[B.S. #1] Tied Up in Knotts Page 15

  “Just great, I have a smart aleck friend and a brother that wants to play GI Joe. I can only hope that this mission goes smoothly. I don’t think I can handle having to look after both your butts,” James added.

  “I resent that, James. I can look after my own butt. Do you want me to start to reminisce about all the times I’ve saved your butt? I’m sure Chase would like to hear about them.” Clay just gave James one of his looks.

  “OK, but if you two are so chummy, you can look after his butt, too.” James stared right back.

  Avery had been looking back and forth between the men. Their words were growled at each other, but Avery could tell they were all close and the razzing between them was part of their bond.

  Breaking in, Avery held out her hand to Chase. “From that brief discussion between you and James, I take it you’re his brother. And I would like to introduce myself. My name is not ‘mine’. It’s Avery Knotts and I agree with Clay that you look like the smarter brother.” She grinned mischievously at James.

  Chase sat down and shook hand with Avery. “Nice to know you. How did you get yourself involved with this bunch? You look like a smart lady too, too smart to be with James.”

  James reached over and pulled Avery’s hand out of Chase’s, who had held it a little long in his opinion. Putting his arms around her back, he gentle pulled her to his side “You can only look, don’t get any ideas, you might be smarter, but I have the girl.” Satisfaction sounded in his voice

  “Why don’t you just pee on her, James, after a while we’ll all smell it and stay away. But looking at this lady, I don’t think she is just going to roll over and let you take over. After she gets to know me, well, you never know.” Chase sat back in his seat with a smug grin.

  Clay just laughed at both of them. “Are we still in high school? Chase, the duds really have to go. We can’t have you ruining our reputation.”

  “I have jeans and a jacket in my bag. I didn’t want to change until I knew what the mystery undercover mission was. I wanted to be prepared in case you need a savvy business man.” Chase now had a wide grin on his face.

  “We don’t need you and your fancy duds. If we needed a savvy business man, we didn’t have to look any farther than right here. James pointed at himself. “I clean up pretty good, If I do say so myself.” James was grinning back at Chase, holding back a laugh.

  “Yes, you do clean up good. But I’m the pretty one and you never know when you might need a distraction, Chase volleyed back

  “Boys, that’s enough!” Clay leaned forward in his seat, his elbows on his knees. “This is a serious mission. At least it started out as one, and if you two clowns can’t get it together, I will be pleased to take Avery with me and you and James can get off the plane.”

  “Too late, Clay, you’ll just have to put up with us. I’ll behave, but he should learn to share. He always was a greedy bastard.” Chase just settled in his seat and fastened his seatbelt as the plane taxied the runway for takeoff.

  James cuddled Avery closer. “And don’t forget it. I don’t share. I know a few places you can visit, if that’s what you’re into?”

  Avery just kept her head nestled in James’s neck and tried not to laugh at the barbs being thrown back and forth.

  Clay just looked at both of them. “I’ll try to make the best of it, but if either of you screw this up. I will hand both of your butts to you on a platter and I will also tell your dad.” Leaning back in his seat, Clay had a very satisfied look on his face at having the last word.

  The rest of the flight was spent with all the guys talking strategy. Chase was just as involved as the rest of them.

  When they arrived at a small Florida airport a black stretch limo was waiting for them.

  Clay looked at Chase. “This must be your doing?”

  “Well at least I’m now dressed the part,” said Chase looking down at his well-worn jeans and scuffed leather jacket as he led them to the limo. “But no one mentioned anything about how we’re arriving there. I like to ride in comfort—so sue me.”

  Avery, James, and the guys climbed into the back of the limo behind him. They had no choice, Chase trying to help had canceled their rides.

  “OK, you win this one, but we’ll have to get out at least two blocks before the bank. I don’t like the impression this gives. Five large men and one lady getting out of a limo in a small town might look strange. Don’t you think we will raise attention?”

  Angel, who had been mostly silent on the flight, only speaking when needed, spoke up. “We might need the distraction. I think we should go with it. People will be watching us no matter what we arrive in and this way, we can draw their attention to where we want it.”

  Arriving in the small town, they saw that Angel was right. It was so small it didn’t rate a dot on a map. No matter how they arrived, people would notice.

  Clay, Chase and the rest of the guys got out of the limo in front of the town’s one small four-story hotel. People stopped on the street and watched as the big muscular men walked into the hotel.

  Avery and James stayed in the car until they were around the corner and parked at a one of the big box stores that were moving in to all the areas now. The driver got out and made his way to a coffee shop located at the front.

  James and Avery waited another five minutes in the limo. Leaving it, they walked down the street toward the bank. Taking their time, looking in the shop windows along the way, people around them didn’t take any notice of the couple leisurely strolling down the sidewalk.

  Reaching the brownstone that housed the bank, Avery walked up the steps ahead of James. Stopping on the top step, she said, “Wait, how are we going to get in to the safely deposit box? I know we have a key, but the box is probably in Mom or Dad’s name. I didn’t bring any papers with me. I’m sorry James, it looks like a wasted trip.”

  James just took her arm and hurried her through the first of the bank’s double doors. Stopping between the two doors, before opening the second one into the bank, James leaned down and whispered in Avery’s ear. “Have faith in us. Grant was able to learn whose name the box was under. He found it. It’s in your name.”

  “But this is an old box. How could it be in my name?” Avery asked in a disbelieving voice.

  “Think back, Avery. Did your father not start you a youth bank account?” James was trying to be patient as he answered Avery’s questions. When all he wanted was to hurry her along and get back to the safety of the others.

  “He could have, I don’t remember.”

  “Well he did. Besides the safety deposit box, you are the proud owner of a bank account with $1,000.00 on deposit. Shall we proceed?” James opened the second door and ushered Avery through it and into the interior of the bank.

  Walking up to the customer service desk, Avery took out the key and asked to see the box. After the woman had checked the bank records she led James and Avery into a small room beside the vault at the back.

  Shortly, the woman walked in with the small box. Placing it on the one table in the windowless room, the woman gave them a strange look and left them alone.

  “I don’t like the look she just gave us. Carlos might have planted a snitch in the bank. I don’t know how he found out about this box. But I think we better hurry and get out of here.”

  Avery held the key with shaky hands and unlocked the box. Opening it, they found just a large brown envelope. Grabbing it, James shoved it in the front inside pocket of his jacket. “Let’s get out of here.” James was starting to get an uneasy feeling.

  Closing the box, James and Avery left the back room and walked as unobtrusively as they could to the front of the bank and out the double glass doors. Out on the sidewalk, instead of heading back to the limo, James steered her toward the hotel down the block, where they had left the others. Holding her elbow in a tight grip, he hurried her along.

  “Don’t you think we should head back to the limo? We might have people following us now,” Avery asked as she ru
shed to keep up with James wide stride.

  “I think we do, sweetheart, so that why we’re going to the hotel. We’re an easy target, just the two of us alone. When the entire unit is together, they will think twice about making a move. Hurry, Avery.” James spotted two men getting out of a black town car besides the bank that they had just left.

  Walking into the hotel, they found the guys sitting around a front table in the large dining room off to the side of the reception desk. Each had a drink in hand. They just looked like a bunch of guys having a good time, talking and laughing until you got closer, and looked into their eyes. None held laughter, all were busy scoping out the area, taking everything in, the other customers sitting in the dining room, even the slouched-over teen manning the front desk. Nothing would go unnoticed while these men were on duty. James led Avery around the other tables in the dining room until he reached the one closest to the front window where the guys were seated.

  Chase stood up and held a chair out for Avery besides him. “Sit beside me, sweet.”

  James gritting his teeth, he was caught taking a seat between Clay and Angel. He couldn’t swipe back at his brother, they wanted to be perceived as a happy group just passing through town.

  “How did you make out?” Clay asked after the waitress had delivered Avery and James drinks.

  “I think we should get out of here as soon as possible,” Avery told Clay before James could speak up. “I think we we’re being watched.”

  “You probably were. I just watch two men enter the hotel and they don’t look like natives of this town either, but we don’t want to leave now when they expect it. Let’s just enjoy our drinks.”

  “Angel, why don’t you check out the facilities?” But Clay was speaking to Angel’s back, he was already making his way to the hallway leading to the washrooms.

  Clay glanced quickly in James’s direction, his eyes never leaving the two men sitting at a table near the entrance “Was this trip worthwhile? Did you find anything in the box?”

  “Don’t know yet, we found a big brown envelope in it. James patted the breast pocket of his leather jacket. With all the strange looks we were getting at the bank, I thought it best to get out of there fast and didn’t take the time to open it. I hope it contains a clue to help us in our search.

  “By the way we are being watched now, I don’t think we’re the only ones that think the box held a clue.” James glanced over at the two men sitting in the dining room who seemed overly absorbed in the menu.

  Not wanting to look rushed, they sat for a while trying to enjoy their drinks. When James looked at his watch signaling that they had been there long enough, Chase pulled out his cell phone and called the limo driver to meet them at the front of the hotel.

  “Don’t you think that is a little obvious?” Avery asked, looking at Chase as he gave the driver instructions. Looking around, Avery added “And where’s Angel? He seems to be gone a long time. Do you think he’s in trouble? I didn’t see anyone follow him, but you never know.” Avery was starting to get jumpy the longer they sat there.

  “Angel’s fine, James answered, Avery. By him not returning to the table I know that there’s a back door out of this place. So here’s what we’re going to do. We will all start walking up to the front, and then split up. Clay, Chase and the others will continue on out to the limo.

  “Avery, you will stop and ask to use the restroom just as we reach the door and being the gentleman that I am, I will escort you. So, we will change direction and proceed in the direction of the restroom. Make sure that the men at the front table hear you ask, Avery. Do you think you can do that?”

  Avery looked around the table at the men. They all had serious expressions on their faces, even Chase. “Sure, I can do that.” Avery knew that the next couple of minutes would be dangerous for all of them and, while scared, didn’t want to let the guys down.

  Getting up in a group, they all headed for the front door. Just as they reached it, Avery spoke up. “Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me for a minute, I have to visit the ladies’ room.”

  James reached for her elbow. “I think I’ll do the same, as we have a long drive ahead of us. You all go ahead, we’ll be just be a minute.”

  James and Avery passed the table with the two men on their way to the restroom. Neither man moved until they were in the hallway leading to the washroom. Suddenly both men got up, one following the guys going out the front door with the other coming their way. Looking ahead, James spotted Angel with the back door open. He must have removed the alarm, because no sound was heard, even though the door was being held wide open.

  Pulling Avery along now, James hurried her out the door. Right outside the door was a black jeep running with the side door open. James gentle shoved Avery into the middle of the front seat and slid in beside her. Angel was already at the wheel and stomped his foot down on the gas pedal as soon as James’s door was closed. The man ran after the jeep for a ways, but Angel gunned the engine as they made the main street and he was soon lost from sight.

  “Where are we going?” Avery asked as she righted herself in the seat. James was already pulling the seatbelt around her. “We’re going the wrong way, the airport’s the other way.”

  Angel turned his head slightly still keeping his eyes on the road, as the big jeep was eating up the miles. “There’s another air strip near the next town. That’s where we’re going.”

  “What about the other guys? We just can’t leave them, the other man was following them. They might be in danger.”

  “I’m sure Clay and the others lost them or persuaded them to leave them alone. They will catch the original plane and meet us back in Detroit.” James kept an eye on the road behind them. No one was following them.

  Angel pulled off the paved road onto a gravel lane. He didn’t slow down, but the jeep seemed to handle it. Shortly, they were at a grass strip in the middle of nowhere. It seemed like a large farmer’s field, corn was growing all around, except for a strip in the middle for the runway. If someone didn’t know it was there, it was so well hid that they would have never find it. A small plane was running and waiting for them at one end of the strip. Stopping just shy of the wings, Angel opened his door and went around to help James with Avery. Minutes later the plane had taken off and they were safe. Avery hoped so, anyway.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  James, Angel and Avery arrived back at the apartment and walked in to find the others sitting around the living room having a drink. Chase was among them, drinking his best Scotch.

  “Hope you all made yourself comfortable and I hoped you left some Scotch for me?” Turning to his brother, he asked, “Did we adopt you? Why are you still here? Don’t you have an opera to go to?”

  “No, James, you took my last opera tickets. Don’t you remember? I’m not leaving until I find out what was so interesting in that bank safety deposit box.” Chase just leaned back on the couch and sipped at James’s Scotch.

  Avery, listening to their conversation, only picked up the last bit about the opera tickets. “They were your tickets? James told me he liked the opera. I’m sorry you missed it. It was great.”

  Chase started to reply to Avery but Clay butted in trying to get them back on track.

  “Can we discuss our leisure time later? Did you have a hard time getting away? We persuaded them not to follow us, well, Brad did, he easily picked off their front tires. Carlos is getting sloppy with his hired help.”

  “Let’s get to the interesting part. Where’s the envelope? Did you open it?” Chase was eager to see what it contained.

  “No, they didn’t look at it. They starting cuddling and both fell asleep almost as soon as the plane left the ground. So as soon as they were asleep, I took the envelope and opened it,” Angel told Chase.

  James reached into his pocket and patted the envelope. “I still have it.”

  “Come on, James, you were so comfortable smuggled with Avery. I just picked your pocket, be glad it was only me.”
Angel’s black eyes twinkled as he looked at James frown.

  James looked a little unbelieving at having his pocket picked so easily, he usually was so aware of his surroundings. He had never had anyone get the drop on him. “I had other things on my mind and knew you were watching, So, I felt safe and knew I didn’t have to keep my guard up. But don’t make a habit of it.” Pulling the envelope out of his pocket, James opened it and spilled its contents on the coffee table.

  Looking up at Angel pouring himself a drink from the half bottle of Scotch, James finally asked him if he was going to tell them what he discovered. Or, did they need to go through the contents.

  “Not much to tell yet, from what I could see. It contains some personal items that Avery would probably want. The one interesting item it contained was a small book with columns of numbers. I think some were latitude and longitude. My guess is that Avery’s father kept track of all Carlos’s operations. I really don’t know the extent of it, with the first quick glance, but I’m sure Grant can work his magic and decipher it. I think it was an insurance policy against Carlos.”

  Grant pushed his glasses up more securely on his nose, then leaned forward, grabbing the small book amongst the other items scattered on the table.

  Paging through the book, Grant looked up. “It looks like it has some kind of code written on some of its pages. Avery’s father knew what he was doing, looking at this.” Getting up, Grant strode to the door. “I’ll get on this right away. Thanks for the drink,” he said, closing the door behind him, his mind already wrapped up trying to solve the mystery the book contained

  Avery listened to their conversation with great interest from James’s lap. He had pulled her down with him, when he finally sat down. Wiggling, she pushed out of James’s lap and knelt on the floor, beside the coffee table. Picking up the items one by one spread on the table, Avery told the guys without thought, “One good thing I can say about my father is that he always very detailed in everything he did. He made sure Mom and I never lacked for anything important, I just wished that that he made his money like other parents.” The box held her birth certificate, her parents’ marriage certificate and a folded-up share certificate. “What’s this?” Avery asked, pulling the certificate from among the other items and holding it up.