Chapter 29

A moment later the three of them pulled behind Cardona’s car. Cardona put her arm outside her car window and flashed her badge. Jerry the guard was on the phone with Irv, who was patrolling the other side of the estate on foot. When Jerry saw the badge, he became flustered; not because of the authority Cardona represented, hell, McGowan constantly had people of power show up unannounced. He was flustered because he’d been playing with his revolver and the new silencer he bought; it had discharged, the bullet taking a section of his left earlobe with it as it flew through the window of the guardhouse. Jerry’s head hurt, his eardrum was ripped, there was blood all over his shirt, and glass scattered outside the window. Jerry was a mess, literally and emotionally, thinking that McGowan now wouldn’t pay the million dollars for capturing Stone that he so richly deserved. He was worried, too, that McGowan would take the cost of repair of the window out of his pay, just after using his debit card to buy the silencer. The rumor he heard that McGowan would be firing his guards didn’t upset him. He knew McGowan would come to his senses. The fact that if the bullet had struck him one inch to the left he’d be dead gave him no pause; accidents happen—especially those brought about by incompetence.

“Irv, you gotta get up here. There’s a babe here waving a badge. Like I told you, I’m covered in blood and I gotta get to the hospital.” He put his hand over the phone and shouted, “Yeah, just a minute, lady, can’t you see I’m talking here? Yeah, I see the badge. Hold on, god damn it. Can’t you see the blood? Irv’s on his way. Huh? He’s a guard like me. What do you mean you need to see Mr. McGowan right away? I have to get to the hospital. Irv will be here in a minute or two. You’ll see McGowan soon enough, if Irv says he wants to. Keep your shirt on, will you? Or not, as you see fit.”

“Irv, get your ass up here. I’m leaving. What? I don’t know what kind of badge. Ask her yourself. Yeah, she’s good looking. The fact that you left your dentures at home is your problem. Tell McGowan where I’m going; no, never mind, don’t say nothing about me. The broad will take his mind off me. I’ll be back before he knows I’m missing. Clean up the blood and the glass, too.”

Jerry unlocked the station door and started to leave. Lewis was out of his car, walking briskly towards Jerry. He couldn’t hear much of Cardona’s conversation, but he didn’t need to. He was going into McGowan’s and that was that.

Cardona couldn’t make sense of Jerry’s conversation but she didn’t need to; he was an incompetent and needed to be removed from the scene. She had called for backup and was also walking briskly towards him. She got to Jerry first. Drawing her service weapon, she ordered him to get on the ground. Irv finally arrived; seeing the fed with her gun drawn, he got out and drew his, pointed it at Lewis and motioned to him to hit the ground.

Cardona instructed Irv to put his weapon down or she’d shoot him. Irv mumbled something about being too old for this shit, but suggested that he and Cardona get together after this, whatever it was, was over. He put his gun on the ground.

“I look better with my teeth in,” he assured Cardona.

She believed him.

Meanwhile, Jerry began crying, and pleaded with Cardona to let him go. Lewis picked up Irv’s gun and handed it to Cardona. She was mystified, unable to understand how McGowan had guards of this caliber working for him, arguably the most successful and powerful businessman in the world. She concluded that these two buffoons were aberrations, and she awaited backup before she tried to get into the house.

Everyone in the house was aware of what was going on outside because they all heard a shot being fired. Stone saw the looks of repugnance and disgust on McGowan’s face as he watched and listened to the fiasco. McGowan didn’t recognize the woman with the gun and since he hadn’t contacted his brother or any of his many law enforcement lackeys about this meeting, he was mildly concerned. He didn’t like surprises.

Why is she here? Of course, because of Stone. How does she find out about our meeting? Stone is not leaving, but goddamn it, I hate these annoyances.

He didn’t bother to send Stone and Danders to another room when he announced to the guards,

“There’s a cop outside. I don’t know why. I will be with her while she is here. Your job is to keep our guests company and make sure they don’t wander from this room. Understood?”

Reading thoughts, Stone saw that several of the guards knew that he was going to fire them regardless of their success. He was certain that McGowan would protect him and Danders at all costs, but with all the firepower inside and outside the house, who knew what would happen? The world, he now thought, was possibly philosophically existential after all.

Cardona’s backups, two cop cars with two heavily armed officers in each, arrived five minutes later. Their sirens attracted a small group of locals who lived for the hope of something bad happening that they could witness—the gorier the better. Once they saw where the police cars were headed, they called all their like-minded friends to come join in. They put it out on social media as well. The meeting of all time was turning into a freak show.

Cardona explained to the officers that none other than Evan McGowan, the country’s most prominent citizen, was holding two people prisoner inside the house. The officers, all loyal to the chief Bert McGowan, were not inclined to get involved, but a possible kidnapping and a Department of Homeland Security’s officer involvement meant they probably had to. That depended on the whim of Bert, who was busy writing a list of people to invite to his celebration at having been elected to the U.S. Senate six months from now. His officers dragged things out until he showed up.

“Mr. McGowan, brother of our beloved chief, is a pillar of the community and highly respected by millions of people around the world,” Ernie, the deputy chief said. “I have a hard time believing that he is involved in anything nefarious and I sure don’t want to ruffle his feathers. Is your information incontrovertible?”

Cardona gave him a stare that would melt plaque off teeth before answering.

“Where is the beloved brother, the whoremaster reviled by everyone in the community except for you?”

“Hey lady, some people consider hypersexuality to be a disease. He’s trying to cut back on his urges.”

“Where is he now?”

One of the officers started to say that at this time of day he’s probably at “Mollie’s,” the massage parlor on Boston Post Road when Ernie told him to shut up.

Cardona got back to the issue at hand.

“The man over there,” pointing to Lewis, “was in the house twenty minutes ago. There’s a kidnapping in progress.”

“How did you escape?” Ernie asked Lewis.

“I walked out the door.”

Ernie looked skeptically at Cardona.

“You didn’t run out the door? Then you weren’t being held against your wishes.”

“I would have been but Mr. Stone told me to leave before I was detained, because I was in danger.”

“Maybe you’re a part of this ‘kidnapping’.”

“That’s why I came back with the DHS officer and my friend, to get arrested for two counts of kidnapping.”

“Enough of the bullshit,” Cardona told Ernie. “Put the two clowns dressed as guards into the back of one of your cars. You and your men can then escort me to the house and get McGowan to let us in, you being known to him, and all.”

Ernie had no choice. He ordered his partner to put Jerry and Irv in their cruiser.

His partner asked him what ‘incontrovertible’ meant. Ernie told him he had no idea, he heard his idol Donald Trump say it during an interview, and it sounded good. Trump never said that word; what he said was his first car was a convertible and he was sure that he saw it recently on a news clip from Cuba.

Inside, McGowan told Stone and Danders, “The cops won’t arrest me, I’m Evan McGowan. Remember: your loved ones, friends, and coworkers are all within my grasp. Tell the lady cop that you are visiting me and that we’re acquaintances discussing a business deal, and that you plan to stay here for a day or two. Don’t give her a reason to come back.”

While as capable of feeling elation or depression as anyone, by using his meditation, Stone avoided either extreme and stayed calm after McGowan's stating of the facts. There was no point in thinking about the police outside; McGowan was right. He wasn’t going to be arrested and Stone wasn’t going to be leaving since it meant putting the lives of people that mattered to him in jeopardy. As he never expected to leave McGowan’s house with a police escort, Stone was in the same predicament as if the policewoman never showed up. He’d have to get out by using his own wits. Being able to read thoughts had a calming effect as well.

Cardona was on the move, approaching the front door. The police were on her heels. A siren hailed the arrival of Bert McGowan. The crowd outside was growing and anticipation filled the air.

The crowd seemed hopeful that something bad was going on. Maybe they would see someone get arrested, or brutality, or blood—or all three. One could hope.

Bert McGowan made as conspicuous an entrance as possible—blaring sirens, honking horn, waving to everyone while wearing a practiced look of concern as myriad phones were taking hundreds of pictures and videos of him. He shouted at people to ‘make way’.

The gate opened like some parting of the sea and Bert sped up the driveway. He jumped out of his special edition SUV. “Ernie, what in hell is going on here?”

“Well Bert, this not so nice DHS lady wants to go into your brother’s house because that guy over there, as he pointed to Lewis, says some guys are being held prisoners.”

“Prisoners?” Bert guffawed. “Lemme see your badge, lady,” he demanded.

“Listen, you big pile of fat,” Cardona replied. “I’m here as a matter of national security. I don’t care about your brother and I care less about you. And I have jurisdiction over you. Now step aside or I’ll get federal agents here to arrest you and the rest of your Sesame Street gang.”

Bert was contemplating how he could use a successful joint effort with the feds to increase his name recognition and further increase his chances of getting the senate seat. He decided to ignore the offensive comments made by the fine-looking DHS officer and put on his gracious face. Unfortunately, he seemed unaware that sexism is no longer tolerated. He took out his cell phone and began streaming a video of his discussion with Cardona.

“Why don’t we work together, little lady? Let’s see if we can’t figure out what’s going on here. I’m sure we’ll find there’s no national security issue in play. I’ll go in first in case anybody is trigger-happy, talk to my brother, and then when things are safe, you can come in.”

“Get real. Tell your brother to let me and these two nice people in. You stay out here and wave to the crowd. Oh, and thanks for filming this because I’m using it now to send a message out that I could use some backup from my DHS guys.”

Evan McGowan needed to shut the lady up. He remotely unlocked the door and announced, “Come in, Agent Cardona, and bring your friends with you. Bert, you come too. Leave your phone on so the whole world can watch what happens. How’s that sound, Agent Cardona?”

“Off-key. The world knows we’re meeting. It doesn’t have to be part of it. I need you to send all of your men out first, then the three of us will come in.”

Two minutes later, the door opened and twenty-one men came out of the house. Cardona went in, followed by Lewis and Chapin. Cardona shut the door.

“Agent Cardona, I won’t waste time with pleasantries,” McGowan said. “Mrs. Chapin, I know of your relationship with Mr. Lewis, here, but you’re wasting your time associating with him. Stone’s invention will not help bring your daughter’s killer to justice. The police have enough evidence to arrest the killer; they simply need prodding.”

“Lewis, I don’t know what Stone supposedly told you, but I have no interest in you, and Stone is a friend of mine, who can come and go as he pleases.”

McGowan then led the three of them into the room where Stone and Danders were sitting.

Not allowing McGowan to speak first, Cardona asked Stone and Danders how they were. They both smiled and said they were fine. Stone saw Cardona’s questioning expression was matched by her thoughts. He also saw that his and Danders responses gave encouragement to McGowan.

Lewis spoke up.

“Mr. Stone helped me to leave here, because I was in danger. I got the impression from you that everyone was. How are you able to remain so calm when Mr. McGowan is…geez, I know, he’s threatened you hasn’t he? How did he? Financially? Ownership of the invention? No, no, no, none of those. It’s physical harm… to you or someone that matters to you, isn’t it?”

Stone did all he could to remain impassive, but a brief flash of acknowledgement in his eyes confirmed Lewis’ suspicions.

“Quite the opposite, Mr. Lewis. Mr. McGowan has gone to great lengths to see that we feel comfortable and don’t feel pressure; he’s assured us that we can leave at any time. As for what I mentioned to you, I think there was a misunderstanding…”

Lewis interrupted. “No, Mr. Stone, there was no misunderstanding. You told me that it was not safe for me to remain here, and urged me to leave.”

“As I was saying,” Stone continued, “I told you that Mr. McGowan invited Mr. Danders and me to the safety of his house, so that we could work out the details of the transfer of ownership of the invention, and that that would occur quicker if Mr. Danders and I were the only people who stayed.”

Cardona asked why Danders placed his hand on Lewis’ arm and guided him out. “To move the meeting along,” a smiling Danders assured her.

Stone saw that Cardona did not believe these answers. She tried a different angle.

“Mr. Stone, Mrs. Chapin contacted me because she was worried about you.”

“Based on what Mr. Lewis told her,” Stone answered.

“Yes, but that was merely a confirmation of what you said to him that she heard through the communication equipment she and Mr. Lewis were wearing.”

Stone saw what was coming and tried to change the subject.

“We are going in circles. We are safe…”

Cardona interrupted by saying, “They recorded everything. I’ll play your conversation with Mr. Lewis.”

“Enough of this! Stone and Danders both have said that they wish to stay. Do they look like they are under duress, Officer Cardona?” asked McGowan. Without waiting for an answer, he continued, “Leave now.”

“How long will it take to complete the sale?” Cardona asked Stone.

They all knew why she asked the question.

“A day, maybe two. Give me your phone number and I’ll call you no later than twenty-four hours from now and let you know that we’re still alive. If you don’t hear from me by then, send in the cavalry.”

McGowan didn’t like this, but he’d figure something out by then, and said nothing.

Cardona didn’t like it either, but had no options regarding Stone and Danders. She gave Stone her number, and waited for everyone else to do what she told them and leave. When they had, she told Stone to call her anytime; and to McGowan she said that no harm had better come to his guests. Holding the winning hand, McGowan ignored her and led Stone and Danders back to his library.

Outside, Bert McGowan greeted Cardona, Lewis, and Chapin with his best politician’s smile. The crowd outside the gate began buzzing at the sight of people coming out of Evan’s house. Stepping in front of the reporters and cameras, Bert puffed up his chest and stated that Stone and Danders must be safe after all, since Cardona had left them alone inside.

“You see, my friends, my brother wants no harm to come to his guests. Neither do I. I personally guarantee their safe return to their homes when their business here is done. Agent Cardona, I want to thank you for your professionalism in carrying out your duties and I’m glad to have worked with you.”

Facing the crowd, using the wireless microphone connected to the loudspeaker is his cruiser, he said,

“Everything is fine, folks. I want you to go on home now and let my brother continue his work. Thank you for your concern.”

Cardona, Lewis and Chapin drove away together without saying anything; Bert and his officers went outside the gate to perform traffic control; the reporters slowly packed up and left; and McGowan’s twenty-one guards went back into the house.