Double or Nothing

by Wells, Donald

  “Hello?”

  “Hello, my name is Jack Martin. I’d like a word with your brother David.”

  “May I ask what this is about?”

  “It’s a private matter, I’d rather not say.”

  Carol gives Jack a wary look. “Mr. Martin, you’re not selling anything are you?”

  “No Ma’am. I assure you I’m not a salesman, but I really need to speak to your brother.”

  “Oh, well do come in. Davey is in the kitchen cooking dinner, I’ll take you to him.”

  “Thank you.”

  Jack follows Carol down a hallway that leads off the living room. As they approach the kitchen, the aroma of garlic is noticeable. There also comes from around a corner the sound of laughter, from the sounds, Jack knows it’s a man and a woman. Carol makes a sharp left and Jack follows her through the doorway and into the kitchen. Jack marvels at the size of the room, it is roughly the dimensions of his entire apartment.

  In the middle of the room sits a large oak table, lying atop the table on her back is the girl who calls herself June. David Manning is leaning over her and feeding her grapes by hand in a teasing manner. They appear to be having a great deal of fun. They appear to be in love.

  “Uh hum, excuse me you two but we have company.” Carol says.

  David and June both give a look of surprised embarrassment to the two new arrivals.

  Then a light of recognition sparks in David’s eyes and he straightens up immediately, while assisting June in getting up from the table.

  “Special Agent Martin, how may I help you?”

  Carol now looks at Jack as if he had spat on her floor. “Agent Martin? Davey are you saying he’s here investigating you? He didn’t tell me that.”

  “Dr. Manning it’s true I’m an F.B.I. agent, however I’m not here in that role tonight.”

  “Exactly why are you here Agent Martin?” David asks.

  “I’m here to ask you for help. Could we speak alone please?”

  David stares at Jack for a moment, then he nods at Carol and motions for Jack to sit down at the table.

  “June why don’t we leave them alone, come with me into the living room.” Carol says.

  “I want to stay.” June says, she’s holding David while standing in front of him as if to shield him from Jack.

  “It’s OK honey, you go with Carol. Agent Martin and I are just going to have a talk.”

  After a moment of hesitation, June relents. “OK David,” As she’s leaving she gives Jack an inquisitive look.

  When the two men are alone, Jack says. “She’s quite a beautiful girl.”

  “Yes she is.” David says, he stands near the stove as Jack takes a seat at the table.

  “I understand she’s one of three.”

  David tries to stifle his surprise at Jack’s knowledge as he turns and stares at him. “You are better informed than I knew Agent Martin.”

  “Then you’re saying she is a Davenport?”

  “She’s going to make contact with her family on Friday as a matter of fact, or do you know that already also?” David says, a hint of anger in his voice.

  Jack recognizes David’s tone and raises his hands in a “Whoa there” gesture. “The girl’s not why I’m here. I was getting off track because I don’t want to do what I came here to do.”

  “Which is what?” David asks, now turning his back towards Jack as he stirs sauce in a pot on the stove.

  “To start with, Mr. Manning let me tell you two stories. The first story is about me. Nine years ago at the age of thirty-two I got married for the first time to a woman who I thought was perfect for me. Janice was twenty-seven-years-old and beautiful, an actress, a moderately successful one. We fell in love in a matter of weeks and planned to marry. She decided to give up her acting career and to have children and within a year we married and she was pregnant. My daughter Cathy was born on the same day I received a promotion. I had a wife who loved me, a child and a fulfilling career. I was a very happy man. However, over time I came to discover that my wife wasn’t the person she seemed to be.”

  David turns off the burner under the pot he’s stirring and sits across from Jack. The two men stare, both taking stock of the other. David folds his arms across his chest and leans back in his chair.

  Jack, reading his posture, sighs inwardly, but then continues his story.

  “Not long after my daughter was born, Janice lapsed into a depression and was unable to take care of the baby or even herself. I took her to a doctor thinking it was postpartum depression. What I discovered was that she was suffering from an undiagnosed maniac-depressive disorder. The doctors told me that having the baby sent her into a depression. Janice disagreed with the diagnosis and refused treatment. To make a long story short, our marriage deteriorated over the next six years until we were barely speaking. One day I came home from work and found that she had vanished. Mr. Manning, Janice took my daughter Cathy with her when she left and I have not heard from them since, that was over sixteen months ago.”

  David bites his bottom lip. I do not like where this is headed, not one damn bit.

  “I recently learned that Janice might be in the Dallas area. She was trying to buy forged passports. If Janice manages to leave the country I may never see my daughter again. Mr. Manning I love my daughter very much and it has been an indescribable agony to not know whether she’s safe or not, I hope you never know such pain.”

  The two men look across at each other, not saying anything for a good ten seconds, and then, already knowing the answer, David asks. “Who is your second story about Agent Martin?”

  Jack searches David’s face for a hint of compassion and finds only a veiled look of apprehension.

  He thinks I’m here to try and trap him, but I’ve nothing to lose, so I might as well continue.

  “My second story is about a man who goes by the name of Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith is a world class computer hacker. In fact, our experts say that Mr. Smith is in a class all of his own.

  “Mr. Smith does not use his skills for personal gain or to cause mayhem like most computer hackers, no, Mr. Smith is much more benevolent. Over the last eight years Mr. Smith has been largely instrumental in locating and returning abducted children. However, the way he has done this is to flagrantly disregard any and all laws concerning the privacy rights of corporations, institutions, and, in some cases, individuals. Mr. Smith seems to be able to break into any database he desires, and he will do so if he thinks it is necessary. To date, Mr. Smith has broken seventeen federal laws and there are over three hundred counts of information theft waiting to be filed against him, if he is ever identified. In addition to the federal charges, Mr. Smith will also face state charges. Our linguists believe that he resides in the New York City area, but no one really knows for sure.

  “If found guilty of all the crimes he’s suspected of committing, Mr. Smith will face over one million in fines and well over a hundred years of prison time. This however would be greatly mitigated by the good he’s done for missing children over the years, still, time in jail would be served and money confiscated to pay the fines.

  “It is my belief that such a man might be able to locate my ex-wife and my daughter. If I knew who he was I would go to that man and beg him to look for my daughter. I would tell him that I am not promising protection from arrest, but that neither am I part of an elaborate trap. I would tell such a man, Mr. Manning, David, that I am begging him from the bottom of my soul to please find my daughter, please? I love her so much.”

  David and Jack look across the table at each other quietly for long moments. David rubs his right hand slowly across his face while resting his elbow on the table, and then he speaks.

  “Those were two very interesting stories Agent Martin. I have sympathy for you concerning the first one, however, the second story about Mr. Smith leaves me bewildered. Also I don’t understand why you felt compelled to come here tonight and tell them to me.”

  Jack lowers his head. He’s no
t going to help. He thinks it’s a trap and I can’t blame him. Damn it!

  “I needed someone to talk to and I thought you might have a sympathetic ear. I see I was wrong. I’m sorry for bothering you. My apologies to the ladies for disrupting their evening. I’ll see myself out.”

  Jack rises to leave. As he reaches the threshold, David speaks again.

  “You know Agent Martin…it occurs to me that such a man as this Mr. Smith would need to know everything there is to know about your ex-wife, that is—if he were to look for her.”

  Jack, standing in the doorway with his back turned to David, closes his eyes. Thank God,

  “That same thought occurred to me also Mr. Manning.” Jack reaches into the inside pocket of his suit jacket. He removes a white envelope thick with papers. “In here is everything I know about Janice.” Jack walks back and places the envelope on the table before David.

  “Such a man as Mr. Smith might get lucky and find your daughter, but then again, he might not. I would think Agent Martin that such a man could make no promises.”

  “All I could ask from such a man as Mr. Smith is that he try.”

  “I would think that such a man as Mr. Smith would try his best.”

  Jack stares keenly into David’s eyes. “I would hope that Mr. Smith knows how much this means to me. I have nothing to offer him but my thanks.”

  “Have a pleasant evening Agent Martin.”

  “You have one also Mr….Manning.” Jack says with a half-smile on his face. He then turns around and leaves.

  David sits at the kitchen table holding the envelope that Jack left behind.

  This has to be a trap. I would bet that man was sincere, but this has to be a trap. Why the hell did I agree to do this?

  David gazes about the empty room and sighs. “Such a man as Mr. Smith must be an idiot.”

  13

  Carol sits across from David at the kitchen table.

  “Davey I don’t see how this could be anything other than a trap.”

  “It’s been months since I’ve acted as Smith. I retired the day Agent Martin and his partner came to see me. I realized then that I was running a real risk of going to prison. I have June now. I can’t risk serving time, but I think I might have a way to track down Martin’s ex-wife without even using a computer.”

  “How?” Carol asks.

  “I know someone who might know her…Alison.”

  June sits to David’s left with an anxious look. “Alison might know his wife, how David?”

  “Martin left me a list of his wife’s acting credits. Between 1995 and 1998 she was in the cast of the play Cats. If I remember correctly, Alison told me she was in Cats sometime during 1998.”

  “So you want to see Alison?” June asks, her voice revealing jealousy.

  “No honey, I don’t want to see Alison but I think she could lead me right to Martin’s little girl. It’s too good a lead to pass up.”

  “I know you want to help this man, but Alison? She’s left you alone ever since June put her in her place. Why look for trouble?” Carol says.

  “For the sake of that little girl and nothing else. I can handle Alison.”

  June speaks to David, while sounding as if she’s about to cry.

  “Do you miss having sex with Alison? Am I not good enough in bed? Did she do things that I don’t do? I’ve read of anal sex, we could try that if you think it’ll make you happier.”

  “What? June this has nothing to do with sex. And for the record, you’re more than good enough in bed. Oh, and honey, sex is one of those subjects inappropriate for public discussion. Look at how embarrassed poor Carol is, and she’s a doctor.”

  “I’m not embarrassed.” Carol whispers from a red face.

  “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you Carol. It’s just that Alison always makes me feel…I’m not sure of the right word…insincere?”

  “I think you mean insecure honey.” Carol says.

  “Yes, thank you Carol. David, Alison makes me feel insecure.”

  “June, nobody can make you insecure but yourself. How could you think that I would go back to Alison? I love you.”

  “I’m sorry, I just don’t trust her. I know she loves you and I know she wants you back.” June says.

  “Do you trust me?” David asks.

  “Of course.” June says.

  “Then trust me.”

  June lowers her eyes. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”

  David rises from the table. “If I’m going to see her I’d better do it tonight. I’ll drive into the city and talk to her after her last performance. Oh God, this is not going to be pretty.”

  Carol looks up at him. “You watch yourself around her Davey, that girl’s not right in the head.”

  “I want to come with you.” June says.

  “I don’t think that would help at all.” David says.

  June hangs her head. “Maybe you’re right, it’s just that…never mind.”

  David gazes down at her. Sometimes I forget how fragile she is. She’s never suffered through those teenage years, never broken up with anyone and then found someone else. I am all the man or best friend she’s ever known and in her mind Alison is a threat. I have to remember that she’s still just learning to handle her emotions. If she stays here while I’m with Alison she’ll drive herself crazy imagining all sorts of things. God I love her so much, it kills me to think she feels pain over anything.

  “June honey, I’ve changed my mind. I want you to come with me to see Alison.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, we’ll leave after dinner.”

  “But won’t Alison be mad when she sees me there?”

  “Fuck Alison!”

  “David John Manning you watch your language!” Carol scolds.

  David grins at her. “But, Dr. Meyer told us to help June expand her vocabulary.”

  David and June arrive at the theater some time after the last of the patrons has left. The temperature is hovering near eighty degrees, a warm night for May. After having forgotten to bring his cell phone along, David stands quietly for a moment at the payphone outside the lobby doors, then, recalling the number, he dials. Five rings later it’s answered by Allison, a smugness in her voice.

  “Hello David, it’s about time you called. Did the little Mouse finally crawl back into her rat hole?”

  David, stunned, answers, “Alison how in the hell did you know it was me calling?”

  “David you’re the only one who has this number, and I’ve always had yours. Are you near the theater?”

  “I’m standing right in front of the lobby doors.”

  “Oooohh eager, I like that. I’ll send someone to go fetch you, see ya soon.”

  Minutes later, an old man with a limp comes up to the door and lets David and June in. The old man says nothing and doesn’t respond to their greetings. On the stage, a number of men and women work at rearranging the sets for the opening of the next performance.

  David and June follow the old man past the seats and through a door. A short walk down a hallway brings them to Alison’s door. Her name is spelled in circular fashion around a big gold star in the center. The old man points and groans at the door and then continues limping down the hall. Behind other doors come the sounds of talk and laughter. David knocks, and in return, hears Alison tell him to enter. The room is surprisingly small and filled on one side with a long make-up table. Above the table is a mirror that runs the length of the wall. Alison is nowhere to be seen, then David hears the shower running behind a tall room divider. The room is so small that the screen nearly divides the room in half.

  “I’ll be right out David, or if you’d prefer, you could come right in, the water’s fine.”

  “We’re comfortable waiting right here Alison.”

  “We’re, meaning we? David who else did you bring back here? You know I’m not that kind of girl. I’m staunchly a one at a time girl and it’s been your time since we met.”

  David smiles. “It
’s not a man Alison—it’s a Mouse.”

  “Mouse!” The water goes off in the shower amidst the sound of muttered curses. Alison appears from behind the curtain wearing a pink, terry cloth bathrobe and a look that could kill.

  “David what the hell is she doing here?”

  “She is with me and she will be with me until the day I die. Now stop being rude and say hello to June.”

  Alison glares at June. “June? I thought the mute rodent’s name was Mouse, or Minnie.”

  “Hello Alison, June is my name, my real name.”

  Alison tilts her head in surprise. “I’ll be damned, it talks.”

  “We’re here because I need your help.”

  “What is it David? Oh let me guess, you want me to give her sex lessons?”

  June looks as if she might cry, David notices and begins shouting.

  “Goddamn you Alison! Why must you be such a bitch? The hell with you. I’ll find out what I need to know on my own.”

  “How David, by hacking into some government computer system?” Alison says, freezing him. David had been guiding June toward the door. Now he turns and stares at Alison warily.

  Alison smiles. “You didn’t know that I knew about that, did you Mr. Smith? Well don’t worry, I’ll never tell. I couldn’t bear to see you locked up, unless of course it involved a bed and a set of handcuffs.” She then sits at one of the chairs in front of the make-up table, the robe falls back to reveal her long beautiful legs.

  June comes forward from behind David and stands in front of Alison.

  Alison looks up at her. “Yes?”

  “I don’t like you Alison, but I think you love David. He needs your help, if you can give it please do, then we’ll leave you alone. I love David very much, if you love him even half as much as I do you’ll help him, thank you.” June then stands back behind David.

  Alison gives June a look of grudging respect. Next, she looks up at David.

  “The rodent formally known as Mouse is right…I do love you David. Ask me your questions, I’ll answer.”

  “Thank you. Back when you were with Cats do you remember working with a woman named Janice Coleman?”

  “Jan Coleman? Yeah, we worked together for a while, why?”