Sure Thing walked over to join them. “Nothing on the phone, Jack. It’s a throw away. Made a couple of calls.”
“He left it there to taunt us,” Jack said. “He could’ve just as easily taken it with him. The only reason he left it was so we’d find the vehicle. He’s feeling pretty superior right now.”
Jack and Sure Thing stood in the garage, looking at the side of the truck with its scratches and dents. “Any ideas?” Jack asked.
“Nothing comes to mind, but we’ll keep working.”
“If Sandy’s phone comes on, locate it and call me. I’ll be having dinner with my wife.”
Chapter 22
The doors of the lock and damn opened and six larger boats and two kayaks slowly exited single-file, traveling south down the Mississippi, bypassing the impassable concrete apron and falls that made this part of the river famous. The people on the stone arch bridge watching the process waved to the people in the boats below before continuing on their walks across the bridge. Everyone was enjoying the break from the rain.
“Well, what do you think? Can’t you see yourself living here, close to work, low maintenance, and impressive architecture, one of the places to live in the Twin Cities?” The Governor asked. The balcony of the condominium offered a great view of the river. At this time of day, there were shadow outlines of the buildings across the ground, extending across the river as the sun traveled across the sky to the west.
“It’s nice. I thought it’d be noisier.”
“We’re too high. Once in a while you hear the locks bell ring or a tug horn signaling, but all the other sounds pretty much stay down below.” The Governor pulled a leather case from the inside breast pocket of his jacket and removed two cigars. He handed the cigar and cutter to the man leaning on the balcony railing. “Here, try one of these. I think you’ll like it.”
The man pulled the cigar along his upper lip, below his nose, and smelled it. “Nice.” He snipped the end of the cigar and put the freshly cut end in his mouth like a lollipop, wetting the rolled leaves prepping for a light. “Tastes good too.”
The Governor struck a wooden match on the side of the matchbox in his hand and held the flame under the end as the man rolled the cigar between his fingers for an even burn. The man inhaled and exhaled a few times until the end glowed, the smoke rolling around above their heads before the breeze carried it out towards the river.
Leaning against the railing, the Governor lit his own cigar. “Listen, James. You can’t afford not to buy this place. The view is great. Besides the location, the elegance, the area, the history, it’s a great investment. Development will be going on all around you. You’ll be one of the first ones in. Stay here two years. You don’t like it, sell it. You’ll make a killing.”
James laughed. “Hey, I think this is great.” He swung the cigar in his hand from the condominium balcony windows out towards St. Anthony across the river. “I’d love to live here. But, what did the sign downstairs say, from two hundred fifty thousand to a million? I’m sure this place isn’t at the lower end.”
“It’s not at the upper end either. You can afford it.” The Governor sat in one of the chairs on the balcony. “What’s this talk about money? You work at the Fed. You just walk in and print yourself up some money, right?”
“Right. I just walk in and say, I’ll take a million today, Charlie.” James joined the Governor and sat in the other chair on the balcony. “It’s amazing. Millions of dollars flying around on wires from this bank to that, but what do I get? My paycheck from Mr. Fed Chairman. I do all right. But, with the divorce, she took me to the cleaners and still gets more than her share every month. I don’t know how I could afford it.”
The Governor listened to James ramble as he enjoyed his cigar. He knew more about James than James did. He knew about the bank accounts James kept hidden from his wife, about the affair James’ wife was having with the neighbor in their suburban Burnsville home while James was at work and their daughter was in school. He knew how much James and his wife owed on the house they used to share and he knew why James’ wife asked for a divorce. In fact, he had sent the photos. The photos of James with his administrative assistant after work, and with her in the hotel room over lunch.
“Take another look at this view. It won’t be your last. Do you have any plans for the Fourth of July? We’re having an open house for special guests that night. Good food, beverages, a view of the fireworks over the river. Plenty of beautiful women.”
“I don’t know.”
“Think about it. It’ll be a great night.” The Governor stood. “Let’s go get some dinner and we can talk about financing options, I know some people. We’ll get this done for you and then we’ll celebrate at Sheiks and see if your favorite red-head is dancing tonight.”
Chapter 23
The reflection of the candle flames dancing in Julie’s eyes mesmerized Jack. Julie sat across from him, eating her garden salad and bread with garlic and olive oil. He missed this; eating with her, talking with her, her smile, her laugh. She looked up and caught him staring. She looked to see if she had spilled something down her front. He tipped his wine glass to her and swirled the merlot before taking a drink. Julie started to say something but the waiter interrupted her when he stopped by to scrape the breadcrumbs from the tablecloth.
“Jack, when you asked me out for dinner I didn’t expect something so nice. A sports bar or that Mexican restaurant you like would have been fine.”
“I know, but I thought you might like someplace a little quieter for a night away from the kids. Plus, I wanted to be able to talk to you.” Jack put his wine glass down and leaned forward. He wanted to reach across and take Julie’s hand, but he wouldn’t push it yet. First, a nice dinner, a conversation about their situation, what he might be able to do to get things back to normal, then he could push it a little. “I miss you, Jules, and the kids. Any thoughts about coming back yet?”
Julie raised her eyebrows. “Yet?” She settled back in her chair and crossed her arms. “Jack, it’s not like the kids and I went on a little vacation and we’re coming back next week. We left for a reason.”
“Yeah, I know. Well, I think I know.” How was he going to get this out of this rut? Trying to find something to do with his hands, he fiddled with the silverware and then grabbed the wine glass again. He tilted the glass from side to side and watched the wine slowly flow down the sides of the glass. “It’s the job. I’ve tried to spend more time with you and the kids and give the cases the time they need.” He looked up at her for some sort of acknowledgement. Getting none, he continued. “If it’s not that, you need to tell me. I’m trying, but I don’t know what’s not working.”
Julie uncrossed her arms and leaned forward. “I was so happy when you got assigned to Minneapolis, Jack. I know what your job is, what it means to you, why it’s important. It’s one of the things I love about you.”
Jack stopped swirling the wine at the L-word.
“Yes, Jack Miller. I love many things about you. But when you came home with the offer from the SAC to move to New York and said you had to think about it….” Julie looked away and gathered a thought. “I had to do something. I thought you got it, that I wanted us to stay here with the kids. No more moves. But, when you said you had to think about it? It just showed me we weren’t on the same page about where we’re at with our lives, what we want. I had to do something. I had to give you something else to think about.”
Jack knew Julie well enough not to say anything. It was best if he just paid attention and let her talk. They sat at the table looking at each other. Jack took another drink of his wine. Julie shifted in her seat. When the awkward silence became painful Jack decided he better say something. “Jules…”
The waiter interrupted him as he swooped in and placed their dinners in front of them. Jack rolled his eyes and glared at the waiter, and Julie giggled. The waiter stepped back and put his hands together. “Will either of you be needing anything else right now? So
me more wine, water?”
“No, thanks,” Jack said. Julie held her napkin to her mouth to cover her smile and shook her head.
After the waiter left, Julie put her napkin in her lap. “Did you pay him to come then?” she asked.
“Good timing, huh?”
“Changed the mood, that’s for sure.” Julie held up her wine glass and reached across the table. “Happy birthday, Jack.”
Jack touched his glass to hers and looked into her eyes. “Thanks, Jules. Thanks for coming to an early dinner with me tonight; thanks for being such a great mom to our kids, and thanks for loving some things about me.”
They ate their dinners. Jack tried some of Julie’s salmon and she tried a bite of his steak. They fell into a comfortable conversation talking about the Governor case, and Jack’s new partner, Ross.
“You call him Junior?”
“I’ve had worse nicknames.”
Julie laughed. “I’m saving those for when I really need to get you. I’ll just tell the kids what nicknames you had.”
Jack almost choked on a bite of his steak. “Please don’t. Can you imagine?”
Jack finished eating and placed his napkin on the table. “The Fourth of July’s almost here. What do you say to the family thing at Nicollet Island for the day? Tonight shows we can still get along. It’s a tradition I would love to keep going.”
“Let me think about it.” Julie looked at her watch. “I better go.”
“Yeah, me too,” he said. He stood up and walked Julie to the valet stand out by the front door. They stood at the curb waiting for Julie’s car to arrive. “Give the kids a kiss for me.”
“I will. I almost forgot I have to report back to them. What do you think about getting a dog?”
“A dog? I guess it depends what Grandma and Grandpa think. But I’m OK with it as long as they help take care of it.”
Julie’s car pulled to a stop in front of them. Julie turned to Jack and put her arms around his neck. “Happy Birthday.”
Jack held on to Julie, his arms around her waist. He didn’t want to let go. Her hair brushed his cheek and he could smell a familiar mixture of shampoo and perfume. It was her smell and he missed it.
Julie ended the hug and pulled away. “I have to go, Jack. I’ll let you know about the Fourth.” She took her keys from the valet, got in her car, and drove away.
“Sir?”
Jack pulled his eyes from the taillights of Julie’s car. His Cougar was waiting for him. He tipped the valets, squeezed into his car, and looked at his watch. Time to go pick up Junior and see if they could find Sandy.
Chapter 24
The pounding music and the flashing lights of the club created an atmosphere that the men liked. It was electric. The room oozed energy, lust, hormones, smoke, and money. The Governor and James sat at a table drinking scotch while they watched the women work the groups of customers in the room. The women were practiced. They could read the look in a man’s eye, his dress, his mannerisms, the style of his haircut, the condition of his hands and skin, and tell if he had money or not, if he was from out of town looking for fun and whether he was willing to trade some money for their attention.
James and the Governor were left alone. They belonged to somebody else.
James looked around the room. “Where is she?” He licked his lips and knocked back his drink. His words were beginning to slur and he was getting more boisterous. “I need some of that lovin’ tonight. And maybe a little celebration if I decide to buy that loft.”
The Governor signaled the waitress for another round of drinks. “Don’t worry,” he said. “She’s on tonight. She’ll be here. And, I’m sure she’s looking forward to seeing you. You two have really seemed to hit it off.” He looked at his watch and then around the room. Where was she? He looked at his watch again; to be late, tonight, of all nights. His hand instinctively slid to his belt and felt for his cell phone. Should he call her?
The waitress set their drinks on the coasters in front of them on the table. James leaned over to talk in the Governor’s ear. “Where is she?”
The Governor tried to avoid the spittle he felt pepper his ear and started to answer James’ question when he felt an arm around his shoulder. He looked back over his other shoulder and saw Sandy’s beautiful smile.
“Good evening, gentlemen.” Sandy spoke between James and the Governor so they could both hear her. She kissed James on the cheek and then kissed the Governor. “I’m so glad to see you both tonight.” Sandy walked around to face the men, dragging her fingertips along James’ neck, eliciting a shiver from him. When she got to the other side of the table, she leaned forward to talk to James, bracing herself with her arms on the table top, pushing her barely covered breasts together to further enhance her cleavage. “Is there anything in particular you had in mind for this evening?”
James stared at Sandy’s chest across the table, and then he looked up to her eyes. “We were just waiting for you.”
The Governor grabbed James by the arm. “Come on, James. Tell her the news. We plan to celebrate tonight.”
“Celebrate? Celebrate what?” Sandy asked.
James looked questioningly at the Governor.
“James, come on, tell her about the loft.”
“I’m thinking about buying a loft over by the river.”
“Thinking about it?” the Governor asked. “There’s nothing to think about. It’s yours. We’ll sign the papers tomorrow, but we’re celebrating tonight.”
Before James could protest, Sandy grabbed his hand and pulled him up from his chair. “Well, if we’re celebrating we need to move to some place more comfortable.” She started to lead James back to another room.
“Wait a minute. I need to visit the restroom before I get comfortable. I want to be able to give you my undivided attention. I’ll be back in a minute.”
The Governor and Sandy sat on the couch waiting for James. “Can you leave?” the Governor asked. “I want to take him to the boat?”
“If you pay for the time, we can leave.”
“OK, when he gets back, it’s your idea to go out there. It’s a beautiful summer night.” The Governor reached over and gave her hand a squeeze. “We get this info tonight and we’re home free.”
The Governor saw Sandy’s eyes move and turned his head to follow her gaze. James was wobbling back towards them with a couple of drinks in his hands.
James handed the Governor a drink and flopped down onto the couch, spilling some scotch onto his shirt. “Shit, that’s a waste of good scotch,” he said. He put his arm around Sandy’s shoulders. “A toast to kick off my celebration. To my friend, for finding me an investment, a home, a new start on life, and this beautiful woman.” James clinked his glass with the Governor’s. “Thanks.”
“Salud.” The Governor sipped his drink.
Sandy put her arms around James’ neck and spoke into his ear. “James, if tonight’s so special, why don’t you ask if we can go out on his boat and celebrate. It’s a beautiful summer night.”
James looked at the Governor, his eyes unfocused. “Hey, buddy. I’ve never been out on your boat. Why don’t we go out there and seal the deal tonight?”
“For some of my clients I take them out on my boat to celebrate. Why should tonight be any different?” The Governor looked at his watch. “Can you leave early and come out to the lake with us?” he asked Sandy.
“I’ll meet you at the door,” she said.
James turned to the Governor and put his arm around his shoulder. “Thanks, buddy. This is going to be a great night.”
Chapter 25
“Turn out the light!”
Tim flipped the switch to turn off the light that hung over the side of the small fishing boat, just above the water. The darkness of Lake Minnetonka immediately enveloped them. Clouds blocked out any moonlight. The only visible lights were the yellow electric lights from houses on the lake or flickering flames from fire pits along the shore. Plus, a few boats prowling the
lake.
Tim and Matt were brothers, sixteen and fourteen years old from Excelsior, a small town on the south side of the lake. This summer they had decided they liked to catch fish and found the best way to do it consistently was to go at night and hang a light over the side of the boat. They set up a lantern with a shade around it, directing the light down into the water, just the way their grandfather had taught them. They had doused the light a few times tonight when boats had passed them. They had been sitting on the edge of a weed bed, illegally shining light into the water to attract the fish. They also didn’t have any running lights, which were required out on the water after sundown.
Tim looked to the front of the boat where he knew Matt was sitting and waited for his eyes to adjust so that he could see him.
“What’s up?” Tim whispered.
“There’s a cruiser coming. Port side. Over there.” Matt pointed across the boat.
Tim couldn’t ever remember port from starboard and followed Matt’s outstretched arm to see what he was looking at.
The boys sat and waited as they did the other times this night, waiting for the boat to pass so they could get back to fishing. “It’s stopping. What do you want to do?” Tim asked.
The large, white, Sea Ray Sundancer coasted to a stop about one hundred and fifty feet from them. The boys crouched in the camouflaged duck boat and peered through the reeds at the cruiser glowing in the dark with the lights on the bridge and rear compartment blazing. The voice of Frank Sinatra carried over the water from speakers somewhere on the boat.
“Sit tight. I don’t think they saw us. Let’s just wait and see what happens. We can leave if we need to.” Matt said. The waves from the cruiser rolled across the lake and rocked the boys in their boat. They reeled in their fishing lines and waited.
In a few minutes, they saw two men with drinks in their hands gather at the rear of the boat. The soft murmur of voices and the occasional laugh carried across the water. A woman joined them.
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