The Art of Madness

by A. J. Mayall

  “He’s ready for you; I’ll buzz you in, Mr. McGee. Miss, if you do not mind waiting out here?”

  Suzette shrugged and stood up as well, crossing the distance to Ms. Levicia’s desk. “Not at all. Mind if we talk shop? I’d love to see your setup.”

  Ms. Levicia blinked at the forwardness, and then a sincere, playful smile crossed her face. “All right.”

  With a chuckle and a wave, Phoenix McGee walked toward the door. It was opened, as he approached, by the short, meek man who stared with nervous eyes at the detective.

  “Mr. McGee, do come in. Sorry to keep you waiting, I had to check in personally on a few pet projects.”

  McGee knew Gemini was the biggest client he’d likely ever get, and could strike back at The Pack for their dirty dealings. He cranked the charm to maximum, shaking Gemini’s hand firmly.

  “No problem, sir. It’s an honor to be invited here, and considered for your case.”

  “Oh yes, the case. What did the security team tell you?”

  “That someone named Bennington is missing. Worked in your security team.”

  “Works, Mr. McGee. I’m not so pessimistic to assume foul play, yet.” He smiled, an awkward nervous smile, gesturing the detective into the office and pulling out a large chair for him to sit on. “Is there any beverage I can have brought for you?”

  Phoenix didn’t want to sour his chances by ordering alcohol in the event Reginald didn’t drink or had an aversion to spirits. “Water would be fine, cherry cola without ice if you have it.”

  “Consider it done,” He grinned and hit a button on his desk. “Ms. Levicia, please have some chilled water and cherry colas brought up. You and Mr. McGee’s associate are welcome to whatever you would like as well.”

  Phoenix chuckled. “You’re very kind.”

  “I try to be a good host.”

  “Tell me more about Mr. Bennington.”

  “Straight to business, I like you already,” Gemini chortled, slouching over in his chair, which seemed oversized compared to its inhabitant’s stature. “As you know, I’m trying to help out the city any way I can. What good will my money do me in the end? I should put it toward worthwhile endeavors while I can.”

  Phoenix nodded, leaning forward and listening intently.

  “I’ve offered my resources to Rouge Mal. The problem is I’m not the first person to try and mix money with City Officials. As I’m sure you know, there is an unhealthy level of criminal organization in this fine city. I’d like to do my best to drive them out. If they want to operate like businesses, let them try and play on my level.”

  “That’s a dangerous game you’re playing, Mr. Gemini.”

  “I’m honestly not worried. To them, money is power; to me, money is a resource and a means to an end. I throw enough around, they’ll back off.”

  “Where does Bennington come into this?”

  “Bennington does investigative work for me; he’s supposed to learn how these criminal networks operate, find the weak spots, and let me know. Then, I push funding for the police where it’s needed. He’s been off the radar for two weeks now. The last I knew, he was tracking a few different leads and investigating potential problems in the Rouge Mal Police Department.”

  “I think I may be a bit ahead of you, already.”

  “Oh? You have an inside look at the local precinct or something?” Gemini beamed, eager to hear what the redheaded man had to say.

  “Something like that, sir. You see, I think I know who the dirty cops are right now.” He paused, not wanting to break client confidentiality. “Let me be clear; what I’m about to say, I don’t say lightly. Frankly, you coming to me for help is like finding out I have a guardian angel. If Bennington knows as much as I do, it’s no wonder he’s gone missing.”

  Reginald Gemini looked at the man before him. There was a silent, desperate longing there, like a jailed man seeing a warden holding keys on the other side of the bars.

  “Tell me what you know, Mr. McGee. Maybe together, we can figure this out faster.”

  Phoenix nodded. “I’m uncomfortable sharing these details, but with lives at stake, it’s my only option.”

  Gemini nodded and gestured with a hand for Phoenix to go on.

  “It started when a man named Jeremy Benton came to me to investigate his wife who he rightly believed was cheating on him,” he stated, and for the thirty minutes to follow, he laid out the story of the affair, the video, and the Bentons’ disappearance. When the drinks arrived, he sipped his cherry cola and water. Phoenix explained his interaction with the police, the cover-ups at the Benton residence, and his meeting with Bellacino, where all the clues pointed. The concern on Gemini’s face was genuine as he patted Phoenix on the shoulder, when he got him caught up to the events of earlier that day.

  “Mr. Gemini, Missing Persons is somehow involved except for their new guy, Jack Hoffman. At least, I don’t think he’s involved yet.”

  Gemini smiled. “It’s always good to have someone on your side who’s in the mix; a company mole, as it were. If I were you, I’d get in good with him. I’ll see if I have any pull with my resources. I’m glad you were on the top of our list, Mr. McGee. Perhaps it’s time I helped fill you in.”

  Phoenix chugged on his soda, paying as close attention as he could, given the stress levels he’d been operating under.

  “While you investigated Bellacino and his ties to the police, Bennington was looking into O’Halloran and his. You see, O’Halloran has wanted to get at some of the legitimate businesses of other families. By that, I mean legitimate; AGI bought out Oracle Optics which, in turn, owned Bellacino’s operation of Prescott Computers. Nonetheless, I had to clean up off-the-record projects and a lot of back room dealings. I worry I may have been accidentally responsible for your inability to follow up on the Bentons.”

  The detective sat back, confused. “How could you be…?”

  “Because I also ruffled feathers and haven’t fully fixed it yet. I can’t go to the police; one could infer I somehow was behind it. If the police are on the take, what better way to get AGI funding than blackmail? The scandal alone…”

  “You walked into a snake pit.”

  “Without shoes on,” he said with a chipper smile. The worried look Phoenix had seen on the news made sense now. If his corporate empire managed to get caught in the crosshairs of a crime family and stumbled into the perfect storm to be used…

  “What was the last thing you had Bennington do?”

  “He heard of some Oracle-Prescott projects dealing with security. Bennington went in to investigate discrepancies and never reported back. From what I can gather, Bellacino was looking to turn Oracle profitable, and possibly using it as a springboard to leave organized crime. Reports indicated O’Halloran either tried to crash the company, or steal the projects and contracts for himself.”

  “This gets crazier by the second. I think I have this.”

  Gemini nodded and leaned in. “Go on.”

  “Bellacino wants to go legit, but can’t make a show of it. O’Halloran gets word and wants to put the kibosh on Don because if he goes legit, he still has influence over his turf, and no reason to go to jail. It’s a lose-lose. Both have ties to the police, looking like The Pack more and more. Jeremy comes to me, I get the video of The Pack, making them look bad on all fronts.” Phoenix held his face in his hands. “They’re the ones who made the Bentons disappear, and they work Missing Persons, so they’re in charge of finding them…”

  “You think The Pack is behind all these disappearances?”

  “Without a doubt, now.”

  “You said there’s some new member who can be trusted?”

  “Jack Hoffman, their Omega; he’s looking to prove himself.”

  “You need to make him trust you instead.”

  McGee did his best to piece the rest of the puzzle together in his mind; he muttered a stream of consciousness for a solid minute, making the businessman arch a brow.

  “Mr. McGe
e, are you alright?”

  “Sorry, I have more information, it’s how I process it…”

  Gemini leaned back a bit, the display slightly worrisome, but given the state of affairs he was willing to deal with a bit of eccentricity to get the results he wanted.

  “At your pace, then…”

  “Okay, you control a pack through the Alpha, and Sam Maxwell is the Alpha. We find him, we get to the bottom of this. I wish I knew where the hell to start. He’s the one playing both sides, it only makes sense. It’s also why he’s having his second-in-command do all his grunt work; saves him having to take the silver bullet.”

  “Where do you see this going?”

  “I don’t know. This whole thing is insane. If you ask me, Maxwell was tired of working on both sides, so now he’s playing them against one another. If everyone that’s gone missing actually has, it only makes sense that it’s him. He kidnapped someone close to Donatello and Douglas, kidnapped the mediator who would get the two of them to join forces, and your security guy who got in too close for comfort. If the Bentons were part of it, or one of them was, he’d whisk them away too.”

  “Still doesn’t explain the cover-ups you talked about. He couldn’t have those resources…”

  “But he does. The house was using his contacts on Donatello, and if he had contacts with Douglas’ people in Prescott, he pushed on them to cover up there. Holy crap…I’ve been working with them…I’ve been playing into their hand.”

  “Phoenix, it’s okay. You didn’t know the people you expected to give you the help you needed were the danger all along.”

  “Reginald, if I may call ya that, thank you. I know what I have to do now. You’re a good man.”

  “What can I say? I’ve needed an excuse to meet you face-to-face and shake your hand after the affair involving McMillan.” Gemini smiled and extended a hand, a kind demeanor on his face. “Speaking of which, it’s my understanding that he’s been abandoned by Eagle and is persona non grata at all its affiliated companies. I can’t imagine anyone would want to take the risk of hiring him now.”

  Phoenix gladly shook it and stood. “I’d say ‘sorry to hear that’, but knowing he won’t be able to bully anyone else makes that hard. I’ll find your man, and hopefully a whole mess of folks as well. Can your driver make a quick stop for me? I have to go talk to a couple friends.”

  “Certainly, do you have an address?”

  “It’s the cemetery on the edge of town, past the dams.”

  “Oh…my condolences. Was this part of the case?”

  “No, I…I have to go back on a promise I’d made them and return someplace I hoped I’d never have to.”

  “Where are you going that’s so dangerous?”

  “The Cloister isn’t dangerous…just…just don’t ask, okay?”

  “Very well. I hope to hear from you soon, I just hope Ms. Levicia hasn’t been too rude to your friend out there, she has an edge to her.”

  “I could say the same thing about Suzette…”

  Gemini chuckled, patting the taller gentleman on his back as he guided him toward the door, which muffled loud noises from the other side.

  “Oh no…” was spoken in unison as they ran and pulled the doors open fast. Fully expecting a ruckus of some sort, both stammered when they found the ladies belting out in laughter, sipping drinks. They both looked up at their respective bosses and did their best to make themselves presentable. It was obvious a fun time had been had, however.

  “Ms. Levicia, this seems oddly out of character for you to be so…informal.” Reginald said, with a twinkle in his eye and a twitch of his lips. In all the years he’d known her, a belly laugh was something he never had experienced from her, nor ever expected.

  She sat her drink and held up a hand, palm facing them. “Apologies, sir; shift ended and I wasn’t leaving without making sure you were done with your meeting. Suzette and I were swapping stories.”

  Suzette took another sip before Phoenix reached for the glass, sniffing it.

  “What is this?”

  “Top shelf. Like…waaay top shelf. Did you know they have a full bar over there?” Suzette said, staggering to her feet and pointing to one of the side doors. “It’s amazing.”

  Gemini rubbed his temples and looked at the two ladies and finally to Phoenix. “I can assure you Ms. Levicia has never acted like this in all the time I’ve known her.”

  The blonde smiled and stood, placing a hand on the short man’s shoulder. “Reginald, you always tell me sharing a drink with a kindred spirit adds years. You always tell me if I ever want anything from your private stock, or if it will please a guest…”

  Gemini was flustered and blushed a deep red as he stared at his feet, turning beet red with embarrassment. “Ms. Levicia, you aren’t in trouble, I assure you. I wasn’t expecting…”

  Phoenix took a swig from the drink and made a face at its strength. “Wow.” He smacked his lips and braced against the desk. “Mr. Gemini, it’s no problem. It’s not like she’s going to be driving tonight anyways.”

  “Are you certain?”

  Suzette elbowed him and smiled to her new friend. “Phoenix, we’re gonna go drinking later this week, and sparring,” she said, reaching for the cocktail as McGee dragged her toward the elevator. She waved to the short man and then placed her right hand at the side of her head, thumb at the ear and pinky at the lips. She stepped into the elevator and pushed the button for the lobby. “Call me later, Guess!”

  With a turn of the head, Phoenix put together another piece of a puzzle. He looked to Suzette and then Ms. Levicia.

  “Are you trying to tell me her name was actually…” could be heard before the doors closed.

  Gemini chuckled and sat, asking Guess to make him a cocktail as well. He’d have a driver take her home if she’d like. She thanked him and accepted his offer, passing him a screwdriver a moment later. He sipped it and raised his eyebrows at the strength of the drink.

  “Remind me that I’m a lightweight tomorrow.”

  She nodded and made a note of it on her calendar. “You’re due for a status report to Mr. Ahkriman. Want me to connect you?”

  “Yes, though there’s not much to report. Link me through my cell, please.”

  She swiped an access card near her phone and pushed a button to transfer the call. When Gemini’s pocket buzzed, he answered it promptly.

  “Yes, Mr. Ahkriman. Yes, we may have found a solution to the problem. Well, we can’t have the police working with the Mafia. No, sir. Yes, sir. A private investigator. Someone has to locate Bennington. His name is Phoenix McGee. No, sir, he already left. Yes, sir. He told me what he’s found and his interpretation of the facts at hand. Very astute. He said he had to go to a few places, and he’ll report back later. A cemetery and someplace called The Cloister, I assume it’s a bar or something. The Cloister. Yes. Yes, he was wearing one but I don’t see how that…Really? Well, that changes things, I suppose. Fascinating. Well, let’s see what he finds! I’m certain this is serendipitous as well, sir. You as well. Good day.”

  Gemini hung up the phone, a distance in his gaze.

  “Ms. Levicia…?”

  “Yes, sir?”

  “I think things are about to get interesting.”

  Todd Bennington, Caroline O’Halloran, Joel Tanaka and Emma St. John sat in blinding light, and deafening silence. The meal bars they’d been given had lost their appeal after the weeks they’d spent in the room.

  “It’s sleep,” Joel said, breaking the quiet. “It’s gotta be; when I wake up and all you are asleep, the lights are low. When we’re all awake, a blindfold can’t keep the light out.”

  “How can they tell if we’re asleep or not? Is it movement?” Caroline mused, turning her head around, trying to determine where the others were in the room.

  “Can’t be; remember, I tried that a while ago. Had to be like, what, three days ago? Wish they’d let us have a clock or something. I mean, how long have we been in this damn thi
ng?” Joel muttered, kicking the wall in vain.

  Since the discovery of the access terminal, the trust between the four of them had dwindled. The smell of the bodies in the room had grown, raising both the paranoia and stress levels of those remaining.

  Emma curled against the wall, keeping a doubled-up piece of fabric between her and it.

  “Listen, maybe something links us…some clue why we are in here.”

  “Really, or maybe you wanna report back to someone, Emma?” Todd snapped, pounding the wall with a fist. “Maybe through that damn terminal. You wanna have us spill secrets, you can damn well go first.”

  Emma stood and screamed in the direction of Todd’s voice. “Fuck you! Fuck you to hell, Todd! You don’t know what I’ve been through, you bastard!” She kicked blindly, and Todd felt the wind on his cheek.

  “Stop it both of you!” Caroline screamed. “Just stop! I’ll…Maybe it’s my fault…” she murmured, beginning to cry again.

  Joel exhaled in frustration. “Does everything make you cry, kid?!”

  “Shut up, Joel!” she retaliated, punching the wall, not caring about the heat. She continued to punch it with a primal scream, her face clenched in anger. The rest in the room sighed; they’d all had their breaking points some time ago. “Just shut up! No one wants to hear you, okay?! When my dad finds me…”

  “Gonna tell us who the hell he is, and why we should be afraid of him?” spat Todd, lying on the ground, rubbing his sweat-drenched face. The occupants of the room abandoned civilized teamwork for paranoid fury. Every time Caroline had gotten upset these last few days, she kept talking about her father, and when pressed, she shut up. It only made the rest of them weary of her; even Emma, who had been her solace.

  “Douglas O’Halloran…” she muttered under her breath.

  In the Room of Light, there had been no last names, no personal histories; only the assumption they’d be freed or find a way out. The damned light had united them and their efforts in blind faith. They had come to an unspoken agreement; with no details given, nothing could divide them against each other. With a single fact, Caroline had laid the first crack in the foundation.