5 Alive After Friday (19 page)

I
f
you want to buy a great used car, in Palm Beach County, Florida, you head for
Auto Row on Old Dixie Highway. That’s what Brad Powell’s business card claimed
and that’s where Sandy headed. The sun was high and the heat was heavy. But
with the top down and the air on full blast, she considered it a gorgeous June
day. She was there within two hours, straight down I-95 from Park Beach.

Old Dixie Highway was easy to find. It ran
parallel to and just a couple blocks over from the railroad tracks. Back in the
1950’s it was a major thoroughfare. Now it was just another extra-wide, second-rate
street ignored by progress. Every imaginable low-rent storefront lined both
sides. Tattoo parlors, pawn shops and used car lots were part of the scenery
now.

Brad’s Premium Cars
, was one of many used
car lots. The bright orange whirly-propeller things strung around his lot might
have distinguished his particular business—except that every other used car
business in the area also had bright orange whirly-propeller things strung
around their lots.

Brad Powell was no longer Gail’s boyfriend according
to Ryan. An ex-boyfriend sounded perfect to Sandy and an ex-boyfriend suffering
a bitter breakup would be even better. He might be more willing to talk about
the dream girlfriend from heaven, if she had become the ex-girlfriend from
hell. On the negative side, since he was married he might be reluctant to talk
about any of his affairs. She would decide how to handle that problem after she
got a look at the guy.

Her GPS announced her arrival; she slowed and
pulled into his lot. Possibly, that was Brad Powell under the canvas-awning shade
of the office building, leaning against the doorway under a meaningless “Quality
Cars” sign. At first glance, she took him for a tourist with his sporty white-mesh
Polo shirt and tan walking shorts. With those broad shoulders, she guessed he
was a once-upon-a-time athlete. A well-built male physique is fun to look at
she wouldn’t deny him that, yet he wasn’t quite as impressive as his pose would
have you believe.

“I can get you top-dollar for your Miata. I have a
customer who’s been looking for just that model,” he said, walking over to meet
her halfway. He appeared to be the good-humored, indefatigable type everyone
would want on their softball team. And most likely successful since he hadn’t
wasted any time coming out with the smooth sales spiel.

“Sorry, I’m a no sale.” She wouldn’t have traded her
Miata for his entire car business, including all of his quality cars. “Just
wanted to talk with you a minute.”

“No problem. You can park that snazzy red convertible
out front on my lot anytime. And traffic would stand still, if you stood out
there with it.”

Flirting with this guy would be redundant. He was
looking at her as though she were lunch. “I assume you’re Brad Powell.”

“A woman who looks like you can assume anything
she pleases.”

“I was hoping you might help me. I’m a close
friend of Gail Cramer.”

“I’ve heard the name.” Continuing to check her out
as he spoke.

Nothing subtle about this guy, she thought. “She
gave me your card.” She flicked the card between her fingers. “I forget how you
two met.”

“Sold her a car.”

She thought quickly. “That’s right, her green
Ford.” And it should be a suitable time to check on what Gail had told Martin, “She
told me you two went to the first day of SunFest. That must have been fun.”

“Oh, so you do know her. I wasn’t certain there
for a minute.” He hooked his thumbs in his waistband and took a step closer. “Maybe
I could interest you in a test drive. I’m good at driving. Do you like to go
fast?” His steady eye contact filled in all the blanks.

“Not in a car with no brakes.”

“You won’t want to stop.” His grin was charmingly
evil.

“I’m not that fond of accidents.”

“You consider me an accident?”

“I’m not going to find out.”

“But you still want my help.”

“Look, either help me or tell me goodbye. But stop
undressing me.”

“Too late.” His faced turned serious and his eyes
swept over her again. “I already know exactly how you look without your
clothes. I mean exactly.”

In her mind, for an instant, she stood totally exposed
before him. And her body reacted with an involuntary tingle. She’d been on the receiving
end of such remarks in the past, but none so believable.

She tried to sound cool, “Women are just a
collection of parts to you, aren’t they?”

“Vive la collection.”
He stepped back and
folded his arms across his chest. “How close to Gail are you?”

“Define close.”

He flashed a great smile; obviously enjoying this kind
of patter. “You have a rather naughty mind, I like that in a woman.”

She gave him a bored look. “About Gail?”

“Ah yes, Gail. She was a fun time.”

“A fun time, what else can be said about a woman?”

“Maybe you haven’t heard the latest.”

“You’ve broken up with her.”

“Yeah, so I’m a free man, unless you’re going to
count my wife.” He looked at her intently. “Why don’t we get together sometime?
What are you doing Tuesday night?”

“Can’t. I need to sort out my sock drawer.”

“Oh...how about Wednesday? Does that work for you?”

“Never, works for me.”

“I suppose going into my office right now is out
of the question.” He gave her a wink but she knew he was serious.

“You don’t make it easy for decent women do you?”

“You don’t make it easy for men.”

“The right man will be absolutely astounded at how
easy I am. Look, this conversation is getting tiresome. Why don’t you cool down
a bit? I didn’t come here to be seduced. I’ve a problem with Gail. You can help,
if you will.”

“Just out of the goodness of my heart?”

“That’s so ninth grade. Get off it.”

“You’re right. What’s your name?”

“Sandy.”

“So you run with Gail?”

She didn’t know what he meant; she’d best not say
yes. “I like her. We’ve had some good times.”

“Can you keep up with her?”

Something told her not to answer that question
either. She just shrugged hoping that would cover it.

“Okay. So, why are you here, Sandy?”

“Gail asked me for money, way back when. Said she
was desperate. I had it back then and loaned her quite a bit. Now she won’t give
back a dime. Says she doesn’t have it. I said what about the fucking condo? She
said the condo was something else, and buying it didn’t mean she had any cash.
I need that money, Brad, and I need it now.” All that sounded pretty cool, she
thought.

“You’re not hurting too much considering what
you’re driving.”

“Acceptable lifestyle is a relative term.”

“So it is. How can I help you with yours?”

“Well, did you hear about her money? That’s what I
want to know.” She left it vague hoping he’d pick it up.

“Maybe.”

That meant he did know something. “If I knew more
about her money deal, what happened, how she got it and all, maybe I could
figure out an angle to get some of it back.”

“And there’s nothing in this for me?” he asked.

He was easier to read than the top line on an eye
chart. “You’d be getting back at her...for what she did to you.” That guess
seemed safe enough. Couples were always doing wrong things to each other. He’d
think of something.

“What she did to me? You don’t know what you’re
talking about. Gail got tired of me having something on the side.”

“Something on the side? Does your wife know you’ve
been cheating on your mistress?”

He brushed the entire subject away with a smirk. “At
least Gail knew about everything from the git go. Everyone was happy. All of a
sudden, she gets some money, buys an upscale condo and I don’t fit into her
plans anymore. A different woman.”

“You, rejected? That’s one for Guinness isn’t it? What
did Gail say, exactly, when she first mentioned the money?”

“Gentlemen don’t talk about old girlfriends.”

She hated to go away empty handed. She glanced
over at her car to hint she was about to leave.

“Look, Sandy. Maybe I know a few things that will
help you.” He checked his watch. “We can talk if you want. But I don’t have
time right now.”

“Pretty busy holding up that doorway, huh?”

“Why don’t you come back around eight tonight. We
can sit and talk.”

“Why don’t I just rip off all my clothes right now
and save us both a lot of time?”

“No, no. Nothing like that. There’ll be customers
coming in after work soon and couples after they’ve had dinner. At eight o’clock
it’ll be quiet. I guarantee you the lot will still be all brightly lit, and
we’ll be able to talk. Doreen is inside right now, my office manager. I’ll tell
her she can’t leave tonight, until I’m all locked up and you’re gone. Okay?”

She looked down and around and then studied his
face. Doreen being there was almost the clincher. Yet, she didn’t like the
vibes. She didn’t know this Doreen any better than she knew him. Plus she had
to consider what type of woman would work for this walking phallic symbol. “I’m
sure I’m misjudging you, Brad, but thanks anyway.”

“Hey, it’s okay. You’re the one who wants the information.”
He really appeared disappointed. They walked to her car.

She was certain that Brad did know something about
Gail and her money. But he was one of those dangerous guys you don’t dare tease
with some phony hint that he might get what he wants. She gave him a smile and
a wave, got into her car and swung around onto Old Dixie Highway heading north.
Eventually, she merged back onto the multi-lane Interstate. She was getting
tired of the expressway’s six to eight lanes. She slowed down. Plenty of time
to get to the Gardens Mall and follow Gail home. There was always the slim
possibility that Gail would take some incriminating action while being
shadowed. Sandy was running out of leads. She needed to know about Gail and the
money. And if she stole the four hundred grand was any of it left?

She located Gail’s car behind the Mall near the
rear exit, just as Martin had described. She was early. She went in, bought a
takeout coffee and sat in her car watching for Gail to leave. A few minutes after
six she saw the woman come through the automatic doors and get in the green
Ford. So that was Gail Holman. Sandy had seen her driver license photo, but
this was the first time in person. Martin was right on. Great hair, dynamite
outfit. Sandy could never mix and match like that. Gail, no doubt, knew all the
shop clerks and could get excellent advice.

She followed Gail through the winding maze of
access roads and then south on I-95. The woman was no doubt headed home.
Nothing very interesting about that. Unfortunately, that was the usual result
when conducting surveillance, except Sandy didn’t have days and weeks to wait
for the shadowing to pay off. Following a subject using only one vehicle was
always a tough gig anyway and frequently unsuccessful. She knew that law
enforcement agencies often used two or three vehicles. Sometimes, one ahead and
one behind the subject, staying in touch by radio and often playing leapfrog
changing positions. Gail exited at Okeechobee Boulevard and went east. At
least, Sandy didn’t have to follow too closely knowing the green Ford was headed
toward her condo.

Unexpectedly, she saw Gail’s turn signals start flashing
several blocks from the Magnolia Palms condo. Gail slowed and turned off the
main street into a small strip of stores and parked at a liquor store. If she
were stocking up for an evening with Martin, she wouldn’t need much. Just some
gin, vermouth and olives—never stuffed please. That’s when she noticed a dark
blue SUV up ahead following closely on Gail’s tail also turned in and parked away
from the stores. She tried to remember if she’d seen the SUV following the Ford
as they exited from I-95. She pulled over to the curb where she could watch
both vehicles. It was a long wait.

When Gail finally backed away from the store to go
out, Sandy noticed the SUV back out of its parking spot and also begin to exit.
The SUV driver had never left the vehicle. The driver had just sat behind the
wheel all that time. How very unlikely the Ford and the SUV would both enter
and exit the parking area at the same time.

Someone else was following Gail.

After both vehicles had turned back onto Okeechobee,
Sandy pulled away and followed two cars back. She tried to maneuver to not be
cut off by missing a traffic signal. At one point, she was forced to enter an
intersection on a stale yellow caution light, but she made it across awkwardly
and almost legally. All the while, she was waiting for the SUV to turn off and
go somewhere else.

A few minutes later, both vehicles turned off US-1
onto the access road than ran alongside the Magnolia Palms. Behind the
condominium, along the rear property line, there was a row of parking spaces
for guests. The opposite side held the entrance to the private ground floor
parking garage for residents under the building. Gail swung into the parking
area and drove out of sight beneath the building. The SUV pulled to a stop at
the curb apparently to watch. Sandy was in a line of traffic and didn’t dare
stop. No choice but to continue straight ahead with the other cars down the
side road, or else be conspicuous. No view of the driver was possible through
the tinted windows. No time to note the license number, but she could see it
was a Honda SUV. At the next intersection, it was safe for Sandy to make an
about turn and slowly creep back up toward the condo. The SUV was nowhere to be
seen.

She phoned Martin, “I’m parked outside Gail’s
condo. Guess what? A dark blue Honda SUV followed Gail home. Fortunately I
wasn’t seen. I wanted to start following it but it was gone.”

“Good grief, what does that mean? Who could it be?”