“What about Wilson Sullivan?”
Gibson nodded. “It could be. I could find nothing on the guy past twenty years ago.”
“That’s interesting,” said Francine.
“And it was Sullivan who brought Beckett into this thing. Maybe that was by design if they both killed him. And now they want the treasure. And you found Sullivan looking for it at Stormfield. We also have Nathan Trask out there. He expects the two of us to find it. Or else.”
“Like I said, I’ll take care of Trask.”
“But you can just walk away from that. Claim you never found it.”
Surprisingly, Francine shook her head. “I wasn’t lying when I told you the sorts of crimes that Trask and my father were involved in. Sex trafficking of minors was a big one. They killed a bunch of them in San Antonio to keep them from testifying. That’s why I went to Trask in the first place. I wanted to nail him. I didn’t care about the money or the commission he might pay. I just don’t want them to hurt any more kids.”
Gibson sat back, looking conflicted.
Francine noted this and said, “I’m a bad person, Mickey. I’ve committed crimes. I’ve hurt people. But... I don’t like men who do shit to kids and get away with it.”
“It took iron balls to voluntarily go in and meet with that psycho,” said Gibson. “When his goons snatched me I’ve never been more afraid in my life.”
“I guess my only advantage is, I’ve had to deal with psychos my whole life, with my father being the predominate one. After a while, the fear is still there, but it’s no longer paralyzing.”
“Sam Trask told me you had been by to see him, as a podiatrist.”
“He’s a very nice man. I have no idea how his son ended up the way he did.”
“He also suggested that we work together to get this done.”
“Nathan Trask is very dangerous. And you have two little kids. I never should have let you go near the man. Look, you’re going to walk away. You have to walk away. Now. I’ll get the guy or die trying. And rest assured, no one will miss me if I get killed.”
“I will.”
Gibson let that statement hang out there for a few moments as the women locked gazes.
“You can’t mean that. After all I’ve done to you.”
“My father taught me to not judge someone unless I’ve walked in their shoes. I don’t know anyone who’s walked in your shoes. Yeah, I’m pissed at what you’ve done to me. But... you risked your life to take some really bad people down. As a former cop that counts with me.”
Francine said, “But you’ve already got a job. And you should go back to doing it, starting right now. But you have my word that I will die before I let them hurt you or your kids.” She glanced at the photo of Tommy and Darby again. “You have no reason to believe me, I know, but that is the truth.”
“FYI, I got fired from ProEye. Now that I know about Beckett, I think he was the asshole who made it happen. And you know me, Francine, from way back. I don’t give up. From what I know about you, you’re the same as me.”
“What exactly are you saying, Mickey?”
“Sam Trask thought we might be a stronger force working together than separately. Why don’t we find out if he’s right?”
Chapter 69
The medical transport van pulled away from The Feathers senior living community with four passengers in it.
Sam Trask had on a suit jacket and pleated slacks, and he absently read a newspaper as the van rolled along. His rollator was parked in the back, along with a wheelchair for another passenger. He carried a portable oxygen supply with him. The passengers would be picked back up at designated spots and at prearranged times.
Trask, for his part, was looking forward to seeing a movie for the first time in a while, inside a real movie theater while munching on popcorn. He glanced out the window. If he noted the black SUV following behind, he made no sign.
He was the third one to be dropped off. Using his rollator he walked inside the theater, bought his ticket and his small bag of popcorn, and made his way to his show. The black SUV parked across the street and a man got out, hustled over to the theater, bought a ticket, searched each of the interior theaters until he saw Trask sitting by himself and munching popcorn. There were a few other patrons scattered around as the lights went down. The man checked this all out and left.
As soon as Gibson saw the man leave, she scooted over next to Trask, while Francine did the same on the other side. Trask offered them popcorn, which they both accepted.
“The big bad wolf is gone, I take it,” said Trask.
“I guess your son’s muscle aren’t into movies,” said Gibson.
“I’m glad you took my advice and teamed up, ladies,” he said.
“We’re still feeling our way,” said Gibson, glancing at Francine, who stared straight ahead. “And we might fall right on our faces.”
Francine said, “Or we might not. Okay, the plan is, I’m going to deliver the goods to your son.”
“Then you’ll need the goods to deliver.”
“That’s where you and your people come in,” she said. “He wants his money back. Fifty million dollars is what he told me when we met. A drop in the bucket to a guy like him, but it’s not the money.”
Trask said, “If he can get ripped off, he’s vulnerable to the other hyenas in the jungle.”
“Which is why Mickey surreptitiously planted certain information on the dark web that alludes to this having happened to him, and I, using multiple untraceable IP addresses, spread that muck around. That will make him desperate to resolve this. And desperation makes people less careful than they otherwise would be.”
“Go on. I like how this is shaping up.”
“And Mickey came up with an absolutely brilliant plan to tackle your son.”
Gibson took up the story. “It comes from tracking down rich deadbeats online for the last two years. You learn some sources, methods... and tricks.”
“Sounds intriguing.”
Francine said, “Then you’re going to love the next part.”
However, as he listened Trask’s smile faded. “I can’t let you do that. It’s too dangerous.”
“It’s the only way,” said Francine. “And how many times did you risk your life for the greater good?”
“We know what we’re doing, Sam,” added Gibson. “And he already knows about us. If we don’t pull this off that will be hanging over our heads forever.”
Trask sat there for a few moments, munched his popcorn, and finally nodded. “All right, and I think I can provide the very help you’ll need.”
“Good,” said Francine.
“Because it’s going to take all of us,” added Gibson.
Chapter 70
Nathan Trask was not in a good mood when Francine walked into the same room they had met in before. He looked agitated and distracted. And when he glanced up at Francine his displeasure deepened.
“Did I come at a bad time?” she asked as she sat down opposite him.
“I don’t know. You said you were successful?”
“It took a lot of work, but I finally located an account owned by Pottinger with about seventy million dollars in it, twenty mill over what you said he took you for. But who said a little bonus isn’t in order?”
“How did you find it?”
“Proprietary information,” she said, smiling disarmingly. “That’s how I make my living. I’m sure you can understand.”
“So how do we get the money?” asked Trask.
“I’m confident I have a way. And it’s not in a traditional bank account. It’s in bitcoin.”