Chapter 12 #4
She thought maybe her gut was just wrong, until an hour later, when a third story appeared on a later broadcast. By that time, the three incidents were on record.
Frankie added the third location to the app.
She got up and went to her desk where she’d left the crumpled piece of paper.
She drew a triangle connecting the three locations.
Then, bingo . The address was right in the middle of the triangle.
Should she call the police? They’d never follow up unless there was some concrete evidence.
They didn’t have time for a wild, unruly Santa chase.
She sent Nina a text:
What are you doing tomorrow night?
Nina replied:
No plans. What’s up?
Frankie:
I’ll give you a buzz in a few.
Nina sent a thumbs-up as a reply.
Frankie filled in Nina about everything that transpired and her plan to check out the clue she found in the glove.
It didn’t take much convincing for Nina to be on board, and the two agreed that they would meet tomorrow night after Frankie wrapped up work.
Just after she ended the call, Frankie realized that she would have to make an excuse as to why she would be out tomorrow night.
Not that she owed Giovanni an explanation, nor would he demand one, but she didn’t want to give him a reason to worry. She sent another text to Nina:
If anyone asks, we went to listen to a new band downtown. Or a string quartet.
Nina:
Ok. But who?
Frankie:
Make something up. You’re the writer.
Nina:
The Vienna String Ensemble at the Morgan Library.
Frankie:
Perfect. I’ll find some string ensemble music to listen to.
Francesca didn’t want to lie to Giovanni, but she knew he would not stand for her putting herself in a vulnerable situation, even though she had no intention of confronting anyone. It was just a little stakeout. She loved solving mysteries.
Kathryn pulled the rig onto the Pinewood property. Myra and Annie were waiting near the barn.
“Now that looks more normal to me,” Annie said, and nodded to the cab of the truck.
Kathryn jumped out. “Good morning, ladies.”
“Good morning to you. Such a beautiful, crisp autumn day,” Myra said, fiddling with her pearls. Something didn’t feel right. “Kathryn, I know you know exactly what you are doing, but I’m getting a little tingly.”
Annie grimaced and turned her head toward Myra. “You okay?”
“Fine, but I just worry about my Sisters, I suppose.”
“Myra, I’ve been doing this for years now. Hundreds of thousands of miles have passed beneath my wheels. I’ve checked over the rig. All is in good working order. Not to worry.” Kathryn placed her long, strong arms around Myra’s shoulders. “Let’s get this baby loaded.”
Kathryn gave the rear panel a push, and it rolled upwards. Then she lowered the mechanical lift gate. Annie powered up the forklift and began steering the machine with the big, long, steel metal forks. Myra held her breath.
Ever since the barn renovation, and the restored forklift, Annie had practiced driving and managing the monster truck.
Fast cars and heavy machinery. Go figure for someone who is a countess , Myra thought to herself and smiled.
That was her longest, dearest, and “bestest” friend commandeering the beast.
Annie managed to get the forks under one of the pallets but couldn’t coordinate the hydraulic lift well enough.
Kathryn walked over and jerked her thumb. “Off, lady. We don’t have all day,” she said, grinning.
Within twenty minutes, Kathryn had all the pallets neatly piled and secured. She rolled down the door, pushed the lift-gate button, and then jumped off the short ladder. “Ready to roll!”
Myra clapped her hands. “This is exciting. Thanks for doing this, Kathryn.”
“Are you kidding? Anything for you guys!” She flung her big arms around the two women.
“Where are you parking your rig?” Annie asked.
“I’ll drop the trailer at the distro center, drive the rig to the lot where I reserved a space, and then walk to my buddy’s condo. It’s a few blocks away. Easy-peasy,” Kathryn explained. “I’ll give you a holler once I get to Jersey.”
“Sounds good! Safe travels!” Myra said, and waved.
Several hours later, Kathryn pulled the big rig into the distribution center, unhitched the trailer, and went into the office to turn in her paperwork.
“Hey, G. How ya doing?”
“Kathryn Lucas. The best-looking truck driver this side of the Mississippi.” George extended his callused hand.
“What about the other side of the Mississippi?” Kathryn laughed as she clasped the man’s hardened grip.
“Ain’t never been,” he said, and returned a wide smile exposing several gold teeth.
“Really? I’m surprised,” Kathryn said as she filled out the forms.
“Yeah. My wife didn’t like me being out on the road for too many days, so I kept my runs to less than two nights,” he explained. “Did get to see a lot of the East Coast, and some of the Midwest.”
“Too bad you missed the Pacific Northwest. It’s spectacular.”
“Yeah. I seen videos,” George answered. “So, what ya got in there?” he asked, pointing his pen toward the trailer.
“Toys for Tots,” Kathryn replied. “It’s for a benefit a friend of a friend is putting together. They’re bringing in a bunch of kids from local orphanages and throwing them a holiday party.”
George leaned past Kathryn to get a better look at the trailer. “That thing filled with toys?”
“Yep! And funny socks,” Kathryn said, then signed her name to the forms and handed George the clipboard.
“Now ain’t that grand? Who collected all them toys?”
“My friends Myra Rutledge, queen of confectionaries, and Annie De Silva—Countess De Silva, I should say. They hit up everyone they knew at the manufacturing companies, and Mattel was not going to be outdone by Hasbro!” Kathryn hooted. “Those two women are supreme negotiators.”
“Maybe we should send them to Washington!” George snickered.
“These women get things done. They could never tolerate politics,” Kathryn said, and chuckled.
George nodded. “I hear ya. Well, it was good of them to go on a mission like this.”
Kathryn bit the inside of her lip. If he only knew what kind of missions the Sisters had managed to pull off over the years .
“They are quite a team,” Kathryn said, and changed the subject.
“I’ll be taking my rig to the lot and leaving it there for two days.
I’ll be back tomorrow with two other drivers and three box trucks.
We’ve gotta get the toys to the New York Hilton on Sixth Avenue, so box trucks are the only way we can manage. ”
“Gotcha. What time do you think you’ll be here?”
“Is there ever a good time to try to make a delivery in Manhattan? Besides the middle of the night?”
“Not really. So why aren’t you doing it in the middle of the night?”
“Unions. They get triple overtime to work the loading dock at the hotel, and the hotel doesn’t want to shell out the money, and we don’t want to annoy the unions, either. This way it will be like a regular delivery.”
“Things are complicated these days,” George replied.
“Ain’t that the truth. We didn’t want to attempt getting a permit to bring the rig into the city, so this was the best option. We’ll get here around nine in the morning, after most of the morning rush is over.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it covered. I’ll be taking the rest of the week off after my shift today. Need to help the missus with decorating the house. Even with the kids grown and gone, she still wants lights along the roof.”
“It’s a nice tradition,” Kathryn said.
“Tell that to my back,” George laughed, and then grunted.
“Here’s a tip. Take Aleve or Extra Strength Tylenol before you go to bed. Chances are you’ll wake up feeling less like you got hit by a truck.”
“Well, we got plenty of them around.” George motioned to the lot outside which was filled with trailers. “It’s the holidays for sure.”
“Indeed. I better get a move on. Have a great holiday if I don’t see you.”
“You do the same, Kathryn. Nice to see you.” George gave her a two-finger salute.
Kathryn started her engine and pulled out of the distribution hub, then made her way toward the lot where she was planning on parking her cab for the next two nights.
When she arrived, it was more paperwork and a deposit on the space.
“See you in two days,” she said to the young man behind the desk.
Kathryn walked the seven blocks to her friend’s condominium at Harbor Pointe. She announced herself to the doorman, who handed her an envelope with the keys.
It was a new complex with spacious floor plans, a clubhouse, fitness center, and pool.
Her road-traveling pal, Jerry, bought the two-bedroom unit as soon as it opened.
A place the same size with the same amenities would easily cost four times as much in Manhattan.
Maybe more. He figured he was close enough to the lot where he could park his rig, and close enough to the ferry to get into the city if he wanted to.
It was less than an hour ride to Midtown Manhattan.
It was convenient and quiet. Everything a weary road warrior would want after a long haul.
Kathryn turned the dead bolt, entered the brightly lit space, and let out a low whistle. “Wow. He wasn’t kidding. This place is fantastic!” She walked to the French doors that opened to a small balcony with a courtyard view. “Sure beats sleeping in the cab.”
She remembered she had to call Myra and let them know she had arrived. The first thing she asked was “How’s my boy?”
She was referring to her pooch, whom she’d left in the capable hands of Myra and Charles. This particular trip would be too much confusion for Murphy. Besides, he appreciated having lots of room to stretch out in front of a fireplace.