Day 3
"Let go of me!" Max yelled, without thinking, as she raised her knee to the man's crotch, and lunged into the woods again. Sprinting into the darkness, she prayed that none of the gunshots she heard hit her.
I'm going to die, she thought, I'm never going home again. Ducking behind the trees, Max froze as she saw the cliff up ahead.
Kenny picked the basement door lock of Tom's apartment building, after taking a survey of the surrounding area. A stupid mobster probably threw everything out, but I have to try. For Max. Moving quickly down the empty hallway, he paused in front of Tom's apartment.
"Asshole," he said under his breath, as he tried the knob, "How can it just be unlocked?"
Pushing the door open, and ignoring the sense of trepidation building inside him, "Tom?"
Hearing nothing, Kenny quickly shut the door behind him and surveyed the mess in front of him. I'm not the first one here, he thought, there has to be something left. He paused at the smashed picture on the floor, and studied it sadly.
"Max," he said, looking at her and Tom's image staring back at him, "Sweetheart, I'm so sorry about this. You didn't deserve to die like this. What the hell?"
He shook the broken glass out of the frame, and turned the envelope over in his hands. Turning it over slowly, a computer disk tumbled out into his hand, as well as a slip of paper. He slid the two into is pocket, and eyed the destroyed computer and shredded papers that littered the apartment. Moving back toward the bedroom, he kicked the debris out of his way.
"It was faxed from the Greenbay library, which is only a few miles from Tom's apartment," Skeeter said, "I bet Kenny headed there next."
Jimmy leaned back in his desk chair, "Let's go. I need some answers from Kenny, whether he was involved in this or not."
"Jimmy," Skeeter said a bit hesitantly, "Tom was a Millani, and he obviously didn't want to be. What if he faked his own death to get away from that life?"
"Do you think Max would have gone willingly with him?"
"No, but what if he took her along because of his family? To keep her safe?"
"What about Kenny?"
"They needed a fall man."
"Why run now? I say we check out Varitek too, see if his job had anything to do with this."
Max paused at the edge of the cliff, and peered down toward the bottom. A couple hundred feet? I'd die, but . . . that is an interesting idea. She shed the sweatshirt of Tom's she was wearing quickly, and heaved it over the edge with a scream. She watched with pleasure as it became tangled in some brush on the way down, as she ducked back behind some rocks.
"What the hell was that?" one of the men asked, as they came upon the cliff.
"Look," the other said, pointing downwards, "I'd say our girl took a tumble."
"It saves some trouble," the third man replied, "Tom is dead, she's dead. They won't be causing us any more problems. This place gives me the creeps anyway. Where did Tom find it anyway?"
"He liked it because it was only 100 miles of Chili. Close enough to get to, but far enough to escape to. He told the wrong people though."
"Let's go. It's done."
Max held her breath as she watched the men disappear in the direction they had come from. Slipping deeper into the brush, she sank onto the warm ground and choked back her tears. Stay still, she commanded herself, until you hear that helicopter leave. You'll find a way off of this island Max, don't worry. You'll be okay.
"Thanks," Kenny said, feeling like the criminal everyone thought he was, as he handed the man all the cash he left.
"Hey a new passport, a new life."
"Yeah. You saved my life."
The man thumbed his cash, "Tell no one where you got this."
"Not a problem."
"Apparently everyone has been to Tom's apartment," Jimmy said, as he and Skeeter made their way toward Varitek, "That place has been ransacked more than once."
"I don't like this," Skeeter said, "The more we find out, the worse it gets."
"We will get to the bottom of this," Jimmy promised, "The CEO, George Epstein, is waiting for us."
Skeeter nodded, "This whole thing is getting weird."
Max wasn't sure how long she laid in the brush after she heard the helicopter take off. She swallowed back her fear, as she listened to the departing chopper. They're gone, she thought, as she stood slowly. Brushing the dirt off of her bare legs, she looked around carefully.
"Tom," she said aloud, "Shit, Tom."
"Okay Tom. Let's see where these coordinates are," Kenny said under his breath as he punched the numbers into the computer. Drumming his fingers impatiently against the counter, he looked around Kinkos warily. I know that Jimmy isn't going to just let me walk away, he thought, I have to move.
"Bingo," he said, as a location popped up on the map, "Chili? Why the hell would he have an island in Chili?"
Slumping lower in his seat, he scribbled down the new information on the pad of paper in front of him. Sliding the computer disk into the computer, he frowned at the encrypted numbers in front of him. Why would he leave it behind if it was so important, Kenny wondered to himself, unless someone else was going to come and get it? Stuffing everything into his pockets he made is way back outside.
"Tom Miller was a gifted attorney," George said, with a sigh, "It was a shock when we found out about his mob connections. We have a lot of, how should I say it? Classified information here that we didn't want to fall into the wrong hands."
"So you fired him?" Jimmy asked.
George nodded, "Not right away. We had some information leaks over the past few months, but we never suspected it to be Tom. Once we found out about his connections, we looked into his files, emails, phone logs, and the trail led back to him and his family."
"He didn't take the news well?"
"A few days later, last week actually, our company president was found shot dead. I'll say that he didn't take it well."
"I read about that," Skeeter interjected.
"The Greenbay police are investigating, and so far it points back to the mob."
"We're going to get a copy of that report," Jimmy said.
"I've been reading in the paper about how a Rome deputy is tied to all of this," George said, "Is he also involved in my company losing millions because our competitors now have our research and information?"
"We're not sure," Jimmy said, "What sort of information did you lose?"
"It's classified," George stressed, "I can't tell you anything else. Good luck with your investigation."
Max stumbled back toward the house, as she listened around for signs of other life. Swallowing back her fears, she made her way closer to the house. Pausing on the front porch, she took a deep breath and shoved the door open. Hearing nothing but silence echo around her, Max made her way to the bedroom.
"Oh Tom," she whispered, looking at the still body on the floor. Shakily, she reached and felt for a pulse, "Tom, I'm sorry. I should have listened to you."
She rose to her feet, and backed away from his cooling body slowly. Turning toward the sparse bedroom, she began rummaging for anything that might help her get off of the island.
Kenny silently blessed his new and fake passport, as he leaned back in his coach seat. If Max is in Chili, I'm going to find her, he vowed. Whatever is on this disk too, why would Tom leave it behind? Maybe he was waiting for someone else to come and pick it up? Who? They were apparently looking for it.
"Max," he said aloud, "Come on. Let me find you."
"You don't think that Kenny killed that guy?" Skeeter asked, "Come on Jimmy. This whole thing, it's getting . . . Has anyone even checked out the witness' story? Could she be working for the mob?"
"It's being looked into," Jimmy replied, "I don't want to believe that Kenny had any part of this, but it doesn't look good."
"The bookie. What was his name?"
Jimmy paused, "It's in the report. I don't remember."
"Why don't we go and find out? I'm not ready to hang Kenny out to dry until we're sure, and I'm shocked that you are."
"Watch your tone, Deputy."
"Sorry, but think Jimmy. It's all a little convenient, isn't it? Varitek has a mole, Tom gets fired, Max and Tom get blown up, Tom's mobs connections come to light, then these pictures of Kenny and the Millanis come out? It reeks of a set up."
Jimmy sighed, "We have a tail on Franco and Giorgio, and police around the state are keeping an eye out for Kenny."
"He'll investigate on his own, and I'll bet he was the one that tore apart Tom's apartment. If he is innocent, which I believe he is, he'll be after the real killer. If there is one. What if they're not dead, Jimmy?"
"That's a big what if. The DNA tests should be back at the end of the week."
"What if it's all a big set up? So that Tom could get away from this life?"
"We're looking at all possible angles. You know that. Now, we're going to get that report from Greenbay."
"The bunker," Max said aloud, as she looked out at the darkening day, "Tom said something about a bunker."
Looking around at the ransacked house, she wanted to scream in frustration. Why couldn't there be a phone, computer, boat, helicopter, anything, Max wondered, as she sank onto the floor. Think like a cop, she demanded herself. Or even a map to this bunker Tom mentioned. It can't be that big of an island, she rationalized, and the bunker would probably be in a secluded spot. Tom had to of had a plan to get off of this island eventually. A quick get away, something near the water. A secluded spot by the water. Now all I have to do is find it.
Max rose to her feet slowly, and quickly grabbed a sweatshirt from the discarded pile of clothes on the floor. Pulling it on over her head, she grabbed the flashlight, and made her way back out toward the shore.
Kenny slumped lower in his seat, as he watched a familiar face come up the aisle. This isn't a coincidence, he thought, as he turned his gaze out toward the landscape below. He has to be looking for me. He pulled his cap brim lower over his eyes as the man walked past his row, and toward the back of the plane.
"Sir?" the flight attendant asked, as Kenny jumped about 10 feet, "Would you care for a beverage?"
"What? No, not right now," Kenny replied, as he tried to slow down his racing heart, "Thanks."
"One shot, clean through the head," Skeeter read aloud, "It was quick at least. Remind me not to ever piss off Tom Miller."
"Tom Miller is dead," Jimmy countered, "Or so it would seem."
"You're starting to have doubts?"
"Possibly. I want to talk to Sophia again, and see what else she can tell us about Kenny and the mob. If there is anything."
Skeeter nodded in agreement, "Well she does happen to live in Greenbay. I think a surprise visit is in order."
"At least it's a pretty island," Max said under her breath, as she tracked around the perimeter of it, "Tom had good taste at least."
Glancing up at the darkening sky, she gritted her teeth in frustration. I have to find it because I don't want to spend the night in that house with Tom's corpse. Scanning the landscape around her for anything, "What the hell is that?"
Walking stealthily toward the rocks, and toward the flash of white she saw, "Oh please. Please."
Max paused on top the first formation, "God dammit. Stupid sea foam! Wait, what?"
She crouched down, and peered into the cave across the cove from her. Pointing the flashlight at it, and tried to make out the shadows she in the sunset. Gingerly, she made her way closer, and tentatively shown the light into the entrance before she got in.
"What the hell?" she asked, more to hear the sound of her own voice. Taking a shaky step inside, she made her way toward the metal briefcase in the back of the cave, "Well, at least it isn't ticking."
Locked too, Max thought, as she picked it up. This isn't what she pictured when Tom mentioned a safe bunker to hide out in, and I know I'm not sleeping here tonight. Hefting the briefcase into her arms, she stumbled back out into the rapidly darkening day. Of course it's locked because nothing about this is simple.
Kenny slipped into the crowd at the Santiago airport, as he speedily made his way toward customs. I made it this far, he thought, and there is no way that I'm stopping now. Morell, or no Morell. I'm going to get to the bottom of this if it kills me. I owe that to Max, whether she is dead or alive. If she is alive, she has a lot of explaining to do.
Handing his passport to the customs agent, he glanced around stealthily. Where did he go, Kenny wondered, where are you Morell? Tuning back in, he slid his newly stamped passport into his pocket, and slipped out into the hot Chilean climate.
"This would be an empty lot," Skeeter said, as looked around what should have been Sophia's house, "I don't think she lives here, Jimmy."
Jimmy nodded, and his face was expressionless, "That's obvious. Shit."
"This lends credibility to the set up scenario," Skeeter said, feeling hopeful that his friend was a killer and a mobster.
"Yeah," Jimmy agreed, "But why Kenny of all people?"
"A cop in bed with the mob? It makes for a good news story. You saw how all of those newspapers picked it up and ran with it."
"And it takes the heat of Tom, as a company mole and a mobster."
Skeeter nodded, "If he was one. What if he just wanted to run away from that life, and he needed a fall man? Who better then Max's best friend, and come on Jimmy, he's been in love with her for years. Tom had to have seen it, and they could have set it up to look like a revenge scenario. Kill the competition, get the girl. Whoops, the girl is dead too."
"Max wouldn't have stood for that."
"I doubt Tom gave her a choice."
"Where would they go? We need to get a list of all the property that Tom owns, frequented vacation spots, and anywhere that he has a bank account."
Skeeter nodded, "We better get back to the office."
Max slammed the metal briefcase against the rock as hard as she could, "What is this made of? Titanium? Come on, give me a break here."
She glanced back up at the house, and was dreading going back in there with Tom's body. I have to move it, she thought, bury it. He deserves a burial at least. Maybe he has the combination to this thing on him? Shit, that means I have to touch him. Sighing, she made her way back inside and to the bedroom.
"Hi Tom," she said hesitantly, as she quickly slid her hands into his pockets before she lost her nerve, "I'm sorry for this. What is this?"
Max pulled out a key ring, and turned it over in her hands. Four keys, and this last one . . . it looks like it could be for a boat. This first one, maybe it'll fit that lock. This third, possibly a safe deposit box, and the second, well it looks like it might be for this house or the hypothetical bunker? Rising back to her feet, she turned back toward the briefcase and slid the key in.
"Thank you," she whispered, as the lock popped, "Oh my god."
Max stared down at the stack of hundred dollar bills that were lying peacefully in front of her, before picking up the folded maps on top of them.
"That's Chili," she whispered, tracing the line running off the mainland, to the spec located off shore, "So that must be where we are. So I have a map, now I need a way to use it."
She folded the map quickly, and studied the maze that ran across the other one. Frowning, she filed it away to study later. The last one was more confusing then the other one, with it's rows of numbers. Max glanced back out the window, and into the darkness.
"Well, I'm not going anywhere tonight."
Kenny walked down to the docks, and watched the cruise ships come in. Turning his attention to the smaller ships docked across the harbor, a vague plan began to form in his mind. I don't know anything about boats, and it's getting late. No way that I can find this island at night. Tomorrow though, I have to get there tomorrow.
He walked quickly, and did a double take when he came to the boat charter stand.
"Uh, English?" he asked, the native looking man.
"Yes," he replied, "English. What you need?"
Kenny could have leapt with joy, "I need a boat, to get to these coordinates tomorrow. Is it possible?"
"Si, senor. Pricey though."
"I have money."
To be continued.