Bonnie Shay, Henry Higgins and I ran through a series of tunnels..I suspected they might lead us to the surface...
I had quelled an attempt by Roach and his gang to capture us...but I knew that was only temporary...He'd be back...with more guys...maybe with more firepower, and maybe with night goggles....
We were out numbered, possibly out gunned...and Henry Higgins had fractured ribs and was still bleeding profusely...
''Wait, wait...I have to stop...I have to lay down.." he said, breathing heavily...
''Don't let him go to sleep Bonnie..Keep him awake..If he has a possible concussion ,sleep could be fatal.."I said..
Bonnie went in her purse...She took out a hankerchief...she tried to dab some of the blood...
''What kind of brute would beat another human being like this?" she asked.
"Roach would...He's already killed two people...He's so violent the loan sharks don't want to do business with him...He has beaten their clients too badly...to the point where they couldn't pay.." I said..
"So you and him have history?" said Bonnie..
''A long history... We both used to box out of the old Police Athletic Club....I beat him in a preliminary Middleweight bout....He never got over it and he's never liked me since..We were teenagers then....Another time we mixed it up...was years later , he beat a guy I knew within one inch of his life...The guy owed a gambler some money...Even the gambler didn't want the guy beat that bad...I went after him, but what saved him..He was connected to some very powerful gangsters.. My friend, Walter "Kool Kat "Jones interceded on my behalf..."
I said.. ''But the bad blood between me and Roach remains...I haven't seen him in years...The minute I saw him with that Vern Monroe guy...I knew something shady was up....plus I saw dried blood on the floor...No doubt Mr. Higgins..."I said.
''Ahhhh Mr. Jones..I sure wish he were here now..We could use him.."said Bonnie.
"Yeah, you're right...And when he finds out about this..He's going to give me an ear full...What did I tell you about going out on them streets without me.."I said and laughed..
"You two have history too." said Bonnie..
"Oh yeah...We've known each other since we were 7 or 8....We both boxed out of the PAL club...Both graduated from the same high school..."I said..
"You went in the service...." said Bonnie..
"Yeah, Marines...I got my bachelors degree while in the service and then went to OTC at Annapolis..from there I wound up in the NCIS....I also won the Armed Services Middleweight title in between all that...."I said...
''So when you left the service what did you do?" asked Bonnie.
"I used the G.I. Bill to get my masters..At Temple....and I began working as the Editor of the Magazine ,I bought and turned into a Communications /Media company....If you're wondering about how I got involved in this cloak and dagger stuff...That was a hobby...I met my wife and I helped her solve a case.. and I got good at this...So I got my P.I. license..and now so many cases later..I got an agency..."I said.
''And you hooked up with Mr. Jones again?"she said.
''Yeah, he had lost his way for awhile...He was at one time one of the most feared enforcer's on the street...I convinced him to seek a higher calling when we met up again...That and the fact that hit the lotto for several millions of dollars, which he has in an off shore account also convinced him to walk the straight and narrow.. He's a very valuable asset to my agency... I wish I could call him now.."I said.
''Well we just got to work with what we have...You and me.." said Bonnie.
"You and I always seem to get into these dire situations."I said.
"I know right?" she said..
We both laughed..
II-
Unknown to me and Bonnie...
Sepia was several feet above and across the street talking to Vern Monroe..
''So my husband hasn't been here?" she asked..
"Noooooo..I'm surprised...You say you haven't heard from him in four hours? Oh My?"said Vern Monroe..
''What about Mrs. Bonnie Shay from the Cyclops Insurance?? She came out here today..."said Sepia.
"Nooooo, Haven't seen either one of them...Maybe they got lost..." he said...
"Oh and I'm sorry Mrs. Morris.. I meant to call you and tell you that I have found another realtor who made me a more lucrative offer...I should have called you last week before I went away on business." said Vern Monroe..
Sepia smiled..
"Why don't you cut the crap?....You're not Henry Higgins.. I've not only talked to him on the phone, I've met him once or twice.. and my husband told me he was coming over here...He didn't get lost,I put the instructions in the GPS..Plus I saw his car and Bonnie Shay's car parked down the street...Now where is my husband and Bonnie Shay?" asked Sepia..
Vern Monroe smiled...
"I really wished you had kept what you know to yourself...because see....Now I can't allow you to leave." he said softly...
"ALLOW ME TO LEAVE? YOU CAN'T STOP ME!!!.."said Sepia..
"I CAN!" came the voice of Roach who stuck a pistol in Sepia's ribs...
Sepia elbowed him in the nose..
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUFF!" he moaned...and dropped his pistol...
She then stomped on his foot...
"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he moaned ..He fell to the floor in pain....
She pulled out her .22
"I'm going to the cops...If I were you two...I wouldn't be here when I come back..."
she said and ran out of the building, jumped in the car and pulled off.
Vernon Monroe looked at Roach who was getting up off the floor....He just shook his head...
"DON'T SAY A GOTDAMN THING!" said Roach..."Who you callin?" he said.
Vernon Monroe looked at him and smiled..
"Our guy at the police department..Mrs. Morris will be back here soon enough..." he said and shook his head...This time he didn't hide the fact that he was laughing..
III-
Sepia drove to the Bayside Police Department... It was situated in a series of buildings that looked like apartments...She remembered it from the last time she had been here with Bonita..years ago...If you didn't know where you were going you could easily miss it...Boy she missed Philadelphia..She was ready to go home.
When she walked in she was met by a handsome, brown skinned , curly haired detective....If she didn't know right...It was almost as if he was waiting for her..
"Well I'lll be..it isn't everyday that a fine woman like you walks in here..." he said, smiling at Sepia salaciously and checking her out..."
''Save it playboy...I'm married...I need to see the Desk Sgt or somebody..." she said.
He smiled...She had to admit...He was cute...
"The desk Sgt is at lunch, but I'm a Detective...I think I can help you..."
"You've got to hurry...My husband and my friend are missing...They came out here to inspect the Higgins place...Four hours ago and I haven't heard from them since..." said Sepia..
"You think they might have gotten lost? maybe they stopped and got a drink.." he said..
"They did not...They didn't come out here together...They both came at seperate times and both are missing." she said.
"Welll it's only been a few hours I wouldn't call that missing...They might be back in Philadelphia by now.." he said.
"How'd you know we were from Philly? I never mentioned where we were from?" said Sepia.
"You got Philly written all over you...That swag...that attitude....Plus I know everybody around here.. and that body you got on you is definitely not from around here.." he said.
"Look would you please help me...One of the men there tried to pretend he was Mr. Higgins...I'm a realtor..I know Mr. Higgins and he's been missing for a week..I don't my husband and my friend to be the next people missing or worse...................dead.....Please help me,Let's go back before those two leave.." said Sepia.
"The Higgins place eh? That sounds like Vern Monroe and Roachy....Come on get in the car..We are going back.." he said..
"Thank you.." said Sepia.
"Oh...The name is Starks...Detective Anthony Starks and your name ,Pretty Lady?" he asked.
"It's Sepia..Mrs. Sepia Morris.." said Sepia.
He laughed as they got into his car.
IV-
While Sepia and Detective Starks headed back to the Higgins place...
Bonnie Shay and I found a small room down there in the tunnel..
"Look...a bed!" said Bonnie,.
"And a refrigerator....and it's on and full..."I marveled..
The refrigerator was surprisingly plugged into a wall socket...Inside was Ham, Cheese, A loaf of bread, Eggs, Bacon and sausage....
"Look, there's a hot plate and a sink with running water.." said Bonnie, who ran some cold water...She found a towel and she used it to wash the blood off of Harry Higgins....The cool water and the towel was soothing to him....He laid down ...She propped his head up on the pillow.."
" Feel better now?"she asked..
''Oh yeah...Oh yeah, thank you Bonnie." said Henry Higgins.
"If I can find a way out of here...We can get him to a hospital and get the cops before Monroe and Roach and their motley crew finds us....I think we are safe from there here.." I said..
"BUT NOT SAFE FROM ME!!! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU PEOPLE?" came the voice of a bearded and stringy haired white man who resembled Charles Manson...
We had gone from one situation to another!!!
This was turning out to be one hell of a day..
V-
While many floors above , Sepia and Detective Starks were approaching the Bed and Breakfast....
Sepia pulled out her .22...
Detective Styles smiled..
"You won't need that....I'm here.." he said..
"Aren't you going to call for back up?" she asked..
"For what? I know these two..." he said..
To Sepia's surprise...Vern Monroe opened the front door..
''Well Tony ,how are you doing?" he asked..
"You gonna let me in Vern?" asked Detective Starks..
''Sure, Sure.."he said.
''I want to know where my husband is, Ms. Bonnie Shay and the body of Henry Higgins.." demanded Sepia..
Vern Monroe shrugged his shoulders...
"The Body of Henry Higgins? He's very much alive as is your husband and Mrs. Shay...All three of them are across the street in that building somewhere." he said.
Sepia was relieved somewhat...A part of her was thinking the worst...That one or all of us was dead..she would later tell me.
"That place doesn't look like it's open.." said Sepia, glaring out the window...
"Oh it's not...Your husband, Mrs. Shay and Mr .Higgins all ran over there and are probably in the sub-basement....We are just waiting for them to come out.." said Vern Monroe..
''What do you mean we?" said Sepia, who went for the gun in her purse...
Avril "Roach" Dayd pulled out his .45 and pointed it at her..
"I wouldn't do that sugar britches...My Gun is a lot bigger than yours...Get cute this time and I will kill you...You can make bank on that!!" he said.
"I told you , you wouldn't need your gun." said Detective Styles , who took her purse away from her..
"You!!!! You're in on this too?" said Sepia..
"I'm afraid I am.." he said, smiling..His Glock Nine pointing at her head.." Now don't do anything stupid Mrs. Morris...You're too pretty a woman for me to have to kill.." he said.
"He's my nephew..."said Vern Monroe... "I'm so proud of him...The strides he's made on the police force.."he said and busted out laughing...
There is a saying...It always looks darkest before the dawn....Well it sure was dark right now!
Bonnie Shay and I found a basement and an entrance to a sub -basement... Where we were hiding from five very dangerous men....We had now run up on the missing Henry Higgins, who I had come to check on...I had no idea it was going to lead to this... I had my .38 smokeless on me and my ankle case, which held a .22
We heard some moaning....
"Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...come with me..." came a voice...
I turned around...and saw a man, a man who had been beaten bloody standing in a doorway..
"MISTER HIGGINS!"said Bonnie, who had actually met him...
"You're Henry Higgins?" I asked..
"Yes....I know Bonnie, but who are you ?" he asked..
"Me? I'm Kevin Morris...My wife is Sepia Morris, one of the two realtors who you optioned for your property..."I said.
He remembered...
"You're Sepia's husband....She told me you are a private investigator..."he said..
''I take it you got caught on the wrong side of Roach's fists huh?" I said..
''You know him? That rotten piece of crap..."he spat..
"I know him....What does he want with you?" I asked..
"He wants that property....Not him....He and those three thugs are just muscle...His boss...Vern Monroe wants the property...Monroe is also a realtor... He made me an offer for this property..but your wife and her partner made me a better deal...This happens all the time in this business..."he said..
Bonnie helped him sit down...He grimaced in pain...
"You've got a fractured rib and possibly a concussion...We've got to get you to a doctor...Is there any other way out of here?" asked Bonnie.
"Not that I know of...all of these places have sub-basements though..." he groaned..
''I know this happens a lot in business...Sepia and Bonita have been out bid before...What makes this different? Why is he so mad about being out bid? " I asked..
"He has heard about the wall safe, hidden in that place..." said Henry...
''Wall Safe?" I asked.
"A gang of bank robbers robbed a bank ten years ago...They stole close to 3 million dollars in cash, Not to mention the same gang hit a safe in midtown and stole a large amount of jewelry that is also in that safe..." he said..
''You knew about the safe?"asked Bonnie..
"No..Not at first...Not when I bought this place...Ten years ago....You see Monroe's younger brother was the previous owner...He told me about it before he died about five years ago....He said he was afraid of his brother, Vernon...He said he'd rather me have that loot...He was a fence and a shot caller...He put down scores...So does Vernon, allegedly..."He said..He looked at me..
"You look street wise, you know what I'm talking about?" he said..
''She does too..She was a Public Defender and an Assistant District Attorney in New York City..Plus she's from Philly.." I said and smiled at Bonnie..
He smiled weakly...
"An Attorney eh? You look more like a lawyer than an Insurance Investigator...Whatever turns you on huh?" he said and smiled, checking out Bonnie's curvaceous figure..
''Yes...Go on.."said Bonnie.
"Vernon Monroe's brother has since died...He sold that place to me...He was afraid of Vernon...He didn't trust him.The gang that robbed the bank all got killed in a shootout with the police..He felt that Vernon had dropped a dime on them... The Jewel thief is in prison on an unrelated matter..I believe he told Roach, who told Vernon about the safe and it's contents...Only they don't know where it is or the combonation...but they've been hounding me for about a year...Today they got physical...I decided to unload this place to someone else...Let it be their headache...but I didn't mean to endanger your wife and her partner and Mrs. Shay" said Henry Riggins..
"People like Vern Monroe and Roach don't just go away.Not when this much money is involved.." I said.
"They don't know where the safe is or the combonation..." said Henry Higgins.
"But you do don't you? And you were going to empty it before my wife and Mrs. Foxworth got the property weren't you?" I said.
"It's mine...I've sat on that money all this time..The bank insured it...They don't need it.."protested Henry Higgins..
"I don't care...I'm not a cop...You can have it for all I care..but I don't want those thugs giving my wife and Mrs. Foxworth or Mrs. Shay here any grief about it." I said.
'' The safe would have been empty by the time Mrs. Morris and Mrs. Foxworth got the property...Roach beat me up pretty badly....Monroe told me to contact your wife and her partner and call the deal off and sell the building to him...but I wouldn't do it..." he said.
"And so they uh leaned on you pretty hard huh?" I said..
''Yeah, but I managed to get away...Looks like when you two came a callin...They did the same thing.."he said..
''Indeed...I counted five of em, all armed...Any more?" I asked.
"Nah,that's it...but it's enough..."he said.
"I can't get any signal on my phone this far down...how bout you Bonnie?" I asked.
"No, me neither..." she said..
''What are we gonna do?" he asked.
I sighed...
"I'm afraid the next move is on them." I said.
II-
''Sepia, it's been four hours...you haven't heard from Kevin?" said Bonita..
"No and that's not like him..." said Sepia..
"Let me try his cell phone..." said Robert Foxworth....
The three of them were at my office, where I was supposed to meet them ,hours ago....
"I tried....I called both of his numbers...Can't get a signal..." said Sepia...
"That's odd, how about you bae?" said Bonita...
"Me neither...This isn't like Kevin....and it's been four hours...He was just supposed to go out there and see if the guy was there..."said Robert Foxworth...
Just then Attorney Ronnie Shay walked into the office...
"Heyy Sepia how you doin? I came here to find your husband..." he said..
"Seems everybody is looking for him....I haven't seen him for four hours..." said Sepia..
''Aww man,I could use his help right now..Maybe I'll come back.." said Ronnie..
''How's my girl Bonnie?" asked Sepia..
"That's why I'm here...She's missing...I wanted Kevin to run out to this bed and breakfast out in Bayside to find her..."he said..
'That's where Kevin is...Bonita and I were optioned to sell this Bed and Breakfast belonging to Henry Higgins out there in Bayside.."said Sepia..
"Henry Higgins? We have that place insured...We knew he was planning to sell...but we haven't been able to get in contact with him for about a week...He's blown off two meetings we had set up..Bonnie said she was going out there to see what was going on...and that was four or five hours ago..I haven't heard from her since! I called out there...A guy answered..He said Mr. Higgins was out of town on business and that he hadn't seen Bonnie." said Ronald Shay.
"That's weird....Kevin left around the same time...See I had been out there last week and the mail was piling up, so I mentioned it when we were all at lunch and he said he'd check it out and that was the last time I saw him."said Sepia..
"I'm worried Sepia...This doesn't sound right.." said Bonita..
"Let's go out there."said Robert Foxworth...
"No....Bonita...Could you and Robert pick up Kimberly for me, take her over your house? Ronnie, I need you to stay near a phone...either at your office or here..." said Sepia..
"You're going out there by yourself?" asked Ronnie..
"No..not by myself.. Me and my girlfriends...."said Sepia, smiling..
"I'm down.."said Bonita...
"You're my sister..Neets...but I'm talking about these girlfriends...SMITH AND WESSON." she said and pulled her .22 out of her purse...loaded it ,put the safety on and cocked it..
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..." said both Robert Foxworth and Ronald Shay....
Bonita laughed...
"I'm going to call you all when I get out there so you know where I am...After that...if you don't hear from me...call this number...Ask for Mr. Jones.." said Sepia...
''Shouldn't you call the police?" asked Robert Foxworth...
"If whoever has hurt my husband...I assure you....THE POLICE WILL BE CALLED!" said Sepia, who got in her car and pulled off...
III-
"I STILL SAY, BURN THIS JOINT DOWN WITH THEM IN IT!" screamed an Angry Avril "Roach" Rayd...
"And you'll bring the Fire Department and the Cops....They're in the sub basement...Get your men in there and find them..Kill them quietly and leave them down there for now...but don't kill Higgins, we need him alive." said Vern Monroe..
"AWWWWWWWWWWWWW Alright.." said Roach...."Come on Guys.." he said as he and his three goons went back in the house and searched it from top to bottom, from pillar to post...
"Look Boss...Look what I found.. The basement door!" said one...
''Good lookin out..Let's go! " said Roach...
Meanwhile...below in the sub-basement...
''You're in bad shape..We gotta get you out of here Higgins.."I said..
"Kevin's right..."said Bonnie...
"I only know one way out of here and those goons are probably in here searching....It won't be long before they discover this sub-basement..."He said.
"Maybe we can wait em out until nightfall and get out..."I said.
"They're not going to just go away...They'll be waiting for us..Or worse they might try to burn this place down..."said Bonnie...
"Maybe there is another way out of here...Look, a door..." I said..
I pryed open a heavy door that appeared to lead to the sewer and a series of underground tunnels...
"Oh good ...We have a way out..." said Bonnie...
Just then, we heard footsteps....
"They're down here....Take him through the door...I'll try to slow them down..." I said..
"Okay Kev, Come on Mr. Higgins.."said Bonnie, Who put one arm over her shoulder and helped him stumble through the door...
I hid in the dark and found some rope... I tied it at an exit...
One of the goons tripped and fell down..before he could do anything...I punched him in his stomach and then hit him with a upper cut that knocked him cold...I took his .45 which was loaded...
Another thug came running through....I fired at him, over his head...He returned the fire...I returned the fire and hit him in his shoulder.. "AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.." he moaned and fell down...
The third goon came in with his gun blazing...I was behind him..I fired two times , hitting him in the buttocks...
"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU...UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" he moaned and turned and ran for all he was worth in the opposite direction...The one I'd shot in the shoulder grabbed the one I'd knocked out and went running behind the other guy....
I was laughing, when I heard a gun click...
"Alright funny man...play times over..." came the voice of Roach....
I fired a well placed shot that knocked his gun out of his hand...
"Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeow!" he screamed....
"Is it..?" I asked .
"You and me Morris...We are gonna dance.." said Roach...
"I'm looking forward to that Mr. Roach!" I said and fired again...I just missed his head...He was startled..Two more shots his way let him know I wasn't playing...
He turned and ran for all he was worth....I fired one more time and just missed him, He ran faster..I laughed my head off!
Vern Monroe looked astounded as The three goons exited the building... He had heard the gun shots..
One had a shoulder wound...He leaped in his car and used his good arm and floored it... The one shot in the buttocks fell into the backseat of another car....The other one, who I beat up and disarmed got in the drivers seat of the same car and he too floored it...The three of them were bleeding profusely... Vern Monroe was astounded...He had heard the gunfire...
Roach walked out, angry and disgusted...
Vern Monroe asked him, trying hard to hide his laughter..
''What happened?"
Roach growled..
"Morris...He took one of my men's guns....He shot two of them and he jumped the other from behind..
Vern Monroe looked incredulous..
"I saw one of them..He looked like he got hit by a mack truck...So what about you tough guy?" he asked..
He shot at me...He.........He got my gun too...." said Roach...
Vern Monroe could tell he was embarrassed...He smiled and shook his head...
"I hate to tell you this, but uh your guys got in their cars and left...I don't think they're coming back..."he said drolly...
Now Roach was furious..
"WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY THOSE COWARDLY BASTARDS....THEY LET ONE GUY...ONE GUY SPOOK EM!" HE SHOUTED....
"From the looks of things... That one guy almost killed you too." said Vern..
"I'LL KILL HIM..I'LL KIll Him ,I'VE NEVER LIKED HIM ANYWAY!! I SWEAR I'LL KILL HIM!!" he screamed..
Vern Monroe smiled.
''Relax Killer, There may be a better way to get them out..." he said and pointed..
Sepia was getting out of her car and walking up the steps of the bed and breakfast...
''Who is that?" he asked.
Vern Monroe laughed..
"I'm guessing...that's one of the Realtors who made the deal with Higgins...She is probably Kevin Morris's wife..." he said.
"How do you know?" asked Roach...
Vern Monroe sighed..
"Her husband is missing, not the other woman's." he said..
