by Brian Meeks
“I do too, but let 2 read it before we say.”
3 handed it over to 2 who almost immediately said, “Belvedere Castle in Central Park. That wasn’t much of a puzzle.”
Henry leaned back in his chair, “I know...and there is a cockatrice over one of the doors. That must be where the tile is, but why such an easy clue?”
The voice from the outer office yelled, “Yeah, I know where that is! I could show you.”
Henry stood up and motioned for 2 and 3 to follow him. “We don’t need your help finding the door. I’ve been there myself. What I need to know is where the Major is holed up.”
The man’s terror was real, and Henry believed him when he said he didn’t know. Henry was about to ask 2 and 3 to ask him again when the phone rang.
Everyone, except the guy tied to the chair, jumped.
******
Celine was fuming. Carol watched Bobby try to calm her down. It was going poorly.
“Bobby, I understand your point. There are dangerous men trying to kill Henry, and they might kill us, too, but I won’t sit around and do nothing. I’m not built that way. You know that! I’ve been hiding out with you for days on end. I’ve had enough.”
Bobby tried to argue again, but she held up a finger to indicate she wasn’t done. Her finger, looked like it would be displeased if it were not obeyed. Bobby sighed.
“Furthermore, I’m a little offended that you think we need protecting. Just because we’re women doesn’t mean we’re helpless.”
“I never said you were helpless.”
Carol said, “I don’t mind some protecting.”
Celine wasn’t really listening. “See, Carol agrees with me.”
“But she said...”
Celine headed towards the door. “We’ve goofed around long enough. I’m going to the office and getting back in the game.”
“It’s the middle of the night,” Bobby said. He moved to block the door, but she flew past him.
Celine yelled as she marched into the hallway, “Carol, you wait here. I’ll call you later.”
Bobby rushed after Celine. “I’ll be right back. Lock the door after me.”
After she locked the door, Carol went to the window and watched Celine storm out of the building. It looked like she was still yelling at Bobby who had not caught up to her yet. A moment later, he popped out the door and ran after her.
CHAPTER 84
Bobby caught up with Celine and for about a hundred yards failed to make his point. She was determined to storm back to the office and do some work, any work, all night. He didn’t like her being mad at him, but Bobby knew she was more worried than upset. She just didn’t understand the danger.
She had to wait for a couple of cars to pass before she could cross the street. Bobby tried one more time. “Please, it’s a bad idea to be out here. They might be watching.”
“Nobody’s watching, Bobby.”
It was true. After the cars passed, the street was empty. Henry’s office was dark. Nobody was around, and Bobby started to relax until they got to Henry’s door. It was open. “That’s strange,” she said. “Why would the door be unlocked?”
The hair on Bobby’s neck stood up. “Wait, let me go first.”
Celine ignored him and walked in. Bobby pushed past her to see why she had stopped in the doorway. “What in the world?” he asked.
Buttons was pacing on Celine’s desk, he turned and let out a long “Meow”.
Celine flipped on the light and they both stared at the man hand cuffed to her desk chair. The chair was tied to the desk, so that he was immobilized against it. A handkerchief had been stuck in his mouth and tape put over it.
Celine was unfazed. “Buttons, it seems you’ve caught yourself a prowler.”
“Meooow,” Buttons said as he sat on the desk and carefully reached out and swatted the guy’s nose. The man just sat there.
Celine rubbed Button’s belly, as she picked him up. He purred.
“How did you end up here, buddy?”
The man mumbled something.
Bobby walked over and removed the gag. “What’s going on?”
“I was just minding my own business. These crazy guys with guns forced me in here and tied me up.”
Celine laughed. “You and I should play poker.”
“Okay, I got caught leaving some package.”
Everyone jumped when Mike walked in and asked, “Where’s Henry?”
Bobby threw up his arms. “No idea. Celine stormed over here even though I told her it was a bad idea. There are people trying to hurt Henry, and they could be anywhere. I’m not just the guy who picks up the rent check, you know. I have contacts, people who hear things, and none of it is good. I mean, I do pick up the checks, and I like that part of my job. Henry is the nicest tenant, but...”
Mike held up his hand. “Slow down. Let’s start with the guy in the chair.”
“He is a liar and a delivery guy,” Celine said. “So, what’s your story, Mike? These are not our normal business hours.”
Mike said, “I got a call from Luna. She said Henry was in trouble and needed me to get down here. I thought he’d be here.” Mike turned on the desk lamp and held it near the guy’s face. “You’ve had a rough night from the look of things. Who did this?”
“The tall one.”
“What was his name?”
“He didn’t have a name.”
“You didn’t get his name?”
“No, they called each other 2 and 3.”
“What are you talking about?”
Bobby stepped forward. “What do you mean, 2 and 3?”
“I’m tired of this crap. I’m done talking.”
Bobby grabbed his collar and yelled, “What do you mean 2 and 3? Did they say anything else? Was Henry here? Did they take him? Why did they rough you up?”
The man started to cough as Bobby shook him. Mike simply watched. Celine took Buttons into the other room. “Okay, okay, stop, please.”
Bobby eased up.
The man said, “I dropped off a package for some guy they called the major. I never knew who sent it. After they rearranged my face, they believed me. Your man, Henry, got the drop on the two guys just as they caught me coming out of the office. They thought I was him. They talked a while, and the two guys said they would help Henry. They called each other Associate 2 and 3, but I’m not sure which one did this to me. That’s all I know. Please, let me go or call the cops.”
Celine came out of the office carrying an empty box. “What was in the box?”
“No idea,” the man said.
She glared at him, and he added, “I heard them say it was a clue, an easy clue, and something about a dragon thingy.”
“A dragon thingy?”
“A cockatrice, the mythical rooster dragon.”
Mike finally joined the conversation. He started to untie the man and said, “You’re in luck, buddy. I am the police.”
The man sighed. “Thank God.”
* * *
The major had nodded off but jerked awake. No matter, he thought, the fun wouldn’t start until 8:15. Two more hours. The coffee in the thermos was still warm, and he drank it as he watched the city come to life. The park was still dark, but the streets sent up a din of busses, taxis, and commuter angst. He thought about what he would do after his final move. He couldn’t imagine anything.
When he was a boy, he remembered wanting to build a log cabin in Montana and to have chickens, sheep, and some dogs, but that seemed like several lifetimes ago. The major tried to remember why he wanted to do that but couldn’t think of a single reason. It was probably something I read in magazine, he guessed.
It was too dark, but he grabbed the binoculars anyway. He had planned ahead. He knew that seeing such a small tile from that distance might be tough if it were smoggy or overcast, so he had set boxes on the bench under the window. Nobody could stand on the bench and get to the tile without removing the boxes. The biggest danger was that someone
from the park would pick them up. He would have to keep a close eye on them when the first shift started at 7am. He dialed in the focus. “What the hell?!”
The major stood up. The boxes were sitting on the ground by the bench. Somebody had moved them.
Damn, probably some bum wanted to sleep there. I should have thought of that. Damn it.
He tried to see if the tile was still there. He couldn’t tell, but it had to be. Henry was never in the office at this hour. It must still be there.
CHAPTER 85
As night faded into a new day and the tops of the buildings crawled out of the darkness, the major cursed time. The spot on the ledge of the window where he had put the tile was too dark to make out any detail. The tile had to be there. His plan was perfect, and it was impossible that Henry had even seen the clue. His mind examined all the possible ways the boxes could have moved from the bench.
The major sat at the window, his leg nervously bouncing up and down, and said, “It was probably some bum who moved them so he could sleep in the park. He must have gotten up already.”
The voice in his head was always his father’s. It said, if that is true, why didn’t you see him? The boxes were there before you fell asleep at your post! What sort of drunken bum sleeps for only an hour and gets up before the day starts? You’ve messed this up just like everything else you’ve ever done. Henry’s beaten you.
“Shut up!” he yelled.
He started to pace, but only a few steps, then he would look again. Nothing. The apartment building was starting to wake up. He could hear someone walking down the hall. The major froze. The steps went past, and he rushed back to the window.
What if Henry had gotten the tile? This was his next-to-last act in his little play, and it needed to be brilliant. He had spent countless hours imagining the horror Henry would feel when he read the clue and realized it was too late to do anything about it. Henry would call his buddies at the police station, and they would report that someone had just been shot in the park. It would devastate him.
That was the point, to bring a world of pain into Henry’s life, just like he had done to him during the war. His commanding officer’s voice took his father’s place. I’ve read the report you sent me. I have to say that in all my years in the service I’ve never seen a greater load of horse shit. You want to bring charges of insubordination and begin court martial proceedings? You must be nuts. Henry Wood is a goddamn hero. I don’t care if he didn’t follow your plan. He improvised. That’s what happens on the battle field. It was a miracle anyone got out of there alive, and he did it...and after only being here a couple of days...the boy sure thinks good on his feet...and you want to send him to the gallows! You screwed the pooch on this one. I can’t believe I let you talk me into that ridiculous idea...No! YOU MAY NOT SPEAK FRANKLY. I’ve got to go see the general and hope he doesn’t make me fall on my sword for the debacle you created. Dismissed.
The major went back to the window, but it still wasn’t light enough to see anything. He couldn’t take it anymore. He would need to do some reconnaissance. He put the rifle away, grabbed the .45, put it in his waistband, and pulled his jacket on. He cracked the door open and could see that half the hallway was empty. He cautiously stuck his head out to look the other way. The coast was clear. He hurried to the stairwell but was sweating after only one flight of stairs. When he got to the street, he had to slow down so as not to draw attention.
The city hummed. People were rushing to work, and cars angrily honked as soon as the light turned green. The major just wanted them all to be quiet. He was trying to think. Once he crossed the street and entered the park, he picked up his pace again. I just need to check the tile and get back upstairs, he thought. There is still plenty of time for this to go according to plan.
* * *
Henry stood next to Associate 2. He pulled back a tree branch to take another look.
“What makes you think that moving a few boxes will draw him out?”
“Call it a hunch. He didn’t plan on me getting the clue in time. I’m hoping he didn’t see us move them.”
“If it were me, I’d have seen you move them, and I’d have shot you.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know, the assassin. Didn’t you have your chance out at the Palmeroy’s place?”
“Sometimes I over think plans, but, yes, we did. We screwed it up.”
“You think that you and 3 over there will be able to grab the major?”
“It would be easier if you gave us back our pieces.”
“And what were your plans when you followed me to my office tonight?”
“We were going to shoot you and leave the country.”
“I think your braun and brains will have to do for now.”
“I suppose considering our recent desire to put a bullet in you, it’s understandable. Of course, we’re buddies now.”
“Catch the major, and we can be buddies.”
2 ducked down, grabbing Henry’s arm, and whispered, “3 just signaled someone is coming.”
The sounds of hurried footsteps was coming from their left, but they couldn’t see anyone yet. 2 circled around to get behind their quarry. 3 was to wait until Henry came out of the bushes.
A man appeared in front of them and headed straight for the spot where 3 was hidden. Henry could tell from his short, stocky build that it wasn’t the major. The man unzipped his pants, and relieved himself. Henry couldn’t see 3, but he thought he heard 2 snicker.
Henry didn’t get a close look at the man who hurried past the bum, but the height was right. The man looked over his shoulder at the bum and relaxed. He stepped on the bench and ran his hand along the window ledge.
Henry stepped out. “Don’t move, Major.”
The man froze. He slowly turned around.
“Hold it. Let me see your hands. I’m sure, considering your trail of bodies, I could shoot you in the back, and the mayor would give me the key to the city.”
He held up his hands and said, “You always were an awards hound.”
“I did what had to be done, nothing more, and I’ll do it now.”
3 came out of the bushes to the major’s right.
“I have to give you high marks on this one, but I do have a backup plan.”
“That’s why I brought some...buddies.” Henry gave a nod to the major’s left. 2 had just appeared.
“I’ll admit, I didn’t expect you to corner me, but I did plan for it.” He flipped the Scrabble tile to Henry. “There, now you have all the tiles. The endgame can begin.”
“The game is over.”
“You might think so, but soon enough you’ll realize that I always see one move further than you.”
“You didn’t see this move.”
“I didn’t expect this move, but I planned for such a gambit anyway.”
Henry was done with the chit chat.
CHAPTER 86
As the patrol car drove away with the major scowling in the back seat, Henry looked up to thank Associates 2 and 3, but they were gone. They vanished, and, just as quickly, Henry was drained. It had been one of the most trying ordeals of his life, but now it was over.
Taking a cab would have been the reasonable thing to do, but his mind was worn out. It never occurred to him, so he started to walk back to the office. The city hummed as it always had: the cars, the people, the distant wailing of a siren all added to a din Henry couldn’t hear. He was lost in a haze of unanswered questions that he felt he could almost answer but not now, not this morning.
Henry’s watch band was starting to make his wrist sweat. It’s going to be sweltering today, he thought. Somewhere in the back of his brain he was curious how the Dodgers had been doing. He couldn’t remember the last score he had seen. Are they even in town? What month is it? Am I hungry?
The smells wafting from a diner didn’t even cut through his fog, and he continued walking until he arrived at the Flatiron building. I don’t remember this many stairs, he thought.
When
he opened the door, he was flooded with questions from Mike, Bobby, and Celine.
“We got him.”
Silence.
There was an uneasiness all around. Henry patted Mike on the shoulder as he went to his desk. “Celine, could you get Luna on the phone for me.”
Mike nodded to Bobby. They left Henry to his thoughts. There would be time for stories and explanations later. Celine picked up the phone and dialed.
Henry sat down with a sigh. He pulled the tile out of his pocket and retrieved the others from his desk drawer. Tired as he was, the voice in his head said he should give them a look. He separated the vowels from the consonants. He had an “a,” “e,” “i” in one group and an “m,” “t,” “r,” “s” in the other.
Celine poked her head in. “I tried her father’s place but no answer.”
“I think she was going to stay at my place. What time is it?”
“Just after eight.”
Henry thought for a bit and said, “She’s probably only been asleep for a few hours. We’ll call after lunch.”
“You’ve looked better, Henry.”
“I’ve felt better.”
“I’m not a psychic, but if I were, I’d say you need something to eat.”
“Maybe you are.”
“I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
Buttons hopped up on the desk and did a lap around the letters. He stretched his back and walked along the edge of the desk until he reached the lamp. He dropped, curled, and napped.
Henry started to work on the puzzle, but the power of suggestion was too much for him. He pulled his hat down, leaned back, taking a page from Button’s play book, began a power nap.
* * *
Mike stood in Bobby’s doorway. “Bobby, I’m heading back to the precinct. Keep an eye on Henry, and give me a call later.”
Bobby was pacing and rubbing his chin. “I wonder what happened. I mean, he looked horrible, but it’s good that he caught him. What about that guy that was here? I thought it was a trap. I was going crazy not knowing what was going on. I should call Carol and let her know. I may just...”