by Ritter Ames
“So, we should just give her time, right?”
“Wrong.” Meg’s eyes shone in excitement. “I learned something else from Mr. Turner. One of those previous visits when Linda came in to buy locks...her cellphone rang.”
“Another strange message?”
“Nope. She misspoke.” Meg stopped and sipped her milk, lengthening the pause.
Kate put up with it for a moment, then said, “Out with it Wonder Woman, or I’m taking away your golden lasso.”
Meg laughed. “Okay.” She leaned over the table and lowered her voice, “Mr. Turner heard her answer the phone saying, ‘This is Linda Jameson.’”
“He could have misunderstood.”
“Nope,” Meg said again. This time shaking her red curls for emphasis. “He said as soon as she said the wrong name she appeared startled, told the person she’d call back later, and shoved the phone into her coat pocket. Looked guilty.”
“So, is she in hiding and going by an assumed name?”
“My thinking exactly. I asked Gil to do a search on the name Linda Jameson and guess what he found?” She held up a hand. “No, you don’t want to guess, I know. I’ve been hanging out with my boys too much.” She grabbed another quick bite, then said, “Searching the name Linda Jameson in recent news stories produced a picture of a woman who looks a lot like our Linda Johnson, but with long blonde hair and wearing high dollar designer suits. The brunette pixie cut is a ruse. The Linda Jameson in the picture was the personal assistant to one Jim Donaldson, the on-the-run felon.”
“The name Donaldson sounds familiar.”
“It should. He’s the banker who disappeared after embezzling more than fifty-five million dollars. Oh, and if you’d like to know how the money was stolen, it was done by—”
“Computer transfer. The bank’s corporate system was hacked,” Kate finished.
“Bingo,” Meg said, lifting her half-full glass in a mock salute. “And guess who his little computer genius was.”
“Linda Jameson.”
“The one and only.”
Kate got up and walked to the kitchen desk, returning to the table with a pad and pen. As she started jotting down notes, she said, “So, are all the extra locks on her doors to keep the inside items safe—”
“Like the money,” Meg interrupted.
“Yes, though I doubt she’d have all of it there.” Kate jotted on a line and moved to the next one. “Or is she hiding from Donaldson? And if she did his hacking, why isn’t she in jail? Is she hiding from law enforcement?”
“She’s not on the run from the police—at least not as far as Gil could determine in the newspaper’s files. Just her boss is. Apparently, she had an alibi and the police couldn’t find any trace of her being in the system.”
“But if she pulled off the heist, wouldn’t she be good enough to cover her tracks?” Kate asked.
Meg shrugged. “From the way Gil tells it, there’s always some trace. At least there was something pointing to Donaldson’s guilt. So, if she’s not hiding the money, she must be running from Donaldson. Right?”
“Agreed. It’s also a reasonable assumption he could be the one who sent her the text message. Especially if he thinks she could lead the cops to him.”
“Glad you mentioned the text, because it’s another thing bugging me.” Meg tapped a nail on the tabletop as she said, “If she’s a computer genius, why would she have a phone number someone could send her a threatening message to? Wouldn’t she change it for another number?”
“She could have already done that but been found again.”
“Okay, but if the person knows her number, would it mean the same someone could pinpoint her location?”
“Maybe you’ve found the reason for her buying another door bolt today.” Kate kept scribbling. “Still, even if someone has her number, they may not be able to find her via the phone. I’m no expert, of course, but I remember watching a show several months ago about internet security. I didn’t understand half of it, but the gee-whizicists on the show were discussing ways people could have transmissions rerouted so the ISP addresses on their computers or devices looked like they were in an entirely different country.”
“With our little Linda a computer gee-whizicist herself, she might have the same capability with her phone’s GPS.”
Kate shrugged, then finished up her notes, tagging the info Meg provided with her own suppositions on the GPS angle. She looked up. “This really does sound promising. Is there anything else?”
“No.” Meg finished off her final bite of brownie, then swallowed the last of her milk. “Gil said he’d let me know if he learns anything else. I’ll ask him about hiding the GPS location too.”
“You don’t think he’ll withhold information? You know, as a journalist kind of thing?”
“Marriage to me had better top any newspaper creed he swore allegiance to,” Meg said, her expression sporting her evil grin. “After fifteen years of marriage, my husband can’t help but telegraph when he’s trying to fool me about something. Don’t worry, he will tell me everything he learns. Or wish he had.”
THE NEXT EVENING, EVERYONE was ready early for Halloween. Batman and Superman were suited up and hustling the kids to the van, so they could be dropped off at Keith’s parents’ house to go trick-or-treating before the carnival. Kate and Meg were dressed and waiting for a scheduled call from Mrs. Dawson, then they would join their husbands at the carnival. Everyone had already laughed at Meg in her black wig and pale redheaded complexion.
She sniffed. “You’re all just jealous.”
As the guys and the kids filed out the front door, Kate said, “Leave the van in case your dad wants to drive it. I’m not sure all four kids can fit in his and Jane’s Buick.”
“Dad will solve any space problems, don’t worry,” Keith said, bending down to kiss her goodbye.
Kate pulled off his cowl. “Don’t drive in a mask. It’s dangerous.”
“Batman does it all the time,” Keith said and grinned. But he kept the dark cloth in his hand as he hurried to the van.
The phone rang, and ten minutes later the women were finished with business and ready for a night of fun.
“I need to run upstairs and put on my boots,” Kate said. “Then we can go.”
“Do you have anything up there I can use to hook this gold cord to my outfit?” Meg asked. “I don’t want to have to carry it all night. I guess I could leave it here, but—”
“He forgot his utility belt!”
“Huh?”
Kate pointed at Meg’s golden lasso. “You asking about the rope made me realize Keith wasn’t wearing his utility belt when he left. Come on upstairs and help me look for it, and I can probably find something to attach your lasso to your costume.”
The utility belt was on the bed, forgotten in the scramble to leave. Kate looped it around her own waist and let it ride low on her hips. “All his online searching for this thing, and then he forgets it. I swear men are really only eight-year-old boys who look grown up.”
“Agreed.”
Kate grabbed a large safety pin from her nightstand drawer. “Can you loop one end of the lasso to hold up the coil? Keep it together? Then I think you could pin it using the loop.”
“Good idea. The lasso isn’t really heavy, just inconvenient.” Meg started to suit actions to words, while Kate added boots to her costume.
“Is that a boomerang?” Meg nodded toward the gold metal batwinged-looking weapon on her left hip.
“Sort of.” Kate pulled it away from the strong magnet that held it tightly to the belt. “It’s a bat-a-rang. Remember, everything has to have a bat name.” She reattached it to the belt and pulled the handcuffs off where they dangled from a back loop on the belt. “And here are the bat-cuffs.”
“For bad guys?” Meg asked. “Or for...” She wiggled her eyebrows up and down. “...more adult entertainment?”
“I’m not sure you’re in the right frame of mind to work as one of the grown-ups at an elementa
ry school carnival,” Kate said, laughing. She checked the pouches on the belt and showed off the bat-flashlight and a bat coin holder, along with the key to the batcuffs, and a bat-knife modeled after the Swiss army version. “Well at least the flashlight and the knife may be worth something later, but not really as much as the price I noticed was added to our credit card when I checked online.”
“Boys. Their toys only get more expensive as they get older. At least you only have one. I have three.”
“There is that. But girls aren’t cheap either.” Kate chewed her lip for a moment then asked. “Think I should leave this stuff home? Some of it could be termed weapons.”
“You’d probably break Keith’s heart.” Meg pulled the bat-a-rang away from the magnetic clip on the belt. “This is kind of heavy, but it isn’t sharp. And the knife is in one of the pouches, so no kids would see it. I say let it go, and if Polly wants to confiscate any pieces later it’s her call.”
“Sounds like a plan to help keep me from being called mean.” Kate smiled. “I like it.”
They hurried down stairs and were at the front door, Meg jingling the Camry keys in one gloved hand, when the phone rang.
“It’s probably Keith calling about the belt,” Kate said.
“Or Mrs. Dawson with something else she suddenly thought of,” Meg said.
Kate nodded. “I’ll get it.”
But neither was right. Instead, it was Linda Johnson.
“Kate, I’m so sorry to bother you, but I don’t know who else to call. Can you give me a ride to the train? My car won’t start.”
“To the Bennington train station?” Kate looked at the clock, then gave Meg a panicked look. But her friend grinned and nodded, so she swallowed hard and said, “Sure. We’ll be at your house in a minute.”
Meg pounced as soon as the phone was hung up. “She’s taking a train somewhere? Did she say where she’s going?”
“No.”
“Is she running away because we’re figuring out her story?”
Kate executed an eye roll that would have made Sam proud. “I don’t know. But all we’ve discovered is who she probably is, and she’s probably afraid of someone. If the reason she’s running is because she realizes we’re a couple of nosy busybodies, why would she call and ask us to take her to the train?”
“Oh, yeah. You make a good point.”
Kate pushed her friend out of the front door. “Come on, Wonder Woman, time to fly.”
In minutes, they’d pulled into the driveway of the little turquoise house and hurried up the snow-cleared walk. Meg knocked on the door, bouncing up and down a little as they waited. It was cold, sure, but Kate figured her friend’s energy had more to do with a curious temperament than the chilly temperature.
“Oh, thank you. I’m so glad you could come.” Linda opened the door and ushered them inside. “I didn’t know what to do. I called the mechanic, but he was already taking his kids trick-or-treating and—” She finally noticed the women’s costumes. “Oh, no, I’m so sorry. I’ve taken you away from your plans.”
“We have enough time.” Meg put a hand on her arm. “Do you have luggage?”
“Yes, these.” Beside her sat two extra-large suitcases and two carryon bags. Kate and Meg shared a look saying, “She’s running.”
Aloud, Kate said, “I don’t see your cats.”
“One of the rescue people came and picked them up,” Linda said. “I told them I’d pick up the cats again next week.”
Meg raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything about the excessive luggage for a short trip. She pulled her keys from her pocket and got one of the bigger bags rolling. “I’ll get the trunk open and this one inside.”
“I can get the other big one if you can grab the two smaller bags,” Kate said to Linda.
“That’d be great. Thank you.”
It took some push and shove, and one carryon had to ride in the backseat with Linda, but eventually all the luggage and the humans were inside the Camry and on the road to Bennington.
They attempted to strike up a conversation with Linda, but every segue fell flat. Instead, Kate covertly watched as Linda kept a lookout through the side and back windows, as if she imagined someone attacking the car at any moment.
At the train station, Kate tried again. “Are you sure you’re going to be able to handle all of this luggage by yourself? It puts you at a very indefensible position.”
Linda blew out a breath and kind of mumbled, “I don’t know. I just don’t know.” Then as if catching herself, she tried to smile. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll get someone to assist me if I need a hand.”
“Well, we can help you get the luggage to the platform at least,” Meg said. “It isn’t often a person gets Wonder Woman and Batgirl as personal baggage handlers.”
“Oh, I wish I didn’t have to ask. I know you have somewhere else to be.”
“No more apologies,” Kate said. “Let’s get you to your train.”
They divided the bags again, with Linda taking one of the larger wheeled ones this time, and they headed for the ticketing area. A kid darted out from between two cars, and hit Linda’s arm, knocking her purse. The large tote tumbled from her shoulder and the contents spilled onto the pavement.
“I just don’t need this,” Linda grumbled. All of the women dropped to their knees to help corral the objects. Kate reached to grab a pile of red and blue booklets, only to have Linda push her aside and seize them.
Kate was surprised by the rude action, more so when she realized what the books actually were. As they started moving again, she slowed down to whisper to Meg. “She has at least three passports in her bag that appear to be issued by as many different countries.”
“What do you think?”
“I’m not sure she’s in the right frame of mind to go anywhere on her own,” Kate said. “She’s acting pretty desperate, which can’t bode well if she’s truly on the run.”
Still, what could they do? Kate moved closer to Linda, hoping to have a friendly word with her, offer moral support, and perhaps find a way to convince her to go to the authorities if she was feeling threatened.
Then a man in a hat walked up to them and said with a Bronx accent, “Linda Jameson, you need to come with me.”
Linda said, “No,” and pulled a gun from her coat pocket with one hand, while she grabbed Kate’s arm with the other. “Don’t fight, Kate. I’ll let you go as soon as I make my escape. I need you for a hostage, but I will shoot if you try to escape, or if anyone blocks me from getting away.”
“Now, let’s not do anything hasty, Ms. Jameson,” the man said, holding up his hands and motioning for Meg to stay back. “I just need to talk to you.”
“Donaldson sent you, didn’t he?” Linda demanded. “Getting half wasn’t enough. He wants it all.”
“I work for his wife. I’m a P.I., and Donaldson wants you to give the money back, ma’am. He wants to make a deal. He’s already tired of running.”
Kate looked at Meg and mouthed “Wow.” Were they ever off the mark on what they’d thought. Linda pulled hard on her arm, forcing her away from the man.
“Give me your car keys,” Linda said to Meg. “I’m driving out of here, and I’ll leave Kate in a place where she can get transportation home. I don’t want to hurt anyone, but I will if you don’t do as I say.”
Her gun hand shook, but she kept a firm hold on Kate.
I think her hand is as shaky as my stomach at the moment, Kate thought.
Meg spoke up. “I’ll go with you. I’ll drive. You’ll have two hostages instead of one. Even better, right?”
Linda’s gaze wavered for a moment between the P.I. and the two women in superhero costumes. A crowd had formed in the outer perimeter, and several people were taking video of the scene. Others were trying to make their way toward exits while still watching Linda and the gun.
At the same time, Meg waved a hand at Kate’s side. “These costumes aren’t very warm, Linda, and Kate isn’t used to V
ermont weather. Let’s go, so we can get to the car and turn up the heater. Someone’s surely called 911 by now. If you’re going to leave, we need to do it soon.” Meg gave a kind of sideways nod then, and Kate finally realized what her friend was signaling.
With her right hand, she took hold of the heavy metal bat-a-rang, and silently detached it from the utility belt’s magnet. Unfortunately, as long as Linda had hold of her left arm, and the gun at her side, there was no way Kate could reach around to hit with the weapon while it was in her right hand. She sent Meg a look and raised the metal bat-a-rang a bit to show she was ready, then shook her head to signal no idea how to proceed.
Meg hurried over to walk beside her.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Linda demanded.
“Just walking by Kate,” Meg said. “I assumed all the hostages needed to stay together.”
At the same time, the P.I. drew a gun, but Linda saw him and screamed, “Put that away. What are you trying to do, shoot me in the back?” She still held Kate’s arm in a death grip but had turned so she could look back and point the gun at the man in the hat.
Kate passed the bat-a-rang to Meg. Wonder Woman whirled around, slamming the weapon on Linda’s wrist. The gun clattered to the ground, and the P.I. tackled the tiny felon. Kate pulled the bat-cuffs from the utility belt and offered them to the man. “You might be able to use these.”
“Thanks,” he said, rolling Linda onto her stomach and cuffing her hands behind her back. “You picked a pretty functional costume for Halloween.”
“My husband gets the credit for the utility belt,” Kate said. “He’s Batman.”
“Speaking of husbands.” Meg pulled out her phone. “I need to call mine, so he can get the scoop on this story for the paper.”
“And just think,” Kate said, crossing her arms and looking down on the defeated Linda Jameson. “I laughed when Sam told me the kids called her a witch. But I was wrong. She’s definitely wicked.”
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR reading ORGANIZED FOR HOMICIDE. If you liked this book, please consider writing a short review and posting it on your favorite reader and bookseller sites. For readers trying to decide on a new-to-them author, even a review as short as “I really liked this book,” can make the difference between them trying a new author or moving on to another. I truly appreciate it.