“Tavis Hunter. I’m a friend of Charley’s. I was here a few days ago but we didn’t meet.” He helped Rachel to her feet as the medics lifted her husband from the floor to a gurney.
“Where’s Charley?” Rachel asked her eyes following her husband out the door.
“She said she was stopping in at ABC trucking,” Kitty said. “Maybe she’s still there.”
“Whatever for?”
“Something about getting permission to use a video, I think the one she brought to the office to market commercial real estate.” Kitty took Rachel’s arm from Tavis, guiding her boss to a chair.
“Kitty, did Charley say how long she was going to be? I was hoping to take her to lunch,” Tavis said.
“No, sir. She didn’t say.”
“Rachel, what can I do to help? Can I take you to the funeral home?” Tavis said.
“Thank you, but I’ll be fine. Kitty will help me. I would like a glass of water. I’ll sit a minute…then I’ll drive over.”
Tavis looked around. There was nothing more he could do, so he said goodbye. Picking up the leash, he and Bentley stepped outside, strolled to the truck. Retrieving his cell from his pants pocket, he punched Charley’s number again. It went to voicemail.
“Hey, Charley. Where are you? Bentley and I are hungry. How about meeting us for lunch? Call me.”
Tavis leaned against the truck door, tapping his cell. Bentley sat in front of him looking up with a soft whine, a bark.
“I know, I’m hungry too. Hold on.”
Tavis found the number he wanted, selected it.
“Halo, ABC Trucking.”
“Hi, I’m looking for Charley King. I understand she was meeting someone at your company. Is she still there?”
“I’m sorry, no one here by that name.”
Tavis looked at his phone. The person with a decided Hispanic accent had hung up on him.
Chapter 41
────
THE TRUCK MADE A sharp turn to the left throwing another crate to the floor and Charley across her dad their heads smacking the metal wall.
“It’s a good thing the truck is packed with these crates,” Charley said settling back to her father’s side rubbing the back of her head. “Do you think they’re full of drugs?”
“Not from the smell. If there are any drugs they’re packed underneath or behind a side panel…I don’t know. I never asked, never looked, just drove, picked up and returned to base. Then I’d go home. The crates…because they stuffed us in here the driver didn’t have time to strap them down.”
“When I tried to find my phone it seemed there was a narrow aisle up the middle,” Charley said, squirming to get comfortable against the hard wall.
Lost in thought, father and daughter fell silent. The only sound was the grinding of the truck’s motor as it continued down the road. Continued to they didn’t know where. The vibration of the engine reverberated around them. An occasional pothole resulted in Geoff moaning in pain from his twisted ankle as he was thrown against a crate.
Charley broke the silence. “Dad…I’m sorry I wasn’t a boy…I know you wanted a son.”
“Whatever made you say that, Charley? I have a son.”
“No…I mean…you know…your first born.”
“I’m very proud of both you and Frank.”
“Are you…are you proud of me? I know I must have been a disappointment…dropping out of computer science. It just wasn’t for me.”
“Charley, your mother and I want you to be happy no matter what career you choose?”
“Umm, it hasn’t felt like that. It seemed like I just couldn’t achieve anything in your eyes. And…we never did anything together. It was always…like I was a nuisance…underfoot, something that had to be dealt with.”
“No, no, that’s not true…” Geoff banged his head against the steel. Banged again. “Charley—”
“See, that’s another thing—my name. It’s a boy’s name—Charles.”
“We didn’t name you Charles, we…”
“It may not be on my birth certificate, but when I was born a girl baby it seems to me you just improvised.”
“Oh no, no, no. How long…how long have you felt this way?”
“Forever. Frank used to tease me when I said you didn’t like me. He’d say, of course, Dad doesn’t like you. You’re a girl.”
“No he didn’t…he couldn’t have said such a cruel thing.”
“Well, not after he went away to college. That’s when things were different between us. He became my big brother, protective.”
With her hand on her dad’s chest she could feel his breathing become rapid.
“Dad, are you alright? It doesn’t matter. Really. Forget what I said…it just came out. I’m sorry.”
Gasping for breath in the oppressive hot air, Geoff clutched her hand, lifted it to his lips. “I failed you. I’m so sorry. I didn’t—”
“Dad, it’s okay. You’re scaring me. Really, it’s OK, I love you—”
“You’ve never said you love me…
“I guess not…you never told me you loved me either. When I visited my friends, their parents said they loved each other all the time. I just figured you didn’t love me. It’s Okay, Dad, really.”
Charley felt a drop of moisture on the top of her hand. She touched his cheek. It was wet. Her father was crying. “Dad, stop, I’m alright.”
“You’re right, Charley. It wasn’t that I was disappointed that you were a girl. I didn’t know what to do. Right off…when you tried to walk for the first time. You were so determined. When you started school your teachers kept saying you were smart. Same in high school and when you started college. One professor said you were ambitious, a deep thinker, strong willed. Others said similar words. Yet, with all that, you were known by your friends as being loyal, kind hearted. I pulled back, I knew I was putting distance between you and I…but I didn’t know any other way. You excelled at everything so I figured you didn’t need me.”
Tears escaped Charley’s eyes. “Dad, I needed you so much. I wanted you to love me.”
“I guess I really botched my job as a father. Does Frankie feel like this too?”
“We both to this day try to gain your affection, but for Frankie it’s more of a competition. He wants to…you talk to him. We both seem to have misjudged you.”
“When you were little, if your mother asked me to tuck you in bed at night, I made an excuse. No more, Charley. Things will be different, child. I will be different. I love you so much. I’m so proud of you, proud of the woman you’ve become.”
Geoff gathered his daughter in his arms, held her tight. “I love you with all my heart, Charley.”
The truck bumped over something coming to a halt. More crates fell.
“The crates…we can’t see. Let’s try to stack them in front of us. Create a barrier. Charley, I don’t know what’s going to happen when they open that door.”
“They?” Charley said.
“We don’t know. That man said there wasn’t room in the cab. No matter what, you stay behind me. Do you understand?”
“Yes. I will.” Her heart was pounding. Her father loved her and was trying to protect her.
Chapter 42
────
THE SUN WAS BEATING down like Florida was on the equator. The humidity was rising and a storm front was moving in. But the sweat building on Tavis’s body was from a knot forming in the pit of his stomach. Scanning the directory on his phone he tapped the entry to the Kingman beach house.
“Kingman residence,” Hildy said.
“Hildy, this is Tavis Hunter. Do you remember—”
“Ah, Mr. Tavis. For sure.”
“Is Charley there by any chance?”
“No. No. Not today.”
“Can I speak to Mr. Kingman?”
“Sorry, Mr. Tavis. He’s out.”
“I see. When he returns please ask him to call me. He has my cell number.”
“For su
re, Mr. Tavis. Goodbye.”
He tapped Frank’s entry.
“Hey, Tavis. When are you coming in? We have to do some serious scheduling. A few more orders hit my inbox. Janet’s renting more tables, cabinets, shelving. You and I have to settle on a parts list so she can source more suppliers. For now, she’s going to order from the suppliers I have a relationship with…on credit.”
“Frank, have you seen or heard from Charley? I can’t find her—”
“No, she’s not here. Not sure she even knows where our new space is.”
“I stopped at the agency and you won’t believe what happened. Mr. Ramirez must have been coming in the back door and had a heart attack, or something. Frank, he’s dead. His wife came in as the medics were moving his body to a gurney. She was hysterical.”
“Man o’ man. Ramirez dead. That’s not good. And Charley wasn’t there?”
“No. Kitty, one of the agents, was in the office. She said Charley was stopping by ABC Trucking about the video Michael shot. I called and some guy said she wasn’t there, actually he said nobody by that name was there. I just called your house and Geoff’s not home. Frank I’m worried.”
“I understand. Hang on, Janet’s here. Maybe she knows something.”
“Hi, Tavis. Get over here you’re missing all the fun. What’s this about Ramirez?”
“Can’t come right now, Janet. I’m trying to locate Charley. I dropped in the agency but was told Charley was headed to ABC Trucking. Oh, and while I was there Mr. Ramirez died and—”
“Died? How?”
“Not sure. Heart attack maybe. Anyway, Charley’s cell went to voicemail and her dad wasn’t home so no help there.”
“Where are you, Tavis?”
“Outside the agency, but—”
“What are you going to do?”
“Not sure at the moment.”
“Well, I don’t know where they are, Tavis. If we hear anything, we’ll call you.”
“Thank you.”
Tavis pocketed his phone, looked down at Bentley lying in the shade of the truck.
“Bentley, something’s going on. Janet sounded kinda strange…may be my imagination.”
The knot began to squeeze.
His breathing sped up.
“Where are you, Charley?”
Chapter 43
────
GEOFF SHIFTED HIS POSITION. His back ached leaning against the metal wall. His ankle was throbbing. Feeling his foot and ankle he could tell they were swollen.
Charley shifted away. Too hot for body contact. The heat was oppressive and rising making it difficult to breathe.
“Charley?”
“Yes, I’m here.”
“When Skeeter walked us down the platform did you see the driver in the truck? Could you see if there was one or two in the cab?”
“I wasn’t paying attention and I don’t think from our angle I could see anyone sitting next to the driver anyway. He was revving the motor to leave the garage. Why?”
“I don’t think we’re on a joyride. We’re sitting ducks in here. We have to get out of this heat before we pass out. We have to get out and make a run for it.”
“I agree but how?”
“These people are ruthless. They’ll kill us without batting an eye. I’m sure the driver is armed. He’s probably been told to dump us somewhere, maybe rendezvous with someone to get rid of us. Not all the drivers are aware who they’re working for…a drug cartel.”
“But we can’t see. The door must be latched from the outside, or locked.”
“If we started banging on the wall, the driver might come to see what’s the matter. Maybe he’s even scared. He knows we’re in here.”
“So, he slides the door up. Then what?”
“If there’s one, we both pounce. Hopefully there’s just the driver. Catch him by surprise, knock him out…Charley?”
“I’m thinking, Dad. I’ll crawl to a crate that fell. Maybe it broke apart. A piece of wood we could use as a weapon. If the first crate didn’t break up, I’ll try more. I’m so hot. Dad?”
“Yes.”
“Instead of pouncing, I could say you’re having a heart attack. Say that Skeeter would not be happy if we didn’t make it to the big meeting. After all, he told us we were going to meet with Ramirez, or something like that. If the driver doesn’t know he’s transporting drugs, he might buy it. We jump, or somehow get off the back of the truck…maybe he’d help us…then we pounce. Do you think you could punch him hard enough…or push him over and then we strangle him.”
“Charley, I hardly think you’re strong enough to strangle a man. This is not funny.”
“There’ve been people I wanted to strangle…not literally, of course,” she giggled. “Oh, I think I’m hallucinating…feeling lightheaded. Dad, are we going to die in this metal box?”
“I’m telling you, my baby girl, we are not going to die.”
“Wow, now I know I’m hallucinating. You just called me your baby girl,” she said slowly a tear dropping on her cheek. “So, super-hero dad, if it’s them or us, we’ll have the strength,” she said choking in a deep voice.
Geoff sighed. “I love you, Charley. Whatever happens, remember I said I’m sorry for not being a good father.”
“I love you too, Dad.” Lifting her head, she kissed his cheek. “Now let me check that crate for a loose board and then we’ll start banging.”
Chapter 44
────
THERE HAD BEEN A monumental screw up.
Ramirez was dead.
Janet slammed her cell shut. Returning to her condo for privacy she made some calls and they were not going well. Her contact saw a truck leave but it wasn’t the one they were following. He’d even waved to the driver, giving him a thumbs up.
The contact did see Charley and Mr. Kingman walk into ABC Trucking.
Didn’t see them leave.
How long since they went in—several hours ago she was told.
She called her contact again. “Get into the garage, get some oil, anything, but do nothing suspicious. Scout out the floor in the bay where the truck was. You’re looking for a cell phone. I can’t reach her. Maybe she dropped it. And for God’s sake don’t let on you’re putting it in your pocket if you find it. Then call me.”
Janet then called Liz and Manny.
“Hey, Janet. What’s up?” Liz said.
“We have a situation. OK if I stop by? Tavis Hunter too?”
“Sure, but—”
────
“Tavis, Janet here. Where are you?”
“I’m back at the Springers. Did you find Charley?”
“No.”
“I drove by ABC Trucking a few times. It’s locked up. No one answers the buzzer at the gate. Charley’s Mustang isn’t parked on the side of the street,” Tavis said.
“Well that’s odd. I want you to join me at Elizabeth and Manny’s house, PI friends of Charley’s. I’ll text you the address. I’m heading there now.”
Tavis looked at his phone. Janet had hung up on him. “Bentley, everyone’s hanging up on me again.”
Tavis opened the truck’s door, held the seat forward signaling Bentley to jump in. Then he climbed in behind the wheel, started the motor and drove out of the Springer’s driveway heading to Port Orange.
Chapter 45
────
CHARLEY CRAWLED BACK TO her dad. “No luck. None of the crates broke apart. Smelled like grapefruit.”
“Now listen to me. We both bang on the wall with one of our shoes. Bang a few times. Wait, and then bang again. We keep banging until he stops the truck…hopefully he stops the truck. We scramble as fast as we can to the door. We stand on either side…try to be as invisible as we can until we see if he’s holding a gun when he slides the door up. No gun, I play sick and see if he helps us down. As I get down I’ll fall on him, punch him. You try to find something to hit him on the head with…knock him out. We take off his belt and wrap it around
his wrists.”
“Wonder what we do if he doesn’t have a belt?”
“Charley, I don’t care if he’s in his shorts. This is life or death…our death. We have to overpower him. That’s our mission.”
“And if he has a gun?”
“We jump on him…me first…then you.”
Chapter 46
────
HECTOR WAS MAKING GOOD time. He should be feeling good but he wasn’t. His shirt was wet with sweat. He was worried about his passengers. When Skeeter gave him instructions Hector’s heart seized. Skeeter was emphatic—keep driving until he receives the call of where to rendezvous with the next driver. Hector heard tales about such a rendezvous and he knew his own life was in danger if he screwed up.
“No more, no more. Last time,” he muttered. “Meet the driver, hand over the passengers, then drive to the nearest fueling station. Ditch the truck and make a run for it. I’m done doing their dirty work. Done! No more!”
He cocked his head hearing a noise, hammering on the wall behind him.
“What the? What are they doing?” Hector eased up on the gas pedal and pulled off the side of the road as best he could. Rolling out of the cab, he hustled to the back and lifted the door. “What’s the matter? I haven’t heard where—”
“My father. He needs help. It’s so hot. I think he’s having a heart attack. Can you help us down so he can get some air?”
“Ah, I guess so, but only a few minutes. I have to stay on schedule.”
“Thank you. Dad, take his hand.”
“Oh, my chest. Hurts bad.”
Geoff slithered down over the edge of the truck’s floor, crying out in pain as he fell on Hector.
Charley jumped aiming at the driver’s head. With the force of their bodies they managed to flatten the driver forcing him backward hitting the ground hard, knocking the wind out of him. Charley picked up a rock hitting him on the head as hard as she could.
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