by Cole, Bobby
This project had taken several weeks to coordinate, and only those who absolutely had a need to know were read in and then only to the limited extent of what was absolutely necessary for their specific role.
Fewer than five individuals knew the big picture—they hoped.
CHAPTER 35
BAILEY LOCKED THE gold mine’s front door at straight-up six o’clock. Her red balloons were swaying under the current of the heater vent. She would be able to try only four codes before she would have to leave. Moon Pie and Levi would return at any moment. She knew Moon Pie would review the surveillance tapes after the money was discovered missing, and she could not justify going into the office too many times. Securing the gold and cash inside the office desk drawer took only a few minutes, allowing her time to try a round of codes. A security camera was focused on the office door but could not see inside. However, the video time stamps would reveal how long she was in the office. She didn’t want to be the focus of Moon Pie’s rage after the theft. Walter was crystal clear that she had to appear to be above reproach so she could start a new life without fear of retribution. Not knowing exactly when Moon Pie would be back added to Bailey’s anxiety. He seemed to have been purposely vague about where they were going and when they would return.
The back room was dimly lit, requiring Bailey to take extra care as she stepped around the full-body lion mount and the deer heads lying on the floor. When she opened the office door and flipped on the light, her mind raced as she stared at the safe. Inside that refrigerator-size hunk of metal was a small fortune, more than enough to get her out of trouble, out of town, and far away from Woody. She hurriedly secured the day’s gold purchases inside Moon Pie’s desk drawer and then stood for a moment in front of the safe with the cheat sheet of codes Sebastian had given her. She took a deep breath and punched in the next code on her list: 18, 16, 10, pound. Each time she typed a digit, an electronic beep chirped, giving her hope until she pressed the pound sign and nothing happened.
“Okay. Do you like sixteen, ten, eighteen, pound?” she quietly said aloud. “Awww. Well, okay, how ’bout ten, sixteen, eighteen, pound? Shit!”
There was a warning beep after this attempt, and when Bailey tried to press the fourth combination, the lock was frozen, stopping any more attempts for thirty minutes. She gathered her composure and flipped off the lights as she walked out of the office.
Bailey pulled her jacket tight and reached into her purse for her car keys. When she opened the back door, she could see clearly by the streetlight illuminating the parking lot. Glancing up at the doorframe, she saw where she would place the magnet tomorrow. The paint job matched perfectly, and she knew it wouldn’t be noticed. She didn’t know how it worked, but she trusted Mr. Walter. She punched the arming code into the alarm keypad—1-9-6-4 and then “exit.” It was the only code Moon Pie had shared with her. The alarm chirped twice, and then the tiny light turned red. She had sixty seconds to shut and lock the door.
As she drove out of the parking lot, she quickly looked at Sebastian and Bernard sitting across the street in an old Ford truck. She gave them a slight, inconspicuous nod as she went by. Thirty seconds later, a car that had been sitting about two buildings down pulled away from the curb and followed Bailey.
“Woody?” Bernard asked as the car went past.
“Gotta be,” Sebastian said between clenched teeth. He glanced at his watch—6:13. “Call Lucille and find out Bailey’s home address and her cell phone number.”
“This wasn’t in the plan,” Bernard said as he put on his bifocals and prepared to dial.
“Don’t blame me; it’s Woody’s fault.”
CHAPTER 36
MOON PIE CLIMBED into the passenger seat, shut the door, and let out a deep sigh of relief.
“Go,” he instructed Levi as he sank back against the leather.
“Those guys didn’t seem like they were normal…like us,” Levi said as he pulled the FJ onto the county road, headed south.
“They ain’t.”
“Them dudes don’t play. That one spic makes me real nervous.”
“I noticed. Don’t worry, I ain’t gonna be friendin’ him on Facebook. Regardless of how scary these dudes are, they can put us on the map…my partial brother,” Moon Pie said as he watched them drive away in the side mirror. He was slipping back into his typical cocky attitude. “Drive the speed limit, and stop at the first squat-n-gobble. I need some caffeine.”
“What’s up with that monitor on your ankle? Our new partners aren’t very trusting.”
“It ain’t a thing. I’ve taken ’em off before. Besides, Pedro back there just wants to make sure we don’t walk with his money.”
“A healthy choice, my friend.”
Moon Pie grabbed his iPhone and said, “I need to call the boss.”
Levi turned his attention to the road and set the cruise control at four miles per hour over the speed limit.
“Hey, boss. It’s done.” Moon Pie chose his words carefully in case the phones were tapped. “They’re expecting us to flip it pretty quick. Clock’s ticking.”
Moon Pie listened to his boss give him directions in code and then said, “Got it. Perfect. I’ll holler at ya later.” Moon Pie ended the connection and then turned off the phone.
Levi asked, “What’s the plan?”
“They’re gonna come here Saturday. He’s takin’ his squeeze to the Rascal Flatts concert in Tupelo.”
“Tupelo?” Levi asked.
“Yeah. Apparently their concert on the coast got canceled, so they’re comin’ up here. I didn’t ask details. You know how he is.”
Levi scrolled through the satellite-radio channels and stopped on ESPN. “We oughta go to the concert too.”
“Dude, it’s huntin’ season. I need my rest.”
“It’d be fun.”
“I ain’t gonna be your date.”
Moon Pie was almost back to his normal self. He was feeling much better and was thrilled that both the goods and his boss were coming to him. He might even be able to hunt this weekend. He forgot about the ankle bracelet as he started coming down from the adrenaline high.
“Hey, let me ask you a question. Whaddaya think of me changin’ my name? I’m tired of Moon Pie.”
“Whatcha thinkin’?”
“I got it narrowed down to two.”
Levi realized he had given this some thought. He was curious now. “Hit me.”
“Colonel.”
“Colonel?”
“Yeah. Like in the old-South days…distinguished men were called Colonel.”
“But you’re not distinguished.”
“No, but it’ll fit me perfect when I get my old plantation house one day.”
“What’s the other?”
“Memphis.”
Levi looked at his half brother and smiled. “Memphis. I like it. I really do.”
“I’m just thinkin’ about it…ya know. I’m gettin’ older, and I need to work on my image.”
“You can be Memphis, the drug runner formerly known as Moon Pie,” Levi said sarcastically.
“Just shut the hell up and drive.”
“Really. Consider Memphis. It’s classy.”
CHAPTER 37
WALTER PULLED THE money out of the cat litter, spread it out on the bed, and admired the cash. It was more than he had ever been able to accumulate during his career. As he slowly studied it, he thought of his wife and wished they had vacationed in Hawaii like she always wanted. He was suddenly filled with regrets for never taking time to enjoy time with his family. He had worked nonstop out of fear of not being able to provide for his family. He was born in the waning years of the Great Depression and clearly remembered its effect on his parents and others. He slowly stacked the cash and rewrapped it in a black garbage bag. The knock on his door caused his heart to race, even though he expected the visitor was a friend.
“Just a minute,” he yelled as he returned the money to the litter box. His knees popped as he stood t
o open the door. He peered through the peephole to see Lucille standing impatiently.
Opening the door, Walter said, “Come on in. Sorry it took so long.”
“We got a problem,” she said as she placed a plastic bag of recently purchased burglary accessories on the counter.
“What?”
“None of the codes for the safe worked. She was able to try sixteen versions from your list.”
“Damn,” Walter said as he toyed with the cigar between his index finger and thumb.
“We still have twenty-two versions to try.”
“What if one of them isn’t it?”
“I don’t know. If it’s not bolted down, we might could rent a hand truck that’s used to move refrigerators and just take the whole safe…that would give us more time to try more codes.”
“Where would we hide it?”
“We could rent a storage unit.”
“Yeah, I suppose so,” Lucille replied as her cell phone rang, surprising her.
“Hello?” she answered.
“Hey, it’s Bernard. What’s Bailey’s home address?”
“Why?”
“We need to go check on her. Woody followed her when she left the store.”
“Oh dear. She lives in those apartments by the hospital. Building G, apartment four. Downstairs on the right.”
“Okay, don’t worry. Sebastian says to tell Walter there aren’t any motion detectors, and he has an idea for the code. He’ll explain when we get back.”
Lucille stared at Walter, growing concerned. “Please let me know about Bailey. That boy’s got serious anger issues.”
“Sebastian said for you to call her and warn her.”
Lucille stood staring at the phone and looked up at Walter. “Yes, okay, I will. Right now!”
Walter flashed back to Minnesota, where ten years ago on a cold night much like this one, his own daughter had been physically abused by her husband.
CHAPTER 38
SEBASTIAN AND BERNARD arrived at the apartment complex after only two missed turns. They parked facing Bailey’s apartment, and even looking through overgrown azalea bushes, they could tell someone was inside. Sebastian switched off the key, and they sat in silence. The truck windows began fogging as soon as the engine died.
“You see that punk’s car.”
“No, but he’s gotta be in there,” Bernard answered.
“Stay here, and if you see him approach, honk the horn,” Sebastian said, opening his door.
“What are you gonna do?”
“I don’t know for sure. But I have to check on her.”
Sebastian pulled a large stainless-steel revolver from under his seat and stuck it inside his waistband at the front.
Bernard watched, nodded his assent, and said, “You be careful.”
“I will,” Sebastian replied, and then shut the truck door.
The parking area was illuminated well, but Sebastian could not see Woody. He sensed that Woody was close. As Sebastian slowly approached Bailey’s apartment, he could hear raised voices that he recognized. In the center breezeway, he could see Bailey’s door was slightly ajar. As he approached, the upstairs neighbor opened his door and made eye contact with Sebastian, who indicated through a hand gesture that he had this under control.
As he stood beside the door listening, he could hear Woody yelling, demanding money. Bailey was holding her own but losing ground fast to Woody’s increasing anger. Sebastian waved at Bernard to come join him. As he stepped through the entrance, he could see splinters on the floor from where Woody had kicked in the door.
Woody had Bailey cornered in the small kitchen, and he didn’t hear Sebastian step in. He was slinging her around the kitchen by her ponytail and was just about to hit her again when Sebastian caught his arm and forcefully threw Woody headfirst against the refrigerator. Woody was momentarily stunned and fell to the floor. Sebastian thumb-cocked his stainless Smith & Wesson model 686 .357 Magnum and touched the cold barrel to Woody’s forehead. As his vision cleared, Woody could see copper-clad, hollow-point cartridges in the two visible cylinders on each side of the barrel. There was no doubt the gun was loaded.
“Bailey, call the police,” Sebastian calmly stated as Bernard came in the front door. “Whether it’s a domestic disturbance or a justifiable homicide is entirely up to this piece of trash.
“Son, if you move even one inch, I’m gonna shoot you…and I’ll enjoy it. You hear me? I got absolutely nutten to lose.” Sebastian stood with all his weight on Woody’s left hand.
Woody was obviously angry, but the gun barrel in his face had served to temporarily subdue him.
Bailey was crying. She had been through this time and again. She couldn’t break free of Woody. She needed a restraining order, but she knew it wouldn’t work. She had endured all of the Woody tirades that she could take. There was no more defending him. She didn’t care what happened to him anymore. She tried to dial 911 on her cell, but her hands were shaking too badly.
“Let me make sure you understand: you ain’t ever going to hit another woman. I don’t even want to hear about you beatin’ a dog. You listenin’ to me?”
Woody nodded his head. His eyes darted between the pistol, Bailey, and Sebastian’s wild, crazed eyes.
“Who are you?”
“I’m your worst nightmare,” he said as he squeezed the trigger and then caught the hammer with his thumb.
Woody tried to sit up straighter but couldn’t. “I’ve never, I’ve never seen you before today.”
“We’re her guardian angels.”
Bailey stood up slowly. She still hadn’t dialed 911 yet. Bernard was watching Sebastian and quickly went to help Bailey. He could tell she was going to have a black eye.
“What makes you hit a woman?” Bernard asked.
Woody didn’t respond; he just looked at the floor.
Sebastian studied Woody’s face and eyes, and he saw no emotion and no feelings. He was simply sorry he had gotten caught. But Sebastian realized they could use Woody. He might be very helpful to them in the next few days. He needed to talk it through with Walter. Bernard was about to dial the police, and Sebastian motioned for him to wait. On the floor was a can of Copenhagen with a customized silver lid that only the most refined rednecks possessed. Sebastian realized it had dislodged from Woody’s belt holder when he fell. He repositioned a foot and slowly pushed it between the refrigerator and the base cabinet.
Woody groaned in pain, and Sebastian asked calmly, “Where do you live?”
“Out on Military Road,” he said with a grunt as he straightened up and ran his hand through his hair.
Sebastian was very familiar with Military Road, as were most of Golden Triangle’s residents. Andrew Jackson had built it after the War of 1812 to connect Nashville with New Orleans, and it ran right through the river town of Columbus. Sebastian bent down and looked him dead in the eyes. “Where exactly?”
Woody told him.
“You gotta job?”
“I’m a freelance gynecologist,” he answered, smirking.
Bam! Sebastian slammed his fist into Woody’s face. Blood instantly began to flow from his right nostril.
Sebastian gritted his teeth as he watched Woody grimace in pain. “Let’s try this again real slow, you little prick. Do. You. Have. A. Job?”
Woody quickly nodded as he wiped blood from his face. “I work at the new steel mill. Out by the airport.”
Sebastian glanced at Bailey’s injuries and was furious. He then looked back at Woody. He knew he had the perfect punishment, if necessary.
“Look, I’m gonna cut you a break. If you swear on all that’s sacred to you that you won’t ever come back here again, we won’t call the police,” Sebastian said in a monotone voice. He was struggling to keep from killing Woody on the spot.
Woody was silent. He slowly raised his head to look at Bailey. “Is that what you want?”
Bailey paused and bit her lip. “Yes,” she finally answered.
&
nbsp; Sebastian was relieved. He knew women sometimes defended the person who abused them.
Woody looked off. For a second, Sebastian thought he saw tears in his eyes. He realized he must have cared for Bailey at some level. He just lost control of his feelings and anger took over. Gotta be on drugs now, Sebastian thought. He had heard that meth drastically changed people. Woody had that meth-head look in his eyes.
Sebastian leaned down to Woody’s ear and then whispered through gritted teeth, “Swear to God that you’ll leave her alone, and I won’t cut your nuts off and shove ’em so far down your throat that it kills ya!”
CHAPTER 39
MOON PIE AND Levi took their time driving back to Columbus. They stopped in Amory, Mississippi, and ate supper at one of the ubiquitous Mexican restaurants now scattered all over the South. They ordered steak fajitas after their cheese dip. Levi commented that they were probably the only diners in the state who had nearly a million dollars in cash stashed in their automobile at that moment. Moon Pie agreed with a loud laugh.
Levi was amazed at how the excitement of future earnings combined with the margaritas made Moon Pie talk. He yammered about their shared daddy and how he had taught him to poach, fish, and live off the land. They talked about the Swamp People show on the History Channel, and while he knew Levi wanted to be on The Bachelorette, Moon Pie wanted to try alligator hunting in the bayous of Louisiana. He had already poached a few gators in Tibbee Creek, near West Point, and he had his eye on a ten-footer in the Noxubee Refuge. He liked the challenge.