The Black Chip

by Gary Land

  “No...”

  “I think I know why,” he said.

  “Why what?”

  “Why this feels awkward--it does, doesn’t it?”

  “A little.” A lot, she thought.

  “It’s because we skipped the getting-to-know-you phase. We went from a traumatic experience right into being good friends.”

  “Hmm--you’ve put some thought into this, huh?” She knew what this was leading up to, and she was half-scared, half-excited at the possibility.

  Noly paused. “I...I’ve avoided relationships...long-term relationships in the past...”

  “Why?” Sarah asked.

  “It just didn’t seem like a...fair thing to do. I couldn’t give a hundred percent...I live--lived in a violent part of the world.”

  “And you didn’t want these people you cared about to be exposed to the potential for violence, right?”

  Noly shrugged. He walked into the dining room and stood near Sarah’s stool.

  “I think I read that in a novel once,” Sarah said, looking up at him.

  “Bad things happen--they happened to people I know. It’s real life too.”

  Sarah stood up to face Noly. She took a long sip from the champagne. “But things are different now?”

  Noly took a step towards Sarah, who took a step backwards in response, but she had nowhere to go--the bar was in her way.

  “I don’t live in that world anymore--I don’t want to be a part of that.” Noly took another step towards Sarah. They were only inches apart now.

  “The light overhead makes the red come out in your hair even more.”

  “Really?” Sarah could only take quick, shallow breaths.

  “Yeah, and your eyes aren’t just one shade of blue, they keep changing depending on how you move your head.”

  “Hmm.”

  “I know, it’s fascinating,” Noly said. “I think I’m in big trouble here.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Margot Bickles had blue eyes and freckles too.”

  “What are you going to do about it?” she asked.

  “Keep talking--that’s my plan...I do not want to kiss you.”

  Sarah stared into Noly’s eyes and saw--herself. Not a reflection of herself, but a kindred soul. She felt herself melting into his arms. And then he did kiss her. They kissed slowly at first, not sure how the other would respond, but finding no resistance, their passion came full bloom.

  The kisses that followed had meaning and hunger. This was something they both needed. They both wanted to be loved and to know that someone cared for them.

  Noly pulled back. “Sarah, are you...”

  “Yes, I’m sure.”

  Sarah smiled in her sleep as she lay curled up next to Kacy. If she knew what the next few days would bring, she would be crying instead.

  Chapter 14

  “Mr. van Leesle...we’re ready.”

  Junior stepped out of the Executive Terminal at McCarran International Airport and made his way across the tarmac to the waiting Hawker 800. He carried no luggage as he followed the co-pilot to the private jet and climbed the stairs. The Hawker was a medium business jet that seated up to eight people, but Junior would be traveling alone--for now. If he were successful, he would have company on the return flight.

  Junior buckled himself into seat one. Refreshments were already in place, so he sat back and poured himself a scotch on the rocks. The flight to Fresno Yosemite International Airport in California would take a little over an hour. In that time, Junior made several phone calls, the longest to his lawyer making sure everything was in place and ready to go. He chuckled to himself as he hung up the phone.

  “Noly, Noly...roly-poly...you don’t even see this coming, do you?”

  Junior snacked on cheese and crackers, and Junior Mints candies. He decided he would keep a supply of the mints on hand and when he met someone new, he would introduce himself as “Junior” and then hand them the box.

  “Brilliant idea.”

  He hummed some unrecognizable tune, and ate his way through the flight to Fresno. A Lincoln Towncar was waiting for Junior as he exited the plane. The driver, dressed in a black suit and tie, opened the back door and waited for Junior to get in.

  “Go tell the pilot we’ll be back within three hours. I expect him to be ready to leave then,” he instructed the driver.

  Junior sat down and closed the door. He thought he would close his eyes for just a moment, but an hour later the driver gently touched his shoulder as he stood with the door open.

  “We have arrived, sir.”

  Junior blinked several times and tried to remember where he was and what he was doing. His mind seemed to wander more and more often. He took a deep breath, reached for a bottle of water in the cup holder, and drank the entire bottle. He stepped out of the car, stretched and yawned, and looked up at the sign hanging from the stucco wall he was facing.

  Central California State Mental Hospital.

  It looked more like a university campus than a mental hospital. The buildings had an off-white color, the roof Spanish tile--some multi-colored hue that looked peach, or tan or red depending on how far away you observed it, and how much light reflected off the surface.

  Junior didn’t really care what the building looked like though. He was here for the sole purpose of getting his sister released. She was critical to his plans and he wasn’t going to leave here without her.

  Doctor Horatio Carr met Junior in the lobby, and escorted him to his private office. The office looked unused. The furnishings were first class, with a massive oak desk, and high back, winged, burgundy leather guest chairs. Diplomas, political awards, and newspaper articles framed the wall. Yet the desk was empty, save for a blotter and telephone.

  Doctor Carr stood no more than five-eight. He looked weather-beaten, and grizzled. He had dark skin and white hair, and when he spoke, he had the sound of some indistinguishable European country.

  “Dr. Carr, you said on the phone my sister is doing much better.”

  “She is, but still...she has a long way to go. Your sister had a complete breakdown. She is still under medication.”

  “I flew down here to pick up my dear sister, because you said you would release her,” Junior yelled. “Was I imagining that?”

  “No, I believe that topic came up in our conversation...along with other things.”

  “Ah--it’s so nice to meet a doctor without ethics. You speak, of course, of the money we discussed.”

  “No need to be so crude, Mr. van Leesle.”

  “I’d like to see my sister now.”

  “Yes, of course. Please have a seat.” Carr returned to his desk and sat down while Junior continued to stand.

  Carr hit the button for the speakerphone, and dialed a three-digit extension. He waited a moment until his assistant answered. “Bring her in.”

  Junior stood with his back towards Carr, facing the door. It opened in a few minutes, and Catherine van Leesle entered, guided through by Carr’s assistant, a pimply-faced young man wearing a white lab coat, and a nametag that said “Brennan.” Not Doctor Brennan--just Brennan.

  Catherine looked beautiful. She wore a flowery sundress that showed off her tanned, silky skin, light makeup, and someone had done up her hair in a very attractive way.

  “Sister.”

  Catherine finally noticed that Junior was standing off to the side. She stared at him a moment trying to remember where she had met this man before.

  “Oh...Ott, how are things with you?” she said.

  “So much better now that you’re here...would you like to come home, sister?”

  Catherine looked at Doctor Carr. “I can go home?”

  “Well, your brother and I have certain...issues to discuss. Perhaps, you can wait with Brennan in the lounge?”

  Catherine didn’t respond. She appeared to be staring at some spot in her middle distance. Brennan finally touched her elbow and led her away.

  When she had left, Doctor
Carr looked at Junior, and shook his head.

  “As you can see, Mr. van Leesle, she really is not ready to return to her home.”

  Junior finally sat down, pulled his checkbook out, and slapped it down on Carr’s desk. Carr said nothing. Instead, he swiveled his chair towards the window and watched a gardener drive a lawn mower up Quad 4, heading towards the storage shed.

  “Doctor--I have a plane waiting. Let’s get this done,” Junior said. “I need you to sign this.”

  Carr swiveled back, as Junior pulled a folded document from inside his jacket. Carr looked incredulous.

  “You’re joking. I’m not signing any documents. I think you’re pushing it--I haven’t even agreed to release her yet.”

  Junior threw the document on the desk hard enough that it slid into Carr’s lap. Carr picked it up and read it.

  “My lawyer drafted it. How much do you want?”

  “This says Catherine is...legally competent, and...” Carr’s eyes scanned the rest of the document. “I’m sorry, but I can’t sign this for any amount.”

  “We agreed to fifty thousand over the phone--I’ll double it when you sign that document.”

  “I can’t. My reputation and career are at stake here. I don’t think a hundred thousand will last very long once I’m fired.”

  “You’re exaggerating--why would you be fired?”

  “Oh, maybe, say, your sister attempts murder again--maybe this time she succeeds.”

  “That won’t happen. I have a team of nurses and caregivers waiting at home to take care of her.”

  Junior had no such thing. No one was waiting at home for Catherine. As soon as she served his purpose, Junior would leave her to fend for herself.

  “I’ll double it again--two hundred thousand dollars, Doctor Carr. Just for your signature.”

  Carr turned toward the window again, thinking through the risk that Catherine van Leesle would actually do something damaging enough that he might feel personal repercussions. And how valid an argument could he make that she actually was competent, recovered from her breakdown.

  He watched Mrs. Gerot shuffle along the sidewalk pushing a walker in front of her. Her caregiver--a beauty from Belize, accompanied her down the path. Why someone that beautiful would waste her time like this was something Carr could not imagine.

  He decided that he could make a case for Catherine’s recovery if he re-documented her file. People were known to have relapses. It shouldn’t surprise anyone if Catherine had another breakdown, especially with a brother like Junior.

  Carr had to decide quickly how much money he could squeeze out of van Leesle. He seemed almost desperate to get his sister’s release. He had only expected to make fifty thousand by carefully wording a release form. This type of document was definitely worth much more. He was earning every dollar.

  “I want three hundred thousand,” Carr demanded.

  “Fine,” Junior said. He started writing out a personal check.

  “Er, excuse me, Mr. van Leesle, but, um, I’ll need a wire transfer or bank check.”

  Junior smiled, and put the check book back in his pocket. He withdrew an envelope, opened it, and sifted through the contents. He pulled out a bank cashiers check for three hundred thousand dollars, payable to Doctor Horatio Carr.

  “Your signature, doctor.”

  Carr looked at Junior, wondering what other checks were in that envelope. He finally signed the document, and slid it back across to Junior, who handed Carr his check.

  “In case your wondering doctor, I had checks totaling five hundred and fifty thousand in here. You need to work on your negotiating skills.”

  With that, Junior stood up, and headed towards the door. “Please have Catherine brought out to my Towncar. And be sure and include her meds. We wouldn’t want her to experience another episode like last time...would we, doctor?”

  As he settled into the Towncar, sister Catherine slumped at his side, Van Leesle’s cell phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket, stared at the screen, then hit Send and answered, “You have reached...Junior...you may speak.”

  “Uh, Mr., um...Junior--this is Glasser, uh, Glassman. I have an update for you.”

  “Ah, wonderful, wonderful--what have you learned?” Junior asked.

  “Sarah and Kacy Benson have been abducted; Boots is extremely agitated. I’ve learned that Sarah may be his wife and Kacy his daughter.”

  “This is marvelous news,” Junior crowed. “Butowski has a wife and daughter? Oh, how I could punish him if I had control of them.”

  “I said ‘may be,’ I haven’t confirmed anything yet, and I don’t think that’s a good idea...”

  Junior cut him off. “I...will decide what constitutes a good idea, Glassman. Only I.”

  “Noly Boots is the most dangerous man I know. You harm Sarah or Kacy, and he’ll tear you apart.”

  “Find out who abducted them and where they are. There will be a sizable bonus for you.”

  And with that, Junior ended the call.

  Chapter 15

  It was well past noon when Noly drove back to his apartment. He drove up the Strip this time. He didn’t mind the traffic, because it gave him some time to think. He wanted to check the answer machine to see if there were any messages, and he needed to speak to Mrs. H to see what she knew about Sarah and Kacy. They were both probably dead ends, but he needed to be thorough.

  As he drove up the Strip, he marveled at the tourists making their way from one casino to the next. He knew they were tourists, because no local would walk around in hundred-degree weather. In July. And neither would a winner. So these were all tourists with no transportation and no money. Wonderful. Welcome to Las Vegas.

  Next week was Kacy’s birthday. July 13. She would turn twelve. Noly remembered making plans with her for the big day, and her telling him how special it was going to be.

  “Do you know what time of day I was born?” she asked.

  “I think it was in the morning,” Noly said.

  “Yeah, but what time?” Kacy asked, stretching out the word ‘time.’

  “Hmm...I give up.”

  “Exactly 11:11AM,” Kacy said pointing with her finger for emphasis.

  “Wow--really?”

  “It’s on my birth certificate. Do you know what that means?” she said with great excitement in her voice.

  “No, not really.”

  She giggled and said, “Neither do I, but I’m really looking forward to see what happens at 11:11.”

  Noly parked in his reserved space in the rear lot. His scar throbbed as he walked to his apartment and unlocked the door. Flipping the air on, he went straight to the refrigerator, and pulled out a cold Corona. He put the bottle to his forehead and stood there for a moment until the pain dulled. The answer machine blinked a red number two at him, but neither message was from Sarah.

  Noly had promised to call Collins if anything turned up on the machine. He checked in anyway, and found out that Collins had an interview at Desert Oasis Bank at two o’clock and he would let Noly come if he agreed to keep his mouth shut. Noly promised, and since Collins was one of his best friends, he probably knew just how far that promise would carry.

  Noly went back to the refrigerator and made himself a sandwich from some deli meat and swiss cheese that he had on hand. He picked up a fresh supply every week from Sol’s Delicatessen on

  Clayton Avenue. For some reason, the food always tasted best at Sol’s. He sat down at his computer, clicked his way to the bank’s website, and did some homework on the Desert Oasis Bank. Founded in 1976, it tied as the second largest bank in Nevada with branches all over the state, but primarily in the major cities. It had a list of major customers, which unsurprisingly included the Platinum Palace Casino. Noly recognized several businesses and some of the individual names too. He clicked his way to the About page, and read up on the Executive Officers. He entered something into his cell phone, and then called Paul Thornton, the security chief at the Platinum Palace.

&nb
sp; Thornton was the friend that asked for Noly’s help bagging the employee “snatch & grab” ring operating out of the casino. That was when he met Sarah and Kacy.

  Stop it, he thought. He couldn’t let his mind wander. He needed to stay focused. The longer Sarah and Kacy were missing the less likely he would find them alive, so he didn’t have the luxury of wasting time feeling sorry for himself.

  The casino operator finally picked up on the tenth ring and told Noly to hold while she transferred the call. Noly polished off his sandwich and beer during the wait.

  The line clicked and a voice said, “Thornton.”

  “Paul, its Boots. I need a favor.”

  “Boots—hey, how’ve ya been?” Thornton asked.

  “Some friends of mine are missing-–I’d like to talk to you about Joey Trainor and the missing money.”

  There was silence on the line, and Noly looked at the cell’s view screen to see if his call had been dropped. It still showed connected.

  “Paul?”

  “Uh, yeah-–are you back as an investigator?”

  “No, I told you-–my friends are missing. Joey’s sister and her daughter, Kacy.”

  “His...sister? Didn’t know he had one.”

  “Is there a problem, Paul?” Noly asked.

  “No, no, um, yeah come on over. How about four o’clock? I could use your help on this.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you then.”

  Noly hung up, and wondered what the hesitation in Paul’s voice was all about. He seemed surprised, and there was something else that Noly couldn’t put his finger on. He had known Paul for several years and had worked various cases for him--nervous, that was it, Thornton sounded nervous. Noly thought about it for a moment and then shook it off.

  Noly knocked on Mrs. Hernandez’s door and waited patiently for her to answer. Mrs. H was in her sixties, had arthritis in one knee, and a cataract in her right eye. In spite of that, she was one of the happiest people Noly had ever met. She always had a smile on her face and a funny story to tell.

  At an age when she should be retired, Mrs. H had no time to relax. The court granted her legal custody of her two grandchildren when her youngest daughter, Angelita, pleaded guilty to charges of selling cocaine. The judge sentenced her to five years in state prison.