Chapter 31
Keaton answered the phone. “Hi, Alicia. - I’m here at the office. - Sure. - I’ll be down there in ten minutes.” Keaton set the phone down on the couch and buttoned his collar and tightened his tie. He found his shoes and slipped into them. He picked up the phone, stood up and went for his jacket.
It was dinner time. Alice’s was busy as Keaton walked past the restaurant and out onto the sidewalk. He moved away from the door and waited.
A two door, Jeep soft top pulled to the curb and honked. Keaton moved away from the wall. Escobar leaned across and pushed the passenger door open.
“Climb in.”
Keaton made his way into the passenger seat. “This isn’t what you were driving this morning.”
“That was the company car. This is mine,” Escobar answered.
“I think I like Rafie’s ride better,” Keaton said.
“I saw that ratty thing,” Escobar answered. “Slam that door hard or it won’t catch.”
Keaton got the door closed and Escobar took off down the street. Knobby tires on the Jeep made a lot of road noise and the soft top flapped about. Keaton had to shout, “Where we going?”
“Back out to the Grove,” Escobar answered. As she got up on the freeway heading east her speed and the noise increased.
“Wanczyk is an ass but he is a fair cop,” Escobar shouted at Keaton. “He called me a little bit ago. The judge let those guys from this morning walk. Wanczyk said a high dollar suit from the LDLU came in representing them. The suit said some mumbo jumbo up at the bench to the judge, the judge nodded and the whole bunch went free. Wanczyk is pissed. He had a good bust there. They also got some prints off that plumber’s van inside the shop. An LA named Tim Taylor. Ever heard of him?”
Keaton leaned towards Escobar and shouted, “Never heard the name before. Who is he?”
“Wanczyk said we got no record of the man. And none of the guys had ever heard of him. Wanczyk said the van looked like it had been used to transport LDs.”
“Why’s Wanczyk giving you all this information?” Keaton shouted.
“’Cause he wants us to do his dirty work for him. We mess up, he stays clean,” Escobar answered. She exited off Hawn and the road noise lessened.
“Why would they go back to the shop?”
“We didn’t impound anything. They still got all their stuff there. Hell, they’ll probably just reopen the same place since they have suit protection. Cops won’t go close to it now.”
“But you are.”
“I was looking for a good job when I got this one,” Escobar said, and she smiled.
Escobar pulled into the lot. The dock door was up, and light poured out. She parked in the light from the dock door. “No need to be subtle,” she stated.
Keaton and Escobar climbed out of the jeep and entered through the open dock door.
Several of the guys were in the back of the building near the office. One saw Keaton and Escobar and said, “My hands are up, don’t shoot.”
The others looked around and saw Keaton and Escobar. They all started saying, “My hands are up, don’t shoot.”
Escobar answered, “My pistol is in my holster. If you want me to take it out I will.”
Keaton said, “We fired this morning because someone fired at us. Put your hands down. We’re just here to talk. Can we talk?”
“Talk all you want,” Jeffery answered stepping forward. “We don’t have to answer anything. You can’t hold us on anything.”
“Where do you get your meat?” Escobar asked loudly.
“Where did Tim Taylor get the LDs you had this morning?” Keaton asked. Escobar looked at him. “Trust me,” Keaton answered.
Jeffery made his laughing noise. “Hell, you can’t even do good cop, bad cop. You’re more like right hand doesn’t know what left hand is doing.”
“You know who the LA was that you had in here this morning,” Keaton said. “You got out of jail fast because your bosses didn’t want to give you a chance to muck things up.
“We were here this morning to keep the LA from getting mucked up,” Keaton said. “Now we’re here to ask about Tim’s package. Where did they come from? Call your boss and ask if it’s okay to talk. We can wait.”
“Should I ask him if I can smoke a cigarette?” Jeffery asked.
“Sure. If you want to smoke.”
“Your funny.”
“Thank you,” Keaton answered. “Call him. Please.”
Jeffery reached into his pants pocket and pulled his phone out. He dialed a number then turned and walked farther away.
Escobar whispered at Keaton, “What the hell are you doing? I don’t care about those LDs. I want to stop these guys from chopping up LAs.”
“Some things you can’t stop Alicia. Some things you have to stop.” Keaton motioned with his head towards Jeffery who was walking up close.
“I painted this van two days ago,” Jeffery started.
“Nice job. I like the fonts,” Keaton replied.
“Thanks, I used to paint signs before the change. People use that stick on plastic crap these days.”
Keaton waited.
“I put the plumber in Graham so he wouldn’t be out of place a hundred miles either side. That’s all I know and all I was told I could say.”
“So as far west as Haskell then,” Keaton stated.
“Something like that,” Jeffery answered.
“Thanks. You all take care,” Keaton said loudly to all the guys. He looked at Escobar and said, “Let’s go. That’s all we’re going to get here.” He started back to the jeep.
Escobar hurried to catch up. “What the hell, Bill. You liked the fonts?”
“It got him to answer,” Keaton said.
“He answered nothing I care about!”
Keaton climbed into the Jeep and slammed the door closed.
“Don’t break my door,” Escobar said. “What was any of that about?”
“Alicia, as long as there are LDs there will be chop shops. And as long as there are chop shops there will be LAs. It’s part of the balance of nature, survival of the fittest. We don’t have to like it, but it is. But those two little LDs are different. They’re game changers. They are smarter and nimbler than normal LDs. We need to find out where they come from and how many others are out there like them. They are what was really being trafficked here.”
“Ruth Davies knows what’s going on, but she won’t talk. Her father probably knows since its his money being spent. That means his assistant knows. And that sign painting guy spoke to ‘him.’
“There is nothing out that way. Throckmorton County is split between two ranches on either side of 380. Haskell is the next county west of that. It’s got more population. I’m betting on one of those two ranches in Throckmorton.”
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about,” Escobar said starting up the jeep.
“Alicia, you need to get out and see the world. At least west Texas,” Keaton said. “And give my apologies to Wanczyk for not shooting anyone this time.”
Chapter 32
Keaton walked to the window and rolled up the curtain. The morning light filled the room. He walked back to the couch and picked up his phone. He called Hobson.
“Good morning, Mr. Keaton,” Hobson answered.
“Morning,” Keaton replied. “I called you because I know Ms. Ruth lost her purse and phone the other night. Do you think I could meet with her sometime today?”
“I would think so, sir. I will ask and call you back,”
“You can just text me,” Keaton said. He then asked, “Is Mr. Davies in?”
“No, sir. I am afraid Mr. Davies is not available.”
“Okay, thank you. It was nothing important,” Keaton answered.
“Yes, sir. I will text you after I have talked with Ms. Ruth.”
“Thank you,” Keaton said and ended the call. He sat down on the couch and looked out the window for a while. He stood up and went to make coffee.
Keaton was drinking his second cup when his phone chimed with the receipt of a text.
>Sir, will 1 PM today be okay?<
>Certainly, sir. Will 12:30 be okay?<
>Yes, sir.<
Keaton set his phone down and picked up his coffee cup.
***
Keaton was outside in a fresh suit at 12:30 when Phillip pulled over. Keaton waved Phillip to stay in the car and he opened the back door and climbed in.
“Hello, Phillip. How have you been?”
Phillip looked up into the rear view mirror and smiled. “I’ve been fine. Not running around everywhere like you.” He pulled away from the curb.
Keaton laughed. “I don’t run anywhere, Phillip. But I have been staying busy. How are all your bosses doing?”
Phillip’s eyes went up to the mirror and then back down, “They are all good. Keeping me busy.”
“And now you have two new ones, right? Those little girls?”
Phillip kept his eyes on the traffic. “They aren’t my boss yet.”
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
“But they will be. Ms. Ruth is really attached to them, isn’t she?”
“She never lets them out of her sight,” Phillip answered.
“Well the other night was pretty traumatic for Ms. Ruth. And for those girls. They lost their dad.”
“Yes, sir. I guess.”
“How is Ms. Ruth? You know psychologically speaking?” Keaton asked.
Phillip’s eyes went up briefly then back down. “She’s all grown up now, somehow. She’s quiet. Doesn’t talk to Tristan, I mean Mr. Martin very much.”
“Well, Phillip, one of the few things you can count on in life is, ‘The kids will grow up.’” Keaton said and laughed.
Phillip laughed.
Keaton sat back in the seat and looked out the window.
***
At Davies House Hobson led Keaton to a large room filled with antique furniture arranged so that four distinct sitting areas were created. Hobson guided Keaton to the sitting area at the far end of the room.
“Ms. Ruth will be with you shortly, sir. Do you care for anything to drink?”
“No thank you, I’m good,” Keaton answered. He sat down so that he viewed the entire room and watched Hobson exit.
In a couple of minutes Ruth entered the room. Keaton stood up and waited for her to make her way to him.
“Please, sit,” she said. They both sat.
Ruth said, “I’ve been told that the Fords would push all this furniture to the sides of the room, roll up the carpets and have big dances in this room.”
“It’s defiantly ballroom size,” Keaton answered.
“We have never had a dance here. Dad says it is undignified.”
“I would think that depends on how well you dance. The dignity part,” Keaton said.
Ruth smiled. “That’s very true. Did you find out something about the Twins?”
“A little bit. They and their father were picked up out in Throckmorton County. That’s a couple of hours west of here. Most of it is empty prairie. There are a couple of big ranches out there that breed cattle and have for a hundred years.”
“SBCrown,” Ruth said. “We own a share of it.”
“Well, that could be it,” Keaton answered. “I can get a car and head out there tomorrow. But maybe it’s that other ranch. You know, since you all own part of this one.”
“Dad liked to keep his risks within the business,” Ruth said looking Keaton in the eye.
“Of course,” Keaton answered. “Do you want me to go out there?”
“I don’t think that will be necessary. Everything is pretty much answered.”
“Are you planning on keeping the girls here?” Keaton asked.
“Yes,” Ruth answered. “They are enjoying it here. And I am enjoying them. Hobson is looking for a tutor.”
“They won’t develop any more than they are.”
Ruth smiled. “Physically, yes. They won’t get taller or older. But they are very bright girls. They have a lot of intellectual growth possible.”
“That’s not why your father brought them here,” Keaton stated.
“Father is dead; so what he had planned is now moot,” Ruth answered.
Keaton nodded his head. “When did you realize that?”
“After our first meeting.”
“The dinner?”
“Not then, but not too long afterwards.”
“How is your father taking the revelation?” Keaton asked.
“I wouldn’t know,” Ruth replied. She smiled and added, “I shot him in the head yesterday morning after I got home with the Twins. I used the .38 Special he kept in his desk. And as you said, and showed, there is no law against killing the dead.”
Keaton shifted his weight and leaned forward. “Well, that is true. But there are rules against upsetting the money carts. What are the Navy Seals and the government saying?”
“They are in the dark,” Ruth said with a laugh. “Father often stayed in his study for days. He still is there.”
“Good. I was afraid you had gotten someone to dispose of the corpse. Hobson and Phillip know. Does Tristan?” Keaton asked. “Is the pistol back in the desk?”
Ruth smiled. “Yes it is and yes, he does. The Twins are currently with him. They understand he is free meat if he misbehaves. And he understands that.” Ruth laughed.
“What’s your plan for going forward?”
“I will announce Father’s death and step into the business,” Ruth answered.
“Well, that might work,” Keaton replied. “But ‘THEY’ might view you as a young, inexperienced woman who is in shock from her kidnapping by LDs and the death of her father. That will be a difficult optic to get around.”
“What are you talking about?” Ruth asked. “Dad’s businesses are now my businesses.”
“Well, the big money, including your father’s managers and lawyers, and the government may not see it that way. They’ll see a leadership vacuum in your youthful inexperience and cut each other’s throats to take advantage of it and you. I think you need some help to divert all the knives.”
Ruth nodded. She looked at Keaton and smiled. “You can help me?”
Keaton laughed. “I don’t think so. But I think I know someone who can.”
Ruth waited.
“Joe Klein,” Keaton stated.
“That’s Tristan’s uncle!”
“I know,” Keaton answered. “You need someone with experience walking through landmines. Klein has that. He’s a politician. He’ll throw anyone and everyone under the bus to advance his career. You’ll just need to have some small lever to keep him from tossing you under there too.”
“Father hated him. He always said Klein was a Communist.”
“Even better,” Keaton answered.
Chapter 33
Hobson opened the door. US Representative Joseph P. Klein stood on the step, his Cadillac shining behind him in the sunlight. His hair looked wet like he had just slicked it down with water.
“Good afternoon, Rep. Klein. Welcome to Davies House,” Hobson said.
Klein stepped inside and Hobson closed the door.
“It’s an honor to be here,” Klein stated.
“Yes, sir. This way please. Ms. Davies is waiting for you.” Hobson started off towards the study.
“I thought I was meeting with Mr. Davies,” Klein said following Hobson.
“Yes, sir.” Hobson answered.
Hobson continued walking to the study. At the closed oak door he waited for Klein to catch up. Hobson then knocked twice on the door and opened it.
“Representative Klein, Ms. Ruth,” Hobson announced and stood aside so that Klein could enter.
The windows at the end of the room were uncovered and allowed the sunlight to fill the room. Ruth stood up from behind the desk. The grate behind her was cold. Opposite the desk Keaton stood up from the farthest chair as Klein entered. Raymond Davies’ carcass lay on the floor between Keaton and the door.
“Whoa!” Klein exclaimed stepping into the room. He stopped near the prone form. “Is that Raymond Davies?”
“Yes, that is my father, Representative Klein. Thank you for coming over. Please have a seat there beside Mr. Keaton. He can explain everything better than I,” Ruth stated. She sat down.
“Nice to meet you, Joe. You don’t mind if I call you Joe, do you?” Keaton asked. “My name is William Keaton. But please call me Bill. Just step around and have a seat. Mr. Davies can’t bite now.” Keaton sat down.
Klein looked back and forth between Ruth and Keaton. Finally he stepped around Davies and sat down. “What’s going on? Have the police been called?” he asked.
“Well, as you can see Ms. Davies has a problem,” Keaton explained. “Her father was an LD. Had been for a long time. We have witnesses to that. He got a little out of control and she had to protect herself. That’s why he is there on the floor.
“To answer your second question, no the police have not been called. Ms. Davies is in a vulnerable position here and before the police and lawyers get involved we were hoping to buttress her situation.”
“You want to bribe me to help you fix this,” Klein said sweeping his left arm towards Davies’ figure.
“Not exactly,” Keaton answered. “Your nephew Tristan Martin and Mr. Davies had Miss Ruth kidnapped two nights ago. You do know that your nephew is a member of the Harlequin gang, don’t you? It wasn’t the first try. The police are aware of the first try.”
Klein sputtered a little and answered, “Tristan? I didn’t know that.” He looked at Ruth, “You two are engaged.”
“Were engaged,” Ruth corrected.
“Your nephew told Ms. Davies that he was the leader of the Harlequins. I assume he wasn’t lying about that,” Keaton said.
“He and Mr. Davies hoped to get the US government to lock down the LDs over Ms. Ruth’s kidnapping, expecting the LDs to revolt. At which time Mr. Davies’ would stop producing synthmeat.”
“There would be a war,” Klein stated.
“Yes, sir. That was Tristan and Mr. Davies’ plan. Start a war. Rid the world of a bunch of LDs and LAs. Then start producing synthmeat and settle the entire situation. To their benefit.”
“That’s horrible,” Klein said.
“It’s actually worse,” Keaton said. “Davies had business and government friends who were ready to help manage the new arrangement. They are still out there and ready to ‘manage’ things. They are why Ms. Davies needs your help.”
“What can I do?” Klein asked.
Keaton said, “Ms. Davies is considering giving the entire synthmeat production facilities and their profits to the US government which will create a new identity to oversee synthmeat’s production and distribution. She’ll do that with the caveat that she chooses the director of that agency for the next twenty years. That should give her enough breathing space to safely set her on path.”
“The government would never let her have that much authority over who controls so much power,” Klein stated. “Everyone will want it!”
“That’s why you are her choice for the job, Joe,” Keaton said and added a wink.
“Oh...” Klein said letting out a long breath. Then he said, “I’m sure we can figure someway to work this out so that Ms. Davies maintains her personal safety.”
“Great,” Keaton added. “I told her you would be the man who could help her.” Keaton paused then said, “And she wants Mr. Martin in jail for a very long, long time.”
“I agree with her,” Klein stated. “He should be. It looks to me like he and Mr. Davies were trying to pull off some kind domestic terrorist plot. One of those ‘false flag’ things you hear about. Now, I can’t speak for any House or Senate committee, but it sounds to me like my nephew is in a lot of trouble from a lot of directions. We’re lucky this young lady was brave enough to stop it all by herself.”
“Thank you, Mr. Klein,” Ruth said.
“No, thank you, Ms. Davies. You have done the United States a great service. A service they, we, will never be able to repay.”
Chapter 34
In the third floor hallway the low, night lights were on. Keaton exited his office, turned left and moved past quiet, closed offices towards the stairs.
He walked down the stairs slowly, watching his step in the dim light, holding onto the handrail.
On the ground floor he turned right and opened the two panel, frosted glass door that opened into the lobby of the building. The double glass doors to the street across the lobby let in a dusky light. The lobby was warm from the heat of the day.
Keaton moved toward the revolving chrome and glass door opening into Alice’s.
The restaurant was loud with diners. Brightly lit booths and tables stretched ahead and out to the right with a short, stand-up bar in the front left corner. Two old LA men in worn, three button suits with menus in their hands, greeted Keaton as he stepped out of the revolving doors.
Keaton asked, “Is Paul working this evening?”
The LA on the left smiled and answered, “Yes, sir. This way, sir.” He turned to the dining room and took off between the tables at a quick clip. Keaton had to move fast to keep up with him.
They passed tables and booths of LD and LA diners. At several tables the LDs and the LAs were enjoying their meals together.
Finally at the far end of the room, near the kitchen, the host stopped before a small table up against the exterior wall, “Will this be alright, sir?”
“Yes, it’ll be fine,” Keaton answered. “As long as it’s in Paul’s station.”
“It is, sir,” he answered and laid a menu down on the table. “Paul will be right with you, sir,” he said and left.
Keaton moved around to the back of the table and eased himself down into the chair and pressed its back against the wall. He surveyed the room.
A small, thin LD busboy pushed out through the swinging doors from the kitchen. He carried a glass of water in his left hand and a napkin wrapped knife and fork in his right. The back of the right hand had a black and white diamond tattoo on it. He headed slowly toward Keaton.
The busboy did not move in a straight line. His left leg moved erratically veering him off in random directions.
The door from the kitchen opened again and Paul, a tall, thin, LA, stepped out carrying a loaded tray of food with one hand and a tray stand in the other. He stepped blithely around the busboy and headed to Keaton’s table.
“Good evening, Mr. Keaton,” Paul said as he got close. “Give me a second and I will be right with you.”
“No problem, Paul,” Keaton answered. “I am in no hurry.”
“Yes, sir,” Paul answered and looked back over his shoulder at the busboy, then at Keaton. “Timing should be good, sir. I will be right back,” he said and took off with the loaded tray.
The boy was about five feet away from Keaton when Paul came back by with the empty tray and stand in his hands. He stopped, set up the stand beside Keaton’s table and set the tray down on it. Then he stepped over and took the water and flatware from the busboy and set them down in front of Keaton.
“The usual, sir?” Paul asked.
The busboy gave Paul a look.
“No. It’s been a tough week, Paul. How about a Choice Cut, body temperature. And some coffee.”
“Eight or twelve ounces?”
“Twelve, why not,” Keaton answered.
“Yes, sir,” Paul answered. “I’ll make some fresh coffee for you and have it right out.”
Keaton looked over the room. On the far left the hosts handled a short line of incoming that had formed. His eyes roved over them.
Paul returned with the coffee.
“That was fast,” Keaton smiled.
Paul set the steaming mug down in front of Keaton. “Someone had just started it. They must have seen you walk in. Enjoy,” he said with a wink and headed back to the kitchen.
Keaton pulled the mug over close and wrapped his hands around it. He looked back out over the room and the people. Eating, laughing, working their tables, LDs or LAs, they all behaved the same. Keaton picked up the coffee cup and sipped from it.
The cook’s nephew came out from the kitchen twice to clear tables.
Paul buzzed past several times. Keaton worked on the coffee until he sat the empty cup down and pushed it away. Paul stopped the next time he passed.
“More coffee, Mr. Keaton?” he asked.
“Yes, please. Thanks, Paul.”
“I’ll check on your order. It should have been up by now.”
“Thanks, Paul. Maybe they had to go hunting for it,” Keaton joked.
Paul did not smile. He acknowledged the comment and headed to the kitchen. He was back in a couple of minutes carrying Keaton’s order and a pot of coffee.
“Your order was just up, Mr. Keaton,” Paul explained. “I gave the cook a piece of your mind.”
He grinned as he sat the plate down and then refilled the coffee cup. “Does everything look okay?”
“Everything looks great, Paul. Thank you,” Keaton answered.
“Let me know if you need anything, Mr. Keaton,” Paul responded. He headed back to the kitchen.
Keaton ate about half the meal, emptied the coffee cup and stood up. Paul was not around. Keaton tossed some money on the table and headed back upstairs.
The End