by Phil Edwards
“No, I knew all along that you were on to us. But it seems that you thought I’d just give up and let you go. You’re not so lucky. Not today.”
“Wait.” Jake strained to raise his head. “The Initiative. Tell me why you created the group.”
“Oh, I think you know that.”
Rothschild looked at a fingernail and wiped something off. Probably blood. Jake tried to concentrate long enough to talk.
“You did it because you knew you were going to lose on the Development Proposition. You’d never get to develop the wetlands.” He spit on the expensive carpet. “You knew that if you made a group crazier than your opponents, people would turn against them. People would vote your way. The only way to convince them was to trick them into thinking wetlands were for extremists.”
“And it will work,” Rothschild laughed. “I’ve done polls. No one will vote to save them. They believe the wetlands supporters are insane, thanks to my scrappy and well-funded activists in the Saving Tomorrow Initiative.”
“Your company depends on it.”
“No, that’s not true.” His chin seemed to sink a little. He recovered and hit Jake again. Jake felt his teeth shake as he spoke.
“And you thought I’d go along with it. That I’d write your story and hype up your case to the public.” More blood leaked out. “But you didn’t know that I discovered Charlotte was murdered. Then the stakes became too high to let me live. Just like they were with her.”
Rothschild hit him again. This time, Jake didn’t raise his head up as quickly. The man hit hard for someone his age. Out of the corner of his eye, Jake saw Conrad, standing quietly with his arms crossed. Rothschild was doing his job for him. When he stopped punching, he walked to the desk and took a sip from a crystal glass.
“Unfortunately, you’re correct. You do create a problem with my plan, Mr. Russo. I can only have the Saving Tomorrow Initiative take blame for so much. If they’re a radical group, they will only face so much scrutiny. Not many reporters are tenacious, anymore. By the time I have to reveal funding records, everyone will have forgotten about it all.”
“And when you do, they’ll show that the group got charitable donations.”
“Exactly. I didn’t send them a dime. But every community I own kicked a little in. And so did my foundation. On their own accord, of course.”
He grinned widely. Then he suddenly frowned.
“But there’s the unfortunate problem you’ve created. If people begin to think a woman was murdered, things become…difficult. The police will trace the group to me and start to get suspicious. But you’re the only one who thinks that, aren’t you?”
Jake stayed quiet. He couldn’t speak.
“So I have to kill two birds with one stone. Well, actually, I assume Conrad will be killing you in a different way than he killed Charlotte. He’s very creative.”
Jake looked up and opened his eyelids. The red hair looked like fire. He could see Conrad was smiling. He still had the strength to speak. He spit blood out on the carpet. If only Mel showed up now.
“You aren’t going to get away with this. People won’t stand by for what you’re doing.”
“Ah, you’d think that.” He went over to the bar and got out a bottle. “Club soda for the carpet. It’s wonderful for unfortunate stains. Like you.”
He placed the bottle on the desk and leaned back again.
“You see, I’m going to win. I have you here. And I always win. No one cared about an old woman dying on a beach. And no one will care about a third string reporter, sent to Sarasota because he couldn’t cut it in the big city.”
Jake spit again. Rothschild didn’t bother moving.
“Do you know why nobody will care?”
“Why?”
“Because they are used to it. They are used to old people dying. They are used to crazy environmentalists, and they are used to developers getting what they want.”
He laughed a little.
“And most of all, they are used to me winning and you losing.”
He stopped laughing. He straightened the collar of his suit and tightened his tie.
“Conrad, I think we’ve said everything. Tonight, I’d like you to transfer him out of here. For now, make sure he’s pacified.”
Conrad opened the bookcase and carried Jake’s chair in. He felt something shoved inside his mouth and then elastic cords pinched his neck. He started to feel dizzy, and as he began to faint, he only thought one thing.
So much for the plan.
CHAPTER 48:
A light came in, first a thin line, then a wide band. Suddenly, the whole room was filled with light. He looked up, his neck sore. The bookcase was open and Rothschild was yelling at Conrad.
“Just get in there. And hurry. I’ll have her leave in five minutes.”
“I’d rather stay outside.”
“Get in there. I don’t want Mel to know you’re here. She might put two and two together.”
“If I could stay in here—”
“Do you not understand what I’m saying?”
Jake looked around the small room behind the bookcase. The walls looked like they were a silver color, possibly metal. Filing cabinets were lined up in a row on the left, and a wine refrigerator sat on the right. Conrad yelled to Rothschild.
“Just don’t let her in. Lock the doors, sir.”
“Who is the boss here? Last time I checked, I was. If I want to meet with her, I will.”
Conrad shuffled into the small room. He cursed at Jake as he pulled the door shut.
“Don’t think about screaming. I will make it more painful if you do.”
He tightened the elastic cords around Jake’s neck. Then he planted his hands firmly on the back of the chair. The room was completely dark. Jake tried to shake, but he couldn’t move at all. Conrad was too strong. He decided to shove his whole body forward when he had a chance. If he did, they’d hear him slam against the back of the bookcase. It was his only chance.
He couldn’t hear the words they were saying on the outside. He heard Rothschild’s voice, muffled by the books and the wall. Then he heard Mel’s. He tried to scream, but Conrad clamped a hand over his mouth. The man breathed silently. His hand almost covered Jake’s entire face. They listened to Mel and Rothschild but understood nothing.
They waited. He could smell his own sweat in the space of the dark room. Or maybe it was his own blood. He started to think. If only they’d planned a little longer. If only he’d been smart enough to hit Rothschild first. He wondered how they would kill him. Where he would die. How long it would take Thompson to even notice. He guessed a week would go by before anyone in New York even realized he was gone.
He hoped Conrad had loosened his grip. It was now or never. With everything in him, he jerked his body forward in the chair and it started to tip forward. His head was only an inch away from the wall. They’d hear him and save him. He’d get to file his story.
He stopped falling. Conrad had caught the chair. The voices outside the wall started to sound fainter. Maybe it was his hearing. Or maybe they were walking away. They must have thought he’d never shown. By the time they realized, he wouldn’t be able to be saved.
Then he heard a loud ringing. He looked back. He couldn’t see well, but he saw hands moving frantically in the dark. It rang again. It wasn’t his phone—it was Conrad’s. The ringing stopped, but then the voices got closer and closer and became clearer. He heard a man shout.
“It’s in there.”
“Open it,” Mel said. “Now!”
The thin line of light drew across the floor again. Then it turned into a wide band. Conrad shoved Jake’s chair into the corner and leapt out of the room.
“Hold it right there,” Sheryl Goldfein shouted.
Someone came over and pulled Jake up. Mel. She untied the cords around his neck, hands, and legs. He rubbed them and then stood up. Conrad was standing with his hands over his head and Jake walked out in front of him. Rothschild had surr
endered. Then he saw Sheryl and Abram. Sheryl had a pistol in her right hand and used her left to brace her elbow. Jake wiped the blood from his mouth.
“Sheryl? Abram? Why are you here?”
She shrugged her shoulders and kept the gun steady.
“We had to come. For Charlotte.”
“And you own a gun?”
She shrugged again.
“Are you really that surprised?”
He regained his balance.
“Do you mean because your husband was a cop?”
She steadied her grip.
“Ech. I mean because I’m Sheryl Goldfein.”
Gary had set up his tripod and was taking photographs of Rothschild and Conrad. He pointed the camera at Jake and the flash went off. He rubbed his eyes and Gary raised a thumb up above the camera.
“You don’t look good, but it’s a good shot.”
He turned to Rothschild.
“Looks like your plan didn’t go so well.”
“I should have killed you right away.”
“Thanks for that quote.” He reached for his notebook. “I’ll have to get that on paper. Do you have my tape recorder?”
“I destroyed it.”
Sheryl pointed the gun directly at Rothschild. He laughed.
“Your gun can’t get his tape recorder out of the incinerator.”
Conrad was totally silent. Mel grabbed a tissue and wiped Jake’s forehead. Rothschild growled.
“Mel, are you and Mr. Russo…together?”
She walked up to him and spit on his face. He didn’t bother wiping it off.
“Mel, you’re fired.”
“I don’t care. You won’t be behind this company much longer.”
“Oh really?” He laughed. “You don’t have any evidence. And now you’re holding me at gunpoint. My lawyers…”
Jake hobbled over to the bookcase and opened it. He pointed at the filing cabinets.
“Oh we’ll have evidence.” He hit one on the top and listened as the metal echoed. “We’ll get a warrant to look through all of these. Thanks for showing me where everything is.”
“A warrant?” For the first time, his chin sank down into his chest. Jake walked in front of him.
“That’s right. A warrant. A front page story. This is going to be everywhere.”
Jake walked away and Sheryl steadied her gun. They heard knocking at the door.
“Is there a problem here?”
Four policemen stood at the door and Gary motioned them into the room.
“I called them on the telephone before we arrived. I knew that we’d need some backup.”
Jake rubbed his wrists and buttoned up his Hawaiian shirt. Abram walked over to the policemen and pointed to the men. They pulled out their handcuffs.
“You are under arrest for attempted kidnapping.”
Gary pointed his cane at them and almost hit Conrad.
“And you’re going to get a lot more than that! The charges are just starting! Lot’s of charges! Like a credit card, but for bad things!”
Rothschild turned to Conrad.
“Stay quiet. The lawyers will take care of this.”
As the police read the men their rights, Jake stepped forward. One of the policemen tapped Jake on the shoulder.
“Sir, there’s a paramedic outside as well, if you need attention.”
“There is?”
“I called him,” Gary said. “I thought we might need one.”
“Thank God.”
They followed the police out of the office and into the hallway. Once they were all outside of the building, they led Conrad and Rothschild to the police cars. Both stayed quiet. Jake could hardly move. But he was strong enough to walk over to Rothschild and get his attention before he entered the car.
“Hey, Mr. Rothschild. You know how you said everyone was used to developers winning? I’ve got something else you’ll need to get used to.”
Rothschild turned his head as he was pushed into the car. His eyes were solid black. Jake smiled.
“It’s called jail.”
The car doors slammed shut and the five of them watched as the police cars drove away.
CHAPTER 49:
“I think you’re going to be fine. You don’t even need a stitch.”
Jake knew the paramedic—it was the Hispanic kid he’d met at Sunset Cove. He gave Jake some bandages and cleaned his wounds. The peroxide almost felt good. A healthy sting. Gary walked over and introduced himself to the kid.
“I remember you. You’re the young man who helped me the day I saw the white light.”
“You?” the kid said. “You’re the guy who choked on his camera strap, aren’t you?”
“You remember me?”
“Oh yeah.” He smiled. “I see a lot. But how could I forget you?”
When he was finished, Gary waved as the ambulance drove away.
“I’m a celebrity!”
The five of them stood by Jake’s car. Abram and Sheryl held hands while Gary watched the ambulance drive away. Jake wanted to hold Mel’s hand. But he wasn’t strong enough to stand without her support, so he leaned on her instead. She kissed his cheek at the one spot where there wasn’t a bruise.
“How many times have you been beaten up?”
“I lost count. But that might be because I have a concussion.”
They leaned on the trunk of the car. She was warm and they were both finally safe. Sheryl and Abram looked like they were waiting for him to talk.
“Look, I’m sorry I didn’t trust you. Both of you. I should have asked you to come and help me. I think you saved my life today, Sheryl.”
“Not just me.” She squeezed Abram’s hand. “He helped too.”
“How?”
“How do you think we knew that there was a room behind the bookcase?”
Abram pulled out a paper from his back pocket. He unfolded it carefully and smoothed out all the creases. It was a dark blue page with white writing.
“I don’t just study maps.” He held it up. “I have a thing for blueprints, too.”
Jake grabbed it. Abram had marked the spot behind the bookcase with a chalky white X. He handed the blueprint back and Abram folded it up.
“Abram, thank you.” He meant it. “I’m just glad we got so lucky. What are the odds that someone would call Conrad? If he hadn’t been called, you might not have known anybody was in there.”
Gary stood up straighter and shook his head.
“The jig was up!”
“Right, Gary, the jig was up.”
“No,” Mel said. “He’s the reason that Conrad got the phone call.”
“What do you mean?”
“Before we went inside, Gary looked through all of Charlotte’s papers. He found Charlotte’s list of calls to the Saving Tomorrow Initiative. So he made me give him my phone.”
“And he called the number?”
Gary nodded.
“I called it on my own! And then we heard the ringing behind the bookcase.”
“So Conrad was the number all along.”
“Yes,” Mel said. “At least he carried the phone. They had a different line just for the Saving Tomorrow Initiative.”
Gary piped up.
“I left a message.”
“Did you?”
“I did.” He laughed. “Jacob, I don’t think they’ll be calling back!”
Jake felt like he was getting his energy back, slowly. He walked forward and hugged Sheryl and Abram. He hoped the stains had dried. They hugged back tightly. It hurt against the bruises, but he didn’t mind.
“I’m sorry I didn’t trust you. But thank you again, for all you’ve done.”
“You did the right thing,” Abram said. “We just had to help.”
Gary was still excited.
“So what will happen to the company? To his building?”
“My guess is that the company will be fine. They’re not just one man. But I’m betting the vote on the Development Proposition wi
ll change. I doubt anyone will be able to develop on the wetlands any time soon. Once this story comes out, that will have changed forever.”
He pulled Mel close to his side.
“I have to thank you too. You risked everything for this. I can’t believe you did it. You’re amazing.” He brushed back his hair. “Am I terrible to look at?”
“Why?”
“Because I need to kiss you.”
She was blushing already. But she nodded and Jake pulled her lips to his. It was soft—it had to be because of the bruises. But she still felt the way she had before. Except now he didn’t have anything to hide. Or anything to be afraid of. It wasn’t about being aggressive. It was just about being right. He let her go, gently, and looked to his right.
“Good lord.”
Abram was dipping Sheryl halfway to the ground. She moved her hands around the back of his head as she kissed him. His hands shook from the strain of supporting her.
“That’s nice,” Mel said.
It continued. Abram switched arms and shook out the one he had been using. He seemed to have strength left.
“Very romantic,” Gary noted.
They broke. Then Sheryl leaned forward and pushed Abram down. She dipped him back and they continued to kiss. Abram’s hat fell off.
“All right!” Jake shouted. “We get it.”
They stopped and both of them wiped their mouths on their sleeves. Abram picked up his red-brimmed hat and put it back on.
“It was romantic.”
Gary sighed loudly.
“So this is it, I suppose. We’ve solved everything and figured it out. The criminals are in jail, the evidence is on the way. What do we do now?”
Jake got out his notebook. He still had a list of things to do.
“I’ll finish my story tonight. And then we develop the pictures. If we stick to everything, the police should take it from here. I don’t think they have a lot to do. And I’m sure they’re happy for our help.”
“Ah.” Gary coughed. “The pictures.”
“What? What’s wrong?”
“Well Jacob, as you know, due to my accident, I’m not allowed to carry any of my gear around. It could endanger me!”