by Don Potter
“You can’t stay at Casey’s apartment or at my place for obvious reasons,” Tim said. “I have friends that might put you up. But that means more people will know of your whereabouts. There’s my folks summer house at the Jersey Shore, but it’s off-season so there aren’t too many people around. The best bet is to stay in Manhattan where it’s easy to hide in a crowd.”
“When we made the switch, Casey gave me her wallet with a driver’s license, credit cards – a whole new identity. So we can check into any hotel, eat wherever we want. We’ll be in the middle of the city, and no one there will know who we are.”
“Great, but did you say we.”
“I certainly did, I’m not letting you out of my sight until this thing is over.”
“I’m in for the duration.” Tim was ready to accept the job of protecting Polly, no matter what.
“Go to the payphone and make a reservation at the Elysee hotel on East 54th around the corner from Lever House. It’s a boutique-y place that caters to celebs, business execs and the like. It’s a place where no one will ask questions or bother us.”
“How do you know?”
“Clients of ours used to stay there, particularly the Europeans. Oh, be sure to ask for a suite in the back. We’re not going to worry about money at this point.”
“Yeah, especially since it’s Casey’s money.” Tim laughed and headed for the phone.
“This ought to do it,” Tim said as he ambled around the eleventh floor suite in the quiet back section of the hotel. “I told them our luggage was lost, we’ll have to go out and buy some.”
“While we’re at it, we both need clothes to put in the suitcases.”
“It can all wait until tomorrow. I don’t know about you but I’m ready to crash,” Tim announced.
“Me too,” Polly admitted.
They pulled down the covers of the king size bed and crawled between the sheets dressed only in their underwear. It was the first time they shared the same bed since the divorce. Exhausted, they quickly feel asleep in each other’s arms.
“You look like you didn’t sleep a wink,” Polly observed.
“In my haste to meet you I didn’t think about the possibility that I wouldn’t be home for a couple of days. I’ve got to stop by my apartment and pick up my meds.”
“What medication? Are you all right?”
“I developed Type II Diabetes a couple of years ago. It’s under control when I eat right and take my medication. There was no reason to mention it to you. I’ll be fine once I get back on the pill regimen.”
“Going home is too risky.”
“Right. I’ll go to the drug store and see if I have a refill left on the prescription.”
“Call me from a safe phone when you know what’s what.”
“I’ve got a problem. The script has no more refills on it, but I have nearly a months supply at home.”
“Can’t you get another prescription from your doctor?”
“Tried him but he’s not in until tomorrow. His practice is a one-man operation, but I need to do something now.”
“Go home and get back to me as soon as possible. But keep an eye on your back.”
“Got what I needed and picked up toiletries and a change of clothes. I was on my way to the hotel when I noticed someone tailing me.”
“Are you sure?”
“I made a couple of moves and he stayed with me all the way.”
“What do we do?”
“You do nothing. Just stay put. I’m going to stop at the gym and see what’s waiting for me when I come out. Then I’ll call you.”
“I get really claustrophobic being stuck in a room all day.”
“Let’s hope it’s not all day. Figure on my call in about an hour.”
“There was someone else waiting to follow me when I left the gym. These guys have quite an organization,” Tim reported when he called Polly.
“Well I’m not as impressed as I am scared. When are you coming back?”
“Not sure if I should do it just now. Don’t want to lead these birds directly to you. I think it’s best if you stay put. Have room service send up dinner. And I’ll call when I can.”
“They’ve got me covered. I’m going to hole up at my place tonight.”
“I’m supposed to be in front of the grand jury tomorrow at ten. What will I do without you?”
“Be ready to leave at nine. I’ll call you before that and we’ll make plans.”
“I need clothes. Can’t wear the same thing again tomorrow.”
“They don’t care what you wear. What counts is what you say.”
“I know. It’s kind of a girl thing. If I don’t talk to you before have a good night’s sleep. And, Tim, I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done. You are a special guy.”
“You’re special too.”
He hung up the payphone and started to walk home when two men came up on either side of him and instructed Tim to enter the car parked at the curb.
“We’re not here to hurt anyone. But if you ever want to see your ex-wife again, this is the time to cooperate on this case,” one man said.
“What case? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“We ask the questions. You answer them,” the other man said.
“I don’t see how I can help you,” Tim replied.
“Let’s stop by your ex-wife’s apartment and we’ll talk about it.”
They arrived in front of Polly’s building. As they were about to enter the lobby two NYPD cops were walking to their car parked in the red zone across from the entrance. Tim saw this as his only chance to get away from his captors.
“Help police. I’m being kidnapped. Help.”
The men quickly released Tim and disappeared before the policemen could draw their weapons.
“What’s going on?” the one officer demanded.
“My ex-wife is scheduled to testify before the grand jury tomorrow. Those guys are trying to stop her. And they thought I knew where she is hiding.”
“Do you have information as to her whereabouts?”
“It’s a long story.”
“I’m sure it is. That’s why you need to come with us.”
The ride to the precinct was short. Once inside Tim was taken to the detective in charge of missing persons.
“Please tell us the whole story, from the top. That way we might be able to help both you and your wife.”
“Ex-wife.”
“Yes, ex-wife.”
Tim decided to tell the story he thought they might buy. So Casey was not part of the version he told. And Polly was not staying at the Hotel Elysee. His rendition was simple. Polly was to testify tomorrow. She was in hiding, but he did not know where, and would show up at the Federal Building the next morning. That was it.
“What was the situation at your ex-wife’s apartment building all about?” the detective asked.
“I have no idea, but I’m sure glad your men were able to rescue me.”
“Are you testifying too?”
“No. I just being supportive of Polly and the brave thing she’s doing.”
“Do you wish to file a missing person report?”
“Isn’t there a forty-eight hour waiting period?”
“No you may do it if you have reason to believe a person is missing without cause. Especially if you suspect foul play.”
“Honestly, I believe she just wanted to be alone before the grand jury ordeal. If she doesn’t show up in the morning, I’ll do it then.”
“And what about the men that you kidnapped you?”
“I think I’ll wait until tomorrow on that as well.”
“That’s rather strange, but we can’t force you to report an adult as missing or make criminal charges against the men if you choose not to. Make sure the officer who brought you in has your contact info before you leave. Thank you for your cooperation.”
Tim left the precinct. Hailed a cab. And went right to the Elysee.
“It�
��s me,” Tim said as knocked on the door of their suite.”
“I didn’t expect you to be here tonight,” Polly said after he was safely inside. She hugged him as if her life depended on it. “Glad you’re here. Really glad.”
“You won’t believe what I’ve been through tonight. I hardly believe it myself.” He took her through the details of the events and the conversation with the police.
“Not telling them the Casey part of the story was smart. No sense putting her or myself in more danger. Once we get through the night and I take the witness stand things will be different.”
“I hope different means better.”
They had sex that night. It felt more like they made love, because Polly finally opened the door that had been closed for as long as she could remember. Tim welcomed the warmth of this new closeness. Neither of them discussed it, but this was a moment they both savored.
“Rise and shine.” Polly looked at the clock as soon as the morning sun pierced through the sheer curtains. “Let’s get this day behind us and move on,” she said. Her tone was hopeful.
“What time is it?” Tim grunted.
“7 AM. We don’t want to be late.”
“Give me a minute or two to wake up. Go ahead and use the shower if you’re in a hurry.”
“I’m hungry,’ Polly said after they were dressed.
“Yeah and my blood sugar is telling me to eat something too. We don’t have time for room service.” Tim said.
“The hotel has a wonderful continental breakfast on the mezzanine.”
“How do you know?”
“I spent so much time alone in the suite it was either read the promotional material or the phonebook.” Polly laughed.
“Guess we have time, let’s go.”
At 8:45 Tim motioned to Polly that they should leave. They walked down the hall and noticed several people waiting for the hotel’s lone passenger elevator. The floor indicator showed it was going up. Rather than wait, he suggested they walk down one flight to the lobby.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs at the lobby level, one of the men that kidnapped Tim was among those waiting for the elevator. Tim held up his hand to signal stop and waited for the car to arrive. The man entered and the doors closed. He clasped Polly’s hand and darted across the lobby, opened the door to the famed Monkey Bar, and pulled her inside.
“What was that all about?” she asked.
“One of the guys that grabbed me last night just went upstairs.”
“How did he know you were here?”
“Someone must have followed me.”
“Here he comes down the stairs. Guess he went to see who was having breakfast.”
“Good thing we left when we did.”
“Oh no! The other guy just joined him. They’re going to the bell captain. And he pointed this way. Let’s split.”
Tim led Polly to the back of the darkened restaurant and through the kitchen doors. They heard the sound of two gun shots coming from inside the bar. Neither of them stopped to find out what happened. At the far end of the building a truck was delivering produce and one of the kitchen staff was keeping track of the items as they were being unloaded. No one noticed the couple as the slipped by the far side of the truck and out the delivery entrance onto the busy cross street. They dashed down to Park Avenue and commandeered a cab as it dropped of a passenger in front of Lever House.
“Federal Building, downtown,” Tim said. They slid down in the backseat, breathed sighs of relief, and relaxed if only for the moment.
They reached their destination and walked through the front doors as if nothing had happened. She disappeared behind closed doors while Tim paced up and down the hallway.
By one o’clock Polly was finished. She seemed relieved, if not happy.
“Let’s get out of here,” she whispered in his ear as they embraced.
“What happened in there?”
“I’ll tell you the whole story once I decompress.”
“Where do you want to go?”
“I don’t care as long as it’s away from New York.”
The disposable phone rang. It had to be Casey.
“Bet you’re happy it’s over. Go directly to the Delta terminal at Kennedy. Do not go to either of your apartments. Once at the airport, go to Delta’s Sky Club. There’s an envelope waiting with two tickets to Miami and some instructions for you to follow when you get there,” Casey said.
“What about those guys that tried to kidnap Tim and chased us at the hotel?”
“They won’t be bothering you anymore.”
“You mean the shots we heard were...”
“As I said, they won’t be bothering you anymore.”
“The instructions are simple,” Polly said after reading the note from her sister. “Go to her condo in Miami Beach and wait. She left me the address and where to find the key. I guess she’ll meet us there.”
“What about the hotel here?”
“Call them and say we won’t need the room anymore. They’ll bill the credit card.”
“But I left stuff in the room.”
“So did I. We can buy whatever we need when we get to where we’re going. I hope you brought those meds.”
“This is quite a place,” Tim said upon opening the door to Casey’s Florida residence. He walked to the floor to ceiling windows and gazed at the view up and down the beach.
“There’s another envelope.” Polly opened it. ”We’ve got to talk to a lady bar tender named Brooke at a place in South Beach.”
“Talk to her about what?”
“I don’t know, but let’s go now.”
The night club was loud and electric in both atmosphere and décor -- one of the trendy spots in the middle of South Beach. They took stools at the bar and observed the mixing and pouring that was going on across from them. After a minute or two a scantily clad, sexy, blonde with short hair and big boobs placed cocktail napkins in front of them.
“What can I get you folks?”
“A white wine and a light beer.”
“Here ya go.” She delivered the drinks in about as much time as it took to order them.
“Is Brooke working tonight?” Tim asked.
“I’m Brooke. And I bet if you take those shades off, I’d know whose sister you are.” She looked directly at Polly as if she could see through the sun glasses.
“You have something for me, I understand.”
“First, I need to confirm your identity.”
“Good enough?” Polly took off the sun glasses, pulled a wallet from her purse and produced Casey’s New York driver’s license.
“Yes, that’s good enough. My shift is over in twenty minutes. I’ll pick you up as soon as I change clothes.”
Polly and Tim nursed their drinks until Brooke came for them. She was dressed in tight jeans, a form-fitting pull-over blouse and stiletto heels. They walked to a Cuban-style coffee house down the street.
“Have you heard from my sister?” Polly asked.
“No. And I’m afraid we won’t.” There was finality in Brooke’s voice.
“Are you suggesting what I think you’re suggesting?”
“Casey gave me strict instructions that you would be coming to see me if she couldn’t make it.”
“You mean if she is dead.”
“No, she’s alive. But it’s too dangerous for the two of you to be in the same place ever again.”
“How do you know each other?” Tim interjected.
“She saved me from a life with an ugly Russian who had a disposition to match. That was ten years ago. I was seventeen. After she rescued me, Casey smuggled me back into the good old USA. She helped me get on my feet. I owe her my life and will forever be indebted to her.”
“I really want to see her. How else can I thank Casey?” Polly would not give up.
“Casey worked for people that never leave loose ends undone, and she knows too much about too many things for her own good. Everyone has to take care
of themselves for here on.”
“If that’s the case, what other instructions do you have for me?”
“Here’s the key to a safe deposit box at a bank near the condo. Before she flew to New York, Casey slipped the assistant manager a few bucks to allow her to pre-sign in, saying she was having surgery on her hand. All you have to do is wear a sling or something, present her driver’s license and use the key to open the box. The information you need will be in an envelope inside.”
“What do you get out of this?” Tim was skeptical.
“Open the box and find out,” Brooke responded.
“What time does the bank open? Polly asked?
“Ten, I guess,” Tim replied. Let’s grab some breakfast and be there when they unlock the doors.”
“I don’t even remember what I ate,” Polly said.
“Nerves have a way of taking control of our senses,” Tim replied as he held the door for Polly to enter the bank.
They asked for the assistant manager that was supposed to help them. Polly had found surgical gauze in the medicine cabinet at the condo giving her the appearance of being unable to use her right hand. The assistant led them to the vault, placed his and her keys in the locks and pulled out the long gray container before directing the couple to a private booth to deal with the contents of the box in complete privacy.
“The suspense is killing me.” Polly said.
“Here, you do the honors.” Tim opened the lid and pushed the box to Polly. She retrieved the top item, a letter-size envelope.
“Listen to this.” Polly read the message out loud so they heard it together for the first time.
‘To my dearest younger sister: If you are reading this, you can assume we will never be in contact with each other again. I’m sorry we did not spend enough time together, particularly in recent years. I love you and hope you will remember the wonderful times we had together when we were young.
’While I have moved on, my financial holdings remain behind. In this box is enough cash to allow you to go wherever you choose. You will also find account numbers and passwords to several foreign bank accounts. This will provide more than enough money for you to live in style for the rest of your life. And it’s all tax free.