Ride to Redemption

by D. J. Wilson

  “Where did all these diamonds come from, D? One point two billion dollars worth of them. That’s billion with a B, I stress again.”

  “They came out of Standford’s secret vault at his lake home in South Texas. ... I know you’re wondering how I found out if it was secret. I built his home, as well as the vault. Everything I build has a failsafe somewhere, just in case of emergencies — whole house cut-offs for water, gas, electric, and yes, even emergency exits and backdoors for walk-in vaults.

  “He took me down to the tune of $20 million, Candi. He forced me into financial ruin. I went after him with all the strength I had left and brought that SOB to his knees. I had thankfully gathered enough evidence of his shady dealings with me during his home construction that I had something to give to the Feds. That started the ball rolling and eventually brought his gold- and diamond-encrusted house down around him.”

  “What’s the story on the diamonds, D? I’m still trying to wrap my mind around that one. I cannot imagine how you managed to come into such a fortune and just to get rid of it. What compelled you to give it all away?”

  “First, they weren’t mine. Then again, neither were they his. Can you imagine finding over two hundred pounds of “polished Conflict Diamonds” in his vault? If the government had seized them, since they’re considered illegal, no one would have ever seen a dime of restitution. I did the only thing I knew to do. Clean out his vault of everything valuable and worry about the consequences later.”

  “Does he know you took them? Does anyone else know about the diamonds? Does anyone that you know of, consider you a person of interest?”

  “That’s the beauty of it, Candi. They were off book,” I said, embellishing a wide grin. “Standford bought them with his client’s money. I’m just returning it to as many of them as best as I know how. It’s theirs, Candice. The Feds would have a hard time confiscating their own investments, but I guess they could argue they were not dispersed fairly. But life is not always fair, is it?”

  Candi was now groping. “And where are the lists, D? Are they safe? Are they with you now? Do you have copies of them? Can I see them?”

  Clearing my throat, I began, “What’s with all the questions, Candi? Yes, I have them. Yes, they are safe. Yes, I have made copies. I’m afraid there also may be some very incriminating evidence associated with them. Extremely valuable to certain families in the U.S. that Gio may be related to and come to think of it,” I said in halting breath, “maybe you, too.”

  Candi turned ghastly pale. I had struck another nerve, for that I am sure. What was it about the ledgers and list of clients that put her on notice? Something happened just now to that sweet, wonderful demeanor of hers. She evidently knows enough about the ledgers to be dangerous. God forbid, but could this whole kindred spirit, lovemaking scenario, be a ruse of her making? Damn good actress, if so, and an Oscar nominee for sure, if this turns out to be the case.

  Just as I was about to press her with the hard and rather elusive questions, my phone rang. Dang, I forgot to turn it off. “Hi Victoria, nope, it is not a good time,” shaking my head in Candi’s direction. “But it will have to do.”

  Victoria let loose in a state of excitement, all the while failing to stop and breathe. “D, have you seen the news? Of course, you haven’t, that’s why you hired me. It seems like your gifts are popping up all across the country. People at first thought the diamonds were CZ’s, till they started getting them appraised. You have managed to turn the world, as we know it, upside down with your extreme random acts of generosity.”

  “Slow down Vic, breathe. It will be okay. Answer me this … Do they suspect who their anonymous benefactor is?”

  “Not yet, D, but the rumor mills are spinning. None of which, from all that I have been able to discover, are pointing at you, I might add, for now.”

  “I’m almost done, Vic. I have one more stop to make, nodding toward Candi for confirmation. Hopefully, we can get the last of them shipped out, before the shit hits the fan, so to speak.”

  “From where I’m standing, D, it’s already hit the fan. Brokers all across the country have been put on alert to notify the Feds of any and all unusual activity, concerning large quantity sales of solitaries.”

  “What gives, Vic? No one knows where the diamonds came from and at least until now, no one knows where they are going. I’ve been very careful to leave no trace behind.”

  “It looks like I have to get the last of them shipped out and disappear off the radar again. I hope that the Feds will stop looking and these poor people can get on with their lives. Stay in touch please and keep me up to date with what’s going on. Thanks for looking out for me.” The same closing question, the same, now whispered reply. “Yes, we are good. I haven’t forgotten. You’ll be the first, I promise, if the status quo changes. Bye Vic, whew!” She is persistent, I have to give her that.

  Candi began her conversation immediately where I left off with Victoria, “from the gist of your conversation, you have shocked the world with your sudden generosity. And unfortunately, I’m right smack in the middle of your madness. My guess is if you go down, I’ll be right behind you, screaming and kicking the whole way.”

  “No, I’m pretty sure I can convince the powers that be, if it comes to that, that you were an unwilling accomplice. You are, aren’t you, Candice?” I asked in all sincerity, while knowing that I may have just asked the first hard question that I really did not want to know the answer to.

  “D, it’s like this,” began Candi, rocking back and forth on the bed, sitting Indian style. “I wasn’t completely truthful with you earlier, I kind of left out the rest of the story. You’re not going to like it, but I need to get this off my chest. If there is ever going to be anything more than just a good time between us, I have to tell you the whole truth. It started out innocent enough. The more we talked, the more you shared, the less I thought about what I was originally supposed to be looking for. I mean, after a very short while, I just wanted to be with you, because of the way you made me feel, period.”

  “And what, may I ask were and or are you looking for, Candi?” I conveyed this question with urgency, while maintaining a tight grip on her shoulders to keep her from rocking and focused. It was beginning to annoy me, along with this whole damn conversation.

  “The ledgers, D,” confessed Candi, rather shamefully, as she looked away from my gaze and down at the bed. “It was all about the ledgers, at least initially. My family and its vast network were provided a list of names of all the people who had a working relationship with Standford. You were one of the hardest to find, being in witness protection and all, but my family has serious connections.”

  “You were also vetted as an unlikely prospect, because you had fallen financially in disgrace, just like he did. The family figured if you had been tight with Standford, you would have skated through his financial turmoil unscathed. I on the other hand, realized after reading your bio, you had grit. When they said you had gone into “the program,” I volunteered to find out what you had done and why. Oh yeah, I was also hoping you had the ledgers. There is a lot of money at stake for the one that finds them.”

  “When “the family” found out you were relocated to Tennessee, I took a job in Chattanooga to find a way to meet up with you” Candi said smugly. “Oh, don’t look so surprised or hurt, D. You developed a pattern, an almost daily routine. That’s a no-no in witness protection, D. I bet you failed to read the Government Issued handbook on that. Once, we (the family) managed to get that down, the rest was not so hard to figure out. All I had to do was wait until I could almost run over you in the Starbucks parking lot. I just knew, you being a southern gentleman and all, would react favorably to a pretty woman in tears. I’m not proud of it now, but I was doing what I needed to do.”

  Shaking my head in utter disbelief, I replied rather dumbfounded. “I could only imagine you winning an Oscar for your first performance. You sure as Hell managed to snowball me. It’s amazing, what well place
d tears and a receptive vagina can do to a guy’s heart, that’s hurting, huh? Damn Candice, by the looks of things, money will turn anyone into a whore. Excuse me, prostitute.”

  “Stop it, D. I’m trying to set the record straight, right here, right now. Yes, you called it. I’m by your definition, a prostitute. But one that’s trying to make amends to you.”

  “What about Marcy, is she the real deal or is she just another player on your payroll?”

  “She’s real. Her working in Cookeville was just an amazing coincidence. We went to high school together. Small world, huh, D? The family posted a 10 million-dollar reward for the return of the ledgers. That’s why I cooked this whole thing up. I have never, ever done anything like this before. Family wouldn’t let me, but I wanted to try, just this once. You were considered safe. So much so, that after constantly begging and pleading, the family allowed me to investigate you on my own. I just knew we had much in common, you and me, starting with our failed relationships, and our genuine love for the outdoors. You have to admit we have hit it off quite well, haven’t we? We have had fun, too. Right? We’ve met ZZ Top and Willie. We’ve made love on just about everything that moves. We’ve talked, we’ve laughed, we’ve snuggled, we’ve kissed and we’ve held each other every single night since we’ve been together. Oh, and just so you know, I had no idea mom was sending Gio to watch me watching you. I was just as surprised as you were when he rode up to Sweet Fanny’s that day. I almost wet my pants when he took off his helmet. I mean, come on, they send my cousin all the way from Milan, Italy to chaperone me. And to top it off, you even managed to befriend him to the point that he totally trusts you. That, in itself, was an awesome feat. You are a good person, D, a little oversexed maybe, or maybe you’re just starved for affection; possibly even some combination of both. Maybe even you’re too good for your own good.”

  Candi continued to plead her case to me, as strange as that now seems, “I just knew something was going on by the second package drop, but I didn’t know what. And no, I have yet to tell anyone, anything. Then when the diamonds spilled out at Bella’s, I had to find out for myself what angle you were working and why. Now I know and it just proves my point. You are twisted, you are flawed, you are special.”

  Chapter 26

  With the anger that had flushed over me, slowly subsiding, I began, “So where do we go from here, Candice? Here’s my phone,” I bellowed, thrusting it into her hands. “Are you going to call your family and tell them you’ve found the ledgers and collect the reward? Are they going to come in guns blazing to rescue you and try to take me out while recovering the last of the diamonds? Use it, call them, and let’s see what you’re made of. What, no guts, no glory,” I scolded, trying to elicit some kind of heartfelt response.

  “I haven’t got that far, D,” whimpered Candi tearfully. “What you’ve done may be wrong, but it feels so right. I mean you’ve taken the whole world on your shoulders trying to fix a gross injustice. I like that. No, I love that! I want to continue to be a part of it, I mean, if you’ll let me. I want to finally do something worthwhile with my life, too, something that makes a profound difference. What you’re doing makes an awesome difference, Jon David, with a capital D.”

  Suddenly, not knowing where this high stakes reality show was heading, I continued, “I don’t need the ledgers anymore, Candice. Your family is welcome to them. But if they do come from you, sure you will get the reward, but then I'll be hung out to dry. Word would get back to Standford in a heartbeat that I had the ledgers and he’ll assume, I had the diamonds, too. I wouldn’t want you around me if that happens. I couldn’t protect you and neither could your family, no matter how powerful they are.”

  “My family can handle, Standford. They can make his life a living hell if they want to. He wouldn’t dare harm me.”

  “Speaking of family, I forgot to tell you, Cousin Gio and hot to trot Mile left Jackson Hole today to meet up with us, somewhere north of here. You okay with that?”

  “Personally, I have no problem with it, as long as this conversation stays between us, for now.”

  “ Does he know the quest you’re on?”

  “I doubt it. Mom gave him just enough information on you, to be informed. If Gio had known about the ledgers he would have pressed you for answers, a long time ago.”

  “Candi, cousin or not, I could see him in a heartbeat, betraying you and turning me in, along with the ledgers for the 10 million dollar reward. Couldn’t you?”

  “We have much to think on and talk about, D,” offered Candi, after a long mindful pause, while reaching up to kiss me on the cheek. “Right now, I’ll tell you anything, just ask. I’m not perfect. I’ve made lots of mistakes. Starting today, I’m trying to fix as many as possible, beginning with you.”

  Chapter 27

  While I waited for Candi to dress, I called Gio and left a message. “Meet us in Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada at the Fairmont Hotel in three days. Reservations will be in your name. That is, as long as you’re still paying,” I conveyed, realizing with a laugh that the $600 per night room rate might make him think twice.

  Candi and I both ordered the Eggs Benedict with the hollandaise on the side and two bowls of fresh fruit. Sipping black tea, I could only imagine where our fragile relationship goes from here. Could I still trust her after all these revelations? Is she telling me the whole truth, or not? Ten million dollars is a great inducement to carry on a lie and do it magnificently.

  “Where do we ride to today, D? I’m thankful, that after you heard me out, you haven’t kicked me off the bike and onto the curb.”

  “I got it, baby.” Not knowing if I did or not. ”We’re going to Kalispell. It’s a small town, known as the gateway to Glacier National Park. I’ve got to pick up our clean clothes and mail the last of the packages from there. Then it’s off to ride ‘the going to the sun road’ and Canada. I hope the weather holds for us. The last time I went through there on the bike in August, it was snowing and cold. Thankfully, it didn’t last long and the snow wasn’t sticking to the roads. Otherwise we would have been screwed.”

  “Screwed with a capitol S,” Candi interjected, blowing me a kiss with her hand, just as our breakfast arrived.

  Packed up and on the road by 10 a.m., we made Kalispell by noon. Locating the FedEx location was relatively easy, as it was just off Hwy. 2. Two boxes were waiting on me. I cheerfully signed for them, knowing I was nearing the end of my quest. What a strange thought, but I just love FedEx.

  I had this wild hair to send the ones going International from Canada, but realized they would have to clear Customs twice. Then I thought, I would carry them with me across the border and mail them from Calgary. That didn’t work either when I remembered my last trip through this one particular border crossing where the Canadians dang near strip-searched me, while making me unpack all my bags.

  “Here’s to the last of our packages,” I announced, handing Candi the boxes. “I forgot I had doubled up and shipped the last two boxes here. It’s the same routine, baby, just a different city and now, lots more packages. Dump all of them in the duffle bag while I swap out our clothes. I’ve sent us some additional cold weather gear, which I hope and pray we won’t need. But it’s Glacier National Park and Canada is on the horizon, so all bets are off.”

  Putting our dirty clothes in one of the boxes, I remembered at the last second what the other box was for, my Glock. Going into Canada with a pistol is an absolute disaster. Of course if you’d like to see Canada from inside of a jail cell, go ahead. I grabbed it from the rear truck and unloaded it before I went back in to the FedEx office to ship it priority overnight to Gunny’s, my neighborhood gunsmith, who is expecting it.

  “D, we could run away forever and live like kings with what I hold in my hands. Just think, baby, there’s over $400 million in this bag just for the taking? Oh well, it’s just wishful thinking.”

  Whimsical thoughts, I could sense, Candi lingered, both long and hard on. It made perfect sense to
me, too. But what do I know? Stupid, is now becoming my middle name.

  Damn you woo-hoo, damn you.

  “We’ll be fine, Candi, I promise. What scares me more than anything is what if I screwed up and picked some of the wrong people? I spent months going through all the financials trying to make sure everyone who needed a package, got one. But, I’m not perfect.”

  “You did your best, D. For that I am sure. I couldn’t have done it, if that makes you feel any better. I would have just sent something to everyone, or me being me, before I met you, to no one more than likely.”

  Chapter 28

  Driving through a town of just 20,000, it’s hard to find out of the way mailboxes. But, over the course of an hour, Candi and I did manage to get the last of the packages mailed as inconspicuously as possible.

  “I’m ready for a drink, baby. Let’s find a restaurant or bar on the way to the park and hang out for a while. I’m still shaking and my stomach is tied in knots, knowing that this chapter in my book of redemption is now closed.”

  “It will be fine, D. I’ve got your back,” cooed Candi, squeezing me tightly from behind.

  Just the thought of something or someone preventing me from mailing the last of the packages had made me want to throw up. Two hundred plus people will also have something to start over again. Hope is a scary attribute when you lose it. I can only pray these gifts restore to these fortunate few, both their faith and their life altering hope.

  After riding for 30 minutes, we made our way to the edge of the Park, where I remembered my last drunk through here at the Chalet Inn and Tap Room.

  Best if you are going to drink too much, you have a place to sleep it off afterwards, I rationalized, without sharing that first with Candi.