James’ cheeks sucked in as he reflexively tried to breathe through his mouth. His breath whistled as it passed in and out through his nostrils.
“Just relax. You don’t want to hyperventilate.” The Governor walked across the room, took his mobile phone out of his pocket, and dialed a number. As he waited for an answer, he glanced at James, whose breathing was slow and regular through his nose. What would happen next would depend on how this call went.
“Alo’,” someone answered the phone in Russian.
“My friend, it’s me. I’m sorry to call you so late, but I have some information I need you to verify.” The Governor looked over at James who stared at him and nodded his head as he listened to him tell the person on the phone the codes and passwords he had told the Governor earlier. The Governor walked back to the side of the bed and stood over James as he listened to the phone. “OK, call me back once you’ve verified everything that you can.”
The Governor ended the call and put the phone back in his pocket. He looked down at James.
“You’re sure you can breathe OK?”
James nodded yes. The Governor smiled. “I’m going up on deck while I wait for my friend to call me back. You lay here and just relax. If you told me the truth, everything will be fine.”
“Hey, beautiful, where are you?” the Governor asked to the night air as he walked to the back of the boat. He looked around. On the bench were her sweatshirt and towel and next to that the empty glass from the drink he gave her. Her phone was on the deck of the boat. He picked it up. A missed call from Ross Fruen. “Damn it.” What was she thinking turning on her phone?
He’d expected to find her passed out on the bench or floor of the boat after she finished the drink with the roofie in it. “Damn it.” He peered over the side of the boat. She must have gone for a swim, but with the date rape drug in her she’d probably drown. Not that that was a bad thing. Made his life easier. He walked around the perimeter of the boat, looking out over the water. He wanted to know for sure where she was. Shining a flashlight out over the water was out of the question. That would draw attention to the boat. He went into the cockpit and turned off the party lights, leaving just the running lights on.
He looked out over the water to see if he could spy the lights of any other boats. He hadn’t heard any boats and he couldn’t see anything. “Sandy,” he hissed out over the water. “Where are you?”
Ross led the way as he and Jack walked up the steps. “You been here before, Junior?”
“Maybe once,” Ross answered.
The man at the door eyed Ross, Jack, and then Ross again. He opened the door and held it open for the agents to enter. “Welcome back, sir,” the doorman said to Ross. “I hope the other guy looks worse.”
“Thanks,” Ross mumbled. “Car accident.” They stepped inside.
“Maybe more than once, Junior?”
“Really, Jack. Once, maybe twice, when I first got to town.” Ross looked back towards the closing door. “I probably look like somebody.”
The door shut, removing the last source of natural light into the room. The crowd was ramping up and Sheiks was starting to come alive for the evening.
“You called her?” Jack asked.
“Straight to voicemail. Phone’s off.” Ross answered.
“Let’s see if she’s here.”
The darkness turned to light as their eyes grew accustomed to the interior lighting. Ross wasn’t moving, so Jack led the way to the bar where he leaned forward on it, supporting his weight on his elbows while he waited to catch the attention of one of the bartenders working behind the counter. Ross stood next to Jack, but with his back to the bar so he could scan the crowd.
“What can I get you guys tonight?” the young bartender asked as he expertly spun a bottle through the air and caught it at the neck. “Special is Cuervo shots. And if you’re in the mood to tip tonight, I’d recommend a body shot from one of these lovely young ladies.”
Ross turned to face the bartender with Jack. The bartender did a double take when he saw Ross and almost missed the bottle that was spinning through the air. Jack smiled and said, “He was even scarier looking before the accident.”
Before Jack could say another word, Ross blurted out, “Is Sandy working tonight?”
“Sandy? I don’t know any Sandy,” the bartender answered.
“Maybe she didn’t go by Sandy here.” Jack tried to get control of the situation again and laid his credentials on the bar along with a twenty-dollar bill.
The bartender leaned forward, looked at the credentials, and grabbed the twenty. “Who was it you were looking for?”
“Sandy. Sandy Hoffman,” Jack said.
“She was here earlier, but she left with two of her regulars for a private party.”
Jack put another twenty on the bar along with a business card and picked up his credentials. “Do you know who they are?”
“One’s a real estate guy, developer. The other, don’t know. They come in together pretty often to see Sandy.”
“Thanks. If she comes back, or if you think of anything else, give me a call.” Jack turned to Ross. “We missed her.”
“We have to find her, Jack.”
“I know. Let’s go.” They pushed out through the doors into the hot, night air. Jack pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed while he walked towards the car. “Sure Thing, it’s Jack.”
“I was just going to call you, her phone’s on. Sandy’s.”
“Where is she?” Jack asked.
“What’s going on, Jack?” Ross asked.
“Sure Thing, just a second.”
Ross opened the passenger door and stuck out his good arm. “Give me the phone. I can talk one-handed. You’re driving.”
Jack got in the car and turned the phone speaker on. “You hold it so we can both hear it.” Jack got in and started the car.
Sure Thing’s voice came from the speaker on the mobile phone. “Would you two quit fighting and get going?”
“Just tell me where to drive,” Jack said.
“Did you bring your swimsuit?” Sure Thing asked.
“Why?” Jack asked.
“Looks like she’s on Lake Minnetonka. Head to Excelsior out on Highway Seven. It’s about a thirty minute drive,” Sure Thing said. “I’ll stay on the line.”
The Governor threw Sandy’s purse overboard, with her phone inside it. Then he called Vadim. “It’s good?”
“Yes, that info all checks out. We have everything we need.”
The Governor smiled. “That’s great news. I need to tie up a couple of loose ends. We’re set until tomorrow night. I’ll talk to you then.”
James was still tied to the bed with the tape over his mouth. His breathing slightly whistled through his nose. The Governor sat on the edge of the bed. “Your info checked out. I won’t hurt you anymore.” The Governor reached his hand up to the tape on James’ mouth, stopped, and then pinched his nose between his thumb and forefinger.
A yell rumbled in James’ throat and he thrashed on the bed. The Governor held the nostrils shut with one hand and used his other hand to hold James’ head in place. He climbed on top of his chest to lessen the thrashing. James’ eyes were wide open and panicked.
James thrashed for a few minutes. The Governor intently watched his face. He could see the resolve melt away as James accepted his fate. He struggled hard a few more times and then passed out. The Governor continued to hold on to James’ nose until he was sure he was dead. Then he turned out the exterior lights on the boat and dragged James’ body to the rear deck. There he tied an anchor to his waist, lowered the anchor over the side of the boat, and then lifted and dropped James into the water.
He was still curious where Sandy was, but was happy to move on with his plan without her. He started the boat and headed for the marina on the other side of the lake.
“Sure Thing, we’re standing here looking at the lake. Where were they?” Jack asked.
“Somewhere between you and Big Island.”