Blindsided (19 page)

“And the Inn is owned by an elderly lady named Martha Eisendorf, who resides in Chula Vista, California, and just uses the Inn for a tax write-off. Avery told me that, too. We're good to go here if you're thinking there's a problem or that one might crop up. The reservation clerk jumped at the chance to rent out the entire Inn even for a short period of time. That the reservation is in the name of the president is even better.”

Annie nodded. “When we are on a mission, I like to know all the facts, and I do mean all, even if they are mundane and picayune.” The others nodded in agreement.

With that said, laptops and iPhones came out, and the group got down to work.

Myra moved away from the group and called Charles, who picked up on the first ring. She spoke quietly, not for secrecy but not to disturb the others' concentration. “Which one of Avery's people can get us into the judges' condo? Annie and I are going to want to go through it to see what if anything we can come up with. We're going to need the same person when we head up to Waterton to the old family home. There have to be records, and we need to see them. Another thing, Charles. Are you going to be able to get us everything we asked for?”

Myra listened to her husband, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as he complained about the dogs and what he had to do and promise to do to get them to go out in the rain. She listened a while longer and finally hung up when Charles promised a package would be delivered to Avery for early-morning delivery.

Myra joined the group in the sitting room and opened up her laptop. She looked over at Annie and nodded.

 

 

It was close to eleven when Marti looked up and rubbed her neck. “I think I'm going to call it a night if you all don't mind.”

“I'm with you,” Pearl said. “I'm thinking we all need our beauty sleep for tomorrow. Let's decide right now what our schedule is.”

“Myra and I are going to do a little B&E tomorrow at the judges' condo here in Baywater. After we do that, depending on what we find or don't find, we're going to drive to Waterton to do the same thing.”

“Nellie and I are going to the courthouse and introduce ourselves, make contact with Judge Rhodes and possibly visit the twins' courtrooms. Just to throw them off their game a little. And we're going to walk the main street, possibly have lunch. Get the lay of the land, so to speak,” Pearl said.

“I'm staying here and holding down the fort,” Marti said.

“I'm going to dog Jon Eberly early. At least until midmorning. Depending on how that goes. I plan to go with the guys to the other boot camps. We're going to be calling the judges for comments as soon as we can come up with a plan we think will work for all of us. My thought is the other commandants will be calling the judges after our visits. They'll be ripe for some kind of comment at that point. Now, I'm going to go for a walk before turning in. Avery said this was a safe town to walk around in.

“Myra, tell Charles we haven't had any luck getting ourselves arrested. Who knows, maybe it will happen tonight.” Maggie giggled at what she'd just said. The ladies smiled.

The women blew kisses as the reporters left the suite.

Tomorrow was another day.

Out in the hall, Ted asked if Maggie wanted company on her walk.

“Sure. I want to clear my head. There's way too much we have to keep track of, and by now, we should have had some kind of contact with those judges. This is not our style, Ted. We're in-your-face reporters. Why is it different this time?”

“We just haven't formed an ironclad plan. It's like you said. There's a lot we have to lock down first. Then we'll zero in and get in their faces. What's up with this walk anyway? Since when do you have to take a walk to clear your head? In the old days, you would eat nonstop until you figured out whatever it was that wasn't computing.”

“You do know me, don't you? It's the brother, Peter, that is bothering me. You know what I think, Ted, and I have to warn you, it's bizarre.”

Ted laughed. “I think you're thinking that the old friend Jon whatever his last name is, is hiding Peter Ciprani in his offices. That the guy only comes out at night or there's a back entrance, and Peter uses it. If he is back, he can't very well stay out in the open even if he looks different these days. I doubt the friend would take him home and harbor him there. That just leaves the offices.”

Maggie stopped short in the circular drive. “Damn, Ted! That's exactly what I think.”

“You warm enough, Maggie? The temperature must have dropped fifteen degrees from when we got home.”

“I'm fine.” Maggie linked her arm with Ted's. It felt right. It felt like old times. What could be better than revisiting her comfort zone with old times?

A
s Maggie and Ted strolled along in the brisk autumn air, Maggie was shivering. Ted instinctively wrapped an arm around her, drawing her close. His heart kicked up a beat when he felt Maggie lean in toward him.

The town appeared deserted, at least the section of the main street where they were walking. No cars passed. The silence was total, except for the gusts of wind that swirled about them.

“It's like a ghost town,” Maggie said. “They must roll up the sidewalks as soon as it gets dark.”

“It's almost midnight. Do you think that might have something to do with it?” Ted chuckled.

“Well, yeah,” Maggie drawled, a hint of laughter in her voice.

“Maybe they have a curfew, and this is how we're going to get ourselves arrested. I can't say I'm keen on that idea. What do you think Charles had in mind when he suggested that?”

“Everything and nothing probably. I don't think he was all that serious. Like you, I have no desire to go behind bars. I think he wanted to see if the police, in this case, the sheriff's office, is in the twins' pocket. Let's keep our noses clean and obey the letter of the law,” Maggie said, peering into the different shop windows.

“I think the only law in this town is Ciprani law. How much farther, Maggie?”

“Mr. Eberly's office is right there,” Maggie said, pointing to a store front next to a shop advertising homemade candy. “I can't be sure, but I think the buildings go back farther. To me that means he has one or two rooms behind the main office. As I told you, he appears to run a one-man agency. He has a secretary or a receptionist who sits in a glassed-in area as soon as you walk in the door. I just think he's hiding Peter Ciprani in the back. He'd have a bathroom, and maybe even a minikitchen. He could pull that off. I can't figure out if the receptionist is in on it or not. She'd almost have to be. At some point, she'd want coffee or have to use the bathroom.”

Maggie pressed her face up against the plate-glass window, hoping to see a crack of light, something to indicate activity in the back of the office. All she could see was total darkness. She could make out vague shapes of furniture from the faint glow from the streetlamp three doors down.

Ted, who claimed to have better eyesight thanks to LASIK surgery, cupped his hands over the sides of his face and stared into the darkness. “Well, this is a bust. C'mon, let's head back to the Inn.”

“Not so fast. There must be a back entrance, a parking lot, or an alley. Where do the shop owners park their cars? Obviously not on the street. Let's look for an alley.”

“Maggie, it's past midnight.”

“Ted, don't be a
wuss.
All we're doing is walking around. We aren't carrying weapons, and we don't have drugs on us. We're just a couple staying at the Inn and out for a late-night stroll. My gut is working overtime here. Look, there it is. It even has a name. The alley, that is. What's it say, eagle eye?”

“Main Alley. You sure you want to do this, Maggie?”

“I am sure. It's well lit. Hey, we're new in town, and we just want to get a feel for things. That's what reporters do, and that's our story if anyone asks. As soon as we check it out, we'll head back to the Inn. This is our best chance, Ted. We would really cause suspicion if we did it in broad daylight.”

Main Alley was short, only running the length of the row of buildings. The buildings were all two stories, with additional offices on the second floors. “Did you count the buildings, Ted?”

“Seven,” he whispered.

“Why are you whispering?”

“Because we're doing something stupid, and I do
not
want to get arrested. Even if Charles thinks it's a good idea. Let's check this out quick and get the hell out of here.”

“Here it is. At least the trash can says ‘Eberly' on it. Shoot! There are no windows in the back. I was hoping there would be.” Maggie stooped down to see if any light, even a crack, could be seen under the door. Everything was as dark as the front.

Before Ted could stop her, Maggie banged on the door, three hard knocks whose sound ricocheted around the alley. Ted almost jumped out of his skin. “Jesus, Maggie, what the hell are you doing?”

“What's it look like I'm doing? I knocked on the door. Calm down. There's no one around here that heard me knocking.” She pressed her ear against the stout metal fire door to see if she could hear any sounds within. She couldn't. She knocked again and waited. Still nothing.

“Are you satisfied now? Even if Peter Ciprani is in there, do you think he's going to open the door when he's gone to such lengths to hide out, if he's even here in town? I-don't-think-so!”

“Guess you're right. I'd leave a note if there was space under the door, but there isn't.”

“Are you nuts? Why would you do something like that?” Ted asked as he hopped from one foot to the other in an attempt to keep warm.

“To show him and his buddy Eberly that we aren't going away, and the smart move might be to talk to us. I'm coming back here first thing in the morning and putting the squeeze on Eberly. When I left him earlier in the day, he was a nervous wreck. We need to play on that.”

“Let's just get out of here, okay?”

“Okay,” Maggie said agreeably as she took one last look around. “Hold on! We need to check out his garbage. Bet they didn't think anyone would do that. If the guy is staying here, we might find something. Just be quiet when you tip the can. I'll go through it.”

Ted tilted the huge trash can, keeping a tight hold on the rear end, which had wheels on it. Maggie immediately started to paw through the contents. “Lots of food containers in here. Takeout from the looks of things. Eberly must have one heck of an appetite if he's the one who ate all of this. It's hard to see, but I'm convinced now. Someone is staying here, and Eberly must be bringing in food for him. It has to be Peter Ciprani. And newspapers. A couple of editions of the
Post.
Shows they have some class at least. Okay, we can go now. I've never seen you so twitchy, Ted. What's wrong with you?”

“Nothing. Everything. This whole town just gives me the creeps. Think what you want, Maggie, but I want out of here.”

“Okay. I'm done. Let's go.”

The town was just as silent and dead as it was when they first hit Main Street for their evening stroll. It also seemed colder, and the wind was whipping up. The few stars they'd seen earlier had disappeared, as had the moon.
It feels like rain,
Maggie thought, as her knee started to ache.

Ted pulled Maggie close as their pace picked up to almost a trot. They made it back to the Inn in record time. One of the bogus agents held the door for them just as Maggie's cell pinged. She yanked it out of her pocket and walked over to a secluded corner to read the text coming through. She held up the phone so Ted could read it at the same time.

Call me ASAP.

Maggie and Ted both blinked at the same time as the sender's name rolled off their lips.
Speed. Aka Abner Tookus
.

“I'll call from my room,” Maggie whispered, as the two reporters beelined for the elevator. Earlier they had decided, or Maggie had, over Ted's objections, that he was to bunk with Espinosa. Maggie won the shouting match.

Maggie ran to the thermostat and turned it up as she danced around trying to get rid of the chill in her bones. Finally, she whipped out her phone and pressed the digits for Abner's number. She wasn't surprised when he responded on the first ring. Neither of them apologized for the late text and return call.

“Talk to me, Abby.”

“It pains me, Maggie, really pains me, that for the first time since I began my . . . ah . . . illustrious career, I came up dry. That means I have not been able to find out where the judges have their money. I have everything leading up to it in the Caymans and in Switzerland, but that's as far as I can go. And . . . before you start screaming at me, let me say I think I know how we can get the account numbers, but it is going to require some travel and beaucoup bucks. You wanna wait till morning or get it in gear now?”

Maggie sucked in her breath. She rolled her eyes for her own benefit. “What kind of travel and who will be doing it and how much money does beaucoup mean?”

“I will be traveling to the Caymans and Switzerland. I owe you that much since I was unable to fulfill my end of the bargain. Beaucoup means enough for two people to make clean getaways and live out their lives far, far away in safe havens. Because getting fired as well as prosecuted is a given if they're around after they divulge the information we're seeking.”

“I have to get back to you on that, Abby. This is not a decision I can make on my own. You going to bed anytime soon?”

“No. I'll be awake. Isabelle is in upstate New York. I had a nap earlier, so I'm on my own. I'll wait for your call.”

“Half hour tops, and I'll get back to you,” Maggie said.

Maggie's fingers moved at the speed of light as she sent Annie a text. The message was curt and short. Meet me in the hall ASAP.

By the time Maggie got out the door and ran down the hall, Annie was rounding the corner. They literally ran into one another. “What?” Annie hissed.

Maggie told her about Abner's text and her return call. “I can't okay something like that; only you can do that, Annie. I told Abby I'd get back to him in half an hour. He's one of those night owls, and he's working as we speak. What should I tell him?”

“You tell him to do whatever it takes. I will call Conrad in the morning, get the routing numbers for wire transfers, and have the money in place for Mr. Tookus to pay out whatever amount is necessary. Not to worry, dear; once we get the judges' money, we'll get ours back. We simply cannot allow those two women to benefit off the backs of those children and their poor families.”

“Annie, there are two people, one in the Caymans and one in Switzerland. The dollar amount could be quite high,” Maggie said, her brow furrowed in worry.

“I expect so, but when you're asking someone to do something illegal and give up the lives they are leading, they deserve to be compensated. I'm fine with it, dear, and so will the others when I tell them. The object is to put a stop to what those twins are doing, and this is a necessary means. Now, run along, it's late. Call Mr. Tookus, then get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day for all of us.”

“Annie, wait. I'm convinced that Peter Ciprani is staying at the insurance office. Ted and I went there this evening, and my gut is telling me he's hiding out in the back part of the office. I went through the trash can, and there was a ton of take-out food containers, way more than Eberly could eat. Someone is there. Ted agrees with me. By the way, this is a ghost town at night. No pedestrians, no traffic. It's almost like there is a curfew or something. I have no idea what that means or if it even means anything. The stores do not even keep night-lights on inside.”

“We'll figure it out tomorrow, dear. Run along now. Try and get a good night's sleep.” Annie hugged the reporter and kissed her cheek. “We're going to make this all come out right for the families. Trust me.”

Maggie grinned. “I know, Annie. It's like old times all over again.”

“Yes, it is, and I am enjoying every minute of it. Night, sweetie.”

Annie watched as Maggie scampered back to her room. She was deep in thought as she traced her way there, where Myra was waiting for her. She related the conversation.

“Wise decision, Annie. Once Mr. Tookus gets the account numbers, we can move the money to a safe place, repay you, and distribute the rest to the families. There is no way on this earth I or any of the others are going to let those skanky judges profit from the misery of those children and their families.”

“I'm so glad you think like I do, Myra. Whatever would I do without you?”

“That's my line, old friend.”

“As Charles says, we're two peas in a pod. I like that. Is everyone asleep?”

“Or pretending. We should try—I said
try
—to get some sleep ourselves.”

“Okay,” Annie said agreeably as she followed Myra into the room they were sharing. She slid under the covers and was asleep before her head hit the pillow. Myra just smiled as she pulled up her own covers. She knew she wouldn't sleep—her mind was going a hundred miles an hour as she tried to see down the road to what might go wrong. Eventually, exhaustion led to sleep.

 

 

Myra and Annie looked at one another and burst out laughing. The others openly giggled as Myra put the finishing touches to what she called her Shirley Temple wig. Annie's fashionable hairstyle was now covered with a very bad Cher wig. A little latex here, a little there, and they no longer even remotely resembled the matronly women they were.

“And your game plan is . . . ?” Nellie asked.

“To go downstairs, out the back exit, and get into one of the Chevy Suburbans, where Avery's men will take us to the Ciprani condo. He has a card reader that will get us into the garage, and he knows how to pick locks. He also knows how to disarm the security system inside the condo. It seems there is some kind of electronic gadget that can do that in sixty seconds. It's amazing,” Myra said, twirling around again so the others could admire her totally tacky outfit.

“Either get rid of those damn pearls or cover them up,” Annie snapped. Myra instantly obeyed the order, a sheepish look on her face. She squared her shoulders and marched to the door, Annie hot on her heels.