|
|
"We'll need go get the internet reconnected," Alex said. "While I was in the hospital they would have turned it off. We'll probably have to pay whatever charges weren't paid." "They usually don't wait more than a month or two," said Jessica. "I'll by the the office and get it done. Meanwhile we can use our phones for hotspots." They were at the farm and were setting up the computers. Another trip or two would be required to properly provision the place but it was relatively clean. "We need to contact security," Alex said. "Give them a description of our vehicles and us. And let them know we'll be here for a while." "We've just been using your TrailBlazer but I'll describe my Escape anyway, and give them the tag numbers. And advise them that you have two of different colors." "Good idea. They'll have color video. And probably need to give them Harry as a backup contact in case..." Don't like that just in case.
"Right." One trip sufficed to make the place livable. Jessica spread a double sleeping bag on the bed and added a couple of pillows from home. "We haven't slept in this bed in a long time," she said. "You all right?" I put her in danger. That's not all right. "Yeah, I'm good. I want this over but don't like thinking about how it might be over." "Neither do I. All we can do is be vigilant and careful. "Yeah."
Alex woke with a start, a few seconds of panic. We're not at home. Or what home was. Jessica was asleep and he lay quietly as the room lightened. He was wondering if he could get out of bed without waking her, make some coffee. After midnight when we went to bed, should be seven or so. "Good morning." Jessica sleepy voice is so... "Morning. Ready for another day?" "Let's do it." They had the essentials - Pop-Tarts and coffee - so breakfast was as usual. They went outside and walked while Alex smoked a cigar and Jessica had a second cup of coffee. "It's peaceful out here," she said. "When this is over maybe we can get you house ready and move out there." "That'll be good. Hope it's soon." They walked along the fence and checked the locations of the buried gold - none had been disturbed. Back in the house Jessica made lists of things to bring from the house in town. As they were preparing to leave Harry called. "What's up?" Jessica asked. Alex could only hear her side so he waited until they were finished before thinking about but it could hardly be expected to be good. "Harry wants us to come by," she said. "Developments."
"Your house is under 24/7 surveillance," Harry said. "We've identified at least six men, there may be more. It started yesterday - whether they tailed you to where you're staying I don't know but you're definitely being watched now. That's a bad sign - they may be setting you up for a hit." "Just like that?" Jessica asked. "No more attempts to buy us off?" "I suspect they took your counteroffer as a way of saying no deal. The money these guys are moving they could pay you a million out of petty cash and that's just with the operations they know about. They're not taking any chances. The AG won't have gotten far with his investigations, assuming he's investigatig at all. If you two disappear they may be able to do mitigate the damage." "How they gonna do it?" asked Alex. "Lot of ways," Harry replied. "Accidents are best - you buy it in a wreck, two birds with one stone. Hard to engineer though. If they want you gone fast they may make you random crime victims - couple shot by home invaders. The main thing seems to be getting it done fast - they seem to see you as the weak link. They can - almost certainly are - covering stuff up as fast as they can but the stuff you filched is pretty incriminating. With you gone it's less damaging." "What should we do," asked Jessica. "Disappear? To where?" "My guy in Texas says there's a contract out on you. Farmed out - these guys don't normally get their hands dirty but they're apparently pretty desperate. That new hospital alone is worth over two hundred million a year - you add it all up it's a billion dollars or more. They want this to go away. I'm going to see if I can contact Carlisle - I don't know what good it will do but I may learn something. If the AG comes up with something - I doubt he will anytime soon - it might make the see the futility of trying to stop you. For now I'm keeping my guys close - you stay alert and don't take any chances. "Jennifer?" Jessica asked. Harry looked at the computer screen. "She's called a couple of times," Harry said. "I talked to her a while ago - asked her to sit tight a while longer. I don't want her attracting their attention." "They did kill her brother," said Jessica. "Yeah. I updated her, she's willing to wait and see what the law can do. I didn't warn her about possibly being disappointed - maybe they will come up with something." "I hope so," Jessica said. "I want it over but I want it over with them stopped." "It's gonna be weeks, months maybe," said Harry. "I'll stay on top of it with my sources, advise you of anything that looks bad. Meanwhile be careful and stay alert. Any sign of trouble, you even feel a little uneasy, hit the button on your radio. Mary Ann and I both sleep with our units and Jim's guys are monitoring theirs." "You be careful too," Jessica said. "They're almost certainly suspicious of you by now." "They're watching us now," Harry replied. "That gray Taurus across the street, alternating with a red Camry. They're trying to be subtle but I picked them up pretty quick. I should have a make on them in the next few hours - see whether they're locals or from out of town. If it begins to look seriously dangerous I have a couple of places they don't know about. You can hole up there until I get some action from the local law." "What can they do?" "This isn't on their radar," Harry replied. "But whether they're locals or imports I can put it there. Couple of guys I know." "What do we do meanwhile?" Jessica asked. "Watch your six," Harry replied. "Be aware of tails. They almost certainly know where you were living but may not know you've moved. Be alert for tails, maybe spend some time there to keep attention there. And keep your radios close - it's the quickest way to contact me or one of my guys. My guy in Texas says he expects to have some interesting new stuff in a day or two. If you can hole up somewhere for a few days... problem is where. "Your place down in Cross County," Jessica said. "You had a house there." "A couple. One Charlie is buying, I believe it needs a lot of work. I own the one on the old farm but it's rented out." "Do they know someone who can arrange a short-term rental?" "Probably," Alex repled. "I'll check with Sam and Charlie." |
|