Chip’s phone beeped. He frowned, stood and walked to the corner. “What Viola?”
Max looked at Brock and released a breath as a knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” Max said leaning back in his chair.
Jimmie walked in first, followed by Greg. They nodded greetings and stood in front of the desk.
“You asked if we seen anybody unusual round here, somebody out of place,” Jimmie said.
Max nodded and schooled his reaction to the stench of body odor wafting from the two men. He’d have Mark or Cody take them to the apartment for a shower, otherwise they couldn’t eat in the club or restaurant.
“There was this man, Greg says two of ‘em. But I saw one a while back.” Jimmie described a man similar to Adolpho Grant. All eyes focused on Jimmie.
“Show him a picture, Sergei.”
Sergei handed Jimmie the photo from the file.
“Yes, that sure looks like him. Course, he wore sunglasses and a cap while walking about. But I saw him take’em off in his car. Got a decent look at him.” He handed the picture to Greg.
“The one I saw weren’t this old. Looks like him though, but younger.”
Max looked at Brock. “I thought Bobby was in prison.”
“He was.” Brock stood and went to Max’s computer.”
“There are two of them?” Sergei asked looking at Greg.
“I saw this one,” Jimmie said pointing to the photo.
“I saw another one, looks like him, but younger.” Greg returned to the picture of Sergei.
“Describe his car to me,” Sergei said, looking at Jimmie.
Jimmie nodded and gave details of a late model BMW. Brock cursed.
“What?” Max asked.
“I can’t get into the records. My passwords aren’t working,” Brock said.
“Let’s assume Bobby’s in town, is he here working with his old man? Did Adolpho send for him after he found out about Adele?”
“Was there anything else you needed from us, Chief?” Jimmie asked stepping away from the desk.
Max reigned in his voice, Jimmie couldn’t handle loud noises or angry gestures. He didn’t get along with people too well and preferred the solitude of the woods. Greg just liked living off the land and stayed with Jimmie, who was ten years older. The two were close friends, if you saw one, generally you saw the other.
“Thanks, guys. Charlene’s got you something to go downstairs. If you have time, I’ll have one of the boys take you to the apartment for a shower.”
“Just the food this time, thanks. It’s getting late and I want to make it back before nightfall,” Jimmie said. Greg nodded and followed him out.
“Fuck, I’m locked out.” Brock slapped the desk.
“Which means?” Max asked.
“I have to be reinstated, a royal pain in the ass and time consuming. I can’t access any records, or files.”
“Major Wilson?” Max asked. Perhaps the Major found a way to fight back. He’d been upset when he saw Brock’s picture of him and the foreign operative. They’d just work around it.
“Probably. I have something for him.” Brock clicked away on the computer. Max watched Chip speak fast into the phone. Sergei continued reading the pages in the file.
“How much longer before we hear from Sweet and Jace?” Max asked wanting information now.
“Should be soon. They plan to do more research and interview Grant’s family. When they call I’ll have them check on Bobby.”
“No. I’ll tell them now. That needs to be the first thing they look into,” Max said picking up his cell to make the call. Before he punches in the number, his phone beeps. “Crystal?”
“Chief, you need to come down here. There’s a field agent with the ABC, I think we’re being audited.”
“Okay.” He disconnected and smiled. “Well played, Major. Well played.” He told Brock what happened.
Sergei looked up from the papers. “What is ABC?”
“Alcohol Beverage Control, they license me to sell booze.”
“They can remove it? Stop the sale of beer?” Sergei asked.
Max shrugged, thinking to call his friend on the board. “Maybe. More like harassment to prove he or they can. Unfortunately, I don’t have time for this right now. We need to find Adolpho and Bobby Grant. I’ll handle it.” He stuck his phone into his pocket.
“We need to find Adele to protect her from these men. She could be in danger and we are sitting here,” Sergei said standing.
Max walked around the desk. “Brock contact Pascale, see if we can locate Maria and Adele. For now, we just want to make sure she’s with Maria. Sergei you have as much information on the men as I have, do what you do best, track them down and eliminate the threat.” He turned to Chip. “The Major made a big mistake, prepare for the fall-out.”
“Fuck them,” Chip said. “I’m done. Viola and I are done. What do you need me to do?”
“We’re waiting to hear from Sweet, as soon as we get the information we’re out of here. See if you can help Brock get back online.” He slid his pistol into his desk drawer and locked it. “Excuse me, while I go chat with the auditor.”
Chapter 29
Max watched an ABC field auditor he’d never met before, go through the paces of an audit. He had talked to his friend on the board and was assured his special license was not in jeopardy. Because he sold alcohol and allowed weapons in his establishment, it had taken a long, drawn out process to secure his permit. He and Crystal made sure their records were always current and met all the requirements. A club like his was under a microscope and could launch or sink a political career.
Chip came downstairs and stood next to him. “I’m sorry about all of this. I told Viola if she and her family didn’t back off, I’d submit my retirement paperwork today and go public with the affair. It took a few minutes of listening to her cry and beg and then threaten me, but she got the message. No matter what, I’m done with her.”
Unsure what to say, Max nodded.
“She has a lover,” Chip snorted and shook his head. “Those monthly trips, when I thought she returned home to see her family, she was with him. She spent my money on plane fare to go places with another man, can you believe that?”
“Man, I’m sorry to hear that.”
“If I had known we wouldn’t still be married. Wasted years.” He chuckled and looked across the room. “Can you believe she wants to work things out, go to counseling or some bullshit like that? Crazy woman thinks we both did wrong so we should forget about it and move forward.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it’s like she totally forgot she put me out of her bedroom and pushed me into someone else’s, while she continued her relationship with her high school boyfriend. At least that’s who she says it was.”
“Why not have someone check it out, get information, proof, that kind of thing? In North Carolina, third parties can be named. If she goes after Adele, you can go after her lover. It’ll wash but the blow back won’t be as hard. Plus, if she knows you’re going to do that, she may cooperate with your attorney to move things along.”
“Good idea. I’ll have Bernard start that today.” He turned, bit his lip and then exhaled. “There’s something else. She said I’d never have a future with… well she called her a name but she referred to Adele. Claimed she’d make me as miserable as I made her. Not sure what she meant or if she has anything to do with Adele’s disappearance, but I wanted you to know.”
Understanding how difficult all of this had to be for the man, Max placed his hand on his shoulder in a show of camaraderie. “Thanks. I appreciate it. The Major hired Grant to fix what she considers her problem. Is it possible she doesn’t know about our visit with him last night? Could be they’re keeping her in the dark until they figure out how to avoid the shit storm headed their way.”
Chip nodded. “One thing for sure, if they can avoid disappointing her or making her cry or go off the handle, they will. The Admiral and
his wife still see her as their baby who has to be protected. By the same token, if they can settle this problem without Jerry’s involvement to spare Vi pain or embarrassment, they will. That I do know.”
“So it’s possible they’ve brought someone else in to do the job? Do I need to talk to Viola?” Max asked, dreading an encounter with the woman.
“It’s possible, but I doubt it would happen this fast. Chances are Jerry’s still in custody with the Feds and has only talked to his brother, father and attorney. Right now, they’re strategizing how to get out of the quicksand his career’s fallen into. Don’t be surprised if you get a call or visit from the General or the Admiral. Jerry’s told them about the tape implicating the three of them, trust me they don’t want that to see the light of day.”
Max agreed. What Brock stumbled across could set off fireworks that would rock quite a few boats and sink several careers. They wouldn’t use it unless pushed into a corner. “So Viola’s blowing steam? She’s not involved with Adele at this point?”
“No. I don’t think so. She makes threats and her family carries them out. Like I said, right now they’re otherwise occupied.” Chip grinned and then sobered. Brock’s still having problems with access, seems like he’ll need to go through the process to renew his clearance level again. I knew a few people that’ll push it through, but expect some resistance from the Admiral’s cronies.”
Max watched as Crystal talked to the auditor. “We have a few cronies ourselves. If Brock can’t get it done on his own, he’ll make a few calls. Can you look into the other men who wore the pin? You’ve seen the list, get bios on all of them, we may make a connection where Grant’s hiding.”
“Will do, I’m going to get Bernard started on finding information on Vi first and then I’ll take care of it. I’d like to go with your team to retrieve Adele.”
“That may not be wise.”
“Perhaps, but I want to be there. Sergei’s already looking for her, I want her to see me as well. She’s having my baby, Max. I need to be there.”
“Okay, but if I get information, we move right away. If you’re not around, we’re not waiting,” Max said.
Chip nodded and headed toward the table his brother sat talking to another man and joined them.
Max’s cell beeped.
“Tell me something I can use,” he said into the mouthpiece.
“Chief, got some interesting news. Bobby Grant’s out on parole. His stepmother says he with his dad somewhere,” Sweet said. “They’ve been gone for over a week, she doesn’t know when they’ll return, don’t seem to care either.”
“Find out what he enjoys, bowling, sailing, whatever. Does he drink? Get high? Chase women? Club? I need details to track him down.”
“What about his teammates? Want me to look into them?” Sweet asked.
“No. Chip’s on that. Besides, they rarely work as a team, more like individual assignments. Anything you find out about this guy or his son, send in a report.”
“We’re on it, Chief.”
Brock walked into the club, looking around as he walked to Max. “An audit?”
“Yeah. You talked to Pascale about Maria?”
“He just returned my call to say he can’t reach her. She’s not answering her phone. He doesn’t think Adele’s with her.”
Max met Brock’s concerned gaze. “Why does he say that?”
“Because Maria left town a couple days ago, before Adele went missing. She’s on vacation at the beach. He claimed he didn’t pay much attention because all she wanted was money.”
Max frowned. “A couple days ago? While Adele was at the safe house?”
Brock nodded.
“Is there someone else Adele considered a friend that we don’t know about? I wonder if she called Charlene.” He pulled out his cell and made the call.
“Chief?” Charlene answered.
He told her what happened, made her swear to keep it to herself and then disconnected. “Charlene hasn’t talked to Adele since she visited her a couple days ago. Why would Adele leave the Sergei and the safe house?”
“She had to know the person,” Brock said.
“But who? Damn it. How do we keep her safe when she does things like this?”
“Is it possible Grant lured her out the house? No… scratch that. She still has nightmares about the rape from his son. Someone else? But who? Where the hell is she?”
Max’s phone beeped. He looked at the caller ID and released a long breath. “Charlie?”
“Chief, an inspector from the Environmental Health department is here for an impromptu inspection. I need someone to watch the kitchen while I pull my files.”
“Can Mark handle that for you? He’s certified, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. I forgot in all the upset. I’ll call him.”
“No. Handle the inspector, I’ll send him over.” Max walked to the entrance and sent Mark to the restaurant. He pulled Cody from the floor and had him work in Mark’s place. When he returned to Brock, Crystal gave him the eye. This inspector checked things that had never been checked before.
“Here’s a thought,” Brock said. “What if these inspections are a distraction to keep you here while Adele is taken from beneath our nose? Think about it, too time consuming inspections that could jeopardize your business on the same day? Maybe this isn’t the Major, but Grant keeping you busy.”
Max hadn’t thought about that. “Could be. Chip said the Major would be in custody talking to his lawyer and family. Maybe you’re on to something about the delay tactics, but I’m waiting for information on Grant and Adele now; if I hear something on either, I’m gone.”
Brock nodded and looked at his phone. “It’s Pascale.” He answered and had a short conversation before disconnecting. “Maria made reservations at a first class resort in Myrtle Beach. He called, but she hasn’t checked in yet, seems she never arrived.”
“Does he have any idea where she may be now? Is it possible she waited for Adele and took her along? But where? Dammit.”
“We can pay him a visit, I know the building he works out of, but it’s better meeting him in a public place.”
Max nodded. “See if he’ll meet with us to figure this out.”
Brock placed a call and after a few moments of talk, he clicked off. “Pascale claims he’s told us everything he knows and doesn’t have time to meet. If he thinks of something else, he’ll call.”
“Asshole.”
Chip walked over to them as his brother and the other man left. “Can I use your computer to search for that information?”
“Yeah.” He gave Chip the code and watched him leave before telling Brock about the situation with Viola.”
“That’s good advice, if we weren’t so busy finding and protecting Adele, I would’ve put a man on it. But I’ve got them looking through Maria and Adele’s past with a fine filter. There’s something we missed,” Brock said.
“How’s the leak on the Major going?”
“Should reach viral status by morning. Both liberal and conservative blogs dislike what he did to those soldiers. So far he’s been silent, but that won’t last. If he’s smart, and I believe he is, he’ll separate from his family, so that he’s the only one sacrificed behind this.”
“Wonder how Viola will take it? Think she’ll come after Chip?” Max asked.
“No, but she might go after Adele. Any chance she’s working with somebody and tricked Adele into meeting with her?” Brock asked.
Max thought about it for a few minutes. “Possible? Yes. Likely? No. Adele’s not stupid and she hadn’t been confused in a few days. Her actions were deliberate; she knew what she was doing when she drugged Sergei.”
“Right. Maria’s not in Myrtle Beach, it’s possible she and Adele are together, maybe they’re on the way to the beach,” Brock said.
“Why won’t Adele answer her phone? I’ve called, you and Sergei called, and they all went to voice mail. She knows we’re concerned,” Max said, confused.
“That I don’t know. Have you heard from Sweet?”
Max told him what he’d been told and the instructions he gave the men.
Brock’s phone beeped. He looked at Max. “Pascale.”
Max nodded and watched as Brock talked and then disconnected. “He sent men to look for Maria and they found her car abandoned in North Raleigh. We can dust for prints to see if Adele had been in the car, at least we’d know if they are together or not.”
Glad for something to do, Max agreed. He told Crystal and Charlene he’d be out for a while, they could handle anything the inspectors threw at them better than he could. Then he messaged Chip to tell him they were on the move while waiting for Brock to grab his equipment from his truck.
Five minutes after receiving the call of Maria’s abandoned car, Max was on the road to find Adele and a contract killer.
Chapter 30
The four doors, medium sized, car sat in a remote industrial location with abandoned buildings off a Feeder Road facing a four lane highway. The vehicle had been left intact, no broken windows and the doors were unlocked. The trunk contained a spare and nothing else. Every now and then a lone car or truck would pass.
“At least we know Adele and Maria were in this car together, that’s reassuring,” Brock said. “Most of the car’s been wiped, I wonder if Pascale had his men do that or whoever took the women.” He replaced his equipment and peeked beneath the seat.
“Good question. There’s a footprint here, large, sneakers from the look of it.” He followed the print to the pavement where it stopped. “Another car waited while someone parked this one here. I don’t see any other footprints.” Max looked around the area to find someone to question.
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