Chapter 192

word count 1185

“No, keep going!” the other Mormon, Enos, said. “Look how worked up those cops are. They'll never give us a chance to explain. They'll arrest us just like we feared.”

“Yeah, you're right,” Jacob, his fellow missionary said. “This diamond has a rightful owner, and that person won't be found working with that herd of wolves.”

As the cab rode on, conversation dried up between the two. Sitting quietly and left to think, Jacob couldn't stop sweet yearnings of temptation overtaking his thoughts. He kept thinking of the many beautiful things that diamond could get him. Stylish clothes, a sports car—a sleek black Porsche, and women, slender, perfumed, ponderous breasts showing through shimmering black dresses with slits up of the sides revealing glimpses of long, slender legs...he shook his head to clear it. It was all overwhelming, delicious, but overwhelming to his simple soul. But he wanted it, all of it. He pondered the value of everyday spiritual honesty versus the blinding impact of material riches beyond your wildest dreams lingering right at your fingertips.

Of course, we have to return the gem to its owner, he reasoned. All the while he day-dreamed of fleeing his Mormon congregation and living in the city amongst non-religious people. No more stuffy rules or codes of conduct. He could try gambling and getting drunk. Visions of the lady in the black dress returned while this time in the dream he slipped the dress off her shoulders and let it drop to the floor. His manhood stirred in his pants thinking of bare breasts and her succulent nudity. He could have all the women he wanted...and never think of marrying them. Because he'd be sowing his wild oats. Money could buy him all the women he wanted, all the material riches he craved. Every young man should have the chance to do that, shouldn't he? Away from the constrictions of suffocating religion.

He shot a glance toward Enos, and that fellow had fallen asleep. He snored softly as his head bobbed up and down with each grunt. The man's hand still clasped the diamond ring, although in sleep his fingers had loosened. Jacob reached over and plied those fingers back, exposing the jewel. Next he picked it out of Enos's hand, plucking it up daintily in two fingers. He had it! He had the jewel; he could have it all! His heart rattled in excitement as he tapped  the driver on the shoulder.

“Pull over a minute,” he said. The fellow looked confused. The driver was foreign, and Jacob wasn't certain of his language skills. So he used frantic hand movements. He indicated he was sick and to pull over. Once they reached the side of the road, Jacob jumped from the cab and ran.

The cabbie watched Jacob disappear into the woods nearby. Scratching is head, he mumbled in Farsi and started up the car again, and headed onward with only Enos in the cab. Enos slumbered on and never knew what happened.

* * *

Algie walked into the 45th precinct, his head filled with details of all that happened. He and Winnie had finished at the morgue, and she, feeling awful about all that happened, had gone home to the Miller residence to rest. He said he would return to the New Albany police and finalize any outstanding paperwork as to Priscilla's affiliation with the Crown and the case itself as pertained to British intelligence.

“...tis a pity,” he mumbled. “The diamond has slipped away from us.” At that moment he passed the front desk to see a most intriguing fellow who for all of his conservative and subdued clothing was very angry, indeed. The guy waved his arms in the air and bellowed all to the deaf ears of the desk sergeant. The uniformed cop stood placidly writing his report while the plain fellow was obviously screaming and out of control. It was what the guy yelled that got Algie's attention.

“He has stolen the jewel from me and run off into the city with it. I fear he will never come back. Our missionary needs us! I only want to return the gem to its rightful owner. You've got to help me!”

* * *
Buzz was slumbering soundly when the bedside phone rang. A trained professional, at first ring he was wide awake and scrambling to remember where he was and why the phone was ringing. He answered shaking off the last bit of drowsiness.

“Hello, Miller here.”

“Detective Miller, I'm calling from the TSA at New Albany International. We have a woman in custody who gave us your name as a reference.”

Buzz's eyes flew wide open. Trudy! Who the hell else could it be but Trudy? “What's she done this time?”

The other end went quiet until finally the voice continued. “Ah, well, the lady we have is Trudy Hunt.” He accentuated the name which up to now wasn't mentioned. “And she assaulted a man at the airport.”

“Figures,” Buzz mumbled. “I'll be right there.” He hung up while the other fellow was still talking. That did it. He was getting the hell out of this hospital. The phone rang again before he could even get out of bed.

“Miller,” he barked.

“Buzz, it's Gil. There's been an accident. Hank's girl, Stephanie, got hurt, hit by a car, driven by our own Algernon English. They're taking her to the hospital now with a broken leg and bruises. She's pretty shook up. I'm here at the accident scene so Hank can go with her.

“That's awful! Is Hank okay?”

“I dunno. I guess so. He and I haven't been talking much. I've got a new partner now, ya know.”

“Oh, yeah! I forgot. It's always been Hank and you...well, keep me informed what happens there. I'm actually leaving the hospital right now. Trudy's been arrested at the airport for assaulting someone. I'm heading there next.”

“HAHAHAHAHAHA! Good luck with that, boss!”

“Oh yeah,” Buzz muttered.

* * *

He arrived to find a dejected Trudy brooding in the corner of the TSA office, still hand-cuffed. When she saw him, she perked up.

“Buzz, honey! Ya came!”

“Yeah, babe. Hold on, I'll get you released.”

As he turned, he spied the other prisoners.

“Big Rudy and Ray the Rainman, what brings you thugs to the airport?” His thought was maybe they were importing soldiers from out of state, here to pick them up, or maybe transporting drugs by plane.

“These men were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. We're holding them because they were disorderly and uncooperative. In fact, your lady friend jump-kicked their friend and knocked him out.”

“Hmmph!” Buzz looked around, anxious to spy the third fellow. “Who is their friend? Where is he?”

The TSA cop checked his paperwork. “Dr. Abraham Bigelow.”

“Holy shit!” Buzz broke in.

The fellow looked at him, surprised. He continued. “He's been transported to the hospital. You know him?”

“Mob doctor. He's got quite a reputation. I know these a-holes, too.” Buzz nodded to Rudy and Rainman.