Postcards: Chapter 27

Chapter 27

7 p.m.

My parents walked off the elevator and joined Kate, Mac and myself in the lobby. We walked a few yards, together, to the World Buffet, in the opposite direction from the Matador Steakhouse where Kate had lunch. The World Buffet had a little bit of everything from different cultures and cuisines. Enough choices to satisfy everyone’s cravings. Scores of white oak, laminated tables lined up the dining room. A few diners were scattered here and there on a Sunday night. Wilcox joined us while we waited to be seated. “Hello, everybody,” Wilcox said as he greeted us.

“Welcome! Thanks for joining us, Wilcox” I said.

“Thanks for having me. I appreciate the chance to help your investigation the best I can. Can’t say I care about the ghosts. That’s far more than I care to go. Fare more than I get paid.”

Kate and I smiled. “Wow, he didn’t laugh at his own joke. Fair enough! I’ll get a smile out of you tonight, Wilcox,” I said.

Wilcox said I was more than welcome to try.

“Excuse me for a moment.” I told the cashier I had a party of six guests and needed a big table. I quickly paid and the hostess took our party to a round, six-person wooden table, close enough to the buffet but off to the side so we had enough privacy as they could get in a public restaurant.

Sandy, the waitress, came over and got our drink orders—two sweet teas for my parents, Riley’s diet coke, a Dr. Pepper for Wilcox, a coke for Barker and a Mountain Dew for Jester.

“If everyone wants to get their food, go ahead. I’ll sit here until someone comes back,” I said. I watched as they robbed the buffet line with wonderfully smelling meats and side dishes. Veggies and carbs alike. Wilcox sat across from me. My parents sat to my left. Kate sat to my right, next to Jester.

Kate sat down. “Good choice, Sam. Many of my favorite foods are up there.”

“Me too. I’m starving after all the shit that’s happened today,” I said.

Kate whispered, “Get plenty to eat. You deserve it.” She leaned over, “Besides, you might need your energy later on tonight.”

Dad heard a little of Kate’s whisper. He smirked at my mom, before he shook his head at Kate and I.

I knew my dad would say something in true Gerald Riley form. “You two want to skip dinner and go straight for dessert?”

Wilcox laughed.

“What?” I said to my dad in confusion.

Dad laughed.

I smiled at Kate and got up from the table. “Well, in that case...here I go.” I can only imagine what they said while I was gone. I came back with my plate loaded with some of his favorite comfort foods. Pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans, cornbread, macaroni and cheese. I made it halfway through before I started the conversation part of dinner. “Okay everyone. I have a few things to say about today. So just let me say what I need to say,” I requested. Everyone else at the table kept on eating and listened as I spoke. “Mr. Wilcox, did you by any chance go to the motel we told you about?”

“Yes, I did. I didn’t think I would find anything because I thought you were lying to me. But as it turned out, it was good timing for me. Housekeeping was about to enter the room. I told the lady to open the door and let me go in. I found the pizza box you mentioned and some tissues in the bathroom trash can. I called the forensics team out to work the room. Prints and DNA samples on a few cans and bottles. Pictures. The whole operation. We can have the results ready when and/or if you two come back this way on your way to Illinois,” Wilcox said. “That’s really all I can do. Don’t worry about Officers Gentry and Ellis. They’ll be okay.” He told us we were in good hands with Celeste on our team. “What she did with the cracker box really, really got me good. I will admit that.” I’m pretty sure Wilcox’s soul left this body for a split second when he saw the hand in the box trick. How she did it—hell, I’m too scared to ask.

“Yeah, I agree. She’s something else,” I said. “But thank you for your help, Detective Wilcox,” I said.

“Glad I could help. It’s been interesting to say the least.”

I nodded. “You’re a good sport. I admire your persistence, Detective Wilcox. “

“Thanks! That’s saying something, coming from you, Barker,” Wilcox said with a laugh.

“No way she gets a laugh, and I don’t,” I stated.

“Sorry, Mr. Riley. I’m off duty.”

Having the evidence ready from the APD would make our case that much stronger. Police reports. Photos. Evidence reports. All of that would be invaluable to us, whether we wanted to charge Betsy Riddle and Al Dockson with kidnapping in Albuquerque or turn it over to Special Agent Reed, which was my hail mary, wild-card scenario.

I then asked Mac to tell the table about what Oscar Tidwell told him about their cult.

Jester put his fork down and took a swig of Dew. “Yeah, dear Oscar. Bless my friend’s soul. He wrote me a few letters that I must have read twenty times since his death. Looking at the details and clues. I didn’t bring them with me. I should have so you could read them, Mr. Riley. But he told me Lily Rhone’s parents hired him to find their daughter. He said they got word from one of her friends that she was out in Nevada, near Las Vegas. Somewhere in southern Nevada. Oscar went out there and found her. He saw the group she was with working the Vegas strip with small time scams and pick pocketing. Shit like that. He knew she wouldn’t come back home without a fight. So, he joined them and got close to her. I’m not sure if he convinced her to leave on her own with him or if she was ordered to by someone else. I mean, maybe that’s why they killed him—for taking her away from them. She could have done this all on her own without them knowing about it?”

“Thank you, Mac, for filling us in,” I said. “That’s quite the summary, not that I’m surprised by any of that.”

“It’s becoming clear how dangerous they are. If they can kidnap Sam in broad daylight and kill that girl in the mine, they’re capable of anything. You two need to be extra careful and expect anything. Unfortunately, my involvement with your investigation doesn’t go beyond this wonderful meal. I won’t be with you to back you up I’m afraid,” Wilcox stated.

“I know, Detective Wilcox. I’m the Trojan horse in this game. I’m sorry, we didn’t get your first name,” I inquired.

“Andrew. Andy for short, but I always go by Wilcox.”

Jester asked what I meant by trojan horse.

“My psychic powers,” I said.

Wilcox nodded.

Sandy came back to the table to ask if anyone needed drink refills. She brought our refills a few minutes later.

I had one question on my mind, while thinking about the kidnapping this morning and afternoon. “One thing I can’t shake is how they knew where to find us to kidnap me in the first place. That’s the thing that’s been bothering me. What do you think dad?”

My dad took a sip of his drink before answering. “I wouldn’t put it past them to have spies along the way. People we don’t know or haven’t seen. That’s just a guess, Sam. Or it could be that someone among us or someone back home is feeding them information about us? Beyond those two explanations, I have no idea,” Dad said.

“Yeah, that’s possible. I still don’t think it’s Jester.”

“Because it’s not me,” Jester declared quickly. He looked around the table.

“We know, Mac. Their Master guy keeps a good hold on them. They kept saying, “Faith in the Master.” He wanted me to say it, but I told him to go fuck himself,” I said, before finishing my food, as did the rest of the table. Second plates were had as wanted. I finished my second plate and then focused on sugar free desserts and fruit.

“Typical cult behavior, Sam. All ego and nothing else,” My dad said.

“What’s the plan going forward, Sam?” Kate asked. She wanted a clear plan of action and didn’t want anything bad to happen to anyone. Clarity put her at ease.

“Good question. We leave for Vegas early in the morning. Get there tomorrow night. Get a room on the Vegas strip. Better security. More people. I don’t think they’d try something in front of all those people. We’ll need to get more ammo somewhere in Vegas. We’ll need you, dad, and you, Mac, to watch our backs at a distance. We know we can’t take any chances. Whether they have spies or not, we will. Looking out for us. Mom can watch the room for the most part. Beyond that, we play it by ear. Unless they call or text me or you, Kate, and tell us their next move,” I said.

Kate reached into her coat pocket when she heard her phone vibrate. “Unknown number,” she said as she opened a text message. The picture of Betsy sitting on my lap popped up on the screen. She showed it to me. I looked at the picture and then at Kate.

“She smelled like rotten tuna in a back-alley dumpster. Somehow that turned Al on. Weirdos, man!”

“We’ll talk about that later,” she said as she hugged me.

I patted Kate’s hand on my right shoulder. I looked around the table. “Okay, that’s our plan for tomorrow. We leave bright and early. Check out and pack up at the same time. No one goes anywhere alone. Use the buddy system,” I declared. My psychic powers were now my ace in the hole. It never dawned on me they were also the live grenade I carried around with me. “Did everyone get enough to eat? No rush, seriously,” I asked.

The consensus was everyone had gotten plenty from their sluggish replies.

I motioned Sandy over to the table and graciously handed her a $100 tip. She thanked me for the opportunity to serve us during dinner.

“That should do it, folks. I’ve enjoyed your company,” I said.

I slid my business card across the table towards Wilcox. “Feel free to call me when you get the results.”

Wilcox gave me his card in return and told me to call him when we were on their way back to Albuquerque.

“Absolutely,” I said. “Thanks for everything Andy. Hope we didn’t scare you too badly.”

“Everyone knows what I mean when I say I’ve seen worse,” Wilcox said.

Nods and laughs from everyone at the table.

I looked at my phone and saw a call coming from an unknown number. “Everyone let me speak. Don’t say anything. Just listen,” I declared. I put my phone on the table and answered the call.

Wilcox grabbed a pen and his small notebook to take notes.

“Hello.”

“Hello there, Mr. Riley!”

“Well, if it isn’t Mr. Dickson, calling to apologize, are you?”

“Uh…it’s Dockson. You know that. Stop being so impolite. This is a courtesy call, fella.”

“What do I owe your pain-in-my-ass phone call to?”

Dad looked at me in anger as he pointed to the phone.

I nodded.

Dockson laughed. “That’s a good one, Mr. Riley. I might have to use that one.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not laughing, and neither is Detective Barker. Nor the Albuquerque PD.”

“No, I don’t think she is after she got that picture that Lilybean sent a few minutes ago.

“You know, I’ve got to hand it to you. It takes some nerve to call the guy you kidnapped,” I stated.

“Yes sir, Mr. Riley, you are right. Especially during dinner. Hello to everybody listening. Hi, Detective Barker.”

“What the hell do you want anyway?” I asked.

“I’m calling on behalf of the Master. The Master has requested your presence at a special dinner, on Tuesday evening, in Vegas.”

Although such a request is highly unusual, I realized this might be the opportunity I secretly hoped for in getting the upper hand against these damn fools. See who their spies are, if they have any? Maybe I could find the mole or traitor by looking in the shadows? I didn’t care how it looked to everyone else. I knew I had to become James Bond, basically, in order to even stand a chance in the game with these cultists.

“Sure, Al. Why the hell not,” I said sarcastically, on a dare.

“Smart move in accepting the Masters’ invitation. We promise you will not be harmed in any way. You have our word and mine as well.”

“That’s good to know, not that I believe you for a damn second. Hear me well, Mr. Dockson, I will be armed and if anyone tries any bullshit or kidnap me or Detective Barker, you will regret it. I promise you that. I will come after you with everything I have.”

“I don’t doubt that Mr. Riley. I can’t say I don’t blame you but that’s not necessary. The Master word is as good as gold.”

“Yeah, so is the mafia but you don’t see cops trusting them at their word, do you?”

“You enjoy your dinner, Sam. Farewell everybody. We’ll be in touch.”

“How did you know I’m having dinner? Did your Master tell you that too?” I asked.

“You have to eat sometime, Sam. Especially with the day you’ve had. No hard feelings for everything, Sam. The game begins.”

“Al, answer me one question before I let you go.”

“I’ll try my best, Mr. Riley.”

“Why did you kill Celeste Morrison in the mine explosion all those years ago?”

Dockson laughed. “See you Tuesday, Mr. Riley. Bring your appetite,” he said before hanging up the phone.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Asshole!”

Wilcox handed me his notes from the conversation. “There, don’t say I didn’t do anything for you, Sam.”

I thanked Wilcox for his quick thinking and put the papers in my coat pocket. “More evidence to nail these psychos.”

“Sam, you just told the lion that you’re walking into his den, alone and outnumbered. You know that right?” Dad asked me, nervously.

I looked back at my dad. “Yeah, I know.”

My dad looked at my mom with panic.

Mom looked at me with a straight face. “I hope you know what you’re doing, Sam.”

“Me too. I have all day tomorrow on the way to Vegas to think about it,” I said.

“It’s a good thing I brought my bag of tricks, Mr. Riley,” Jester said. “Spy equipment. Me and your dad can hear what anyone says at Tuesday’s dinner.”

I raised my glass to Jester. “Good thinking, Mac!”

“Anything else?”

Kate grabbed my hand in support. I squeezed her hand in return.

8:45 p.m.

“Alright, I’m ready to go back to the hotel. I’m tired and need my sleep for tomorrow’s long drive.”

We got our things together and headed out the door back to the hotel as Wilcox parted ways.

Once back at the hotel, we split off to our own rooms. I laid on the bed, after my shower, thinking about the day’s events, while Kate took her shower. Flashbacks stole my attention from the TV. I closed my heavy eyes while holding the remote, even as I flipped through the channels, faster and faster for a minute or two. Kate heard the sounds of different channels, one right after the other. She came out of the bathroom and found me pushing the remote furiously. She turned off the bedroom light while the lamp on the nightstand stayed on.

“Sam, are you okay?”

I didn’t move.

She swatted my leg, but I didn’t move. “Sam, are you okay? Wake up!”

I suddenly stopped clutching the remote, allowing it to fall out of my hand. I suddenly came to and rose up out of my spell with a coughing fit that lasted a minute or so. I looked at Kate with terror in my eyes.

“Sam, you’re freaking me out! What’s going on?” Kate said softly as she leaned towards me.

“I saw how they killed Celeste. It came to me as a dream, but it wasn’t a dream. I saw it through someone else’s eyes. It seemed so real, like I was there. Not like a real dream. I saw Betsy light the dynamite fuse and roll it under Celeste’s chair in the mine. Celeste tried to use the dirt to put the dynamite out, but it didn’t work. The fuse was too far away. She didn’t stand a chance. Next thing I knew, I ran out of the cave. The boom woke me up. Things went dark then, like a movie ending.”

Kate hugged me. “I’m so sorry Sam. Are you okay? I’m really worried about you.”

I paused for a moment—I got my answer, just not the way I wanted. “I’m okay now. I just need some rest,” I said as I held her tight in my arms. “I’ve never had anything like that happen before. I was someone else. I’ve never felt such rage and hate. All I wanted to do was kill Celeste.”

“Do you still feel that way, Sam?”

“No. It was temporary. A minute or so. I still don’t have a clear reason why they killed her. Guess I’ll have to find out for myself.” I reached for the remote and flipped to an instrumental music channel before kissing her passionately, to drown out our long overdue lovemaking.