And then all hell broke loose.
Four officers, two from the night shift, and the two from the morning shift, were demanding an audience with the chief. They were all talking at once. Shay tried to listen but gave up. What he got out of the heated conversation was that Detective Agnes Jade had flown the coop. The day shift was blaming the night shift, who said no one but Nathan Hawk and the pizza deliveryman had been anywhere near Jade’s house. Nor had Detective Jade left the premises.
“Then where the hell is she?” Shay thundered.
The silence was deafening.
“The commissioner is on line two, Chief,” Sadie called.
“Tell him I’ll call him back,” the chief thundered.
“The mayor’s on line one, Chief,” Sadie shouted a second time.
“Tell him I’ll call him back, too,” the chief thundered a second time. “I want to see Nathan Hawk. Put out an all-points on him if he doesn’t come in willingly,” the chief thundered a third time. He stomped back into his office and slammed the door so hard the blinds rattled.
Erwin Shay sat down on his chair, pushed it away from the desk on its well-oiled rollers. He felt like he was twisting and turning in a wind that was approaching gale-force proportions. A timid knock on the door made him flinch. He didn’t want to talk to anyone. He wanted to think. He watched as the handle of the door moved. No one but Sadie had the audacity to enter the chief’s office uninvited. “A package just came for you, Chief. It’s from Detective Jade.” Sadie pointed to a clean corner of the chief’s desk. The desk clerk set it down with a thump, then scuttled out of the room before the chief could bellow at him.
“What the hell is this, Sadie?”
Sadie kicked the door shut with one of her platform shoes. “I’m not a mind reader, Erwin. It’s from Aggie. It doesn’t have a red bow on it, so that leads me to believe it’s not a gift. It’s got at least two miles of tape on it, so that leads me to believe she didn’t want anyone but you opening it or tampering with it. The message said it was to be hand-delivered to you personally. If you want to know what’s in it, you’re going to have to open it,” Sadie snapped.
“You’re supposed to sort through my mail, Sadie, and weed out the crap.” Shay looked at the box, knowing he was going to hate the contents.
“It isn’t mail, Erwin. It was a special delivery by some woman. For your eyes only. I’ll watch when you open it. By the way, Captain Ramos is having breakfast in the cafeteria. I gave him a chit to use. What are you going to do about that, Erwin? You cannot blow off the commissioner and the mayor. Now you are going to have to make nice. Open the damn box, Erwin,” Sadie ordered.
Chief of Detectives Shay rubbed at his temples. His voice was a bare whisper when he said, “I’m afraid to open it, Sadie. I think what’s inside this box is my worst nightmare come to life. I don’t give a damn what anyone says, Aggie Jade was a hell of a cop. The best.”
“Why are you using the past tense, Erwin?”
“Because she’s gone. You know why she’s gone, Sadie? She’s gone because she’s smart. She knew…knows…oh, hell, here goes nothing.” The chief pulled out his pocketknife and worked through the yards and yards of sticky tape. “Let’s just hope there’s a letter in here.”
Sadie pulled back the flaps of the huge box. She blinked at the contents. “Butterfly books! Her gun and shield are in here, too. And the dog’s shield. I feel like crying. There’s your letter! Read it, Erwin!”
“I’m reading it, Sadie. Stop flapping your gums.” Shay’s hands started to shake when he sat down. Sadie snatched the letter out of his hands and read it. Her hands started to shake, too. She laid the letter on the desk.
“What do you want me to do, Erwin?” Her voice was soft and gentle, the kind of voice a doting grandmother would use when putting her favorite grandchild to bed.
“Christ, Sadie, I don’t know. I’ve never had anything like this happen on my watch. Call the commissioner and the mayor. Tell them to come here as soon as they can. Tell them it’s an emergency. If Hawk shows up, bring him right in. I’m going to put his ass in a sling the minute I get hold of him. Keep Ramos happy until the commissioner gets here. Not a word of this to anyone, Sadie.”
Erwin Shay mopped at his bald head. He could feel perspiration dripping down his arms. He sat down and reached for the letter. He wished he was a kid again so he could bawl his head off.
Dear Chief Shay,
I’m really sorry it’s come to the point where I have to write this and you have to read it. Life sometimes just isn’t fair.
Tom Madsen was not a dirty cop. Nor am I a dirty cop. I just want you to know that from the git-go. I can prove it, Chief. I know you told me not to get involved, but I had to. I did it on my own time. I knew in my gut Tom and I were set up that night. I was supposed to be killed, too, along with my dog. That is a hard thing to live with. It isn’t something I’ll soon get over. IAD cleared me, so you know I’m clean. Those guys don’t miss a trick.
All the proof you need is inside this box. Just go page by page in each book and you’ll see the proof. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to do each officer in the department. I’m sure you can find people who will finish the job. The code is simple once you know what you’re looking for. Will Fargo kept records. I went to his brother’s house in Washington after Will died. The brothers got scared, and they’re long gone. They knew nothing, but they’re scared just the way the Madsens are scared. I’m the one who broke into the Madsens’ house and took Tom’s car. Buried inside the seats were close to two hundred bags of cocaine. It was in my car, too. I took it all to the Salvation Army bin and dropped it off. I also got rid of both cars. I know how it works, Chief. I’m a whistle-blower, and they’ll come after me.
No one helped me, Chief. Everything I did, I did on my own. Consider this a confession for want of a better word.
As for Mr. Papadopolus, he’s a friend. He stopped by my house to say hello. He was here in Atlanta checking on his restaurants. By the time you read this, I’m sure he’ll be back in Vegas. End of story.
I want to thank you for the good years, Chief. I think I was a good cop. I almost died trying to be a good cop. I’m having a lot of trouble with that.
So now I’m on the run. I’ll be looking over my shoulder for the rest of my life, just like that cop in New York. I’ll handle it because my cop instincts are still intact. And, I have Gus.
I’m going to be watching the way this plays out. If I don’t like what I’m seeing, I’ll act on it. Everyone has a smoking gun, and I have mine.
My gun, minus the clips, my shield, and Gus’s shield are in the box.
Agnes Jade
Erwin Shay bit down on his lower lip. He suddenly felt like bawling. He reached inside the box and withdrew the gun and shields. He laid all three items on the desk. It was the dog’s shield that brought the tears to his eyes. He started slamming things around then because he didn’t know what else to do. He was like a scalded cat when the commissioner and mayor entered his office ten minutes later.
• • •
Nathan Hawk sat at his computer, his thoughts a million miles away. He knew he should be writing something, but his brain refused to function. All he could think about was Lizzie and Aggie. Where are they? Are they okay? Will I ever see either one of them again?
Nathan turned the computer off, opened his desk drawer, and took out his checkbook. He had enough money to tide him over for a while if he took a leave of absence. He had six weeks’ vacation on the books. He could take it all now. And, do what? Find Lizzie of course.
Nathan shuffled his way into his boss’s office. “Brad, I need to take my vacation, all six weeks of it. If you can’t see your way clear to giving it to me, then I have to resign.”
Brad Dewbury looked up at the tall reporter. “Are you okay, Nathan?”
“No. No, I’m not okay. This is…personal. I’m sorry I can’t give you more notice.”
“No, it’s okay, Nathan. Summ
er is slow. Nothing ever happens. Will you stay in touch? If something comes up, will we be able to reach you?”
“I don’t know, Brad. I want to say yes, but I just don’t know.”
Brad waved his hand to indicate he should leave. “Collect your vacation pay and get out of here. Call in once in a while, okay?”
“Yeah, sure. Thanks, Brad.”
That was almost too easy. Nathan found his way to the payroll department, explained the situation, waited while the payroll clerk called Dewbury to confirm his vacation. Five minutes later he walked out of the building, the check in his hand. He walked across the street and deposited his check. Now he could go home to get some sleep. He whirled around when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Mr. Hawk?”
“Yeah.”
“Chief Shay asked me to bring you down to headquarters. He said if you don’t want to come willingly, I was to arrest you. What’s it gonna be?”
Nathan shrugged. “I’ll follow you.” The young cop, who didn’t look old enough to shave, nodded.
The ride to police headquarters took all of thirty-five minutes. Nathan parked beside the young cop and followed him into the smelly building. He was immediately taken to Chief Shay’s office, where the commissioner and mayor stared at him with unblinking intensity.
“Sit down, Hawk,” Shay ordered. Nathan sat and prayed he wouldn’t fall asleep. “What do you know about this?” He handed over Lizzie’s letter. Nathan read it, his eyes burning.
“Well?”
“Well what?” Nathan asked wearily. “I’m not a cop, I’m an investigative reporter. Is this supposed to mean something to me?” Lizzie hadn’t implicated him. She was taking the rap for all of it. He felt like a deadly germ under a microscope.
“You two were a, what do you young people call it today, an item. You were seeing each other. What do you know about this letter?”
“Not a damn thing. I went by the house earlier, and Aggie was already gone. The house was closed up. That’s all I know. Yeah, I feel like hell. I thought the two of us had something going. I even asked her to marry me. She was supposed to give me her answer this morning. That’s why I was there.”
“You are one sorry-looking son of a bitch, son. I think I believe you. This stays in this office, understood?” Shay said through clenched teeth.
“Chief, I’m on vacation. Personally, I don’t give a good rat’s ass what you do with that letter. I’m going home to sleep. You know where to find me.”
“You go when I say you go. I want to hear the words, Hawk. Do you know where Detective Jade went?”
“No. I wish I did.”
“Do you know anything about any of this?” The chief tapped the letter, then the box.
“The only thing I know is Aggie said just about the whole department was dirty. She was afraid. You want a laugh, Chief? I can give you a laugh. I promised her I would take care of her. Guess she didn’t think very much of that promise.”
“What the hell kind of reporter are you, Hawk?” the commissioner asked. “You should be out there beating the bushes and bringing down the wrath of your paper all over the department.”
“Let someone else do it. I’m on vacation. Can I go now?”
“Yeah, but don’t make any plans to leave here.”
Every bone in Nathan’s body protested as he made his way through the building and out to his car. He was on Peachtree Road when he swerved at the last minute to roll up the driveway to the Ritz Carlton. He parked, got out, and went into the hotel and over to the registration desk. “Anthony Papadopolus. Can you ring his room?”
“Mr. Papadopolus checked out last evening, sir.”
“Figures,” Nathan muttered as he made his way across the lobby to the concierge.
He identified himself, and asked, “Do you happen to know what time Mr. Papadopolus left last evening?”
“No, sir, I’m sorry. We were pretty busy all night. If he checked out, then I would assume he left immediately. They should be able to help you at the desk.”
Nathan shook his head. What the hell am I doing here? He shook his head, trying to clear it.
He was back in his car within minutes. Knowing he was a hazard on the road, he stayed in the right lane and drove slowly. He was almost asleep on his feet when he walked from the garage to the elevator and rode it to his floor. Inside, he ripped at his jacket, threw it across the room, and fell onto the couch. The last thing he saw before he closed his eyes were the packets of money Lizzie had tossed onto the coffee table. For Aggie’s snitch Pippy.
He closed his eyes and was asleep instantly.
Lizzie walked down the steps that would take her away from the Gulfstream. Her hold on Alice’s leash was secure, her backpack was tight on her shoulders. She stopped at the bottom step and looked up at the pilot. She nodded her thanks. “Tell Mr. P. I said thanks.” The pilot nodded and offered up a salute.
Lizzie adjusted her dark glasses and headed for the small terminal.
Portugal.
Her new home.
Alice walked as close to Lizzie as she could, stopping every few minutes to sniff the ground.
Lizzie tilted the dark glasses she was wearing to look about. What she saw was a beautiful blue sky, smiling people, laughing children, and helpful employees of the small airline. The breeze was warm, the sun warmer. It felt good after the air-conditioning of the Gulfstream. She stopped for a minute to pull a baseball cap out of her backpack. She plopped it on top of the blond wig. She looked up in time to see a young man wearing a blue uniform of some sort with a placard bearing the name Patricia Newfeld. She waved her hand at him before stopping at the immigration desk, where she presented her passport, bearing the Patricia Newfeld name.
When she saw the young man again he smiled, showing perfectly aligned white teeth. He handed over a sheaf of papers and pointed to the east. “An open-air Jeep, madam, just as you requested. If you will sign your name, you may take possession of the vehicle. I must, however, see a copy of your international driver’s license. A mere formality.”
Lizzie frowned. She had an international license but in her own name, not in the name of Patricia Newfeld, clearly an oversight. She waved her hands, a look of dismay on her face.
“It is of no importance,” the young man said. He held out his hand.
A bribe. That she understood. Lizzie dug in her pocket and pulled out a fifty-dollar bill. “I’m sorry, I haven’t changed my money to euros yet.”
“It is of no importance, madam.” The fifty-dollar bill disappeared so fast, Lizzie blinked. She signed the name Patricia Newfeld. The young man made a production out of staring at the documents before he finally ripped off a copy and handed her the rest, which she immediately stuck in her backpack.
Lizzie led Alice over to a bench outside the small airport. The game plan was to stay in St. Michael for a few days, then charter a small plane to the island of Fayal, where she and Aggie would take up residence.
For the rest of their lives.
Lizzie sat down on a hard wooden bench outside the small building. She stared off in the distance, across sparkling blue water. She blanched slightly when she noticed the short runway and the expanse of water beyond the end.
Six years ago she’d come to this very airport to vacation with friends. They’d stayed in Lisbon, though, because of the fine restaurants and night life. By day, they either took boats or the small puddle jumpers to explore the various islands. She’d fallen in love with the lazy lifestyle, the perpetual blue skies, the brilliant colorful flowers, and the warm, soothing sun. She and the others had visited a nude beach, and when she returned to Vegas, she had an overall tan even though she’d used a thirty-five sunblock.
Lizzie looked down at her watch. One o’clock in Atlanta, six o’clock here in Portugal. She changed her watch. She wished she knew what was going on back in the States. Noreen and the girls should be on the road. Chief Shay was probably tugging at the few hairs he had left on his head. Nathan? Wh
ere is Nathan? What is he doing?
The urge to cry was so great, Lizzie bit down on her lower lip. Don’t think about Nathan. Nathan belongs to the past. The past is gone. “Tell that to my heart,” she muttered.
Lizzie jumped up. Alice was on her feet in an instant. “Let’s go for a walk, girl. I’ll get you some water and a soda pop for me. We still have a couple of hours till Aggie arrives. Oh, it’s going to be so good to see her again.”
A small boy approached her, shouting something she didn’t understand until he pointed to a cooler packed with ice. Water and soft drinks. She purchased two, pointed to a paper cup. Alice drank as greedily as she did. Money changed hands before Lizzie walked away.
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