Nowhere to Run - Chapter 29

It was almost three a.m. when Nelson took Evie back to his apartment for a few hours sleep.

     “Well, this is my castle.” Nelson said as he opened the door. “Don’t mind the mess, the maid died. Watch out you don’t step on the body. I’m sure she’s here—somewhere.”

     Evie stepped into the cluttered apartment. There were newspapers and books everywhere. Nelson rushed over and cleared the papers off the couch.

     “Your luxury accommodations, madam.”

     “You know it’s dangerous to have me here.” She said. “If they figure out where I am—“

     Nelson nodded. “You’ll be fine here. Its only for a few hours.”

     “Thank you. You’ve been great.” Evie sank down on the couch. “And Mary isn't my real name."

He pretended to be shocked. "No?"

     "It's Evie."

     “You’re a very brave woman, Evie.” James Nelson said. “Now, get some sleep.”

     Evie watched as James went into his bedroom and closed the door. Then she dug into her bag for the box of bullets and took them into the bathroom.

     The room was a mess, towels on the floor and draped over the shower rod, trash over flowing and empty bottles. Giving Evie plenty of what she needed. A quick exploration of the medicine cabinet turned up some first aide tape and gauze. Evie spent the next hour making, what Michael called, pop-bombs. It was one of the things he taught her when they were preparing to break into the Team’s office. She had just enough supplies to make three.

     “Let’s just hope I got this right,” Evie whispered as she packed everything into her bag. “These news people may think they can handle the team, but I need my own insurance.”

                              

****

     The next morning George sent a car for Evie and James promised to meet her at the office later. He had something to take care of first.

     “Ned Janerone?” James Nelson made the phone call from a pay phone in one of the less aesthetic parts of the City.

     “Yeah, this is Janerone.”

     “I have your disks and I’ll trade them for Dimitri Michaels.”

     Janerone sat up straight. "Who the hell is this?"

     “Bring Michael’s to New York City. I’ll meet you at the corner of East Forty Second and Broadway at noon tomorrow. You’ll get the disks if he’s alive.”

     Nelson hung up and whistling, he headed back to the office. If this all went as planned, then they might be hanging the word Pulitzer next to his name by the end of the week. Right now, he had some plans to iron out. He wasn’t going to miss being on the scene for the exchange between Michael and the disks for anything. He had promised Evie.

     Evie sat in George’s office and watched him arrange things. She tried to relax. James was supposed to be setting up the meeting with Janerone. Evie had agreed that if Janerone could produce Michael, she’d tell them where the rest of the disks were hidden. The key to the bus station locker was tucked securely in her bra.

     “This will work, right?” Evie asked.

     George, ear to the phone, gave her the thumbs up. She nodded and closed her eyes. The waiting was killing her.

     “I’m coming, Michael.” She whispered for the hundredth time. “Hang on, I’m coming.”

***************

     “Hello Dimitri.” Janerone walked into the interrogation room. His anger kicked up a notch by the phone call he received this morning he was ready to take it out on his prisoner. “Ready for round two? Or are you going to tell me who you know in New York City?”

Michael smiled. Janerone yanked him to his feet and propped him up against the wall.

“You think you got friends?” he asked, “You think some scumbag from the city is going to help you protect that bitch? Think again.”

Janerone slammed a fist under Michael’s ribs and let him drop to the floor. He didn’t like how this seemed to be growing out of control. He spent the last hour getting chewed out by the director. It was time for Dimitri to start talking and he had four hours to drag it out of him.

“Take him to Chambers.” Janerone ordered and two men walked in and dragged Michael out of the cell.

     Once they had him slumped into a chair in the interrogation room, Janerone looked him over. Michael’s entire face seemed to be swollen and covered with purple bruises, almost beyond recognition. His ribs looked puffed up and mottled with colors ranging from blue-black to deep green. Even Janerone winced when he saw the extent of the torture Dimitri had endured. It was amazing he hadn’t talked yet. Janerone picked up a hammer from the table near the door. Torture wasn’t his thing, but time was running out.

     “Your woman is a very determined young lady, Dimitri.”

     Michael angled his head and cracked one eye open just a slit.

     “She called me.” Janerone smiled, “Well, I think it was her boyfriend who called.”

     Michael was confused. A man had called for Evie? Could it have been that reporter he told her to find? He could only hope.

     And she’s alive! That thought struck Michael like a bolt of lightning. He straightened a bit in the chair, his ribs screaming at his sudden movement.

     “She wants to date me.” Janerone grinned and hefted the hammer in his hand. “We’re gonna meet tomorrow afternoon. I remember the photos in her file. She was one hot mama. This should be fun.”

     “Bastard.” whispered Michael, pain wrapped itself around his ribs as he tried to speak. “Stay away from her.”

     “Problem with this date is that your missy wants you to come to the party. Like a threesome.”

     Michael didn’t respond. If Evie had followed the plan, she had no reason to call the Team. She should be hiding until it all came out. What did she think she was doing?  Michael winced.  He knew what she was doing.  She was coming back for him. He was elated...he was sick with worry.

     “Clean him up,” Janerone ordered. “Ice his face so he looks presentable tomorrow.”