Cabdriver Strikes Back (eBook)

MARCH 18, 2019

It really was a Monday. Jackie Willow was at Lee Alexander’s apartment. She was an early 30’s slightly built Caucasian woman with lots of darkish uncombed hair while Lee was about the same age, same race, about 5’9”, muscular, dark hair, thick black mustache along with a nasty scar on his face. They were living together about 3 or 4 days a week usually towards the weekend. They were at the stage of understanding each other habits, dietary desires, and dislikes, what to do in any free time and what things they disliked about each other but reached an acceptance over, even if it was just a minor issue like hygiene or music which no two people on earth agree on. It didn’t hurt that their hormones for each other was still intense or that their personalities meshed well together but on this Monday evening gloominess surrounded the small apartment. The mutual problem of lack of money presented itself. She was only getting 28 hours at the grocery store and his cab fares were down the last couple of weeks; him blaming it on the unusual beautiful March Midwest weather. It wasn’t over spending, it was lack of money to spend on fixed expenses that couldn’t be delayed, like two apartment rents, electric, and credit card payments due. Grocery prices had gone up, but one still had to eat didn’t they, and Lee’s used car still needed gas now and then. His car insurance was coming up and her bronchitis earlier in the month had set her back $175 along with lost pay. Lee’s car had a fuel pump go out on him so subtract $700 there. It was the first-time money had been discussed since they had been together for the last five months. It started when Jackie embarrassingly told him she was short $100 to pay the upcoming April 1 rent. It wasn’t exactly a plea for money, more of a complaint. He then went through his numbers and glumness of reality struck home.

‘I don’t know what to tell you. Unless business picks up, I’m running short myself. I…couldn’t fix that…fuel pump…myself. Can your sister loan you some money?’

‘I shouldn’t have gone to that clinic.’

‘You were really sick. I was afraid you got pneumonia.’

‘I could ask her but it’s complicated.’

‘How so?’

‘Her first husband is the co-signer of the lease. That was years ago but it brings up some…bad shit,’ she said softly.

He nodded. ‘Say no more. What is your grace period?’

‘I think it is 7 days, but they get pissed after 5. I don’t think I can swing it until the tenth. Maybe if we pool the food budget, we can save some there. I’ll cook every day, skip the Sunday pizza.’

He hesitated in answering. What a mess, broke as ever. How were they to make it like this? ‘Do you have a credit card? Any balance left?’

‘Maybe $80. It is a small limit. It would be tight.’

He put his hand to his forehead and didn’t say anything for a full minute. She looked down. Jackie didn’t know what to say and the last thing she wanted on earth was a fight over money. He kind of rolled his eyes at her and said ‘No more pizza, fast food, tobacco, overpriced desserts, and we already quit alcohol until further notice. I think I have enough to get us through on my credit card. Is that discount food store on Maple cheaper than your store?’

Jackie’s face lightened up. ‘Oh yes, I’ve read their ads. If we take your car, we can save some 20%, I’m sure. I don’t go there because I have no transport. We could get a week’s groceries.’ She gave him a smile. ‘And you still have me.’

‘Hm. What is the condom supply situation? I hate to give up everything.’

She gave him a kiss. ‘I’m not supposed to reveal this, but I do have emergency ones if we run out.’

He kissed her back. ‘Love conquers all?’

‘Temporarily anyways.’

Suddenly a phone call changed their plans.

•••

Detectives Fred Burke and Gordy Kingston has been assigned a case of murder. A small-time operator named Frenchy Darwin had been found dead at the main airport in the trunk of a weathered stained Cadillac. It had been a frigid winter to say the least and now with a pleasant warm March weather, bodies were starting to be detected. Two other bodies had been discovered last week with similar smells in other locations but Fred and Gordy had not been involved in those and last report they were domestics. Before Frenchy’s decomposed body was carted away for the world of autopsy surroundings, the detectives discovered some pebbles, small stones sprinkled on and around the body. Gordy bagged these all up convinced they were not just gravel or other debris and noticed how hard they felt to the touch. They were tiny, maybe only a 1/4 of an inch. Gordy wanted the lab boys and girls to tell him what they were.

‘I don’t get this Fred. A small-time hoodie gets shot in the heart, shoved into a Cadillac’s trunk, carefully wrapped in burlap to hide the smell for a while with these weird little pebbles of questionable value. What happened? There are a million places to dump off bodies, why in this Cadillac that is worth something?’

‘It is certain he was killed somewhere else, wrapped up and ended up here at the airport,’ said Fred who didn’t give up much away when he spoke. Not a guy to play poker with.

‘And what are these pebbles? Are they worth something and the bad guys got careless and missed a few or did airport security take some or did some of our own people help themselves? These pebbles bother me Fred, and how is numnutz involved in this? He’s small time. A little dope, some hot low-end cars that the Russian mob won’t look at.’

‘Maybe he got out of his league and tried something.’

‘I know him. He would have to grow a set to even think about it.’

•••

Alexander got a phone call later that evening at his apartment. Jackie was there and was watching TV with him. He answered the call with some trepidation. It was from Louie who was a friend and trainer from his boxing days and currently part-owner of a nearby boxing club. ‘Yes?’

‘It’s me, Louie. I’ve got problems.’

‘What happened?’

“I don’t know if you remember but Lewis has a daughter, Gina, my niece. I think she is 19…we…him…we don’t know where she is. It’s like she vanished in thin air.’

‘Are you sure it is not a boyfriend issue?’

‘No, her mother is very close with her. They call each other every day. No word now for three days.’

There was a long pause and finally Lee spoke. ‘How can I help?’

‘I am with Lewis at the gym trying to calm him down. If you could come over and help figure out what to do next, it would help. You’re not family and will think straighter, plus your smarter anyways.’

‘OK. Give me twenty minutes.’ He ended the call, looked at his watch (8:02 pm) and looked at Jackie. ‘I must go to the gym. Louie has a brother whose daughter is missing. They are trying to figure out what to do.’

‘Have they called the police? What did they say?’

‘I am guessing they haven’t called them yet.’

‘Why not?’

‘Not sure.’

‘What can you do?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe calm things down. Lewis, his brother, is really upset and I’m sure his temper is getting the best of him. I need to get some details of what is going on. I did meet his daughter once. Not sure why she is here in the states. Sorry love, I must go. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.’

Before he left Jackie had one more question. ‘How old is she?’

‘Nineteen, but she looks fifteen.’

‘Shit.’

‘Yeah.’

Lewis was a big burly man with curly black hair, a black beard close to an inch long, and older than Lee. He was physically very strong and spoke English with an Italian accent unlike his brother. From what he knew he rotated his time between Italy and the states and on rare occasions Gina would come over with him. Lee had met Gina a few months ago when she was with her father at the gym. She was a pretty, a delicate brunette (must take after her mother) who yes was 19 going on 15 both physically and maybe mentally if Lee wasn’t being too harsh in his opinion. Or maybe she just wasn’t very worldly. Maybe, that was it. She seemed like a happy, silly girl, but in truth Lee didn’t really know anything about her or her living arrangements with her father or where they lived when in the states. He knew Lewis was several years older than his brother but that he trusted his brother implicitly.

Alexander entered the gym and saw two guys boxing with an instructor/referee and about four others simply working- training out. Louie saw him waved back to his office. Lewis was there looking distraught and totally beside himself. He looked up and smiled at Alexander.

‘Thank you for coming. I think someone took my Gina.’

Alexander paused a while trying to think and evaluate everyone’s mood. ‘Have you called the police,’ looking at Lewis?

‘No police.’

‘He has an Interpol record; minor shit, but still you know cops if the found out, they would look at him first, ‘ elaborated Louie.

‘Some cops, yes. When did you last see her? Was she living with you?’

‘Three days ago. I have an apartment about 10 miles north of here. She was living with me for about the last 3 months trying to decide to go to college...