The Knave of Jacks Ch. 03

As they drove back into Town, Rudistan was saying "You're a lucky young man... lucky young man... the Iron Crowbar, he was in a relatively good mood tonight. Usually when someone doesn't stop when he tries to pull them over... what do you say to that, Patrolman?"

"I don't ever want to personally witness what happens then." said Morton. "I hear it gets really... messy."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Black Beauty parked in the lot of the Tower Condos and we let ourselves in, using the code to Rita's apartment, with which she had entrusted me. Moving to the west side, we went into the stairwell, then I used a key and went through the locked door that led to the secret passage connecting to the University Hotel next door. Getting to the Hotel's stairs, we took them to the penthouse floor, coming out in the hallway to Eddy and Callie's suite.

Callie was dressed nicely, but not in a formal evening gown as she had been the night before. She also had on block heels that weren't too high, and would allow her to run in them. Eddy was dressed in a suit and tie instead of a tux. He also was carrying a trenchcoat that had light armor inside it.

I checked for bugs, and the one in the bedroom was the only one. In the main room, Eddy said quietly "They called me today and told us they'd send a limo to pick us up and take us to the site, and I quickly rejected that. They also said this wasn't a party but more of a business gathering; hence, our attire."

"Good." I said. "By the way, you will not be coming back here tonight. We're going to make other arrangements if need be, unless you want to just go home."

"As long as your arrangements aren't the morgue." Eddy joked. His mood was much lighter than mine, to be sure.

I went over the arrangements with both of them. They each had wristwatches that would put out a radio signal alert if activated, not unlike the one in my belt buckle (you damn straight I still wear that!). I also told them to be ready to bolt, and we went over the street directions one last time. Then Eddy and Callie headed out. Cindy and I collected their belongings and took them back through the secret passage to Tower Condos...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Why do you think Ken ran?" asked Cindy as she started up the Black Beauty. "Think he killed Jeremy?"

"Maybe." I said. "Or he knows who did, and was running for his life. He showed no fear of me when I went up to him. That suggests he's afraid of something worse."

"Or just stupid in his defiance." replied Cindy. "Okay, Iron Hornet, where to?"

"Federal Building, Kato." I said. "They're going to assist us in monitoring everything tonight."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Okay, the word is out that Jeremy's cellphone is missing and that we're looking for it." said Tanya. She, Phyllis, and University Police Student Officer James Tarleton were in the Black Magic Theater, with only a battery-operated lantern giving light. Tarleton was the Cadet Officer who was on scholarship... one of P. Harvey Eckhart's scholarships.

Getting Tanya down into the Theater had been difficult; there had been no wheelchair access to the basement, and the building was older than the code, so it was exempt from such regulations. But she was there, and ready for action!

"I think our prey will come soon, after dark but not so late that walking in this area of Campus would be considered unusual." Phyllis said.

"Will he or she be the murderer?" whispered Tanya.

"As my son likes to say: Time will tell." Phyllis replied. They settled down into a tense silence. It did not take long; less than half an hour later they heard a key being inserted into the lock. Phyllis turned off the lantern, leaving them in total, utter darkness...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Sir," said Myron, calling in on the cellphone, "thermal imaging shows six persons inside the building. No real movement as if around tables, and the images appear to be males."

"Sir," said Mary, taking the phone from Myron, "the drones picked up two cars bringing people to the building from the alleyway. Single men got out, and they look like security guards or Secret Service agents. They do not look like patrons."

"Thanks." I said. Disconnecting, I shared the Miltons' findings with Cindy. I concluded with the words "It's looking more and more like a trap."

"Yeah." said Cindy, getting visibly nervous. "Is Teresa in place with the SWAT Teams?"

"She has some well-trained, heavily armed and armored regular Police Officers in the side alleyway." I replied. "The SWAT Teams are covering the perimeters, and some are in the tunnels below ground."

"Sir, they're pulling up." said FBI Special Agent Martin Nash, who was monitoring the operation with us.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

At 10:12pm an usher moved to open the door, and Callie Carrington got out, giving the man a flirtatious smile. Eddy got out of the far side and came around the back of the car, getting a good look at the area as he came up to Callie.

"Ah, hello, my friends." said Jaime Silver, who was standing at the doorway. "Come on in." He allowed the couple to step past him, into the darkened hallway.

"Oooh, it's dark in here." said Callie. "Doing a Hallowe'en porn shoot, Jaime?"

"Something like that." said Jaime. The couple got to the end of a hallway and saw a large room, dimly lighted. There were no casino tables, no bars, nothing to suggest a party.

"No party, Mr. Silver?------" asked Eddy, turning around. But Jaime Silver was no longer behind them. Instead, Callie could see that men were coming 'out of the woodwork', so to speak... and they were all armed. She looked down the side passage, seeing the emergency exit door.

"While the getting is good, Eddie." she said quietly, opening her purse...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The beam of a flashlight cut through the Black Magic Theater, moving wildly around. Then the beam dropped to the steps that led into the theater. Someone slowly came down the steps, then began shining the light around and under the steps. With a cry, the person reached down for something, then in the beam of the flashlight was a hand holding a cellphone.

*Click!*

The overhead lights came on, and the startled student saw that Phyllis Troy was seated in a chair in the audience area, staring at him. By the wall in her wheelchair was Lt. Tanya Perlman; she had turned on the lights. Next to the perp was Cadet Officer Tarleton, his service weapon at the ready.

"Well!" said Phyllis as she stood up and came up to the person still holding the cellphone. "Just the man I expected to see tonight... Mr. Brett Snow, editor of the student newspaper!"

To be continued.

So, dear readers, what is going on, here? Who struck Jeremy over the head? What really happened to him? And what will be the fate of the beautiful Callie Carrington and the adventurous Eddy the Bounty Hunter? Answers next chapter.