The Gypsy Queen: A Matt Preston Novel (Matt Preston Series Book 3)

by Paul Shadinger

  She arrived on time. When she stepped off the elevator she looked stunning. Seeing how lovely she looked, I wondered why I didn’t made a bigger effort to keep in touch. Perhaps sometime when I’m alone, I should think about that. She did look sexy as hell this evening. Gladys stepped up to me, wrapped her arms around my neck and seared my lips. Things went from napping to wide awake in seconds, if you follow me. Thank God I’d planned ahead and had two nice cold drinks ready to go already in the fridge. That kiss rattled my little brain. Well, if the truth be told, it rattled both my big head and my little head!

  Dinner turned out perfectly. Candles. Tablecloth and cloth napkins. Lots of good wine. A lovely sunset in the distance. All followed up with a nice after dinner drink. I had done my best and it showed.

  As I stood in the kitchen putting the dirty dishes in the dishwasher, Gladys stepped up to me, turned me away from the kitchen counter and then wrapped her arms around my neck. Once more she kissed me as she rubbed her hips against mine. When our lips parted, she leaned back a little, rubbed on me a little harder and asked, “Can’t this kitchen stuff wait until a little later? I thought you said you were going to help me with these feelings of being neglected. In case you couldn’t tell, I need a little of Matt’s sweet loving. I need to feel less neglected.”

  And hey, that’s when I did my best to make sure she no longer felt neglected.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  The hot water cascading over my body the next morning felt wonderful. I thought I heard my cell, but I was in no mood to get out of the shower and answer it. Besides, I still had a wet, sexy body next to me that needed to be washed. She asked, “Was that your cell I heard ringing?”

  “I don’t know and I don’t care. I’m busy right now.”

  Gladys rubbed her body against mine as she smiled up at me, “Good answer, boy, good answer.” It really didn’t matter, there was no way I was leaving the shower now!

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Later, after we had spent a little time together in the bedroom celebrating our successful shower, I headed out to the kitchen to make us some coffee. I grabbed my cell off the counter and called Bean to go outside. While she sniffed and poked around the vacant lot, I checked to see who had called. It was John. I pushed the redial button and shortly Lois was answering, “Good morning, Admiral Orchard’s office.”

  “Hi Lois, can I speak to the boss?”

  “Oh Matt, he’s fit to be tied. He wants to talk to you. Just a minute.”

  Shortly John came on the line. “Matt?”

  “What do you need?”

  “Matt, thanks for calling me back. Do you remember a conversation we had regarding a certain four star?”

  “Yes, what about it?” Something told me I was not going to like his answer.

  “Rumor has it he’s looking for somebody to pay you a visit, if you understand my meaning.”

  “And I take it he’s also creating problems in other areas?” I asked.

  “Yes. If you were serious about helping me deal with this, I’ll see what I can do to set it up.”

  “I think this requires more than a phone call, Johnny. This is an eyeball to eyeball conversation. Right?”

  “As soon as I can get away, I’ll be there.” The phone clicked off.

  I called for Bean to go in and she ran down the walkway. Once I had given her treat, I went off in search of Gladys. She was just putting on her jacket. She came and slipped her arms around me. “Matt, I know you’re busy and all, but I do wish we could see more of each other. I don’t like to feel neglected.”

  “You know what I’m going through right now. I’m sorry. I promise to make more of an effort to stay in touch. Will that do?”

  “Yes. Just see that you do.” She gave me a kiss and stepped into the waiting elevator. “I don’t want this to sound like a threat, but you know you’re not the only male in Seattle.”

  “Oh, I have competition?”

  “I’ll never tell.” As the elevator door slid shut, I swear I heard her laughing.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  I’d just started to pour a cup of coffee when the house phone rang. It took me completely by surprise. I get very few calls on my landline because most people I know call me on my cell. I understand better every day why a lot of people don’t even have a landline anymore. It isn’t that I am a Luddite, but for some reason I still want to keep my old buddy, a real landline telephone in the house. Call it nostalgia

  I picked the receiver up. “Hello. This is Matt.”

  “Preston?” I thought I recognized the voice but I wasn’t sure.

  I was tempted to make some smart remark since I had just told whoever was on the phone who I was. But I took the high road. “Yes. How can I help you?”

  “Today, this afternoon. Be on the 2:30 P.M. Bremerton ferry. Go topside and stand at the stern on the port side. You’ll be contacted.” I still wasn’t positive about the voice.

  “But—” The phone was dead in my hand. Since there was no caller ID, I had no idea who had been on the phone. Who wanted me on the ferry this afternoon?

  Just when you think things can’t get any stranger, they do.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  All morning long I debated on going for the ferry ride. Finally, my curiosity got the better of me, I decided I wanted to find out what it was all about. I know, I know, look what curiosity did to the cat, but then I’m not a feline.

  I parked my truck in a parking lot downtown and then walked over to the ferry dock. I could see no reason to take a vehicle across when I was just going to turn around and come right back on the same boat. I was pleased with how well my leg had healed. For the most part, I was pain free, however I did notice if I overdid it the leg would start to throb.

  The day was slightly overcast with a mist that seems to inhabit most seaports, but at least it wasn’t raining. I was one of the first passengers on and after I went up topside, I walked directly to the stern. I stood in the middle of the ship leaning against the railing and from this position I could see vehicles as they pulled on, and I could see most of the drivers’ faces. I didn’t see anybody I recognized. I moved over to the left hand side of the boat where the mysterious voice had told me to stand. As the boat pulled away from the dock, the mist cleared and I was bathed in bright sunshine. I was tempted to lean against the railing and face back towards the ship to see if anybody was going to approach me, but I decided to make it easy on whoever had called me.

  I stood at the railing enjoying the view of the Sound and the mountains in the distance. I decided where I lived was truly one of the most beautiful spots on Earth. After about five minutes I became aware of a man standing close to me. He leaned on the railing with his hands folded in front of him.

  “Afternoon,” he said. Which way is Tacoma?”

  “It’s south of us.” I responded as I turned to face him. I was wrong about the voice. It was nobody I knew.

  “Which way is south?” he asked.

  “Depends. Depends on which way you’re facing.” It was an old code that established we were on the same side. I still felt stupid saying it. Why do they always come up with such stupid ones?

  I didn’t recognize him at all. I had never seen this man before. He appeared to be about my age and looked to be reasonably fit. His dark hair was silvering at the temples but his eyebrows were a vivid black. Brown eyes looked at me through glasses. He was a bit shorter than me and was dressed in Levi’s, tennis shoes and a dark green windbreaker zipped up all the way. “Do I know you?” I asked.

  “We have friends in common. You’ve helped out my bosses in the past, a couple of army officers?” The way he said it was more of a question than a comment.

  “Understood. What do you want with me?”

  “A lot of people are upset about something you found. A book like thing. Many of these upset people are unhappy you’re still
walking around.”

  “I don’t know what the problem is. Rumor has it your superiors have all the diaries in their possession except for the one that happens to be held by the senator from Washington State. I’m supposed to have a… let’s all it a life insurance policy.”

  “There are plans in the works to change that.” I thought the matter of fact way he was telling me all of this was a bit chilling.

  “How do you know this?”

  “I used to work for MacDonald. When the contract was issued to deal with you, I was the one selected to do the deed.” He turned to face me. “I’ve read all of your files. Everything. I guess I’m getting too old to be doing what I do because as I read about you, I realized what was going to happen to you wasn’t right. You’re considered collateral damage and as I read your jacket, the thought occurred to me if you could be so easily discarded, so could I.”

  He took a deep breath, turned and looked out over the water and as he slowly let it out, he said, “Anyway, it isn’t right. I refused to do the hit. I just told them no, I wouldn’t do it.”

  I didn’t know what to say. He eventually pushed himself back from the railing and turned to me again. “For what it’s worth, because I refused to do the hit, I’m now a hunted man too. As you’re aware, we don’t get to pick and choose the jobs we do.” How well I understood that.

  I wondered, “But you know about the diary?”

  “You mean Hollis?’” His grin was rueful as he explained, “The copy you thought was protecting you is no longer there. You’re on borrowed time.”

  “I know all that, but do your handlers know that there’s a copy of the diary that even I have no idea where it is?”

  “I don’t think so. I know about the three and perhaps a fourth. This one you just mentioned. Did you tell anybody?”

  “I told McNaulty and MacDonald both about the original copies. If somebody really stole the one from Bradson’s office, they should be aware there’s a mystery copy hidden. They have to know that Bradson is now the senator from Washington State? The dude has some juice.”

  As we continued standing at the railing I wondered if Albert Bradson had hidden the copy in a safe place. What if that one was missing? I turned back to the man standing beside me and asked. “What are you going to do now?”

  He shook his head and his look was grim. “I’ve worked for MacDonald too long. I know how things operate. Don’t worry, I have an exit plan. You’re my last stop. From here I disappear. Something told me years ago I might need an exit strategy. I set up a way out a long time ago. But before I ran, I just wanted you to know what was coming. If I could, I’d do Mac and the world would be a better place.

  “If you can, you need to go hide someplace. Someplace you’ve never been and where nobody knows you. And you might want to warn McLaughlin too. They’ll eventually find both of you, just like I know they’ll find me, but the trick is to see how long you can make it last.”

  It was frightening how calm he was. He knew that he was a dead man and now the trick was for him to see how long he could run. “Is there a way before you disappear you can let somebody know about that other copy of the diary?”

  “I’ll make some calls, but I can’t promise anything.”

  “There’s nothing we can do?” I asked.

  Without looking at me, he shook his head. I had to listen carefully over the wind. “Other than take out MacDonald, no. There isn’t a fucking thing either of us can do.”

  He turned to look at me. “You would think with all of the shit they taught us there would be something one of us could figure out to do. But I can’t. ‘Sides, I am way too tired to go after them. I guess me telling you what was going to happen is my way of getting a little revenge on them. Like I said, I read your jacket and I know what you are capable of doing, and I know what’s happening to you is totally unfair. But remember, you do have skills.”

  “That was a long time ago.” I countered.

  “There are some things your never forget.” The man gave a bark of laughter. “You’ll see. Stuff comes back to you. Well, good luck. Please don’t try to follow me. I have no desire to have to do what that asshole MacDonald wants. Too bad there’s no way to get at MacDonald. Turning off that switch would change a lot of shit. But nobody can get near him.” The man put out his hand and I could see the pain in his face. He’d refused to do what he’d been ordered to do and his reward was knowing there was now a hit order on him.

  I grasped his hand. “Somehow a thank you really doesn’t cover it. I am obliged you thought enough of me to warn me.”

  “Like I said, as I read your jacket, I was reading about me. It’s frightening how similar we are. You know we have the same birthday, just one year apart?” I shook my head. “By the way, I really was a piano player in the Army!” The man turned and walked away. After a few steps, he stopped, turned back and said, “No offense, but I hope we never meet again.”

  I stayed at the railing and watched him walk away. I walked up to the front of the boat and stood watching the ferry dock. Once the boat was secured and the ramp was in place, the walk on passengers started to get off. Looking down I spotted the man with whom I’d spoken in the middle of the crowd. As you leave the ship you walk up the ramp and then move over onto the sidewalk. As he stepped up onto the sidewalk, I noticed another man behind kind of stumble and then bump into him. He dropped to the ground while the other person walked calmly on with the rest of the crowd. People behind him gathered around him on the ground and I watched as the first mate ran to his side. I heard the first mate call out for somebody to call 911. He was dead. He never had a chance to put his exit plan to work. I stood at the railing and the thought occurred to me, could there be somebody on board now who was after me?

  I rode the ferry back to Seattle and after it docked I got off and started walking the opposite direction of my truck. I thought it was in my best interest to take some precautions. As the fellow on the ferry reminded me, I’d been taught some skills and I needed to start using them.

  I crossed the street in the middle of the block and then stopped in front of a large window, making it appear like I was looking at the display. I couldn’t see anybody in the reflection that looked like they were following me. I continued strolling slowly down the block and when I came to an alley, I darted in and then stopped in an alcove that led to a set of delivery doors. On a whim, I tried one of the doors and was surprised when the knob turned in my hand. I opened the door and stepped into a large room full of stacked boxes. I shut the door behind me and moved across the room looking for a way out. I happened to look over my shoulder and through a grimy window I saw two men go running by. So much for thinking I wasn’t being followed.

  I decided I didn’t need my truck right away and I walked down deserted alleys whenever possible until I was finally above my apartment. I keep a key hidden in the vacant lot where Bean does her business. Before I approached the lot, I took a careful look around at the cars parked on the street. There were no people sitting in cars, and I didn’t see any cars that didn’t look familiar. I felt it was safe to approach my unit. I noticed as I crossed my vacant lot my leg was informing me I had walked too much on it. I needed to find a place and sit.

  Once I was inside, I went into my little office and found my special phone book, the one with numbers that have been shared with just me and not the normal rabble. I found Albert Bradson’s private cell number, (actually I should say Senator Albert Bradson) and called it from a throwaway cell phone I keep just for emergencies.

  Albert picked up the call on the third ring. “Hello?”

  “I can’t say my name, but do you know who this is?”

  “I recognize your voice.” Albert replied.

  “Are you somewhere you can talk?”

  “Hang on a moment.” I heard mumbled talk in the background for a moment and then he was back. “I’m alone now, what’
s the problem?”

  “Do you remember something you’re keeping safe for me?”

  “Yes...”

  “Well, there’s good a chance it’s missing.”

  “How do you know this?”

  “I just talked to a man this afternoon who told me our multi-starred individual had picked him to take me out. Also, he was positive the item in question has been removed.”

  “How secure are you now?”

  “A little while ago I evaded two men chasing me. It seems our friend wants me out of the picture.”

  “Why are you calling me?”

  “I was told now because all the items in question have been removed, I’m expendable, I’m a liability. Actually, as I understand it, I’m not the only expendable one, if you catch my drift.”

  “Oh, my God!”

  “Is there any way you can put out the word about your copy? Get the word out that the diary may still exist and my death would not be a good thing?”

  Albert was still for a long time. His words came slow and I could tell he was being very careful with his words. “Matt, you’re not supposed to know this, I was never going to tell you. But, well, I’ve read that diary. And trust me when I tell you, you don’t want to ever read it. I wish I hadn’t and for sure, I don’t know exactly what to do anymore. Among others, there’s enough information on MacDonald to put him in military prison for the rest of his life. You wouldn’t believe some of the things he’s ordered done. There’s no factual evidence, but there’s enough information any investigator could find the evidence. I’m actually still sick about what I read. No wonder so many people are frantic to get their hands on it. There are a lot of careers on the line.”

  “Albert, why did you read it?”

  “Because of my position now, I thought it was in my best interest to know exactly what happened over there. But honestly, I was curious.”