Chapter Ten The Boxes
Chapter Ten
The Boxes
Mikey’s nerves jangled when the burner phone rang. He didn’t want it to go to voicemail, but he didn’t want to answer it, either. He knew who it was, even though he still didn’t know his name.
“Yeah,” Mikey said.
“So. What do you have for me?” the mystery man asked.
Mikey could feel the venom in the man’s voice. He knew the man was not going to be pleased with his answer.
“There was nothing there.”
The man’s voice got louder. “What do you mean there was nothing there?”
“The place was empty.”
“Well, you better get on with business. I told you I have a deadline. Do I need to describe what a deadline is to you again?”
“No, sir.” Mikey was at a loss for words. He didn’t know how he was going to satisfy the man’s demands.
“You have one week,” the man scowled, and ended the call.
Mikey went into the back room of the shop. “Are you sure there wasn’t anything there?” he asked his brother again.
“Like I told you, man. There was nothing. Not even a speck of dust.”
Mikey was desperate. He either had to produce the fifty grand or carry out the items on that man’s to-do list.
“You said you found a launch area?”
Arlo snapped upright. “You gonna do it? Look for the treasure?”
“It’s worth a shot. What I don’t understand, my brother, is why hasn’t anyone found it yet?”
“Because they didn’t have the right map.” Arlo took the rolled-up paper and tapped his brother on the shoulder. “When?”
“Tomorrow. Sunrise.” Mikey deflated his lungs. It was a long shot. A very, very, long shot, but he had nothing to lose at this point.
Crusty, Charlie, and Hannah arrived at the Wainwrights’ at four on the dot. Each one was carrying an old banker’s box. Madison greeted them, and Lincoln relieved Hannah of her parcel.
“Thanks for doing this,” he said to the group.
“Are you kiddin’?” Hannah scoffed. “We’d do anything for Kirby. And his family.” She bobbed her head up and down.
“Right-o,” Charlie agreed.
Crusty added, “Yessiree.”
A few minutes later, Viggo and Diogo ambled up the stone walk and rang the bell. “Greetings!” Viggo held up a bushel of clams. “I hope you don’t mind,” he said, nodding toward his pooch.
“Not at all. That bushel is your entry ticket.” Lincoln bent over and gave the dog a vigorous rub. “Please. Come in. Everyone is here.” Lincoln walked toward the great room adjacent to the dining area. “Madison and Olivia are just finishing up their prep work.”
“I’ll bring this into the kitchen,” Viggo said. He spotted the women straightening out the countertop, and he beamed as he approached. “Good afternoon!”
“Good afternoon to you!” Madison beamed right back at him. “I see you’ve brought a bounty of mollusks.”
“Bivalve mollusks, to be exact. Where shall I put them?”
“In the fridge. I made room.” Olivia opened one of the French doors of the refrigerator. “That looks like there’s more than five dozen,” she remarked.
“Based on what everyone was saying, I decided to get a few more. Just in case.” He grinned while Olivia helped him transfer the goods. When they were finished, Olivia handed him half of a lemon.
“Thanks.” Viggo appreciated the gesture. It was true that lemons got rid of the smell of fish.
“Can I fix you something to drink?” Madison asked.
“Beer?” Viggo replied.
“We only have Budweiser,” she teased.
“I guess I’ll die of thirst,” Viggo quipped.
Olivia chuckled, recalling the conversation about beer and wine snobs. “We actually have several brands. Blue Moon, Peroni, and Corona.”
“I’ll take a Peroni, please.”
Madison reached into the freezer, pulled out a frosted mug, and handed it to him. “The beer is in the beverage cooler.” She nodded to the smaller appliance under the counter.
“Thank you.” Viggo was all smiles. He reached for the bottle opener that was magnetically attached to the cooler.
“I think I’ll join you,” Madison said, and poured herself a Blue Moon. Olivia opted for some wine.
The three of them went into the large room where everyone was gathered. Three boxes sat on top of the coffee table. “Where shall we start?” Lincoln asked.
“They’re not marked,” Crusty noted.
“Let’s work in teams,” Madison suggested, at which point the doorbell rang. “Oh, I almost forgot. Excuse me.”
It was Chief Burton. Viggo walked over to the front entrance behind Madison. He assumed it should be a private conversation among the three of them. Madison led them to the lower level, where they could discuss Viggo’s idea.
Olivia took the reins. “Since you know Kirby best, let’s pair up so one of you will work with one of us.”
Hannah moved next to Olivia. Charlie went over to Lincoln. Crusty offered to begin on his own until Madison returned. Olivia recommended they sort the paperwork into personal, business, and miscellaneous.
Downstairs, Madison, Burton, and Viggo huddled. Viggo began the conversation.
“Rob needs to see if Arlo’s boot matches the prints they found at the boat house and at Pauline’s.”
“Okaaay …” Madison said curiously.
“I told Rob about your shoe ritual in the city.”
Madison folded her arms. “You want Chief Burton to think I’m neurotic, eh?”
“Not at all. I completely understand your logic, which is why I think we might be able to pull this off,” Viggo replied.
Chief Burton stepped in. “We would like you to ask Arlo to take a look at an artifact you have, to see if it’s worth anything.”
“But I don’t have an artifact,” Madison said, a confused expression on her face.
“We will provide you with one,” Burton answered. “All we need is for you to invite him here, ask that he remove his boots, and bring him to the lower patio.”
Madison cocked her head. “And then?”
“And then one of the members of the county forensic teams will scrape the bottom of his boot and make a print.”
“Isn’t that entrapment?” Madison asked.
“Not if he leaves them outside your door.”
“I’m a bit confused.”
“We need a lead. If we can match the print and any particles, then we can investigate further. Right now, we don’t know the why or the who. But if we can ascertain who the who is, perhaps we can discover the why.”
“I see.” Madison was beginning to understand the logic. “So you think the incidents are connected?”
“Correct. But I also think there is something else driving this. Everyone in our small circle is confident that the Farrells are involved somehow. Arlo and Mikey aren’t geniuses, so there has to be more to it than stealing a map.
And they broke into Pauline’s after the map was taken. Plus, they’re deep in debt.”
Viggo added his thoughts. “There must be something else they’re after.”
Madison caught her breath. “The boxes?”
“Perhaps there is something in those boxes they are desperate to find,” Burton responded.
“We’re going through them right now,” Madison said.
“Good. Hopefully, something will materialize,” Burton replied. “Meanwhile, are you game for our game?”
“I’m all in,” Madison said with determination. “When?”
“Give me a couple of days to get the forensic technician’s schedule.
As soon as we can schedule it, I’ll borrow something from the museum and bring it over to you.
At that point, you call the Farrells’ shop, ask for Arlo, and make an appointment.
When he gets here, you explain your quirk about shoes in the house and make him take his boots off on the front patio. ”
“I’ll leave a pair of Lincoln’s shoes and my shoes outside to make it more credible,” Madison offered.
Viggo chuckled. “Has anyone ever suggested you have a criminal mind?”
“I told you. I’m in witness protection.” Madison raised her eyebrows, as did Burton. “Kidding,” she said, after she saw the look on his face. “Question: what if Mikey comes instead?”
“When we have a date and time, I’ll send someone over to the shop to distract him, so Arlo would be the only one to keep the appointment.”
“Chief, you also have a criminal mind!” Madison said.
“Lots and lots of experience,” he said, and snickered. “Thanks for doing this, Madison.”
“Anything for Uncle Kirby. I have to say, he’s been a key player in enhancing our lives.”
Viggo secretly hoped she was including him in the enhancement part.
“Great. I’ll be in touch. Let me know if you uncover anything you think might be relevant,” Burton added.
“We’re going to have to depend on Charlie, Crusty, and Hannah for context.”
“And me as well,” Viggo offered. “I saw Kirby almost every day since I moved here.”
Madison looked at Viggo. She felt her face and eyes go soft. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
“My pleasure,” Viggo responded.
Burton could sense something bubbling between Viggo and Madison.
After their short conversation earlier, Burton was now convinced his instincts were correct.
He had often observed them together, but today was different.
He could actually feel the vibrations coming off them.
It wasn’t simply the sexual tension. It was bigger than that.
Mutual respect. Adoration. Add a dose of dopamine, and you’ve got a great recipe for passion.
He just hoped they would declare themselves a couple so everyone could stop speculating.
“I’ll be in touch.” Burton smiled and made his way to the upper level, where the others were sitting among piles of papers.
Everyone called out their goodbyes, see-yas, and so longs to the chief.
Madison walked over to where Crusty was spreading out brown envelopes on the floor. He looked up at her.
“These look like old bank statements.”
Madison glanced at the piles. There had to be over a hundred of them.
“Like, I mean, really, really old.” Crusty whistled through his teeth.
“Go to the first one, then the second. See if there are any similarities. Names of vendors, that sort of thing.” Madison knew this could become an enormous endeavor. “If there’s a repetition, then look for that in other statements. See if there’s a pattern.”
“Gotcha.” Crusty sifted through the papers.
Olivia opened one of the brown envelopes in her box. It was full of greeting cards.
“Aw. Look at this.” She handed a few to Madison and Lincoln. “He saved all the birthday cards you sent him.”