A Lover of Silver

I’m not a morning person. So when Liz opened the curtains on the sliding glass doors at the Marriott Hotel, the light hit my eyes like a hammer. My first thought was to strangle her.

When she began singing a rap song called Big Pimpin I was sure strangulation was too good for her. I opened one eye and let the eye follow her gyrating around the room.

She was naked. I thought she looked much younger and prettier last night, but then that was after I had lost count of the scotch and sodas. Margret the third party to our tryst was gone. I made a mental note to check my wallet.

I pulled the 200 count Marriott sheets over my head and plopped a down pillow over that. Didn’t work. To make sure it didn’t, Liz sat on my side of the bed bouncing up and down while she rapped shushing sounds replicating I knew not what. The rocking motion didn’t bode well for my stomach.

It was no use. I had to get up to make sure I didn’t lose last night’s overpriced dinner.

I stumbled to the bathroom with a pillow over each ear, closing the door hoping it was soundproof, I dropped my pillows and emptied my bladder of last night’s liquor. After a sigh and the customary jiggle, I moved to the large mirror to see if I still had hair. I was happy to discover there was. Dropping my robe, I got in the shower and let the hot water ease my headache.

When I got out of the shower, I stood facing the mirror again. On the fogged up glass, I squinted at a cryptic message in bright red lipstick. Since I didn’t wear lipstick and Liz wore garish purple, this message, it struck me, had to be written by the third party to our party. It read, “I want my share.”

This perplexing message had a way of jogging me fully awake.

Someone had come into the bathroom while I showered. Was it possible that Margret was back and wanted to party again, or was it my little rapper playing tricks? When I heard the bedside radio loudly echoing Liz’s funky rap music, I thought it a good idea to question the girl about her age once more, and her choice of music. I brushed my teeth, pulled my bottom eyelid down to look at my bloodshot eye, and checked the lengthening hair in my nose. I shaved quickly, cutting myself, took the towel to continue drying my revived hair, and went to find answers.

What I discovered was that Liz could no longer give answers. She was quite dead. Her youngish body lay naked on the bed in a spreading pool of blood. A cloth napkin was on her breast with something underneath holding it upright. Like a fool, I removed the napkin to find a steak knife from last night’s room service meal protruding from the left side of her chest.

I consider myself a person with a strong constitution. My constitution came up in the form of bile from last night’s meal. When that exited through my nose it burned like hell. I blew my nose on the towel to clear the remnants, sat in a red upholstered chair, and stared at the girl, then the room now in tatters. For several moments my mind could not cope with what I was seeing. I felt I had come from the bathroom into someone else’s suite. I ran a trembling hand through my damp hair.

Was this Margret’s doing?

I didn’t think tiny Margret could hardly carry out such a deed, she was only a bit more of a woman than Liz. How could she do something like this without making noise? How could I have not heard a thing? I wiggled my finger in my ears to check for water in case the shower had impeded my hearing.

Apparently, after killing Liz, Margret or someone had tossed the room, emptying drawers ripping up the bed, and making a general mess. I presumed the radio, still making that horrible noise, cushioned the sounds of what had happened in the room. Why no one had tried for me in the bathroom, I found puzzling, but thinking about it, the steak knife was the only weapon in the room. If it had been Margret she might have felt my six foot frame would not be as easy to overcome. Dismissing that thought, I wondered if the way things appeared was exactly as intended.

Was this to emphasize the crude lipstick message?

Although puzzling, the message was clear that someone wanted a share of something. What that something was I had no idea. Had someone else been in the room intent on robbing us while I was in the bathroom? Or had Margret left the room and come back while I did my morning business?

Searching the room with my bloodshot eyes I found no clue as to Margret having been here at all. Not a trace. I turned off the bedside radio, went to my knees and crawled to Liz’s purse. The contents were scattered around the foot of the bed. I looked for aspirin. None.

There was a blue box containing Midol, which because of the severity of my throbbing headache I was tempted to try.

Rummaging through the other items scattered near the empty purse I found a purple lipstick in a long faux gold tube, nail polish, a key ring with several keys, a photo of a small freckled boy, and miscellaneous match books. No wallet, and no identification. This was not going to be easy to explain to the police.

I sat back in the same chair and considered calling my partner at Wilson & Ledbetter Communications. Henry would be on his way to the agency by now, but thinking about it, he would be of little help.

I tried instead to reach Mark my attorney and best friend. He answered his cell with, “Can’t talk Bill I’m driving.” He disconnected. Good old Mark wouldn’t break a law if a life depended on it. In this case it did.

I called my sister Mary. She was also driving but knowing Mary, she didn’t give a damn. Laws were for other people. Breathless, I said, “Mary I need help.”

“What’s new about that?’

“This is serious.”

“So am I.”

“Listen, I mean this is really serious.” I said with a whiny voice.

“Ok, good lord now what.”

“I need you to come to room 1592 at the Marriott downtown.”

“I’m just on the five freeway out of La Jolla. What’s so important?”

“There’s a dead person in my room.”

“Yeah that sounds important. Now what’s the catch?”

“No I mean it, there’s a dead girl in my room.”

“You do it?”

“Dammit Mary hurry up. Oh, and stop by a store and get some bleach.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Hurry.” I closed my mobile.

+ + + +

While I waited, I tried to clear my mind enough to recall what sequence of last night’s events brought me here. There was the five o’clock happy hour at Marty’s Grill. The scotch and soda’s I recalled to a point. I had a fuzzy memory of meeting Liz at the bar, and wondered if I made a move on Liz. Or was it Margret who sat on the other side of me that suggested the threesome?

In a haze of memory, I recollected that we stopped at a Seven Eleven store, or a drug store to either check on something or buy something.

I vaguely remembered Liz paying for the room while I was just anxious to get to the room and get naked.

Now I was wondering why Liz paid for the room. Was I that special? I would like to think so, but come on. The girls were excited about something, but that drifted through the fog of my memory as did other events. I did remember that while I was in the bathroom last night someone had delivered room service. I recall that I was disappointed with a steak or whatever kind of animal I might have been eating.

I couldn’t remember being disappointed about the sex thing. Sadly, I don’t remember being pleased about it either. My recollection of the events of last night have disappeared like a wisp of smoke. That is until Liz woke me by opening the drapes.

While thinking about these things the room phone rang sending a rush of adrenalin surging up my chest. I hesitated about answering. Would it be Mary trying to remember my room number? It had to be Mary, who else would know I was here. I could never let a ringing phone alone. I picked up the room phone and said, “Mary?”

A muffled, and distorted male voice said, “We want our share. You have two days to give us an answer. If not there will be dire consequences. We’ll call you then.”

The phone went dead. Who the hell was that, and how would whoever it was call me? Did they have my phone numbers? I had no land line at my Condo. Never saw the need. Maybe they had my cell. The more I thought about it the more frustrating it became. Margret was the only one that knew I was here, and that didn’t sound like a woman’s voice unless she had bronchitis or sucked down to many Marlboro cigarettes.

And what share? Of what? Two days for an answer about what? The voice said we, so I could assume Margret was involved in trying to get this unknown share of this unknown something.

I got dressed, went to the bathroom gathered the towels I had used, and put them in a pile. With a fresh towel, I wiped the mirror. With another, I wiped down everything I could think of, phone, door handles, utensils, bathroom fixtures, everything.

I pulled the top sheet off the bed and put Liz’s purse and loose items in it. There was blood and who knows what on the bottom sheet so I pulled that from under Liz and added it to the first sheet. How I would get it all out of the room, I had no idea, but explaining this to the police was not an option.

There was a knock on the door. I stumbled over the bed sheets, and peeked through the security eye. It was my tiny sister Mary not looking happy, and holding a large white bottle of bleach. When I opened the door, she pushed past me. “What have you got yourself into now?”

When she saw the bed there was no need for an answer. At least not yet. Mary’s hand went to her mouth and she gasped, “Damn Bill you really meant it. What have you done? Is she really dead?”

“I’ll explain later, but first I want you to know I didn’t do this.”

“Who, who, did?”

“I don’t know. Now I need your help. We need to bleach the room and get out of here.”

Mary stood stock still looking me in the eyes. For a long moment, she said nothing giving me her infamous ‘are you crazy’ look. Her hand still on her face began to tremble. When she spoke, it was almost a whisper, “Bill you have to call the police. Have you called the police?”

“How would I explain this? I don’t know this girl, she has no identification, and I slept with her last night.” I would wait to tell her about Margret.

“And so you’re going to wipe down the room and run? Have you been reading those detective stories again? What about DNA, did you use a condom?”

“Mary listen, I don’t remember much about last night so right now I have to get out of here, I’ll explain everything later.”

“You don’t care that you’re making me an accessory?”

That gave me pause. “Leave the bleach and go then.”

“The hell you say. I can’t escape being involved now even if I wanted to.”

“Ok then stay, but let’s get busy.”

+ + + +

We made it out of the hotel without raising suspicion. Once in Mary’s car I breathed a sigh of relief and watched her out of the corner of my eye. I waited for the explosion. She sat silent. That could mean my browbeating was yet to come.

I must explain about Mary. Two years younger than me, I had always sought to be her big brother protector. Mary never saw it that way. Independent is not enough to describe her personality. She could be sweet when it suited her, and mean as hell when it didn’t. When at the ages of 21 and 19 we lost our parents in an accident on the five freeway, we became co-dependent and closer than we had ever been. I have always known that in today’s world this is an exception. Most siblings want to kill each other. Though we live separate lives it’s a custom for us to spend at least one or two nights a month at dinner or the theater. If either one of has a lover or something more serious we never let it interfere with our date night. If they complain about our being unusually close they would soon be history. I guess to sum it up Mary is my best friend.

I don’t know why I didn’t want to go to my downtown apartment. I suppose I thought the cops would be waiting for me there with red lights flashing and shotguns resting over the hood of their cars. Mary said nothing when I suggested we get rid of the evidence.

We dumped the bloody sheet and its contents, except for Liz’s purse, in a dumpster behind a downtown market. From there we started for San Diego’s North County.

Mary’s condominium was in Carlsbad. Her apartment almost fronted the l0l or Carlsbad Blvd across from the Pacific Ocean. It took forty minutes to get there.

On the way, questions flew at me like the long formation of Pelicans that soared along the beach route with us. I explained with considerable embarrassment last night’s situation. Mary tisk tisked in her usual manner of scolding as the story unfolded. She interrupted my story and said, “So this Margret could explain all this?”

“I suspect she had something to do with Liz’s death, but it was a male voice that called.”

“Damn Bill I wish you would grow up and act your age. I can’t always get you out of trouble you know.”

I hung my head hoping the mock humility would lessen the blistering I was due to receive. I turned my face away and regarded the Disney looking Mormon Temple off the five freeway.

Mary sighed, “So I think you’re going to suggest that we need to find this Margret.”

“Exactly.” I said to quickly.

Mary took her eyes off the road and gave me a long look. “You think anyone at Marty’s could identify Margret, like maybe the bartender?”

“It’s the place I thought we could start.”

“We? What’s with this WE?”

Looking into Mary’s blue eyes I said, “Come on sis I need your help. What if I ran into Margret or her male cohort? I can’t be seen in there, and keep your eyes on the road.”

Turning her attention back to dodging traffic she said, “That’s a lame excuse for involving me while you stick your head in the sand.”

“I’m not sticking my head in the sand, and you didn’t answer me. Are you going to help?”

Mary rarely swore, but while smacking the steering wheel with the palm of her hand she mumbled, “Damn,..... shit,.... damn....damn.”

In a whining childish little brother voice I said, “Mary I’m your brother. You have an obligation.”

Her stoic glare told me that the whining was not working. “How about Arthur?” I asked. “After all he’ll soon be a part of the family.”

Puffing a slow big breath through pouty cheeks she said, “My fiancé is smarter than that. I also think he would want to kick your butt or arrest you for this affair. He’s a detective sworn to uphold the law remember.”

There went that appeal. After a few minutes of strained silence, I suggested we stop at the supermarket off Palomar Airport road to pick up some wine or vodka. Mary never had anything other than ‘Two Buck Chuck’. I needed a little hair of the dog.

+ + + +

I called my office at Wilson & Ledbetter Communications from Mary’s spare bedroom in the two story condo. Mary Kay Schneider the receptionist answered. Everyone called her Mickey. She was five feet tall and almost as round. Mickey practically ran the office. She knew it, and bend over and kiss your butt goodbye if you crossed her.

“Mickey it’s Bill, is Henry in yet?”

“Yes sir, I’ll ring him.”

“Wait Mickey, just give him a message. I’ll be out of the office today and possibly tomorrow. I’ll explain later.”

“Uhhh, out of the office....and you don’t want to say why? Are you crazy? You think for a moment Henry will accept that without a good reason?”

“I don’t give a damn if he gets bent, just do it ok?”

“Yes sir.” She said through what sounded like clinched teeth.

I would have to pay for this. I knew Mickey would find a way to get revenge. It seems nobody just took orders without bitchen anymore. I would have to take her See’s candies or pastries to placate her.

As I closed my cell phone I thought about telling Henry to go to hell for sending me to Marty’s. It was his idea. He said there were a lot of girls there that loved a good time. I took that to mean exactly what it was. If I called him, he would ask a lot of questions and would probably learn who I was with. I decided that when we talked I would never mention Liz, Margret, or Marty’s.

+ + + +

Mark Holder my best friend, was an attorney with Akers & Akers, a big shot law firm downtown. I called him again. This time he answered, “Bill sorry I couldn’t talk when you called earlier, what’s up?”

“I need to see you. You have time this afternoon?”

Might have, but what’s up, you sound a little frazzled.”

“I’ll explain when I see you. Meet me at Morton’s at two. Can you make it?”

I heard papers shuffle. “I hope this will lead to billable hours.”

+ + + +

Morton’s was typically quiet in early afternoons. Today was no exception. Exactly what I needed.

Mark was already seated at the bar looking at the shelves of booze highlighted by blue neon bulbs. In front of the bar is a line of swivel stools. Behind those there’s a row of high tables where one couple sat talking in a low monotone. I sat next to Mark and ordered a scotch and soda. More hair of the dog. I watched Mark sip his martini and push his wavy blond hair from his forehead. He looked older today. His eyes were bloodshot. Maybe there was trouble at home.

Mark stared at my face. “You cut yourself shaving?”

I brushed at my chin.

“No. The other side.” He said.

I used the paper napkin that was under my scotch. “I get it?”

“Yeah. Now tell me what’s going on.”

I looked at my shirt and jacket wondering if I had traces of Liz. In almost a whisper I took my time explaining. The more I talked, the wider Marks eyes grew. At one point he interrupted, “How was the sex?”

“Damn Mark.”

“Ok, go on.”

I looked at the couple next to us. They were playing hand on thigh not looking at us. I continued with my story bringing Mark up to the moment. He looked at his martini shaking his head slowly. “Not good, not good. You want me to represent you?”

“You think I’m going to need a Criminal defense attorney?”

“What do you think?”

“I was thinking you could have your investigator help me find Margret. Maybe I won’t need a lawyer.”

“You should have gone to the police you could have left evidence behind.”

“I knew you were going to say that, but Mark, I wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“You going to take me on as your attorney?”

“I’ve never needed an attorney before.”

“You do now. I might be able to cover your ass for a while.”

“You’ll help?’

“If you’re arrested and charges are brought. Yes. In the meantime, we need to see about finding this Margret. I can have Ernie do some searching, but don’t get in his way and keep it quiet.”

I could hear Mark breathing. “You there?” I heard a long sigh.

On second thought, I don’t know what good the search is going to accomplish. If we find her she’ll just deny any involvement, and you’ll have a hell of a time proving anything. That is unless you had an eyewitness. Which according to you is now dead.”

“I just want to talk to her. Maybe she had left early and was not involved in Liz’s death, but she might shed some light on things.”

“Hmmmm.” He said thinking out-loud.

“Look can you just have him start with Marty’s?” I said glancing at the entwined couple behind us.

“Just let me handle things. You make yourself scarce. In the meantime we’ll wait to see what the police discover.”

+ + + +

The Tribune carried the story in the local North County news section. A maid had discovered the body of an unidentified woman on the fifteenth floor of the downtown Marriott. The apparent homicide was being investigated. The police had no suspects at this time. There was not much more said in the article other than some talk about San Diego’s increasing violence.

I sat my cooling coffee on a side table, and tossed the paper on Mary’s imitation leather couch. At least for the moment we had a window of opportunity to find Margret.

I opened my cell and called Mark. “You see the paper?”

“Ernie told me about the article. He’s looking for the missing woman starting today. Just stay calm.”

“Easy for you to say.” I said looking at my watch.

“I know you Bill, you can’t leave things alone. You're a fixer. This time I don’t want you playing detective.”

“Ok.” I knew before I said it, that I couldn’t or wouldn’t sit on my hands. That was just not me. I got Mary to do it instead, reminding her that Margret was a petite brunette with a small heart shaped birth mark on her left cheek.

+ + + +

Thinking about my brother, I found myself going eighty on the five freeway. Just like when we were kids, Bill had me doing his dirty work. I fumed at my inability to say no. Glancing in the rear view mirror I saw a black and white coming up fast behind me. All I needed now was a ticket to compound problems. The cop raced by without slowing.

When I reached downtown I parked my overpriced BMW on Front St., and walked facing a strong ocean breeze, to Marty’s on Market. A small sign in the window told me I was in time for the four thirty to six thirty happy hour.

When I opened the faded red door I was stunned by the smell of stale beer and wet cigarettes. I stood inside for a moment to let my eyes adjust to the darkness. It was a dingy dump, but then I tended to compare every bar to my frequenting La Jolla’s pricy hot spots.

Marty’s is just one large room with booths in an L shape lining the wall on the left and the back wall. The long bar on the right seated about twenty people. A postage stamp sized dance floor was in the middle of the room surrounded by dark wooden tables. There were only a few people in the place, which was no surprise. Two men in suits were at the bar sitting next to one another in a huddled conversation. A man and woman in one of the far booths leaned on a table holding hands.

I went to the end of the bar where the bartender would ordinarily pass drinks to the hostess to deliver. I waited until he decided he couldn’t out wait me. The curly haired guy sauntered to the end of the bar and said, “Help you Miss?”

“I know this will sound silly but do you work nights?”

He leaned forward over the bar to check me out. “I get off at eight.”

I smiled my prettiest smile. Tempting, but I’m trying to find someone that was in here a couple nights ago. Tuesday I think it was.”

“Someone? Well let’s see, Jimmy Hoffa was here. That work?”

I wanted to smack the smirk off his face. I smiled again, “She’s a brunette about five-five. Pretty blue eyes, nice figure. She was in here with an older woman and a guy about six two, dark curly hair. Has a small scar on his forehead.”

His smile widened into a toothy grin. “Ok that describes about forty percent of the male and female population. Anything else?”

“Let me ask again. Do you work nights?”

“No.”

“You could have said that earlier.”

“You could have asked earlier.”

“I thought I did. So could you tell me who works the night shift?”

“Harry. He comes in at eight thirty.”

As I turned to leave without a thank you, the woman in the booth stood and walked toward the front. Heading for the girl’s room I assumed. She was a brunette, wore a mini-skirt, high heels, and had a great figure. Described a million women but I thought ‘what the hell’. She looks like a hooker. I followed her.

The restroom was empty except for one stall where I could see a pair of red high heel Gucci pumps showing below the door. I put my purse on the four sink imitation marble counter top, and put on one of my brighter Revlon red lipsticks. I dabbed the lipstick on my cheeks, rubbed, and smoothed it out. Moving in a hurry, I put on more mascara. The toilet flushed and the woman came to the sinks. While I continued to darken my eyelashes I said, “Hi. You workin tonight?”

She looked at my reflection for a long moment. “Yeah, you?”

“Yeah, but maybe it’s too early. It pick up here?”

“Later.”

“My on your turf?” I didn’t talk prostitute language. I hoped I wouldn’t give myself away.

“Don’t worry bout it.”

Watching her in the mirror she freshened her lipstick. She was a pretty brunette. No wonder Bill took an interest. I said, “What’s the traffic usually stand?”

“They all try to cut prices honey.”

“Drinks?”

“They don’t seem to mind ten dollar tea, but you gotta give the barkeep his.”

Thanks. My name is Mary.”

“Margret.”

When she turned toward me I noticed the small dark birth mark. My heart jumped. I forced a poker face. I had found Margret. “Nice ta meetcha.” I said.

She nodded but didn’t reply, and we walked out together. I had the feeling she resented the hell outta me.

To carry on my charade, I sat at the bar for another fifteen minutes. No one came in. I left a tip for my tonic water and left. Bill would be ecstatic.

+ + + +

I think it was around eight in the evening when my cell rang. I was in the middle of watching NCIS. “Yeah this is Bill.”

“Good evening Bill. Have you decided to share?”

“Share? Who is this; I don’t know what you’re talking about. Share what?

“Don’t act stupid Bill. We feel 50% is fair. You would scarcely miss it.” It was the same masculine muted voice.

“Is 50% of whatever it is, worth killing for?”

“So you do have it. That’s good.”

“Look I don’t know what you’re talking about. So don’t bother me.” I snapped the cell shut spilling a bit of my vodka.

My cell rang again. As usual, I couldn’t resist. Childish mistake.

“Just a reminder it’s us or the cops. I don’t think you would look good in orange.”

I didn’t say anything. Waiting.

“Silence means you’re thinking about it. That’s good Bill, but remember if you cash it without us, you’re a dead man.”

The phone went dead.

Cash it? It could be only one of a few things. A cashier’s check, which I certainly didn’t have, a large bill, but that didn’t make sense. Bonds? A guaranteed investment certificate? A CD? What the hell did the voice mean? I didn’t own anything valuable enough to kill for.

With all this rolling through my mind, Mary came in all smiles, carrying a grocery bag. Before I could tell about the call she said, “I found her.”

“What?”

“I found Margret, you dummy.”

I stumbled over the ottoman to Mary. “You little darling. Where did you find her? Who is she? You know where we can talk to her?”

“She’s a prostitute, which I’m sure you already knew. I found her at Marty’s.”

“Oh-oh, Mark’s going to be upset. He was sending his investigator to Marty’s.”

“Why did you send me there and not tell me that?” Mary sighed sitting the bag down on the counter of her small kitchen.

I followed her there feeling sheepish. “Sorry I didn’t think you would......I mean I didn’t think you’d....”

“Yes I know you didn’t think. I could have been in deep caca. If Margret killed for whatever it is they are looking for, she may not stop at just one killing.”

“Sorry sis, it’s just I can’t wait for the police to come for me, I had to do something.”

“You had to do something? What the hell did you do?”

I knew she was mad when she swore. “Well I mean we couldn’t just sit on our hands.”

Hands on her hips she said, “There you go with that we stuff again. I think I should stay out of this and let Marks investigator handle it.”

“Look I’m sorry. Ok?”

“Sorry? Sorry? You sure are.”

I followed her into the living room. She was really mad. I couldn’t win, I changed the subject quickly. “Arthur called, said you should call him.”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“It might be important. Maybe he has some information about the police investigation.” I added, “I also got a call from them.” I said falling into the recliner.

“Them? You mean them?”

“Hello. Yes I mean them, and they were not nice.”

Facing me with a hand once more on her hip she glared, “What did they say?”

“They threatened to go to the cops if I didn’t share.”

“Share what?”

“That’s the question I’ve been asking myself. They said I had better not cash it without them.”

“I still don’t understand. Cash what?”

“That’s what I been puzzling over. I just said that.”

“I’m going to call Arthur.” She huffed.

While she did that, I went back to NCSI. I missed the ending. Damn nothing was going right. My cell buzzed on the end table. It was Mark and I could tell he was not a happy camper. “What the hell were you doing at Marty’s today?”

“I wasn’t.”

“Well your sister was and you know what I mean.”

“She thought she would just drop in.”

“Dammit Bill, I told you not to snoop around. Ernie had a hell of a time haggling with the bartender. He said that Ernie was the second person looking for a woman with only a vague description.”

“Mary found her.”

“Wha, what?”

“Yeah she found Margret.”

“She get an address or anything?”

“No. Just that she hangs out at Marty’s working some guys like me.”

“If you could just keep it in your pants......ok, I’ll have Ernie re-visit and try to pick up Margret. If she’s working a bar it shouldn’t cost you much.”

“Cost? Me? Last time it was one fifty for each girl.”

Mark said, “Well I’m not going to pay for Ernie’s night out.”

“Yeah well, tell him to go cheap. I got an expensive lawyer on the payroll.”

“Remember stay out of the way, and maybe I’ll get to bill you for something. And Bill, I mean it, don’t get in Ernie’s way you’re gonna screw up everything.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I snapped the phone shut.

Mary came into the living room with her phone in her ear. She held up an index finger, suggesting just a second. She said, “I’ll tell him. Love you.”

Mary closed her phone snapping it on her hip. “Arthur said that the police have discovered that the room you were in was obtained by someone using a phony Visa card. They’re looking for the owner of the card. He also said that he could go to jail for not telling his boss that the woman’s name was Liz, and that you were involved.”

“Is he going to rat me out?”

“There you go again, you read too many crime books. No, he’s not going to rat you out. He’s a detective Sergeant but not in homicide remember? He’s able to cover your backside, but he’s not officially on this case.”

That was a small reprieve. I knew when the police found the owner of the Visa card that that they would also discover it had been stolen. Most likely it was held by a Jack, or John, or whatever they’re called.

Mary said, “Now what Inspector Clouseau?”

“I suppose we wait. They didn’t give me a timetable this time.”

“In the meantime you should be thinking about what it is they want.”

“I’ve done that.”

“Try to stay sober and think about it again.”

I did just the opposite. When Mary left to work, I got fall down drunk.

+ + + +

Wednesday morning in the middle of watching The View, my cell rang. I looked at the number and wondered why I had never thought to look at the list of incoming calls before. I didn’t recognize the number but knew who it was.

I answered. “I don’t know what you want. Don’t you understand that?”

A woman’s voice said, “Yes you do Bill. Now you have two days. 50% is fair. If you agree we’ll give you instructions how we can carry out the transaction.”

A woman’s voice. Margret was involved. We. She said we. Two people wanted 50%. What the hell?

I said, “Margret I don’t know what you’re talking about, and till now, I couldn’t get my head around you being responsible for Liz’s death.”

“I’ll explain someday Bill. In the meantime the net after taxes, is three hundred and forty million. You couldn’t spend all that if you tried. So you won’t miss a hundred and seventy million.”

“Look Margret, I’ve said this to many times, I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

It hit me. I stood up spilling my cereal bowl all over my robe.

“I’ll be damn. Are you talking about the lotto?”

“We knew you understood Bill; now why act as if you don’t.”

I said it again. “I’ll be damn.”

“You're stuttering Bill. So here’s the plan. We think it would be a good idea if we formed a legal partnership or LLC. The corporation can have an attorney receive the money on behalf of our arrangement. In that way we can stay anonymous.”

I thought about it. “Ok you’re putting the cart before the horse. If we find the ticket, we might do as you suggest. However, if that’s the case, the LLC will have two attorneys and no monies released without a co-signature. Or if you want, we can put the monies in a trust, and have a neutral executor. Either way it accomplishes keeping our identities private.”

I heard myself saying the words and wondered how the hell I summoned them. I was talking about millions, and doing so, without thinking about Liz or keeping the money for myself. I had put my foot in my mouth once more.

“My my, Bill, you are quite the lawyer. I thought your business was advertising.”

I wiped perspiration from my forehead and said, “Let me remind you again, I don’t have the ticket. I never saw a ticket, and even if I had it, I don’t know where or who purchased it.”

While the words came from the dark recesses of my brain, I had a feeling of exhilaration. Could I have somehow gotten the ticket while I was drunk? Did I know about the ticket and had forgotten about it?

“You don’t remember stopping at a Seven Eleven that evening?”

“No, I remember very little about that night.” So that was why we stopped at a Seven Eleven. Did I buy a lotto ticket?

“Are you saying I bought a lotto ticket, and if so why kill Liz?”

“You didn’t buy it Bill, Liz did. She wouldn’t share, nor would she tell us where it was. Her death was a tragedy. I have feelings about that, but the bottom line is, after having searched everything Liz had with her we found nothing. That leaves you. We believe that you have it and are now feigning innocence.”

“I don’t have the damn thing, I told you that!”

“Till Friday Bill. That will give you time to think about it, and refresh your memory. If you continue to stall, we think a few fingers or toes will convince you, it’s not worth the delay.”

“I don’t have the damn ticket!” I screamed.

They phone was dead. I looked at the phone number of the incoming call. I dialed it back. I didn’t get a ring or a busy signal. It was dead air. I checked to see if I had any other calls with the same number. Again a blank.

I called Mark to see if Ernie’s date turned up anything. Jackie said he was in a meeting. Couldn’t be disturbed. I left my cell number.

+ + + +

Mary came home at five thirty. I was completely wired. Scotch was not helping. She found me in my cereal covered robe, pacing the floor. “Bill what’s wrong, you sick?”

“No, no, no. I had another call.” I explained about the lotto more harshly than I meant.

Mary sat down on the lounger and kicked off her shoes. “Bill you understand that the odds of someone winning the last lotto were 170 million to one?”

“So what?”

“Are you sure these people are after a lotto ticket?”

“What else could it be, and yes they said so. I have two days to find it or I lose a finger or something.”

“You what?”

“They said I would lose fingers if I didn’t come through.”

My cell buzzed in the pocket of my robe. The number was Marks cell. “What took so long?”

“Ok what now.”

I got another call. It’s a lottery ticket their after.”

He was quiet for a moment, “Start over.”

“I explained, including the toes and fingers thing, and the dollar amount. He said, ‘Damn for that kind of money I would take your head.’

“Very funny.”

“Do you have the ticket?”

“Hell no, you think I would still be in the U.S. if I did?”

“I think you should think about every move you made that night.”

“Besides that, what am I going to do?”

“Little we can do. If we get Margret’s last name or an address, it would hardly do any good to give it to the police. There’s been no crime committed on her part that we have solid proof of. We can’t prove they threatened you or even that Margret was with you that night. So I don’t think you want to get the police involved. All we can do is have Ernie find her. We’ll decide what to do then.”

“We’re gonna have a problem. As far as I know, there was no physical evidence of her being in bed with Liz and me. Like a damn fool, I took the bedding with me, and wiped the room down.”

I think you’re playing with a warped hockey puck. Think about it again, is there anything else you took from the room? Anything?”

I thought for a moment. ”I kept her purse.”

“Search it. Look at everything.”

“And then what?”

“We’ll think of something when you find the ticket.”

“Mark you’re a worse detective than I am.”

“Maybe you should do what they say. You would still be a rich man.”

“A lover of silver is not satisfied with mere silver.” That’s in the good book. The point is they probably won’t be satisfied with half.”

“I think any fool would be. That’s a lot of moola.”

“Am I paying you for this?”

“Sorry. Look just find the ticket, ok. I can draw up an LLC or whatever. I can get a claim form on-line, then it’s probable I can represent both parties and handle the details with the California Lottery. I’ll check the proper procedures. I’ve never had a client that won three hundred and forty million after taxes. I’ve never had a client that won anything.”

“What if the cops could get the video tapes from the Seven Eleven? They might ID someone buying the ticket.”

“They may have a video, but it wouldn’t prove anything. Obviously it had to be this Liz woman you nailed. If Margret bought it, she wouldn’t be dunning you now. Anyway it would be a long shot and prove nothing.”

“Shit. I’ll call you later.”

I snapped the phone closed. Mary gave me that, so what happened look. I said, “We have to find the ticket. It could be in Liz’s purse.”

“Where’s the purse?”

“I don’t know you had it when we dumped the sheets and stuff.”

“What do you mean me? There you go again with the, ‘Me, We’ stuff.”

I sat in the recliner, rubbed my forehead, and wanted another drink. Knowing that wasn’t the answer I tried to recall what we did at the dumpster behind the grocery store.

I remembered taking the purse out of the sheets before we threw the entire lot in the dumpster. Did I sit it on the ground? I couldn’t recollect that. I was sure I handed it to Mary.

“Mary, I handed the purse to you right before we got back in the car.”

“No you didn’t I would have remembered that.”

I felt an eerie feeling in my stomach. The realization of being in grave danger crept through my mind. I had difficulty breathing. What now? It would do little good to go back to twenty four hour grocery downtown, yet I knew I was going.

+ + + +

A street person kept a wary eye on me as I stuck my head in the smelly dumpster behind the grocery. It was empty just as I was afraid it would be. I stood looking up and down the alley with my hand shading my eyes. A man in rags appearing as though he hadn’t seen water in a decade pushed a shopping cart with squeaking wheels past me. He glared at me the whole time, as if I might forcefully take all his worldly possessions, or maybe he resented that I was on his turf.

I said, “Pardon me I’m looking for a purse my wife may have dropped here.”

The old man kept going, but slowed. “I’m willing to pay five hundred dollars for it, if you find it.” I shouted at his back.

The man stopped, turned, and pushed the squeaky cart back. He wore shoes that looked as if they would fall apart any moment, his hair was shoulder length, and his eyes looked like brake lights on a diesel truck. I wished I had been standing upwind. He reeked of cheap wine and who knew what else. His grocery cart I’m sure held everything he owned.

“What it looks like?” He asked in a booze graveled voice.

I had to guess. I think it was brown with gold trim. It had a long strap for carrying it over a shoulder.”

“Scuse me, you think it was brown? Don’t you know what your wife’s purse looks like?”

“It was brown with gold trim, like I said.” This was not working.

“I aint seen it but I’ll tell a few people. Got a card or something?”

“No but if you’re a regular around here I’ll be back. In the meantime here’s twenty dollars to keep your memory clear enough to ask your friends.”

“Ya don’t hav ta insult me ya know. If I find someone who knows where the purse is, I have to split the five hundred with em. I think I should get a finder’s fee, say an extra hunderd.”

“Done. I’ll be checking back.”

I got in my Volvo and watched the old guy stagger away. This was a ridiculous long shot. If the bum had found it, he would have thrown it in the dumpster when he determined it was worthless, but desperate times mean desperate measures. As is said.

+ + + +

While I was downtown, I dropped by Marty’s. Mark would kill me if he knew. I had no idea what I hoped to find. Just felt right. Anyway, if Margret was there, maybe I could reason with her.

Feeling right and being right are two different things. I found no Margret, so I sat at the bar drinking a happy hour scotch and wondering why I had thought she would be here. After all if she was about to get a hundred and seventy million dollars why would she hang around a sleazy bar.

The bartender kept watching me. That made me nervous. Did he recognize me as being in here with Liz and Margret? If so when the cops discovered Liz’s identification, they would end up here. How could I be so stupid? I looked at the bartender wiping a glass while looking at me the whole time. I smiled my best smile, put a ten on the bar and left.

When I got to my car I put two more quarters in the meter, got in and called the office.

Mickey answered. I said, “Mick it’s me Bill. Is Henry in?”

“Yes sir and I’m afraid he’s not too happy with you.”

“What’s up?”

“I overheard Henry say you’re not tending to business.”

“Anything else?”

“Alliance Electronics called and wanted to know if you still wanted them to re-do their web site.”

“Give the call to Mr. Ledbetter.” I replied.

I heard her breathing, waiting for me to explain myself.

“Let me talk to Henry, and check my e-mails. Anything important you can get me on my cell.”

She put me on hold. I listened to ballroom music while I waited. We had to do something about the elevator music. Probably drove clients crazy.

“Where the hell you been?”

Henry was pissed. He said, “I thought you would be out for an afternoon, not for years!” Henry shouted.

“I got personal problems I have to clear up Henry. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“Personal problems? Crap you don’t know from personal problems. Walk in my shoes for a change.”

“Ok, ok don’t go on about this.”

“Allison Electronics wanted to know how we were going to tie in their print advertising with the new website you suggested. How the hell would I know, you never said anything about it?”

“I’ll take care of it so settle down. I’ll be in as soon as I can.”

Henry’s voice softened, “You got personal problems you can’t talk about? Come on Bill we know each other like a book. You can talk while you do your share of things around here.”

“Jeeezz lighten up Henry, I’ll be in tomorrow. We’ll talk.”

“Are you on one of your wine and roses trips?” He said with more than a touch of sarcasm.

“I have to go. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

“Damn.” He said and hung up.

Henry could be a pain in the ass.

+ + + +

I decided while I was already downtown I would go by my condominium and check the mail. Bills were undoubtedly piling up.

The twenty-story condominium building on Front Street had been my home for three years. It had cost me a lot more than I could afford at the time, but the increase in clients had me convinced the economy would stay strong. So much for guess work.

Henderson our resident six foot four black valet with hands that dwarfed mine, opened my car door with a big smile. “We missed you Mr. Wilson. You been in Mexico again?”

“Staying with my sister Henry.”

“Yes sir. Nice to see you again.” He said taking my keys.

My condo is on the 20^th floor. It felt good to be back. I nodded at Audrey on the front desk and grabbed the first up elevator.

New carpeting was the first thing I noticed as I got off the elevator. The second thing was my door cracked open. I eased to the door to listen. No sounds. My heartbeat went up a few notches. I pushed the door open with my foot. Then a quick head check. What I saw in that split second upped my heartbeat to match Ginger Bakers improvisations. The front room was upside down. I looked at the number on my door thinking this was the wrong place. I looked at the door. It was my number.

Inching my way inside I saw my two plush leather chairs had been attacked by Jack the Ripper. Drawers lay in pieces, lamps were broken, and pictures were on the floor leaving a faded shadow behind. I moved to the kitchen and found that pots, pans, and expensive dishes were scattered over the floor. Damn it had taken me two years to get a complete set at Crate & Barrel.

For a moment, my mind was saying this could not be my home. So much so that I went back to check the number on the door again. Funny how the mind works. Something familiar becomes unfamiliar, and your head just will not accept what the eyes are seeing.

I stood in the kitchen for a long while to get my head together. Then I checked both bedrooms. Even the mattress’s had been torn apart. I went back to the kitchen, pushed things off the table, and sat looking at a Hobie Mirage in the harbor. Mentally I was on that boat wanting to sail away.

The fog drifted in from Point Loma. My mind switched channels. I thought about Margret and her cohort looking for the ticket. My Condo was obviously an indication of how determined they were. Would that determination get me killed? I knew the answer.

I jarred myself loose of those thoughts, and called the front desk. I asked Audrey if she had anyone looking for my apartment number. She said nothing showed on the log for weeks.

I thanked her and started picking through the rubbish. It was a waste of time. I dropped what I was doing and called my insurance company. The agent said I needed to file a report with the Police, and take an inventory of missing items if any.

Did I want to do that? I decided it was not a good idea to bring attention to my circumstance, there would be too many questions. I would have to check with Mark first.

+ + + +

By the time, I reached Carlsbad the sun was setting over the Pacific. Mary wasn’t home when I got there, so I poured a glass of Chardonnay and watched what remained of the ball of fire sinking over the Pacific. As twilight took over, I realized that I was beginning to let depression work a serpentine route through my thoughts. I couldn’t find the damn ticket, my fingers were in danger of being lost, I would probably be arrested for a homicide, my business was suffering, and I kept getting those incessant calls from Margret. Shit.

Looking at the dull red glow of fading sunset my mind drifted to thoughts of the purse. I measured the possibilities. Unfortunately my thoughts led me to consider my sister. Could she have the ticket? That thought brought on even more depression. I just couldn’t let my mind take that path. I pushed the thought of betrayal out of my mind. The problem would not be helped by crazy suspicions.

I had to find the purse. Mentally retracing my steps with the purse, I still came up with the same conclusions. The dumpster, me misplacing it, Mary perhaps forgetting what we did with it or someone had taken the ticket from the car while we were in Ralph’s.

Grasping at straws, but thinking about the possibilities, I was sure it was still in the car when we left the market. I poured another glass of wine.

Just as I sat down in the recliner Mary came in. I said, “Work late?”

“Just got together with the girls after work. I had to go; I didn’t want to seem eager to come home. You find the purse?”

“No. I don’t think we’ll find it. If we left it behind the market, it’s long gone.”

“So you went after all.” She said throwing her purse on the couch.

I stared at the purse. “Yeah and I stopped at my apartment. Someone trashed it.”

“My god. You think Margret was there looking for the ticket?”

Dragging my eyes from the purse, I said, “Obviously. Her and her friend. They tore up the place pretty bad.”

“I’m sorry Bill. You call the insurance company?”

“They wanted me to file a police report. I don’t know if I want to deal with all the questions that will raise. Not now at least.”

She took off her shoes and fell back on the couch. “One of the girls at the office said the lotto ticket was on the news last night. They were talking about a winner and showed a picture of the Seven Eleven that sold it. The newscaster said no one had come forward yet, but that happened often.”

“You know where the Seven Eleven is?”

“Yeah its downtown.”

“Could you ask Arthur about getting the surveillance tapes?”

“What for? That’s won’t give you an address for Margret. Anyway, it would take hours to review the tapes and it might show a woman buying a ticket. Big deal.”

“You’re right; I’m just frustrated because we’re running out of time. I’ll ask Mark if Ernie’s found anything.”

+ + + +

Ernie Iverson slowly and painfully lifted his head from his chest. Through blurry eyes, he stared at a bright light looking as if it floated on air. The light centered on his face. He tried to call out. Through the fuzziness, he realized his mouth was covered with duct tape. He let his chin rest on his chest again, and listened for sounds. It was eerily quiet. Ernie tried to raise his head, but darkness came again.

Ernie woke slowly. He must have passed out. For how long? He wondered. The light was still staring at him like a single bright eye. He tried to look away, but found that he could not move his head, or his body. Something wrapped his arms behind him, and his body felt glued to the chair. It took several moments to realize that tape held him immobilized. While with Military Intelligence in Nam he had used it his self while interrogating prisoners. Trying to look past the light he began to remember recent events. He had gone to Marty’s to find a woman. What was her name? Mary or Martha? Something with an M.

He remember talking to one of the bartenders at Marty’s. From the description he gave, the bartender thought he might be describing one of the hookers that frequented the bar. He said he heard others call her Maggie. If she was the girl he was looking for, she pole-danced at a men’s club off the 15 freeway. “Girl’s Galore” was the name.

He had hit a home run on his first try. He remembered now that he found her at the club. She was having drinks with a tall thin guy at the bar. He sat next to them. When the woman left, to go fix her lipstick or whatever, he asked the man if he knew a girl named Martha or Margret. That was the last he remembered until he awoke to find himself duck taped to a chair.

Looking at the light he wondered how long he had been here, and like this. Hearing no sounds, he struggled against the duct tape. Nearly tipping the chair over he steadied himself. He tried again to see beyond the glaring light. There was simply blackness behind it. The room smelling of printers ink and chemicals remained silent. He slipped again into darkness. Ernie jerked awake with a terrible headache. His thoughts immediately returned to the woman. As he tried to fill in the blanks a hand appeared from nowhere ripping the tape from his mouth.

“Damn.” He yelped.

He could smell perfume and feel the presence of someone behind him. A female voice drifted from the darkness. “Ernie, who sent you?”

She knows my name. Was it the woman at the strip club? Did she go through my wallet to discover my name? If so she knew what business, I was in. Did she know who he worked for?

Ernie twisted his tattooed arms against his restraints. The tape over his mouth had prevented him from speaking, and taking a full breath. Now he sucked in a lung full of air tasting chemicals. Thinner? He couldn’t be sure.

Something hard hit his cheekbone. The blow sending pain pulsing through his eyes and head. This wasn’t the first time he had experienced this. Beatings for Ernie were not new.

“Who sent you Ernie?”

He took another deep breath. Still couldn’t see his assailants. Ernie mumbled, “No one.... Izz jist out for a good time. Why am I here? What did I do?”

Another blow. This time it was his mouth, splitting his lips. He could taste blood. He thought ‘what the...... I’m not gonna get the hell beat out of me just to pick up a hooker’.

“One more time Ernest. Who sent you?” A gruff voice asked.

Through swollen lips he mumbled, “My boss’s at Akers & Akers, and I don’t get paid enough for this shit.”

Mark was going to be pissed about his disclosure, but what the hell. What could be this important? Right now, he didn’t care.

He heard a muffled discussion. The voice was back with another question. “Ernie, who has the ticket?”

“Wha icket?” The swelling was worse.

“Who has the ticket Mr. Iverson?”

He licked at his lips. “What ticket? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Glancing down he could see blood spotting his once white shirt.

Another blow. This time rocking him and the chair. He moaned and gasped from the pain. He could feel swelling begin around his right eye.

“Have they found the purse?”

Gasping he said, “Please, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was asked to find a girl. I don’t know nothin about a ticket.”

The tape went back over his mouth. He sensed someone at his side. In his peripheral vision, he saw a slender tall man. He looked familiar. He turned his eyes away knowing that identifying his assailants could make things much worse.

A female voice behind him said, “I don’t think he knows anything of use.”

Ernie’s mouth was dry. He tried to lick his bleeding lips. He just wanted the hell out of here.

A muffled male voice said, “You think they have it?”

“We’ll give it some time. Maybe they’ll find the ticket or the purse. Or both.” The woman’s voice said.

“What’ll we do with this guy?” The male said tapping Ernie on the head.

“They won’t find him here for a while.”

“You think he saw you?” The gravelly voice asked.

“No, I don’t think so but what difference does that make at this point.”

“You got his phone?”

“Yeah, let’s go.”

The pin prick in Ernie’s neck was unexpected. He tried to pull away, to get free, but the darkness came again.

+ + + +

Sunday morning I was up early so I made the coffee. Mary came down from upstairs at about eight thirty. “I need coffee.” She said holding her forehead.

“It’s ready your highness. Just sit down I’ll serve.”

I poured two cups and sat with her. She looked like hell. I said, “Those five glasses of wine last night might have something to do with the hammer in your head.”

“No shit.”

Mary never swears. She must be hung over. I said, “We didn’t decide what we were gonna to do.”

“I know.”

“We can’t just tell them we lost the purse. They’ll never believe that.”

“Do you have a gun?”

“Where did that come from? You think we should shoot it out with em?”

“Have one or not.” She asked, hand to her forehead.

“If someone hasn’t stolen it from my place. I have a 38 Colt. I don’t have a permit.”

“But you can get it?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

“I’m not good with guns.”

“It’s not for you.”

“Thanks for thinking of me.”

“You're welcome.” She said rubbing her forehead again.

“Other than a re-enactment of the OK corral, can you help with a realistic approach to our problem?”

Mary gave me a look. I knew I might have overstepped with the words “our problem”.

“What do you want me to say? We find the purse, find the ticket, or those idiots will kill us. Or I mean you.”

“I feel the love.”

“Well, what can I tell you?”

“Maybe some confidence builder. I don’t think that would be too much.”

She ignored me. “Ok enough; let’s go over that day, step by step. Maybe we’ll remember something.”

+ + + +

Sunday afternoon I called Mark. He was on the golf course. “Is it my money that’s paying $155 green fees?”

“Don’t be an ass”

“Just thinking frugal.”

“So I’m up next whatcha want.”

“It seems money doesn’t buy much these days.”

“I’m with a client.”

“I wanted to ask about Ernie, he’s spending my money. Did he find Margret, maybe get an address?”

“I’ve heard nothing from Ernie since Friday night. He was going to Marty’s to see what he could see.”

“Does that sound strange? I mean not hearing from him?”

“Not especially. He probably had too many while he was waiting for Margret to show up. Might be sleeping it off.”

I started to ask a question, but he said, “Hey I’m up. Shaved two strokes off my game so far. Call me tomorrow.” He closed.

I looked at my reflection in my martini. Something about Mark’s flippant attitude bothered hell out of me. Normally he would know exactly what Ernie was doing. He was a high dollar investigator prone to charge personal items to the firm.

Mary making noise in the kitchen jarred my mind back to the purse. The frightening thing was we didn’t know that the ticket would be in the purse, even if we could find the cursed thing. I decided tomorrow I would go get my 38.

I took my drink to the kitchen. Mary said, “You think you could wear something besides that dirty robe?”

“As a matter of fact I was thinking about taking a shower.”

“Praise the Lord.”

“How would you like to go out to dinner tonight with your big brother?”

“You going to wear that robe?”

“For you I’ll wear one of yours.”

“Then I’ll go.”

+ + + +

We went to a nice steak house near the entrance to Rancho Santa Fe. White table cloths, waiters with bow ties, the works. Our drinks were fourteen dollars each. I thought what the hell I’m a pseudo millionaire.

We looked at each other over the flickering candle in the middle of our table. Mary said, “You never treated me this nice before, what’s the occasion?”

“Last meal.”

“That makes me feel warm all over.”

“Thought that would cheer you up.”

As I said that, I saw Margret over Mary’s shoulder. She was sitting directly behind us in a booth against the wall. She was by herself. I sputtered a dribble of martini through my nose. It burned, reminiscent of the hotel thing. Mary seeing my lip leaking and my nose said, “How do you do at walking”

“Smart ass. It’s just that I see Margret sitting behind you.”

She started to turn. I grabbed her hand. “I don’t think it would be wise to turn around just yet.”

Mary’s eyes grew wide. “Don’t start with the funny stuff. You don’t see Margret, do you?”

Margret was looking intently at me. I said, “You think I should go see what she’s doing here?”

“You really see Margret?”

“Yes, so what should I do?”

“Running like hell would be good.”

“This is not the time to be a smart ass. She’s here. What do you think she’s doing?”

I knew Mary wanted to turn around, but she said, “I would guess she followed us. Wanting to see if we might lead her to the purse.”

“I’m not going to enjoy my steak with her staring at us. I’ll see what she wants.”

Mary put her hand out to stop me. I ignored it and went to Margret’s table. She scooted over and patted the vinyl next to her. I scooted into the booth. Margret spoke first. “Hi handsome, is that your girlfriend your with?”

“I think you know who it is. Now why are you following me?”

“First let me introduce you to my partner tonight.” She put her purse on the table. It fell open to display a small pistol.

“This is Harry. I call him ‘Harry Caray’. You know like the Japanese who flew their planes into U.S. carriers.”

Without taking my eyes off the gun I said, “So now you’re a historian and comedian of some sort?”

“Harry carries a lot of weight. You understand what I’m saying?”

“Oh ok. I’m a little slow, but I get it.”

“Follow the conversation then because I’m trying to be cute.”

“Forget cute, why are you following me?”

“What makes you think I am?”

“Ok come on.”

“I just wanted to follow our money around. Make sure it didn’t disappear into Mexico or something.”

“I don’t have it you know.”

“We’ve heard rumors like that.”

“Then what do you expect to find following me.”

“Funny thing about people and money, some people will lie their ass off about it. Figured you might be one of those who do.”

“I don’t have it. I mean it. I don’t have it.” Felt like my head would explode.

A man with his fingers yellowed from smoking, and holding a martini to his lips, glanced our way from a table in front of us. He was with a frizzy blonde who was having trouble getting her drink to her mouth. She gave me a droopy eyed look over her glass.

Glaring back at them I said, “What?”

The woman made some kind of sound and turned her attention back to whatever she was trying to drink.

Margret said, “Bill let me remind you, I was with Liz when she learned she had the winning numbers. That night while you were snoring, and at my suggestion, she went downstairs and made a copy.”

She refused to tell me what she did with it. The bitch changed her mind. Now if you have the copy it would make me feel a lot more comfortable about your willingness to share. A copy should give you confidence that I won’t stiff you.”

For a moment, I was stunned. “I thought she was your friend. I’m sure you thought so. That being the case, you surely could have talked her out of the copy.”

“I told you she wouldn’t budge.”

“And so you killed her.”

“I have a partner, and at the time we only wanted half. I was sure she had the ticket with her somewhere in the room. My partner and I could not get her to tell us where. I pleaded but she refused. In a fit of anger my partner stabbed her. The stupid bastard.”

“What if I’m wearing a wire?”

“Nice try. Just get the ticket and let’s split the damn thing.”

“Margret listen, will you just listen. I don’t have the ‘damn thing’ as you call it.”

Margret sighed, “If you don’t have it who does?”

“By now it could be a street person.”

“What does that mean?”

“When I cleaned up the mess you and your friend made at the hotel I took everything from the room and dumped it downtown.”

“You must have done a good job. Could be why I don’t read about you in the papers. That is not yet.”

“That’s right, and everything from the room went into a dumpster.” I looked into her eyes. “You don’t have to ask. I already went back and looked. Found nothing.”

She looked over my shoulder. “My partner thinks that if your sister lost a finger it would clear your memory. Two fingers might even urge you to tell the truth and help you recall where the purse is.

“Read my lips Margret. You’re not listening. I don’t know where the crappy purse is. If I did, I would be glad to share the money. You were right, a hundred and seventy million would make me quite contented.”

Margret frowned. “At least you’re leaning in the right direction, and remember half of the money technically belongs to me.”

“You’re delusional.”

“Don’t be a smart ass. I think we’ll give you three more days before fingers fall off.”

“Why can’t I make you understand I don’t have the purse, and remember no one knows if the ticket is in the purse? So why don’t you back off and see if you can escape being arrested for murder.”

“You keep digging the grave deeper Bill. You’re the only link the police will ever have to Liz’s sudden departure. I think you should act quickly so you can get out of the country.”

I swallowed hard. “I have to get back to my sister. You think about what I’ve said.”

As I scooted out of the booth, she said, “Three days.”

Back at our white tablecloth Mary gave me her ‘what’ look? I said it’s like spitting into the wind. A waste of time. I didn’t mention the gun.

“Why don’t we follow her for a change?” Mary asked.

When I looked over her shoulder Margret was gone. Damn why hadn’t I thought of that?

I didn’t enjoy my steak.

+ + + +

Monday morning I went by my downtown fogged in condo. Looking at the mess was depressing. I decided that I would have to get my insurance company on this before the HOA Gestapo threw me out.

I found my 38 colt in the shoe box where I left it in my closet. Margret missed it when they trashed the place. I took it, and the box of cartridges that were under my t-shirts.

Before I left, I pushed a broken lamp out of the way and stood looking from my tall windows looking at where the bay should be. The fog shrouded everything below me. Watching the swirl, my thoughts drifted to Arthur and my sister. Some brother-in-law he would make. Seemed he didn’t give a damn what happened to me. Loyalty and trust, where the hell was it when needed. To top that I had serious doubts about my longtime friendship with Mark. He didn’t seem particularly hurried to help me. More interested in golf or whatever lawyers were interested in. I went to go see him.

Leaving my condo, I found Henderson at the front door.

“Get yer car Mr. Bill?” He asked.

“Yeah thanks Henry. Say by the way anybody asking about me lately?”

He gave me a shrug, “Yez sir. There was a pretty woman and a tall skinny man asking about what number your place was. Told em how to find you. That ok?”

Shit. The cow was out of the barn, so it was too late to bitch at Henderson. Anyway he was too big for me to bully. As he started for my car I said, “Yeah that’s just fine Henry. No problem.”

I went to Marks plush office at Akers & Akers Attorneys at Law thinking that at the next meeting of the HOA, I would bring up something about our receptionist and our valet’s responsibilities.

A cute receptionist named Jackie, had me wait while she made a call in search of Mark. For a while, I watched her long legs disappear under her mini-skirt. She noticed me looking, to my embarrassment. She turned in such a way that the delightful view was no longer visible.

I read a Sports Illustrated from cover to cover. Jackie’s intercom buzzed. She said I could go back now. She gave me a white toothed smile. Was that an ‘it’s ok to look at my legs smile’? I smiled back.

Mark was on the phone when I knocked. I took a seat in front of his desk without an invitation. I waited looking at a photo on his desk of me with Mark and his wife Kathy at Disney Land. He swiveled his chair with his back to me and looked out of his outrageous office window. Whomever he was talking to, he said, “I think we can come to some arrangement. See me when it’s done.”

For a moment, he was listening to someone. He said, “No haven’t heard anything yet. Yeah ok.” He swiveled back and hung up.

I said, “You got time to talk?”

“Sure, I got a few minutes before I have to be in court. What’s up?”

“You hear from Ernie?”

“I was just talking to John Akers this morning about Ernie. Can’t locate him. I don’t know what’s going on. We have another investigator going to Marty’s today to see if he can pick up Ernie’s trail. John said we wouldn’t bill you. Yet.”

“He know about the lotto?”

“Akers won’t breathe a word, but expect some cost if you find the ticket.”

Would he suggest we put the cops on it?” I said cringing.

“We don’t need the cops, got it covered.”

I knew the firm would honor the attorney client thing so I shifted gears. “I talked to Margret last night.”

Mark glared, “I told you to back off.”

“I couldn’t help myself.”

He sighed, “You’re like a little kid, can’t stay out of the mud puddles. Ok tell me about it.”

I explained the conversation. Mark said, “Maybe you should talk to Mary’s boyfriend about some protection.”

“He’s in this deep enough. I mean I think he’s covering up for me. If he’s found out he could get ten to twenty himself.” I didn’t believe he would help.

Mark lit a cigar and put his feet on the desk. “You sure you thought of every possible spot you could have left the purse?”

“Yes, several times, and it’s against the law to smoke in here.” I said waiting for the smoke to hit me.

“You're getting senile.” He said blowing blue smoke at the ceiling.

I don’t know what had gotten into Mark I could understand his concern about Ernie but his distraction dealing with my case was puzzling.

After a wasted thirty minutes I left Mark with his promise that he would call me if he heard from Ernie. He warned me again about having contact with Margret. Yeah like I could control that.

From Mark’s office I went back to Von’s market, just in case. Parking behind the store I found the same disheveled street person. He was in the alley with a woman who looked like she had been on the streets much too long. Mr. smelly saw me pull up but remained seated on a large flattened cardboard box. He passed a cigarette or weed to the woman while watching me. When I approached, he smiled and stood smoothing out his tattered shirt with dirty hands. He spoke first, “Mr. lost purse. I didn’t think you would come back.”

“Well I thought I would see if you found out anything.”

“I didn’t locate your purse, but are you interested in some applicable information?”

I thought the old guy was pretty articulate when he saw fit. “What do you mean?”

“I mean sir, that I have information about the purse. Worth anything to you?”

“I don’t know. Depends on the information.”

“How much if I tell you who has the purse?”

“What’s your name?”

“Mr. Nobody.”

“Three hundred dollars Mr. Nobody.” I stuttered, heart beating fast.

The woman stood and adjusted her well-worn skirt. Mr. Nobody said, “Charlotte here, saw you when you dumped some sheets in the dumpster. They were pretty bloody. She knew that because she went to see what you had dropped off.”

My heart was thudding. I didn’t know which question to ask first, about the sheets or the purse. After an uncomfortable silence I decided, “Did Charlotte take the sheets?” I grimaced.

“I thought you wanted to know about the purse.”

“Yes, yes of course, I want to know about the purse that’s why I’m here, but I only have three hundred and forty dollars in my wallet.” I crossed my fingers.

“Three hundred will do. Tell em Charlotte.”

The woman’s two front teeth were missing and I had difficulty understanding her. The words came out in a lisp. “Thuu woman puth ith in thuu car.”

“A woman put the purse in the car?” I repeated.

“Thaz wha I sed.”

“The woman, what’d she look like?”

“Shmall, blk air, purty.”

I didn’t comment on the news, instead, I counted all my money and held it between thumb and forefinger. Mr. Nobody looking at the extra two twenties’ in my hand said, “For forty dollars I’ll answer your first question.”

I didn’t have to ask what that question was. I handed him the forty dollars. He said, “She didn’t take the sheets. There in the dump by now.”

I sighed, too loudly. The old man knew the blood didn’t come from my first adolescent menstrual experience, but he didn’t comment.

“Thanks Mr. Nobody. I hope our business remains discrete.”

He nodded and sat back down on the cardboard. Looking over my shoulder as I walked to the car, I saw him give the forty dollars to the woman. A generous business man.

+ + + +

On the way back to Carlsbad, I thought about what the woman said. There was no reason not to believe her. Had Mary put the purse in the car and forgotten about it? If so, where was it now? If she had taken the purse into her apartment, it was not because of the lotto ticket. We didn’t know about it then. Could someone really have taken it while we were in Ralph’s market? I had a horrible headache, it was too much. I had to talk to Mary.

+ + + +

Arthur Hurly, Mary’s fiancé, sat in the Lazy-Boy-Lounger with one leg dangling over the arm. He held a drink of something in his left hand. His black curly hair was over the ears, and a curl fell on his forehead. Arthur was a handsome rugged looking individual, something like you would expect a cop to look like in an action movie. He was Mary’s first real love. We had both had our share of casual hook-ups, but for her this relationship appeared serious. I was kinda jealous.

He said, “Mary’s not home yet.”

“Uh huh. She gets home around six. I take it you have some news?”

Arthur swung his leg down, “No just wanted to see if you did.”

“Nope. Did Mary tell you I finally talked with Margret?”

“Yeah. I wanted to talk to you about that.”

“And.”

“A couple boys investigating the Marriott murder said they found the credit card belonged to a second grade teacher. She has already contacted the credit card company, and has a new one. Obviously before the teacher realized it was missing Liz or this Margret used the card at the hotel. The woman remembers the last time she used the card was at Marty’s happy hour. It ties together.

As to this woman you call Margret the clerks at the hotels front desk have no physical recollection of a threesome checking in that night. They do however remember a woman fitting Liz’s description asking to use their copy machine. The woman gave the clerk an envelope that was picked up by a little grey headed woman around midnight or one o’clock.”

Arthur stopped to sip his drink and continued, “Marty’s bartenders, and the girls that work the place for Johns, have been questioned. They say they don’t know anyone named Margret or anyone that fits Margret’s description. Not all the girls that frequent Marty’s have been located for questioning but it’s appearing more and more like Margret don’t exist.”

“Damn. So what happens now?”

“I would ask you that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I can’t help having some doubts about there being a Margret.”

“But Mary knows that a man calls all the time about the ticket, and she was with me at the restaurant.”

“From what I understand Mary never saw the woman called Margret. She kept her back to the booth behind her, and evidently the lady left before Mary saw her.”

“What about the hooker she met at Marty’s?”

“I asked her about that. All she could tell me was that the woman said her name was Margret. A lot of women have that name. Could be anyone.”

“What the hell are you really saying?”

“Just some things for you to consider. Your Mary’s best friend. She trusts you implicitly; I would hate to see her involved in something like a homicide cover up.”

“Some friend you are. Crap, it sounds like your dumping on me.”

“If I’m to be part of this family I want to be certain we keep no secrets. I need to feel comfortable with your story. So far I’m stuck in a grey area.”

“Stick around you shit. You’ll believe it when one of us is murdered.”

“I’m not throwing in the towel. Just want you to think again about that night. Make sure your clear on the events, and remember I’ll help however I can.”

“Yeah, sure sounds like it.”

“Look Bill I’m already being eyed suspiciously by asking about the case, even my partner is giving me looks.”

“So have the cops found anything that connects me to the killing?”

“No, but remember this Margret is your alibi. She’s the only one that can absolve you if you’re arrested. There were no prints on the knife. The only evidence is a few hairs and fibers. Those are being examined for DNA, and that, could put a noose around your neck.”

He swallowed most of his drink. “However, the waiter was in the room with the service tray. The maid was in the room, the cops were there, and it didn’t help with all their tromping over the crime scene. In a courtroom and with a good lawyer you could have a chance. Your chances would be a lot better if this Margret is discovered, or she comes forward.”

“Arthur there was somebody else in the room. A man. He may have been the actual murderer.”

“Don’t tell me anything else. I don’t want to compound my problem with this.”

Mary came in the front door. She stood still for a moment looking at us both. Then she said, “Are you arresting my brother?”

“Don’t be alarmed sis. Arthur is here to tell me the latest. There is no news so don’t worry.” I looked at Arthur to see he confirmed what I was saying.

Arthur held out his hand toward Mary, “Everything is under control for now sweetheart. So come in and have a drink with us.”

Mary put a bag of groceries on the counter in the kitchen. She put things away. I wanted to ask her about the purse but couldn’t decide if this was the best time.

“You guys want a drink? I bought more vodka.” Mary said.

“Sure two olives.” I said.

Arthur said, “I found some bourbon.”

I heard her preparing the martini, “What did you do today Bill?” She asked.

Both Arthur and I walked into the kitchen. I don’t know why the thought struck me that the kitchen is the most frequented room in every home. At Mary’s it had become the comfort zone and the social center especially if she was cooking.

I said, “Went to see Mark, went by my condo, and to Von’s market.”

Mary looked at Arthur, and back. “You get the item we talked about?”

“Yes.” I didn’t think she would have told Arthur about the gun so I changed the subject.

“Mark said Ernie is missing. He hasn’t heard from him since he went to find Margret at the bar.”

“Who’s Ernie?” Arthur asked.

“Marks investigator.”

I thought what the hell. I blurted, “I also went to see the man behind the grocery store.”

Mary stopped mixing the martinis. “And?”

“Some woman that was with him, said she saw you put the purse in the car.”

“I did not!” She said with hands on her hips.

“I’m only telling you what she said.”

Arthur looked at each of us and said, “I assume you searched the car?”

“We looked everywhere. Under the seats, in the glove box, above the visors, every inch.”

“You look in the trunk?”

I looked at Mary she looked at me. “You did didn’t you Mary?”

Mary’s eyes went wide, “I thought you did.”

Arthur shook his head, “How could you two miss that.”

Mary knocked me aside rushing out the door. She used her remote before we reached the car. The purse sat on top of some sweaters. Mary jumped up and down like a small girl. “We found it, we found it.” She yelled at Arthur who was coming up behind us, “We found it!”

“I can’t believe you two. Like children. The most obvious place in the world and you didn’t even look?”

I hugged Mary lifting her off the ground. “You dummy. You should have thought of it.” I said in her ear.

She wiggled out of my arms. “Me? What do you mean me?”

“Ok us.” I said picking up the purse.

Mary spoke with her hand over her mouth, “Bill they could be watching. Act normal.”

I laughed. “I think we’ve gone beyond that. If they are watching then maybe I won’t get my fingers cut off.”

I tucked the purse under my shirt and tried in vain to walk normally back to the apartment. Arthur and Mary followed glancing behind us. Obvious all in all.

+ + + +

Once inside the apartment, Arthur stayed at the window facing the front while I took the purse to the kitchen counter, moved things out of the way, and dumped the purse. Mary let her hands move quickly over the items. I watched as I recalled each item. A purplish lipstick in a faux gold tube, nail polish, a key ring with several keys, a photo of a small freckled boy, and miscellaneous matches. No wallet, no identification. Mary looked at me, “Is anything missing?”

“No it’s as I remember it.”

“Dear lord Bill, there’s no ticket.”

“See if it’s in the lining.”

Mary got a knife and slit the lining. Arthur came in the kitchen and looked over her shoulder. Mary started with a small cut and felt around inside. She found nothing. Picking up the purse, she tore all of the lining out. There was a few pieces of lint. Arthur shook it and used his fingers around inside. Nothing.

I felt as if I was about to lose some fingers. “Now what?”

Mary said nothing she picked through the contents again. She looked at the photo of the small boy. “Wonder what he’s doing without mother?” She said frowning.

Arthur looked at the keys. “Don’t look like anything but house keys. Wonder where she lived.”

“The keys could be what we need. If we could get an address for Liz she may have hidden it in her house.” Mary said.

I shrugged, “I don’t think she had time. She bought it the same night we stopped at the Seven Eleven and went straight to the hotel. That’s what all the celebration was about.”

Arthur said, “You suppose that the envelope picked up by the old woman contained the ticket?”

“That could be.” My heart raced.

Arthur went on, “Could have been instructions in the envelope along with the ticket telling the old woman what to do with it, if that was the case.”

“We have to find Liz’s house.” Mary said looking in the purse again.

Arthur agreed, shaking his head.

I held Mary’s eyes. “Maybe you could pretend that Liz was an old friend you’re trying to locate and ask at Marty’s.”

She shook her head. “No, that raises too many red flags. I’ve already alienated the bartender. He thinks I’m a nut.” She paused and looked to her fiancé. “Art what about you, you could probably find out.”

He didn’t answer. I said, “I could have Mark look into it. He has a new investigator. Maybe he could see what he could find out.”

“I’m sure Margret knows where Liz lived.” Arthur said with something close to a frown.

Mary and I didn’t find that funny. We were sounding desperate. We were desperate.

While we were thinking about what we could do, Mary looked at the folds in the two book matches, and found nothing. She took the top off the garish purple lipstick. When she did, there was no lipstick in the tube. I grabbed her hand.

She pulled away. “Wait Mary, wait. Let me see that.” I put my little finger in the tube and squeezed out a rolled up lipstick covered lotto ticket.

Mary sobbed, “Oh my god!”

Arthur held her while looking wide eyed at me. I lost my breath for just a moment. I unrolled the ticket carefully. Everyone was silent. It was if I was unrolling the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Mary took it from me, “Here, let me clean it off.”

Arthur and I followed her as she got some paper towel. “I don’t want to wet it, it might smudge something important.”

Arthur and I stood crowded against her watching every move. As the lipstick came away, it became apparent that what we had was a copy of the original ticket.

“This explains the copy machine.” Arthur said.

I felt an inexplicable weird sensation. I had never had the feeling, so it was difficult for me to understand it. It was a mix of a chill racing through my body, coupled with fear and elation, all stirred together, and leaving me experiencing an emotional rollercoaster. I felt like grabbing the copy of the ticket and holding it against my chest. I looked over my shoulder as if someone was there to take it away. The desire to possess it was nearly overpowering. Mary looked in my eyes. I looked away afraid the greed was showing.

She said, “It’s a copy but you’re having a problem with this aren’t you Bill?”

I nodded. “Disappointed, but elated with the possibilities. I mean if we have a copy it could help us in crushing Margret, at least until we find the real thing.”

“This just makes me mad. We potentially have over seven hundred million dollars, but without the original, this is just taunting us.

“It’s half that if we take cash, and it’s half that again if we give in to Margret.” I reminded her.

She nodded, “I think we should devote our efforts to finding that little grey headed woman that picked up the envelope from the hotel.

“We? Did you say we?”

“Yes.”

“Ok if you’re in for the money, you’re in for dealing with Margret. Right?”

She hesitated. Arthur moved to her side and said, “She’s in. Maybe what I said earlier I should apologized for.”

What raced through my mind was, maybe? That was really big of him. The jerk. I gave him a look and said, “First we have to find the original ticket.”

+ + + +

After a half hour of discussing where Liz would have thought a safe spot would be, we decided it was not in a safety deposit box, it was not possible to deposit something in a safety deposit box at one o’clock in the morning, or around the time the old lady picked up the envelope at the hotel. The dilemma we faced was Margret. She might already know where Liz lived, and would beat us there.

We didn’t have the clout or the toys that the NSA or the CIA had at their disposal. We would have to find her the old fashioned way. Whatever that was.

Mary went to the new bottle of vodka and made vodka tonics. After several of those we were getting giddy and everything seemed funny. Even the thought of losing fingers.

Suddenly, Mary jumped up, swayed spilling vodka and rushed to the kitchen. She came back with the photo of the small boy. From the back of the photo she read, “Billy, 3/4/11. Kelly Elementary School.” She looked at me. “We can get his mother’s address from the school.”

“I can’t just walk in and ask. Too many red flags, plus I don’t want anyone picking me out of a line up.” I said.

Arthur spilled some of his vodka, “I can do it. I’ll just flash a badge.”

“What about when the cops get around to identifying Liz? Or the old lady might come forward and make a missing persons report. They can take her to the morgue, identify the body and everything else will fall into place. Arthur you’ll have some explaining to do if you do that.” Mary snapped.

“Yeah but what’s the odds. I can just show the badge, give a trumped up name and with a pair of sunglasses and a mustache, I can handle it. I can intimidate some old school teacher or Principle.”

Mary plopped on his lap and smothered him with a long kiss. That’s you're reward you smarty.”

“Is that it?”

“We’ll see after you get an address.”

“You two can get a room later, right now let’s center on finding that address.” I was excited again.

+ + + +

The next day I paced the floor in my robe, watched soap operas, and drank martinis along with vodka tonics. Mary was home at six. By then I was feeling no pain. She hadn’t even closed the door before she said, “You hear from Arthur?”

“No and he hasn’t called.”

“Hear from Margret?”

“No.”

She looked at the drink in my shaking hand. “Make me one of those would you?”

While she went upstairs I went to the kitchen, and I mixed her drink.

She reappeared wearing Levi’s and a V-neck cotton sweater, no bra, and revealing too much cleavage. I handed her the drink not taking my eyes off her chest. She put her hand over the V. “You letch.”

“It’s my way of saying something to my little sister without saying something. You get it?”

“You're not supposed to look anyway.” She said sipping the vodka.

“I’m demonstrating how other men will act looking at you without a bra.”

“Ok, I’ll change in a minute. Right now I’ll call Arthur.”

I heard the muffled phone conversation as she walked into the kitchen. In a minute, she was back.

“He found her. She lives in an apartment behind a home on Sevilla Way. 10019-A Seville Way.”

Just a couple blocks from the school. The Principle said that Billy was living with his grandmother since his mother had disappeared.

“You get an address on her mother?”

“Yeah, she lives in a house in front of the property.”

“Let’s get over there.”

Mary grabbed my arm as I started out of the kitchen. “Arthur said to wait for him. He might be able show a badge if the Mom sees us and has questions.”

“When will he get here?”

“Thirty minutes. He’s on the way.”

Mary disappeared upstairs again.

I mixed another drink. Hair of the dog. It would probably prove to be another nail in my headache. I plopped in the recliner. I sat the drink on an end table while I searched under me for the TV remote. As I did my phone jingled in my robe pocket. My heart did another 360 loop. I knew before I picked it up.

“You have had some success I see.” Said the male muted voice.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I slurred.

“You looked in the trunk. I wish we had known that you hadn’t searched it before.”

Damn. Just like we thought, they were watching. “We’re still going through all the items in the purse. So far we have found nothing.”

The garbled male voice hissed, “You think we just fell off a turnip truck?”

“Really, we didn’t find anything, at least not yet.”

Mary was standing near the bottom of the stairs. She had changed clothes. Now wearing Levi’s with a crew neck sweatshirt.

As I looked at Mary, the voice went on, “you’re sisters friend visited a school today. He get the address?”

I wondered just who the hell these people were that they could know our every move. “I don’t know anything about that.”

“We are no longer thinking about your fingers. We’ve decided that it would be more of an incentive if it was your sister’s fingers.”

“Look, you keep threatening me with that to what end? If I knew anything I would settle with you as you suggested.”

“Time is growing short. Just remember that.” He hung up.

Mary came down the stairs. I said, “They saw Arthur go to the school.” I couldn’t bear to tell her about the fingers.

“They know why he went to the school?”

“Yeah they knew he was looking for Liz’s address.”

“They must have already been there. Damn.”

My phone rang again. It was Mark. “They found Ernie. He was dead and tied up in an abandoned print shop under the Coronado Bridge. The cops say he was injected with Halothan to knock him out, and he suffocated. He had a plastic bag over his head.”

I couldn’t say anything for a moment. He asked, “You still there?”

“Yeah, I just don’t know what to say.”

“It had to be your friend Margret. I think she was probably the last person he was with.”

“What do the police know?”

“I told them last I knew he had a date with a hooker he met at Marty’s. Said I thought her name was Margret.”

“Crap Mark, if they find her now she’ll blow the whistle on me.”

The detective said they couldn’t find a woman named Margret. The girls that work the area said they didn’t know a girl named Margret, and they didn’t know an Ernie. The cops couldn’t find any girl that recalled seeing a man of his description. Turns out there are about a dozen girls that frequent the area and the police couldn’t find all of them yet.

I looked at Mary and mouthed ‘Ernie’. I said, “I’m so sorry Mark. I had no idea it would come to this. Now two people have died for a lousy lotto ticket.”

He was quiet for a moment. I heard him sigh. “Speaking of that, did you find anything yet?”

“Yeah, we found the purse and a copy of the ticket. Arthur has found an address for the murdered girl, but Margret and her friend are right on our butts. They seem to know everything we’re doing.”

“So you’ll look into the address?”

“We have some keys that were in the purse. We think one of them might lead to the original ticket.”

“Damn I hope so. Keep me informed.”

+ + + +

At nine thirty that night, we were at 10019 Seville Way. The front house was a large ornate gingerbread Victorian with one light on upstairs. No cars in the driveway or behind the house. The small cottage in back had a small yard surrounded by a three foot picket fence. The gate was open.

Arthur said, “Shit.” He pushed the squeaky gate all the way open.

We stood still watching the neighbor’s houses. All was quiet save for a barking dog down the street. Arthur led the way to the front door. After several tries one of the keys opened the door. Before going any farther I passed out rubber gloves from Mary’s kitchen.

I wondered how much the cops had learned about Liz. By now, they no doubt knew who she was, and what she was. Did they know more? Could they have learned anything about me? If they had, I would be behind bars.

Mary pushed past Arthur and stepped into the darkened cottage. She took a penlight on a key ring from her purse and led the way. Once inside the dim light did little to light our way. I closed the door. Moving cautiously in the dark we discovered the room was chaotic. Furniture busted, end tables smashed, sofa cushions cut open, and the backs of photos cut open. Arthur held on to Mary’s sweater, I held Arthur’s belt and Mary led the chain deeper into the house. We made our way to one of two bedrooms. It looked like it could belong to Liz.

Arthur whispered, “Search everything, even things already searched. Look for something that might take a key to open.”

As our eyes became adjusted to the dim penlight we could see the bedroom looked like the living room. Everything in tatters. I whispered, “Think it would be safe to turn on a lamp?”

We all agreed that it would be safe. I found a lamp by the tattered bed and turned it on. I sat it upright on the floor. The room looked eerie with shadows created by the dull light. The damage was now even more apparent. Arthur whispered again, “Split up and don’t miss nothing.”

I stayed in the bedroom, while they both left. I searched the contents of drawers, and anything left in the closet. As I stood looking around the room, I found a framed photo of Liz with the little freckled boy. It looked as though the photo was taken at Disneyland. For a moment I thought about how Liz must have tried to give the boy somewhat of a normal life. She probably worked downtown nights, and lived a different life in North County during the days.

Regret swept over me. If I hadn’t been so damn drunk. If I had not gone to the Marriott, would she still be a mother going to PTA meetings? Bizarre how things had turned out.

While I was looking through bras, panties, and such, I heard Mary’s hushed voice, “Bill come here.”

In the bathroom, Mary was picking up several lipstick tubes and putting them on the counter. She said, “I think we should look inside each one of these.”

“You think Liz’s mom would use the same trick?”

“Liz may have told her where to hide the ticket. It’s certain that if Margret was here she didn’t take time to look at these.”

We pulled the tubes apart. We found nothing. While Mary busied herself with the cosmetics I looked around the small bathroom. Against the far wall a toilet sat next to a Plexiglas shower. An obvious reproduction of an old porcelain water pitcher hung on the wall above the toilet. I don’t know why, maybe a knee jerk reaction, had me taking the top off the toilet and looking at the underside.

There was a white Marriott envelope taped there. I yelled, “I found it, I found it!”

Arthur rushed in shushing me. “Quiet you fool. You’ll wake the dead.”

Mary grabbed the envelope from my hand. Arthur and I watched as she fumbled trying to get the envelope open. Finally she just tore it open. Mary’s hand trembled so that I reached out and put my hand on hers. “It’s ok. Be careful.”

She looked at me and lifted an eight and a half by eleven sheet of Marriott stationary out of the envelope. I felt like I might pee myself. Arthur twitched and rocked from one foot to the other while emitting a low moan. We were both so tightly pressed against Mary she said, “Give me room to breathe.”

She unfolded the paper. We all read it. It said, “Mom hide this in the cottage as best you can. I’ll explain when I get home. I might be a few days so take care of Billy. Love Liz.”

Mary immediately searched the white envelope. Inside she found a smaller envelope; one like you might see attached to a bouquet.

The ticket was inside. Oh my god. My heart felt like it would come out of my chest. I heard a whining sound and realized it was me. Mary seemed calm. She held the ticket up and shined the penlight on the back of the ticket.

I asked, “Why, why you doing that?”

“I read that if you want to protect your ticket you should sign the back of it. There is no signature.”

Damn she was smart, my sister.

Arthur said, “We have to get out of here right now.”

+ + + +

It was around eleven fifteen when we got back to Mary’s. Too late to call Mark I thought. Mary had put the ticket in her bra and held her hand over it. I didn’t blame her. I suggested a nightcap and a talk about what to do now.

Greed engulfed us immediately. How could we keep all the money?

We talked of escaping to a remote island. Getting lost in Europe. Where would we deposit the money? How would we spend the money? A Vodka Tonic accompanied each subject. Soon everything became funny. We laughed at each suggestion until tears rolled and we could hardly breathe.

At about one thirty in the morning we sobered enough to have exhausted our fantasies and to consider options. Arthur said he was on duty at ten in the morning and would have to report in. Mary insisted he and his gun stay with us the rest of the night. I made him sleep on the couch much to Mary’s chagrin. She said she would sleep with the ticket and my 38 Colt. It might provide at least some satisfaction. Arthur feigned hurt, and that brought up an argument about who should hold the ticket. Mary won.

I didn’t sleep at all. I watched old movies on TBN and checked the bedroom window every half hour. I heard Arthur sneak into Mary’s room.

In the morning I awoke in my boxers on top of the beds comforter. I went to Mary’s room and peeked in. She mumbled something and pulled the covers over her head.

I put on my robe and let the smell of bacon and coffee lead me downstairs. Arthur had started breakfast and had coffee already on the table. When Mary came down in her robe, she was all smiles. She looked at me and said, “What happened to you?”

Rubbing my forehead I sputtered, “I feel like I look.”

“That bad huh.” She smiled.

I was up all night prepared to protect you.”

“Me or the ticket?”

“Let me think about it.”

Arthur clucked, “I’m glad I will only have to live with one of you.”

Mary helped with serving the breakfast. I asked, “Where’d you put the ticket?”

“Guess.”

“I don’t know. Don’t play games. What if you keeled over dead right now?”

“You still would have to guess.”

“You mean where we found the duplicate?”

Arthur lowered his voice, “Don’t answer that out loud. We may be bugged.”

“Ok I think it’s time to call Mark.”

“Good idea.” Arthur said.

+ + + +

I called Mark at nine. Jackie said he had not come in yet. I tried to flirt. Didn’t work.

Arthur left for work early. Mary left to her job at the power company. Everything had to seem routine. They would both be waiting for my phone call to tell them what Mark recommended.

I searched the paper and watched morning news to see if there was any word on Ernie, or Liz. There was nothing about either one. I thought I would ask Arthur later tonight about developments in Liz’s murder. It was the first time in a while I had thought about the trouble I could be in. Good lawyer or not my new found money would most likely not buy me out of a long prison term.

I sat in the recliner wearing the same dirty robe and thought about three hundred and forty million dollars after taxes. Fantasies went through my mind one after another. Tahiti, Australia, Virgin Islands and others all feeling almost real. I thought of new cars, big homes, and yachts. I realized that I had somehow become very greedy. I didn’t want to share the money with those two killers, so I thought of ways to kill them. Those fantasies heightened by the thought of being free of Margret, the one person who without much effort could put me behind bars.

With visions of new riches floating through my thoughts, I felt an overwhelming need to see the ticket. Upstairs, I went through Mary’s cosmetics. I found lipstick tubes but no ticket.

For just a moment, I thought about Mary living in France or an exotic island where I would never find her. What the hell was wrong with me?

I called her office. I needed to find out where she had put the ticket. The girl that answered the phone was not Mary. I said, “Is Mary Wilson there?”

“I’m sorry she hasn’t come in yet, she’s a little late. Can I have her call you?”

“Thanks. Have her call her brother when she gets in.” I closed my cell.

Oh my god, had Mary been kidnapped? Would they killed her? I had no way of contacting Margret. I put the lid down on Mary’s toilet and sat down to think things through.

I couldn’t unclutter my mind so I began a search for my 38. I might need the gun, I reasoned. After searching drawers, under pillows, and in the closet, I found it in the table next to her bed. I don’t know why but just the feel of the gun brought some relief.

I went downstairs, and called Arthur’s cell. No answer. I called the Police Department. The officer on the desk said he was not in. I could call his cell if I had the number. He could not give it out he said.

My heart sank, my knees turned to water, and my hands trembled. What was going on? Arthur had told me that I could always reach him on his cell. He kept it on all day. This was the first time I could not contact him.

Paranoia was beginning to eat at my thoughts. Did Mary have the ticket with her? Did they both abscond with the ticket? That question brought to mind an issue I dreaded to consider. Mary would not try to claim the ticket for herself. Not my sister. Certainly she would know the danger that such a move would put me in.

Running a hand through my hair I thought, this kind of thinking was idiotic. If he ticked were turned in I would know it. Or would I.

If an attorney handled the details, the whole affair could be kept quiet for quite some time. The ticket holder could remain anonymous for weeks, months, or forever. I had to find Mary or Arthur. They would explain, and all would be well again.

I don’t know why I called Mark. I guess I felt I needed someone, Jus to talk. Jackie put me through. Mark answered, “Bill any good news?”

“Good and bad Mark. We found the ticket but now Mary, Arthur, and the ticket are missing.”

“Slow down. You say Mary and the ticket are missing. I don’t understand.”

I explained. He asked, “Are you going to call the Police?”

“Not a smart question Mark.”

“Good point and it’s too early to talk about a missing person. There would be suspicions and a lot of questions you don’t want to answer.”

“Any ideas about how to handle this?”

“You say you can’t reach Arthur?”

“Right.”

“It seems the only thing you can do is wait until someone calls. Is there anything I can do in the meantime?”

“No.”

“I think you should get out of the house. Come downtown around noon and meet me at Morton’s.”

“I’ll think about it. I’ll call.”

+ + + +

I didn’t call. I didn’t go downtown. I went to the parking lot of San Diego Gas & Electric to see if Mary’s BMW was there. It was not. I tried Arthur’s cell at least three times. Each time I could only get his voice mail. I left messages. I called my office to see if there were any messages. None from Mary or Arthur. Mickey told me that Henry was pissed that I had not come in as promised. I said I was sick and would be in as soon as I could. I hoped the excuse would buy me some time.

I searched the house again. What else was there t to do? I saw no sign of anyone watching the house, but I stayed at the windows for ten minutes to make sure. I went through Mary’s belongings again, mainly her cosmetics.

I could scream. There was nothing. I breathed unevenly. Was I going to hyperventilate? I sat down on the bed to calm myself. My cell phone rang and I scrambled to get it out of my pocket. I didn’t need to look at the incoming call.

I said, “I don’t have the damn ticket. Just leave me alone.”

“Bill its Mary.”

“My god I’ve been worried sick. Where are you? What’s going on?”

“Listen, when I left for work I was putting on my lipstick at the stop signal near my place and the freeway. I noticed Arthur’s car in front of me. I blinked my lights at Arthur. He saw me, but ignored me. I followed him honking my horn and waving. I was close enough to see him looking at me in his rear view mirror. I couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t acknowledge me. Instead he stepped on the gas and swerved between cars to get away from me. Then a terrible thought went through my mind. I searched my purse for the tube with the ticket. I found the tube but the ticket was not there. Do you have it?”

“No I don’t, and I looked everywhere for it.”

“Oh my god. You think he has the ticket?”

“I hate to think that, but where is he now?”

“I followed him. He got off on Front Street, and went to Marks building downtown. He must have thought he lost me because he never looked behind him. I waited a few minutes, he came out and headed for the 805. He is just now crossing the border.”

“Shit. What is he gonna do in Mexico?”

“I don’t know but he has no jurisdiction here. He must be running.”

“Would he do that to you?”

“What I’m thinking right now is I should shoot the bastard.”

“Good thing you didn’t carry a weapon over the border?”

“I left it at home.”

“Good thing. You wouldn’t like the jails down there.”

“What now?” Mary asked.

“You should follow him. If he stops call me on my cell. I’m on my way down there.”

“What are you going to do down here. Together we’re no match for Arthur.”

“Just call me. I’ll be on the road.”

“We’re both fools then.”

“Seems so. Call me.” I pleaded.

+ + + +

Once on the five freeway, I pushed the Volvo to seventy-five, and I thought about Arthur. I did not see him doing something like this. I know he loved Mary and wanted to marry her. Nevertheless, three hundred and seventy million dollars, is more than tempting, it’s irresistible. How would he get his hands on the money? The logical answer would be my friend, and attorney, Mark Holder.

Arthur had stopped at Marks office. A lawyer would serve his purpose quite well. An attorney could put together a number of scenarios to bank the money. Maybe a partnership between Mark and Arthur.

I conjured up questions that I had never allowed myself to think about before now. How long did Mark know about this? Was that why he showed so little interest in my predicament? Did he have an agreement even before we had found the ticket? Mark was a childhood friend, a dipstick at times, but still my best friend. At any rate, if what I was thinking was true, it could be the perfect setup.

They wouldn’t have to share the money with Margret or me. They could keep it all. Over a hundred and thirty million apiece after taxes. Margret’s having a duplicate ticked could make things dicey, but all they had to do was make and spread around several more copies to muddy the water. Her having a copy could be explained by a good lawyer.

A frightful thought suddenly came to me. Would Arthur now send the police after me? Would I be arrested for Liz’s murder? It would be a good way to take me out of the equation, but would the cops have any evidence? Maybe DNA? Could I come up with an alibi for that night? My thoughts tumbled through one scenario after another. None of them were good. While I envisioned myself on death row, my phone rang. I put it on speaker.

“Mary said, “It’s me. He stopped and checked into Los Roca’s Hotel in Rosorita Beach. I’m in the parking lot one row behind his car.”

“Why are you doing this? You have no idea what he might do. In Mexico he could make you disappear and never be found.”

“I have to know. I need to know if he would give up what we had, for money.”

“Sis it should be pretty obvious. For now, I want you to leave the hotel and meet me at Tapanco, it’s a little restaurant not far from you. Just ask anybody, everybody knows where it is. I don’t think Arthur is going anywhere for now.”

“Ok but hurry.”

“I can be there in about thirty or forty minutes, depending on the border traffic.”

+ + + +

For a long time I sat in my car thinking about Arthur and our engagement. My mind was running an emotional gauntlet. I had helped him through the loss of his wife and son when they died on the 78 freeway, three years ago. I was there for him when he bordered on a nervous breakdown. Through all his loss and anger, I stood by him, and nurtured him. How was it I had never seen or suspected a side of Arthur that would betray what we had? We had our arguments but our affection for one another had never been in doubt. Until now.

I pulled the visor mirror down to wipe a tear and check my mascara. In the mirror, I saw a black Esplanade that had passed by just minutes ago. It stopped behind Arthur’s car. A woman was driving, but I couldn’t see her face. A tall man with a Padres baseball cap got out and looked in Arthur’s car. I couldn’t see his face either. He nodded at the woman. Could this be Margret? My heart raced as I ducked. They had not seen me. I heard them discussing something through my open window, a car door closed and I heard the SUV pull away.

I sat up. They had parked the Cadillac three cars away, closer to the hotel. Both the man and woman got out and walked toward the front lobby. I still could not tell if it was the same Margret I had met at Marty’s.

I called Bill. Before I said anything he asked, “Everything ok?”

“I think I just saw Margret and her friend. They were looking in Arthur’s car.”

“What makes you think it was Margret?”

“Just the circumstance. The woman was a small brunette. She somehow seemed familiar.”

“Pretty. Nice shape?”

“Yes. I met her remember?”

“Uh huh, recognize the guy?”

“No he has a cap pulled down low on his face.”

“You think they could have followed Arthur?”

“Of course. After all they followed us everywhere we went. She must be a damned bloodhound. So what should I do now?”

“Go to the restaurant. I’m just at the border crossing. There’s traffic delay, but I should be there soon.”

“Ok.”

+ + + +

I didn’t leave like I said I would. Instead I went to the small registration desk in the hotel lobby. A handsome young man in accented English said, “Can I help you miss?”

“My husband checked in earlier today. He neglected to give me the room number. The name is Arthur Hurly.”

“Do you have some I.D. miss?”

“No, I don’t need I.D.; just tell me the damn room number.”

“I see.”

He looked at my eyes, then at a computer screen, and back to my eyes. I was so nervous and angry I thought if he gave me any more lip I’d whack him with my purse.

“Room 473 on the bottom floor. Faces the pool.” He said leaning forward over the counter to check me out.

Nervy shit. Some other time I might have been flattered.

From the lobby I followed a deteriorating concrete sidewalk into a large patio. The once green grass was brown in spots looking like it needed water. A warm breeze blew in from the Pacific. From the patio, the hotel, looking more like a U.S. motel, was three stories high. All the rooms on this, the expensive side, faced the ocean. A white gazebo sat stationed on the brown grass, overlooking the ocean. The perfect spot for a Mariachi band. Beyond the gazebo, an infinity pool, looked as though it spilled into the Pacific. Two couples leaned against the far wall. Milky white bodies gave away their mid-west origin.

No one seemed to notice me as I checked the room numbers. The bottom row of rooms each had a large bay window to capture the view. When I reached room 471, I stopped.

What was I going to say? I wasn’t prepared. How would I explain my being here? In front of room 471 there were two white plastic chairs. I put my sunglasses on and sat down to think about it. A waiter came by carrying drinks on a tray. As he passed me he said, “Be right back senorita.”

Fear clutched at my stomach. How could I be so stupid? I could not confront Margret, her friend, and Albert. Were they working together? Margret was familiar with killing. I might be walking into a life-threatening situation.

I watched the waiter as he continued to the tourist and the pool. He bent and served the drinks while they remained in the pool. One of the men signed the receipt while the others laughed at a private joke. The sound of their voices muffled the explosion that came from room473. No one heard it, or they ignored it.

The waiter came back, stopped in front of me, and asked if I would like to order something. While he waited for an answer, Margret and the tall man came out of Arthur’s room. I put my hand over my sunglasses as if to shade my eyes and didn’t look up. They walked past without looking down. I told the waiter I would order later.

When he left I hurried to 473. The door was ajar. I began to tremble. Adrenalin pushed up my chest, but I couldn’t stop now. I kept one eye on the tourist and pushed the door open with my foot. The front room resembled a small living. It faced the ocean. On a well-used coffee table, a bottle of Corona lay on its side, the contents spreading over a newspaper. Right then, I knew, I knew that Arthur was dead.

Despite the thought of that, I edged into the room. A dark doorway beckoned me.

I could see the end of a bed, revealed by the light from the window behind me. My mind was crying for me to leave, but my body kept inching forward. Arthur was on his back on the floor, with one leg on the bed. There was enough light to see that his face was lacerated and swollen. The injuries did not hide the small purple hole in his forehead. Blood seeped red, into one eye.

I stood with a hand over my mouth wanting to scream. I looked at the window behind me, and at the tourists, still entertaining themselves. Letting my eyes sweep the room I saw an open suitcase on a cheap vinyl chair, the contents strewn on the floor. I looked again at Arthur, experiencing a feeling of regret and revulsion at what had been a handsome face.

I thought I might throw up, but too frightened to do so. Every muscle in my body shook. I backed out of the room and sat in one of the overstuffed chairs facing the window. The anger I had felt for Arthur left me like a wave, a weight lifted from my shoulders. The betrayal hurt, but I didn’t want this. I wanted Arthur to explain, to tell me why I was mistaken. To tell me that he hadn’t taken the ticket. That it was all a misunderstanding.

That would not happen. The ticket was gone, and only Arthur could have taken it. Still I wanted so much, for there to be an explanation.

For a fleeting moment, I thought of searching Arthur’s body. I knew I wouldn’t find the ticket. If he had it, it was now in Margret’s hands. The waiter passed in front of the room toward the pool. I had to get out of here. I went to the door, and stepped over salt or powder I had not noticed before. I eased out of the door, watching the pool. No one looked my way.

Back at the car I called Bill. I missed dialed twice, because my hands were shaking. Finally, he answered. “I’m almost there”

“I’m still at the hotel.”

“What the hell are you doing? I told you to get out of there.”

“Arthur is dead.” I moaned.

The phone was silent for a long moment. “He’s dead?”

I couldn’t find my voice.

“Mary?” “Mary how did it happen?”

Tears began. Bill said, “Mary listen to me. Tell me what happened?”

I sniffed, “At the restaurant.”

I shut the phone. Sobs shook my whole body.

+ + + +

At the Tapanco restaurant Ocotillo cactus stocks make up the ceiling, and the entry way. The walls are made of adobe. It was dark and warm inside, lighted by candles on the tables.

Mary sat at a table near the front archway. When she saw me, she cried. I sat down across from her and took her hand. It was like ice.

“I’m sorry baby.” Sirens went by the restaurant toward the hotel.

She wiped at her eyes smearing her makeup. “I loved the bastard.” She sniffed.

“I know.” I said looking through the candle light.

She sobbed, “They beat him, I mean they didn’t have to do that, and why would they kill him?”

“Arthur may have discovered something about Ernie’s death or something connecting Liz’s death to Margret, or he may have told them he had given the ticket to Mark and they didn’t need him getting in the way.” I bit my lip.

“Mark?”

“You said you saw him go into Mark’s office. It seems the logical conclusion. If he gave it to Mark it would make sense.”

“I still don’t understand.”

I explained my reasoning about a partnership. “You understand now?”

“You think Mark would do that?”

“He has three hundred and seventy million reasons to do that.”

“He’s your best friend.”

“Arthur was your lover. That kind of money changes everyone and everything.”

Mary’s eyes filled again. “I, I, loved him so much.” She said.

“Look, we have to move on. Things like this can’t be undone. We need to get out of Mexico and decide what to do.”

“I should have signed the back of the ticket.”

“I know but I didn’t want to pile more crap on you. Later I’ll smack you around.”

Mary smiled and wiped at a tear.

+ + + +

While I waited at the border I thought about my best friend and shooed away vendors. Kids kept pushing statues of Guadalupe, cheap trinkets and muddying my windshield with dirty wet rags thinking I would tip.

Mary had left me at the restaurant. I didn’t see her BMW in the long line in front of me so she must have already crossed the border. It took another forty minutes to reach the freeway on the U.S. side. Driving toward San Diego I toyed with the idea of approaching Mark. What could I say? Should I just assume that he had the ticket and be direct? If I were him I would deny everything, but what if I told him his partner was dead and that Margret knew who had the ticket. He might reconsider and want to distance himself from the killers.

At quarter to five, I turned into downtown. When I got to Mark’s office Jackie the receptionist was just locking the door. She recognized me, smiled, and cracked it open.

I said, “Jackie I need to see Mark, is he in?”

“He’s getting ready to leave, but you can go on back.”

Damn she was a looker. I walked into his office without knocking. He was putting papers in his briefcase.

He looked up and dropped the briefcase spilling papers over the floor. “Damn Bill you scared hell out of me.”

“Sorry buddy.” I watched him fumbling with the papers. “I was downtown and thought I would see if Arthur had brought you the ticket.”

“The ticket?”

“Yeah, Mary sent Arthur with the ticket this morning. She wanted you to see the instructions on the back of the ticket and to hold it for us. Good grief don’t tell me he hasn’t been here.”

Mark sat behind his desk, his chair squeaking, and his face crimson. “No, no, uhh no, I haven’t seen him.”

“He’s dead Mark, and Margret knows you have the ticket.”

“Shi....what?”

I didn’t say anything.

Mark cleared his throat. “Sure, yeah, well yes, he dropped it off here. I didn’t want the responsibility, but while I was talking with a client on the phone, he just put it on my desk and left.”

“How long we known each other Mark?”

“I don’t understand.”

“I know you better than yourself. You and Arthur were going into business together. Now you got your tit in a ringer. They’ll be coming for you. I don’t want to see that. Give me the damn ticket. You can honestly deny you have it.”

“Shit. Bill I’m so sorry it was just too much to resist. I mean there was no signature on the back of the ticket. It was almost like a cashier’s check.”

“You must have known that if you cashed the ticket they would have killed me, thinking I had my lawyer handle matters, and then they could go for Mary. They could torture you and her until they got it all or at least most of it.

“Bill I didn’t think about that. I never thought your life would be in jeopardy, it was such a sudden decision, I didn’t think it through. However, he said we could see to it that you and Mary would receive part of the money. Arthur’s proposal blinded me to the consequences, His contention was that Margret could do nothing once we got the money, and we could disappear.”

“This was not a new arrangement, was it?”

Mark looked at the tablet on his desk. “Like I said, we both agreed we would see that you and Mary share the wealth.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“Dammit Bill, he started working on me days ago. He was almost certain that you had the ticket somewhere. Even if you didn’t know it yet.”

“So you caved in.”

“God I’m sorry you ever told me about the lotto.”

“For a smart lawyer you don’t have an ounce of common sense.”

“I’m sorry Bill, please I’m sorry. I’ve been tortured by my conscience ever since he started working on me.”

“You didn’t remember that Margret had a copy of the ticket?”

“I haven’t had time to think about that.”

You must know of course that she could create a problem with that.”

Mark sat silent. He ran his hand through his hair. “I really screwed up. I was so enamored with the thought of all that money, I lost my mind.”

“Mark you are my best friend, maybe my only friend. I hate that you would betray our friendship, but for some odd reason I understand. Dammit Mark I love you like a brother, we have a lot of history. You broke my heart. Now though I want to forgive you, I wonder if I’ll ever have complete trust again.”

Mark sat silent for a long moment. Digging through his briefcase he brought out a plain white envelope. “Here’s the ticket, and Bill if I can help in any way I will. I mean you can trust me I will never betray you I promise.”

“Yeah sure.”

I felt sorry for Mark; I know what so much money can do to a person. I understood, and thought about how I had considered the ways to kill Margret. Ways I could keep all the money for myself. Damn if I could be sucked into the whirlpool so could Mark. I stood. Mark held out his hand for me to shake it. I turned without a word and started for the door.

Mark said, “Bill we can’t let this thing hang. I need you to understand.”

“I can understand the lure of the money, but it’s our friendship I’m having trouble with.”

“I’ve had sleepless nights over this, and I can promise you that I won’t betray a trust ever.”

I shrugged and walked out. As I, left I heard Mark on the office intercom, telling Jackie that he would lock up.

+ + + +

For long minutes, Mark sat at his desk looking out of his corner office window. The fog was moving in from Point Loma turning the city lights into fuzzy blurs. He thought about what he had almost done to his best friend. Tears appeared at the corner of both eyes. He felt like hell. He and Bill had been friends since the eighth grade, and there was even a time when he thought he might have a chance with Mary. That was old news. Being torn and undecided about the moral dilemma that he had just faced, was something new.

He had plenty of practice not caring about people. He didn’t care about a person’s being innocent or guilty, it was about money, and the money involved in this instance was astronomical. When Arthur Hurly had approached him via his phone call, he hardly gave Bill a thought. It was just too much money to say no. Still Bill was his best friend, and Mark didn’t have a surplus of those. He knew he would kick himself for being weak and sensitive, tomorrow. Maybe he was finally developing new ethics. Looking out of the window, he felt ashamed. He had almost done something he would have later regretted deeply.

+ + + +

Mark sighed and picked up his briefcase. He turned the light off in his office and started toward the reception area. He was thinking about how he would keep this whole affair from his wife as he walked down the dark hallway. A few steps from the lobby he heard a muffled moan followed by voices.

It was too early for the janitors so he stopped where the hallway made an L into the foyer to listen. He waited for a moment thinking he was just being paranoid. Then he heard people talking quietly. After a few moments, he heard a soft thump. It came from near the front doors.

Doing a quick head check around the corner he saw a tall man and a dark haired woman with their backs to him. On the floor at their feet, Jackie lay silent. His first thought was that they had killed her, but before he looked away, he saw her chest rise and fall. He didn’t need to guess who the two individuals were, but he wondered what they were doing here so soon.

The front door was the only way out of the offices, other than windows, and that was no option. He moved hurriedly back down the hall to the utility room, and ducked inside. After a moment he heard loud whispers approach the room and pass. Cracking the door, he watched the two figures disappear into a cluster of partitions where the paralegals worked. It had to be Margret and her friend he was seeing. He hurried back to the foyer. He grabbed Jackie beneath the arms, and stood her up. She moaned as he pulled her to the elevator. When the elevator pinged, he felt a surge of fear race up his throat. Did they hear that? He trusted Margret and her friend were too far away.

He put Jackie’s arm around his neck and stood her up. He talked to her as they descended to the lobby. She didn’t respond. When they reached the ground level, she moaned again. Her eyes fluttered and she focused on Mark face. “It’s ok Jackie, just don’t make any noise.” He said holding his hand over her mouth.

“Uhhhh.” She moaned looking wide eyed at his face.

He pulled her to the guard station in the center of the main lobby. Behind the front desk he saw the night guard lay crumpled on the floor. Dead or unconscious. A small pool of blood oozed beneath his head.

Mark sat Jackie on the floor behind the desk, and pushed her under it. He hoped she would be out of sight. Leaning to her face he said, “Jackie I have to get my car. Can you hold on?”

“Uhhhh.” She moaned again.

Mark knew he could never make it to his car if he carried Jackie. He had to leave her and hope the duo above never found her.

He looked at the lights above the elevator door it indicated the elevator was descending. He grabbed the keys from the guard’s belt and raced to the center glass doors. At the door, he fumbled with the key ring and dropped it. Looking behind him, he saw the elevator was passing the fourth floor.

By the time, he unlocked the door; he heard the ping of the lift stopping at ground level. - He looked behind him. The man and woman saw him just as he saw them. Leaving the keys in the door he raced outside and down the front steps. At the bottom, he looked back again. The couple had stopped at the doors. He knew they couldn’t catch him, not now.

+ + + +

All the way to Mary’s, I had thought about how I would handle things with my former best friend Mark. I hated betrayal on any level, but this situation was over the top.

Mary was deep into the vodka bottle by the time I got home.

She watched me through bloodshot eyes when I came in. Slouched in the recliner by the fireplace, her arm hung over the side of the chair. A drink in her hand was almost touching the floor.

“Wha, what took you shu so long?” She frowned.

I could feel the anger. “You mad at me?”

“I’m mad at the world. I hate the whole damn world. I hate Arthur. I hate those despicable killers. I hate you for involving me in your pitiful life. I hate everything, and yes I’m mad as hell.”

I went past her into the kitchen. I held the Vodka bottle to the light. She was a thirsty girl. I poured myself a small glass, and stepped back into the living room. I sat on the couch facing her. “I went by Marks office.” I said.

She looked at me like, ‘So’?

“I got the ticket back.”

She gasped, choked, and struggled to speak. Sitting up she spilled a little of her drink on the white carpet. She looked at the spill, and then at me. She blurted, “You....you really got it? I mean Bill, you really? Our ticket?” She sat forward eyes pleading.

I passed her the envelope. Setting her drink down on the small end table, she held the envelope in both hands. After a moment, she tried to open the envelope and failed. Trying again the ticket appeared in her hand. She held it to her breast.

We sat there just looking into each other’s eyes unable to say anything. I thought about Mary as a little girl. She had always been so damn honest. If she was anywhere near when I did something wrong, she would expose me. I hated her and loved her. Now we would lie, cheat, or steal to protect each other.

In a whisper she said, “Why would he give it back?” A tear leaked from one eye.

I sat back and thought about that for a moment. Should I tell the truth? No, I didn’t want her to harbor any feelings about Mark. So I lied.

“Maybe, just maybe, it was because of our friendship.”

She didn’t question that. She simply nodded. Suddenly she began to cry in earnest. With tears streaming down her cheeks she said,

“I feel so dirty. The mistrust, the lost lives, the lost love, and all for what? Money. Lousy damn money. Maybe we should just let Margret have the ticket. We don’t need the money Bill, we have each other. What would we do with it anyway; it’s possible it could even come between you and me.”

I didn’t want to think about that. It was too late. What was done couldn’t be undone. I knelt in front of Mary and took her hand.

“Sis I’m sorry about all this. I’m sorry I involved you in something so costly. This may not be the time to say this, but I would think if Arthur would give you up for money, he would have never loved you like you deserve to be loved.”

She covered her face with her hands dropping the envelope on the floor. She muffled a sob.

“As for me I always thought of what the money could do for us. I thought it could have given you a great start in your marriage. It could give me a freedom like I never dreamed I could have. Was it all a fools dream?”

Mary leaned forward in the recliner and put her arms around my neck. “I’m sorry Bill I’ll feel better tomorrow, I know you had good intentions. Thanks big brother.” She got up unsteadily and went upstairs.

I sat in her chair still warm from Mary. I looked at the envelope, picked it up and thought about all I had been through, and it was not over.

My cell phone buzzed. “We don’t have it so will you knock it off.”

“Bill its Mark.”

“What is it?”

“Margret and her friend just tried to kill me. Right now I’m on the freeway. I going to check on Kathy and my daughter. I just wanted to warn you in case they’re coming your way.”

“I think you can expect a visit before I do. I’ll be there as fast as I can. Don’t call the cops. We can handle this.”

“I don’t have a good feeling about that. These two are willing to kill for that damn ticket.”

You think they know where you live?”

“I had to leave Jackie. I’ll explain that later, but if they found her, she knows where I live. I’ll call you later.”

“I’ll be right there.” He had disconnected before he heard that.

I quickly jotted a note and left it on the kitchen table. Mixing the white envelope in with the day’s mail, I left all of it on the counter. Upstairs I retrieved the 38 and left. It would take me at least twenty minutes to get to Marks house. He was probably right about them trying to find him because he was the last person with the ticket as far as they knew. I hoped I had made the right choice leaving Mary.

+ + + +

Mary opened her eyes and tried for a moment to remember where she was.

Sitting up I realized I had been asleep for almost three hours. I had a splitting vodka headache. I looked at my upstairs window. It was growing dark outside.

In the bathroom, I splashed water on my face and looked at my disheveled hair. The dark shadows under my eyes didn’t help my pissy mood. I put lipstick on while checking the top of the tube. I wondered if I would do that forever. I got out of my robe and changed into Levi’s, tennis shoes and a sweat shirt.

Down stairs, I expected to find Bill asleep in the lounger. The apartment was silent. Looking out of the front window his car was gone. Thinking he would have left a note, I found it on the kitchen table. He had gone to Marks. No explanation. I wondered what he had done with the ticket. Searching the living room it was not there. Now what? He had either taken the ticket or had hidden it well.

I mixed a vodka tonic to clear my head, turned on the TV, and lay on the couch. A female news reporter was live on site of the Seven Eleven that had sold the richest lotto winnings to date. She was interviewing the manager who said, “As I understand it there was only one winner, and the California Lotto has not been contacted.”

“Is that unusual?” The reporter asked.

“No it’s not unusual, especially when the winnings are so enormous. The owners of the ticket would undoubtedly be hesitant to come forward until they get legal assistance.”

Looking into the camera the reporter said, “There you have it Dave and Elaine. Still no one has come forward to claim their prize.”

The scene shifted to the newsroom where Dave at the news desk said, “That’s the latest on the largest jackpot in Power Ball history. We will continue to cover this story as it unfolds.”

Elaine smiled, “Maybe they’re out buying a new car.”

Dave smiled back and nodded. Elaine went on, “In other news, police are investigating the mysterious death of a San Diego police officer in Tijuana. Tijuana authorities are working closely with the border patrol and local officers investigating a possible drug connection. The name of the victim has not been released pending notification of relatives. We will have further details at eleven.”

I turned the TV off. They had discovered Arthur’s body. I could expect detectives to visit, and soon. Arthur’s fellow officers would also visit to give condolences.

I thought about my visit to Tijuana. I had talked to the front desk. The man I spoke to could give a description of me, but describing me would be like describing Margret.

I had been careful not to leave a trace, but I wondered, could they have surveillance tapes at the hotel? It would be a long shot. As far as anyone knew, Arthur and I were planning to be married. I wouldn’t have to act when someone reported his death. I would break down I knew. After all I loved the shit. I thought, another life lost. How many more would there be.

My cell buzzed and vibrated on the end table. I looked at the number before answering. It was Bill. I said, “Where are you, why are you going to Marks?”

“Mark called me, he said Margret was at his office and tried to kill him. He got away, but thinks they may be going to his house.”

I had to think about this for a moment to digest what was being said. Bill said, “You there?”

“Yes, Yeah....so if Margret and her friend are going after Mark what do you hope to do?”

“I’m not sure, but if they are, I’m worried that I won’t get there in time.”

“In time for what? You’re going to get yourself killed. Maybe you should call the police.”

“Did you hear what you just said? I can’t do that. For a jillion reasons.”

“You're right of course.” Mary paused. “Before you hang up I thought you’d like to know that according to a news report the police have discovered Arthur’s body.”

Anything else?”

“A later report described an altercation at Marks office building. A night watchman was assaulted but he couldn’t identify his assailants.”

“Did they say anything about a woman, a receptionist?”

“I don’t know what you mean; there was no mention of a woman.”

“That’s strange. I explain later.”

Bill disconnected.

+ + + +

When I got to Marks home on Crespo Drive, there were two cars in the driveway. Marks Mercedes and an old red Toyota Corolla. One light was on in the front of the house. I put the Colt in the back of my pants with my shirt over it, and moved slowly to the lighted window. I could see inside clearly. They had no drapes to block their view of the La Jolla Cove which was reflecting the sun as it approached the horizon. Seeing and hearing nothing, I went over some small shrub bushes to the back of the house. No lights, no sounds. I settled in the deepening shadows and called Mark on his cell. Speaking softly he said, “Bill where are you?”

“In your back yard. Are you ok; are they in the house with you?”

“No, standby I’ll let you in.”

I started to the door when I saw it pushed open. Marks arm appeared from inside motioning me in. Once in, he said, “We’re all in the den. Come on.” I followed him in the dim light. Kathy, Jackie, and his daughter Tracy sat huddled in the den on a leather couch with a night light the only illumination in the room. All the drapes were closed. Mark pointed to one of his matching leather chairs. I sat and said, “Mark what the hell are you doing here. Margret probably knows where you live.”

“I thought they might, till Jackie showed up.” He said nodding at Jackie. She was sitting on a leather couch with her legs drawn up under her.

She said, “When I realized where I was, and what had happened, I crawled from behind the guard station and dashed to the hallway. The woman and man were at the front doors watching you race down the outside stairs.”

“So they didn’t see you?”

“No.” Jackie said, rubbing a fair sized knot on her temple. “I wanted to let Mark know I was ok cause the last time he saw me I was hurt and nearly unconscious.”

Kathy moved from her chair to the couch and put her hand reassuringly on Jackie’s leg.

“Why didn’t you call him, you could have walked into a lot of trouble by coming here.”

“I lost my cell phone somehow. It was in my purse but I can’t find it, plus I just needed to be with someone.”

Marks daughter Tracy, was holding a drape back peeking out of a window. She let it fall back into place and moved to the couch with the women. “All clear out there mom.”

I turned my attention to Mark. “Mark I’m sure Margret either knows where you live or could have found out in a matter of minutes. I think you should take your family and get a hotel room. Pay cash; don’t use your credit card. When you get settled, call me.” I said.

Mark looked at Kathy. She nodded in agreement. “Ok but we need to talk about what’s going to be done about this situation. Things are getting completely out of hand.”

“Getting? Have you had your head in the sand?” I sputtered.

“Sorry.”

“Right now there’s not a lot we can do other than hide. I mean we’re not going to do an OK Corral, and I can’t afford to garner the attention of the cops.” I asserted.

Kathy started to say something. I cut her off. “Mark I’m going to have enough money to set us all up in Europe, Tahiti, or anywhere in the world for the rest of our lives. Let’s keep our heads and not do anything rash like going to the police. Not now anyway.”

Kathy thought better of speaking. I knew she was going to suggest the police. Mark nodded, “Ok, ok. I’ll call you from wherever we end up tonight.”

Jackie had sat silent looking from Mark to me. She sniffed, “I don’t mean to be a burden but right now I don’t have anybody to turn to, and I’m scared.”

I watched Jackie’s expression. I could understand her feelings, although I didn’t think she was in any real danger. She brushed her curly black hair out of her face. I saw the tears reflected in the dim light.

For the first time I looked at her as something other than a sexy figure. I had never thought about how truly beautiful and maybe vulnerable this girl was. Now for some reason I wanted very much to protect her. Compulsively I interjected, “You can stay with my sister and me.”

She looked at me then dropped her eyes. “I don’t want to be a bother.”

“No bother. It’s settled.”

Mark looked at me like, ‘what the hell you doing’?

I shrugged. “I’ll call Mary and tell her we’re on our way.”

There was no answer on her cell. I called the land line. No answer. I said, “She’s probably refilling our vodka supply.”

Jackie and I left Mark with his thoughts as to where they would hide.

+ + + +

On the I-5 Jackie fell silent. She wrapped her arms around herself and leaned her head on the window of my Volvo. I couldn’t help glancing at her long legs coming from under a short skirt. She didn’t seem to notice. To cover up my obvious lust I thought. I said, “Did you get a good look at the man and woman?”

She looked at me, silent for a moment. “Yes.”

I wondered why she hesitated. “Did you see what the man looked like?”

She thought for a moment. “He was tall, rather handsome; to some women I would think. He was thin with grey hair at the temples. I don’t remember the color of his eyes. I’m just telling you my first impression. I didn’t get that good a look.”

“Ever remembering seeing him before?”

“Strangely enough he did look kinda familiar. I can’t recall where I could have seen him.”

“Maybe he had been in the offices before.”

“Probably.”

“Are you married?”

“Where did that come from?”

“Are you?”

“No. Are you?”

“No. Engaged?”

“Was. Awhile back. Why all the questions?”

“Just wondering why someone so pretty was still single.”

She looked out the window as we melded into the five freeway. We both fell silent. Damn a suave lover boy I was not. Open mouth, change feet.

Traffic was moving for a change, so by the time we got to Mary’s Condo the sun was just about to disappear.

Jackie got out of the car and leaned against her door looking at the deep red sunlight reflecting off the Pacific. “The ocean is always calming to look at don’t you think Bill?”

“Your blue eyes don’t do to bad a job either.” Another social blunder.

Jackie smiled, showing very white teeth in the dim light. “Are we flirting?”

“Just an observation.”

“Uh huh.” She said moving toward the Condo.

I took her arm and led her the rest of the way to the two level apartment. I stopped three feet away, and pulled Jackie behind me.

Mary’s faded green door was open. The door casing shattered.

+ + + +

They had not bothered to knock; the man had just kicked the door open. Mary stood up dropping the remnants of her vodka tonic on her white carpet. She was distracted as much by that, as she was looking at the woman she had met at Marty’s.

The person I knew as Margret followed the tall man into the tiled entryway. Margret held a nasty looking gun. The man wore a ski mask, and held a gun.

“Where’s the damn ticket?” Margret said moving into the room.

At first, I couldn’t find my voice. Then I stammered, “I, I......”

“Don’t piss me off Mary. This is serious. I want that ticket and I’m tired of chasing the damn thing.”

“I don....don’t know. I don’t know. Honest. The last I knew my boyfriend had the ticket. I don’t know where he is.”

“What about your piss ant lawyer. Has he got it?” She said dropping the stub of her cigarette on my white carpet. She looked at the smoldering butt, and then twisted her designer shoe over it.

You bitch. “But....why would our attorney have it?” Act dumb.

Mary looked at the man in the ski mask who carried himself in a familiar way. He turned over end tables, throwing couch cushions, and breaking anything in his way. After destroying the living room, he started in the kitchen. Everything in the cabinets fell victim to his ranting. Dishes, glasses, pots, and pans littered the floor. Then he disappeared upstairs. While we listened to the destruction going on up there, Margret kept the gun on me without wavering. The man came back down. In a gravelly voice I felt he was disguising he said, “Nothing.”

Mary took two steps forward and slapped me hard across the face. I tasted blood. I held my hand over my nose but the blood ran down my hands dripping off my elbow onto my white carpet. Shit. There went the carpet for sure.

Margret hit me again without warning. Blood flew against the white fireplace. The blow sent me staggering to the couch.

Margret looked at the man. “You think someone will trade the ticket for this little whore?

“I think we should have gone after Mark Holder.”

“Shouda, wouda, coulda. I told you that in the first place.”

The man glared through the cut out eyes of his mask. “Let’s go.”

The way he said Marks name puzzled me. Margret grabbed me by the hair and jerked me to a standing position. She put the gun in my back. “Don’t make a sound. You do and you’re dead.”

She motioned to the man with her gun. “Get something from the kitchen to blindfold her with.”

My legs were trembling. There was no way to make it to the door. Before I could think of some means of escape, he came back with a dishtowel and a grocery bag. Wrapping the towel around my face, he pulled it tight over my mouth. I could smell his cigarette breath on my cheek. For a moment I thought he would kiss me, he was so close. The paper bag went over my head.

I could see my feet and the bloody spots on my white carpet but that was all. He tied my hands behind me with another rolled dishcloth. I felt someone checking the knots. A woman’s hand took my arm. Margret’s perfume was overpowering. It was like an old woman in a bottle; even my grandmother would have snubbed it.

She led me outside, and pushed me against a car. My shins hit a bumper or running board. Had to be the Escalade SUV I had seen in Mexico.

One of them opened a door and pushed me up and onto the back seat.

+ + + +

Once on the streets I could hear muffled voices. The towel around my mouth also went over my ears. The paper sack made crackling noise when I moved. I sat still and listened. A muted voice said, “He won’t give a damn.”

“Will if he’s got it.”

I was trade merchandise. I picked up snippets after that.

By my calculation, it took at least forty minutes before we stopped. I had to pee.

They pulled me from the SUV. I looked down under the sack at my feet. Despite that, I stumbled on my first step.

The man held tight, led me over blacktop for a short distance, then onto wooden planks. The smell of ocean and the cry of seagulls told me where we were. I could hear boats bumping a dock. We stopped. One of them made a scraping metal against metal sound followed by a squeaking hinges. A key? A gate?

From that point there was one on each side of me. Was there water on each side? A few steps further and strong hands lifted me onto a swaying boat deck. The boat tilted again when the third person stepped aboard. Watching my feet, I could see I was on a shiny fiberglass deck.

One of them pushed my head down. “Watch your head.” The man held my arm leading me down steep steps and along a narrow passageway, with me bumping from side to side. I went through a narrow door. A light went on as I fell onto a bed.

I heard a door close behind them. Throwing my head back the paper bag crept up further on my face. After several tries, I had it lodged on my forehead. I could see that I was in a paneled cabin. I could hear the sound of water through a roll out hatch above the bed.

I shook the bag off my head, and began twisting my hands to loosen the tie. It was too tight. I thought about where I could be. Forty minutes from my house, it was not Oceanside, Carlsbad, or La Jolla. If I was accurate about the timing, downtown was about forty minutes from my house. It could be the Marina Cortez slips, Harbor Island Marina, or maybe the Kona Kai on Shelter Island. Bill would never find me.

I lay back down on the bed and looked at stars through the hatch above me. I thought about the man in the ski mask. Why did I feel that I knew him? Something about the way he moved. The voice? Could he be one of Arthur’s fellow officers? Maybe one of Arthur’s back yard bar-b-q friends? It was no one I knew from work, I was sure. But then why would it be? No, Arthur’s friends were more likely. There were several officers I met that would fit the stature of the man, but no one seemed to stand out in my mind.

I shook the thoughts away, and concentrated on the towel around my hands. The towel was still damp from my using it in the kitchen. The more I twisted my hands the more the tightness eased. There was a chance.

+ + + +

When Jackie and I entered the front room, I hit my shins on something. With the dull light from outside, I found the switch to the ceiling light. Flicking it on, it was my apartment all over again. The room had been complete ransacked just like mine. Jackie gasped and put her hand over her mouth. She grabbed my arm. “My god Bill!”

I said nothing and ran upstairs. It was the same in Mary’s room and the second bedroom where I expected to find Mary’s body. She wasn’t there. The bathroom items lay scattered over the floor. Even the shower curtain had been torn and slashed. I went back down the stairs and into the kitchen. As I pasted the blood-splattered fireplace, I thought about the envelope. Among the things scattered on the floor I saw yesterday’s mail and the plain envelope. The ticket was there. They had missed it. Jackie stood in the doorway as I looked in the envelope. She said, “Bill what happened?”

“Those people who assaulted you were here looking for something.”

“Good lord what?”

“Doesn’t matter. Right now I’m concerned about my sister.”

“Should you call the Police?”

“Not yet.”

“That’s what you said when you told Mark that you had a lot of money coming, enough to set everyone up in Europe.”

“Yes well just a figure of speech.”

“After all that has happened, I don’t think so.”

‘Smart as well as pretty’. “I’ll explain it later.”

“Mr. Wilson if something that will affect me, explain it now.”

“We don’t have time for that. I have to find my sister.”

Jackie fell silent but didn’t take her eyes from mine. “Where should we start?”

I thought she sounded like Mary, saying WE. “I don’t have the slightest idea. Obviously, they have kidnapped my sister. I can’t think of anything to do other than wait until they call.”

“Here?”

I looked at the apartment, what a mess. I said, “Let’s start upstairs.”

I got black plastic bags from the kitchen, and she followed. In Mary’s bedroom, I pointed to the closet. I think you’re Mary’s size, take some clothes, you look like you could use cleaning up.”

“You don’t look so hot yourself.”

“Didn’t mean to touch your eyeball. I just thought you might need fresh clothes after what you been through.”

“Sorry.”

Take what you need. There’s some bathroom stuff on the floor. I’ll get a few things and we’ll get out of here.”

“Maybe you should take me home.”

“Jackie just do what I tell you.”

She didn’t hesitate. I grabbed a couple suits, casual clothes, underwear, and stuff and pushed them into the bag. Jackie was waiting at the bedroom door for me. She said, “where will we stay?’

I looked at her slim figure and long legs. A lot of dirty sexy thoughts raced through my mind, but I said, “I’ll call Mark. Maybe we can stay where they’re staying.”

I called. It rang several times. Enough for Mark to look at my number on his phone. He said, “We’re at the Marina Hotel in La Jolla.”

“Kinda close to home aren’t you?”

“Hide in the open they say.”

“Mary’s place has been sacked and she’s missing.”

“Damn Bill I’m sorry. What are you going to do?”

Jackie and I will see you at the hotel. I can only wait till Margret contacts me.”

“I’ll wait for you in the lobby.”

+ + + +

The hotel sat almost on the sand. I knew that the view from every room would be spectacular. The front desk said they only had a king size left for the night. I was delighted; I don’t know how Jackie felt about it. I gave them a credit card, thought better of it and paid in cash for two nights. Wasn’t cheap.

As I was checking in Mark appeared. “What floor you on?” He asked.

“Eighteen.”

“We’re on sixteen. Room 1614. Kathy has put the kids to bed in 1612 next door.”

“Are they ok?”

“Under the circumstance.”

Jackie stood beside me facing the street. She seemed to be in awe of the hotel. I leaned toward Mark, “You don’t pay that girl enough.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is something going on with you two?”

“Of course not. All I can think about is Mary.”

Mark smirked. “Uh huh.”

I got the key card from the clerk and said, “I’ll call you as soon as I hear anything.” I didn’t want to discuss the ticket and its redemption. Not until I got Mary back.

Jackie held her black plastic bag against her chest and gave the bell boy a dirty look. We took the elevator to eighteen. I had to admit the room seemed worth the $400 a night even if it did take a big piece of my cash.

Jackie dropped the black bag and threw herself on the king sized bed. I hung up my suits and shirts putting the white envelope in one of the suit coats, and used the bathroom. While there I looked longingly at the Jacuzzi. Despite the circumstance, my thoughts twirled around the idea of Jackie and me in there together. I found my tooth brush and brushed my teeth, and put on deodorant. The old fool thought he might get lucky.

When I went back to the bedroom Jackie had hung up Mary’s clothes and was wearing one of my large sweatshirts. That was all I could see. It was enough. “So how do you want to do the sleeping arrangements?” I asked.

She looked at the bed for a while. I can put a few pillows down the middle. You snore?”

“I don’t know. I’m never awake to find out.”

“If you do you can expect a pillow in your face.” She said sitting on the edge of the bed.

The sweatshirt crept up enough that I was sure it was all she was wearing. That didn’t help my erotic thoughts. I looked at my watch. It was eleven thirty. I said, “I’m going to stay up a while. Maybe Margret will call.”

Jackie nodded and prepared the bed. I sat in a wingback chair looking out of the large window. The moon was full, glistening on the ocean. I thought about Mary and wondered if she was still alive. Visions of what I would do to Margret and her friend if anything happened to Mary tumbled through my mind. They were not pretty.

I thought again about my relationship with Mary. Not many brothers and sisters I knew were as close as we were. Most often brothers and sisters were like oil and water. I guess we had not always been so close. There were times I didn’t approve of her boyfriends. Seemed to me that she was attracted to the bad boy. Despite all the anguish she went through with being cheated on and occasionally dumped, I was there for her, and if the situation called for it I beat the hell out of a couple of bums for mistreating her. Although I never told her that, I was sure she knew. That was then, this is now. She was all I had, and I was going to kill someone if she was harmed.

When I looked over my shoulder, Jackie was already asleep. I wondered who she really was. What kind of life did she have, who were her friends, did she have a lover, where was she from originally? She was breathtaking. Her eyes fluttered and opened looking at me. She smiled and closed her eyes.

I slumped in the chair with my cell phone on my chest. I thought about turning on a late night movie but decided not to wake Jackie. I don’t know when it was but the room was dark and fog covered the moon, I had dozed off. My cell phone vibrated on my chest.

I dropped the phone, picked it up and said, “Hell...hello.”

“You can sleep while your sister is in harm’s way?”

“Where the hell is she? If you hurt her I’ll kill you both.”

Margret laughed. “How much is your sister worth?”

“What do you want?”

“I think you know. Now if you want to see her again I suggest that you meet me at the front entrance to Horton Plaza tomorrow.”

I tried a stall. “Dammit Margret I don’t have the ticket anymore. That stupid ass boyfriend of Mary’s ran off with it. I don’t know where he is.”

The phone was silent. I waited afraid to say anything more. I heard a muffled conversation in the background and a fog horn in the distance.

Finally, she said, “You better not being lying about this Bill. Here’s what we want. You and your attorney meet us at Horton Plaza at one tomorrow afternoon. One of you has what we want. When we get it we’ll trade your sister for it.”

“So now you want it all. What happened to we want ours. It was a split.” I heard the fog horn again. Had to be near one of the marinas.

“Not anymore.”

They were near the ocean. But where. Margret repeated, “Horton Plaza at one.” She disconnected.

Jackie slipped quietly out of bed and knelt next to my chair. “Was that them?’

I looked at her face in the moonlight, and nodded.

“What are you going to do?”

“Meet them tomorrow.”

She took my hand, “Come to bed.”

I was exhausted. I let myself to be led to the bed. Jackie pulled off the sweatshirt and got under the light blanket. She was naked. Just as I had presumed. I moved to the other side of the bed. She removed the row of three pillows, threw the blanket back, and invited me to get in. She was beautiful.

+ + + +

I could feel my hands slipping free of the wet kitchen towel. Outside my door, I heard the muffled sounds of conversation. Margret must have been on the phone because I her say, “how much is your sister worth?”

The rest of the conversation was muted by the sound of the boat bumping against the dock. I continued to work on the towel around my hands until I shook it off.

I looked up at the hatch. Standing on the bed, I took a chance and jumped grabbing the edge of the opening. For a moment, I hung there waiting to see if Margret felt any movement. They were still talking outside the room. I pulled myself up with my head out of the hatch, reversed the pull to a push, and sitting in the open. Thankful of my membership at the gym.

Looking behind me, I saw lights in the cabin. I was on the bow of a very expensive Sun Cruiser. Moving as slowly as I could to the side nearest the dock I held the bow rope securing the boat, and jumped to the dock. I sat on my haunches for a moment to see if rocking the boat had betrayed me.

When there was no movement from the boat I made my way to a chain link ornamental fence. The only way was over it. I threw my shoes over the top, and hooking my toes in the fence I climbed.

Almost to the top, I felt a strong grip on my ankle. The man with the baseball cap pulled me back, and positioned himself so I could not see his face.

The same wet towel went around my eyes. Blindfolded he led me back to the boat where I was again pushed into the forward cabin. After a few moments Margret appeared and threw my shoes on the bed, and closed the hatch above me. No one had said a word. After she left I felt the boat sway as if someone had stepped off.

+ + + +

Despite the lack of sleep, I opened my eyes in the morning and smiled. Jackie had made me forget my troubles for a memorable hour, after which I had fallen asleep. I looked at my watch it was quarter to eight. Jackie stirred and threw one leg over my stomach. I thought about it for a moment and then slipped out of bed.

After putting on my clothes, I ordered coffee and croissants from room service. I found my tooth brush and went through my morning routine. When I came out of the bathroom Jackie was looking out of the large ocean facing window. She wore Levi’s, the same sweatshirt, and no shoes. I came up behind her, put my arms around her slim waist, and kissed her on the neck. She leaned back against me and said, “You must think me a hussy.”

“To the contrary. I have never known anyone like you. You’re at the least a beautiful hussy.”

“I don’t think the flattery will get you back in bed.”

“Then how about, you’re sexy, beautiful, lovely, and gorgeous?”

Her smile faded, “I’ve been worried for you Bill. I can only imagine what you must be feeling.”

I was disappointed by the change in our conversation.

There was a knock on our door. “Room Service.” A voice said.

Jackie broke away heading for the bathroom. I let a short Mexican man in with a cart, tipped him, and put the cart at the end of the bed. No sooner had I let the man out when there was another knock at the door. I peeked out of the security lens. It was Mark. When he came in, he looked at the bed and the cart. “You on your honeymoon?”

“Kinda.”

“You have a chance to decide about the ticket? I mean the possibility of cashing it in.”

“No. I thought it best to concentrate on getting Mary back. Anyway I may have to give up the money in exchange for her.”

Mark sat on the edge of the bed. “Did you hear from them?”

“Last night. They want to meet both of us at Horton Plaza.”

“You think they know we’re together?’

“I don’t know, they may be just assuming we’re together, or at least in touch.”

“They must know I’m more than your attorney and what they’re asking is taking an indirect path to get us in the same place at the same time.”

“Is that lawyer speak?” I asked.

“Think about it, why else would they want us both. They plan to use her as a pawn to get the ticket from whichever one of us might hold it.”

“If they don’t know about how close you and I are, why would they think that having Mary would influence you?”

“I’m wondering about that. Last we suspected was that Arthur had told them I had the ticket. That’s why they came for me at the office. Now I think they’re not certain which one of us has it. So they want us both. You they can threaten with Mary, me they can just beat the hell out of and hope I cough up the ticket. Or they can threaten to kill my family.”

I poured two cups of coffee from the serving cart. “Can you think of a way we could go on offense?”

Jackie was standing at the bathroom door wrapped in a towel. She must have heard everything. She said, “I don’t understand why you both just don’t go to the police.”

Mark said, “It’s too complicated to explain Jackie.”

“Seems simple to me.” She mumbled. She took some clothes from the plastic bag and returned to the bathroom.

Marks eyes followed her. I said, “Get your mind out of the gutter. How about if I go by myself. I could tell them I couldn’t find you. Maybe I’ll get a glimpse of Mary. I might even find out who Margret’s friend is.”

“They’re gonna be really pissed if we’re both not there.” Mark said walking to the window.

“What are they going to do? They can’t afford to shoot me, especially in public, and they won’t hurt Mary because she’s the only merchandise they have to make a trade with.”

Mark frowned, “No I don’t want you to take that chance. Call me when you’re ready to go.”

+ + + +

After Mark left, Jackie came out of the bathroom wearing Mary’s clothes. A short black skirt, four inch heels, and a white silk long sleeve blouse. I swear I cannot imagine how I had never paid attention to the girl before. She was drop dead you know what.

While I was ogling, my cell buzzed. It was Henry. “Ok. I assume you are dying or drunk, but we have a business to run and you’re off doing whatever it is you’re doing.”

“I just need a little time. It’s some personal business. Give me a break.”

“What the hell is so personal that you can’t tell me about it? We’ve been working together for so long I feel like I should adopt you. Now what kind of hushy-hush shit is going on that you can’t tell me about?”

I thought about what he said. It was true he and I had been partners for nearly twenty years. I wondered for just a second if I should have him hold the lotto ticket until things were sorted out. Would that put him in danger as it had others? I looked at my watch. It was ten thirty I had two hours. I said, “Ok, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

“It’s about damn time.” He slammed the phone.

I turned mine off. I couldn’t deal with anymore crap. I stuck the envelope in my black plastic bag, put it in the closet and took the Colt. I left giving Jackie a peck on the lips.

+ + + +

Mickey smiled, stood, and hugged me when I came into the office. She said, “I probably should have saved the hug. You're going need one when Henry is through with you.”

“Yeah, where is the old scrooge.”

“He just got back. He’s in the conference room going over some invoices or something.”

“If you hear me yell for help come to my rescue.”

“You're joking but I don’t think he will be.”

I wandered to my office and sat behind my desk. There was a pile of yellow phone messages. I checked my e-mails. There were too many to think about right now. Ellie my secretary appeared in the doorway.

I said, “Where you been I’ve been looking for you for days.”

“Very funny. I thought I was going to be out of a job. Henry has been an absolute ass for the last few days. In and out of the office like a pesky fly.”

“He’s probably got his period.”

She smiled. “Glad someone has a sense of humor. The Ogre is waiting for you. Good luck.”

I went down the hall past Henry’s office, said hello to Gloria his secretary and turned into the conference room. Henry had his sleeves rolled up and a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth. I said, “It’s against the law to smoke in here.”

He looked at me, dropped his Cross pen, and leaned his head to one side to avoid the smoke curling up to his eye. “Sit.”

I sat in one of the ten swivel chairs at the conference table. I said, “You know the older you get the more you act like you’re going through menopause.”

He looked ten years older. He needed a shave, he was pale, and his hair was too long.

He pushed the yellow tablet he had been using to one side, unfolded those legs and said, “Cut the crap. Now tell me what the hell is going on.”

It took me nearly ten minutes to explain. That is up to a point. I omitted the whereabouts of Mark, where and who had the ticket, and the thing with Jackie. Henry twirled the gold Cross pen while he listened.

“He said, “I thought you were smarter than trying to take on two women. Especially at your age, and drunk.” He put the cigarette out. “The cops are going to eventually find you, you know.”

I said, “You were the one that told me about Marty’s. So you’re partly to blame.”

“This is some serious shit Bill. I know you couldn’t do something like that, and still this story is so complex it sounds like a pulp novel.”

“Relating it out loud I have to agree.”

He lit another cigarette, and put the pen in his shirt pocket. “So what are you going to do about Mary? You want me to go with you today?” He said as smoke billowed out of his nose.

I waved away the remnants of the smoke, “I don’t want to involve you Henry. There are already too many people hurt or killed.”

“I can’t let you do this thing alone.

“I’s best.”

“By the way do you have the ticket?”

I had to think about that. “It’s safe.”

“You should cash it in and give this woman what she wants. It’s not worth Mary’s life.”

“I think they want the ticket, and they want all the money, now that they have Mary.”

“Well who has the damn thing?”

“I thought Arthur had it, but now I don’t know for sure. Mark could have it and for all I know might want it himself. On the other hand, Mary could have hidden it. So I have to wing it today in hoping to find out where they’re keeping Mary.” Why did I lie? Was it concern for Henrys life?

“You know anything about this mysterious man with Margret? Maybe if you knew that you could find Mary.” Henry said.

“I don’t know who she’s working with, but they know every move we take.”

“You’re taking a big chance Bill, going to see them without the ticket.”

At that moment, my cell buzzed. I looked at the number I didn’t recognize it. I thought ‘a hell of a time for Margret to call’. But then it could be Jackie. I said, “I have to take this Henry.”

I walked away and opened the phone, “This is Bill.”

“We have your sister. We thought it would be something you should know if you’re thinking about stalling again.” Margret said.

Damn. “You hurt her and I’ll kill you both.”

“Yeah, you said that before. We’re not impressed. Just be at the Plaza with the ticket.”

“I don’t have the ticket.”

“You or your lawyer. One of you give us the ticket or Mary dies. We’ve killed before Bill.”

I shut my eyes tight. I had to go back to Mary’s Condo and get the ticket. I also had to let Mark know the circumstances. “We’ll be there.”

When I came back into the room Henry said, “Who was that?”

I snapped my phone shut and said, “My insurance company. They’re looking at the damage to my Condo. I have to sign something. I’ll stop by there before I go to Horton Plaza. I’ll meet you there.”

Why I didn’t tell Henry the truth I didn’t fully understand. Something about our conversation told me to keep my mouth shut.

“He said, “You sure you don’t want me to go with you?”

“I can handle it.”

“You’re so damn stubborn. You’re gonna get yourself killed. If you’re alive call me. I mean it.”

“You got such a big heart Henry, and let me add you aint been a hell-of-a-lota help.”

He looked hurt, and dropped his eyes. “Sorry Henry, I know there’s not much you can do. I’ll call and let you know everything.”

“You know I’ll do whatever you want me to Bill. Hell we’re more like brothers than brothers. I don’t want to see anything happen to you.”

“I want you to promise me, no heroics, and no calling the cops.”

He nodded ok.

I said, “Ok let me call the insurance people and I’ll be right back.”

He nodded again and went toward his office. I called Mark. He answered, “Bill where are you?”

Right now, I’m with my partner, who I hope is not going to follow me to Horton Plaza.”

“We can’t afford to have that ornery old fart getting in the middle of this. Make him stay away.”

“Doing my best. By the way Margret called threatening to kill Mary if we don’t give up the ticket.”

“Damn now what are we going to do? You have it with you?”

“No but I have an idea. I’ll get back to you.”

After hanging up I went to my office and retrieved my USB Pen Drive digital voice activated recorder.

+ + + +

Over twenty five million visitors walked through Horton Plaza the first year it opened in 1985. Today I watched the usual ebb and flow of shoppers, street people, and people just hanging out.

There were several ways to enter the Plaza, but the main entrance fronted busy Broadway.

Right on time I parked on the fourth floor of the parking facility and took the elevator to the lower level. From there I could try to be inconspicuous while getting to the main entrance. I made my way to a group of people holding signs demonstrating against another injustice of some sort. Mingling with that group I searched for Margret. I didn’t see her, but two hundred feet away, crossing Broadway, I saw Mark. He was wore a Hawaiian flowered shirt, khaki pants, and a red baseball cap. Stood out like a red rose among white.

As I watched Mark I caught sight of my six foot two partner coming from the East corner. They would miss each other. As Mark got closer I saw a brunette with sunglass’s pushed on top of her head step into the sunlight. It was Margret. She stood next to a DVD and record store.

I rushed to get behind Margret before Mark or Henry got there.

She saw me before I reached her, and pulled her sunglasses down off her hair and on to her eyes, she said, “You bring the attorney?

“I can’t find him. I couldn’t get him on his cell or land line.” I lied breathing hard.

“I told you to bring him with you, not make excuses.”

I told you I couldn’t find him.”

“So you have the ticket?”

“I told you before I thought Mary’s boyfriend had it. We think he may have gone to Mexico.”

Don’t shit me. Either the attorney has it or you do. I’m tired of this game. Now we’ll start sending you Mary’s fingers until one of you fess’s up. Is that what you want?”

“Where’s your friend?”

“You listening to what I said?”

“Where’s the guy?”

“He’s got Mary nearby. When you show the ticket we show her.”

I pulled my coat back revealing the 38 Colt. “I think it’s time we stop playing your game.”

She pushed the sunglasses back on top of her dark hair. Her eyes widened. The crowd of shoppers pushed past us shoving me closer to her. I grabbed her arm, twisted it behind her back and positioned myself there. I pushed the 38 hard, just above her butt.

I whispered in her ear. “You know that you’re the only person who can point the finger at me for Liz’s murder. I have nothing to lose if I kill you here.”

“You won’t shoot me here or anywhere, we’ve got your sister. You're such a smuck. It wasn’t me that killed Liz. But my friend and I did a good job of setting you up for it.”

“You two were good Margret, I admit. Did you and the guy plan it that way?”

“It was you that cleaned the room, you jerk.”

“How’d you know that?”

“I read the papers.”

“What about Arthur. You killed him, Liz, he’s a cop, and you killed an investigator dead in an empty warehouse. You can’t get away with all that.”

“You're so stupid, of course we can. We already did, and you forgot Liz’s mother. No one has found that body yet. Now enough of this bullshit. Who’s got the ticket you or your dumb lawyer?”

Her mention of Liz’s mother came as a surprise. I didn’t let it show. I said, “I told you I don’t know, and right now it doesn’t matter. I suggest you take twenty million when I find it and leave us alone.”

I saw Mark in the crowd looking around. Henry was fifty feet away doing the same.

She said, “So now it’s you changing the game.”

“You have no choice and you know it. I’m being generous.”

“You know all I have to do is give a tip to the cops and your ass is grass.”

“Now who’s being stupid?”

“I saw Henry coming our way. Margret said; let me talk to my partner. I’ll get back to you.”

“Two things Margret, before you leave. My sister’s kidnapping has added another nail to your coffin, and I just taped you admitting to multiple murders. Put those things into the equation, and remember what I said about you dying. If I don’t get Mary back and if I don’t hear from you soon, my dumb lawyer, as you call him, will see to it that you spend a long time watching your hair turn white.”

I put the gun under my belt and pulled my coat over it. “Call me.” I told her. I smiled; I’d been waiting too long for my turn to say that.

I walked toward Henry. He kept his eyes on Margret. When he saw me, he motioned me off with his hand. As we passed a couple feet apart he said. ”Keep going. I’ll follow the broad.”

I didn’t look back, and I couldn’t see Mark. I stopped on the corner of Broadway and called him.

“Yeah where the hell are you.” He said.

“Our business is done for the moment meet me back at the hotel.”

On the way to La Jolla I thought about Mary. Knowing Margret she just might kill my sister and disappear. I had to hope she was too greedy to do that.

+ + + +

When I got back to La Jolla, I found Jackie and Kathy in the hotel bar. Jackie ran, jumped up, and wrapped her legs around my waist.

“Not very lady like. Especially with that short skirt.”

“I’m just happy to see you. I wasn’t sure I would again.”

She led me to a semi-circular red vinyl booth. I slid in next to Kathy. She put her hand on mine. “Everything ok?” She asked.

“We’ve had a busy day. I think we have come to an understanding. I’m waiting for Margret to call to see if she will let Mary go.”

Jackie looked at me with one eyebrow raised. “An understanding? You mean Margret is giving up and could set Mary free?”

“If she’s smart she will. I offered her twenty million to free Mary and walk away, but like I said I’ll be waiting to hear from her.”

“What about Mark did he find you?”

“I saw him in the crowd and then lost him. I called him before I left and he said he would meet me here. Probably got stuck in traffic.”

“If he doesn’t know about you meeting with Margret it would be just like him to try getting Mary back by himself. You think he’s ok?”

“I wouldn’t worry about it. He’s on his way.”

Kathy just nodded and looked at her drink.

Jackie said, “So did you get to see Margret’s partner?”

Kathy slid her martini in front of me. I took a sip, “No, but Margret said he was close by with Mary. One other thing I forgot to mention. My partner Henry also showed up. I went by the office and filled him in on what was keeping me from work. The big lug insisted on going with me to meet Margret. I told him to stay out of it, but he showed up anyway. To top it off he said he would follow Margret. Anyway, right now Henry’s playing sleuth and I think he’s enjoying it. He’s following her as we speak. Be just like him to screw things up.”

Kathy nodded, and the table fell silent. She took her martini back and fiddled with the olive. I knew there were many questions lurking in everyone’s mind, but I waited.

My mind shifted to the money. What would the money do for them and to them? I have always dreamed of what I would do if I won the lottery. I never played, but I dreamt. I had played mind games about exotic islands, cars, mansions, Monte Carlo and so many other possibilities, many times. I guess in that regard I’m like thousands of others.

Now that I had a chance to have, even more than I ever dreamed of, a reality check crashed and burned the dreams. People say, “There’s more to life than money,” “Money can’t buy happiness,” and other such psychological drivel. I always reply, “Money can’t buy poverty either,” but now for some reason beyond reason, I was wondering if those others might be right.

True, everyone would like to be free of worries about everyday bills, but how could I spend over three hundred million dollars? Maybe there was something to the idea, that there was more happiness in giving than in receiving.

As I let my eyes wander over the women at the table. I wondered how they would handle a lot of money. Jackie I could understand with money. It would ease her financial struggles giving her independence; give her a chance at life, an escape from tedious and unrewarding jobs.

There were others like young Billy who lost his mother, Liz, and his grandmother. I wondered who was taking care of the kid now. I had already decided that if I got the money I would see to his future. As for Mary, and me, we would have to talk about it. All of this was, if I ever saw the money.

Kathy broke the silence. “I think I’d better check on Rachel. I left her asleep in front of the TV.”

“Yeah I think I should check on Mary’s apartment and clean it up.” Kathy nodded. I said, “If Mark gets back while I’m gone have him call me.”

Jackie joined in, “I should be getting home, but I’m dying to see how things will turn out.”

“If you want something to do you could help me fix up Mary’s apartment.”

“No, I should y go by the office. Mr. Akers is probably in a tiff wondering what happened to Mark and me.”

Kathy said, “Could you tell him that Mark is taking a few days off.” She seemed to think about that, and said, “Uhhh maybe you shouldn’t go into any details about us and that Margret person. Just have Jerry Akers call me.”

“I don’t mind making an excuse for Mark. I’m good at storytelling, being around lawyers all day. No offense meant.”

Kathy said, “Ok,” smiled and left.

Jackie and I retrieved our black plastic bags, checked the room to make sure we got everything and checked out. I left Jackie with the promise I would call her.

+ + + +

As I drove to Mary’s, I thought about Margret, and my offer. Now that I had time to review our conversation, I had doubts. Maybe I should just go to the police with the recording and get this whole thing over with. Rolling that over in my mind a few times I knew that going to the police would open a bag of worms, and if Margret got wind of it she would kill Mary for spite. The police was something I was not ready to deal with right now.

The thought of Mary reminded me of the call from Margret. Sounds in the background could mean they were holding her on or near the ocean. There were too many areas to cover. They could be tied up off shore, or in a slip at one of the many marinas. A needle in the haystack.

My thoughts did a 180. Why hadn’t Mark or Henry called? Henry might have followed Margret to where Mary was being held. Surly he would have called if that were the case. And where the hell did Mark disappear too.

My thoughts shifted gears again. Would I hear from Margret, would my having the tape of our conversation be threatening enough to make them accept my offer?

By the time I got to Mary’s I decided I was back to square one. I would just have to wait.

+ + + +

I occupied my mind by cleaning up the mess at Mary’s apartment. Finished with the kitchen I started on the living room. I turned on the TV while I tried to put everything back in place. The seven o’clock news crew was talking about the unclaimed lotto ticket. I stopped what I was doing and watched. The announcer was saying that some people waited as long as a month or more to claim the money.

I went back to work on the room. After several minutes, I stopped again when I heard the news that the police had discovered the identity of a young woman who had been murdered in a downtown hotel. They interviewed the manager, and gave a description of the crime scene, all while my heart and head went crazy. The reporter droned on to saying that the name of the victim was being withheld until relatives could be notified, and concluded with, “the police were asking for anyone with any information to contact local authorities”.

How much did the police know? Did they have any suspects and was I one? They should have discovered Liz’s mother by now. I remembered the only one to inquire about Liz was Arthur, when he went to the kid’s school. Would that connect me or him in anyway? All the questions had to go unanswered until I found Mary.

I had the apartment returned almost too its original condition when my cell rang. It was Mark. “Where have you been?”

“After I saw you leave Horton Plaza I followed Margret. I followed her to a Starbucks. While I watched from across the street, your partner went in after her. Here’s the strange part. I crossed the street and looked in the window and as I walked by they were sitting together in an animated conversation.”

For just a moment, I held my breath. I had to replay what I had just heard.

“Together?”

“Yeah they were talking or arguing about something. Henry looked angry and Margret was livid. You have any idea why they would be together?”

“I.....to....together. I don’t understand.” Before Mark could say anything I said, “You think he was confronting her on my behalf?”

“I don’t know, but something is wrong with this picture. Why would Henry be involved at all?”

“He said he would follow her. He insisted he would go with me to the Plaza, but how could he know Margret? To my knowledge he had only seen her when we got to the plaza.”

“I don’t know, but it smells bad.”

“Where are you now?”

I sat down on the couch.

Mark said, “I’m following Henry and Margret. They’re in a black Esplanade going toward Shelter Island. Any idea what’s going on? You think your Henry is in this with Margret?”

“I can’t think of any other reason he would be with her in the SUV.”

I tried to wrap my mind around this information. Henry? Margret? I wanted to give him the benefit of doubt, but shit.

“What do you want me to do?” Mark asked interrupting my thoughts.

“Find out where they’re going and call me back.”

“Will do.”

For a long time I sat in the same spot thinking. Henry and Margret. Could they be connected, and if so why and how? They one thing I could recall is that Henry had suggested that I go to Marty’s. That I needed to get de-stressed. He couldn’t have known about the lotto then. Liz had not bought the ticket. Did Margret contact him? He had never mentioned any particular woman, just that there were girls there looking for a good time. I knew at the time what he was really suggesting. There were hookers hanging around Marty’s, but I didn’t think he could have had any idea I would hook up with Margret. Maybe he knew her from former arrangements himself. His marriage was on the rocks so it could be, that they were intimately familiar.

While standing in front of the fireplace I ran my hand through my hair, and looked at an old framed photo of Mary and I on the mantle. We were standing in front of Henry’s new yacht, each with a glass of champagne. My heart sank. Henry’s new yacht...of course. It was coming together. They had Mary on board his boat. I was with Henry when he bought it. I remembered I had warned him for the use he would get with the boat; it was too much money. The memory of that day came to me clear, but where did he keep it. I couldn’t remember, but I thought it was near Mission bay,

+ + + +

I struggled to free my hands again. This time I was tied spread eagle on the staterooms king sized bed. The room had a head and a shower. It looked t like a Sea Ray I had been aboard. This was no fishing rig, but a mid-sized yacht that somehow felt familiar. I wondered how Margret could afford something like this.

I laid on my back for what seemed like thirty minutes. I was losing the feeling in my left foot.

I tried to think about Bill. What must he be going through? How could he find me? I couldn’t hope for that, I had to get free again. My wrists were sore from twisting my hands, but I tried again. I felt the boat move to starboard. Someone had come aboard.

After a few moments, the door to the cabin creaked opened. I closed my eyes to slits, and saw Margret peek in. The door closed. I heard her say ‘she’s faking sleep’. The man’s voice said, “Bring her out.”

Margret came back. “You can open your eyes stupid. I know you’re awake.” She laid her gun on the bed to untie me.

“You won’t get away with this.” I glared.

She said nothing while she untied my feet, then my hands. When my right hand was free I reached for the gun, but not fast enough. Margret picked it up. Untying my left arm she waved the pistol toward the door and said. “Ok get up.”

I slid to the bottom of the bed and stood feeling wobbly. I swayed while stamping my left foot to get feeling back. Enough stalling let’s go.” She said pushing the gun in my back.

I went thru the open door down a paneled passage way to the galley. “In there.” She motioned with the gun.

I stepped down one step into a beautiful galley that was bigger than my kitchen.

Henry Ledbetter sat in an L shaped booth and table with his back against the bulkhead. My heart raced my mind went numb. I couldn’t find my voice. Was he here to help me? I stuttered, “Hen...Henry, wha...what’s going on?”

Henry smiled, “Sit down Mary. We need to have a little talk.”

I sat down on the other side of the table. Margret leaned against the fake granite topped galley counter. As I scooted further into the booth. Henry said, “Mary I’m sorry about all this. I hoped it would never become this serious.”

I didn’t know if he was looking for a reply or not. I looked to Margret. She remained stoic. So I remained silent. I couldn’t speak anyway. The shock was too much. For some silly reason I wondered if he could hear my heart beating.

He lit a cigarette. “Let me explain our situation, and please don’t interrupt. I’ll start at the beginning.

A short time ago, I had suggested to your brother that he loosen up. He was involved in to many projects. I gave him the name of a small bar, which on occasion, I frequented. I knew he would meet some girls there, and thought a night with one of them would get his mind off business. I never thought he would meet someone I knew, as more than just a hook-up. That person was Margret.” He said looking at Margret with a glare.

My eyes must have look as big as saucers, I interlocked my fingers, and nervously nodded. Margret with a frown shuffled her feet watching me closely. He went on.

“You see our continuous intimate relationship developed into a friendship. We became more than just lovers. I’m sure you know my wife and I are in the midst of a nasty divorce. As it happened I developed feelings for Margret, and I think she for me.”

He stubbed the cigarette out in a crystal ash tray and lit another. He looked from Margret to me.

“When Margret discovered her friend Liz, held the winning Lotto ticket to one of the riches prizes ever, she called me from the hotel lobby. I was someone she could trust, for reasons I’m sure you are aware of.”

Henry inhaled, coughed, and continued, “At first she didn’t tell me who had the ticket, but as the conversation progressed I found out it was a girl who met her John’s at Marty’s. A girl named Liz. She told me that Liz had not signed the back of the ticket and it was now much like a cahiers check. Whoever held it could claim an unprecedented prize of over seven hundred million dollars. I don’t need to tell you what something like that would mean to me, considering I was about to lose everything I owned in a divorce.”

Blowing smoke at the ceiling he said, “Margret told me that if she were able to get the ticket, she couldn’t be sure that someone else, who might know about it, might not come forward and expose her.

After thinking about the situation I told Margret to not worry about that remote possibility, but to just find the ticket. Instead, Liz being a ditz, decided to make a copies in the hotels downstairs lobby, and give one to Margret for safekeeping. What Liz thought that would do, I never understood. The down side was that Liz also told Margret, that she gave another copy to someone else. She would not say who or why.”

Margret started to speak. Henry held up a hand to stop her. He continued. “With another copy of the ticket floating around, who knows where, we dogged your every step. We had to locate that copy and destroy it and resume our little game with you and Bill.

When we learned that you had discovered a copy, we searched your brothers Condo finding nothing. You see, if we could remove copies from the scenario it would leave us back at first base trying to pry the original from you and Bill.

However when your boyfriend discovered at the boys school where Liz lived, Margret pretending to be looking for her cousin, and got the address from the school as well. We beat you to Liz’s place and left as we saw you park your car. Unfortunately, we struck out again, but suspected that you may not have.”

I started to ask how they knew everything we did when Henry held up his hand palm out and said, “Hold your questions and let me finish.”

“So after our searches turned up nothing we could only apply more pressure on Bill. We were intent on getting the copy as well as he original. We didn’t want things getting messy when we claimed the prize. Threats of lost fingers had not worked as we thought they would. We have had to eliminate a young girl, an investigator, your boyfriend, a grandmother, whom you for some reason had overlooked, and make an attempt on Bill’s lawyer. We have tired of the game. Now, I’m sorry to say it’s come down to your life or the ticket.”

“I don’t understand how you got in so deep.”

“Let me explain what happened. Margret having doubts about cashing the ticket if we got it, asked if I would help her and become a partner. It was a lot of money. I think if you were in my place, you would have found it hard to resist, just as I did. I’m sorry Mary, but my divorce is costing me a lot of money. I face personal bankruptcy.

He paused to see if I understood. I nodded again.

“Margret knew that Liz had the ticket but not where she had put it. When I got to the hotel lobby, she told me your brother was in the shower and that I should come up. That’s when things went south. Liz would not share the money with us, she would not tell us where the ticket was, or the copy and she screamed for help. In desperation, I took a knife from the room service table and silenced her. For that, I am truly, deeply sorry. I didn’t mean to kill her, I was just in a panic thinking Bill would come out of the bathroom.

“Henry you have to go to the police.”

“Let me continue Mary. I am in so deep that the only hope I have is to recover the ticket and get enough money to get out of the country. That’s why we suggested dividing the winnings in half. That didn’t seem to work. As things progressed, it got worse. Margret in her haste to recover the ticket killed an investigator who had discovered her. She shot and killed your fiancé in Mexico as well”

Margret shouted. “You shit. Are you shifting the blame to me? You're as much to blame for everything as I am!”

“Margret be quiet.”

Henry gave her a warning look and went on, “Now Mary, things are even more complicated. You see Bill taped a meeting with Margret that implicates both of us in those deaths. We now not only need money, we need that tape. Do you understand our situation?”

I nodded again. “Why are you holding me? Bill made you a generous offer.”

“We need a little more than the original offer, and we need the tape. You are our only way of getting both.”

“Henry we’ve known each other for years. I know your wife. We’ve played bridge; we have been to your home many times. How can you do this to me? To Bill?”

Margret said, “You whimpering little fool haven’t you heard anything? He has no choice.”

I thought about what I had just heard. To some extent, my heart went out to Henry. He had become entangled in a net so devastating that he saw no way out. I understood that. As for the bitch Margret, she deserved any jail time or punishment she would receive. Out of concern for Henry, a part of me wanted him to escape.

“Henry for your sake, and yours only, I hope Bill you and will reach some agreement. I don’t trust your partner. She has killed before, and I don’t think she would hesitate to do it again. I know you understand that Bill will stop at nothing to get me back. Why don’t you give yourself a chance and set me free. I’ll go talk to Bill about what you’ve said, I think he might listen.”

Margret disappeared into the companionway.

When she had left I said, “Henry think about it. This woman won’t be content to get a few million when she thinks she can get it all. Set me free. I’ll do everything I can. You and Bill have been together for many years; he’ll give you the money and turn his back.”

“But I also need the tape.”

“I don’t think that he’ll give up the tape. He’ll hold it as insurance. You see the tape clears him of Liz’s murder.”

Henry dropped his eyes deep in thought. He lit another cigarette with shaking hands.

I went on, “You know the police are going to connect Margret to at least one of the murders. When they do, they’ll put everything together and come after you... Don’t let this situation continue.” I took a dangerous chance and said, “I have a cell phone in my back pocket. Use it, call Bill, and talk this out.”

Just then, I heard twin engine diesels start up and go to idle. Before we could go forward, Margret was back pointing the gun at us both. Henry sat back down, as did I.

She said, “I can see where this story is going Henry. You'll to turn me in to save yourself, or you’re going to make a deal for yourself, get enough money from your partner, and leave me holding nothing. Well I’m not sitting still for it.”

Margret shot Henry in the forehead. His head bounced hard against the bulkhead, blood splattering the wall. The bullet went through his head, the wall, and hit something metal below deck with a loud clang.

I gasped trying not to throw up, and trying to understand. I stood, I wanted to run, but before I could move, the gun was in my face.

She said, “Don’t be a fool. You know I’ll kill you.”

I saw the look in her eyes. She would do it I knew, but I said, “You kill me and the only thing you will get out of it is two life sentences or the needle.”

“I may not kill you but I can beat the hell out of you. So let’s go back in the stateroom.”

Margret threw me on the bed and tied my hands and feet again. She slapped me twice. “That’s for being such a smart ass and pretending to be one of the girls when I met you at Marty’s.”

I said nothing but watched as she left the cabin. From the moment I saw Henry’s brain spotting the galley wall. I found it difficult to breathe. Now no longer able to control my emotions I let it out, and broke down bawling.

+ + + +

As I left Mary’s place to search the downtown marinas, Mark called back. “They’re at the Kona marina on Shelter Island. They took Mary to a sleek fifty foot yacht. It looks like it could cost a million or so dollars.”

“It’s my partner’s yacht.”

“Henry’s?”

“Yes. I remember where now. Is it tied up in the second row left of the locked gate?”

“Yes.”

“That’s it. I’ll be right there. Keep an eye out.” I put the Colt back in my belt.

“What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know yet.” I said as I rushed to my Volvo closing my phone.

I was on the five freeway in two minutes, and pushed the Volvo to eighty-five. My mind raced as I thought of Henry being involved with Margret. How did they know each other? An even more intriguing question was how could he betray me? I shook my head at that stupid thought. It was a lot of money that’s how. “Get real.” I said aloud.

At Del Mar, my phone buzzed. I put it on speaker and kept it below the window. “Yeah, I’m driving.”

“Bill its Jackie. Kathy’s been calling me to see if I knew where Mark was. Have you heard from him?”

“Call her back and tell her I’m on my way to meet him. I’ll make sure he calls her.”

“Meet him? Where?”

“Don’t tell Kathy this, but Mark has found Mary. She’s being held on Shelter Island. I’ll fill you in as soon as I can. I gotta go.”

“Be careful.”

I snapped the phone shut.

Be careful....sure. I moved the Colt to the front of my belt.

+ + + +

As I recalled a large ornate gate led to the slips at the Kona. I didn’t know how I would get in. Maybe I could lure Henry and Margret out to meet me nearby. I could up the offer to fifty million, which might get them to counter at least.

The resort had a restaurant right in front of the marina. I might get them to meet me there, but knowing I had discovered where they were holding Mary was a problem. Before I could do anything, I had to wait for Margret or Henry to call. She used those damn throwaway phones so I couldn’t call her.

When I got to the marina, Mark was in the parking lot waiting by his car. I parked next to him. Without a hello we both went toward the gate. As we walked he said, “They haven’t come out yet.”

We stopped before we got to the gate. From where we stood I picked out Henry’s boat. It was against the planked gangway, the first in line on the second row.

Mark watched me for a moment. “You got a plan?”

“We don’t have options. I can’t contact Margret, we can only wait and see what they do.” I pointed out the yacht and said, “Think we can see it from my car?”

“Yeah.”

As soon as we reached my car, I saw Margret come from the after deck to the bow. She threw off the line and returned aft. Before we could get to the gate, the boat was backing out and moving toward the bay.

Mark yelled, “They’re gonna get away.”

I watched the yacht moving toward the Strand. Mark shaded his eyes with his hand and said, “Is that smoke coming from the diesels or a fire? You see that?”

There was dark smoke billowing out of the aft deck. Not a lot but it was not normal. “Damn Mark they’re on fire, and probably heading for Mexican waters. You think they know about the fire?”

“Evidently not, they’re still moving.”

“Let’s head for Imperial Beach if we spot the boat we will know where they’re going.”

“And do what?”

“Hell I don’t know I just have to do something. I can’t just sit here.” I said.

“What if they realize they’re on fire and come back?”

“Then maybe you should stay here and call me if they do.”

Mark nodded.

I got in the car and squealed out of the parking lot. I thought about the black smoke on board the yacht, and knew that she would never make it to Mexico, if that was their destination. The best they could do would be the National City Boat Launch.

However, what if they go north toward Carlsbad. I stopped at Myrtle St. and thought about it. I decided, no they would probably head for Mexico.

Making it any farther than Imperial Beach would be stretching it before the craft was engulfed, but knowing crazy Margret, she would try. There was shallow water and a wide beach’s there, but the chances of finding them would be astronomical.

+ + + +

I twisted and turned on the king sized stateroom bed. The dishcloth loosened. Margret was not the greatest knot tying sailor.

While I struggled, I could swear I smelled smoke. I shook that thought away thinking that was at best, a remote possibility. When we hit swells, I knew we were out of the bay and, in open water, but where was she going, and why. We must have been twenty minutes out of the bay when the smoke began to thicken dramatically. I yelled for Margret. No answer.

She must know about a fire. Did she have a nearby destination in mind? Was she making for shallow water? I had no way of knowing.

I got my right hand free and began working on the other. The smell of smoke was stronger. Remembering the loud clang when Margret shot Henry it could be that the bullet struck something below deck.

The diesels sputtered, and then caught again.

The smoke was coming under the door. In a panic I freed my left hand free. Next my feet. Sliding off the bed, I tried the door. Locked. Smoke was thickening. I got my cell from my back pocket. There was no reception.

I put one of the dishcloths over my mouth and kicked the door. The result was a painful foot. I looked at the hatch above the bed, smoke was leaking out of it. It must be open. On the bed, I bounced until I caught the edge of the hatch. Holding on like a dangling monkey, I used one hand to push on the plastic cover. It opened wider. Another hard push and it popped all the way. I tried to pull myself through the hatch, but this time with the boat rolling in the swells, I couldn’t do it. I wanted to cry in frustration. The open hatch was pulling more smoke into the cabin.

I got off the bed and kicked the door again. As I was going to kick a third time Margret opened the door. I stumbled forward. “Come on we’re on fire.” She said.

She pulled me past her and shoved me up the companionway. The smoke was smothering by this time. I coughed, choked, brushed the tears out of my eyes, and made it to the deck.

The aft section of the boat was engulfed. I knew it would not be long before the tanks blew. Margret’s purse lay near the helm. She held the gun on me while she fished out her wallet and put it in the front pocket of her jeans.

Margret said, “You swim?”

“Some.”

“You might have to do some.”

I could see that the boat was headed for a broad sandy beach. Surfers were bobbing in the swells watching us. Margret held the gun in my back. “Don’t try anything funny. Just get to the beach. If you run I’ll kill you.”

I nodded, but thought ‘like hell’.

She intended to beach the boat. “When I say go, get overboard.”

Surfers were moving for the shore in an attempt to get help, or to get out of the water before we exploded. The yacht ground into sand with a loud scrunching noise. I stumbled and fell. “Get up. Get on the bow and jump.” Margret said.

I ran forward and jumped. The shock of the cold water went through me like high voltage. I touched bottom. Looking up, the water was just a few feet over my head.

I bent my knees and pushed. I popped up, and began stroked frantically for the shore. I looked behind me. Margret was a few feet away. I swam as fast as I could. If I could reach the beach first I might have a chance. Maybe get help from the lookie -loos watching the scene.

When I could stand up, I tried to run, but the water was too deep for me to move fast. With the surf up to my knees, the yacht exploded sending debris in every direction. I fell on my face from the concussion. Margret grabbed my sweatshirt and pulled me up onto the sand. People had scattered to avoid the falling materials. I had little chance of screaming for help in the confusion.

Margret put the gun in my back and said, “You say anything and your dead.”

Before anyone could get to us, she pushed me at a trot toward a beach parking lot. Two men, who had seen what happened, got out of a Chevy pickup leaving the doors open, the motor running, and started toward us. A few feet from the truck, Margret flashed the gun at the men and said, “Back away.”

Both men held their hands out in front of them and stopped. “Get in the truck.” She motioned with the gun. Waiting until I got in, she slid into the driver’s seat. The men stood unmoving.

+ + + +

We found Palm Ave. immediately, then up the ramp onto the five freeway.

I looked at Margret as we drove. She looked like the determined bitch she was. Coupled with the way she looked, with wet hair was something out of The Living Dead. I didn’t look so hot myself.

I shifted in the seat, “You can’t get me over the border if that’s what you got in mind”

“Just shut up.”

Within fifteen minutes, we were at the border. Margret parked the truck on the U.S. side, threw the gun in some bushes and we walked over in the middle of a cluster of tourist. Moving past billboards, we flowed with the crowd. From somewhere on her person Margret flashed a nasty looking switch blade. “Play it cool.” She said

When we reached the border, a patrol agent asked, “Citizenship?”

Margret said, “US.” She nudged me. I said, “US.” I wanted to scream, I’m being kidnapped! I knew the Mexican agent would probably smile or want money, and Margret would knife me.

When we were through the turnstile, and over the border I tried to make a break for it. As small as Margret was she was strong. I discovered how strong when she caught me in a head lock. She looked at those around us who were watching. Margret laughed, “Just a little horse play folks.”

That seemed to satisfy the tourist. She whispered, “Try that again and I’ll cut your scrawny throat.”

I shook my head up and down as best I could while still in the headlock. She loosened the pressure and led me by the arm to a cab. She pushed me in and told the driver, “Rosarita Beach.”

Margret said nothing while going out of Tijuana except to the driver. For the first time I noticed the cuts and bruises on the left side of her face. I ran my hand over my own face and came away with smudges of soot but no blood.

I said, “Same hotel?”

“Smart ass.” She smirked.

“He’ll find me you know.”

“Not without paying for you.”

We both fell into our own thoughts. When we reached Rosarita, she gave the cabbie a soggy twenty. He looked at it doubtfully, but drove off leaving us at the same hotel where Margret or Henry had shot Arthur.

This time a portly woman was on the front desk, and gave us room 472 facing the pool and the beach. I tried to run again. She caught me and bending my arm behind my back led me to the room. Inside she cut up towels to tie me to a chair. Satisfied that I was secure, she sat on the bed. I said, “No one can get me out of the country without identification.”

“Don’t be stupid. The only thing they want to know is what you’re bringing out of Mexico.”

“No, I read that they were going to make a passport necessary.”

“They haven’t done it yet, you idiot.”

“If Bill gives you the ticket you still have to go stateside to claim the money. There will be press waiting for you, and maybe the cops.”

“There’s always a shyster lawyer, and with that kind of money at stake someone will take the chance of representing an anonymous client. Anyway I have no intention of returning you until I have the money tucked away.”

I thought that could take weeks. Where was she planning to keep me until then? Would she kill me and send Bill on a wild goose chase? Bill didn’t have a chance of finding me. I had to get away.

When Margret went to the bathroom, I heard her in muffled conversation. I wondered if she was talking to Bill.

After a few minutes she came out and turned the TV on. Only Mexican TV stations. I couldn’t understand a word despite living in a city compiled of 40% Mexicans. Mumbling she went channel surfing and found an English speaking game show. She threw herself on the bed and bunched pillows behind her head. I sat squirming in a worn padded chair and watched her rather than the TV. Exhaustion began to set in. I wanted to ask her if she talked to Bill, but I would not give her the satisfaction of me begging. My eyes began to burn. Every inch of my body ached.

+ + + +

I must have dozed off because it was dark when I opened my eyes again. I was alone. Where was Margret? The bathroom was empty. My face burned and my entire body still ached. The only light in the room came through a crack in the curtains. I shook my head to think.

Hoping Margret was not coming back for a while, I began another struggle to free myself. The knots were tight this time. I rocked the chair almost falling over. That didn’t work. I heard no noise outside. No sounds of people drinking or laughing at the gazebo fronting the ocean.

It must be late, and I needed to go to the bathroom badly. To forestall wetting myself I sang songs, and squeezed my legs together. It wasn’t going to work for long. Where was she?

I exhausted every idea I could think of about how to escape. I rocked again, this time throwing my back against the wall hoping to break the carved wooden slats of the chair. That almost tipped me over which would leave me even more helpless on the floor. It had not been a good idea.

When I felt I could no longer wait to pee, and was about to just let go, Margret came in and turned on a lamp. A heavyset Mexican man wearing a black Padres cap and reeking of liquor followed her.

She pointed at me and said, “Allí es.”

In English the man said, “I see.”

“Remember no harm. You understand?”

“Si.”

Margret untied my hands and legs from behind the chair, and stood me up. She tied my hands once more behind my back, while the man held the gun on me.

I said, “Margret I really have to go to the bathroom. I mean really, really bad.”

She glared at me but led me to the bathroom. I said, “Are you going to untie me?”

“Are you kidding?” She said.

“What am I going to do?”

She left the door open unzipped my still damp Levi’s, and dropped them along with my panties to the floor. “Go.” She said.

The Mexican man stood in the doorway and leered, watching me. He was not going to turn away. I sat, went, and sighed in relief. ”Ok.” I said.

She stood me up, and pulled up my Levi’s. The man never took his eyes off me.

Margret said, “You’re gonna visit a farm. Maybe while you’re there you can learn how to milk steers.”

“Very funny.”

The Mexican man sat on the edge of the bed. Margret smacked his leg, “Levántese come on let’s go.” Margret snarled.

Swaying, he pushed me to the door followed by Margret. The sky was turning a grayish dull red of dawn. I was led to the parking lot, and pushed into an old rusty red Ford pickup. I saw a shovel and other farm implements in the back as I got in. Maybe Margret wasn’t kidding about a farm. That would make it impossible for Bill to find me.

The old truck lurched, I looked back to see Margret watching us as we drove away.

+ + + +

Searching for Mary I checked several spots along the shore leading me to Imperial Beach. So far I had not seen Henry’s boat. At the end of Palm St., which led to the sand, I saw a crowd of people looking and pointing. My heart did a flip. When I got to a point where I could see the water, I parked, got out, and went to a group of people who were talking noisily and pointing at debris that littered the water, and the sand. Sirens were wailing in the distance. I hurried to an elderly couple standing almost in the surf, “Did you see what happened?”

“No, we heard that a boat blew up.” The man said.

My heart sank. “Did anyone see if anybody got off the boat?”

Pointing, the little white haired lady said, “Someone said two women came ashore right over there. Seems they stole some fisherman’s truck.”

Damn. Margret had nine lives. The good news was that Mary was alive. I called Mark as I walked back to my car. “They didn’t come back.” He said.

“I know the boat blew apart in Imperial Beach. Margret got away taking Mary with her. I don’t know what happened to Henry. It was just by accident that I found them.”

“What do we do now?”

“What we’ve always done. We wait.” I said disconnecting. As I drove out of the parking lot police cars arrived. I knew they would have a hard time identifying the boat and its owner. If they got around to questioning me, I would play dumb. I stopped before reaching the freeway, pulled over and called Mark again. He didn’t say hello, he answered the phone with, “Which direction you think Margret went?”

“To Mexico.” I said not really sure.

“Then I guess you’re right, we have to wait for a call.”

“You call Kathy?”

“Yeah, I told her I would stick with you till we found out something.”

“You think I should try the border. See if maybe they stopped her?”

“She’s as slippery as a fish. If she went to Mexico, she probably walked over. They rarely stop walkers.”

“Yeah. Ok I’m going back to Mary’s place. She might use a land line to get me.”

“When you hear anything, you call me. Ok?”

“Right.”

+ + + +

My headlights picked up Jackie sitting on the doorstep of Mary’s apartment when I arrived. She was in a short skirt with matching leggings and a heavy looking coat.

She stood as I approached and said, “Mark called Kathy and told her what happened. I called Kathy, and she told me about Mary. She also said that you were on your way here. I just had to know if there was any news.”

I smiled. I thought Jackie might have a thing for me. “You didn’t need to come all this way. I was going to call you.”

“But I thought you might need company. I mean, I would.”

“I appreciate it. Why don’t you come in?” I said thinking about re-discovering her body.

Inside the place looked almost normal. Jackie sat on the couch, “Would you like a drink while we wait? I asked.

“Whatever you’re having.”

I mixed two vodka tonics. While I was doing that Jackie joined me in the kitchen. She stood behind me while I stirred. I could feel the warmth of her body, and smell her perfume. I didn’t want a drink. I wanted her. She reached around me and took one of the drinks while pressing her upstairs against my back. “You look frazzled.” She said.

“It’s been a long day.” I said turning to face her.

“So it’s a waiting game again?” I could feel her breath on my face.

Feeling stirrings below deck I took a deep breath. “Yes. I think Mary’s in Mexico, and I can only wait to hear the demands.”

Moving back toward the living room she said, “You love your sister don’t you?”

“Very much. I didn’t like her a lot while we were growing up because she always beat me at things I shouldn’t have lost at.”

“A tomboy?” Jackie said sitting in the recliner.

I sat on the couch. “I didn’t mind her being a tomboy, but I hated to lose all the time. She was a pro. She beat me at tennis, golf, and racquetball.”

“I never had a brother or sister.” Jackie said looking at her drink.

“I’m sorry.”

I didn’t know what else to say. “Would you like me to start a fire?”

She nodded, I put two fake logs in the fireplace and lit them. As I turned around, she took a sip of her drink, and stepped in front of me. I looked down at her parted lips, spilled a little of my drink, and kissed her. She kissed me back. That led us upstairs. To hell with the cozy fire seduction idea.

At ten thirty P.M., the bedside phone rang. “Margret?”

“No it’s Mark. Just wanted to see if you heard anything.”

Jackie sat up. “Is that Margret?” She said too loud.

“You got somebody there?” Mark questioned.

“Auuu....I was just telling Jackie that I hoped Margret would call.”

Mark was silent for a heartbeat. “She’s in your bed isn’t she?”

“No, of course not.”

“Yeah, sure. Anyway you call me if you hear, no matter the time.”

“I will.” I hung up.

“Wasn’t her huh?” Jackie said.

“No, Mark.”

“You hungry?”

“Yes. Let’s see what we can rustle up.”

Jackie wrapped herself in a cotton blanket from the bed while I put on my shorts. Before we could leave the room, the phone rang again.

+ + + +

The rusty pickup turned off the pavement somewhere before we reached Ensenada. The Mexican man his eyes closing occasionally, had said nothing. The truck bounced over potholes on a one lane dirt road. One of his headlights blinked on and off with each bump, and his one dim headlight that worked, did little to help him miss them. Lighting flashed in the distance and the wind blew the dust into swirls behind us.

I said, “You speak English?”

“Si.”

“What’s your name?”

“Hector.”

“What are you going to do with me?”

“I dunno.”

“What do you mean?”

“I dunno; just keep you safe until that woman comes with the rest of my dinero.”

I thought about jumping from the truck, but we were going too fast. Plus I didn’t know what he would do if I got out, or what I could do since I had no idea where we were.

“How much is the woman paying you?”

“Mucho.”

“My brother will pay you four times whatever she offered you.”

Chewawa. Cuatro?”

“Yes. Four times.”

Hector was silent for a full minute. “I think she would not be afraid to use that big gun I have seen her with once before. I have a wife.”

“You should take me to a phone. I can call my brother. He has a big gun also, and he will pay you four times as much.”

“Nooo..... Señorita. I am afraid.”

I tried to think of another approach. I couldn’t.

He said, “I think I need a drink.”

Ahead I saw a house and an old barn in the headlights. “Do you have a phone?”

“Señorita you ask too many things.”

We pulled up in the dirt yard and stopped. Two big mean looking dogs came to the truck, and jumped up at my window. They didn’t act friendly. There was a light on in the little house, but no one came out. The man got out and shooed the dogs away, then opened my door.

Through the now howling wind he said, “They won’t bite you señorita. They just bark.”

Before we got to the door, a plump woman came out on the rickety porch. In the light from the house, I could see she wore an apron that looked like it hadn’t been laundered in ten years. She shouted in Spanish of which I couldn’t understand a word. The man shouted back and led me to the house. The wind getting stronger almost knocked me over. I felt in my back pocket for my cell phone. It was gone. Now I had no way of contacting Bill. The salt water had probably ruined it anyway.

We followed the woman inside. Hector pushed me down at a small scarred wooden table. He pointed at the woman and said, “Maria.”

I nodded.

The house had one big room, which we were in, and two darkened rooms I assumed were bedrooms. Candles and a lantern provided the only light. The floor was barren wooden planks, no rugs, just planks. There was no sign of children.

Hector led Maria to one of the doors and talked in muted tones. The woman shook her head, and then shook her finger in the man’s face, all the while looking as if she would strangle him.

I thought of bolting for the door but the wind outside rattled the old house. We were in for some very bad weather.

Maria disappeared into one of the dark rooms. Hector went to a handmade cabinet and took out a bottle of tequila. He put two dirty glasses on the table and poured both three quarters full.

“You drink Senorita.”

I watched him as I sipped my tequila. A dim light appeared in the room the woman had gone into. After a few sips of my drink, my throat was on fire. Hector was on his second glass. Maria came from the room and smacked him on his balding head.

“Lo que hizo le digo” She said.

Whatever she said didn’t set well with Hector. He glared at her through heavy eyelids. “Consiga a alguna mujer de alimento.”

She shook her head in disgust and started a fire in an old wood stove, then began preparing a meal.

The wind outside increased.

+ + + +

I heard Jackie turn the TV on downstairs. My phone rang. I looked at the number, and didn’t recognize it.

“This is Bill.”

“You're sister is safe for the moment, but only for the moment. So it would be a good idea if you listen carefully. In exchange for her life, I want the ticket. Not half but all of it. I want to meet with you and your smart assed attorney at Mc Donald’s in San Ysidro; it’s in the Plaza Shopping Center on the U. S. side.”

“I know where it is. When?”

“Tomorrow morning at eleven. Don’t be late. That could prove fatal.”

“Is my buddy Henry going to be there?”

“We’ll see.” She hung up.

I stared at my cell phone for a long minute thinking about how to handle this situation. I drew no conclusions.

Down stairs, Jackie sat in front of the TV watching the eleven o’clock news. I sat next to her watching a map of Mexico and hurricane Charlie, as it approached the Baja peninsula. The weather man was pointing at a large arrow showing the path of the storm. They expected it to make landfall by early morning bringing heavy rain to San Diego.

The announcer added there was a chance that if Charlie changed direction it could miss the anticipated path along Santa Fe northward to Punta Abreojos, and smash into Mexico, just below Ensenada. It would be an extraordinary event with seventy mile an hour winds gusting to ninety. The storm in either case was expected to become a tropical storm that would severely affect the areas of California, Nevada, and Arizona. Ports along the coast were being closed and classes suspended at Baja schools.

Jackie and I could hear the wind mounting outside as we watched. She said, “This looks like a bad one.”

“Margret just called and said to meet her in the morning near the border. If this storm hits we could see the freeways tied up. I’ll have to start early to get there.”

“What did she want?”

“She has Mary and wants to trade for the lotto ticket. She also wants Mark with me.”

“Why would she want Mark?”

“I’m not sure, but I’d better call him.”

Mark answered on the second ring. “Did you hear something?”

“Yes she will meet us in the morning in San Ysidro. Eleven o’clock at Mc Donald’s.”

“Us?”

“Yes she wants you there.”

“You gonna have the ticket with you? She could just take it and you’d never hear from Mary again.”

“I’ll leave it here. When we find out what she proposes, we can make the exchange then.”

“Damn Bill you think Mary will be alright? I mean this could take some time.”

“I don’t think she’ll hurt Mary. She’s worth too much, and if she wants to go to an attorney and get him to redeem the ticket, we go with her. I can’t trust her to keep any promises.”

“Bring your gun just in case.”

“I’ll pick you up at nine. With this storm moving in we need to allow freeway time.”

“Ok. I hope the storm doesn’t come any farther north.”

“See you in the morning.”

I watched the news with my mind centered on where to keep the ticket. I had no time to put it in a lock box or the bank. What if it was a ploy by Margret to get me on the border while she came here looking for the ticket? Knowing Margret’s psycho mentality, I thought if she came here and couldn’t find the ticket, she would burn the apartment for spite. Could I leave it at Marks house with Kathy?

I looked at Jackie out of the corner of my eye. I didn’t know her well, but what I knew of her I found somehow trustworthy.

I said, “Would you hold the lotto ticket until I get back?”

“What?”

“Would you?”

“Bill don’t do that. You want me to hold millions of dollars and expect that I would be here when you get back?”

“Yes.” I wanted to bite my tongue.

She held my eyes for a long time saying nothing. I tried to read something in her expression but drew a blank.

“Bill I would really rather you hide it someplace.” She said dropping her eyes.

“You mean I can’t trust you?”

“Exactly.”

I looked at her wrapped in a light blanket from the bed. Her hair was slightly wild, and made her look all the more appealing. I thought about her being naked under the blanket. I moved closer and put my hand under it. Her skin was warm and smooth. “This will not change my mind you know.” She murmured.

I knew what I would do in the morning.

+ + + +

Mary pulled the musty smelling blanket up to her chin and listened to the howling wind outside. Her head throbbed from the tequila. Maria had gone to bed, and the last time she looked, Hector sat with his head resting on his arms at the old table. These people were obviously amateurs at this kind of thing. She was virtually free to sneak away.

I wondered where Margret had found Hector. He seemed more interested in tequila than money. Maria had been kind, giving me a warm meal, and speaking in soft tones. I didn’t understand what she was saying, but I felt the warmth.

I got out of bed still clothed and dry. Tiptoeing to the door, I watched Hector. The only light on in the house was a coal oil lamp near the kitchen sink. Black smoke swirled above the glass lamp shade. I eased out of the bedroom hoping the wooden floor wouldn’t squeak. When I reached the door, I hesitated. The wind was causing the door to tremble. I had to move fast once I opened the door I suspected the wind would make it difficult to close. As I reached for the latch, I heard the rain begin, hard rain.

I held my breath and pulled the door inward. A blast of rain and wind hit me in the face with a terrible force. I didn’t try to close the door I just ran into the darkness. The wind blew me around at will clawing at my damp sweatshirt. This was something I had never experienced before.

On the rutted road a short distance from the house, I turned my back to the rain and wind. What I saw made my heart stand still. The little house was engulfed in flames. I thought about the lamp. The fierce wind must have turned it over and started the fire. My mind went to Maria and pitiful Hector. I saw no one run from the flames. Even the dogs were nowhere to be seen. They had probably disappeared into the desert. I felt a sob come up in my throat, but I choked it back. They were after all just simple people trying to get by. I couldn’t blame Hector for what he did, and poor sweet Maria had done nothing to deserve a death like that.

I couldn’t dwell on what should or shouldn’t have been. I had to think about the increasing wind that was nearing hurricane force. I needed to get to the highway, fast.

After only a short distance, the rain hit me like rocks. I knew I was running in the worst storm I could recall. I put my head down, leaned forward against the wind, and struggled to stay on the road. When I recognized I could no longer face the rain, wind, and intermittent hail, I looked for somewhere to get shelter. The darkness of the storm and the night made it nearly impossible to see at all. Leaving the road, I struggled to keep my footing while trying not to run into jumping cactus. After stumbling over mesquite and rocks, I saw an outcrop that formed an open cave at the bottom of a small hill. I went toward it hoping there were no animals with the same idea.

+ + + +

I awoke about seven and looked at Jackie still sleeping. The wind whistled around the bedroom window casings. The storm had not let up, and sounded as if it was worsening. Jackie stirred and opened her eyes.

She looked frightened. “Sounds bad.” She said.

Pushing a strand of hair from her eye I said, “I thought you were asleep. You been awake long?”

“Since about five.”

“Why didn’t you wake me?”

“What for, there’s nothing we can do about the storm?”

“Smarty aleck.” I snuggled against her.

“You're insatiable” She smiled

“You love it you little hussy.”

She rolled over me, and sat on the edge of the bed. She looked over her shoulder at me. “You better get up. You may want to start a little earlier.”

“It’s warm in here. You sure you don’t want to stay a while longer?”

“I’ll make some coffee.”

“Damn.”

She went to the bathroom and left the door open. I couldn’t see her on the toilet but I watched her as she brushed her teeth with my toothbrush and combed her hair with her fingers. She put on one of my robes looking at me with a smile. She never tied the belt but walked out toward the stairs making sure I could see what she wanted me to see. What a body I thought. I wondered why I had never done more than give her lustful looks when I went to Marks office.

When I heard her thump thumping down the stairs my thoughts turned to wondering who she was. She and I had never had a real conversation as to her past or her hopes for the future. I didn’t know if she had a family here in San Diego, or if she had any surviving relatives. Everybody had somebody I thought, but we never exchanged that information. Despite my not knowing much about her she was creeping into my mind more and more. Can you fall for someone in such a short time, or was it just sex?

The wind outside brought my thoughts back to my sister. I wondered if she was out of this storm. Damn Margret. Given the chance I would have no compulsion about killing her.

Jackie called from downstairs that coffee was on. When I got downstairs, she handed me a cup of coffee and we sat in front of the TV. Reporters were telling viewers how the hurricane had deceive the meteorologist and slipped up the coast. We were now experiencing one of the worst storms in Southern California history. Street level roads flooded and traffic on the freeways was now bumper-to-bumper. Winds were blowing at sustained levels of nearly fifty miles an hour. The images were terrible. Big rigs overturned, auto accidents by the dozens, and people on downtown streets trying to escape the storm. Advisories were issued to avoid the freeways. School closings were listed and businesses were closing.

Jackie said, “What are you going to do?”

My cell phone buzzed. It was Mark. I said, “I’m watching the news right now. What do you think?”

“I think we better sit tight. Margret will understand that we can’t reach her.”

“I’m more concerned about Mary. I don’t know where she is, or how this storm is affecting her.” I said.

“There’s nothing to do about it Bill. We just have to pray that she’s safe.”

“If this let’s up I’ll call you. In the meantime I’ll wait to hear from Margret.”

Jackie still watching the TV said, “I’m glad you’re not going out in this.”

I didn’t reply. I was worried.

+ + + +

The only way I could tell it was morning was by a noticeable lightness to the sky. The rain continued and rivulets of water poured off the lip of the outcropping. I shivered and wondered if the rain might have put the house fire out in time to save Hector and Maria. For just a moment, I thought about going back, but that would be foolish.

My sweatshirt and Levi’s were once more soaked, and biting cold caused shivering to grip my whole body. I pushed further back into the small cave. As I did, bright lights flashed across the opening. In a brief lull in the rain, I saw a dark Esplanade bounce up the road toward the old house. It had to be Margret. Should I stay here, or should I run. Watching the frightening weather, I staid hoping to remain undetected. What was that damn fool trying to do?

After about twenty minutes, the SUV came back down the road. I couldn’t see the windows, only the headlights. I ducked down while wondering if she searched the ruins, counted the bodies and discovered me missing.

+ + + +

Margret had a terrible time trying to make her way to Rosarita Beach. The roads were practically empty, probably because rain had washed out sections of the pavement. Once past Rosarita she found that no one manned the Ensenada toll booth so she drove through without being stopped. Going about fifteen miles an hour her headlights finally picked up the dirt road turn off to Hector Morales small ranch.

For a moment, she thought about Hector. Margret had met him not long before her dad died, and when she was still a young girl living in La Jolla. It was no surprised that her mother trusted him, and viewed him as more than a gardener. She didn’t fully understand that until one afternoon she found her mother’s bedroom door left open a crack. They were in the throes of making love.

She didn’t resent that. Hector had become a friend and confidant. She could talk to him about things she could never discuss with her overly protective mother. He understood when he found her nearly naked in the garage with a boy from school. It was not the only time he had turned his eyes away from her dalliances. When he didn’t report her wayward ways to her mother, she became bolder telling him about her feelings about sex, friendships, and love. He was never judgmental. That might have been because he was often drunk.

She had lost track of Hector after her mother died, and her uncle and executor of the estate, absconded with most of the family fortune, and disappeared. Margret had not wanted the life she led, but circumstances being what they were here she was a hooker, killer, and kidnapper.

When she needed help Hector was someone she knew she could trust. It had taken several days to find where he lived, but he was happy to meet her in Tijuana, and help an old friend. Of course, she knew the money had offered encouragement.

A sudden gust of wind shifted her mind back to the muddy road. She wished her Cadillac were a four wheel drive. A large puddle of water caught her wheels and pushed the SUV dangerously close to the edge of the road. The headlights revealed a deep ravine inches from her front tires. She waited for the adrenalin rush to subside, adjusted the heater to lessen the chill, and started again toward the ranch.

Margret didn’t see the Morales house until she was nearly on it. She stepped on the brakes, and the car slid to a stop. Squinting, Margret tried to focus on what had been a small weathered house and was now a burned out husk. She had trouble accepting what she was seeing.

She turned the wipers to the fastest speed thinking she may have taken the wrong road, but when she saw Hector’s dogs sitting just inside the door of the barn she knew.

Opening the door the wind whipped it out of her hand. She walked toward the smoldering shell her heart racing. My god if Mary was dead what would she do. Hector would mean an old friend lost, Mary would mean the lifestyle she longed for had gone up in flames. She sloshed back to the SUV to retrieve a flashlight. For a moment she sat in the SUV staring into the darkness as the rain blew into the Caddy soaking her to the skin.

She shook herself, took the flashlight from the glove box, stepped out of the vehicle, and struggled to the ruins. When she reached what had been the porch, she knew there was no one that could have survived. A charred body lay in a fetal position on what was left of the floor.

Her heart as well as her mind raced. She tried walking on the floor and felt it give under her weight. Backing up she thought ‘what am I going to do now’? How would she handle this with Mary dead? She would have to bluff, and she had to be convincing. Side stepping deep puddles on her way to the SUV Margret felt something hard under her foot.

Shining the light at her tennis shoes, she saw a cell phone. She picked it up and got back in the Cadillac. Under the dome lights, she looked at the back and saw that it belonged to Mary. Had she called Bill? Turning on the phone it lit up and went dark. After a second, it came on again. The battery was dying. She looked under the tab for recent calls, but recognized none of the numbers. The dates showed she hadn’t used the phone for two days. This was a break. She could give it to Bill proving she still had Mary. It wasn’t perfect but it could work. While she examined the phone, it went dead for the final time.

Margret carefully steered the SUV back toward the highway. With the weather, being what it was she wouldn’t see Bill Wilson this morning. She would call him later, if she could make it back to Tijuana.

+ + + +

With the storm still a dangerous situation Jackie couldn’t go home. I was not disappointed, and I thought she didn’t seem to mind either. She fixed eggs, bacon, and toast for breakfast. We kept one eye on the television set. The storm was not abating, and according to reports, it might continue through the day and into the night before it blew into Arizona.

Mark called again around one. It was the same story.

Jackie got dressed in the same skirt and leggings, and a deep red blouse. She wanted to go home to check her apartment but I refused to let her go out in the pouring rain. We watched TV until five o’clock when Margret called. “Is she safe?” I asked.

“Worry about keeping her that way.”

“What now?”

“I called because I know we couldn’t get together as planned. I hope you didn’t get wet trying to make it to the border.”

“Didn’t try. I’m sure you knew that. I was hoping that you might have drowned.”

“Funny man. When the storm eases I’ll call again. In the meantime keep my ticket dry.”

“Where’s my good friend Henry? I said before she could hang up.

“He’s right here next to my heart.”

“Will he talk to me?”

“He says no.”

I hung up.

Jackie sitting across from me said, “That was her?”

“Yes. We’ll get together tomorrow.”

By late evening, Jackie and I were both bored. We played Monopoly while Jackie told me a little about her life. Where she was born, went to school, and about her family. Of course, ‘Mr. No Social Graces’ had to ask about boyfriends. She was vague about that. Born in southern Indiana, a small town called Osgood, she went through her senior year at the same school, and for two years went to Notre Dame.

“Why did you quit college?”

“I couldn’t afford it any longer. My parents both had died in my first year, and my part time job at a local coffee shop didn’t pay enough to keep me in a room and school. What about you?”

I told her about my childhood, downplaying the fact that my family had money. I related a few stories about high school and USD. She laughed politely at events that were not that funny.

We soon tired of that conversation, played cards, and fell asleep in the living room.

+ + + +

The rain was not letting up. Chunks of mud and rocks were beginning to tumble in a waterfall over the small notch I was in. I couldn’t stay here; the whole side of the hill might come down at any moment burying me. All my years in California, I had never seen rain like this, and it was beginning to turn colder. I couldn’t get any wetter so I looked for another dry spot. When I got away from the small cave, I looked back as mud cascaded over the opening sealing it. I had left just in time.

It was difficult keeping my feet in the increasing wind. Papers, box’s, small brush, and other debris, lashed out at me as I tried to face into the wind. The rain pelted me like tiny rockets once more.

I found the road after long minutes only because the road went over a small hill exposing the ruts worn by Hector’s old truck. On level ground, the road had become a fast moving river. I couldn’t take a chance crossing it; I could only try to follow it.

How long had it taken Hector to get to the farm? I couldn’t remember. When the gusts sporadically slowed, I could see about twenty feet in front of me, and with infrequent lighting flash’s I could see that the desert was turning into a lake. Now I walked in water above my ankles.

For some reason, and I couldn’t imagine why, the image of swimming rattle snakes appeared in my thoughts. If the storm wasn’t enough, I had to complicate my situation with worries of desert creatures getting me. My paranoia was not getting any better as I sloshed ahead. My exposed hands and face burned from the lashing I was taking. The rain was turning into hail again.

Just as I was beginning to have doubts about surviving, I felt a solid surface beneath my feet. After a few steps, I realized that I had reached the highway pavement leading to Ensenada Mexico.

Now I walked with the wind hitting me on my left side. The storm was coming from the south. I guessed that it had to be a tropical depression originating from Baja. That was not good news. I knew that something like this coming from that direction could last for days. Walking mindlessly, in a semi-daze I drifted off the pavement losing a tennis shoe in the mud. That was a disaster. Search as I might I could not find it. A rush of adrenalin surged up my throat. The storm was bad enough. Now this. My mind conjured up visions of tarantulas and native creepy things looking for a victim.

Careful not to step on anything sharp I trudged on. After what seemed like hours, I saw something white in the road. As I got within about ten feet, I could see it was several toll booths covered by what had once been a long awning. The awning was torn loose and flapping in the wind. No one was operating the booths, which was not a surprise, but that they were locked was ridiculous. I tried the booths on both sides of the concrete road divider, all locked.

There are three toll stations between Ensenada and Tijuana, I remembered only one. I hoped I remembered correctly. I didn’t care, I just wanted to give up and let the storm do its thing. For a while I sat with my back against one of the booths with my butt under water, but out of the wind. It wasn’t much help.

As I sat there, my worst fear was realized. I felt something long and scaly brush against my naked ankle. I thought, ‘my god after all this I’ll die from snake bite’. The creature hesitated. Not moving, I just knew it was sizing up a meal or an enemy. I must have smelled too bad because it moved away.

After long minutes my heartbeat returned to normal and I crawled, feeling my way to the side of the road. I searched for a rock. Finally, under the water I found one, a heavy one. Back at the booth, I smashed a window on the leeward side. I was careful not to step on glass. I cleared the window of glass remnants with the rock while standing on one foot. When it seemed safe, I pulled myself up, through the window, and into the booth. At last, relief from the wind and rain.

+ + + +

Jackie used Mary’s toothbrush and a few cosmetics to freshen up in the morning. As I watched her through the bathroom door, I didn’t think she needed any help. She was glowingly beautiful. She caught my eyes. “You ever get tired of looking?”

“Never.”

“Men, you gotta love em.”

I smiled, “You coming back to bed?”

“You kidding.”

After last night, I knew the best of my wiles would not induce her back. Not right now anyway. I threw the blanket off, “I’m gonna to take a shower. If my cell rings let me know.”

“The weather still looks bad. I don’t think Margret will call this early.”

“Just in case.” I said grabbing a fresh towel.

Jackie watched my naked butt as I turned on the shower. I said, “You ever get tired of looking?”

“No.” She smiled and turned away. “I’ll see what I can find for breakfast, so don’t stay in there all day.”

When I got out of the shower, Jackie had disappeared downstairs. I had woken up early thinking about Mary and my thoughts returned to her now. I sat on the edge of the bed wondering how she did in the storm. Was she in a hotel? Who knew what crazy Margret would do with her?

Henry popped into my thoughts. I could feel that something was wrong. Why didn’t she refer to him when we talked? Why wouldn’t he talk to me and offer an explanation. I thought I knew him pretty well, but money has a strange effect on all of us I suppose.

On impulse, I used my cell and called the office. Mickey answered, Wilson and Ledbetter.”

“Mickey it’s me what the hell you doing in the office?”

“I live in an apartment just down the street remember? I thought the other girls would come in despite the weather, and you hadn’t said anything about the office being closed.”

“Ok, ok. Listen, by chance, did Henry’s ex-wife call?”

“Yes, but I didn’t know where he was. Arlene said she hadn’t heard from him, and they had a luncheon date yesterday to sign papers.”

“Ok thanks Mickey. You go on home.”

“Ok but I might hang around till this latest squall passes.”

“Ok.” She hung up.

Now that gut feeling returned. Henry, who had always loved Arlene, more than she, him, would not have missed a chance to beg her to return. Despite Arlene’s involvement with another man, I knew Henry would not fail to show up, even when she was bringing divorce papers.

If he hadn’t called or met Arlene, I wondered why. Could he be guarding Mary somewhere? Would he do that? Of course, if he killed Liz, and was involved in Arthur’s death, I imagined that he would do anything. After all these years did I really know Henry at all?

Jackie called up the stairs, “You hungry?”

“Be right there.” I shouted.

I dressed in a Charger’s sweatshirt and Levi’s. I dug out my old tennis shoes in case I had to go out in the rain, and went downstairs. On my way to the kitchen, I saw a brief break in the clouds through the front window. It might clear.

I pulled a chair to the kitchen table.

“The weatherman said the storm was moving east.” Jackie said.

“Bout time.”

Jackie brought me coffee, eggs, and bacon, and sat at the table.

“I think I’d better see if my apartments still where I left it.” She said.

I nodded with my mouth full of scrambled eggs.

“Have you talked to Mark?” I said sipping my coffee.

“Yes, he said that the office may open today. Seems the lawyers are eager to bill some hours.”

“You coming back tonight?”

“We’ll see. You might have Mary back by tonight.”

“Lord I hope so, but knowing that wacko Margret you never know.”

The phone on the kitchen wall rang. Jackie answered it. “Yes just a second.”

“It’s Mark.” She said motioning me to the phone.

I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and took the phone. “What’s up Mark?”

“She called my house.”

“What?”

“That bitch Margret called my house and threatened my family. She told Kathy if I didn’t bring the ticket today at eleven she would kill my daughter.”

My shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry Mark.” I knew there was not much else I could say. This was something he brought on himself by getting involved with Arthur. “She told me to call you and let you know the meeting is on today, at Starbucks now.”

“Ok I’ll pick you up at ten weather permitting.”

After I hung up Jackie poured fresh coffee. “You going to meet with that woman?”

“Yes.” I slurped my coffee. “Jackie I need a favor.”

“I been doing you favors.”

“Not that kind.”

“Ok, what is it?”

Would you hold the ticket for me?”

“We already talked about that remember.”

“But with the weather I haven’t had a chance to get a lock box or a safe deposit box. I can’t continue to leave it in the trunk of my car, or hide it in the Condo.”

“Bill you know it’s no secret that I’m very fond of you, but I couldn’t guarantee I would still be here when you got back. That’s a lot of money.”

I watched her eyes and expression. I was not a gambler, had never won anything, but I had the feeling that she would be here when I got back. I said, “How fond of me are you?”

“You mean do I love you enough to hold over seven hundred million dollars for you.”

“Yes.”

“If you leave it with me it’s at your own risk.”

“Damn you don’t pull any punches do you?”

“I’m telling you like it is. It has nothing to do with my feelings or us. I’ve never had money. My family never had money, and I don’t like being poor.”

“That settles it I’m leaving the ticket with you.”

+ + + +

The sound of men talking woke me. Painfully, I got to my knees and pulled myself upright. Two men were looking at the damaged awning. They were standing outside of a green and white truck that I recognized as the Green Angels, men who would help stranded motorist along Mexico’s highways. I yelled against the still blowing wind, “Hello, hey hello.”

They looked in my direction, at first not seeing me. I waved my arms and pounded on the glass of the booth. The tall one with close cropped hair saw me first. I could see his surprised look through the morning fog. I waved again. They both came over the three foot concrete highway divider to the broken window. The short man said, “What chu doin in there miss?”

I felt like saying, waiting for a bus or some smart aleck answer. Instead, I explained in my broken Spanish, how I became stranded after my car had drowned out. I didn’t feel they were the ones to tell my story to, and they wouldn’t have believed it anyway.

Lifting me through the window, they helped me hobble to the truck. In my stumbling Spanish, I was able to get them to understand that I wanted to go to the U.S. Embassy. They had no idea where it was, so I settled on getting to the border.

When we arrived at the border, I thanked he two men apologizing for not having any money for a tip. I don’t think they believed me. After the two disappointed men left me off, I went to the border walk-across and got in a line of tourist going back to the U.S. When I reached the Mexican border cop he asked for proof of citizenship. I told him my car washed away by the storm. He was sympatric but asked me to wait. The guard motioned to an American agent. The agent, looking like Ichabod Crane, ambled over, introduced himself as Wiley Richards, and listened to my problem. He said I could contact someone in the U.S. and have them bring a birth certificate of other proof to the border or I could report my passport stolen and they would supply papers for a new one. Then I could take the papers to the U.S. Embassy and apply for the passport. It would take about two weeks to get it.

While standing on one shoed foot, my wet hair in my eyes, needing a shower, and looking like a street person, I told him to get off his ass, and get me out of Mexico. He looked at me for a few moments, and disappeared with Bill and Mark’s phone numbers.

After standing in the humidity for thirty minutes, the guard came back. “Nobody answered at any of the numbers you gave me. Sorry. You can wait here but might be a couple hours before we can check again.”

I felt like kicking the guy in the balls. Despite looking like a street walker, I talked Homer out of twenty five dollars with the promise of fifty dollars in return. I would be back I swore. I had to let Bill know where I was.

+ + + +

Mark and I entered on Camino De La Plaza and then over to Plaza Durango. We drove past Starbucks, and through the parking lot looking for the black Cadillac, Mary had seen in Mexico. Mark spotted the black Esplanade. “She’s here.” He said.

I nodded, “I’ll position my car where you can see me. If I scratch my head come in.”

“How are you going to handle this?”

“I don’t know. I’m just gonna wing it.”

After parking, I kept my head down and moved to a UPS store next to the coffee shop. Wanting to see where Margret was, and if Henry was with her, I walked past the smell of roasting coffee. Margret was sitting next to the window alone. Unlike her, she looked haggard and tired. I stepped inside and paused. Margret motioned to a chair. She had coffee waiting for me. “You're punctual.”

“Didn’t want to keep a lady waiting. That is, just in case I found a lady here.”

“Bitchy, this morning.”

I got right to it. “Where’s Mary?”

“Where’s the ticket.”

“You think I would have it on me?”

“You think I would have your sister here?”

“Is this a Mexican standoff? If you’ll pardon the pun.”

“Let me make something clear. I’m tired, soaked to the skin, stayed in a flea bag hotel, got diarrhea from the food, and I’m in a very bad mood. Now let’s not play games,” She said sliding a mobile phone across the table.

I picked up the phone. The face was cracked. “What’s this?”

“You're sister’s phone. Just a little something to remind you I have her tucked away. So you either come up with the ticket or say goodbye to your sister.”

I opened the phone, the battery was dead, but the red phone told me it was Mary’s.

“It got a little wet, and so did your sis, but nothing like she will if you don’t come up with the ticket.”

“This is not much proof.” I said unconvincingly. I knew she had Mary, and I was running out of options.

“I can bring you a couple fingers if that’s not good enough.”

“Look Margret, it goes without saying we don’t trust each other, so how are we ever going to end this.”

“Simple you give the ticket to my new lawyer, he draws up an LLC between he and I, he takes the ticket to the California Lottery, claims the money, deposits it in accounts with Chase Bank, and Bank of America, and you get your sister.”

“Kinda one sided don’t you think.”

“Yes.”

“After all you have done, I’m expected to trust you on this?”

“Well let’s count the options. Number one I described. Number two......ahhhh I can’t think of a number two, so you’ll have to live with number one.”

My knuckles turned white gripping my coffee cup. I wished I could beat hell out of her right here. “Give me the name of your damn lawyer.”

“Thomas Hendricks. Here’s his address.” She said pushing a business card over the table.

I held the card feeling defeated. If there was some way to get the law involved, but I knew, it would be hell trying to explain Liz’s death. Moreover, the story I had to tell was so complex. By the time, I explained it to the authorities, even with the tape; she would have disappeared into Mexico with Mary.

“Ok Margret you win. There is just one thing I want. I want to talk to Mary to see if she is ok. You let me do that, and I’ll see that you get the money.”

Margret dropped her eyes, and stirred her coffee. Was she thinking about it, or was Mary even alive.

“Something wrong?”

“Right now Mary is in an area of Mexico that has no cell reception. I am not bringing her out of there so you can trace the call or pull some bullshit.”

“I’m wondering if my sister is even alive.”

“She’s alive, but you keep up this stonewalling, and you can spend the rest of your life trying to find her body.”

I thought about that. “Ok, where will I get Mary back?”

“Right here, once I have the money in the bank.”

I started to leave, but sat back down. “One more thing. Where is my former partner Henry?”

“By now he’s either fish food, or what’s left of him is off the shores of Mexico.”

“What’s left? You mean he didn’t get off his boat?”

“Look at my lips. Watch now......he was in the boat.... when it exploded. Should I say it again?”

I couldn’t understand my feelings at that moment. We had been partners for so many years. I was best man at his wedding. Yes, he had lost his mind when faced with the choice of me or the money, but hearing the news was like a knife in my heart. One thing was clear; I hated the woman that sat across from me. For a second I saw myself shooting her eyes out, and with a reflex reached for the Colt in my waistband. I let my hand rest there while I took a moment to control myself.

Margret said, “It might make you feel better to know that he died painlessly. I shot him in the forehead before the boat blew up.”

Rage swelled through my entire body. My hands trembled and I thought again about killing her. That would never do, with Mary still hidden away somewhere. As I started to leave Margret said, “A word of caution. Don’t try to follow me. I can beat that raggedy assed Volvo, and get to your sister in time to shoot her before you show up.”

I scooted my chair back and left.

+ + + +

When I left the border crossing, I limped to a little booth on Alfonso Reyes and bought a pair of chartreuse green tennis shoes for twelve dollars. The Mexican man said they were the cheapest he had. Does everybody lie?

I borrowed a female clerk’s hairbrush, which cost me two dollars, found a small mirror, and fought my way through tangled hair. When I gave the brush back, the young girl looked at it as if I had used on a shaggy dog.

Feeling almost human and with both feet shod, I walked to Amigo Plaza and the Hotel Pueblo.

The hotel housed a casino. Inside I went to a cashier with dyed blonde hair and got change for a five. She told me there was an outside line in the coffee bar. I went serpentine through the slot machines until I saw a sign that said Colombian Café. A waitress pointed me toward a phone booth near the bathrooms. I hadn’t seen a phone booth in years. I didn’t know any existed. When I reached the booth, a white haired man with a cane was already inside leaning against the glass, the phone to his ear. A woman who looked to be ninety years old waited outside the booth. Clutching her purse she said, “He won’t be long.”

I nodded.

“Are you from the states?” She asked, looking at my strange new shoes.

“Uhhh....yes mam. Trying to get back if I can.”

In a squeaky little voice she said, “Oh dear are you having a problem?”

“It seems I can’t get back into the U.S. without proof of citizenship. My car slid off the road into deep water near Ensenada. Lost my purse.

“Oh dear that is a problem.”

The withered white haired man hung up, and stepped out of the booth. His wife, I assumed, said, “Walter this young lady is having a problem, seems she has lost her identification and can’t get back into the states.”

“Oh my young lady that is a problem.” He said staring at my still tangled hair and green shoes. “Let us buy you something to eat, perhaps some coffee.”

“I look that bad huh?”

“I’m sorry if I seem out of line, but you do look a bit harried.”

The old lady said, “Darling don’t be embarrassed maybe we can be of some assistance. Please come sit down.”

“Thank you but I just need to use the phone. I think I can get my brother to rescue me.”

I stepped into the booth pulling the glass door shut. The two elderly people stood outside. For a moment I wondered if they were looking for someone to rob. I deposited the right change shown on the phone, and dialed Bill’s mobile. Went through an operator, and got no answer. Then I tried my house. Still no answer. I couldn’t remember Marks home phone number. I called my office. A recording said the office was closed. I knew it would be because of the storm.

I let the phone dangle at my side, and started to cry. I felt the eyes of the old couple on my back, but I couldn’t stop the tears of frustration, and the pain of my ordeal. The old man knocked on the glass. I turned as he pushed the door inward. The little lady grabbed my hand and led me out of the booth. “Come dear let’s sit down and see if we can help.”

I let myself be led to a small table for four. The old man said, “My name is Walter Humphries from Washington State, and this is my wife Mildred. And yours is?”

Sniffling I said, “Mary Ann Wilson from San Diego.”

Walter said, “Tell us what happened.”

I explained again. Noticing the tears forming again in my eyes Mrs. Humphries said, “There, there my dear, we might have a solution for you.”

I brightened, “Really?”

“You see my daughter, I mean my just deceased daughter, had purchased a special kind of passport, and I have been carrying it, and her birth certificate since her death two months ago. She was killed in an auto accident.” She paused, and took a pink handkerchief from her purse to wipe at her eyes.

Walter said, “We’re here to get away from the memories. We felt a little trip might help us to take our minds off the tragedy.”

Tears were filling Mr. Humphries eyes, but she went on, “You could use her I.D. to get over the border. It doesn’t matter that you don’t look exactly alike because there is no photo on her new high tech driver’s license. Something she got because of our nearness to the Canadian border you see.”

“You think I could get over the border with a Canadian driver’s license?”

“You don’t understand dear, she got this in the U.S.”

This was sounding more and more like a miracle. “You mean you would chance it?”

“Of course dear. I don’t think they would even question you, isn’t that right Walter?”

Walter nodded and patted my hand. “Where do you live dear?”

“Carlsbad.”

“We will drive right through there on the five freeway. We can take you home.”

+ + + +

On the way to Marks house, we talked about Thomas Hendricks the attorney Margret had told me to see. Mark made a shhhht sound.

“He’s a hack, hell he’d sell his soul to the highest bidder. Tom Hendricks would do anything for a buck.” I wanted to say, ‘almost describes my best friend’, but I said, “Sounds just like the kind of shyster Margret would partner with. Still he’s a practicing attorney.”

Mark nodded agreement, “What are you going to do now?”

“First I have to get the ticket from Jackie, then I’ll contact this lawyer.”

“Jackie? You gave the ticket to Jackie?”

“Yeah, what’s wrong with that?”

“Three hundred and forty million things!”

“It’s ok I trust her.”

“Hell Bill you hardly know her. I hardly know her. She’s only worked at the firm for a few months.”

“She’s ok; I got this sixth sense about these things.”

“You're an absolute lunatic.” He said shaking his head,

We didn’t talk about my sixth sense until I dropped Mark off, saying I would call. When he got out of the car he mumbled, “Sixth sense. I’ll be damn.”

I drove straight to Carlsbad.

Jackie wasn’t there, nor was the ticket. What I felt with that discovery I cannot verbalize. I began my frantic search for her in the kitchen. I found a note on the refrigerator.

It read, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. I love you.”

I put it on the counter, picked it up, and read it twice. Shit, shit, shit. After all, I had gone through what all of us had gone through, it now came to this. Mary’s life was in mortal danger, I had lost the ticket, lives had been lost, and not a thing I could do. Shit, shit, shit.

My heart ached. Literally, it ached. How could I have been so wrong, how could I have been such a romantic stupid fool. My entire body felt as if all my blood had gone to my legs. I was light headed and swayed for several seconds, feeling like I would faint.

I read the note one more time and called Akers & Akers. A new girl answered and told me Jackie was not in. After further questioning, she said that they had not heard from her at all. I called Mark’s house.

“She what? You said you trusted her. It’s your own damn fault.”

“I was sure she would be here.”

“My god Bill, all the lives lost, Arthur’s and others, Mary’s being held for ransom, me being shot at and threatened, and that’s only part of what we’ve been through. And all you can say is you were sure she would be there?”

“Ok, ok. Can you get an address for her or not?”

“Yeah I got her phone number and address on my company phone list.”

While I waited, I tried to think of what I would do if I were Jackie. She had to stick around to claim the money even if she got a lawyer to do it for her. True she could stay out of sight for a while, but she would have to surface sometime. However, I realized that once the money was in her hands, I couldn’t do anything about it. Margret could go to an attorney with her copy of the ticket, but they would have a hell of a time trying to get anything. Jackie could make a copy, give it to a friend, or have a friend say she had a copy but lost it.

As long as she had the ticket, the money was hers...

Mark came back on the line and gave me the address and phone number. I hung up before he continued his tirade. I called the phone number. No answer. The address was on Third St. in Bankers Hill. I drove like hell over a still wet and slippery freeway to get there. It was a large ginger bread old house. The owner, a white haired little lady said, “Yes she lives in the grandmother flat in back.”

There was no old red Toyota, and no answer to my knocking.

I sat in the Volvo for a long time. I watched it start to rain again. Damn I was getting old and senile. I thought about going to my condo and getting drunk, but the insurance people would be there repairing things.

What would I do now about Mary? That bitch Margret would probably kill her for spite. She had nothing to lose.

In a strange way, I felt a twinge of relief not having all that money, but the thought of losing Mary carried that emotion away. I drove to Mary’s place, stopping at Ralph’s Market to get a bottle of vodka.

On the way to Mary’s, I thought about calling Margret’s attorney and explaining what had happened to the ticket. That I decided would do little good. What I needed to do was draw Margret out and beat her until she told me where Mary was.

I played with that idea all the way to Mary’s apartment.

+ + + +

When I got back, I sat for a moment looking at Mary’s car. It had been sitting in the same spot for days, even before the storm. It looked hauntingly lonely. At that moment, I felt the weight of dread. Fear that I might not find her. I sighed and went to the door. I fiddled with the lock and remembered I had not locked it in my hurry to find Jackie.

When I pushed the door open and stepped inside, Mary was coming down the stairs in a white cotton robe, her black shiny hair still wet.

For just a moment, I thought I would lose control of my bladder. I sucked in a deep breath and pressed my hand against my heart. I couldn’t let out that breath for a long moment and thought I might pass out. Finally, I shouted,

“Mary, my god, Mary. I thought you were dead or captive. Where have you been?”

“It would be nice if you asked how I’ve been instead of where I’ve been.”

“Sure, yes,” I grabbed her lifted her off her feet, and swung her around. “Oh god Mary I can’t believe you’re here. Are you ok? How did you get away?”

Mary sat me down on the couch and told her story. I didn’t interrupt, when she finished I just stared at her. She said, “Well?”

“That’s one hell of a story.” My mind was racing in so many directions. “That you survived is a miracle, but the important thing is that you’re alive and safe now.”

“I need a drink.” I said holding up the vodka.

I put the Colt on the kitchen counter and mixed the drinks with trembling hands. Mary said, “You didn’t give the ticket to Margret did you?” She asked walking into the kitchen.

I handed her a drink. “Sit down at the table with me.” I mumbled.

Her eyes widened. “This will not be good news will it.” She sat.

“I left the ticket with Jackie.” I took a long drink and continued, “I couldn’t leave it in that black plastic bag in the back of my car.”

Mary put her hands over her face with her elbows on the table, and shook her head. She didn’t want to look at me. I tried to prepare myself for the onslaught I knew would be coming. I waited.....and waited.

Just when I thought about pulling her hands away from her face, she dropped her hands, took a long drink of her vodka tonic, and stared at my face.

My right leg bounced up and down nervously, waiting. When I could no longer stand the arrows coming from her eyes, sheepishly I said, “I was sure I could trust her.”

“Uh huh. You know only a fool would trust his dog to watch his food.”

Oh, that hurt. I wanted to say, what about you and Arthur how much did you trust him’? The fact was that both of us were fools that had been fooled.

Instead, I said, “Mary I felt it in my bones. I just knew she would wait here for me. I mean I was certain.”

“You're repeating yourself.” She finished her drink and held out the glass to me. While I was mixing another drink, Mary began to cry.

“Mary I’m so, so sorry. I know with all you have been through......”

She blotted her eyes with her robe. “The worst part of it is, I had to walk in total darkness, up to my ankles in rain and hail, completely soaked, hair a mess, with only one shoe, my makeup ruined, and if that wasn’t enough a damn snake thought about eating my leg.”

I don’t know what came over me. I began an involuntary smile. The smile turned into a snorting chuckle, which turned into hysterical peals of laughter. Mary looked puzzled, and then tried to look stern, but a smile soon appeared.

She began with a hiccup sort of chuckle, then she laughed while pointing at me, the laughter became so intense she could hardly breathe. We both pounded the table causing our drinks to bounce inches off the wooden top. The drinks spilled, spewing ice and vodka over the floor and us.

For a moment that stopped the laughter, but only for a split second. When I caught Mary’s eyes, we began again. I gasped for air, held my chest, and tried to slow the laugh, but each time I looked at Mary we started again. Finally, Mary wheezed,

“I’m going to pee myself.”

That started the hysterics all over again. I could hear her in the downstairs bathroom laughing uncontrollably. After long minutes, my laughter faded. Mary came out, and sat at the table again. “Fix me a double will you.”

I had to smother another round of laughing while I cleaned up the table and mixed two very strong drinks. Mary went to the couch while I started a fire in the living room, neither said anything. I sat in the recliner chair, sipped the nearly straight vodka, and watched the fire. In a soft voice, Mary began to tell me again about Hector and Maria. Her eyes filled with tears. I could only think about two more notches in Margret’s gun.

After she stopped talking we glanced at each other occasionally. I loved her so. I wanted to hold her, but I knew better. This was not the moment for that.

She leaned back on the couch, “What now?”

A loaded question. What now. What could I do, I felt empty, deceived, beaten. It was strange how difficult it was to put into words the loss of three hundred and forty million dollars. I didn’t say anything. Mary looked expectant.

I said, “I guess we could contact Margret’s attorney and tell him what happened.”

“What good would that do, she would just start looking for Jackie?”

“I have a feeling she’ll never find Jackie, nor will we.”

“What about us? Margret probably won’t believe you gave the ticket to Jackie. She’ll undoubtedly come after us, maybe kill one of us.”

I hadn’t given that much thought. “You may be right, but I don’t know what we can do about that.”

Mary started to say something when my phone buzzed. It was Mark. I put him on speaker. “You find any trace of Jackie?”

“No. But Mary’s here. She got away.”

“Say again.”

I explained everything. Mark was silent the whole time. Then he sputtered. “You think we could kill that bitch and get away with it?”

“I don’t think so Mark.” I said with a wink at Mary

“Well you’re not going to be challenged about Liz. Maybe we could get lucky again.”

I smiled. “On a serious note the police must be putting some of the deaths together by now. Margret may have left evidence when they killed Ernie. Or if they connect Henry through his boat and the explosion, I might find them on my doorstep any moment.”

“Bill, I thought a lot about that. Actually about everything. I don’t think you’ll ever be connected to Liz. If they put things together involving Margret you would be seen as a victim.”

“I hope.” I had serious doubts.

“Another thing you have the tape. It would be hard to pin anything on you if the Judge allowed it to be used in a trial.”

While I was thinking about that he said, “You going to keep looking for Jackie?”

“No. I think it would be a waste of time.”

Mark sighed, “It still hasn’t sunk in you know. I mean with everything happening it’s like a “B” movie, and then losing the money caps it. It just doesn’t register in my pea brain. I keep thinking there’s a chapter missing.”

“The only thing missing is what Margret will do.” I said.

“If you don’t go see Hendricks what can she do? Mary’s free, and Margret has no leverage.”

I sipped the vodka. “Mary thinks she won’t give up. That she might try to get to us again with some kind of threat, or action.”

“Damn, I feel like I should take my family and go east for a while. She could come after Kathy next.”

“I hate to say it, but that’s probably not a bad idea.”

I think you’re right, maybe we should all just disappear for a while. Let things cool down. I’ll talk it over with Kathy. Let you know.”

He hung up before I could comment.

+ + + +

After I hung up, a feeling of melancholy settled over me like a blanket. I was lower than a snake’s belly. Through this whole episode, things had deteriorated. I was tired of it all. I fixed another drink knowing that getting drunk was not the answer, but if I got drunk enough maybe it wouldn’t matter.

Mary said, “I’m going to get dressed.”

She swayed slightly when she stood, and went upstairs. I sat sipping my drink and thinking of things Margret might do, when my phone buzzed. It was Margret.

“You haven’t gone to the attorney. He’s waiting for a call. What’s the holdup?”

I thought about telling her about Mary, but thought it best to stall. “Give me a chance. The ticket will still be here tomorrow.”

“I want you to do it now. No more bullshit. Now, or your sister dies.”

I couldn’t help myself, I said, “Like hell. She’s here with me now.” I paused to let that sink in. I went on, “Margret give it up I don’t have the ticket anymore. Someone I trusted with it has disappeared taking the damn thing with them.”

A long silence met that news. After deafening silence she said, “Why are you playing this game, you know how far I’ll go to get it. I think you’ve seen that. Now the only thing for me to do is find your sister again and cut her damn fingers off one at a time. It you don’t come forward with the ticket or the money I’ll send one to you each day for ten days.”

She did not sound surprised that Mary had survived the fire at Hectors.

“You fool, as impossible as it may seem, I’m telling the truth. I entrusted the ticket to a friend and she ran off with it. So Margret I’m sick of this cat and mouse. If I had the ticket I would burn it in front of you, just to pay you back for all the crap put us through.”

Another long silence. “Who has it?”

“You could never find the person even if I give you a name. That person is probably in the south seas by now.”

“Give me a name and I won’t kill your sister or your attorney. Without the name, I’ll go after one or the other. Maybe even the attorney’s kid.”

I thought about the tape I had of Margret’s confession to murder. Was this the time I should suck it up and let the cards fall, or would I be faced again with the possibility of it being me that would go to jail? Other than the tape, I had nothing.

I said, “You are absolutely insane. Really, you’re a nut case. We’ve both been had, now just accept it and get on with whatever.”

“Put yourself in my place Mr. Wilson. I have killed several people, and kidnapped another. I need that money to run. Don’t you understand the buck stops here? I have to get out of the country.”

“I know all that. If I had the ticket I would give you a hundred and thirty million just to get rid of you, but I don’t have it. Let me say that again, I don’t have it.”

The phone went dead.

+ + + +

I slept in the lounge chair with the 38 beside me. Mary came down around seven thirty in the morning holding a wet cloth to her forehead. I heard her banging around in the kitchen. She shouted, “You want coffee?”

I struggled up from the lounge, and on the way to the bathroom shouted back, “Yes please.”

I looked at my red eyes in the mirror, rubbed a hand over fast growing stubble, and peed. I didn’t bother brushing my teeth. In the kitchen, Mary had a cup of coffee on the table for me. I watched her take a couple aspirin, pour coffee for herself, and sit across from me.

“Did I hear you on the phone last night?”

“Yeah same old story. Margret wanted Jackie’s name, made a lot of threats, and was pissed that I knew she didn’t hold you captive.”

Mary looked over her cup and through the steam. “So what was decided?”

“I don’t know she hung up.”

We sat for a while in our own thoughts. Mary went back for more coffee. While she was near the coffee maker, she turned on our little twelve inch kitchen TV. She said, “You want a refill?”

I didn’t answer I was looking at a reporter in front of a Seven Eleven store. “Turn up the TV.”

Mary saw the reporter and turned up the volume.

“The owner of the store that you see just behind me has announced that the owner of the winning Mega Millions lotto has, with the assistance of an attorney, claimed the seven hundred and eighty million dollar prize. I am told that after taxes that person would receive three hundred and forty million dollars. That is of course if they choose that method of payment. The owner of this Seven Eleven will also be handsomely rewarded for selling the winning ticket. As of this moment the name of the mysterious winner has not been revealed by the attorneys representing the ticket holder.”

“More on this, as the story develops. Back to you in the studio Marty.”

Mary switched off the TV. She turned with her hand at her throat, and looked at me. I saw fear in her eyes. I spilled some coffee on my hand and winced. For a long moment, what I had just heard didn’t register. I looked at Mary for confirmation. She nodded.

“I, I, we, I think we have a big problem sis.”

She nodded. I stood and put my arms around her. Talking into my chest she said, “Jackie turned in the ticket.”

“I know.”

“What will this mean?”

“I don’t think we’re through with Margret. She will no doubt think it was us.”

“Oh my god. She might try to kill us for this.”

“I think she will forgo that for money. The problem is we don’t have the money.”

“What are we going to do now?”

“I’m thinking that right now I’ll call Adam Stanley at the office and have him run things while you and I get out of town for a while.”

“What about Mark?”

“I’ll call......”

As I said that, the phone buzzed. Mark said, “I just heard the news. Was that you?”

“It had to be Jackie.”

“Margret will go berserk. You think she’ll come after me?”

“I don’t see why she would.”

“Because she’ll think I’m the lawyer that represented the winner.”

My mind was spinning. “Damn.” He was right.

I said, “I was just telling Mary that we should get out of town. Maybe you and your family should too.”

“Kathy wants to go to the police. I told her we have no evidence of any crimes other than a tape, and what we know is hearsay. Plus I told her to think of you. Still, it’ll take some time to calm her down.”

Mark paused and took a deep breath. “Jackie is the only witness of what happened to me at Akers & Akers, Mary was kidnapped, but can’t prove it was Margret, because one captor is dead and the other is Margret.”

Mark wasn’t through. “Liz was murdered at the hand of Henry, who is in pieces somewhere off shore, Ernie and Arthur died without Margret leaving any clues or valid leads, and the cops are scratching their heads. The only thing we have, is the tape. Any smart lawyer can either have that thrown out or tear the story to shreds.”

“What’s the bad news?”

He ignored the wisecrack. “I want some help with Kathy. I need her to listen to reason, but she’s worried about our daughter. She wants us to give in and take the tape to the police.”

“Just pack her things and meet me at Mary’s. We’re gonna get out of here if only for a few days. Now hurry.”

I packed the 38 some clothes, and looked in my dresser for the tape of Margret’s confession. It was not there. I searched my entire bedroom. Nothing. I couldn’t tell Mary that I screwed up again. There was only one place the tape could be. I didn’t want to think about that.

+ + + +

Sunday night while I drove, Mary called ahead to the Arizona Biltmore. A five star hotel almost in the center of Phoenix. I heard her say, “Do the suites connect?” She listened then said, “We’ll take them for three nights.”

She put her hand over the phone and said, “Give me your Visa.” Mary didn’t wait; she dug my wallet out of my hip pocket, and got the card. With her Visa in hand, she gave the clerk instructions and both numbers, nodding the whole time. When she hung up, I looked out of the corner of my eye. “The Biltmore?”

“You said to pick someplace that Margret would never look. The rooms were all they had. ”

“What does ‘all they had’ mean?”

“Two deluxe suites. $624.00 a night. Each.”

“Good lord Mary. I told Mark I would take care of the rooms. It was the only way I could get Kathy to come. That’s over four thousand dollars!”

“I put one room on my Visa, and one on yours. If we live long enough, we can pay them off in thirty years.”

“Very funny.”

“That reminds me do you have any cash. We might need cash for some things.”

“I got forty dollars or so.” I said.

“You can go to the ATM tomorrow.”

Shifting mental gears I said, “Adam Stanley wasn’t too happy about me waking him up, especially since I wouldn’t tell him what was going on.”

Mary shrugged, “Mark avoided telling his boss, but he told the new receptionist he had to go out of town for a few days.”

“Crap, he said out of town?”

“Yes I’m sure that’s what he told me.”

“Did he tell her where we were going?”

“I didn’t ask him that.”

“Good lord. I’ll break his neck if he told them where we were going.”

“You can ask him when we stop for pee break.”

At the Shell station where we stopped for gas, Mark said he didn’t tell the new receptionist where he was going, but I was almost certain he was lying.

+ + + +

I don’t think I had ever stayed in such luxurious rooms in my life. Indoor-outdoor dining, a kitchen, and amenities galore. You had to pay extra for extras, of course. We left the door open between suites. Rachel, Marks daughter felt more at ease that way. I don’t know if she understood what was going on, but we tried to make the situation comfortable.

Monday morning we all had breakfast together. My tab was going up.

I checked with Adam at the office around noon. He wasn’t a happy camper, but he said could handle the helm. I made a mental note to look again at my partnership agreement with Henry.

As I recalled, the business passed to the surviving partner. Mark agreed to look over the legal ramifications if we lived long enough.

At two in the afternoon, Mark and I left the girls to enjoy the activities at the hotel and I wanted to go by the bank for pocket money.

On the way, we stopped at a Mexican restaurant for a margarita. Mark insisted the drinks would be cheaper than the hotels. We got to the bank at ten minutes to three. I withdrew three hundred dollars from savings. I started to toss the receipt on the way to the Volvo, but stopped to look at my balance. I think my heart stopped for a couple beats. Mark heard me suck in a breath. He said, “You ok?”

The receipt read twenty eight thousand seven hundred and fifty four dollars. I knew that only about eight thousand was mine. My hands shook as I studied the receipt. I gave it to Mark, “Would you read that balance back to me?”

Mark said, “You keep that much in your personal checking, or is this in savings.”

“It’s my savings, but I only had about eight thousand dollars day before yesterday.”

Mark looked at the receipt again. “You check your personal checking account?”

“No but I’ll check all my accounts when I can get on the internet at the hotel.”

We sat in the car both staring straight ahead. Mark broke the silence. “You think Jackie did this?”

“Had to. I don’t have any rich relatives.”

“If she did, she had to have a sympatric bank and bankers. You think Margret can find out about this?”

“That’s what I was asking myself. Let’s get back to the hotel.”

On the way, Mark was deep in thought. He broke his silence, “I wonder how she got your account numbers and stuff.”

“You have all that information in my file at your office. Where do you think she would get it?”

“Damn you’re right I have all your personal financial information.”

“So if Jackie put money in my savings account I wonder what else she did. All of which brings me back to the question of whether Margret can find out about this?”

“Good question, but I have another. We can get the answer to it when we get on the internet.”

When we got back to the hotel, I told Mary. She caught a breath. “Maybe she’s on a guilt trip, maybe she gave you more. Check your accounts right now!”

While Mark was off to find Kathy, I used the hotel’s Wi-Fi and my laptop. My checking account showed a deposit the day after the ticket was redeemed of just over one hundred thousand dollars, and one on the following day of another one hundred thousand. I said, “Five thousand of that was mine, the rest is from Jackie.”

Mary standing over my shoulder almost hyperventilating said, “Can someone put money in another person’s account?”

“It seems so.”

“You think she put something in your business accounts?”

I checked. There was a deposit of one hundred and fifty thousand to the company’s business account. Mary did a tiny jig. I called my office. Mickey answered. “Wilson Communications.”

“You already change the name?”

“No of course not. Not officially, but I didn’t know if I should answer the phone with the old name.”

“It would be best, but that’s not what I’m calling about. Did I receive any strange packages, or has anyone from the bank called?”

“Yes you got a box of something just this morning by courier, but the bank hasn’t called.”

“Let me speak to Ellie.” My secretary answered, “Where in the world have you been. The place is a mad house. Clients are calling for you and Henry.”

I ignored that. “Ellie I understand that a package came for me this morning.”

“Yes it’s a big package, and it’s sitting next to my desk.”

“Open it for me and tell me what’s in it.”

The phone went silent for a moment. I heard a gasp, a moan, and papers shuffling. “Ellie, you there?”

Without putting the phone to her mouth, I heard her say, “Oh my god.”

“Ellie talk to me.” I shouted.

“Bill, you got a box full of money. It looks like millions of dollars all in hundreds. There are also official looking papers.” Give me a minute.” She was off the phone again. She came back and said, “Let’s see, there’s a letter from a law firm. Let me try to highlight it.”

She was silent. I could hear her reading something to herself in an undertone. She came back on the line.

“The paper work has something to do with certificate of deposits at Bank of America, Chase bank, and looks like a mention of corporate bonds, municipal bonds, and something about annuities. Then there is some paper work dealing with gold certificates. From just a glance, there must be millions of dollars involved in just these papers. What do you want me to do with all this?”

“I want you to take all of it to the bank. See Tom Hartley. He’s vice president of our branch. Don’t leave until he tells you what he’s going to do with everything. On second thought let me call him while you’re on your way.”

Mary and Mark along with Kathy sat around our room while I made the call. Tom answered his phone and said, “Bill we have some strange things happening concerning you. I’m glad you called.”

“What is it Tom?”

“A pretty blonde was in here with an attorney wanting to deposit monies to your accounts. When they explained the circumstances, we contacted corporate headquarters. They in turn, have our attorney’s meeting with the woman and her attorney’s. She showed us an LLC agreement between a Jacquelyn Riley and yourself. I’ve been sworn to secrecy about you and her wining the Mega Lotto. Damn Bill, congratulations.”

“Tom my secretary is coming to see you with a lot of paper and cash. Please find a way to put all of it in a safe deposit box.”

“Normally I couldn’t do that, but I’ll check with the powers that be. Maybe they can arrange to put the money in your accounts until we get together and sort this out. I think they would be agreeable to something if you would agree to keep a chunk of it in our bank.”

“Assure them that I will. I’ll be back in town tomorrow.”

+ + + +

That night we had dinner in the hotel finest restaurant. I ordered the most expensive champagne they had. Everyone was feeling giddy until Mark change the mood. Looking solemn he said, “Something about all this bothers me.”

“What?” Mary asked.

“To accomplish all that has transpired with the financial aspects; I just realized that Jackie could not have done it overnight. Not all the paper work that went to Bill’s office could have been done in just a few hours or even days. Jackie must have put everything into motion before Bill gave her the ticket.”

“You mean set up everything even before she had the money?” Kathy asked.

“She had to. Whoever her lawyers are they would have to move quickly and with a lot of confidence that Jackie would get the money.”

I stopped with a fork full of filet almost to my mouth. “How could she do that?”

Everyone looked at me. I felt the blood drain from my face. “You mean, I was such a big fool that Jackie knew she would get the ticket?”

Each one nodded. Damn I felt like hiding. “Well maybe she intended to steal the ticket.”

“Did she know where it was?” Mary asked.

I lowered my eyes. I hated to say it. “No.”

Mary dropped her fork on some lovely china with a clang. “So you couldn’t keep it in your pants and Jackie knew that’s all it would take?”

“Jeeezzz lighten up Mary. I made a mistake.”

“Yes, you did. The big shot that had a feeling about her, who could just tell she was honest because you had a sixth sense about these matters.”

“Ok, ok.” Now the color rushed back in my face and then some. “I feel like a damn fool so don’t push it down my throat.”

“I’d like to push it somewhere else.” Mary said.

Mark interjected, “She may have forged your signature to that partnership. We’ll have to check.”

“Don’t bother I don’t care, especially since she seems bent on sharing the money.”

“Good point.”

Kathy leaned toward me, “What do you think Margret will do, you think she’ll think you cashed the ticket?”

Mark blanched, “Crap, she’ll probably come to me first if she thinks that. She would assume that Bill and I formed an agreement, and that I represented him.”

Kathy moaned. Mark said, “Right back where I started.”

“Afraid so, unless we can prove to her that it was not us that cashed it in.”

“What can she do?” Kathy asked in a small voice.

She was beginning to be frightened again. Mark held her hand, “She has a lot of options. She’s more adept at this sort of thing than we are.”

I shook my head negatively, “If she pursues any of this she’s going to make a mistake somewhere along the way.”

“Maybe, but remember so far she’s stayed out of the headlights.”

“I may be rich enough to hire someone to find her first. Maybe even have her disappear.”

Mark gave a small smile, “Not a bad idea, but I think we’re faced with another waiting game.”

+ + + +

We didn’t have to wait long. Tuesday morning while we were all at breakfast my cell buzzed. I looked at Mark across the table. He stopped with his fork half way to his mouth. “I think it’s her.” I said looking at the number.

Mary swallowed and said, “Don’t answer it.”

I had to. “What now Margret.”

“You have a sixth sense about me don’t you.”

“What do you want? Before you answer I don’t know anything about my bank accounts and the deposits.”

“Actually Mr. Wilson I know all about that. A young lady by the name of Jackie who somehow got my newest cell number from your phone, called and we have made a deal. She will give me a tape and fifty million dollars to disappear and never bother you again. Frankly, I am ready to settle for that. I must say I admire this young lady. She was so confident that she could get the ticket that she made dozens of arrangements before she even had it. I could like this girl a lot. Smart as hell, as and much more cunning than me. Although I hate to admit that.”

“You said something about arrangements?”

“The banks and stuff stupid. One other thing. You really are an honest citizen. Now I know you were telling the truth all along. Nice guy Mr. Bill Wilson, lousy lover, but nice guy. So I just want you to know when the deal is done you can stop looking over your shoulder.”

I was stunned into silence. Everyone at the table looked at my trembling hand. Mary said, “Bill what’s wrong?”

On the line Margret said, “You there?”

“Yeah, yes, yes. I’m here. Would you repeat that?”

“You got the picture. Just thought we could part friends.”

I laughed, “Sure, like why should I dislike you. You're as pure as snow and as sweet as a little old Nun.”

“Funny man. Well after Thursday, you won’t have to think about me. I’ll be somewhere where officials can’t bring me back even if they could find me. I’ll think about you when I’m old and still rich.”

She hung up.

Mark grabbed my arm, “What does she want now?”

“Nothing. She called to say goodbye.”

Mary said, “What?”

I explained what I had just heard. For a few moments, everyone looked at each other like ‘he’s gone over the edge’.

Mark spoke first, “Are you sure you heard her right?”

I nodded.

+ + + +

We were back in San Diego by eleven thirty Tuesday night. We had waved goodbye to Mark as we pulled off on Carlsbad Blvd. Kathy waved back as they went on toward La Jolla. When we reached Mary’s place the fog had rolled in on the coast. There was a note on Mary’s front door. It was damp, so I unfolded it carefully. By the dull light above her door, I read it.

“Dear Bill,

I hope the money will bring you happiness. I am sorry if I put your sister’s life in danger but I think you will soon understand. You can feel confident that Margret will never bother you again. I kept the original copy of the tape and gave her enough money to disappear.

There is much I would like to say, but I’ll try to be brief.

As you may have suspected I have been setting up financials with some very good attorney’s for some time. I know this may be a blow to your ego, and perhaps your manhood. It shouldn’t. I fell for you in a big way. You are a wonderful lover and someone I could be happy with the rest of my life. If you ever find yourself in Paris, you may find me at 112 Avenue Foch. I think you would like the neighborhood. It’s one of the richest in Paris. If I am not there, and if you come, my new secretary has been instructed to tell you and only you where I am. I hope one day you will forgive me, and I will see you again.

Love Jackie.

P.S. I left ten million for my friend Mark. Maybe he can buy Akers & Akers.

P.P.S. It might be a good idea to get out of the country for a while. The papers say the police are closing in on several suspects in the random rash of strange deaths in recent weeks. Of course it’s probably just hype from the D.A’s office.”

I handed the note to Mary. She read it and looked at the tear gathering at the corner of my eye.

Putting her small hand lightly on my cheek she said, “I’ve always wanted to see Paris.”