From The Grave

Chapter 10

Humboldt looked at the man, took in his size, the heavy lidded eyes and the fleshy mouth, and demanded an introduction before anything else.

"I am an attorney representing the estate of my deceased client. My name is Arlinu Tomambou and of course you already know my associate, Cecil Teacher."

"Okay. I'm Yeager Humboldt; this is Arlo Beck and Jubal Hunter."

"I think we should all order a drink and relax a bit before dinner and business discussions." Arlinu lifted a hand and immediately a young waiter was at his side, pad and pencil at the ready.

Drinks were ordered and served and there was a brief visit from the chef to inform Arlinu about the dinner specialty before a large tray of complimentary starters arrived.

"I took the liberty."Arlinu said, choosing a morsel and plunging it and his fingers into a bowl of green dip.

Hunter made a face and went for something on the other side of the plate. Arlo and Humboldt just drank. Cecil watched.

Dinner arrived and it was a grilled fish on a spear that each person tore chunks from and ate with a variety of hot and cold vegetables. The three Americans were less than comfortable with the format, but anything to get to the meat of the meeting, Arlo said, inanely.

"So, Mr. Humboldt, Cecil tells me you offered to negotiate my asking price."

"I should say. That's what the word means. $850,000.00 might be your start but ours is $450.000.00."

Arlinu drew in a brief chuckle and his large frame shook. He pulled the napkin from his collar, dabbed his plump lips and dropped it on his plate.

"I don't think we are going to do business, Mr. Humboldt."

Yeager sat back and shifted his own large frame so that he was at right angles to Arlinu, then he dropped his hand to his pocket.

"Then you won't be doing it with anyone." His coat pocket came up, bulging from the gun he held inside it. The noise was tremendous and all the men yelped and jumped away, all but Cecil that is, as Yeager flew sideways and hit the wall of the alcove with a crunching thud, his face a smear of red.

The big six shooter they had seen before stopped Beck and Hunter in their tracks. Cecil stood slowly and moved aside to allow Arlinu to leave the table. He paused to look down at Yeager Humboldt and clucked his teeth.

"Cecil will see you to your boat, gentlemen. You were wise not to become involved." He patted Cecil on the back and left the alcove, making his way to the hotel lobby and bidding the chef good evening.

The waiter stood obediently silent, acknowledging Cecil's gestures with a nod then began cleaning up the alcove.

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Bishop sat stunned as he listened to the panic stricken report from Arlo Beck. He raised a fist and slammed it down on his thigh, cursing the action and rubbing his leg vigorously. Did nothing ever go as planned? Arlo ranted on about the fact that they killed Humboldt right in the dining room of the hotel like they were swatting mosquitoes.

Nobody raised an eyebrow and the staff just calmly cleaned up the mess! What in God's name would possess a man to react that way when negotiating a sale? He pressed Arlo for details and wound up with nothing more than a profanity laced string of vengeful statements.

"Simmer down, Beck. Just stay on the boat for now and le me do some phoning. I'll get back to you shortly."

"We can't just sit here and let them get away with that!"

"I said stay on the boat until I call you back. Is that understood? Is It?"

"We'll be here, Mr. Bishop." Hunter came on the phone and promised to keep Arlo in line.'"See that you do." He hung up and pinched his lip. If this got out he could be in a very embarrassing position if nothing was done about it. April Weston was going to pester the life out of him and only add to the mess but right now she was key to saving it.

To kill the man in a hotel dining room at dinner! What the hell was that about?

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April Weston answered the phone, surprised to hear so soon from Bishop and then a little shocked at the news and more shocked still when she heard his demand. He held his temper while she did exactly as predicted, ranting on about incompetence and dysfunctional personnel. When she paused, he leapt in and reiterated his demand, reminding her that it was a joint venture.

"We may just reconsider that position, Bishop. I'm quite certain that Wayne would be very unlikely to want any further connection with your fiasco."

"Wayne has done a lot more than you know, Miss Weston. I've already invested three men in this deal; it's time for you to pony up some reinforcements." Bishop's voice was steely as it rang down the line.

"Wayne can't do that. I can't do that. I don't have those kinds of contacts."

"Then wake your boss up and spell it out to him, dear, he'll know exactly what to do."

She seethed on the other end of the line over his relegating her to employee and using a patronizing label.

"I don't believe you."

"No? Ask him about Jacob Strom."

"Who's he?"

"You ask Wayne and then you tell him to get his little list out make some calls." He rang off, leaving April worried and uncertain about her next move.

She went into the living quarters of the home and up to Wayne's room. He was awake and sitting by the window, his medication on the table beside his chair.

"Good morning, darling." She crossed the room and kissed him on the cheek.

"I want to go outside." He said.

"We can do that. I'll get Carl to wheel you out into the garden."

"No. I mean I want to go outside of this facility. I want to go to my office and to a restaurant and to see other people."

"Now, Wayne. You know you aren't quite ready for all that yet. The doctors said to give it lots of time and then when you do go out there will be no danger of a relapse."

"Bullshit! I feel fine. It all happened ages ago, I'm healed."

She placed her arm around his shoulder and gave him a maternal squeeze. "I know how you feel, baby, but we have to do this the right way." She picked up the pill bottle and shook a couple into her hand.

"Here, take these and I'll see about getting you out in the fresh air." She watched carefully as he swallowed the pills, satisfied he wasn't avoiding them then she came around in front of his chair and squatted down, holding his hands.

"Wayne, the deal you are involved with Bishop has hit a little bump in the road and he says that it would be a big help if you put one of your people on the case."

"What deal? I don't—"

"Sure you do. We talked about this the other day. Bishop said he thinks somebody like Jacob Strom might be helpful."

Wayne's eyes went in and out of focus as the medication took effect. "Strom? Strom's dead . . ."

"Somebody like him, Wayne. Bishop said you had a list of people who did the same kind of work."

"I- what deal? Bishop and I don't—" His head lolled and April pulled gently on his arms.

"Where do you keep your list, Wayne? Is it in your desk here at the home?"

"My list . . ." He blinked and his words began to slur.

"Tell me, baby, and I'll do the work while you rest."

'The list . . . the safe . . . I don't do deals with Bi--" His head fell back and he began to snore softly.

"Thank you, Wayne." She left the room and found Carl. "Take Mr. Jenner out into the garden and park him in some shade please. About an hour or so should do him." She hurried down to the office and over to the safe.