“What did Sativa want with that cooler? Did you ever find out why she felt it was so important?” Archie asked.
“Something about it being a clue,” Matt replied. “I’ll ask her when I see her later.”
“Matt are you and Sativa, -- well, you know,” Archie asked.
“I have no idea, Archie, I just know that I’m glad she is back on the Cape and that she is safe. I couldn’t handle it if I lost her again.” Matt smiled and waved Archie out of the office. “Get out of here before I get maudlin.”
Archie retrieved the breakfast bag and waved as he went through the office door almost knocking Williams over.
“Sorry to interrupt, Sarge, but those Federal Officers are here again, what shall I tell them?”
“Show them in Williams, they are exactly the ones I want to see right now.”
Surprised, Williams ducked out of the office and a few minutes later Agent Cochran and Agent Barker slid into the room neatly attired in their black suits, white shirts, black ties, highly polished shoes, and the essential sunglasses, (of course). Matt motioned them to the seats they had occupied on their first visit
“We came to tell you we’re leaving, “ Agent Barker ignored the seats and began only to be cut short by Matt.
“Gentlemen,” Matt interrupted, “please be seated, we have a great deal to discuss. Leaving now would be a grave mistake for both you and the bureau.”
“Our work is finished here, there is nothing more we can do,” Agent Cochran blurted out only to have Agent Barker send him a quelling look.
“I feel differently. There is a great deal more to be done, Gentlemen, and we can discuss it right now.” Matt motioned to the chairs in front of the desk and sat in his own.
“We have orders to return to the bureau,” Agent Barker said, “I see no further need to remain here.”
“What about the treasury bonds, the casino promissory notes, and the reward?”
“That’s not our concern,” Agent Barker spat out.
“Then why were you and the bureau so interested in retaining Bugsy’s body?”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Sativa and Indica were dashing around getting everything ready for the opening today. Finally, their dream was about to manifest.
“The ad is in the Cape Cod Times, I saw it this morning,” Indica said as she pulled another tray of Better-Butter cookies from the oven.
“Indica, how are we going to keep the ‘good’ cookies and brownies separated from the regular ones?”
“They are in a separate case and marked “House Specialty”.
“That’s what those are, thanks for telling me.”
“Connie knows which ones are which, so don’t worry,” Indica grinned. Connie was their one and only salesperson and delighted to help the girls in the bakery.
“What about Gina and the baby?
“Mike is with them,” Indica said as she rolled another tray of Better-Butter cookies into the oven then went over to empty the dishwasher. “He’s on twenty-four-hour surveillance. He sleeps on the couch. Connie told me he has practically moved in. She says she likes having him around. With him there she feels safe. I think we have the beginnings of a little romance here,” Indica grinned through the steam from the dishwasher. Her glasses were completely fogged. She looked like a WWII pilot with flying goggles.
Sativa was heading down the hall to throw another load of laundry into the washer, the basket balanced on her hip.
“How busy do you think we will be today?” Sativa called from the laundry room.
“Busy!”
“Indica, I have an idea,” Sativa came up the hall, “let’s put those old-fashioned wire chairs and the little round glass tables outside on the front walk. We could put one or two here inside.”
“The ones from the basement that have been there for decades?” Indica giggled.
“Yes, I can give them a good scrubbing. I’ll bet they would look great and attract a few customers. We can serve coffee and tea. What do you think?”
“Wow! We should have thought about that a few weeks ago. I think it’s a great idea.”
“Come on, let’s check them out. How much longer on those cookies?”
“They are almost done, another two minutes.”
“Meet me down there.”
Sativa headed for the cellar stairs calling for Bubba. He emerged from his room and met her at the bottom of the stairs.
“What’s up, Mom?”
“I want to find those old wire chairs and tables that were here when we purchased the building. Any idea where they are?”
“Sure, they are right in the big storage room. Want me to get them out for you?”
“Yes, Bubba, I think they would be a nice addition to the bakery. We can put two inside in front of the showcases and the rest out on the sidewalk in front of the store. How many do we have?”
“That’s a great idea, I think we have six.”
“Good, if you dig them out and bring them upstairs, I’ll scrub them down and see if they will work,” Sativa grinned pleased with her idea.
Indica and Sativa stood and appraised their recent handiwork. The chairs and little glass-top tables looked ideal and filled in the spaces inside and out on the sidewalk perfectly. All that was needed now were some colorful napkins, coffee, creamer, teabags, and cups which Bubba, in the SUV, was on the way to get at the grocery store.
“Time for showers and getting pretty!” Indica grinned and headed upstairs.
Sativa took one more look around very satisfied with the bakery and the little tables. She checked the two large coffee pots and the electric tea kettle.
We open in less than two hours, finally our dream is coming true. Gram and Mom would be so pleased. Connie is coming to help. I hope Matt can break away for a few minutes to drop in. I miss him. Mike will be with Gina and the baby. That kidnapping was a dreadful thing. I still have nightmares. It was only two days ago but seems like a lifetime. Where is that cooler? I think we stored it in the basement. I can’t remember. I better take my shower. Indica is probably finished with hers.
She headed upstairs calling out to Indica as she went.
The cooler was in the basement, as Sativa remembered but Bugsy and Fritzie were not in it. They had decided they would be more useful if they watched over the baby and Gina and Connie which, as it became apparent, was a wise decision.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The bakery was mobbed, or for a better word, filled to capacity and then some. Grateful that they had set up the little tables, and thought of the coffee and tea, the sales were more than they had expected. The girls and Connie made it truly clear that the House Specialty baked goods were not to be consumed on the premises but to be taken home in the special little boxes and bags.
“I have never seen half of these people, Indica, have you?”
“Wish they would stop popping pictures, I can hardly see anymore,” Sativa complained. “Please stop taking all these photos!” she shouted but no one was listening.
“No we won’t give you an exclusive story!” Indica shouted above the din as she rang up another sale.
“I’m going to call Matt!” Sativa said in desperation. “Maybe he can stop some of this insanity!” She turned away, pulled her phone from her pocket to call police headquarters as the door opened and Matt came thundering through, Archie trailing right behind. The look of relief on Sativa’s face was the only direction Matt needed as she dropped her phone back into her apron pocket.
“Listen up! If you have finished with your purchase, please make room for others. No more pictures! And no comments, exclusives or stories!” Matt shouted! Then in a lower voice, “Archie, please escort some of these people out!”
Archie stood at the door and gently shoved the resistant media out into the sunshine. Indica rang a few more sales into the register and slammed the drawer shut as the last person left the shop.
“I’ll retreat into the kitchen. Thanks, Matt.” Indica grinned and
waved as she moved towards the doorway.
“Matt, I am so glad to see you,” Sativa said as she ran over to give Matt a hug.
“Wow! What a welcome.” He leaned down and gave her a sweet kiss, pulled back and asked, “Where did all these people come from?”
“We have never seen half of those people. I was about to call the station for help. Thanks so much!” Sativa dropped her arms and smiled. “And thanks for the kiss, unexpected but so appreciated!” Sativa’s errant blush ran up her neck and colored her cheeks.
“My pleasure! We will have to do it again.” He grinned as he looked around. “Where’s Connie?”
“She was right here at the register, then went outside to clear the tables.”
They each looked at each other…
“Oh no!” they both exclaimed.
Matt rushed outside, Sativa on his heels The disgruntled media were camped out across the street. Connie was nowhere to be seen. Matt dashed over to the sidewalk on the other side and asked the reporters if they had seen Connie.
“Yah, I seen her being pushed into a big black Bentley. Thought it was her boyfriend.”
Matt clenched his fists and jammed them into his pockets…
“Which way did the car go?”
“Down the street, why?”
“Towards Rte. 6A?”
“Yah,” one of the other media guys nodded, “Why?”
“Because she has been kidnapped again you stupid *&^%$#@! “
Matt ripped his cell out of his pocket, dialed Williams on the main desk and shouted a stream of orders at him. Then he grabbed Archie by the arm, dragged him over to stand next to Sativa.
“Guard her with your life! And don’t take your eyes off either of them for one minute!” Matt almost shouted as he headed back onto the street. “Do not leave this shop under any circumstances. Period!”
Archie nodded. He knew the boss well enough to know that he was raging angry. He ushered Sativa inside the bakery and went to find Indica with Sativa in tow.
Matt dashed to the unmarked parked part-way down the street, jumped in, started her up and left rubber as he gunned the engine and pointed the hood in the direction of Rte. 6A (again).
“Williams,” Matt shouted into his blue tooth on the dashboard, “any location for the motel where that Bentley is staying?”
“Yes, a seedy motel down on Rte. 6A just over the line into Sandwich. “Should I send the squad car?”
“No, I’m on it.”
He pushed the accelerator down to the floor, the car leaped forward, and Matt felt his blood pressure rise.
Bugsy and Fritzie had been hanging around the bakery watching the press and legitimate customers file in and out the door, Bugsy hoping he could spot some of the Mob to harass them and Fritzie hoping a cookie would drop somewhere so he could eat one. They both saw Matt and Sativa run outside and heard Connie’s name mentioned. Alert, they zoomed out after them and saw Matt say something to the press across the street.
“Whaddyathink, Bugsy?”
“Something’s goin’ on. Matt is angry. That’s no social call. C’mon Fritz, let’s see for ourselves.”
They watched as Matt came back to the bakery, barked an order at Archie to stay there and not let Sativa out of his sight. Then he ran down the street to the unmarked.
That was all they needed. Bugsy grabbed Fritzie and jumped onto the car as it came whizzing by. He grabbed the radio antenna with one arm and held onto Fritzie with his other as the car raced down the main street to Rte. 6A and hooked a left.
They had no idea where they were going, but if Connie was in trouble, he and Fritzie would make certain she would not be harmed.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
When Matt got closer to the Sandwich town line, he backed off the gas pedal and slowed down to the speed limit. He hit the button for the blue-tooth on his dashboard and waited for Williams to answer.
“Williams, where are the Feds?”
“Actually right here at the station looking at maps.”
“Round them up and bring them to Sandwich in the van, I’ll tell you where and when…”
“Want the SWAT Team, too?”
“Yes, keep them on standby.” Matt took a deep breath, “I hope these *&^%$#@! haven’t hurt Connie. Give me some time. I want to see if they are there first and they haven’t dumped her off somewhere.”
“Have they had enough time?”
“Hopefully not!”
“What signal should we use when you are ready.”
“I’ll hit the 911 button on my phone…”
“Copy that!”
Williams ended the call and Matt slowed the unmarked down to a crawl.
That motel is right along here on Rte. 6A. Yes, there it is. I’ll slide by and see if there is access from the back or a side street. Yup, there it is.
Matt drove down to the side entrance and pulled up into a parking space. He spotted the Bentley and noticed which door where it was parked. He sent a text to Williams that the Bentley was here and to get the Feds and SWAT team in motion STAT.
Meanwhile he radioed the closest Sandwich Police Station on their private radio frequency band, the ones they use for boats at sea and sent a communication to alert them that he may need some backup, sent his position and his personal I.D., and outlined the situation briefly. He received an immediate reply. They were standing ready.
He watched as the door in front of the Bentley opened and a black suited figure emerged. Uniform of a limo driver, Matt thought, and watched as the probable driver walked to the motel office a few feet away, went in, and quickly emerged with a bag of chips and a 6 pack of beer. He walked back to the door of the room, knocked, and went in when it opened. Matt had the number – 125. Probably for staff, he filed that away in his brain and continued his surveillance. He checked his watch again; I’ll wait another five minutes. He sent a text to Williams and told him to use the side entrance and park around the back so as not to alert the prey. Williams replied “affirmative”. It was time for Matt to move.
He opened the unmarked door and felt his phone in his pocket and his gun under his armpit. He closed the door quietly and headed over to the motel office.
“Afternoon,” Matt hardly had the words out when the clerk behind the desk almost leaped over the counter at him.
“Matt! Am I glad to see you.”
Matt grinned, “Hallo, Chuck, didn’t know you were working here. Why aren’t you at B. U.?”
“We’re on break so I’m helping my uncle out here. Matt,” he leaned over the counter and lowered his voice, “there are some pretty shady characters staying here. Nevada plates and that big black Bentley. I don’t want any trouble for my uncle. Can you get rid of them for us? No trouble, though.” He looked at Matt hopefully.
“What rooms are they in?”
“125, 127, and 129” Chuck whispered.
Matt nodded and grinned. “That’s why I’m here, Chuck.” He leaned forward and held out his hand. Chuck grabbed it in an iron grip and grinned back. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Not yet,” Matt replied, pulled his hand back trying not to shake the blood back into it. He swung around, pulled the office door open and slid through it to head back to his unmarked. He sensed the troops were here as he rounded the corner of the building. Sure enough, there they were parked in various spots along the back of the motel, all in inconspicuous vehicles, except the SWAT team, which was a big black Mercedes van with white letters on the back door.
“So much for covert ops!” Matt muttered as he headed over to the vehicles.
Bugsy and Fritzie wasted no time once Matt had parked behind the motel.
“I know she is here in one of the rooms, Fritzie, she better be okay.”
“Look for the big Bentley that belongs to that mob boss.” Fritzie suggested.
“You mean DiCaprio?
“That one.”
“That *&^%$#@! I’d like to wring his neck. He got my casino, what more does he wa
nt? He better lay off my wife…”
“Come on…. let’s go find Connie.”
They circled the building and landed on the roof of the Bentley. Fritzie pointed to the window of 127. “Bet Ya she is in there.”
Bugsy plastered himself against the windowpane.
“There she is! Those *&^%$#@! tied her to a chair. Thank God those stupid idiots don’t have any imagination. My poor Connie. Come on, Fritz, let’s do some damage.”
“Hold a minute, Bugs, let’s wait and see what is gonna’ happen. Matt is too smart to let these guys get away with this. I been watching him. He is a good cop, Bugs, and she is safe right now. We can wait a few minutes. Yup, look who just arrived. F.B.I. and S.W.A.T. Wow! The joint is loaded. Now that jerk DiCaprio will get his justice.” And Fritzie spit!
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Think we can get her out?” Matt asked in undertones to Agent Barker.
“Which room?”
“They only have three reserved. 125, 127, and 129. Card game in 125. The other two must be for the big boss, Ardito De Caprio and his bodyguard. My guess? She is in one of those.”
“Be right back.” Agent Barker slid off into the darkness to return a few minutes later.
“Good guess! She is tied to a chair. These guys are so obvious. No creativity.” He chuckled to himself. “Let’s let the SWAT team handle it.” He started to turn away, “Wait a minute, who are these guys?” as several more men in black edged over to the van.
“Reinforcements, Sarge,” whispered one of the crew from Sandwich PD.
“I’m impressed,” Agent Barker whispered to Matt. “Never felt them coming.”
“We aren’t as rural as you think,” Matt grinned although the darkness covered it. “Ardito and his thugs are your marks, I’ll let you handle it from here, we can back you up if you need it. All I want is the girl.”
Agent Barker slipped over to the SWAT Van and soon the place was crawling with men in black with white SWAT letters on their backs. The Sandwich PD were skulking in the background blended into the trees darkened by the lack of moonlight. There were no sounds other than an occasional hoot from an owl.
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