“Easy there,” Gerber slurred slightly.
It was just a matter of a few more minutes before the two men were in la-la land. Hawthorne hit the floor, and Gerber toppled over him. Nikki buzzed the office next to hers, where Jack and Harry were waiting.
Within seconds, they were in Nikki’s doorway. “Did someone call for a trash collection?” Jack smiled devilishly. Harry lifted Gerber and flung him over his shoulder in a firemen’s lift. Jack did the same with Hawthorne. Nikki walked ahead of them and opened the door for the rear elevator.
Once outside, they carried the men to their van, hog-tied them, and threw them in the back. Their next stop was the tunnels of Pinewood, where they would learn their fate.
Tempe Executive Airport
Henry followed the signs to the hangar. Wide, open doors revealed a Gulfstream jet. Annie and Kathryn were standing by. A wheelchair and a ramp waited for their precious cargo. Kathryn leaned into the car, eased Aunt Dottie out of the front seat, and placed her in the wheelchair. She was in a semi-conscious state. Theresa crouched down to meet her at eye level. The woman looked up at her.
“JoAnne?”
Theresa’s eyes welled up. “No, Aunt Dottie. I’m JoAnne’s daughter.”
The older woman’s eyes searched for more answers. Theresa repeated what she just said. The older woman managed a little smile. “You look just like your mother.”
“Come on, ladies. Let’s get you guys home,” Annie said, as Kathryn wheeled her up the ramp.
It was a tearful send-off, but a happy one. Everyone got their final laughs about Frida and Henry’s disguises, and all promised to keep in touch.
As Henry and Frida began to drive away, the tune of “Mustang Sally” came over the radio. Henry impulsively turned up the volume. “Whaddya say we go to Vegas?” He patted his new best friend on the knee.
“But look at the way we’re dressed!” Frida remarked.
“Then we’ll fit right in.” Henry chuckled, and put the pedal to the metal.
In Flight
Annie had arranged for a nurse to fly with them. She came prepared with an IVP and fluids that Dottie desperately needed. Halfway into the flight, Annie handed the phone to Theresa. “Time to let your sister know about the family reunion.”
Theresa thought she was in a Coen Brothers movie. Biz arre. Funny. Absurd. “I should probably call my husband, too, before he thinks I ran off to be a cave dweller.”
Chapter Twenty-one
And Justice for All
Pinewood
The Tunnels
Hawthorne and Gerber woke up to the dank smell of mold and urine. If either of them were to guess, they would think they were in a dungeon. They would be half right. They had no idea this horrible place was situated under a beautifully restored farmhouse outside McLean, Virginia, whose owner was one of the richest women in the country.
Dungeons were known for keeping people separated from the rest of the world, and torture was part of the deal. They had no idea how long they had been there or why. Food would be pushed through a small opening at the bottom of the door, and they were forced to sit and sleep in their urine and feces.
After two days, Myra and Annie climbed down the stone stairs, saluted Lady Liberty, and walked through a tunnel that led to the concrete slab boxes where the two men were being held.
“We won’t keep you long. We wanted the opportunity to inform you as to why you are here, and what your future holds.”
Gerber was about to protest, but Annie kicked him in the leg.
“Next time I’ll aim higher.”
“Why are you doing this?” Gerber whined.
Hawthorne simply stared ahead. He knew this day would come.
Myra began with a laundry list of their crimes and misdeeds. “You robbed the government. You robbed unsuspecting seniors of their pensions and let them waste away in your crime lab.”
