Potts Better Butter Bakery

by S. D. Anderson

  “I’ll do it right now. Then he can pick you up in Woods Hole when the ferry lands.” He radioed the message to the police station and Williams let out a loud ‘whoop’, which the girls could easily hear.

  “I’ll tell him right away, Thanks, keep them safe for us, Ned. He’s been pretty worried with the note from the mob and all.” He ended the transmission.

  Ned turned to the girls and frowned.

  “One of you better explain what’s going on here.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Was there ever a more welcome sight? The girls were dancing with excitement. The Steamship Authority Ferry was enormous and the girls were happy they would be on it soon. Gina was anxious to get home to her baby. Ned pulled up to the pier, tied up and helped them onto the dock. They gave Ned hugs and thanked him profusely. He was a little overwhelmed, enough to exhibit a light blush through his scraggy beard.

  “Take the blankets with you to keep warm,” he advised, “Matt will save them for me and I can pick them up another time.”

  Captain Jim was waiting for the girls at the end of the gangplank. He ushered them through ticketing and onto the deck of the steamship.

  “Captain, we don’t have any money to pay for our passage,” Sativa said as they were led onto the upper deck where the engine house was.

  “Not to worry, Ladies, Matt is a friend of mine, and you ladies deserve special treatment after what you’ve been through.”

  “Who told you?” Sativa asked, completely overwhelmed.

  “Matt did, he called me while you were at the dock with Ned. He was so grateful that you were safe. Nicest guy on the Cape, Matt is, known him for years, went to school together.,” Captain Jim told them, “I’d do anything for him. He saved my son from some pretty dangerous thugs. They tried to get my boy hooked on drugs. I owe him more than your tickets, believe me.” Jim opened the door to the pilot’s house and waved. “I’ll leave you now, someone has to drive this boat to Woods Hole. See you later.” He stepped into the pilot house and closed the door.

  Sativa stood there mesmerized. This was a Matt she didn’t know anything about. Who else had he saved or helped? All in the line of duty? She didn’t think so. And now there’s us… This man was so much more than the one she left behind thirty some years ago. He pushed me on the bus, not because he wanted to get rid of me, but because he wanted me to have a bigger life, he wanted me to see the world. Tears filled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

  “Sativa, why the tears? We’re safe now,” Connie leaned over, hugged her and kissed her cheek, “come, now, dry them before we get to Woods Hole. You don’t want Matt to see you crying, do you?”

  “Oh, Connie, I can’t believe these stories I’m hearing about him. What should I do?”

  “Indica mentioned that you and Matt had a ‘history’. The question is, what do you want to do? What is your heart telling you?”

  “I don’t know, Connie, I just don’t know,” Sativa said sadly. She shook her head and quietly wiped the tears away.

  The girls sat huddled together around the cooler, talking about the day’s events.

  Our other passengers, meanwhile, drifted in and out of the cooler exploring their surroundings. This was their first experience on a ferry.

  “Jeeze, Bugsy, this boat is huge! How come it doesn’t sink?”

  “No idea but it is really big. Did you see all the cars and trucks down below?”

  “Where?”

  Come on, I’ll show you.”

  “Jeeze, this is awesome!” Fritzie exclaimed as he saw the hold with the vehicles.

  “The people who live on Martha’s Vineyard rely on the ferry to transport most of their food and household goods from the mainland.”

  “Who told you that?”

  “Common knowledge.”

  “Jeeze, Bugsy, you sure are smart,” Fritzie said as they floated back up to the deck where the girls were.

  “Let’s sit in the snack bar, nobody’s here now ‘cause its closed. We gotta make some plans,” Bugsy said.

  “About the loot?”

  “Yes, and about the guy who stabbed me,” Bugsy growled.

  “What ya got in mind?”

  They put their heads together (not literally) and started to discuss the options as the ferry made its way to Woods Hole.

  The boat whistle, which made the girls jump, sounded two loud blast, the signal that the ferry was coming into the terminal at Woods Hole. Still wrapped in their borrowed blankets, they queued with the other passengers ready to disembark, the cooler on the deck between them with our specters safe inside. There were only a few passengers so disembarking took no time at all.

  Waiting on the pier were Matt and Archie.

  Sativa felt her legs wobble with relief. Seeing Matt there, she knew in her heart everything would be all right.

  The line dispersed into the terminal and the girls ran from the gangplank straight into Matt and Archie’s open arms.

  Archie wrapped his arms around Gina and Connie, leading them down the dock to where the car was parked.

  “The baby? How is he?” Gina, her first thought asked hurriedly.

  “Indica has spoiled him, I’m afraid, and I must admit, I did help,” Archie answered the worried Mother and Grandmother. “Mike is with them now,”

  “Who’s Mike?” Connie asked.

  “The baby’s bodyguard, second shift,” Archie chuckled.

  They laughed as Gina continued to fire off questions, which Archie answered patiently as they strolled up to the lot where the cruiser was parked.

  Sativa melted into Matt’s open arms, grateful that he was holding her up because she wasn’t certain her legs would.

  “Archie and I were so worried, we had no idea where you were,” Matt said, his voice husky, still holding her against him, reluctant to let go. “When I got the note from the mob which was on the front seat of the limo, I was ready to do vigilante, only I had no idea who or how,” he said as he started to release his hold on her.

  “Don’t, Matt, ----”

  “Don’t what?” he asked as he held her even tighter feeling her body tremble, not sure if it was the cold, the shock or something else.

  “Matt, --- I, ---- well, -I found out so many things while we were kidnapped,” Sativa blurted out. “Everyone likes you, Matt, and they have the deepest respect for you. Like you were so good to them.” She started to tear up and Matt held her tighter. “I was so mistaken, all these years, I thought you didn’t love me, that you wanted to get rid of me when you pushed me onto that bus to Nashville,” she whispered, her voice cracking with emotion.

  “You really thought that? All these years?” he leaned away from her his face mirroring his surprise. “Leaving you on that bus was the hardest thing I have ever done because I knew I had lost you. This kidnapping made me realize that you were finally back in my life and I couldn’t lose you again”

  He hugged her closer and listened as she whispered, “I have never stopped loving you, Matt, never,” she burrowed into his raincoat holding back the tears. “When I was tied up on the floor of the limo, all I kept thinking was, he will never know how much I love him.”

  “Oh, God, Sativa, there has never been anyone else.” He crushed her to him and lifted her chin to kiss her.

  “It’s not too late, is it, Matt?”

  “Never too late,” he said as he dropped his lips to hers in a light kiss, “

  Thinking Matt and Sativa were close behind, Archie, Connie and Gina turned to look, only to see them on the pier hugging and kissing.

  “Finally,” Archie shouted, as Connie and Gina cheered.

  Hearing the others cheering, Matt broke his hold on Sativa, wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered, “Now, we better get you back to the station so I can make my report, then take you all home.”

  He thought a moment which was difficult to do with his arm around Sativa.

  “Let’s change that. Let’s take you to Gina and Connie’s first so Gina can
see that her baby has thrived under Indica’s and Archie’s care, then home for you and Indica. My report can wait until tomorrow.”

  He started to lead her away when Sativa stopped, remembering something.

  “Matt, where’s the cooler? It might have some evidence.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “This motel is a dump, Jimmy. Weren’t there any others a little more up-scale? Even the dumps in Vegas are better than this.” Ardito (Ardy) De Caprio complained to his bodyguard.

  “Boss, you said to find you a place where nobody would recognize you.”

  “Cripes, they never would even think to look for me here. Are all the motels like this one?”

  “Those that I could find, Boss. This whole of Cape Cod is smaller than the entire Vegas strip. Most of the motels are closed until April or May. It wasn’t easy to even find this one

  “Well, I’m certain you did your best on such short notice. Any news?”

  “Just checked with Tony and Guido, nothing, no response to the note.”

  “What’d the note say?”

  “Your usual, you know, We want the loot,” Jimmy said, “no loot no girls 24 hours.”

  “*&^%$#@! who wrote that note?”

  “Tony did, Boss.”

  “Did he think it would work?” Ardy swore again under his breath, “has he sent the second one yet?”

  “No, I think he was waiting for a reply.”

  “How could they reply? Did you leave a contact phone number?”

  “No, Boss, we didn’t want to be recognized.”

  “*&^%$#@! Doesn’t anyone think around here? Do I have to do everything?”

  “Geeze, Boss, you want we should send another note?”

  “Where are those dames, anyhow?”

  “On an island somewhere out in the ocean.”

  “Where out in the ocean?” Ardito shouted, “you lose them we got no collateral, no ransom, no hostages, Cripes, do I have to do everything myself,? Don’t you guys think?”

  “Want me to send ‘Knifey’ out to check on things?”

  “Tell Knifey I want to see him NOW!”

  Jimmy nodded and left the room to find him although he was doubtful. He hadn’t seen Knifey since they had all breakfasted at a Dunkie’s across from a big Barnstable High School.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Knifey, a/k/a Lavinio Torino was also on a hunt.

  I want both the contract on Bugsy and the loot. Well, Bugsy is six feet under. I made sure of that and the reward was being dropped into my Vegas bank account I was told. The loot reward is another story. That reward is big enough for me to start a new life somewhere far away. I want to get away from the mob, the greed, the rackets, the gambling, away from it all. I’ll change my name, have my face ‘lifted’, my fingerprints obliterated, buy a new car, a house somewhere where the mob would never find me… and well, that’s what I’ll do when I find the loot and give it over to Ardy. Well, not give it all to Ardy, I’ll hold out half of it to insure he’ll give me the reward.

  Those dames, Bugsy’s wife, Connie, Gina, and her kid, must have the loot, maybe hidden in her house somewhere. Bugsy could have sent it to her before he arrived here. He didn’t have it on the plane, ‘cause I would have seen it somewhere. His luggage was only a small carry-on.

  Think I will stake out her house. The stupid funeral director gave me the address because I said I wanted to send her some flowers or a plant because I was late for the funeral.

  I don’t want to rent a car, that leaves a trail, but a bike! That’s a better idea. A bike couldn’t be traced, yah a bike. Now where can I get one without buying it? Bingo! I know the perfect place.

  He walked across the street over to Barnstable High School. Around the back was a rack full of bikes, big ones, small ones and even three wheelers. They were locked onto the racks, but that wouldn’t be a problem, not for him. He found the one he wanted, squatted down between the bikes, and pulled out his little kit. All it took were a few probes and the lock opened. Easy!. He slid the bike out effortlessly, threw his jacket over his shoulder, swung his leg over the bar and pedaled off onto the main street.

  Now to find her house.

  Chapter Twenty -Three

  Jimmy wasn’t the only one looking for Knifey.

  Bugsy and Fritzie started their own recon after assuring each other the girls were safe for now with round-the-clock bodyguards. Archie had been replaced permanently by Mike McGregor, the second shift bodyguard, and Seamus O’Brien, a retired ex-cop who was only too delighted to play grandpapa to the baby. Matt was adamant. The girls and the baby were NEVER to be without Mike or Seamus tagging along. Matt was still searching for a third candidate to break the shifts into thirds, but the other two wouldn’t hear of adding anyone else to the watch.

  Connie and Gina were grateful for the male presence in the house. Mike had lent his hand helping with the shopping and cooking and Seamus was very adept at folding the baby’s laundry and rocking him to sleep when allowed. They were becoming family to each other and their whole world centered around the baby.

  “Where should we start looking for Knifey?” Bugsy asked as he patrolled around the house, making certain there were no intruders lurking.

  “Wait! Did you see that old guy riding that bike by the house? He was giving it the scan.”

  “Do you think it might be Knifey?”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Matt was finishing up his report of the girls kidnapping and rescue from Naushon Island with no suspects on file yet. He had a few ideas, but which mob? His investigations so far had dug up data on three separate ‘mobs’ in Vegas. The only one that matched was the plate number of the Bentley. The one that the rental agent gave to Matt. Further RMV records showed it was registered to one Ardito DiCaprio of Las Vegas.

  Digging further, Matt found only this one small clue. Ardito or “Ardy” as he was called, was one of the owners in a conglomerate of several small casinos and had a large interest/share in all five of the big casinos. Those ‘the big five’ were the casinos that were ‘hit’ a few months ago and a substantial amount of cash and other items: stocks, treasury notes, casino promissory notes from some pretty well-known government officials, mortgages, all were part of that one heist.

  Matt sat back in his chair to give this some consideration as Archie walked in with a tray from Dunkies. On it were two large cups of fresh coffee judging by the aroma that was wafting through his office. He glanced at the clock on the wall. “It can’t be.”

  Archie grinned. “Morning Sarge.”

  “Damn, Archie, that smells good,” Matt exclaimed, as he leaned forward and elbowed the files out of the way to make room for the cardboard tray with the cups and what smelled like two of Dunkie’s breakfast sandwiches. “How did you guess?”

  “That you didn’t have breakfast and was probably up all night trying to bring some logic into this case?” Archie quipped.

  “Yah, that sounds about right,” Matt agreed and reached for one of the large coffees. “How was your night?” He removed the lid and took a gratifying sip of the hot brew.

  “About the same as yours,” Archie agreed, “I’m so relieved the girls are safe, at least from the kidnapping. Unfortunately, I think this case is far from over. My questions probably mirror yours.” Archie sat on the chair in front of the desk, reached into the bag and pulled out the two breakfast sandwiches passing one over to Matt. “What have you found out so far? “Archie asked through a mouthful of sandwich.

  “That we are dealing with some pretty mean characters and a few government agencies.”

  Archie swallowed his mouthful and let out a long whistle. “That explains their presence here. Wonder what their interest is in this?”

  “There were treasury notes as well as a slew of casino promissory notes taken in that heist. It was over several trillion in all,” Matt said, “I think our little “Bugsy” brought it with him to the Cape, or at least part of it, his share, maybe.”

  �
��Jeeze, Matt, where is it? How did he stash it?” Archie asked as he swallowed the remains of his sandwich and started on his coffee.

  “That’s what we have to find out before “our visitors” do,” Matt said through his mouthful of sandwich, “and I believe the girls are all in danger, big danger. That mob isn’t going to be gentle with this.”

  “Should we bring in more reinforcements?”

  “Where are we gonna get them?” Matt asked.

  “How about the forces off Cape? Plymouth, Duxbury?”

  “Our finances cannot afford to bring in extra surveillance from other departments. Besides, doing that will leave them short of manpower.”

  “Well, what then?” Archie drained his coffee and set the empty cup down on the desk.

  “I just got an idea, Archie, I think the CIA and the FBI can help us out on this, because our finances are limited. We can’t afford anything else. Let’s get the Feds involved. We don’t have to pay for them.”

  “Good idea,” Archie said, “They must have an interest otherwise why would they be here?”

  “Muldoon won’t like this. He likes to keep Cape business inside the Cape,” Matt said of his superior, “but under the circumstances, I don’t have a choice.”

  “You could lose your job, Matt,” Archie warned.

  “Yes, I know, but Sativa and the girls are far more important,” Matt declared as he finished his coffee and gathered the remains of his and Archie’s breakfast and stuffed them into the bag ready for the trash.

  “Where do we go from here?” Archie asked as he took charge of the bag.

  “I’ll get hold of the Feds. Would you go check on the girls and give Mike McGregor a break?”

  “Want me to check on Sativa and Indica, too?”

  “No, I’ll do that. Their bakery opens tomorrow. I want to see how they’re doing.”