Hokus Pokus

by Fern Michaels

  Jack sighed. “You need to ask me an important question like that when I’m bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Right now I’m about dead on my feet. I’d kill for an hour of sleep.”

  “It’s quiet. Go on upstairs and crash. I can handle things here. Navarro just got here. I saw him outside a few minutes ago. We got it covered.”

  “You sure, Harry?”

  “Kiss my girl for me, okay? But only on the cheek.”

  “You must be kidding. That little lady would wipe up the floor with me if I came within a foot of her, kiss or no kiss.”

  Harry laughed as he pushed the elevator button and moved off to where Special Agent Bert Navarro was holding court with two other special agents.

  Jack stepped out of the elevator and knew if he leaned up against the wall he’d fall asleep. He didn’t think even Nikki’s lips on his could keep him wide-awake. He did blink, not once, not twice, but three times when he entered the suite of rooms to see all the women sitting on the floor in a circle.

  “I just came up to see if I could get an hour’s sleep. Will one of you wake me in an hour?”

  Nikki scrambled to her feet to lead Jack into one of the bedrooms, where he fell onto the bed. He murmured something she could barely hear as she leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth when she realized he was already asleep. She pulled at a light blanket at the foot of the bed and covered him. The smile left her face when she walked out of the room.

  Nikki shrugged when she sat back down. She looked over at Yoko and said, “Jack said Harry wanted him to give you a kiss but he was afraid you’d deck him.”

  Yoko broke into a fit of giggles.

  “Where were we?” Nikki asked.

  “We were bitching about how we can’t possibly take on Conlon and Hughes and still do a performance. We’re good but I don’t think we’re that good,” Kathryn said.

  “Is there anything I can do?” Pearl Barnes asked.

  “For now not much, Pearl. If Maggie runs into problems you might have to call Grant. I see him as the one who will give her a hard time. If Hughes digs in you might have to call him, too. In fact, one of us should call Maggie and have her toss in your name if either one of the men balk at the meeting,” Myra said.

  Pearl nodded as she withdrew slightly from the circle, aware that she didn’t quite belong.

  “Twenty-four hours is all the time Charles is allowing,” Nikki said. “It takes about eight hours to get us made up to look like the G-String Girls. We don’t know what kind of problems we’ll run into with Conlon and Hughes. Even with Jack and Harry covering our backs, we all know what can go wrong will go wrong. On top of that, Alexis’s supplies haven’t been delivered yet.”

  “Charles assured me that everything on Alexis’s list will be delivered momentarily. Right now, girls, time is our enemy,” Myra said.

  “If Maggie is successful in enticing both men to Nikki’s house, how are we to get there? In what disguise this time?” Isabelle asked.

  “I’m working on it,” Alexis said. “I do think, though, you’re going to have to leave one at a time so as not to draw attention. I can make you up to look however you want to look. I won’t know for certain until my supplies arrive.”

  The dark moment lightened when the women pondered who they wanted to look like. They grew quiet when Myra’s cell phone rang and a sharp knock on the door could be heard. Nikki raced to the door and opened it. Four huge boxes were carried into the sitting room by one of the police officers. Nikki thanked him and closed the door. “Your stuff is here, Alexis,” she called out.

  Before she joined the circle of women she tiptoed into the bedroom to check on Jack, who was sleeping peacefully. She leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Only God knows how much I love you and only God knows how sorry I am that I got you involved in all of this.” She kissed him again as tears puddled in her eyes. She didn’t see the lone tear that dropped onto Jack’s hand.

  When the door closed behind Nikki, Jack wiped at his own wet eyes as he kissed the wet spot on his hand before he fell back into his fitful sleep.

  Back in the sitting room, Myra snapped her cell phone shut and looked around at the expectant faces staring at her. Her hands went to her neck as she searched for the pearls she was never without and then remembered they were in the pocket of her trench coat. She struggled to clear her throat before she spoke. “The good news is the G-String Girls’ band was allowed to depart. They are in the air as we speak. The girls themselves and their handlers weren’t so lucky. So far there has been a ban on all publicity, thanks to people Charles has on the scene. If it gets leaked that the real girls are in Germany, we’re going to have a problem. Right now it looks like, perhaps, the real girls will have wheels down an hour into the concert. That means we have to…We have to…perform for an hour.” Her tone was so desperate sounding the others smiled. “Perhaps a question-and-answer kind of thing at the onset.”

  The others hooted with laughter at the preposterous suggestion. Myra deflated like a pricked balloon.

  Nikki’s cell rang. She looked down at the name of the caller before she clicked it on. “What’s up, Maggie?” She listened and nodded. “Okay, we’ll take it from here.” She shoved the cell into the pocket of her sweats. “Conlon and Hughes told Maggie to hit the road. Neither one wants to talk to a reporter.” She turned to Pearl Barnes. “I guess it’s up to you to turn the screws, Pearl. If you want us to help you, it’s the only way to get to the name or names of the people who want to ensure your decision at the Supreme Court. Hughes is almost secondary to this problem. Getting the names from him, or from Conlon if he knows, is going to be the big problem.”

  Kathryn snapped her fingers and then pointed to one of the boxes in the sitting room. “Piece of cake.” The others giggled, knowing the contents of the box with the big red letters that said, FRAGILE. HANDLE WITH CARE.

  Alexis looked at her watch. “Okay, I can have you made up within three hours. You’ll need another hour and a half to leave here, travel to Nikki’s house, convince Conlon and Hughes to give up the names of their people, wait for said people, do the deed and get back here, at which point I will start to transform you into the G-String Girls. Again. This time the transformation will go quicker since I had a little practice the first time. We can do it but just barely, so you’re going to be on a very tight schedule. You’ll all need to stay aware of the time. Who wants to go first?”

  Yoko bounced to her feet. “Just make me look different.”

  “Oh, you will look different,” Alexis said as she pawed through one of the boxes. “You’re all going to be cops. Complete with real guns.” Alexis laughed at the expression on the women’s faces.

  The women shrugged and then grinned as they drifted off to gather in one of the bedrooms to allow Pearl Barnes privacy to make her two phone calls. When she walked into the bedroom minutes later she looked so stricken Myra and Annie rushed to put their arms around her. Her voice was shaky when she said, “I’m just having a little trouble that Grant would betray me after all these years. Tyler I can understand, he’s a greedy man who hungers for power and wealth. Grant was…Grant was like me, he just wanted to help. Maybe I was blind and I just wanted to believe that. If there were signs that he wasn’t what I thought he was, I totally missed them. I just can’t believe he would betray me like this. Both of them agreed to meet me at noon. Tyler said he would give up his lunch hour, if you can believe that.”

  “Don’t you worry, Pearl. We’ll make him pay for his involvement,” Annie said cheerfully.

  “What’s in the box marked FRAGILE?” Pearl asked as she dabbed at her eyes.

  “You don’t want to know,” Kathryn said.

  “She’s right, dear, you don’t want to know,” Myra said. “Now, tell us what the situation is with your people in Oregon.”

  “My runner is holding up. She managed to get some supplies from friends without tipping anyone off. It wasn’t much. My program is n
ot designed for any one to stay for more than twenty-four hours. It’s been weeks. Each stop on the railroad is just temporary. There are no accommodations for more. That’s why everything has always worked so smoothly. What’s happening now is a disaster. The people that are stranded are frightened out of their wits. It’s hard to keep the children happy and content with their mothers so frazzled. It’s just not a good situation.”

  “Where will they go once Lizzie takes them to Montana? Have you made provisions for them, planned a route, what?” Nikki asked.

  “I wish I could tell you but I can’t. I’ve been afraid to make any calls for fear Grant might have penetrated some of my security. It’s better that I alone am held responsible for everyone’s safety. I’m working on a plan and if you can take care of Grant and Tyler and the other people who are blackmailing me, I think I can bring the plan to fruition. In addition to the eighteen people in Oregon, I have nine mothers and their children waiting to be taken to safety via the first stop on the underground, but I can’t take a chance on moving them until I know I can keep them safe. I am so fearful some of them will go back to their situations where harm will come to them if I don’t act quickly.”

  “If there is one thing in this world I can’t stand it’s an abusive husband. We’ll take care of your problem, Pearl, and you can get back to doing what you do best, saving the lives of all those women and children,” Kathryn said vehemently.

  Jack Emery rubbed the sleep from his eyes as he rode down in the elevator. In the lobby he searched out Bert Navarro. “Here is the plan, Bert. You go out to Nikki’s house in Georgetown with Justice Barnes. She’ll be down in a minute. Here’s the key. Open up and then split via the back door but don’t lock it. Stay outside so your people can take Justice Barnes wherever she wants to go after Conlon and Hughes arrive. Barnes will just stay until the others get there. Harry will be outside the house also. You okay with this?”

  “Well, yeah, Jack,” Special Agent Navarro drawled. “You sure you can arrange something with Kathryn?”

  “Well, yeah, Bert,” District Attorney Emery drawled in return. “Either a front row seat for the concert or you stand in the wings. Your call.”

  “I’ll take the wings. I want to get up close and personal with her. She’s my kind of girl. The kind I’ve dreamed of all my life.”

  “Even knowing what you know about her and the others?” Jack asked. It was important for him to hear the agent’s response.

  “Yeah, Jack, even knowing what I know. And, yeah, it’s tough playing both sides of the fence but the end justifies the means in my eyes. Right or wrong, I made the decision even before Kathryn came on my radar.”

  Jack smiled. It was exactly what he wanted to hear. “Go on, get out of here. Justice Barnes just stepped out of the elevator. Watch your back, Bert.”

  Bert adjusted his government-issue sunglasses. He clapped Jack on the arm. “Always, buddy.”

  One by one the newly appointed police officers made their way to the house in Georgetown, three of them entering by the front door, the other three entering from the alley and then the kitchen door.

  Nikki felt her throat constrict at how neat and tidy Jack kept her house. It even smelled like Jack. She fought the tears that burned behind her eyelids. Another life, she thought sadly. “I’ll make some coffee. We have ten minutes. All of you, check out the house. The minute Pearl admits Conlon and Hughes, one of you has to go out the back door to alert Bert to take up his position by the front door in case either guest makes a run for it. That will be you, Kathryn. Harry will be at the back door. We all clear on that?”

  “Where’s our stuff?” Isabelle asked.

  “Right here, dear,” Annie said as she carried in the box with the big red letters.

  Myra had two duffel bags in her hands.

  “Looks like we’re good to go,” Yoko said as she turned to wave at Harry, who was peering into the back door.

  Nikki busied herself by getting a tray and cups and saucers out of the cabinet. She looked at the others and said, “The smell of fresh-brewed coffee will lull those two asses into believing Pearl is here to talk. A good hostess always serves refreshments. She’ll excuse herself to get the coffee and we move in. Watch the time. Annie, be very careful with that box.”

  “Yes, dear.”

  The front doorbell rang at one minute past twelve. Nikki pointed to the clock on the kitchen range.

  “Showtime,” Kathryn said.

  Chapter 20

  Pearl Barnes licked at her lips and then smoothed back her unruly gray hair. She took a huge breath and then exhaled slowly before she opened the door. She thought her guests looked wary.

  “For God’s sake, Pearl, I’ve been worried sick,” Grant Conlon bellowed. “What’s going on? Whose house is this? What are you doing here? Why are you hiding? You damn well owe me an explanation.”

  Pearl ignored Conlon’s questions. She looked at her handsome ex–son-in-law but didn’t say anything. Instead she turned and motioned the two men to follow her into the living room. Just as she was turning around she noticed a shadow by the front window next to the door. That was good, one of the vigilantes’ people had taken up his position.

  “Damn it, Pearl, will you say something? This is like…like cloak and dagger stuff. Why is he here?” Conlon asked, jabbing a finger in Hughes’s direction.

  “You’re both here because I invited you here. The time for pretending is over. I will not allow you to blackmail me, Tyler. And you, Grant, how could you betray me after all these years? I know the two of you are in this together. This little get-together is so we can talk it out. I’m going to leave the two of you for a few minutes. I’m going to get us all some coffee. Sitting around drinking coffee is so civilized and right now that’s exactly the kind of feeling I need. Please,” Pearl said, holding up her hands, “don’t insult my intelligence by trying to protest. Shame on both of you for taking me for a fool.”

  The women clustered around the kitchen door but while they could hear voices they couldn’t distinguish the words. They jumped back as one the moment they heard Pearl’s footsteps on the hardwood floors.

  Myra led Pearl to the back door. “Your job is done. You have to go now. Bert’s people will take you to your home. Stay there until you hear from one of us. If we don’t call you, Charles will.” She stared into Pearl’s glazed eyes. “Pearl, get a handle on yourself. We’re going to make everything all right but you need to leave. Tell me you understand.”

  “I do, Myra. I do. Thank you. Thank you so much.”

  The back door opened and then closed.

  Nikki looked down at the pretty lacquered tray on the table. She’d poured the coffee from the pot into a saucepan, brought it to a full boil and then poured it into a silver coffee pot.

  Nikki was through the door first, followed by Isabelle carrying the tray, which she set down on the coffee table between the two men, both of whom jumped to their feet at the sight of six police officers standing in a tight circle.

  “Pearl had to leave to keep a previous appointment,” Yoko said. “She asked us to stand in for her. Coffee? Cream? Sugar?”

  Both men stood up, the color draining from their faces. Hughes was the first to speak. “What’s going on here? Who are you? What has that woman said to you?”

  “Tsk, tsk,” Kathryn said, clicking her tongue. She pointed to her badge and the gun at her waist. “We’re cops. What’s going on here? We’re serving coffee. I believe my fellow officer asked you if you’d like cream or sugar. Quick now, make a decision. By that woman, I assume you mean Justice Barnes. You need to show a little respect here.” To show she meant business, she pulled her nightstick out of her belt and whacked Hughes across the knees. The man howled in pain.

  “Shut up!” Annie said, pouring him a cup of coffee. She looked into the cup and thought the dark brew was still boiling.

  Hughes, doubled over in agony, cursed ripely. “This is police brutality. I’ll see you in jail for this. I know i
mportant people.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Annie said. “I know people, too. So, do you want this coffee or not?”

  “No, I do not want your fucking damn coffee!”

  “Too bad, too sad, oh, boo hoo!” Kathryn said, reaching for the cup on the delicate saucer. She took a dead aim and tossed the hot liquid into Hughes groin. His bellow of pain and outrage could be heard all through the house.

  Grant Conlon took that moment to sit down, his hands clasped seven inches below the belt holding up his trousers. He was no fool. “Who are you? What do you want?” he managed to whisper.

  “We did not give you permission to speak, Mr. Conlon,” Myra said.

  The man immediately clamped his lips shut.

  Nikki looked around at her sisters. “He wants to know who we are. I think we should tell him. What do you all think?” She sounded like she was asking directions to a gas station.

  The six women removed their visored caps. It was Conlon who said, “Oh, sweet Jesus, you’re the vigilantes! Hughes, you son of a bitch, these women are the…the…”

  “Vigilantes!” Isabelle said, triumphantly finishing Conlon’s sentence. “Would you care for some coffee?”

  “No thank you.” Conlon pushed himself so far back into the couch the women thought he’d come out on the other side.

  “Enough with the socializing,” Kathryn said as she whipped around the room, her nightstick tapping the furniture as she went along. “We’re going to ask you this question only once. Look alive here, Mr. Hughes!” she said, giving him a good crack on the shoulder. “And…the question is…What are the names of the people who hired you to blackmail Justice Barnes? The people who are worried about her Supreme Court decision that’s due soon.”

  “I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Hughes said through clenched teeth. “Come on, Conlon, we’re outta here. They aren’t cops, they’re just a bunch of women who are PMSing.”