Silver Lining - A Carpelli Adventure: Sequel To The Bestselling Thriller Fatal Mistake (3 page)

“Oh hey, he’s had like seizer or something. All of a sudden, he just dropped to the floor like a ton of bricks and started twitching.” I blurted out which finally drew the attention of the two men holding the guns on the bikers.

“Who the hell, are you?” The man with a gun closest to me shouted. I dropped dumbass biker in a heap and walked right up the guy with my hand out as if to shake hands and stated.

“Hi there, I’m with the Knoxville Sentinel, just following up on the murder that took place here last night. Are you the investigating officers?” I dropped my hand when he acted as if I’d pulled my hand out the toilet back there.

“Get him the hell out of here. Holy Shit, what’s next a TV crew?” The other man with a gun barked. Then to the bikers he yelled, “Get that stupid son of a bitch over here with you.” And out of the corner of my eye I saw two of the bikers quickly step over to their downed comrade.

As we reached the door, I tried to stall but the guy wasn’t buying it. He shoved me right out the door. He then stood there, half in and half out of the door, where he could still see the bikers and his partner while watching me as well.

“Are you guy’s Sheriff’s Detectives?” I asked the guy as I stumbled towards my car.

“Yes, we are,” he stared. “You know, we’re counting on your civic pride and would take it as a thank you for saving your life, if you’d forget what, if anything, you think you saw us here tonight. I’m sure you understand just how dangerous these bikers can be. I’m sure it’s just an oversight by someone down at the Sentinel, but you’re never, ever, supposed to come here. Anything information you need about these scum bags you can get from us. Just come on down to the gang squad and we’ll supply you with all the information and pictures we’ve got. I hope you know you would have never walked out of here alive, after messing up their pal in there. In fact, if I were you, I’d be looking over your shoulder from now on, until you move away and don’t tell anyone where it is your going. These guys hold grudges. Now get the hell out of here, we’ve got work to do.”

I got in my car and was about to drive away when the cop still in the door way, waved his arm. I rolled down my window and stuck my head out.

“What?” I asked.

“What’s your name?” he inquired.

“Jack Carver.” I boldly crowed. The sheriff’s detective nodded and let the door close before I could ask for his name. I thought the entire set up looked to be a shake down in progress, but that wasn’t any of my business. So I drove away thinking it couldn’t happen to a better bunch of guys.
 

CHAPTER FOUR

I arranged through Holston’s secretary to meet with him again the next afternoon. He had court in the morning which was fine by me. I slept in, didn’t get up until eight and went to breakfast late after I did some research on the internet and then familiarized myself with how to get to the Island Airport before heading downtown to meet with Holston.

I managed to sit in the same spot at the bar I had sat at yesterday and ordered a beer just like I had yesterday. The bartender gave me a strange look probably because I was wearing a dark blue golf shirt and tan slacks with my black tennis shoes. Not exactly his usual clientele. Once I had ordered my beer, I started doodling on a napkin just like yesterday only this time the doodle dealt with the information I had learned and what it meant in context with the message that was to have been delivered. It spelled out a turf war to me.

Holston arrived close to on time, I even had a swig or two left of my beer when he slipped onto the stool next to me just like yesterday. He held up his hand for the bartender to see, but he was busy with another of his upscale clients and didn’t see the gesture.

“Afternoon, Counselor.” I stated without looking at him and then took the last big gulp of my beer. He waved to the bartender, a second time, who definitely saw the gesture this time, and nodded in recognition.

“Afternoon Ca…,” I interrupted him at this point.

“No last names,” I stated as I looked around the bar.

“Okay, John,” he stated a little taken a back. “What did we find out?” He then asked.

The bartender set his drink down and Holston mumbled the word ‘tab’ as he grabbed the drink and took a big gulp. When he’d finished, he turned and looked at me, as if to say, “Well?”

“Let’s take a walk, Counselor.” I stated as I stood and headed for the door. I took the napkin with me, no sense in letting anyone see what I was thinking about.

“What? I just got here. I don’t have time to take a walk. I’m due back in twenty minutes,” Holston complained.

I stood at the door waiting for him, making it obvious I was leaving with or without him. Finally he set down his half-finished drink and followed me.

We started out walking the same direction as yesterday. Though this time, I didn’t speak until we had crossed Union St. and instead of turning left towards Gay St., we turned right towards Walnut St.

“Counselor, I’m surprised at your lack of concern for the security of your clients business.” I stated curtly to open the conversation.

“What? Who the hell do you think you’re talking to?” He instantly snapped.

“I’m talking to a man who would talk in a bar known to be his and hundreds of other lawyer’s hangout. The Feds probably have the place wired. Now for the uneducated in eves dropping tech, you might think that there is anonymity in the mass confusion of a crowded bar. You’d be wrong. The Feds have several different computer programs that can isolate your conversation from all the other voices and noises going on around it. With you and who knows how many other lawyers in that bar representing colorful clients and underhanded corporations, I’d bet you dollars to donuts that it’s wired to hilt.”

“So you think the Feds are listening to everyone in there?” Holston actually seemed stunned.

“Maybe not everyone, but to you, absolutely. That why no first names, no shop talk.”

“Okay, but why are we walking back to the court house?”

“We’re hiding our relationship.”

“What? We’re hiding our relationship?”

“Yeah. When people have something to hide or are up to no good, they sneak around side streets and alley ways, trying not to be noticed or seen. When the relationship is above board, you walk down a busy street casually talking to each other, without making it obvious, you’re looking around for anyone that’s too interested in you. It’s called hiding in plain sight. If someone asks you about Collins, be sure to say, “Yes, he did some work for you as well as dozens of other attorneys around town. If someone asks you, who I am, say I’m one of a dozen or so contractors that works for you from time to time. It leaves people nowhere to go, so they drop it. You’re not afraid to admit you know me, so there’s no story there. Nothing titillating for the news or the Feds to look into.”

“Do you always provide these educational services to all your clients?” Holston sarcastically replied.

“No, just those not paying attention.”

“Okay, I get your point. I’ll watch what I say in there.”

“You also might want to consider, spending less time there as well. Find another place to frequent. In fact, find a half dozen places and keep rotating them. Remember, you only talk shop in bars or restaurants, when you want to feed the Feds a bunch of crap. Decoy stuff. The real conversations take place outside, on the move, in front of God and everyone. Keep your voice low and turn in different directions every minute or so that way their microphones only pick up a quarter of what you’re saying if that. Do you have your offices debugged weekly?” I asked

“What? You’re kidding right?” Holston was stunned.

“If you really work for those colorful people. Your phone is likely tapped, and they’ve bugged your office, car and your home. You are as much under investigation as your clients are.”

He was stunned as we walked along at a slow but steady pace. He didn’t speak for several minutes and then as we reached the corner next to the courthouse he stopped and said.

“Damn that makes sense. I guess I haven’t been acting very smart. I’ll get everything debugged tomorrow. So what did you find out? I mean how did you do it overnight?”

“I’m sorry it took so long. I’m new in town and don’t know my way around too well and it took time to find the morgue.” I apologized for the delay.

“I wasn’t thinking it took too long but rather I’m amazed it was done so quickly.”

“It doesn’t always work so fast, but things just feel into place.’

“So what do we have?” Holston pressed as he looked around.

“Well, to start with, your investigator was murdered. The Medical Examiner will be ruling it a homicide, an execution actually. A nine mil., a thirty-eight or thirty-two most likely was used. I’d say the message was delivered before they killed him. It was obvious by the way the big man, Michael Nolan, watched me while I was questioning members of his gang about the murder. When it was decided I wasn’t leaving on my own, they even tried to kill me as well. Nolan is hiding out in a secret back room at his club house or in a secret basement. He was very unfriendly towards me and he doesn’t even know me.”

“Plus, what’s the low down on the gang squad members for the Sheriff’s Department. They clean, dirty, what? I only ask because I ran into two of them last night coming out of The Wild Rose. They seemed to be conducting a shakedown rather than a raid for suspects. They politely asked that I forget I saw them. They were under the impression I was a reporter from the Sentinel at the time. I’m sure they’ll be checking me out quite soon and then they’ll become very concerned with what I might know.”

“Wow, I could have guessed all of that.” Holston stated.

“I guess you could have, but now you know it’s a fact without guessing, which you couldn’t have done.”

“Okay, your right about that. But this isn’t any earth shattering information.”

“You didn’t ask for earth shattering information, you asked if he was murdered, who did it and if the message got delivered. Yes, he was murdered, Yes, Nolan did it himself or had one of his henchmen do it. And yes, the message was delivered and your answer is a dead body.” I summed it all up to him.

“So you interested in doing some more leg work for me?” Holston asked.

“It depends.”

“Depends on what?” Holston asked.

“Yesterday, I told you what I needed to know before I took the job of finding out what you needed to know. You failed to disclose several things, all minor except that Nolan was part of a motorcycle gang. In fact, he runs it. If I hadn’t been on my game, I would have been killed.”

“I didn’t think you’d take the job, if I told you he was in the gang. But I did say bikers hung out there,” Holston tried to give himself partial credit for having disclosed part of the information.

“I’m afraid counselor, that you’re on probation with me now and my fee for last night is five grand not two. If you want to work together again, you’ll pay without any bellyaching and you’ll never pull that shit again.”

“Five grand for what?  Your fine, not a scratch on you. Collins’ used to go into places like that all the time.”

“Then I suspect you’ll be calling him to do you next investigation. Oh no, that’s right, He’s dead. I’m not. I’m worth a lot more. Think of it as a bonus for providing the information in such a timely manner. Or think of it as a penalty for almost getting me killed and me not killing you for poetic justice.”

“So, if I pay you, we can work together?” Holston asked as he looked around refusing to make eye contact.

I replied in a clear voice, at a reasonable volume, so that he’d hear me clearly and there would be no misunderstanding. “Counselor, you’ll pay, whether you want to or not. Don’t make that mistake. Plus, as I said, you’re on probation and I’ll do another job for you, but it may be my last depending on you. If you don’t provide me, with everything you know, which isn’t always everything I want, we’ll be done. I will make your home address, child’s name, phone numbers, wife’s name and photographs of everyone available to the highest bidder, if you cheat me or try to cause me harm,” I stated coldly

“You don’t know where I live. I don’t share that with anyone and it’s not even written down in the office.”

I looked him in the eye and told him his address, phone number, his wife’s name and his daughter’s name, the school she attended, what her teachers name is, and what her last report card said. Holston went white and mumbled.

“How? How did you find all that out?”

“Just gotta know where and how to look. It’s there for anyone to see. It’s my job to know things and I’m the best. Now do we have an understanding? I don’t play fast and loose. I play to win. I don’t play by the rules and if I have to, I can be very, very bad.”

“Okay, I’m convinced.” Holston stammered, still shocked that I knew all there was to know about him and his family.

“So what’s the new job?” I asked. “I also need to know how big a threat the two cops from last night are, plus if there are any other worker bees, like Nolan who are attempting or planning on leaving the fold.”

Holston replied, “as far as I know right now, Nolan is the only problem of that nature. As for the cops. I don’t have much information other than you might check with a man called, The Oracle Mohammad. He owns a five star restaurant by the World’s Fair Park. You can’t miss it. Just follow the limousines and the other expensive cars. Be sure to wear a suit and tie. You won’t get any service without them.”

“The money I owe you will be at the office by the time you get there. See Trisha for it and some expense money. She’ll also have a package for Mohammad from me. Deliver it only to him no one else. Is that understood?” Holston was getting a little snippy, but I ignored it.

“Mohammad doesn’t share what he knows without you sharing the cash with him.” Holston continued. “Don’t try any rough stuff with the old guy either, he has body guards hiding all around him and they will kill you and make sure no one ever finds your body. Oh yeah, unless you don’t want the meet him, don’t mention my name, he thinks I’m the devils spawn.”

That was pretty harsh I thought but then, I really didn’t know Holston all that well. To me he was just another attorney. Come to think of it, damn the old fart was right, most attorneys were pure evil in my book, too. 

Holston went back to court and I went to his office, where Trisha, an average looking, thirty something brunette, handed me two envelopes. One was for me and one was for the Oracle. It was twice as big as mine. The Oracle Mohammad was expensive. I took the rest of the night off to read up on corruption in the Knox County Sheriff’s Department. I was surprised that they had very little corruption and were ranked nationally as the third best Sheriff’s Department in the country. Trailing only the sheriff in Arizona, Joe Opia and the department in Branson, Missouri. I was seeing the silver lining once more. It could have been worse, much worse.