*****
Von Spineback watches the news and calls James. “What the hell happened, James? They’re all still alive, and Reynolds wasn’t even one of the victims.”
“Mr. Spineback, all I can say is that they were all very lucky. Those doughnuts should have killed ten to twelve people.”
“Well, they didn’t. Now what are you going to do?”
“What do you think I’m going to do? I’ll try again at another time and place,” he angrily replies.
“Do you think they know it was you?” Von asks.
“No way, I had my back to the cameras and my hat pulled down. They have no clue it was me.”
“Okay, keep me advised and do it right next time.”
“Will do.” James hangs up and begins thinking about his next attack.
Von Spineback is also thinking that he may have to get involved as well. He would love to catch Mickke D alone sometime. He touches the holstered weapon on the inside of his jacket and grins.
CHAPTER 81
After returning to my suite at the hotel, I look at the address Steve wrote down for me. The address looks familiar and then it dawns on me. That is the same address as Stuart Peterson’s office in Reynoldsburg. Von must have taken over Stuart’s old office or maybe he owned it and just let Stuart use it.
The following day, I make my trip to Reynoldsburg. I arrive in about 40 minutes and drive directly to Von’s address. I sit in the parking lot trying to decide how I want to handle this. An idea comes to mind, and I call Detective Connehey back in Lancaster.
“Ed, I’m in Reynoldsburg and I need someone with the Reynoldsburg Police Department to come over here and park their cruiser in front of Von Spineback’s office, so that maybe I won’t get shot when I walk in the front door.
“Give me the address. Let me make a call and I’ll get right back to you.”
Five minutes later, he calls back. “Officer Tom Sampson will be there in about ten minutes. Fill him in and good luck.”
I watch as Officer Sampson shows up fifteen minutes later at the appointed location. I notice a tall thin man walk in front of the cruiser and continue into the address I was given. He looks similar to the man I saw in the video at police headquarters, but there’s not much I can do even if it is the same man.
I walk over to the cruiser where Officer Sampson is watching the front of the office. I knock on his window, startling him.
He opens the window and says, “What the hell are you doing, trying to give me a heart attack? What do you want?”
“Sorry, I’m Mickke D. Are you Officer Sampson?”
He calms down a little. “Damn, big Ed used to do that to me all the time. Yes, I am. What do you need me to do?”
“Well, for one thing, can you tell me why you refer to Ed as big Ed?”
He shakes his head. “Sorry, we are sworn to secrecy on that one. All I can tell you is it has to do with a photo.”
“Thanks anyway.”
“So what are you planning to do?” he asks.
There is a big difference between being brave and being stupid. After seeing who I think was the killer doughnut person, who tried to poison half of police headquarters in Lancaster, go into Von’s office, I decide not to make a grand entrance. I notice the blinds in the front window are open. I figure I can get their attention just by letting them see me at the window. I feel much safer outside with Officer Sampson close by. I relay my plan to him.
“Officer Sampson, I am going over to that large window and try to get the attention of the people inside. I would like you to stand out here by your cruiser and observe, and be ready for the worst.”
“No problem,” he says as he exits his vehicle.
I cross quickly to the office window and peer inside. I see Von Spineback arguing with the tall, thin man and as they turn and Von points outside, probably at the Reynoldsburg cruiser, they both notice me standing at the window. I wave, hold my fingers to my eyes, and then point both fingers back at them to show I’m watching them. I leave the window and walk back to stand beside Officer Sampson. We both watch as Von and his friend move to the window and peer out at us. After a few minutes, Officer Sampson gets back in his cruiser and I go back to my vehicle. We both leave the parking lot at the same time.
*****
Von Spineback is livid. “Do you believe that bastard?” he says. “We need to get rid of him, the sooner, the better. Follow him every chance you get and let me know if he goes somewhere where we can get to him.”
“Will do, Mr. Spineback,” James replies.
*****
Fifteen minutes later and just as James is leaving Von’s office, another vehicle pulls into the parking lot. Mickke D and Officer Sampson are not the only ones watching Von’s office today.
CHAPTER 82
Once I return to Lancaster, I call Steve and update him about what went on at Von’s office. He tells me that he sent Officer Barrish and two other police officers to look around up on the Fair Avenue side of Mt. Pleasant and they found a blanket. The lab is checking it for any DNA.
Before I hang up, I ask, “Do you know how many missing persons have been reported here in Lancaster in the last year?”
“That’s interesting that you asked that. We normally have very few reported missing persons, but within the last year we have had eighteen reported missing persons and not all of them have been from here.”
“Have any of them been found?” I ask.
“Only two wives who took off for a couple of days just to piss off their husbands.”
“So what happens to the ones who don’t show up?” I ask.
“For an adult, we wait 48 hours and then we send the information to LEADS, a state and nationwide service for missing persons. The ones here in town are given to a detective who looks into it and they remain an open case until the missing person is found or identified.”
“Are any of the missing persons cases drug-related?”
There’s silence from Detective Reynolds and then he continues, “Oh, my God, we broke up a drug distribution ring six months ago that had been operating on and around Mt. Pleasant. Later, several of the suspects went missing.”
“Did you ever find them?” I ask
“No. We just figured they skipped town.”
“Sounds just like Jake and that couple.”
*****
I spend the remainder of the day making phone calls and putting together a plan of action for what I figure will be an attack by the tall, thin man. I am really getting tired of people coming after me. I can still remember many quiet, peaceful days in Little River. Life seemed so much less complicated then, although not nearly as exciting. I guess I can’t have the best of both worlds.
Tomorrow, I plan to go back to Mt. Pleasant and continue my search for another entrance to the cave. I am glad I brought everything with me that I did. I plan to use all of it.
CHAPTER 83
First thing the following morning, I call Detective Reynolds and tell him I will be looking around on Mt. Pleasant today, just in case a concerned citizen gives him a call that a strange man is wandering around on the mountain.
I leave the hotel around 10 a.m. and head over to Mt. Pleasant. I park on Fair Avenue and go through the old, rusty, metal gate big Steve described to me. I take the path where Steve said they found the blanket. He told me there are some flags stuck in the ground at the location.
I don’t notice anyone following me, but I have the feeling someone is watching me. Once I get into the thicker part of the woods, I get off the path and wait. After fifteen minutes and nothing in sight, I move back to the path and continue my search. Five minutes later, I come upon the flags where they found the blanket.
The ground around the flags looks trampled down, I’m guessing from the police who found the blanket. I walk out about twenty feet from the flags and make a big left to right circle around the location. Then I reverse myself and make another circle, this time right to left. I don’t see anything out of t
he ordinary.
Once I get back to the flags, I notice a big change. Nature has become still and I get a feeling of evil in the air. The back of my neck is bristling with nerves. I hear someone approaching and I am on full alert.
A woman dressed like a hiker appears on the path coming from the mountain. We exchange pleasantries as she passes by. She gazes at the flags and moves on as the sounds of the mountain return. As she disappears from view, my anxieties melt away.
Not allowing this strange feeling to deter me, I spend about another hour or so searching the area and come up with nothing. I finally surmise that if something did happen here, it happened at night after dark. I guess it’s time for another adventure on Mt. Pleasant in the dead of night, something I am not looking forward to.
Once I get back to my vehicle, I call big Steve. “I am going up on the mountain tonight, except this time I’ll be there right after dark and not in the middle of the night.”
“Do you need any backup?”
“No, I’ll be fine but thanks for offering. I’ll call you if I get into trouble.”
He laughs. “Mickke D, you always seem to be in trouble. At least that’s what Sharon tells me.”
“Very funny. Talk to you later.”
*****
Several minutes later, a concerned citizen calls police headquarters to report a strange man in the area of Mt. Pleasant, just off Fair Avenue. The call is transferred to Detective Reynolds who informs the caller that the man is no problem and that he may be back in the area tonight, so don’t be concerned.
James smiles to himself and thanks Detective Reynolds for the information. He then calls Von Spineback and tells him to come on down and to dress for a walk in the woods on Mt. Pleasant tonight.
Von is not much of a “nature” or “outdoors” type of person, so he puts on blue jeans, tennis shoes, and a white T-shirt. He puts his weapon in his waistband and leaves for Lancaster. He arrives about an hour later, just as the sun is setting over the mountain. He meets James at the fairgrounds entrance across from the mountain. James, dressed in camouflaged long-sleeve shirt and pants, boots and a floppy hat, looks at Von’s attire and just shakes his head.
They take Von’s car over to Fair Avenue and park at a location far enough away not to be seen, but close enough so that they can watch the metal gate. “Now what do we do?” Von asks.
“We wait, that’s what we do. We wait until he shows up and goes into the woods and then we follow him.”
“Whatever. Wake me up when he gets here.”
CHAPTER 84
I arrive on Fair Avenue about an hour after dark and park as close to the metal gate as I can. I don’t want anyone to see me enter the woods dressed in fatigues and combat gear, including my M-16. I spray myself heavily with insect repellant and start my journey. Again, I have the feeling I am not alone.
As I slowly make my way up the path into the deep woods, I can’t decide if I’m looking for another cave entrance tonight or waiting for the tall, thin man to make his move. I get off the path at the same place I did earlier today. I find a tree to lean my back against and settle in for the night. I can see and hear anyone coming from either direction. I have a bottle of water and a pack of crackers. It is just another stakeout in the jungle, been there, done that, no problem. Five minutes later, I hear two clicks on my radio. I respond by clicking once. The tall, thin man has arrived.
*****
“Wake up Von, he just got here and is headed into the woods. Are you sure you want to go along? Maybe you should just wait here in the car until I get back.”
After looking around at the darkness and thinking about the idea of going into the woods, Von replies, “That’s a good idea. I’ll wait here. Shoot the bastard once for me.”
James whispers, “Okay, stay in the car. I won’t be long.” He leaves the vehicle and goes toward the metal gate with his revolver by his side. The hunt is on.
*****
Another vehicle arrives on Fair Avenue and the driver watches as a tall, thin man exits Von’s car, and makes his way through the metal gate. The person is somewhat perplexed with what is going on, but the tall, thin man is not the target. The target is Von, and now he is alone in the car.
CHAPTER 85
Beverly Beery has been following Von Spineback for several days. Mickke D had mentioned Von when they met with GG, just outside of Atlanta for a possible job interview. He noted that Von had gotten away with murder by eliminating witnesses. GG must have looked into the situation and decided Von needed to go, hence Beverly’s trip to Ohio. Then again, maybe GG was just trying to get Mickke D’s attention. GG gave her the name and phone number of a person in Columbus where she could pick up a weapon and ammo.
GG had provided Beverly with Von’s office and home address. She was watching him earlier this evening when he left his apartment with a gun in his waistband and headed south toward Lancaster. It is time to fulfill her contract.
Beverly had followed him to Lancaster where he meets up with another man who she has seen before at Von’s office. They get into Von’s car and leave. She follows. The two men park their vehicle on Fair Avenue. She is pretty far back, but she notices a car parked not far from a gate. A person gets out and goes through the gate, and heads into the woods. Not long after, the other man in Von’s car leaves, with gun in hand and moves off into the woods. Von is now alone in the car.
Beverly is wearing black jeans, a black top, and black gloves. She takes a black scarf and wraps it around her head. The only part of her anatomy showing is her eyes. She gets out of her rented car and walks up to the car where Von is sitting with his eyes closed. He does not see her coming.
She knocks on the window, startling him, and he turns to see a gun with a silencer on it pointed at his head. His first thought is that the person holding a gun looks like a ninja warrior, and his second, and last, thought is why is this person pointing a gun at me?
Beverly says softly, “Liz sends her love,” and pulls the trigger.
CHAPTER 86
If he stays on the path, he should be arriving within minutes. I have no idea what kind of a background this adversary has brought along with him, and I really don’t care. He tried to poison most of the local police department just days ago and now is out here in the middle of the woods trying to kill me. He is my foe, my enemy. If I have to, I will eliminate him.
Suddenly I think to myself, Oh, my God, this is exactly what Beverly does, and I told her and GG I would not be comfortable doing such a thing.
Quickly, I convince myself this is different. This is personal. And besides, I may not have to kill him. He may be willing to surrender peacefully. Yeah, right.
I hear a sound, faint but definitely human, not animal.
*****
Beverly moves quickly back toward her vehicle, but just as she gets close, a man steps out of the shadows and forcefully says, “Do not move! Drop your weapon and get up against the car!”
Several things come to her mind. First, he has not identified himself. Second, from about ten feet away, he could miss. If he does, she will not.
“I’m Detective Connehey with the Lancaster Police Department. Get up against the vehicle, now!”
Well, so much for the idea of identification. Now her mind goes back to her training. If you are ever apprehended, do not resist. Call GG and she will find a way to get you out.
Connehey is getting frustrated. He has just watched this person shoot someone at point-blank range and they are not cooperating with his demands. “I will not say this again, drop your weapon and face the car.”
She drops her weapon and moves up to the car. As he places her hands behind her back, she thinks about another part of her training. If you are apprehended by a single law enforcement person and you can escape without killing that person, do it.
As he begins to frisk her, Connehey says, “Oh, my God, you’re a woman.”
“No shit detective. You’re good.”
Before he can snap sh
ut the handcuffs, she stomps her heel on his foot, and slams her elbow into his face. Before he can react, she has retrieved her weapon, and is pointing it at him.
She barks an order, “Now, let’s reverse this whole situation. Against the car and spread your legs. Try something stupid and you’ll be a tenor,” as she moves her knee up towards his crotch.
Anticipating the upcoming pain, while trying to get over the existing pain in his foot and face, he replies, “No problem, lady. You’re the boss.”
She takes the handcuffs and puts one on his left hand, and hooks the other one to the luggage holder on the top of the vehicle. She takes the keys and throws them away, as well as his cell phone.
Detective Connehey can’t believe how quick and how strong his female adversary is. He never knew what hit him. Now, he is handcuffed to the roof of someone’s SUV and in a very uncomfortable position.
Before she leaves, she says to him, “Be sure and put in your report you were taken down by a girl and she let you live.”
“Right, that will be the first thing in my report,” he mutters as he watches her drive away in what looks like an airport rental car. He does not get a good look at the license plate.
Thank goodness, she missed the two-way radio in his back pocket. With his free hand, he extracts the radio and clicks it four times, pauses, and then clicks it two more times. This means, I’m in trouble and won’t be there but I’m okay and not in a life and death situation.
*****
Terror Grips the Beach Page 16