Alternating Current: A Tesla Novel

by Agostino, John

  Carrie thought how unlikely it was they met. Connected for years by paper in potato chip cans. And why had fate brought her into the equation only to send her back to her normal life? Maybe she didn’t want to go back. Maybe she’d take Mika’s advice and become an agent. All she had to do was kill somebody. Maybe she could. Maybe she’d kill Mika. Regardless, she decided not to go back to her normal life anytime soon. She jumped up from the table and went over to the window.

  “The Escalade’s still there, but I don’t see Lawson or Arnold.”

  “We need to get that Lincoln out of here.” Phillip said. “I hope Buddy left the key in the switch.”

  “It’s blocked by the Escalade.” Carrie came back over to the table.

  “The Lincoln can wait?” Turbo leaned into the center of the table. “I have something to tell you, something important.”

  They leaned closer.

  “Armaly gave me a name of someone who might help us.”

  “Oh my God, when?” Carrie crawled up on her seat to get even closer.

  “We were on the couch, when Mika shot Alex.”

  “So who is he?” Phillip asked.

  “I don’t want to say now, not with the Escalade still out there. We need to go back to our normal routine for a few days until things calm down. Let’s meet somewhere in a few days.”

  “That’s why you agreed with Rudy so easily.” Phillip smiled. “You sly fox.”

  “Should we come by the store?”

  “No, you heard what Rudy said about the bugs.”

  “Oh, yeah.”

  “Let’s meet at Tony O’s, it’s noisy enough.”

  They all agreed. But the thought of meeting at Tony O’s brought back memories of their last meeting there. Rudy bolted out the back door then, too. Carrie’s eyes welled up. How could Rudy abandon them again? He said he would explain everything. She had to be strong, secret agents don’t cry.

  ***

  Lawson and Arnold came back inside without knocking first. “Hey guys, whose Lincoln is that in the driveway.” Lawson held up a set of keys.

  “That’s my car,” Phillip said. “I mean, it was my Grandmother’s and now it’s mine.”

  “Oh, that’s good, then you won’t mind if we open the trunk.”

  Phillip hesitated. “Why do you want to open the---

  “Quit playing games, Lawson.” Carrie reached for the keys, but he pulled them away. “You have the keys. If you wanted to open the trunk, you would have already.”

  “That’s not true, Carrie.” Agent Arnold, the voice of reason explained. “We need your permission to open the trunk. Otherwise, we’ll have to get a search warrant.”

  “Yeah, and that could take hours,” Lawson went over to the door. “I’m just guessing, but I think whoever we heard moaning inside will probably be dead by then. So what do you say, Phillip?” He didn’t wait for an answer.

  Lawson turned the key, lifted the deck lid and yelled, “Jackpot!”

  Arnold ordered everyone outside to the car.

  “Hey Partner, we hit the daily double.” Lawson cheered. “Two bodies in here.”

  Agent Arnold called for police backup, an ambulance, and the coroner. “Well, I’ll be, if it isn’t the world famous Alex Gaye.” Agent Arnold helped him out of the trunk.

  “And I’d be willing to bet the dead guy is Dr. Armaly.” Lawson smiled. “Hallelujah, everyone’s going to jail.” He opened the back door of the Escalade. “Okay, hop in.”

  “But we can explain.” Carrie resisted. “We didn’t kill him, Mika did.”

  “Save it till we get downtown, Carrie. We’ll do lunch.” He helped her up into the vehicle and shut the door.

  Lawson complained about having to go all the way downtown to Reade Street. “Why don’t we head over to the 125 Precinct? We can use one of their interrogation rooms.”

  “That’s not a bad idea.” Arnold said. “We can use their holding cell, too.”

  Carrie turned to Phillip and Turbo, and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. “Can you believe these Bozos are wasting their time with us while Rudy, I mean, Marco and Mika are getting away with the formula?”

  Phillip and Turbo didn’t respond, but that didn’t stop Carrie. “They’re probably already on a plane somewhere---

  “Carrie, stop it.” Arnold turned to look at her. “Don’t say anything else.”

  “Oh, c’mon partner, let her talk. I was getting into it.”

  “No, she hasn’t been read her Miranda Rights.”

  “Like that really matters.” Phillip said. “Kind of like that search warrant.”

  The duty sergeant over at the 125 Precinct escorted them to the interrogation room. There were only four chairs in the room. “I’ll get another chair.” The sergeant said.

  “No, don’t bother.” Lawson jumped into the chair closest to the door. “Carrie can sit on my lap.”

  “Bring us a chair, please, Sergeant.” Arnold moved a chair to the other side of the table and had everyone take a seat. The sergeant returned with the extra chair. Okay, let’s try to remain calm. Carrie, since you love to talk, tell us what happened.”

  “You still haven’t read her her rights.” Phillip said.

  “She knows her fucking rights, asshole.” Lawson lunged across the table at Phillip. “Shut the fuck up and let her talk.”

  “Is all this necessary.” Turbo finally spoke.

  “You’ll get your turn, Turbo. Go ahead, Carrie”

  “We were all over at Turbo’s shop when I got a phone call from Dr. Armaly. I thought it was you disguising your voice at first, but then Dr. Armaly told me that Rudy gave him my number, that was when I thought Rudy was still dead. Anyway, we decided to meet at Barnes and Noble and he told us to bring the formula, so we brought the trunk with us, but then Alex and Mika showed up and ruined everything. Phillip didn’t have the key to the trunk so Mika shot the lock, but then she got really---

  “Hey, take a breath, sweet lips.” Lawson had a hard time keeping up.

  “She was just getting started.” Phillip nudged Turbo. “Right, Turbo?”

  “Huh, oh, sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.” Turbo’s mind was elsewhere, more concerned with Dr. Ganz. The scientist Dr. Armaly told him to see.

  Carrie continued. “Well, when she saw the trunk was filled with newspaper, she popped a cork, she threatened to kill all of us, but when Alex stuck up for us, she shot him. I mean she was just bragging about fucking him every night and then she shot him in the shoulder. It was crazy---

  “Okay, stop there.” Arnold was trying to take notes. “Did you say the trunk was filled with newspaper?”

  “Yes, that’s why she popped a cork.”

  “Then how did she get the formula, you said earlier that she had the formula?”

  “Well, you didn’t let me finish. You see, Mika was about to shoot Phillip. She said she was going to kill Phillip first because he started this whole mess by cleaning his Grandmother’s attic. Anyway, she was about to shoot Phillip when Alex stopped her and told her he had the formula in his boot, it wasn’t the whole formula, but it was a page that he found in the Tesla Museum in Belgrade. Doctor Armaly looked at it and smiled and that fucking bitch killed him, right then and there, she killed him. We all witnessed it.”

  “Well that changes everything, doesn’t it, partner?” Arnold opened the door and called for the duty Sergeant.

  “Sure does.” Lawson pulled out his cell phone. “Hey Sally, I need you to put out an A.P.B. on Mika Kosanavic and Marco Fagan. No, he’s not dead; last seen in Brooklyn, and traveling with an unknown accomplice---

  “His name is Buddy; the guy’s name is Buddy.” Phillip was happy to help.

  “Hold on, Sally. Buddy’s not a name. What’s his real name?”

  Phillip looked at Carrie. “Tell them his real name.”

  She hesitated.

  “Carrie, this is important.” Turbo gave her a serious look. “Tell them.”

  “Okay, his name is Be
auregard. Beauregard Dudley.”

  “Well, you can’t blame him for going by Buddy.” Turbo smiled.

  “Yeah, but Buddy Dudley!” Phillip chuckled. “Would you two shut up? Sally, Marco’s accomplice is Beauregard Dudley, yes you heard right. Put it out. Also, Mika Kosonavic last seen early this morning leaving Barnes and Noble on 7th avenue in Brooklyn. She’s is armed and extremely dangerous. Oh, and do me a favor, find out which precinct handled the crime scene this morning. Send Madden and Ritchie over to get the security camera footage. Thanks Sally.” Lawson hung up the phone. “Should make for a great show.”

  “You guys finished already?” The desk sergeant asked.

  “Yes, but we need a favor.” Arnold asked.

  “Sure, what is it?”

  “Can you have a uniform drive them home.”

  Carrie let out a yelp. “So, we’re not under arrest.”

  “No, Carrie, you’re free to go. Thanks for all your help.” Arnold shook her hand.

  “C’mon Arnold, let’s go.” Lawson smiled at Turbo as they left.

  Turbo screamed down the hall. “You son-of-a-bitch, you did it again.”

  “Did what again?” Carrie asked.

  CHAPTER 48

  The neon sign was off. Turbo didn’t say a word. He didn’t care if Cosmo ever pulled that damn string again. He flopped down in his chair and stared at the darkened television.

  “You have to get up to turn it on.” Cosmo rummaged through a box of spare parts behind the counter. “Remember, you smashed the remote.”

  Turbo didn’t speak, the television screen captivated him; he looked deep into the screen, beyond the darkened glass. He thought about Maria, and Nic and Angie. How were they getting along? How did they like Florida? He missed them. He stared at the screen awhile longer before he finally spoke. “Hey, Cosmo, you got that guy Jansen’s card?”

  Cosmo dropped the box of parts on the floor. “What, uh, yeah, I think his card is here somewhere.” He moved things around on the counter pretending to look for the business card. Then retrieved the card from his wallet. “Oh, here it is, you gonna call him?”

  “No, but you can. Tell him I’m ready to talk. But first I need to borrow your car.”

  “Oh no, I just got the hood fixed.”

  Turbo put out his hand. “C’mon, gimme the key thingy.”

  Cosmo handed him the fob. “Where the hell are you going?”

  “Bellevue.”

  ***

  The receptionist thumbed through a magazine and didn’t look up. “May I help you?”

  “Yes, I am looking for Dr. Ganz.”

  “Dr. Who?” The receptionist still didn’t look up.

  “Dr. Ganz---Dr. Emmett Ganz.”

  She looked up, a puzzled look on her face. “You’re here to see Emmett Ganz?”

  “Yes. Why do you ask?”

  “Oh, nothing, no reason. Follow this corridor until you see a sign for the West-Wing. When you get to the West-Wing, follow the signs to the Mental Ward.” She went back to her magazine.

  The corridor’s walls were aged; the color faded and diluted, washed away years ago. The linoleum was thin, compressed and worn, fluorescent light reflected along the shiny edges near the walls, but not radiated in the dull center. Although, the floor was clean. The disinfectant smell made Turbo nauseous; or was it because he hadn’t called Carrie and Phillip?

  The Mental Ward was as old and dilapidated as the rest of the West-Wing, other than the fancy magnetic card reader locks on the doors. The receptionist looked right at him. “Hi, there, may I help you?” Her energy and smile caught him off guard.

  “Oh, yes, please. I’m looking for Dr. Ganz---Dr. Emmett Ganz.”

  Her smile immediately went dim. “Are you family?”

  “No, but it’s very important I see him.”

  The receptionist excused herself. “I’ll be right back.”

  Perplexed, Turbo had second thoughts about coming alone. The receptionist returned with a doctor. “You’re here to see Dr. Ganz? Are you certain?”

  “Why does everyone ask that? He works here, doesn’t he?”

  They didn’t answer.

  The doctor pointed to the glass door and swiped his card to let Turbo in. “Hello, I’m Dr. Haley. We can talk in my office, Mister---I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”

  Turbo shook the doctor’s hand. “William---William Trbojevic.” He felt like a sell-out, just the other day he cursed his wife for calling him William.

  “Nice to meet you Mr. Trbojev---I hope you don’t mind if I call you William.” He offered Turbo a seat. “And I hope you don’t mind me asking why you want to see Dr. Ganz.”

  “It’s a personal matter, an important one. Is he here or not?”

  “Yes, he’s here, but he doesn’t work here.”

  Turbo felt nauseous, again. “Then what’s he doing here?”

  The doctor hesitated. “He lives here, he’s a trustee. He’s been here for years.”

  “But he’s a scientist?”

  “He was a scientist, but that was a long time ago. Now he’s a nice old man with mild delusions of grandeur.”

  “I still need to see him.”

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Tell me why?”

  Turbo thought for a moment. He couldn’t tell the truth. They’d probably put him in a padded cell, too. He needed a story, a good one. What would Rudy do? No, he’d probably just run out the back door. What would Lawson do? That’s what he wanted to know. Hell, Lawson made him believe he was under arrest twice. “Listen, Doc, I can appreciate you want to protect your patient, but I just need to talk to him for five minutes. You can watch through the glass, if he gets upset, I’ll leave.”

  “I might agree to five minutes, but you have to at least tell me the subject matter.”

  “Well, I guess I can tell you. Dr. Ganz knew my father. They went to school together. Anyway, my father was murdered when I was a baby.” Turbo turned away and squinted hard several times, when he turned back a tear rolled down his face. “My mother thought it was the Mafia, but nobody was ever charged. She died a few years later.” He took a deep breath and shuddered as he exhaled. “Dr. Ganz is the only person left who can tell me what my Dad was like. Please, just five minutes.”

  The doctor placed his thumb and forefinger to the corner of his eyes to hold back the tears. “Okay, William, I don’t think it could hurt anything, but I have to warn you, Dr. Ganz may not remember your father.”

  “I understand, Doc, but I have to try.”

  The doctor called the nurses desk. “Hi, Sue, would you bring Emmett to the private visitor’s room. He has a visitor.” The doctor paused and from the look on his face, Sue had given him an earful. “Yes, I am aware of that, but I am the doctor here.” He hung up the phone.

  “It’ll only be a few moments.” The doctor fumbled with the papers on his desk.

  “Hard to find good help, huh.”

  The doctor just stared.

  “I have an assistant like that, he thinks he knows everything better than me, second guesses everything I do.”

  “Oh, you mean Sue? She doesn’t mean anything by it. She has a soft spot for Emmett, since he’s been here so long.” The doctor put the stack of papers in the desk drawer. “She’s a little overprotective. We get a conspiracy-nut government agent every now and then that’ll grill the doctor about some stupid concept he worked on umpteen years ago. When they show up it isn’t good. Only time Emmett gets violent and we have to sedate him. That’s why she gave me a hard time.”

  ***

  Turbo expected a wheelchair bound patient, frail and lethargic. Doctor Ganz walked in on his own accord and shook Turbo’s hand. In remarkably good shape for his age, he had a firm grip and a pleasant smile. To look at him, you’d never suspect he was ninety-years-old and you’d never suspect delusions of grandeur or mental instability of any kind. Until he opened his mouth to speak. “Son, I’m so glad to see you, what took you so long? Did you bring t
he key?”

  Turbo didn’t speak. He didn’t know what to say.

  “What’s the matter, Joey? Cat got your tongue. Give Daddy the key.” He stuck out his hand.

  Turbo thought fast. “Sure thing, Pop.” He reached into his pocket and removed an old tarnished key from his keychain. He had forgotten what it unlocked years ago, but he kept it just in case he ever needed it. Turns out, he needed it then. He handed the key to the doctor.

  “Thank you, Son. I’m glad you found it, now I’ll show them.”

  Turbo clenched his jaw and bit his tongue. He only had five minutes and he couldn’t waste time with the doctor’s delusion. He needed to change the subject. “Hey, Dad, do you remember a doctor named Mike Armaly?”

  “Of course I do, he was your mother’s gynecologist.”

  “No, Dad, this guy is a scientist, he worked at N.A.S.A.”

  “N.A.S.A. ---was he a Spaceman?”

  “No, Dad. He’s an Astrophysicist.”

  “Oh yeah, I love Astro. He’s George Jetson’s dog.”

  Turbo took a deep breath. “Dad, do you remember when you worked at N.A.S.A.?”

  Dr. Ganz didn’t answer. He stared at Turbo. “When did you shave your mustache?”

  “What? Oh, last week, well, do you remember working at N.A.S.A.?”

  Before the doctor could answer, the nurse popped her head in. “We need to get you back to your room soon, Emmett.”

  “Hey, Sue, c’mon in, you remember Joey.”

  Turbo held his breath.

  The nurse looked right at him. “Oh, yeah, hey Joey. I need to get your dad back to his room soon.”

  Turbo exhaled. “Of course, we’ll be done in a minute.”

  Turbo rose from his seat.

  Emmett waited until the door closed then told him to sit down. “Listen, Joey, I don’t know who you are or what you want, but you opened a big can of worms here.”