Chapter 18
Jack convinced us it would be a good idea to get Henrik out for a bit. Giselle went along with it. We loaded into her white BMW SUV, and she drove us across town to the warehouse district.
She found a place to park close to the entrance.
We hopped out and assisted Henrik. He was getting around a little better now that more of the sedative had filtered out of his system.
He was surprisingly spry for his age. I figured the kidnappers had used propofol or some other fast-acting sedative that would process out quickly with minimal side effects.
The usual band of miscreants loitered out front, smoking cigarettes and drinking beer. The long-haired rockers wore skinny jeans and looked at Henrik with amusement.
“Never too old to rock ‘n’ roll,” one of them said as we approached. He high-fived JD, and we made introductions.
The guys couldn’t take their eyes off Giselle. She wasn’t the typical kind of girl you’d see around the practice studio. She didn't have raven hair, heavy eyeliner, and multiple piercings. She looked as wholesome as apple pie. Mouthwatering.
One of the miscreants handed Henrik a joint, and he took a toke before I had a chance to stop it. Weed was still illegal in the state for recreational purposes.
"What are you doing?" I asked, looking at him like he was insane.
“It’s good for the pressure in my eyes,” he said, handing the joint back to the miscreant.
What was I going to do, bust both of them? We had a non-interference policy around the warehouse. We didn't need to make enemies around here. JD and I were Special Crimes—and there was nothing special about someone smoking a joint.
I grabbed the door, and the entourage entered the dim hallway and shuffled down the corridor to the practice room.
Dizzy, Styxx, and Crash noodled around on their instruments. We introduced them to Henrik and Giselle. I handed our guests foam earplugs. "It gets pretty loud around here.”
The two plugged their ears and took a seat on the couch.
Jack did a brief vocal warm-up, then the band broke into Lipstick & Landmines. A wall of sound filled the room. The bass boomed and the kick drum thumped. It was loud enough to vibrate your insides.
Blazed out of his mind, Henrik had an ear-to-ear grin as the band rocked out a list of favorites.
Afterward, Jack treated everyone to dinner at the Five Fathoms. We chowed down on surf and turf and filled our bellies. Henrik had a serious case of the munchies.
We enjoyed appetizers and sipped on cocktails. Henrik entertained the table with stories from yesteryear. He came alive in a setting like this. With an eager audience, he held court. I don’t think he had enjoyed this much social interaction in years.
Chatter filled the restaurant, and the smell of delightful entrées wafted through the air—grilled meat, spices, sweet sauces, and sinful desserts.
After we finished our soups and salads, the waiter delivered piping hot entrées. Everything looked good. Everything at this restaurant was good.
"Well, well, well, would you look at that," JD said. He nudged my elbow and nodded across the dining room. "Isn’t that Emily's boyfriend, Ashton?"
In a booth against the far wall, Ashton sat across the table from a gorgeous brunette.
Her raven hair danced in waves past her shoulders.
Even at this distance, her stunning eyes captivated.
She batted her long lashes at him, and the two doted on each other.
This was more than a casual business meeting.
That was confirmed when he reached across the table and clasped her hand.
If I didn't know better, I'd say they had an ongoing relationship.
"What a douchebag," Jack muttered. "Think Emily has any clue?”
"I don't think she'd be the type to put up with it if she did."
It wasn't any of my business, and I knew from experience that people often shoot the messenger.
"Are you going to tell Emily?" JD asked.
"Not my circus." I paused. "Maybe there's a legitimate reason they are together. Maybe it's not how it looks."
Jack gave me a flat look. It was exactly how it looked.
I went back to my meal and cut into my tender and juicy steak. It was cooked to perfection. My taste buds exploded with happiness as I took a bite.
I couldn't help but glance over my shoulder from time to time to steal a look at the two to see how their date was progressing.
It wasn't long after that when they leaned across the table for a kiss. Their lips met for an instant, and they both smiled afterward. This wasn’t the first date.
You didn't need to be a detective to see that.
I tried to ignore it, but I felt bad for Emily.
“I don’t think I’ve seen him eat that much in years,” Giselle said after Henrik put down a 10-ounce filet, garlic mashed potatoes, and sautéed spinach. He had plenty of room left for dessert and demolished a tower of chocolate cake.
Henrik smiled, talked, and had a good time.
“I told you this would be good for him,” JD muttered. “Stay in a place like the Bed Sores, and even a healthy person might lose the will to live.”
Jack picked up the tab, and Giselle drove us back to the Avventura while the rest of the guys hit Oyster Avenue. She dropped us off at the dock.
“I’ve got an early flight out tomorrow. Are you sure you don’t mind doing this?”
“Not a problem,” I said.
“I’ll be back in two days. You know how to get in touch if you need anything. If I’m out of touch, I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.” She looked at Henrik in the back seat with Jack. “You behave for the deputies.“
He dismissed her admonition, then opened his door.
Jack hopped out and hustled around to help him.
I assured Giselle, “We’ll take good care of him.”
I climbed out, closed the door, and Giselle took off.
JD and I walked with Henrik down the dock.
“Now that she’s gone, let’s get this party started,“ he said.
JD and I chuckled.
“You’ve had a pretty full day,” I said. “I think we should ease into the party lifestyle.”
Henrik frowned at me.
We escorted him back to the boat and crossed the passerelle.
Buddy waited for us at the salon door with an eager grin. I slid open the door, knelt down, and petted the little guy. He was ready to stretch his legs, so I grabbed his leash and took him out for a walk.
It was a nice night. The moon glowed overhead, and clouds drifted on the breeze.
By the time I got back to the boat, JD and Henrik were at the bar, drinking.
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch,” Jack said, off my look. “Giselle said he could have a beer.”
“A beer. I don’t want him getting drunk and falling down the stairs.”
“I’m not going to fall down the stairs,” Henrik assured. He lifted his longneck and clinked with JD. “Prost!”
“Prost!” Jack replied.
It was the German cheers.
We sat around and chatted with Henrik about his escape, the war, and his work with the Americans. He was living history. There weren’t many firsthand accounts left. He’d certainly lived an interesting life.
At the end of the evening, we escorted him to a below-deck stateroom. He navigated the companionway without issue. I was a little concerned about him getting up and wandering around in the middle of the night, but he assured me he wouldn’t venture out.
“You’ve got a TV and a private en suite. Call me if you need anything during the night.” I had given him a burner. His cell phone was still at the Blissful Shores. Probably the best place for it, if it was being tracked.
“Is there anything I can get you right now?”
“No, thank you.”
JD and I left and returned to the main salon.
“You can’t encourage him,” I said in a hushed voice.
Jack’s face twisted dismissively. “Relax. The guy made it this far. He’s gonna be fine. Besides, he deserves to have a little fun. If I make it to his age, I hope I’m still having a good time. Otherwise, what’s the point?”
Horror movies used to creep me out as a kid. Now, the scariest thing on the planet was the possibility of growing old and incapacitated.
We called it an early night, and I climbed up to my stateroom and settled into bed.
I watched a little TV and caught the late news.
“Diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin are experiencing mysterious symptoms, including confusion, dizziness, nausea, headaches, and even hearing loss after being exposed to sonic disturbances. Echoing previous incidents in Havana and Guangzhou, China, authorities believe this may have been another directed energy or ultrasonic attack. Authorities are still investigating. All victims are expected to make a full recovery. In other news…”
I dozed off with the TV on.
In the morning, I got another dreaded call.