with the geeks; they don’t sleep. I have some good news and some bad news. First, your credit is shot. Somebody messed with your credit cards, your credit rating, and your bank accounts. Your finances are a mess and it’ll be a major headache to get it all fixed.”
“They got everything?”
“Yep, they pretty much wiped you out.”
“Well, what’s the good news? There wasn’t that much money. They assumed my debt too?”
“No, what I told you was the good news.”
“Great.”
“And we found where the Gov ditched the truck and the phone.”
Ross yawned. “Sorry, I’m not awake. Did you tell me the bad news yet?”
“Junior, this guy didn’t just come across you on the road. He followed you from somewhere. Where were you coming from? Who knew where you were going to be or where you were going?”
“I worked out at the gym in the morning with Sandy.”
“And?”
“And nothing. I had some follow up questions for her and this morning was a good time for them. She’s been a little stressed out so I thought if she felt comfortable talking to me at the gym I should take advantage of it.”
Jack shook his head. “And you wanted to see her again and seeing her in her gym clothes was a bonus.”
Ross didn’t argue. “That’s about right.”
There was silence on the line and then Ross yawned again. “Junior, stay with me a little while longer and then you can get some sleep,” Jack said. “OK. Somebody either followed you or knew where you were going to be. You went straight to the gym this morning?”
“Yeah. Got up. Went to the gym to meet Sandy and work out.”
“You didn’t see anybody follow you. What do you remember?”
Ross took a deep breath. “I talked with Sandy while we worked out. Didn’t learn much. I left the gym. Decided to take the scenic route back by Lake Calhoun, the phone rings and boom, I’m here.” He yawned again.
“Well, I told you we found the truck. It was parked behind Sandy’s apartment building. I don’t think it’s a coincidence.”
“You think she’s involved?”
“Yes, look at the facts. She worked at the bank, you worked out with her and got attacked, and we found the truck behind her apartment. What do your investigative skills tell you from that?”
“Oh man, Jack. Just a second.”
Jack listened to the silence.
“Since we don’t know who the Governor is, I guess I need to start with Sandy. See what she can tell us.” Ross took a deep breath and puffed it out. “I have her number in my phone.”
“I called her and it went straight to voicemail. Her phone’s off. We can’t geotrack her.” Jack paused. “She’s working tonight. I was thinking, if you’re up to it, we should go visit her.”
“Working? There’s a bank open?” Ross asked.
“Um, no. She’s got a second job.”
“What is it?”
“Junior, she’s a stripper, or exotic dancer. She works at Sheiks.”
“What?” Ross asked. “No way.”
“We’re at her building. We found the truck that hit you parked in back with the Governor’s phone under the seat. The super for her building said that’s what she does and she’s working tonight.”
There was silence on the phone.
“Junior, you still there?” Jack asked.
“Yeah. When are we going?”
“I’m going back to the lab with the truck and phone to see what we can learn. Then I have a dinner date with my wife. I can’t miss it. I’ll pick you up after that. Get some rest.”
“Anything?” Jack asked.
Two men and a woman dressed in white coveralls were examining the vehicle inside and out.
“Nothing so far. Looks like he wore gloves. No fingerprints on the door handle or steering wheel or keys. We’ve swabbed the windshield and steering wheel for DNA in case he sneezed on them.”
Sure Thing walked over to join them. “Nothing on the phone, Jack. It’s a throw away. Made a couple of calls.”
“He left it there to taunt us,” Jack said. “He could’ve just as easily taken it with him. The only reason he left it was so we’d find the vehicle. He’s feeling pretty superior right now.”
Jack and Sure Thing stood in the garage, looking at the side of the truck with its scratches and dents. “Any ideas?” Jack asked.
“Nothing comes to mind, but we’ll keep working.”
“If Sandy’s phone comes on, locate it and call me. I’ll be having dinner with my wife.”
Chapter 22
The doors of the lock and damn opened and six larger boats and two kayaks slowly exited single-file, traveling south down the Mississippi, bypassing the impassable concrete apron and falls that made this part of the river famous. The people on the stone arch bridge watching the process waved to the people in the boats below before continuing on their walks across the bridge. Everyone was enjoying the break from the rain.
“Well, what do you think? Can’t you see yourself living here, close to work, low maintenance, and impressive architecture, one of the places to live in the Twin Cities?” The Governor asked. The balcony of the condominium offered a great view of the river. At this time of day, there were shadow outlines of the buildings across the ground, extending across the river as the sun traveled across the sky to the west.
“It’s nice. I thought it’d be noisier.”
“We’re too high. Once in a while you hear the locks bell ring or a tug horn signaling, but all the other sounds pretty much stay down below.” The Governor pulled a leather case from the inside breast pocket of his jacket and removed two cigars. He handed the cigar and cutter to the man leaning on the balcony railing. “Here, try one of these. I think you’ll like it.”
The man pulled the cigar along his upper lip, below his nose, and smelled it. “Nice.” He snipped the end of the cigar and put the freshly cut end in his mouth like a lollipop, wetting the rolled leaves prepping for a light. “Tastes good too.”
The Governor struck a wooden match on the side of the matchbox in his hand and held the flame under the end as the man rolled the cigar between his fingers for an even burn. The man inhaled and exhaled a few times until the end glowed, the smoke rolling around above their heads before the breeze carried it out towards the river.
Leaning against the railing, the Governor lit his own cigar. “Listen, James. You can’t afford not to buy this place. The view is great. Besides the location, the elegance, the area, the history, it’s a great investment. Development will be going on all around you. You’ll be one of the first ones in. Stay here two years. You don’t like it, sell it. You’ll make a killing.”
James laughed. “Hey, I think this is great.” He swung the cigar in his hand from the condominium balcony windows out towards St. Anthony across the river. “I’d love to live here. But, what did the sign downstairs say, from two hundred fifty thousand to a million? I’m sure this place isn’t at the lower end.”
“It’s not at the upper end either. You can afford it.” The Governor sat in one of the chairs on the balcony. “What’s this talk about money? You work at the Fed. You just walk in and print yourself up some money, right?”
“Right. I just walk in and say, I’ll take a million today, Charlie.” James joined the Governor and sat in the other chair on the balcony. “It’s amazing. Millions of dollars flying around on wires from this bank to that, but what
