Lost in the Maze

by Gary William Ramsey

  “I know Stockman. He’s an egotistical narcissist, but I never suspected him of any disloyal behavior to the country. If he is in fact involved in a terrorist plot, his position of power would increase the possibilities of success.”

  We approached the Burris’ ranch house.

  “Michael, Ham was distraught when I ran after you. He was devastated that John escaped on his watch.”

  We went inside. Ham and Ana were sitting on the couch. “We got him, thanks to Agent Stewart,” I said.

  “I’m so sorry I let that happen,” Ham said.

  “Don’t you worry Ham, John was here to kill us. It’s better that he’s dead. We’ll need to bury him.”

  “I’ve got a John Deere tractor with a backhoe attachment. I can put him in a hole in the morning.”

  I told Ham where the body was located and went to the bedroom where John had slept. His cell phone was on the end table by the bed. I checked it and found that he made a call about thirty minutes prior to accosting us. I took the phone and went back to the family room where Stewart, Ham, and Ana were sitting at the kitchen table talking and drinking coffee.

  “Ham, may I use your laptop? I need to trace a phone number and see if I can get an address from it.”

  Ana got up, “Give me the phone. This was one of my areas of expertise.” She went to the small desk in the corner and fired up her laptop.

  Just as I was pouring myself a cup of coffee, Stewart’s cell phone rang. He moved away from the table and talked for a several minutes. He came back to the table with a big smile on his face.

  “That was Special Agent Garcia. Director Stancil has regained consciousness. The doctors say that he’ll need to remain in the hospital for a while but he should fully recover. He asked Garcia to call me. Garcia told him where I was and who was with me. He wants to talk to me in person. At his request, and with permission from the President, they’ve moved him to an undisclosed wing of the hospital usually designated for the President or VP. He will be in no danger there. Only my Agents and his doctor know the location. He’s already called his brother Jim and made arrangements for him to be at the Pecos Airport at ten in the morning to fly me to Washington. He’s arranged for Jim to be at our disposal till we get this thing handled.”

  Ana came back to the table with a sheet of paper in her hand. “Gentleman, the last call that John made was to Houston, Texas. Fortunately for us it was a landline. The number is listed for Alexander Debue. The address associated to the number is 9845 Oak River Drive, Houston Texas. I researched it and it’s located in the ritzy River Oaks area of Houston. I loaded a Google map search and zeroed in on the home. It looked like a small castle. I also checked the missed calls on the phone and this same number has called twice in the last couple of hours.”

  I turned to Stewart. “We need to get someone to stake out Debue. Surely he has answers and is deeply involved in the Plot.”

  There is one man outside the FBI who I can trust in Houston. He’s a former CIA undercover agent. I want to keep this out of the Bureau to avoid any leaks. I’ll give him a call later. I’m sure he’ll help us.”

  “Great,” I replied. “I need to go to Washington. I know Stockman well. I want to determine if he was the one who ordered my wife murdered. I’ll need a disguise. I’m sure that if he is The Controller that Debue has informed him that I’m alive. He can’t disclose that knowledge without answering questions on how he knows. As far as the rest of the country is concerned, I’m dead.”

  “I can handle your disguise,” Ana said. “That’s another area of my expertise.”

  Ham laughed. “What can I say? My lovely bride is multi-talented.”

  “Sound’s good to me. I’ll call Jim now and confirm everything,” Stewart said, and moved to the corner of the room to make the call.

  I turned to Ham and Ana. “I will forever be grateful to you for caring for my daughter. I don’t know how long this will take, but I’ll be back for her as soon as I can.”

  “Don’t you worry, we’ll take good care of her,” Ana replied.

  Stewart returned to the table. “Jim’s okay with our plans. He said he’d arrange for vehicles for both off us. We need to be at the Pecos airport at ten in the morning. The flight time for Washington is a little over three hours.”

  “I say we all hit the sack,” Ham said.

  We all agreed and went to bed. After about an hour, I finally drifted off to an unsettled sleep.

  I awoke and glanced at the clock. It was five am. I washed my face and dressed. Ham and Ana were busy preparing breakfast. A platter of scrambled eggs was on the table with a large bowl of steaming grits. Ana added a platter of freshly cooked biscuits and bacon. She handed me a cup of coffee.

  “Good Morning,” she said. Stewart joined us.

  “Let’s allow Lisa to sleep for now,” Ana said.

  “We need to leave for the airport in about an hour,” Stewart said as he spooned a healthy portion of scrambled eggs, bacon and grits. “Michael, we can ride in my vehicle. Ham you need to hide the SUV that John brought the Senator in. If we dropped it off somewhere, it would be traced to Debue. Bury everything of John’s. We don’t want a trace of him left. Wipe the place clean so his fingerprints can never be discovered.”

  “You got it,” Ham replied.

  I helped myself to a bowl of grits and a couple of the hot buttery biscuits. When we finished breakfast, Stewart and I packed our things, loaded them in his vehicle, and returned to the dining area.

  “I need to say goodbye to my daughter,” I said, and walked into her room.

  Lisa was lying on the bed; eyes wide open and staring at the ceiling. Lazarus lay on the bed beside her. He whimpered when I walked into the room. I sat on the bed and took her hand. “Honey, I’ve got to go.”

  She sat up, grabbed me and hugged. I could feel the wetness of her tears on my neck. “I promise you Lisa, I’ll be back for you soon.”

  “I love you Daddy,” she said, and released me.

  “I love you too with all my heart. Be brave. Ana has my number. Call me if you need anything.” I kissed her on the forehead and left the room. I wiped tears from my eyes as I closed the door.

  “Let me work on that disguise for you now,” Ana said.

  In thirty minutes she completely changed my appearance. Short hair, scar on my left cheek, glasses and a mustache. She also provided me with a walking cane, and told me to fake a limp. I thanked her and turned to Stewart.

  “Let’s roll.”

  “Wait,” Ham said. He went to the bedroom and returned with a pistol and a box of ammunition.

  “This is a Glock 21 .45 Caliber. Michael, you need to be armed.”

  I thanked him, shook his hand, hugged Ana, and we left.

  Chapter 59

  Macy lay awake for about thirty minutes formulating a plan. Using some of the money she got from Dubov’s safe, she had intended to charter a flight to Pecos. However after listening to the CD’s, those plans changed. She got out of bed, showered and dressed. She looked through her clothing and chose a simple low cut short black dress. It exhibited the elegance of her sensual trim body and large breasts.

  She decided to take a taxi to the airport, and make reservations there for the trip to New York to visit Nevsky.

  Dubov had told her a lot about the Godfather. He said that Nevsky used young girls for sex, hooked them on drugs, and when he was finished, usually killed them or sold them into the sex slave business. Some overdosed. The Godfather had no regard for human life. His appetite for underage girls was insatiable.

  Macy packed her things, placed the bag outside the door, and wiped the room clean of her fingerprints. She checked out of Motel 6, paying in cash. Macy used the house phone in the lobby and called Albert’s taxi service. To hell with the limo service she had called the night before. She arranged for the taxi to pick her up at the IHOP next door. She wiped the phone clean of prints and went to the IHOP. She didn’t want to be picked up at the hotel and leave a trail.<
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  Macy went inside, purchased a large cup of black coffee, then waited outside the door. In less than ten minutes the taxi arrived. She waved, and he pulled up to the door. She threw her bag in the back seat and got in.

  “O’Hair please,” she said to the driver.

  The driver turned to her and smiled, revealing two missing teeth. The ones left were a dingy brown color. He was obvious in his ogling of her body.

  “Yes,” he said in an accent she didn’t recognize. After giving her body a second once over with his eyes, he drove away.

  They arrived at the airport, and she proceeded to the Jet Blue counter. Macy was informed that a flight to LaGuardia would be leaving in about an hour and seats were available. She paid in cash and presented one of her fake ID’s that the FBI had provided. She was flying with the name, Pryia Bambar.

  The flight was on time and uneventful. When Macy arrived in New York she took out her cell phone and called Nevsky.

  “Mr. Nevsky’s residence. May I help you?” A high-pitched female voice answered.

  Sounds like a very young girl, Macy thought.

  “My name is Macy Verdon. Mr. Dubov sent me to visit with Mr. Nevsky. I need to speak with him please.”

  “Wait,” the girl said.

  A few minutes passed. Macy thought that she had been disconnected when Nevsky answered.

  “Well Macy, nice to hear from you. What do you want?”

  “Sir, Ivan decided to take a vacation and went to the Caribbean. He said he needed rest. He told me he would be gone for two weeks, and that I should come to visit with you in his absence. He said you desired my company.”

  “Why didn’t Dubov call me?”

  “I don’t know Sir.”

  “I called him yesterday but got no answer.”

  “Mr. Nevsky, he told me he needed solitude and rest. I thought surely that he had talked to you and you requested my company. I’m at LaGuardia, but if you don’t want me to visit you, I’ll fly back to Chicago. I’m very sorry to have bothered you.”

  “Wait Macy, wait.”

  She heard him talking to someone, but he must have had his hand covering the phone because she couldn’t understand what he was saying.

  A few minutes passed then Nevsky came back on the line. “My assistant tried to call Dubov again on his land line and cell but got no answer. That bastard will pay for ignoring me.”

  “I don’t know anything about that. He just told me to come.”

  “Okay, I’ll send Georgy to pick you up.”

  “I’m at the Jet Blue terminal, outside of Gate nine. I’ll wait in the passenger pickup area.”

  “Georgy will be there in about thirty minutes. He’ll be driving a silver Bentley.”

  Macy grabbed a coffee and a bagel at Starbucks and went to the pickup area. In exactly thirty minutes a silver Bentley pulled to the curb. A very tall muscular blond haired man wearing a black suit got out and looked toward her.

  She approached him, “Are you Georgy?”

  “Yes, you must be Miss Verdon,” he said with a thick Russian accent. “Mr. Nevsky welcomes you to New York.”

  He took her bag, carefully placed it in the trunk, and opened the back door for her. As he was getting into the front seat she noticed a bulge in the side of his jacket, no doubt he was armed.

  He drove her to the Nevsky estate in silence. She saw him looking in the rear view mirror several times. When she caught his eye, she smiled. For the remainder of the trip he stared straight ahead.

  Thirty minutes later and several turns off the freeway, he approached a large ornate black gate with red brick posts on either side. The ten-foot high brick fence apparently surrounded the home. He punched in several numbers in the pad on a brick post in front of the gate. Macy watched, and memorized the numbers, 81741. The gate opened and they entered the property. The long winding drive way was lined with Cypress trees. He parked the Bentley on the circular driveway in front of the luxurious home. It looked more like a castle than a home. The European exterior was beige stucco with stone accents.

  Georgy quickly grabbed her luggage from the trunk and opened the car door for her. The front door of the home opened and Maxin Nevsky stood on the porch. He wore a white linen shirt and black trousers. His gray hair was perfectly combed. He was a short heavy man with small blue eyes. He stepped forward.

  “Welcome Macy.”

  She stuck out her hand to shake his, but he moved forward and hugged her. “You are a magnificent specimen,” he said, while hugging her.

  They entered the home. Above the black marbled floored foyer was an exquisite 18th century Rock Crystal Chandelier. The foyer opened into a sitting area. Macy was an antique expert, and she was amazed at the sofa in the area. It appeared to be an original Antique French Louis XIII Sofa with earlier Aubusson Upholstery. A winding white and gold stairway circled to the upper level.

  A stunning young girl stood at the bottom of the stairway. She looked no older than eighteen. She wore a white pantsuit that clung to her flawlessly shaped body. Long blonde hair hung straight down her back. She was holding a cosmetic case.

  “This is Marta,” Nevsky said. “She’ll show you to a guest room. I think you will find anything you need to freshen up. I had the Chef prepare a meal in honor of your arrival. It will be served in thirty minutes.”

  Georgy followed Macy and Marta, carrying her suitcase. Marta stopped at the second door on the right side of the hall.

  “This will be your room,” she said in a sharp French accent. Georgy placed the suitcase in the room and left. Marta handed Macy the cosmetic case.

  “Mr. Nevsky wanted to provide you with extras,” she said, and left the room. Marta didn’t seem pleased that Macy was there. The look on her face appeared to be jealousy.

  Macy closed the door, went to the bathroom and opened the cosmetic case. Inside was a bottle of Guerlain Le Bouquet de la Mariee perfume. Also included was a bottle of Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Foaming Shower Gel. Other expensive toiletries were included, along with sheer hosiery. On the side was a velvet case from Tiffany’s. She opened it and took out a striking diamond necklace.

  Apparently Nevsky was attempting to impress her. She wondered if he had purchased these gifts in anticipation of the arrival of Senator Robert’s daughter who was supposed to be his gift from Dubov.

  She opened the closet door to place her suitcase inside, and immediately noticed an elegant dress hanging there. She took it off the hanger. It was a Hoss Intropia Drape Back white Chiffon Dress, and it was her size. Below was a pair of Christian Louboutin pumps, also in her size.

  Macy showered, and dressed in the clothing provided. She put the diamond necklace around her neck, and lightly sprayed the perfume on her body. She opened the door and proceeded down the stairs.

  The lights were dimmed and soft music was playing. Nevsky was waiting at the foot of the stairs.

  “You look ravishing,” he said. “Follow me please.”

  Macy followed the Russian through the formal living room, through another hall into a dining area. The room was furnished with a hand carved beech wood table accented with wax cast bronze painted in 24k gold, trimmed with Sycamore inlays. There were two chairs at the ornate table. In the center were several covered silver plates and a tray of breads. A bottle of champagne was nestled in a silver chiller bucket.

  Nevsky pulled out a chair, and Macy sat down. He poured her a glass of Champagne, filled his glass, and uncovered the plates of food. Lobster tails and Pheasant were the entrees. Mixed steamed vegetables completed the presentation along with the platter of unique breads.

  “What is your preference?” He asked.

  Macy looked around. Usually in these circumstances waiters were available to serve the food.

  “Where is everyone Maxin?”

  “Macy, I wanted this night to be special for us. I gave everyone the night off. We will be alone. They will return tomorrow to accommodate us.”

  Macy’s sensed that something was wrong
. Her internal warning system went off. She knew that she must be on guard for anything.

  “I’ll have the lobster,” she said. He placed the de shelled lobster tail on her plate and spooned on a serving of the veggies. He offered the bread tray and she chose a piece of rye.

  Maxin selected the pheasant and sat down. “Tell me what Dubov has been up to?” he asked. “I don’t trust him.”

  “He’s always been loyal to you,” she replied.

  He grinned, and they ate in silence. Macy couldn’t believe how wonderful the meal was. It was expertly prepared and delicious.

  When they finished the meal, he left the room and returned with a bottle of Remy Martin fine champagne cognac and two glasses. He filled her glass and stood over her. Presently Nevsky set his glass down and gently stroked her hair. Without warning, he bent over and passionately kissed her, slipping his course hand beneath the top of the dress and squeezed her right breast.

  Macy allowed a moment of groping, then removed his hand. “That can wait till later,” she said. “I promise, I will please you. Let’s finish our cognac first. It’s delightful.”

  Nevsky grinned, and returned to his chair. He reached inside his coat and pulled out a Ruger LC9 handgun. He pointed it at Macy and walked to her side, pressing the barrel against her temple.

  “Dubov would certainly not send you to me without calling. He also would never ignore my calls. Now you tell me where he is and what you’re doing here.” He pressed the barrel harder against her temple. “I can smell an undercover cop. Are you FBI or CIA?”

  Macy took a deep breath and remained unruffled. She knew she had to shock Nevsky or die.

  “The Controller send me,” she said. “He would be very displeased if you shot me.”

  Nevsky stepped back. He was clearly startled. “What?” he gasped.

  “You and I know that the Controller is The Speaker of the House, Gilbert Stockman. The time is near for the revolution to take place. He wanted me to determine if you are prepared, and if you can be trusted.”

  “How do I know that you’re telling me the truth?”