“So now what?” I asked.
Chapter 6: Cat’s Cradle
Ralph was bent over a map of the tunnel area spread out on the table in front of him. I peeked at lines he had drawn on the web of tunnels running underground. He designated two routes leading from our location to Catmmando Mountain. The lines reminded me of a string held between fingers in the Cat’s Cradle game we used to play as kids. An equally elaborate game was afoot for sure.
“What’s the quickest route to Catmmando Mountain? What is it about that place? Is it haunted or something?” Jack asked. It did seem a little spooky. I shuddered as I recalled that awful Valentine’s Day scene.
Before I could respond to Jack’s questions, Ralph said, “We have Crowd Control on their way to block off the area around Catmmando Mountain. Park guests won’t be happy to find the attraction shut down. Given that two well-armed lunatics used ‘hostages’ and ‘Catmmando Mountain’ in the same conversation, I don’t see that we have any other choice. Not that we know for certain that a) there are only two of them and b) their destination is the main attraction in the park. Why would they do that? You know, go to Catmmando Mountain rather than take the nearest exit to the parking lot? That doesn’t make sense because they must have had a vehicle parked somewhere to get away with the stolen art.”
“I’ve been wondering about that too,” Jack said. “I'm sure whatever plan they had went up in smoke once that alert went out about gunfire at the Gallery. My department will look for a vehicle parked outside the administration building that they could have used to get away. Heading to the parking lot with Max’s artwork and memorabilia could have been a workable plan until they got caught in the act.”
“Once they started shooting, that alert provoked an immediate response, not just from your shop, Ralph, but from authorities all over the area, right?” I asked.
Jack and Ralph muttered agreement.
“Even if they had a getaway car outside the Gallery,” I said, “the exits at street level would have been blocked in minutes. So nix the idea of escaping at street level. They must have gone to plan B—exit via the tunnels. Normally, the keycard Damon used to get out of the Gallery would have allowed them to exit from the associates’ parking lots—if they could get a car. You’ve got checkpoints in associate and guest parking lots tonight, right, Ralph?”
“Yes,” Ralph agreed. “It’s standard protocol when we have an active shooter. Cover all exits and entrances throughout the park and the office complex until we have a handle on what’s going on. Our patrols would have been securing employee lots even before Matthew alerted us to Julie Kennedy’s situation here in 3 West. The park then became their only option.”
“According to Julie, that was the plan,” Jack said.
“We might be able to catch them before they get into the park,” Ralph offered. “The special teams we used to sweep the administrative building are in the tunnels now. I have them patrolling the two routes that lead to Catmmando Mountain from underground, looking for anyone on foot or using a golf cart.”
“There are dozens of exits that associates use to come and go from the tunnels to the park,” I said. “Some open into backstage areas and others open directly into the park. You must have used them, Jack, during your investigation into Mallory’s murder.”
“Yes, I used them. You don't post Security Associates at all those points, do you, Ralph?” Jack turned to the head of security.
“No. I have guys watching the spots closest to Catmmando Mountain. The elevators go into lockdown mode, so you have to swipe a company keycard to enter or exit. But since they have one of those, they could use any elevator to get them into the park.” Ralph couldn’t hide his frustration as he uttered those last few words.
Dread seeped into my voice. “Yes, and getting into the park is one way to dodge both security and the police. Especially after stopping along the way to slip into character outfits. That would help on any night, but the burglars will be even harder to spot tonight. If you showed up dressed as a Marvelous Marley World character you got in free, so there will be more characters than usual roaming the park.” I felt the hope that Ralph’s special teams might apprehend the thieves before they got into the park slipping away. “If I were being chased, I’d get into the park as fast as possible.”
“These guys are pretty good on their feet, even though I doubt they’re pros. I don’t know much about transporting art, but the way they handled items taken from the Gallery you’d think they were stealing coloring books from a drugstore.”
“I’m glad you said that, Jack. I felt uncomfortable about a little sidebar conversation I caught between Max and Clara. They were going at it about something. If this were insurance fraud or an inside job at that level in the corporation, they would have hired pros to steal the art.” I suddenly felt even more uncomfortable being so openly paranoid about Max in front of Ralph. “Sorry to suggest something like that about our fearless leader. I still haven’t fully recovered from discovering that former colleagues were running a conspiracy for months right under my nose. That ended badly for the boss’s daughter at Catmmando Mountain.”
“That’s not news to me,” Ralph said. “Although nobody explained all that until after I accepted the position as Security Chief. I agree that they don’t seem like pros. Some of their ineptitude could be because we changed things up on them. Even if they had done their homework, surveillance of the Gallery ahead of time wouldn’t have helped tonight. We recently made the decision to add extra patrols for the All Hallows’ Eve Hullababooboo or whatever the heck it’s called. Partly in response to the murder at Catmmando Mountain, but also in the wake of the attack in San Bernardino.”
“Hullabaloo Boo. It’s the All Hallows’ Eve Hullabaloo Boo. Not that it matters at the moment.” I shut up, and Jack picked up the conversation with a comment that was more to the point.
“I hear you, Ralph. These guys also strike me as a little too gun happy to be real pros. Sometimes amateurs are way more dangerous than the pros. None of this answers your question about ‘why Catmmando Mountain,' does it? Let’s say they get into the park in character, as you say around here. Why not leave through the guest exits as soon as possible?”
“I suppose we could be dealing with something else entirely if we consider that disaster in the Gallery as a decoy. Getting into the park from underground lets them bring guns or explosives that wouldn’t get past the metal detectors installed at the entrance gates. Unless they ditch those along the way, they won’t get out through those gates, either. Or with a big haul of Gallery art, either.”
“They went to a lot of trouble if the break-in was meant to be a decoy,” Jack said. “Why not just grab a couple of the big ticket items and get out of there if it was a sham? These guys had a long shopping list, even if they didn't come well-prepared to handle the goods. A botched theft by amateurs backed into a corner by their bumbling, plus surprises from your security team, works for me.”
“If they’re spooked because we're watching all the exits, the idea of leaving by the front gates might not be appealing either. Maybe they're looking for a place to hide out.”
A surge of excitement hit me. “Not a hideout. They’re looking for a back door out of here, guys, and Catmmando Mountain has one. Two of them, in fact. One that takes them to a street level exit, large enough for cars or trucks to come and go. That route’s used to get repair equipment and large parts into the inner workings of the Catmmando Conquest, the most complex APEX attraction in the park. There’s also a point at which they could access the public sewer system and escape that way, too.”
With that, Jack sprang into action. “Okay, so we’re back where we started, Georgie. What’s the fastest way to get to Catmmando Mountain?”
“We cut through the park, guys. They have a head start whether they’re traveling above ground or below. I know a short cut. We can also move faster than they can if we use a Catmmando Tom version of the Park-Kart. Ralph and I have access to thos
e—they don’t.”
“They must also be carrying the stuff they looted from the Gallery. That might slow them down too, especially now that Damon’s dead, and they’re a man short.” Jack rubbed the back of his neck, a clear sign of stress.
“Yes. With a little luck, we’ll get there ahead of them. If we spot them coming our way, maybe security can nab them without a shootout or some other big scene that creates panic in the park.”
“You’re one of a kind, Georgie,” Jack said. “I’m fine with everything you’ve suggested except including you in this pursuit. Just show us the route on Ralph’s map and let us take it from here.”
“I could do that, but you still might miss a couple of turns because it’s hard to spot the landmarks in the dark. Besides, how are you two going to pick out the phony Marley World characters from the real ones? My guess is we should be looking for two men decked out in Catmmando Tom-Trooper get-ups like the one Damon had on. I know what a regulation Tom-Trooper Cat's-Eye Warrior ought to look like, so that makes me better able to spot a fake than either of you. All we need is for your guys to grab a guest or an associate and scare the heck out of them or embarrass them. Or worse, make a mistake and alert the thieves that we’re on to them.”
Ralph was on board, but Jack still appeared skeptical.
I continued, “To be honest, I only heard about this back door recently because Max is talking about using something similar in construction of buildings in New Arcadia. I have an idea about how they can get into Catmmando Mountain, but I don't know what happens once you get inside. I've been on tours inside Catmmando Mountain, too, but I wasn't thinking about anyone getting out that way. Another reason to get over there as soon as possible is to give us a chance to figure that out.”
“Technically, I’m still in charge, I think.” Ralph said and paused, waiting for acknowledgement.
“Matthew's shout-out about a shooting in the tunnels was in-house, so that's true for now,” Jack agreed. He tugged at his bottom lip, no doubt wrestling with the decision about whether or not this was a police matter at this point.
“We don’t have more time for debate,” Jack said. “Let’s get moving. Georgie, you call and update Max. Find out who would know how to get around inside Catmmando Mountain and arrange to have that person join us as soon as possible at Fortress Friendship.” Jack poked at the spot on the map still spread out on the table. “In the meantime, we’ll do what we can to head them off and be waiting when they reach Catmmando Mountain.”
“Your idea about not tipping the thieves off is a good one, Georgie,” Ralph added. “I’m going to tell Crowd Control not to shut down the Conquest, but reroute traffic away from the point of entry they’re going to use. Where is it?”
I shuddered a bit as I answered him. “There's a park maintenance entry point into Catmmando Mountain behind the picnic area where they discovered Mallory's body.” Jack’s dark eyes met mine. I knew he had been joking when he’d wondered out loud what was with this place. I don’t believe in ghosts, but it did feel a bit like that particular spot was haunted. Of all the places in the park, that was one I dreaded revisiting.
Jack nodded. “Getting a team in there ahead of them makes a whole lot of sense. Can you do that, Ralph?”
“No problem,” he replied as he picked up his phone to call Crowd Control and his security teams. I grabbed my phone, too.
“Great. We'll stay out of the way and let the thieves go inside where we can grab them without endangering the public. That seems less risky than scuffling with them in the park. Let’s roll.”
Chapter 7: The Purr-suit
Our drive through the tunnels was short. It had grown quiet as soon as I quit making phone calls. Jack was worried. A little miffed, too. After we had our first real fight a couple of months ago—about money, not my personal safety—I had learned to recognize the telltale signs. Jack doesn’t rant or rave when he’s ticked off. He goes silent. I glanced sideways at the man who even when unhappy with me set off those enticing snap, crackle, pop sensations. Now was not the time to get distracted by my handsome companion’s presence.
Besides, I was peeved with him, too.
When vexed, I do pretty much the same thing—shut down. I feel it’s unseemly to have a hissy-fit when you’re angry. Not because it’s unladylike, although I had that notion drilled into me at an early age. It’s more a fear of appearing foolish, which is what happens to a lot of people when they blow a gasket. Silence is more natural to me than to Jack, though. His garrulous side finds the humor in any dispute we’re having. Once he points out the funny part I get it, too, and the tension vanishes. Not tonight. Under the circumstances, there wasn’t much cause for laughter. I was as worried about him as he was about me.
I used the silence to ponder the puzzles tumbling through my mind. What was going on between Clara and Max? Who was Damon? Was I right to be as convinced as I was that the ruthless gunmen on the run were planning to make their getaway from Catmmando Mountain? Had we made the right call not to shut down the Conquest? Keeping it open, but doing what we could to shield our guests seemed the surest way to keep two trigger-happy bad guys on the move toward an escape route. What if we were wrong? The stress I felt was almost unbearable. Jack and Ralph must have had to make such judgment calls many times. How could they stand it?
My job at the Cat Factory wasn’t stress-free either, as my call to Max made clear. Like I had expected, the man was beside himself with anxiety. Learning that there had been yet another death made it worse, and his fear turned into anger. Unlike Jack and me, when Max Marley gets angry, he doesn't go silent, he barks. Rumpelstiltskin was on the loose again.
“What?” he had shouted when I told him about Damon. I could imagine everyone in the Gallery turning to stare. I wanted to go home, throw myself down on the couch, and listen to Miles’ more benign caterwauling. Instead, I interrupted Max in mid-bellow.
“Max, I know this is a nerve-wracking situation. We all need to stay calm and act quickly. Can we speak privately?” Silence followed. Blessed silence.
“I’ll be right back,” he said to someone. “Okay, I’m alone. What is it?”
I shared what we had learned from our brief discussion with Julie. Max gasped after it dawned on him that there were still two armed and dangerous men on the loose and in the park.
“Stay with me, Max. We’re almost certain we know where they’re going and why. Ralph and Jack have a plan for how to handle them without creating a public disturbance. Once this is over, we’ll do a thorough review of the security arrangements we have in place. Ralph has some smart ideas about how to improve our protocols.” I smiled at Ralph, who frowned in response since he hadn’t had time to dredge up any new ideas, smart or not. I gave Ralph a reassuring wave, and then continued my conversation with Max.
We were on the move even as I spoke. Ralph, Jack, and I walked to a golf cart near the entrance to 3 West, just outside the area now cordoned off by crime scene tape. I took my seat in the golf cart and continued speaking.
“Max, I have a couple of questions for you. Who can help us navigate inside Catmmando Mountain? We need someone who knows how those thieves can get to that back door.”
Max went silent again. “Dan Larson, head of the design team. You met him. Want me to call him and have him meet you there?” Oh yes, I had met the man. Drop dead gorgeous, but too full of himself for my taste. He had seemed competent enough in his role as a glorified general contractor for New Arcadia.
“If you do it, he’ll move quicker.” That tickled Max, and he laughed. “Max, who else besides those of us who met recently about your plans for New Arcadia know about the back door?”
“Good question. I hadn’t even thought about it in years until Dan brought it up as a way to keep the streets of New Arcadia pedestrian friendly. Anyone who worked on the Catmmando Mountain project back in the 90s would know. We’ve had electricians and other repair teams in there a dozen times over the years. Dan can tell you who he's taken
in there with him recently. Other than that I can't think of another soul, other than family, of course.”
Family? Max is divorced, and his only child is dead.
“You mean your ex?”
“Yes, that’s right. Mallory and her mother both took a complete tour. Catmmando Mountain is a stunning example of design and engineering. That was years ago, before the divorce and all of Mallory’s troubles began.” I was losing him as his voice faded. Was he spiraling toward the dark place Mallory’s memory often took him? Whether or not Catmmando Mountain is haunted, Max is. Memories of his lost child hovered around him like a phantom.
For years I’d been tormented by apparitions of a lost love, so I understood some of what he endured. In Max’s case, his recollections had to be filled with ambivalence, given that at the time of her gruesome death, Daughter Dearest had been scheming against him. That whole ordeal had aged him ten years. A ghostly image of Max Marley standing in the ransacked Gallery flitted through my mind. It was past time to wrap this up.
“One more question. Does the name Damon mean anything to you? That’s either the first or last name of the deceased young man in that photo Jack sent to Bill Miller.”
“No. I didn’t recognize his face, either. To tell you the truth, it's a relief not to have lost another person like Barry, who I know and care about. From what you’ve said, it sounds like this Damon crook knows something about how things work around here, and about that exit from Catmmando Mountain. When he meets you in the park, ask Dan about Damon. Show him that photo, too, and maybe he can identify him. I’ve got Dan on speed dial so it won’t take more than a few seconds to reach him and tell him to get there, pronto.”
Happy Homicides 4: Fall Into Crime: Includes Happy Homicides 3: Summertime Crimes Page 34