Before sunrise, Mort and Lowell were at work in the basement office. They were still working on the security upgrades for the house. It would take another few days to complete and the place was a jumble of cameras and wires. Lowell stepped over several pieces of equipment and settled into his chair.
“I’ll get most of this done this week,” said Mort. “I’m still waiting for some pieces from Switzerland. You should be up and running by Friday.”
“Any luck uncovering that Purple Diamond thing?”
“A bit. Purple Diamond Industries has interests all around the world, always through some sort of holding company. They don’t directly own anything. They have one in China, the Middle East, Africa, and just about everywhere. They are a private equity company put together for the purpose of investing in large land projects like Pilgrim’s Cavern. There are exactly twenty shareholders.”
“The same number on the list of investors in the launch of Winston’s political career.”
“Another coincidence.”
“Exactly.”
Lowell stood up and paced back and forth as he spoke, his right hand unconsciously tugging on his ponytail.
“So, Purple Diamond Industries, a group of rich and powerful conservative Republicans, puts together a multibillion dollar development plan in Pilgrim’s Cavern, and then puts millions of dollars behind an unknown political entity to be appointed state senator, who winds up dead before she can be put into office.”
“Seems that way.”
“And then someone frames our client and makes numerous attempts to bury it, and us.”
“What do you think?”
“I think the circle is close to completion.”
***
Lowell had asked everyone to come to breakfast at nine.
“With the death of the murderer and Johnny’s exoneration, I feel that the immediate threat has subsided sufficiently and everyone can return home, and the agency can resume its work downtown.” The smiles around the table were caught up short when Lowell was quick to resume his pronouncement. “I would still ask that you be acutely aware of your surroundings and please call Andy for a ride, especially after dark.”
Melinda held up the paper. “Did you see the Post? Your face is right on the cover.”
“Yeah,” said Johnny, “people really know who you are.”
“I’m glad that more people are taking an interest in my work. But I could live without all the notoriety.”
“Oh, get over it,” said Johnny. “You’re a rock star now and you should enjoy it while it lasts. Hey, they’ll all be running up to you for autographs soon.”
Lowell made a face. “Let’s hope not. What a thought. Well, let’s get packed and on our way. Andy will take everyone where they need to be, suitcases and all, later. For now, Mort, Sarah, its back to East Twenty-fourth.”
***
Lowell was feeding the turtles when the phone buzzed. “Melinda’s on line one.”
He was about to pick up the phone when Sarah suddenly shrieked. “Oh, my God!”
Lowell jumped out of his seat and was about to run out to her desk. “What is it? What happened?” he asked, expecting the worst.
“Ketchup,” she screamed over the speakerphone, “on my white shoes!”
Lowell sat back down, his heart racing. Yes, things were returning to normal. He picked up the phone. “Hi, Melinda, everything all right?”
“Not really. I’m with Johnny. We went to her apartment and found that her landlord locked her out of her apartment.”
“Isn’t that illegal?”
“Certainly. I’ve filed papers and the courts have issued a warrant for his arrest. We should be able to get her back in by tomorrow, day after at the latest.”
Lowell heard Johnny’s voice. “I told you, you don’t have to do this. I’ll be fine. I just have to figure something out.”
Melinda spoke to both of them. “No, you won’t be fine unless we do something. There is nothing wrong with asking for help. We all need it sometimes.”
“And then what? You think he’s going to just let me live in peace after I had him arrested? My life is going to be hell.”
“I hadn’t thought of that. We can get the court to issue a follow-up warning.”
“You don’t get it, do you? I won’t be safe, especially coming home from the bar late at night. You know, I think those two goons that ripped up my place were sent by him.”
“I think you may be right. The same thought occurred to me.”
Lowell jumped in from his side of the phone. “Tell Johnny to go back uptown to the townhouse. I have an idea.”
Lowell clicked off then picked up the phone again and dialed his lawyer. “Hello, Bernie, it’s David Lowell.”
“What can I do for you David?”
“You know how you’ve been bugging me to diversify my holdings?”
“Don’t tell me you’re actually taking money out of the bank?”
“I’d like to buy something, and I need you to put the deal together. Price is not a concern.”
“Sure, I can start right away. What is it you want to buy?”
***
After the phone call, Lowell reviewed a number of charts on his desk, called Mort a few times, and generally pivoted in his chair mulling over the case. After a few hours, he called Andy, asking him to bring Johnny by and pick him up.
Lowell and Johnny rolled up Second Avenue in the back of the limo. New Yorkers had broken out gloves and scarves for the first time, now that a late autumn chill had set in.
***
“Johnny, I may have a place for you to stay, if you want it.”
“Where?”
“In Manhattan. The rent would be very reasonable, and there would be a job available as well, if you decided not to continue in the bar business. Are you interested?”
“Well, I’d like to know more about it. Bartending is the only thing I know how to do.”
“Do you still want to do it?”
“No, I really hate it. There isn’t a part of my body that doesn’t hurt most all the time.”
She turned her wrist, creating a loud cracking sound. “You hear that? That’s from pouring a hundred thousand drinks. My knees hurt, that ankle I broke as a kid swells up sometimes where I can’t walk. My back aches and I drink too much.” She laughed. “Sounds like a hell of a job description, doesn’t it?”
“I can’t understand why you’d want to leave it,” David grinned. “I tell you what, let’s go take a look at the situation, and you can think about it before you decide. There’s no commitment. Ah, here we are.”
The limo pulled up in front of Cuddles and Puddles pet store.
Johnny peered through the car’s glass. “What’s this all about?”
“I am buying this building, along with the store. If it’s going to remain a pet store, I’m going to need a new assistant manager. The old one quit. There’s a vacant apartment on the second floor. You would also, of course, get a salary.”
She stared at him.
“I’ve known the manager for years. He’s a very nice guy who would be happy to teach you the business. And I think after running a bar for so many years you’ll have no problem catching on. It’ll take about a week for me to get possession of the building; in the meantime I’ll put you up in a hotel. So, what do you say?”
Johnny kissed Lowell on the cheek. She tried to say something but couldn’t.
“There is one catch,” said Lowell, after the emotions had subsided.
“What’s that?”
***
The structure was old by New York standards, prewar brick. It served many functions for the community; civic meetings, day-care center, voting place, even distributing Thanksgiving dinner to those less fortunate. Tonight it was reserved for a special kind of meeting.
The room was in the basement. No sign announced its purpose, just a note tacked up that read: Tonight’s meeting is in room B. After a moment they began to descend the stairs, Lowell leading the way. As they entered the hallway, there were two signs, each with an arrow pointing the way; room A was to the left and Room B to the right. The meeting was called for seven. They were just on time.
They entered the room and stood quietly in the back. There were about twenty or so people sitting on folding chairs. Some had coffee cups in hand. A few were reading or working on a laptop. Several were chatting.
A woman went up front and stood at the podium. The laptops, books and magazines closed, the room fell silent.
“Welcome everyone, I’m so glad to see so many of you here. I see we have some newcomers tonight.” She looked at Johnny. “Would anyone like to introduce themselves?”
Johnny looked up at Lowell.
He smiled at her and nodded.
She raised her hand.
“Good. Why don’t you come up here and say hello.”
Johnny walked up to the front of the room and stood by the podium. The room was silent as she stared out at the strangers’ faces.
“What do I do?” she whispered to Sally Rogers.
“Just say hello, tell them your first name and that you have a gambling problem.”
She swallowed, cleared her throat and faced the crowd.
“Hello, my name…”
She stopped and looked over at David. He smiled and gave her a thumb’s up.
“My name,” she began again, “is Joanna. And I have a gambling problem.”