Three Sides of the Tracks (17 page)

23

Tricky

Bart Phillips’ car turned in Danny’s driveway just as Danny walked into
the yard from Bernard’s. Their eyes met and Bart looked busy turning off the
car when he saw Danny scowl.

Bart slammed the car door. “Didn’t come to cause trouble, Danny.”

Danny stopped walking. “That would be a first then. Every time the police
come here there’s trouble.”

“I’m not police. Maybe you don’t know that.”

“Put people in jail don’t you?” Danny said, although he was beginning to
feel like he might be the one who was wrong. It was obvious by his manner and
tone that Phillips was trying to be polite.

“
You’re
not in jail, are you?” Bart said, defiance on his face
now.

Sympathy fled. “Does my face look normal to you, Mr. Phillips?”

Bart took out a cigarette and held the pack out to Danny, who declined.
“Let’s start over. I told the others you weren’t likely to be involved in the
robbery. I never heard of you being mixed up in anything of that nature, or
that gang either. But you were with them at some point yesterday, weren’t you?”

“Yeah, earlier, but not of my choice. I mean, they didn’t kidnap me or
anything, but, well, they, or the one who’s kinda the leader, Slink, he’s hard
to say no to. I was next door at his uncle’s and he came by and just kept on and
on that I go with them, so I went. We drank some beer then I came home. That’s
all I know about any of it; I swear.”

“I don’t doubt it. Hmm, now that you mention it, Bernard is Slink’s
mother’s brother. I’ll be darned. I hadn’t even thought of that. Bernard lives
there, doesn’t he?” Bart said pointing to Bernard’s house.

“Yep.”

“What I know or remember of Bernard, I’m surprised he has anything to do
with Slink.”

“He doesn’t really. Slink mooches off him. That’s why he came by
yesterday. For what, I don’t know. He had money.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, when we stopped to get beer, Slink had a lot more money than
Bernard let him have. He just wanted more. Greedy.”

Bart nodded.

“Danny, do you have
any
idea where they went? Anything at all
might help. I hear you’re close to one of the girls.”

“We’ve been best friends since we were kids. I believe I’d kill Slink if
he was standing where you are.”

“Understandable, but,” Bart smiled, “you’re not supposed to say stuff
like that in front of me. It’s against the law.”

“I don’t care. If I . . .” Danny stopped.

“If you what?”

“Nothing. You said it was against the law to say stuff like that, so I
won’t say it.” Danny managed a slight grin and subconsciously raised his hand
to cover his disfigured lip.

Bart looked away, pretending not to notice. “Your mother home?”

“She was a little while ago. I don’t see the car though, so she’s gone
somewhere.”

“I was going to say hi. Haven’t seen her in a while. We were all friends,
close friends at one time, you know.”

“Yes, sir, I’ve heard. Heard a lot of things lately I never knew.”

Bart thought about Martin coming to get Danny last night. “I reckon you
have. Some good. Some bad, I suppose. Life has a lot of surprises, Danny. Make
the best of them is all I can tell you.” He remembered how Danny had covered
his disfigured lip a moment ago and felt a rush of compassion.

“You mentioned that I put people in jail a moment ago, and you’re right.
I have put a lot of folks in jail. A person gets a feel for people when he does
that because he’s taking a part or maybe all of their life away from them. Of
course, the ones who broke the law did it to themselves, not me, but, still,
I’m the one who brings them before the judge and pretty much tells the judge
what to do. It might surprise you to know that I haven’t seen one yet who
didn’t have a rough childhood.”

Danny stared wide eyed.

“That’s why I’d bet my life you didn’t have anything to do with that
mess.”

“What do you mean?”

“I know you had to have been picked on an awful lot when you were growing
up, and I can tell you’re a little self-conscious about it, which is why I know
you’re not one of the mean ones.”

 Danny’s face began to flush.

“Didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Just wanted to let you know I
think you’re all right. And one more thing. Some cops have a little surprise
for them come Monday morning for that beating they gave you. You can go to bed
with a smile on your face because the worst ones are going to lose their jobs,
the rest busted down to patrol cops.

“Also, some detectives will be coming to interview you—”

Danny tensed. “I already told you all I know.”

“I know. I know, but these aren’t local. GBI and FBI are taking charge
since it’s also a kidnapping. It won’t be the idiots from last night and might
help us find your friend.”

Danny fought hard against squirming. “When?”

“The sooner the better. I’d guess later this afternoon. Early tomorrow morning.”

Phillips waited for some response, but Danny just stared.

“Okay, then, good talking to you,” Phillips said and got back in his car.
He waved as he backed out of the driveway.

Danny came out of his trance just in time to notice and wave back. Damn,
what will they do if I’m already gone?

Neither noticed the dark blue Chevrolet Impala that had pulled into the
warehouse parking lot on the side street adjacent Danny’s back yard. The driver
watched the last of the conversation between Phillips and Danny through a
Bushnell monocular. The style of Phillips’ car and the special antennae on the
rear panel screamed law enforcement, but that didn’t impress the man behind the
wheel. He’d kill them too, if they interfered with his contract.

24

Getaway

Belinda touched the mute button as Danny interrupted the movie for the
third time in the last hour. “What’s on your mind, Danny?”

“Why? What do you mean? Just thought I might watch the movie with you.”

“When did you start liking Woody Allen?”

“Oh crap, is that what’s on? Guess I will pass.”

“Go ahead and tell me what’s bothering you. I know something is.”

Danny plopped down on the couch beside her. “Mr. Phillips said the FBI
might be coming out to talk to me. I told him all I knew and that it would be a
waste of time, but I think they’re coming anyway.”

“You don’t have to talk to them. I won’t let them in the house if it
bothers you that much.”

Danny took out his pocket knife and snapped it open and closed several
times with a flick of his wrist. “Mr. Phillips was pretty nice. He said talking
to them might help find Caroline.”

Belinda waited a few minutes for him to finally tell her what was really
bothering him, but he stared blankly at the TV screen. She thought about what
he’d said.

“Is it just the FBI, or do you not want to talk with anyone?”
“Well, . . . I . . . I mean,
the
FBI
.”

Belinda laid a hand on his arm. “They’re no different than anyone else.
Probably be a lot like Mr. Phillips or your . . . your father. Do you want me
to call him and have him with you when you talk to them?”

 Danny almost jumped off the sofa. “No, Mom, he’s done enough. For now
anyhow.”

“You are nervous about it, aren’t you? I suppose they can be pretty
imposing.”

“Just wished they’d come on if they’re coming, so I could get it over
with.”

“I’ll call Bart if you like. He could probably come with them. Would that
make it less frightening?”

“I didn’t say I was frightened,” Danny snapped.

“I know. I didn’t mean it that way.” Belinda stood up. “I’m going to call
Bart and see what I can do,” she said and walked toward the phone.

She looked up the number and was almost through dialing when Danny walked
over and said in a conspiratorial tone. “Tell him I’m afraid I’ll forget
something by tomorrow.”

Belinda raised her eyebrows accompanied with a piercing look but nodded.

Danny fidgeted on the couch as Belinda navigated the police station to
reach Bart Phillips.

“Seems the kidnappers made a mistake,” Belinda said after hanging up.

“What do you mean?”

“Bart said the FBI man and some others went to Atlanta looking for
Caroline. Her credit card was used at a convenience store somewhere up there.
He didn’t say exactly where. I think the FBI man had left by the time Bart came
back from talking to you.”

 Danny’s shoulders sagged and he slumped farther down on the couch.

“You’re not happy? I thought you’d be glad they had a clue.”

“Mom, if they’re looking for Caroline in Atlanta, they’re looking in the
wrong place. More likely to be in Macon than Atlanta.”

Belinda’s expression showed her confusion.

“Don’t you see, Mom? That’s what those guys want the cops to think. They
rob a church and have plenty of money and then they go and do something as
stupid as using Caroline’s credit card. Come on. I thought the FBI was smarter
than that.”

“Hmmm. Does sound rather dumb, but these boys were probably in a hurry to
get away and didn’t want to be seen, so they sent Caroline—”

“Mom, they’re not ‘boys,’ and the one guy, Slink, is anything but dumb. I
know how he thinks and using that card was just a way to get the cops thinking
they are headed north,” Danny said, and as he talked his tone gradually changed
from irritated to sympathetic as he contemplated what he would say next.

“I’ve got to try to find her, Mom. Slink is smarter than any of these
stupid cops, and I can’t stand the thought of Caroline being with that bunch.
They’re nothing but animals. And I mean
animals
.”

“You’ll do no such thing. They’ve already shot I don’t know how many
people.”

“I know. I know. I don’t mean I’d try to get her away from them. I’m not
that crazy. I mean try to find her and then call the police.”

“If you think I’m going to let you go after those people, you’ve got
another think coming, young man. If you know something that would help the
police, then tell them and let them do their jobs. I know you and Caroline are
close but this is way beyond . . . Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“No, ma’am. Like I said, I know how that guy Slink thinks, so I thought I
might—”

“Might what? What could you possibly do, Danny, if you don’t know where they
went? Where they might hide out?”

Danny slumped back down. “Yeah, I know. Guess I got carried away hearing
about the credit card.”

“Carried away is putting it mildly. Lost your mind is more like it,”
Belinda said, her expression softening. She sidled next to him on the couch.
“I’m really very sorry about Caroline.”

Danny squeezed her hand. “I love Caroline, Mom. We’ve been friends since
the third grade. But don’t worry, I won’t do anything stupid.” He hoped she’d
remember this tomorrow when she discovered him gone and realize that the entire
discussion was his way of explaining why he had to find Caroline.

She returned the squeeze and studied his face. “Good. Are you sure
there’s not more going on than friendship?”

Danny avoided her eyes and looked uneasy. “Not that I know of.” 

“Okay, if you say so. But that’s how it was with Martin and me when we
fell in love. We were both embarrassed to acknowledge it, even to ourselves.”

“Really?”

“Oh, yes. Remember, we were very close friends. More like brother and
sister. Think how strange that must feel to all of a sudden realize—”

“Yeah, but you are both good looking.”

Belinda’s eyebrows rose. “As are you and Caroline.”

“She is, but . . .” Danny rolled his eyes.

Belinda knew what bothered him. She patted his hand and smiled. “So you
think Martin is handsome?”

Danny nodded.

“Well, mister ‘can’t see the forest for the trees,’ you look almost
exactly like Martin did at your age.”

“You’re leaving out one small detail, Mom.”

Belinda stood up. “I’m not listening to that self-pity. I’ll fix supper.
Since you made me miss my movie,” she added with a playful nudge.

25

Mr. Fixit

Lenny Fairburn cranked the car and drove off as soon as Danny went inside
and Phillips was out of sight. His only reason for driving down was to get a
look of the layout while it was light and hopefully see the contract as well.

On his way back to Atlanta, he mulled over what he would use: Gun, knife,
garrote, overdose of insulin. Lenny chuckled. One client requested a
particularly painful death, so Lenny drove to south Georgia and bagged several
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes, which he milked of venom and refrigerated till
ready to use.

The contract lived in a mansion in the upscale Atlanta neighborhood
Buckhead, set back from the road and secluded by aged pine trees. She’d
answered the door herself under the illusion that her fortune and the upscale
address would protect her—or rather the fortune soon to be hers from the
divorce of that philandering husband. She and the wine glass dropped at the sight
of the mask. He tied and gagged her and put her in the car trunk for the drive
to an abandoned gravel pit.

Lenny placed the video recorder on a tree stump, gave her an injection of
venom in each arm and leg, then held the smelling salts under her nose.

She was calmer now. Lenny supposed it was the mask. She could talk to a
face. “I’ll double whatever he’s paying you. In fact, I’ll triple it if you’ll
kill him instead,” she said, absentmindedly rubbing a spot on her arm.

Lenny smiled. And watched.

“How much do you—Damn.” She jumped to her feet and looked at her arm,
which had begun to swell along with the burning. The burning quickly became
intense pain. Frothy vomit cut short her screams. Bursting blood vessels turned
the rapidly swelling flesh a dark reddish purple as violent spasms dislocated a
shoulder. Just before her eyes rolled back in her head, they found his, with an
expression of incomprehension.

That had been some time ago, and Lenny was quite satisfied that this
contract would be in and out.

The clock woke him at two a.m. He dressed normally, slipped on his
overalls, stuck surgical cap and latex gloves into a pocket, and chose a
silenced .22 pistol for the job. His twelve-gauge shotgun and high-power rifle
never left his car trunk and were no different from thousands of others
commonly used for hunting.