7:00 A.M. Rome, WI
"I'm not letting these people do this!" Baker argued, "Especially when they sound like they're going to double cross us, and hand these diamonds over the mob! Who do they think that they are?"
"Kenny sounded pissed off," Jimmy replied, "And Max wasn't much happier. What the hell did they figure out yesterday? We don't even know what they clue was!"
"What did they do yesterday? Maxine had a run in with Alana Millani, and after that?" Baker asked.
Jimmy filled him in on what he knew, "Yeah, we watched a movie, chatted, and then we all went to bed."
"Could any of that have triggered any of this? Any little detail?"
"It was fairly mundane and superficial. No one was comfortable being there, and that's why we put Shawshank in."
"The Shawshank Redemption? Is there anything in that movie that could have triggered their sudden flight? It is about a prison break?"
"Shit," Jimmy said, "Why don't we get a copy of it now?"
Detroit 7:30 A.M.
"It goes straight to Mexico City," Kenny said, as they stood in the Detroit Airport, "And from there we can find our way."
Max nodded, and swallowed at the awkwardness, "Are we okay?"
"Why wouldn't we be?"
She shook her head, "I don't know. Forget about it."
Kenny groaned internally, as they boarded their flight, "I was being an ass, okay? I'm not pissed at you, I'm pissed at the situation that we're in. I don't want to take it out on you, Bella. I love you, and you're the only thing in the world that makes this bearable to me."
"I'm tired of running too. Why do I think that even when we find the diamonds, and this won't be over?"
"Don't be so pessimistic," Kenny countered.
"I'm not. Just being realistic."
9:00 A.M. Rome, WI
"Well what did we learn?" Jimmy asked, "That prison wardens are sadistic? Innocent people go, survive and break out of prison?"
"That they can steal enough money to start a new life in Mexico?"
"Mexico," Jimmy repeated, "Could that be it?"
"That is an awfully big jump," Baker rationalized, "If Tom left behind clues . . . it could be anything. The first one was in Zurich and the second was here? Where would the third one lead them? Back to Chili? The Millanis have properties all over the world."
"I doubt it would be somewhere where his family is," Jimmy countered, "We have their cell phone number, although they both seemed very irritable last night."
"They don't want to deal with the FBI? You call. I don't care what they say about it not being able to be traced, but we are going to try."
12:00 P.M. Mexico City
Max slipped off her hooded sweatshirt, and slipped it into her backpack, before she hefted the pack on her shoulder, "It's good to be warm again."
Kenny glanced down at her clad in a blue tank top and loose fitting gray track pants, "It seems like whenever we go to a new country, we have to shop."
"We do travel lightly," Max said, as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "And leave stuff everywhere we go."
"Yeah? I know I left some boxers in a certain hotel room in Barcelona," Kenny said, as he kissed the top of her head, "Sorry for being a jerk earlier."
"You were upset, and you had every right to be."
"You know me better than anyone."
She smiled at him, "Really?"
He kissed her again, "Come on. Let's see about getting to Zihuatanejo"
"We have a phone call first," Max said, as she fished the phone out of her bag, "Guess who?"
"Your turn."
"Hello?" Max said, as they walked down the street.
"We've been trying to call you for hours," Jimmy said in way of greeting, "Do you ever answer that thing?"
"It was off. What now, Jimmy?"
"Where are you? Does it have anything to do with the Shawshank Redemption?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Max asked.
"Your note said that you figured out the third clue yesterday, and we watched that movie. So, does it?"
"Even if it did, I wouldn't tell you," Max lied, "Stay out of it, Jimmy. Let us handle it. It's safer for everyone this way."
"Who are you to decide that?"
"The person that has avoided being killed by the mob for two years. I suggest that you try and do the same. Unless you have something of value to tell us, don't call again."
"So?"
Max filled him in on the Shawshank connection, "I told him it was bullshit, but who knows?"
"Maybe we should get our butts down to Zihuatanejo now," Kenny said, "It's 200 miles from here. What do you bet the roads to it aren't the best?"
1:00 P.M. Rome WI
"I may have something here," Agent Cooper said, "You were looking for the names they entered the country on?"
"Yes," Baker asked, "And where they entered the country."
"I went through the security tapes for Chicago, and I believe this is them," Cooper said, as he handed the printout to Baker, "No luck on the names yet though. It was taken in the international terminal, at 3:02 P.M, just five days ago. It reduces the number of flights, and I'm waiting for the flight manifests to be faxed over."
"Let me know when they get here."
1:30 P.M. Mexico City
"This is going to be fun," Kenny commented, as they pulled there newly rented, 1960's, V.W. Bug out onto the road.
Max rolled the window down, "Do we want the breeze, or to be bug free?"
"You choose," Kenny said, as he passed her map, "We stay on 145 the whole way?"
"Yeah," Max confirmed, as she pulled out the tour book on Zihuatanejo, "It seems to be a fairly secluded spot."
"Just like in the movie," Kenny said, as he watched her wipe the sweat from her brow, "You all right, Isabella?"
"Just fine, Nikoali."
3:00 P.M Rome WI
"We know that they weren't living in the US, so we can eliminate over half of these people," Baker said, "I wish we knew that language they were speaking. I know it wasn't French, Spanish, Italian, German, or Russian. Those I know fluently. Weed those out too. What nationalities does that leave us with?"
"Hold on," Cooper said, "Indianian, Australian, Greek, Swedish, Portugual, China, Japan, Brazilian, and Canadian, citizens came in on flights at those times."
"They would want to blend in," Jimmy commented, "So I'd eliminate India, China and Japan. Also, they speak English and French in Canada and English in Australia."
"Give me a rundown of the names on the remaining nationalities, and then I want to compare against names of people who flew out anywhere in the surrounding area over the last 10 hours."
4:00 P.M. Mexico
"It is beautiful," Max commented, as she looked at the coastline, "Tom did have good taste."
"You liked his island?"
"Maybe if he hadn't kept me a prisoner on it," she replied, as she turned back to the book, "Where exactly are we supposed to look when we get there? I doubt Tom painted an X on the ground. He's been a lot more subtle than that."
"Hey, we're two for two so far, Bella. We'll get this one too."
"Twenty miles," Max said, as she nodded at the roadside, "I guess we'll figure it out soon enough."
4:30 P.M. Rome WI
"I'm going to cross reference this with a list of flights that went out of Greenbay and Chicago, to start with. See what we come up with," Baker said.
"We had people at those airports. They didn't spot them," Jimmy argued, "Of course no one spotted them in more than two years."
5:00 P.M. Zihuatanejo Mexico
"X marks the spot," Kenny repeated, as they walked down the deserted beach, "All this town consists of is a beach, two hotels, a few restraunts, and not much else. No giant X statue."
"Maybe we should just walk around for a while?" Max offered, "See if anything sparks some inspiration?"
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, as they walked up the path toward the town, "What about some landmark? A mountain? Volcano? Anything?"
Max nodded toward the tour booth outside one of the small hotels, "Why don't we find out? We are tourists?"
"On our honeymoon again?"
"We're at least married this time."
"And all I wanted to do was lick champagne off of you," he said, as he kissed the top of her head, "Something we might have to do when we get home. We'll have more to celebrate then our marriage. Which we haven't spent enough time enjoying lately."
"I love being your wife," Max said softly, as they approached the booth, "I love you."
"Love you too, Sweetheart," Kenny said, "Uh, hi."
"Hello! Americans? I speak English," the man said, "How can I help you? Welcome to Zihuatanejo."
"Thanks," Max said, "Um, we're actually looking for a place to stay, and some interesting sights."
"Ah you came to the right place," he said, "This hotel is the best. Right on the beach. I'll give you a good rate."
"Great," Kenny said, and wanted nothing more than to take a nap after their hectic day.
"You young people like activity? Much to do. We have a rich history to be enjoyed, and there is the Volcano. I'll take you on a wonderful tour, if you like."
"We'd like that," Max said, as she leaned into her husband.
"Good, good. Why don't we get you settled in?"
5:30 P.M. Rome WI
"Nothing!" Baker spat.
"What about other airports?" Jimmy asked, "They could have driven, taken a train or a bus anywhere to fly out of?"
Baker grumbled, as he punched in more information, "Just for kicks we'll focus on flights going to Mexico, going out of anywhere in an 800 mile radius. In honor of our movie. Gotta get creative."
"Anything?" Jimmy asked, as the new information popped up on the screen.
"Uh, huh. Three couples, and two singles," Baker said, "We can eliminate the singles, so that leaves us with a Frank and Frannie Fisk, Zelda and Thomas Williams, and Nikoali and Isabella Kapali. I say we look into these people."
6:00 P.M. Zihuatanejo Mexico
"I'm so tired, I could fall asleep right here," Max yawned, as she laid back on the bed, "Hmm."
"Up, Bella," Kenny said, "We need a plan."
"I need to sleep," she grumbled, as she sat up again, "We're going on that tour with Pablo tomorrow at 8:00 A.M. I think we'll get to see everything we need to."
He ran his fingers through her dark hair, "Come on, Isabella. It is our honeymoon after all."
"Hmm, I'm disgusting from sitting in that car all day. I smell."
"You're perfect."
"Ah, Nikoali," she groaned, as he lifted her into his arms, "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to wake you up, and have fun doing it," he said, as he nipped at her jaw line, "What do you say we try out that shower?"
6:30 P.M. Rome WI
"I just talk to Frank and Frannie's daughter, Francine," Baker said, "They're legit, but they lack creativity."
"I spoke to Zelda and Thomas' son," Cooper confirmed.
"No luck on Nikoali and Isabella Kapali," Jimmy said, "I couldn't find an address on them, or a phone number. They're Greek, that's it."
"Greek," Baker said, "That is a difficult language to decipher."
"We need some more information on them before we chase after them," Jimmy said, "We don't even know if Kenny and Max went to Mexico."
"Are you content to wait around until the only witnesses in this case get themselves shot, or whittle away any credibility that they have left?"
7:00 P.M. Zihuatanejo Mexico
Max giggled, as Kenny turned off the water, "Well you woke me up."
He looked down at his dripping wet and naked wife standing before him, "What were we going to talk about? I can't think when you look like that."
"Hmm, can we not think?" Max said, as she wrapped her arms around his neck, "Touch me."
"Bella," he groaned, as their wet and naked bodies met, "We need to . . . damn that feels good."
"Ssh," she whispered, as she kissed him again, and he lifted her into his arms, "I need you."
Kenny groaned again, as they stumbled back toward the bedroom. Max grinned at him, as she began stroking him. She felt his hands tighten around her shoulders, as he let out a long moan.
"Jesus Christ, Isabella."
"Let me," she whispered, as she laid down on top of him. She kissed him hard on the lips, and as he kissed her back, she burst out laughing as a fart pierced the air.
"I'm glad you think that it's funny," Kenny said, as he looked at his hysterical wife, "Bella? You're not 12."
"I'm sorry," she gasped, as she tried to calm herself, "I . . . You farted."
He couldn't help but laugh, as she buried her head in his chest, "I guess it killed the mood?"
"No, farting is sexy," Max giggled, as she dissolved into hysterical laughing again.
"Your sanity has left the building," Kenny commented, as he held her close.
"I'm sorry," she said again, as she vowed to get herself under control, "Nikoali, come on. Don't be upset."
"I'm not," Kenny insisted, as she stopped laughing, "I'm glad to see you smiling, Sweetheart."
"Hmm," she agreed, as she rolled onto her side, and laid her hand on his chest, "You make me happy."
He kissed the top of her head, "Same to you."
8:00 P.M. Rome WI
"I say we go to Zihuatanejo," Baker said, "It's only 200 miles from Mexico City. These people have taken the law into their own hands, and made fools of all of us."
"And you need them to testify against the Millanis," Jimmy finished, "I'm going with you."
Baker paused, before nodding, "We're leaving tonight. Let's go, Sheriff."
9:00 P.M. Zihuatanejo Mexico
"We need a plan," Kenny said, as they sat facing each other on the bed, "If you're sure that you're sane?"
Max smiled, "I'm sure. I promise. Talk."
"If we find the diamonds," Kenny started, "What do we do with them?"
"The Millanis will kill us either way," Max said, "The FBI will probably put us in jail, and the Millanis can kill us in there."
"So . . . you want to hold onto them? Use them as a bargaining chip? Baker is going to yank our immunity, and it could at least keep us out of prison."
"Then what? We hand over the diamonds, and vanish again? Are we going to run for the rest of our lives?"
"What would you like to do? Wait around and get shot in the head?"
"I don't want to die," Max retorted, as she sighed, "It's just . . . we were talking about having a normal life and kids. I don't want to bring a child into this mess."
"We could have given a kid a pretty good life in Santorini," Kenny countered, "If we hadn't left . . . It could have been good."
"We just had to do the right thing," Max countered, "Okay. We hold onto the diamonds. What if we don't find them?"
"We fake it, again," Kenny said, "Tom sent us on this wild goose chase, why not send the FBI and the Millanis on one as well? Why should we have all the fun?"
Max grinned, "That is horrible. I love it."
"We're never going to have a normal life."
"Are you okay with that?"
"Are you?"
Max shrugged, "Not really, but the past two years haven't been that bad. We've had some good times."
"We can have some more," Kenny said, "We're really good together. We can solve the mysteries of the world, out run the police and the mob, have great sex while we do it, and then go home and just . . . be us."
She smiled, "Us. Isabella and Nikoali Kapali?"
"I wish that we were home right now, lying in the hammock," Kenny trailed off, "I wish you could meet my family."
"Maybe someday," Max said softly, "Call them."
"No. I'm not going to put them in that position."
"What position? Letting them know that you're alive? That you miss them?"
"Why do you even care?"
"Because you're hurting!"
"I don't want to talk to them because it'll make it all seem fake! You and me! Our life!"
"That is most selfish thing that I have ever heard," Max said softly, as she stood, "I'm going to get some air."
"Why haven't you talked to your family then?"
"When did I ever talk to them two years ago?" Max replied, "They don't want anything to do with me, they never have."
"Bullshit! They have to be worried about you!"
"Don't you dare turn this back on me! Call them, or don't. I really don't care," Max snapped, "I'll see you later."
10:00 P.M. Rome WI
"We're on a 6:00 A.M. flight out of Greenbay tomorrow," Baker said, "And then we're taking a private plane to Zihuatanejo. We'll be there by noon."
"Good," Jimmy said, hoping and praying that no one would get hurt, "If they are there?"
"We're arresting them. No more playing games. They've killed people, hampered investigations, and withheld information. These people are criminals."
Jimmy nodded sadly, "I know."
11:00 P.M. Zihuatanejo Mexico
"Where the hell have you been?" Kenny practically yelled, as Max came back in, "I've been worried about you!"
"I went for a walk," Max said evenly, "Now, I'm going to bed. We have an early day."
"We have people who want us dead, and you disappear for two hours?"
"I've been missing for two years, so two hours shouldn't be such a big deal."
"Would you stop being so difficult?"
"Would you stop being so pigheaded?"
"I can't even talk to you right now," Kenny snapped, as he snatched a pillow off the bed, "I'll take the couch. Good night."
"Good night," she retorted, as she flipped of the light.