The Devil To Pay (Hennessey.) (26 page)

Hennessey, although wary, was not scared; he had complete faith in his ability to talk himself out of just about anything. And on the rare occasion talking didn’t work he fought his way out, talk or fight it was all the same to him, but right now he would rather not draw attention to himself, not until the job was done at least. But this guy was good to have gotten the drop on him; he had never even heard him approach.

He feigned nervousness and stammered, ‘I…I was just…I’m from the realtor’s, we deal with this cabin and a few others nearby.’

The man did not relax the barrel of the rifle in Hennessey’s back but said sarcastically, ‘a realtor who carries a Sig?’ Hennessey congratulated himself on not bringing his Glock, it wouldn't do to be caught walking around town with a specially made and expensive weapon.

He said, ‘hey, look man, this job is a lot more dangerous than you think, and this is an isolated area, I’ve been attacked three times in the last two years, a guy has to protect himself.’

The man ignored that, ‘what’s the name of the owner of this cabin and the person who rented it?’

Hennessey was for once grateful to the goons, they weren’t much use for anything else but they certainly knew how to make out a detailed report, must be a throw back to their government agent days.  He spoke quickly as though really frightened ‘the owner is a Mr. Sam Cartwright he rented it out to Miss. Adela Faraday, an English woman, for seven days, she’s staying here until she moves onto the next leg of her tour, she’s going to…

He was interrupted, ‘okay, okay, just shut up and open the door.’

Hennessey hesitated. The man dug him painfully in the back with the rifle, ‘open the door.’

He had not locked the door again and his hand was still on the door knob. He turned it saying, ‘it was already open when I arrived.’ If the man asked to see the key he would show him his own and hope that he didn’t ask him to use it, if so he would have to alter his plan, ditch the talk and start fighting.

‘Raise your hands.’ The man said then pushed him over the threshold of the door with the rifle. Hennessey staggered inside the man following.

Hennessey said, ‘she’s gone, the woman I mean. Left yesterday for Mississippi. I came by to check on everything, make sure there was no damage, that kind of thing.’

The man said, ‘turn around slowly.’ Hennessey did and got his first look at the only man who had got the jump on him in a very long time. Even without the rifle he would have known instinctively that this was the hermit the goons had met. He suppressed a smile when he thought of those two tough ex-feds being run off by a dirty, scruffy, long haired loner. But then there was something about this man, in his confident bearing, in his calm expression and in the cold hard depths of his eyes. He reminded Hennessey of himself.

The man looked quickly around, taking everything in. Then his rifle still trained on Hennessey looked in the bathroom.

Coming back into the centre of the living room he looked directly into Hennessey’s eyes and it was as though the guy somehow knew that he was lying and even who he was and what he did. That was crazy he knew, but the uncomfortable feeling remained.

He said, ‘you can see that she’s gone. She left a day early, didn’t explain why, but hey, she’s paid up to the end of the week so my firm still gets its money and I get my commission.  Not that it’s worth much, ten percent of…

He was cut off, ‘stop talking, you’re irritating me.’

‘Sorry.’

The man looked down at the gun in his hand then back up at Hennessey, ‘what’s your name?’

‘David Somers.’

‘Where you from?’

‘Mississippi originally, but I live in Louisiana now.’ He thought it best to tell the truth about where he was born and raised, this man was very astute and might pick up on his accent.

‘They sent you all the way from Louisiana to Alabama just to check on this cabin?’ The guy asked with suspicion.

‘Oh no, well, not just for that, as I’ve said we have other properties here and in Alabama and Louisiana, I’m just killing two, well, several, birds with one stone as they say. I’m actually on my way to Florida for my vacation, but thought I’d get these job done first since it’s on the way so to speak.’ When the guy continued to look at him with scepticism he said, ‘look, I’ll give you my firm’s number you can call them on your cell phone.’

‘I have no use for phones, cell or otherwise.’

Hennessey had banked on that, ‘oh, I couldn’t live without mine.’ He went to get his phone from his pocket saying, ‘here, you can use mine.’

But hesitated as the guy raised his rifle and said, ‘don’t bother.’

Hennessey had hoped that the guy wouldn’t take him up on his offer because then it could get really messy.

The guy narrowed his eyes, ‘who would say they were a realtor if they weren’t?’

Hennessey laughed thinking, two for two. ‘Yeah, who? Look, I’m sorry but I really have to get going, I have some more places to check out and reports to write and calls to make before I head off for Florida. Plus, I’ve been driving all night and I’m pretty beat.’

The man ignored that, ‘you don’t know why the woman left early?’

‘No, she just informed us that she was leaving, she didn’t have too, just a courtesy really.’ Hennessey thought he would push his luck a little and asked,’ did you know her?’

‘Saw her around, but didn’t know her.’

‘Nice lady by all accounts.’

The guy shrugged, then one handed he emptied Hennessey’s gun and walked towards him still with the rifle aimed at his chest. Hennessey tensed ready for whatever came next, but the guy just held out his gun to him butt first. He said, ‘you want to be careful carrying that thing around, I imagine it wouldn’t go down to well with your boss if you accidentally shot a client.’

Hennessey laughed more with relief than anything else. ‘Yeah, you’re right, it’s just for show really, I’d probably wind up shooting myself anyway.’

The guy didn’t laugh nor even smile but gestured towards the door with his rifle. Hennessey took the hint and walked to the door hoping the guy wouldn’t expect him to lock it with the key or at least look the other way while he locked it with his pick.

They went outside and Hennessey said, ‘this is a lovely place to vacation, quite and peaceful.’ His gaze swept around the surrounding area.

As he had hoped he would the guy looked over at the trees and Hennessey spied his chance and locked the door with the pick then turned around with his own key in his hand.

He turned the doorknob as if testing it and said, ‘there all safe and secure again.’ The guy looked back at him but said nothing. Hennessey thought, three for three, he was on a roll today.  He said, ‘but as lovely as it is here, it’s a little isolated for a woman alone.’

The man gave him a piercing look then said, ‘some of us like to be alone…and isolated.’

Hennessey nodded as if in understanding, ‘that’s true.’ He was thinking that if this guy had seen the Faraday woman with anyone he wasn’t saying, and was too quick to be caught out. He gave up, ‘well, it was nice to have met you, Mr…’

There was a very telling hesitation before the man reluctantly supplied, ‘Lando.’

‘Do you live near by, Mr. Lando?’

‘Near enough.’

And that was all he was going to get Hennessey thought. He said, ‘see ya then.’

Lando merely nodded as Hennessey descended the few steps to the path and walked away through the woods but he could feel Lando’s eyes boring into his back until he was out of sight.

When he’d gone Jonas Lando gave a deep sigh. The guy was good and very convincing.

But there was something about him that was out of place, something about the eyes that didn’t look right. No, something didn’t quite gel with him, he had not been a cop for nothing; he could spot a liar when he saw one. But then he wasn’t a cop any more and he had been wrong before, with disastrous results.

Still, he might make one phone call, see what he could find out, he still had a few friends in the Alabama P.D, well, one friend anyway. Where would be the harm in calling Dan Rivers and giving him a description of the guy, see if he’s in the system and also that of the two fake P.I’s. He could also ask Dan to get his colleague’s in the Mississippi P.D. to check on the woman too. Then his conscience would be clear. He could then wash his hands of her problems confident in the knowledge that at least he had done everything he could, and then he could forget all about her and all of this and get on with his own life, such as it was.

But wait a minute, what was he doing? What the
fuck
was he doing even getting involved with whatever was happening here, that woman and her young friend were no concern of his. She had gotten herself into this mess she could damn well get herself out of it.

Angry and impatient with himself he made his way through the woods to his own cabin sure he was making the right decision. But as though compelled too he couldn’t help but look back at the woman’s cabin. One phone call couldn’t hurt could it?

CHAPTER 11.

      Whilst Hennessey was having his conversation with Jonas Lando, Adela and Olivia had arrived at the private airfield without any delays interruptions or frights. Adela was talking to the pilot who was a very tall handsome fifty something man with a full head of silvery hair. Olivia was standing nervously clutching her bag against her chest as Adela had seen her do in the town as they waited for the hire car.

The pilot told them that they had clear weather and were ready to go when Olivia was.

Neither the people in the office who took Adela’s details nor the pilot asked any questions of either woman.

Olivia said that from France she would make her way somewhere else, maybe Spain or Italy as Adela had said. Adela had said that maybe she should change her name too, try to get a new passport and identity papers and Olivia said she intended too.

Then came the part that Adela was really nervous about, checking Olivia’s passport.

She tried not to stare at the woman looking it over but attempted to appear casual and unconcerned, she just hoped Olivia didn’t panic. She certainly looked very on edge as the woman looked from the passport photograph to Olivia whose knuckles were almost white around the handles of her bag.

Adela said to the pilot loud enough for everyone to hear, ‘my cousin has never flown before and always swore she never would, but she must go to France to see my aunt, her mother. Aunt Sarah has been rather poorly so Olivia is going to be with her in Toulouse.’

The pilot said, ‘I’m sorry to hear that her mother is ill,’ he looked at Olivia kindly, ‘but we’ll take the greatest care of you, Ma’am, we have all kinds of amenities on board to take your mind of things, T.V. DVD’s, computers,’ he smiled, ‘alcohol.’

To Adela’s relief Olivia smiled back, ‘thank you very much, Captain Jennings.’

Just then the woman said to Olivia, ‘well that all seems to be in order, thank you, Miss. Rushkova.'

Adela just about held in check the huge sigh of relief she felt escaping. She smiled at Olivia, ‘I wish I was going with you, Orla, but I’m needed here as you know.’

Olivia looking much more relaxed now said, ‘I know, but I’ll be back shortly, just as soon as I know mother is okay.’

The pilot said, ‘we’re ready when you are, Miss. Rushkova.’

Adela and Olivia looked at one another and the pilot said, ‘I’ll wait for you outside,’ he turned to Adela, ‘it was very nice to meet you, Miss. Faraday, and don’t worry I’ll take great care of your cousin, she’ll be completely safe with me.’

‘I know she will, goodbye, and thank you, Captain Jennings.’ They shook hands and the pilot went outside.

Adela took Olivia’s arm and drew her to one side. They looked into each others eyes both too moved to speak. Eventually Adela her voice husky said, ‘you heard what the man said, you’ll be completely safe with him, and not only with him but from now on too. From now on you’ll never have to worry about Glissando or those two men or anyone else. You’re free now, Olivia,’ she gave a shaky smile, ‘or should I say, Orla.’

Olivia swallowed painfully and it was with great effort that she managed to pull herself together. She said, ‘I don’t know how to thank you, for this,’ she gestured to the plane waiting outside, ‘for helping me, a stranger, for being there for me. I’ve had an awful life, filled with cruelty and pain, I had lost all faith in everything and everyone, then I met a woman in a dark alleyway one night and everything changed, everything is so different now. I promise you one thing, Adela, I won’t waste my life, I’ll do something good with it.’

Adela’s eyes filled with tears and she had to blink numerous times to bring Olivia’s face back into focus. ‘I know you will, Olivia, and I know you’ll be happy and one day all that has happened to you will be just a bad memory, but you’ll be all the stronger for it.’

It was Olivia’s turn to blink rapidly but it didn’t help her because the tears began to pour down her face.

To get them off the subject Adela reached into her bag and handed Olivia the hat with the yellow ribbons she had given her before.’ Olivia took it from her hand her lip quivering. Adela said, ‘something to remember me by.’