chance to leave without getting caught.
When she stepped into the lobby, she noticed a man in a blue suit. He looked like FBI to her. She had dealt with enough of them to recognize one. He was questioning the lady who was working behind the desk. She looked worried.
Kailey called Robin.
“Robin, do you have an FBI agent in the DoubleTree?”
“Yes, I do. Are you there?”
“Yeah, I was just going to ask a few quest
ions,” Kailey lied, “but I guess you beat me to it.”
“Yes. You’d better leave before Tracy sees you.”
“I’m on my way out now. I’ve got something for you though.”
“Alright. Can you tell me over the phone?”
“Yeah, Tracy is going to meet someone at Cudjoe Key. I’m not sure when, but she’s going heavily armed.”
“How do you know that?”
“I have my ways. I’ll call you when she’s ready to go.”
“Okay, but don’t put yourself in danger.”
“I won’t. I’m on my way to walk Walter. I’ll call ya.”
“Bye.”
Chapter 59
FBI agent Daniel Riggs called Robin.
“Assistant Director Anderson, I have a report for you,” he said.
“Just call me Robin. Where are you?” she asked.
“Parking lot of The DoubleTree.”
“Meet me at the pier parking lot,” she said.
“Will do.”
Robin sat in her car at the pier going over her notes while she waited for Riggs. A black SUV pulled into the lot and parked next to her. She wondered why it was always a black SUV. You would think the FBI would try to be a little more inconspicuous. She made a mental note to talk to Lenley about that when she returned to LA.
Riggs stepped out of his car and looked around the lot. Robin lowered her window and waved at him. He walked to her car on the passenger side and opened the door.
“Anderson?” he said.
“Get in,” she said.
Riggs looked to be around forty-five. He was tall and well built.
Robin was impressed.
They sat in Robin’s car and went over the notes Riggs had taken from his interview of the bellhop, the valet, and the desk clerk.
“They said no one had been to see Tracy,” Riggs said. “After further questionings though, the bellhop said, only the Sheriff Department, but no visitors.”
“I asked if it was Sheriff Reynolds. He said no, it was one of his deputies.”
“One of the deputies?” Robin said.
“Yeah, he said he’s seen him there a couple of times. The last time was this morning, and Tracy wasn’t there.”
“Did he leave?”
“According to the bellhop, not for about a half hour.”
“So, Tracy was gone, and the deputy entered her room.”
“That’s what he said.”
Robin thought about that for a minute. Who was it?
“Would you mind going back and see if they have a camera in that hallway. I’d sure like to know which deputy it was.”
“Not a problem. I should have already done that.”
“If you find something call me immediately,” Robin said.
Riggs went to his car and left. Robin decided to go see Carey. She would wait for word from Kailey.
As Kailey was walking up the sidewalk to Dave’s house Sheriff Reynolds slid to a stop in the street and jumped out of his car. More like crawled out, but it seemed fast to him.
“Kailey,” he said. “Where are you going?”
Kailey froze. She had led the police to Cam. She didn’t say anything.
“What are you doing here?” he said drawing his gun. “Come to see Cam?”
“No,” Kailey said. “I came to walk Dave’s dog.”
“Sure,” he said. “Step aside.”
He pushed Kailey out of the way and went to the door.
He beat on the door, “Sheriff’s Department. Open the door, Cam.”
Nothing came from inside. “I’m warning you, open up or I’ll break the door down.”
“Calm down Toby,” Kailey said. “I told you he’s not here. I came to walk Walter.”
“Who’s Walter?”
“Dave’s Dog. Dave’s out of town and asked me if I would watch his dog. I don’t know where Cam is.”
“Open the door,” he demanded.
Kailey pulled the key from her pocket and made a production of finding the right one.
“Here it is,” she finally said.
She opened the door, and Walter jumped on her, knocking her back into Toby. They both fell to the ground.
“Son of a bitch,” Toby said.
Kailey laid there and didn’t move.
“Are you okay, Kailey?” he said.
She didn’t move.
He bent over her and shook her. “Kailey!”
She opened her eyes but didn’t try to sit up. She needed to give Cam time to get out.
Toby raised her to a sitting position. “Can you stand?”
“Yeah, just give me a minute,” she said.
Walter stood at the door and growled lowly.
“That damn dog needs to be in the pound,” he said.
“He’s just protecting his house,” Kailey said. “What do you expect after you beat on his door and yelled at him?”
A couple of minutes later Kailey stood and straightened her clothes.
“Well, go on in Sheriff. Look for yourself,” Kailey said.
“I’m not going near that dog,” he said. “You go first. He knows you.”
Kailey looked at Toby and shook her head slowly. “You’re going to send me in first? What a gentleman. Let me get him locked in the bedroom. Then you can come in.”
“No way. You put him on a leash and hold him. I want to see in that bedroom,” Toby said.
“I’ll try,” she said, “Give me a minute.”
Kailey walked up to Walter who kept his eyes on Toby. She disappeared into the house, but Walter didn’t move. He kept the doorway blocked.
She made a quick tour of the house and was satisfied that Cam had gone out the back door. She grabbed the leash and put it on Walter’s collar. She pulled him back and told Toby to come on in.
I was in the alley behind the house with my suitcase. I packed it as fast as I could when I saw Toby stop in the street. I saw a man step into the alley a few houses down. He motioned at me to come to him. I did.
“Hey, Diane’s dad,” he said. “I’m Bobby. Come on in my house until the sheriff leaves.”
“Thanks, Bobby, don’t mind if I do.”
We went in his house. “Just have a seat there on the couch if you want. I’m gonna sit on the front porch and watch for him to leave.”
“Thanks again,” I said.
Toby walked through the house with Walter close behind. Kailey could barely hold him back. She knew if he really wanted to he could get away, but it seemed he was just trying to scare Toby. It was working.
After only a fast search Toby said, “Sorry Kailey. I thought maybe you came here to see Cam.”
“I told you, I don’t know where he is. It’s the truth.” And it was.
“Okay. Do you want me to stay while you walk him? This isn’t the best neighborhood.”
“No, but thanks. I just take him up the street a few houses and back. Let him do his business. Then I’ll watch TV with him for a while before I leave.”
“Okay, be careful,” he said tipping his hat and leaving.
When he closed the door behind him, Walter relaxed and started licking Kailey’s hand apologetically.
“Good boy,” she said bending down to hug him.
Bobby came back in and said, “He’s gone, but you better wait here a couple of minutes.”
“Thanks, Bobby. I’m Cam by the way,” I said shaking his hand.
“Yeah, I figured you were. I listen to the police radio.”
“Oh, they’re talking about me, huh.”
“Some.”
“I think I’ll call Kailey,” I said.
“She your other Daughter?” he asked.
“No, this one’s my girlfriend.”
“You’re the man,” he said and high fived me.
Chapter 60
Tracy decided it was time to call Toby and tell him the rest of the story. Things were getting out of hand.
“Sheriff Reynolds,” he answered.
“Toby, its
Tracy.”
“Good morning Tracy. What’s up now?”
“We need to talk. It’s important and something you need to know.”
“Okay. You want to come in here?”
“No. Meet me at Smathers Beach and don’t tell anyone where you’re going. Not even your deputies.”
“This sounds serious,” Toby said.
“It is. It could cost you sixty-thousand dollars.”
“I’m on my way.”
Tracy climbed into Toby’s car. She handed him a coffee from Starbucks and opened one for herself.
“This must be serious,” he said taking the coffee.
They each drank some of the coffee while Tracy thought of the best way to tell him.
“Okay,” she said. “Here it is. When we landed the sub on the beach that first night. Your deputy was sitting in his car with a young lady. He saw us but didn’t approach us. Maybe he was too busy with, whoever,” she said waving her arms. “But he did manage to take some pictures.”
“Wait a minute,” Toby said. “Which deputy.”
“Crane,” she said. “He’s been blackmailing me through this whole thing. He wants half the diamond.”
“Son of a bitch. Does he know I’m in it with you?”
“No. I don’t think so.”
“I never did like that guy. He hasn’t been here very long.”
“Did you do a background study on him?” Tracy asked.
“A little. He came here from New Jersey’s Sheriff’s Department.”
“Well, I guess if you had checked further you would have known he lost that position for sticky fingers with drug money.”
Toby sank in his seat. “You know that for a fact?”
“Yes, and now he broke into my hotel room and stole my Foxhound diamond.”
“You don’t have the diamond?”
“Not right now, but I’ll get it back,” she said.
“How do you propose to do that?” Toby asked.
“I have my ways. That’s not all though,” Tracy said. “You remember how you were doing surveillance on Danny Russel for fencing stolen goods?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, Crane was watching his house when I visited him. He went in when I left and found him dead.”
“He should have arrested you then,” Toby said.
Tracy laughed. “He took the same road you did sheriff. The money road. He wanted the money more than he wanted me, and so did you.”