Alternating Current: A Tesla Novel

by Agostino, John

  “Mr. Trbojevic, I understand how you feel, but there’s one thing you should always remember no matter how much you hate Con-Ed.”

  “Oh, what’s that?”

  “Without your uncle’s alternating current, Con-Ed wouldn’t exist.”

  Turbo smiled. “You got a point.”

  “Con-Ed is just a company. Thomas Edison has nothing to do with it any more.”

  “I’ll tell you what, Mr. Jansen, let me think about it. Call me tomorrow.”

  Jansen shook Turbo’s hand. “Do you mind if I ask what number you’re thinking about?”

  “I’m thinking about a million, but I already made you an offer and I’m a man of my word.”

  “I’ll call you tomorrow, Mr. Trbojevic.”

  “Hey, Jansen. I almost hate to say this, especially since you’re the only person who pronounces my last name right, but please, call me Turbo.”

  “Thank you, Turbo.”

  Cosmo jumped off the sofa and headed for the door.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Turbo called him back. “Sit down. You’ve got some explaining to do.”

  “I don’t feel good, I’m going home.”

  “You knew it was Con-Ed the whole time and didn’t tell me?”

  “You would’ve just flipped out and messed up the whole deal.”

  “Yeah, you’re right, I would have. Thank you.” Turbo smiled.

  “So, you’re not mad?”

  “No, I’m not mad, but I do need a favor.”

  “I know. You need to borrow my car.”

  “Nope. I need you to help me pick out one of my own. I’m thinking a black one.”

  CHAPTER 52

  Lawson badgered Agent Arnold during the entire walk back to the hospital. I can’t believe she just walked right out of the store. Where were you? On the shitter?”

  Arnold didn’t answer. He kept walking.

  “You fall asleep? You haven’t had a Red Bull all day.” The badgering stopped when they reached the Triage Nurse’s Station.

  “Hey baby, is that asshole awake yet?”

  “They’re taking him to his room now.” Shelley said.

  “Has anyone been looking for him?”

  “No, the blonde hasn’t come back yet.”

  “She’s not blonde anymore.” Arnold finally spoke.

  “She’s not?”

  “No, Babe, she dyed her hair black.” Lawson explained. “And then, while Arnold was asleep or jerking off or something, she waltzed right out of the store.”

  The tension between partners was obvious. Shelley looked down at her watch. “Well, it’s just now three o’clock; she’ll probably be here any minute.” She grabbed a clipboard and started to leave. “You’re prisoner is in room 3327---he should be awake by now.” Shelly headed in the opposite direction of the elevators.

  In room 3327, Alex Gaye was still groggy. Lawson walked in first and flashed his badge. He asked the nurse to leave. Arnold apologized and said they would only be a few minutes.

  “Alex, buddy, been a long time.” Lawson fondled the oxygen tube that led to Alex’s nose.

  “What do you two want?” He groaned. “I’m the victim here. I got shot.”

  “Yeah, well another man got shot and he’s dead. That’s capital murder, conspiracy to commit murder, accomplice to murder and a whole slew of other charges.” Lawson did all the talking.

  “I don’t care. That bitch stole the formula and shot me. I don’t care what you do to me.”

  “You don’t, well that’s a shame.” Lawson pretended to slip and broke his fall with Alex’s bandaged shoulder. The scream was deafening. “Do you care now?”

  Alex nodded and gasped for air.

  “Good, where’d you find the formula?”

  “I didn’t find the formula, it was just one page.”

  “Okay, where’d you find the one page?”

  “Museum. Tesla Museum.”

  “In Belgrade?” Agent Arnold finally spoke.

  “Yes, I was accidentally locked inside overnight. I found it in a file cabinet.”

  “You were accidentally locked in?” Lawson laughed. “I’ll bet.”

  Agent Arnold called Lawson over to the door and whispered something. Then he left the room. Lawson continued. “So, you were locked in the museum all night and all you found was one page?”

  “No, I found thousands of pages, but only one intrigued me enough to steal it.”

  “Alex, why the sudden interest in water. I thought you were one of those Star Wars junkies, isn’t that why you hired Marco?”

  “Yes and your friend rip me off.”

  “I’m real sorry about that, where’s Mika?”

  “How should I know? That bitch shot me.”

  “Well, she still loves you, she stopped by, but you were in surgery.”

  Agent Arnold returned in time to hear Alex say, “I don’t want to see her.”

  “Who don’t you want to see?” Arnold asked.

  “It seems lover boy doesn’t want to see the lovely Mika anymore.” Lawson chuckled.

  “Oh, really?” Arnold walked over to the bed. “That’s too bad; she’s smoking hot as a Brunette.”

  “Brunette? Who is a brunette?”

  “Mika is a brunette. She’s hot.”

  Alex looked to Lawson for corroboration. “Is she?”

  “Don’t ask me, I haven’t seen her. Agent Arnold was intimate with her.”

  “What do you mean---

  “Relax, Alex, Agent Lawson is fucking with you.”

  “Oh, so Mika is not a brunette?”

  “No, she is a brunette; did I mention she looks hot?”

  A knock at the door put an end to the Agent’s fun. The plain-clothes police officer they called to watch their prisoner had arrived. “Alex, this officer is going to protect you while you’re in the hospital. He’ll be right outside the door.”

  Lawson and Arnold followed the officer out into the hall and briefed him about the situation. “You shouldn’t have any trouble. The only person that might try to see him is a tall blonde, I mean a tall brunette.” Lawson advised. “You’ll know her if you see her. She’s built like a brick shithouse.”

  The agents headed for the elevator. “You get a hold of Armaly’s son?” Lawson asked.

  “No, there was no answer. We’ll probably have to fly back there.”

  “You can fly back there, been there, done that, twice. My luck I’d get that fucking taxi-driver Tevin for a third time.”

  “Hey, that’s an idea.” Arnold got out his cell phone.

  “What? What’d I say?”

  “Hi, Sally . . . yes, Lawson’s fine . . . listen, I need you . . . yes, I’m fine, too . . . no, I didn’t feel left out, now listen, I need you to contact the Parrot Taxi Company in the Bahamas . . . yes, Nassau. They have a driver named Tevin Saunders . . . yes, Tevin. Like Kevin with a T.

  Lawson was impressed with his partner’s ingenuity. Although, on second thought, he wouldn’t mind seeing Aluna again.

  “. . . See if they can get him on the radio or a cell phone. It’s important. I need to talk to him as soon as possible.” When Arnold hung up the phone, Lawson burst into applause.

  “That was fucking awesome. You’re off the hook for losing Mika.”

  “Oh, thanks a lot. But I was never on the hook.”

  “What do you mean? You lost her.”

  “Yeah, but I know where she’s going.”

  Lawson’s jaw dropped.

  CHAPTER 53

  Turbo’s cell phone rattled on the nightstand, the backlit screen pierced the darkness and revealed caller and time. “Carrie, it’s 5:42 in the morning for heaven’s sake.”

  “I’m sorry, Turbo, but I can’t sleep. I’m going crazy in this apartment all alone. We have to meet today.”

  “Okay, pick up Phillip and come by the shop after lunch. Now go back to bed.” Turbo hung up the phone.

  Carrie and Phillip arrived at the shop at 1 o’clock sharp
. Cosmo waved at them from the sofa. “All My Children” had just started. Turbo had given up on the soaps of late. He told Carrie and Phillip about Dr. Ganz.

  “You saw him twice already without us?” Carrie was obviously hurt.

  “Yes, but please understand it’s a delicate situation. We couldn’t all go barging into the mental ward.”

  Phillip thanked Turbo for what he’d done and reassured Carrie that everything was okay. “When are you gonna see him again?”

  “Today. Right now. And you’re coming with me, both of you.” Turbo grabbed the vase on the counter. “Carrie, can you drive? I think Cosmo’s sick of me borrowing his car.”

  Carrie was happy to oblige.

  ***

  Turbo introduced Carrie and Phillip as his daughter and son-in-law.

  Nurse Sue wasn’t impressed. “What’s that supposed to be?”

  It took Turbo a minute to realize she was asking about the vase. “Oh this, it’s a vase, my dad asked for it.”

  She mumbled something as she went to the door and swiped her card. “You know where to go, don’t you?”

  Turbo nodded and didn’t look back, encouraged by Sue’s lack of interest. Maybe she’d leave them alone for a while.

  Dr. Ganz was shocked to see other visitors; he stood up and stuffed his shirttail in his pants. “Now Joey, if you would have told me you were bringing company, I would have worn my good shirt.”

  “It’s okay, Doc. Relax, they know everything. This is Carrie and Phillip, my daughter and son-in-law, as far as Sue knows.”

  “Good thinking, that’s one ugly vase.”

  “You never said it had to be pretty?”

  “No, you’re right, I didn’t. Although, now I wish I had.”

  Carrie volunteered to buy the doctor another vase.

  “That’s great, now can we get down to business, Sue’s out there.” Turbo tried to speed the doctor along.

  They all sat around the small conference table, the meeting had begun. Dr. Ganz was at the head of the table. “Turbo, you told them everything, right?”

  Turbo nodded.

  “You tell them my theory?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “Why not?”

  Turbo shrugged his shoulders.

  Dr. Ganz spent a few minutes explaining that he believed Tesla Water was nothing more than an elaborate hoax. Tesla’s revenge.

  Carrie and Phillip had like expressions on their faces. Stiff upper lips, cheeks slightly drawn in, eyes glazed. Looks of disappointment disguised as confusion.

  Turbo came to their rescue. “But you said there was another theory.”

  “Yes, there is another theory. Unfortunately, I don’t know what it is.”

  Now Turbo looked confused. “What?”

  “Before you get upset, let me explain.”

  “That would be nice.” Carrie snickered.

  Phillip agreed.

  “Keep in mind we’re dealing with information a half-century old or longer. Most of the people associated with these projects are long dead---

  “Or soon will be.” Phillip couldn’t help himself.

  The doctor continued. “There was one scientist that Dr. Armaly collaborated with on many occasions. He worked for the British Government, but he was Russian. He was a brilliant man, too brilliant, so they killed him. Nothing new there.”

  “How can he help us if he’s dead?” Carrie asked.

  “I don’t know for sure, I would think he kept notes, maybe a journal. Hopefully his family kept them. You could contact them.”

  “Sounds like a long shot.” Phillip’s optimism dwindled.

  “Yes, it probably is, but Dr. Armaly believed the Russian was onto something before he was killed.”

  “Well that’s good enough for me.” Carrie was on-board.

  “Hold on, Carrie.” Turbo lacked her exuberance. “We’re starting back at square one. I feel like we’re at the dump again, there’s a mountain of trash in front of us. Maybe we should think about it for awhile.”

  “Hey that’s okay with me. I already told you my theory. Lived with it for thirty years now.”

  “Turbo, you’re forgetting one thing, we found those chip cans in that dump and we can do it again.” Carrie said.

  Phillip wasn’t as exuberant. “Dr. Ganz, why did Dr. Armaly believe this Russian Scientist was on to something?”

  “That’s a good question. All I know is the Russian worked on Teleforce while Armaly worked on Tesla Water and somehow there research crossed paths. I was already here, but Dr. Armaly visited once and told me about it. He feared for his life.”

  “He was right about that.” Phillip added.

  “Yes, Phillip, we all feared for our lives and the lives of our family. Still, some were brave and carried on while others, like me, cowered and pretended to be crazy.” The doctor stopped talking.

  Silence hovered in the room until Sue poked her head in. “Everything okay in here.” Sue noticed the doctor’s eyes welled with tears. “Hey what’s wrong? Dr. Ganz, are you okay.”

  The doctor didn’t answer. Nobody did.

  “He’s okay.” Carrie finally said. “We were just talking about my grandmother.”

  “Okay, but you only have about ten minutes left and cheer him up before you go.”

  “Don’t worry, we will.” Carrie promised.

  The nurse closed the door and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Damn girl, you’re getting good at this.” Phillip and Carrie bumped fists.

  “I’m sorry about that.” The doctor wiped his eyes. “Anyway, Dr. Armaly said the Russian developed some sort of plasma packet of high energy particles that was the key to Teleforce, but on a smaller scale, could also charge the Tesla Water. The Russian vowed he’d never give his findings to the government, but he wanted to meet Dr. Armaly to discuss the application with regard to Tesla Water. He was killed a few days after that.”

  “That’s so sad.” Carrie said.

  “So we need to find his notes.” The plasma packet concept intrigued Phillip.

  “Yes, anything you can find with ionosphere or magnetosphere high energy particles or any artificial electron cyclotron heated region of plasma.”

  “Sounds easy enough.” Turbo suggested they get going before nurse Sue returned. “We’ll get right on it, Doc.”

  “Great, you can give me updates during our weekly visits.”

  “Weekly visits?”

  “Of course, what kind of son doesn’t visit his mentally ill father at least once a week? Oh, you can bring cookies and candy now. And I’ll be expecting a visit from my granddaughter and her husband from time to time, too.”

  “I’m looking forward to it, Grandpa.” Carrie smiled.

  As they started to leave, Phillip realized the doctor had forgotten something. “What’s his name?”

  The doctor was confused. “What? Whose name?”

  “The Russian Scientist. You never told us his name.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Gaeshenko---Alexander Gaeshenko.”

  ***

  Quiet dominated the short drive back to Turbo’s shop. Thoughts of their daunting new task whirled through their brains and rendered them unable to communicate or simply petrified them. Carrie parked behind Cosmo’s Lexus, but asked them not to get out. “I think we should talk out here just in case.”

  “Talk about what?” Turbo asked. “We are finished. I thought about it the whole way here. How are we gonna find out about a Russian Scientist who worked for Great Britain thirty years ago?”

  “That’s easy,” Philip replied. “Google.”

  Turbo cheered up a bit. “I know that worked for you, Phillip. But I don’t think it will be as easy this time. I’m sure that---

  “Turbo?” Carrie turned to look at him. Turbo didn’t speak. The serious look on his face spoke for him.

  “Turbo, what’s wrong.” Phillip turned around, too.

  “Wrong? Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s fine, just fine.” The serio
us look on his face morphed into a huge smile.

  Carrie couldn’t take it anymore. “Are you gonna tell us why you’re smiling?”

  “I think I can save us some time on Google.”

  “What are you talking about? You’ve never “Googled” anything.”

  “I know, and we don’t have to. What was that Russian Scientist’s name again?”

  “Alexander Gaeshenko, why?”

  “And the guy in the hospital, Mika’s boyfriend, what’s his name?”

  “Turbo you know his name is Alex. Alex Gaye.”

  “That’s right, Alex Gaye, short for Alexander Gaeshenko, Junior.

  Carrie yelped. “Oh my God, Turbo you’re a genius.” She climbed over the seat and hugged him.

  “You think Alex Gaye is the Russian Scientist’s son?” Phillip wasn’t convinced.

  “It makes sense.” Carrie said.

  “Yeah, but there’s only one way to be certain.” Turbo’s serious look had returned. “We have to break him out of the hospital tonight.”

  CHAPTER 54

  Back in the Escalade, Lawson couldn’t wait for Arnold’s explanation of Mika’s whereabouts. “Okay, let’s hear it, where’s our Balkan Bombshell?”

  “Haven’t you figured it out yet?”

  “No, guess I’m not as smart as you.” Lawson turned onto Kings Highway.

  “Better take the Bay Parkway over to 678.”

  “What? Where we going? Jersey?”

  Before Arnold could answer, his phone rang. “Hey, Sally . . . that’s great; put him through.”

  “Hello---Hello---Hey Tevin, you probably don’t remember me, but you drove my partner and me out to Adelaide last week . . . yes, that’s right, yes I’m the nice one.”

  Lawson reached for the phone. “You tell that freak I’m getting on a plane tonight to come kick his ass.”

  Arnold tucked the phone into his stomach. “Would you shut up? You want him to help us, don’t you?”

  Lawson calmed down.

  “Yes, my partner says hello, too . . . Tevin, we need you to do us a favor . . . yes, I know you only take American Dollars . . . we need you to go back to Adelaide to that same address . . . yes, I know, Fifty Dollars, we’ll send you a check . . . no really, you can take credit cards with your cell phone . . . okay, fine, I’ll give you my credit card. . . .”