Blood Money (21 page)

CHAPTER 34

Denny's was crowded for a Monday morning, but as a regular, Mark could always count on his booth in the corner. Bruce had just arrived. They settled down to their coffee as they waited for breakfast. Both decided to try their latest offering, the “Meat Lovers” breakfast.

“How was your weekend, Bruce? Did you do anything special?” Mark asked.

“Well, as you can imagine, when I got home after our meeting I was floating on air. Angelina insisted that we go out to celebrate. So we went over to Bravo's for some great Italian food and libations. It was all good. I love that place. How did yours go?”

“Oh, it was pretty uneventful. Mark decided to keep his visit to Thurston's house to himself. “I caught up with some chores at home and did some planning for our training session today. We're going to get you started with some of the routine things. I'll set you up on the computer system with your own password. Brenda worked things out with her part-time employers so she will be working full-time starting today. She has agreed to help me with the break-in. I'll be with you until Wednesday. Then I have to go run up to Columbus for a few days. I have a new customer that needs me up there off and on for a while. Next month I need to attend an advanced computer course at an out-of-state college. I'll be away for about four months. But I'll always be available by phone, fax or e-mail, and I might get back for a couple of weekends. But like I said, Brenda knows the ropes. Truth be known, I've been sort of using her as an office manager for the last few months, so she will be a big help to you. I know that you'll do just fine.”

The food arrived just as he finished. Their eyes widened when they saw the large-sized servings. This was certainly the way a man should start a day.

“I'm sure I won't have any problems. I've always been a quick learner. Wow, look at the size of that plate.”

“Well, if you learn nothing today, at least you'll know how to fortify yourself with a good breakfast. You can't go wrong starting your day at Denny's. I'm glad that, like me, you have an appreciation for the better things in life.”

Breakfast at Denny's was one of the lessons he had on his list. They both smiled as they dug in. It took them only five minutes to empty the plates. One last cup of coffee and they were on their way to the office.

Brenda was there when they arrived. “Good morning, you two. How was your breakfast at Denny's, Bruce?”

“It was great. Good Morning, Brenda.”

“I see that you started doing some packing,” Mark said, noting several packed cartons stacked up in his office.

“Just stuff I know we won't need in the next few days. I walked over to the new suite on Friday. They had the doors open to help dry the paint. That is a really nice office. I'm going to feel right at home there.”

“That's the idea. I thought the same thing when I saw it for the first time. There will be plenty of space for everything as we build up our client base. We should be able to do more initial meetings there and fewer at Denny's. We will just have to do more screening on the phone before we set up the meeting. Anyway, with our client base mostly businesses now, having the meetings at the office will work out better. It will be a lot more professional.”

He helped Brenda stack a few more of the boxes she had filled to overflowing.

It was time to get on with the training. “Come on Bruce, let's get started. The list is long and the time is short.”

“I'm ready to go when you are, Mark.”

They spent the next four hours going over the client files and acquainting Bruce with the computer system and billing structure. Mark had shopped at Best Buy to outfit Bruce and Brenda with a full complement of computer equipment and software. He decided to stick with his laptop configuration. He made copies of the special programs that were proprietary to his business. They were very happy campers. He could tell that it would work out for the good of all concerned.

He went to the new offices and was pleased to see that the wiring for the computers was underway
. It's nice when things work out according to the schedule
.

CHAPTER 35

Old habits die hard. Mel Tarkington needed to get the juices flowing. Marshalls Spa and Gymnasium in Peoria, Illinois provided such an outlet. He paid the thirty dollars for gym access for the day. He wanted to mix it up with someone, but the gym was empty except for a handful of weight lifters. It turned out to be a day to use the heavy bag. He donned his open-thumb bag gloves and began to punish the bag with short, powerful jabs. He danced around with a rhythmical pace. He was settling into his groove.

As he continued to work out, he noticed two “suits” enter and make their way to the service desk. “Shit,” he thought as he immediately pegged them as either undercover cops or FBI agents. They showed something to the attendant, who looked at it for a minute and then pointed in Mel's direction.

Mel waved to them and sped up his dance around the bag, never letting the two men leave his peripheral sight.

They scanned the lifters and looked at him again for a minute as he increased the tempo; pretending that they were scouts. He put on a good show for them.

They were neither impressed nor suspicious. After a few minutes, they turned and left the building. Mel eased up on the bag…a slight smile appeared on his face.
Feebs are so inept,
he thought
. I thank God for that.

Later, on his way out of the gym, he stopped by the desk to make sure his instincts were correct. “Were those guys scouts? Did they ask about me?”

“Naw! They were FBI agents looking for some fugitive.

“Then, I put out my best for nothing?”

“That's the way it goes, Mac. I thought you looked good, if that counts for anything.”

“Thanks, I appreciate that.” Mel smiled and left the gym. He was still one jump ahead of them. That's all that was important. He was feeling invincible.

CHAPTER 36

The time was close for Mark to depart for Quantico, Virginia for training. Bruce and Brenda were all set up down in Centerville, except for the physical move of furniture to the new offices, which was scheduled for next week. He felt quite comfortable leaving things in their hands. Anyway, he was always a phone call or an e-mail away if he was needed.

Mark wished that he felt the same about leaving Susan alone for the next seventeen plus weeks. Of course, he expected to be back for most weekends, but that wasn't the same thing; it wasn't day-to-day. This promised to be the busiest and most stressful period he had ever experienced, but it was a price he needed to pay for their future.

Susan was feeling much better, but the shattered bones in her shoulder made drug-free rest impossible. Her surgery wasn't scheduled for at least three more weeks. Mark hoped that it would be near a weekend so he could be there for a few days to comfort her. She shouldn't have to go it alone.

He approached her room with trepidation, went through the security check and knocked gently on the door to her room. As he opened the door, he put on a smile and stepped into the room. “How's my precious love today?”

“Who is it?”

“Very funny, Irish. It really sounds like you missed me?”

“I was just putting you on. Of course I missed you. You're the main reason for my wanting to get well as fast as I can. I am so looking forward to a lifetime with you.”

Mark moved quickly to the chair where she was sitting. She grimaced as she tried to get up.

Don't get up. You don't want to make anything worse.”

He grabbed the arms of the chair and leaned in to kiss her. Her lips were warm and soft. He lingered there for a few minutes as he ran his hand through her hair. It was soft and shiny. It looked like she was being pampered a bit. She certainly deserved it, after all she had been through.

“How are you doing, Sue?”

“As well as can be expected, I guess. I feel good, except for the pain in my shoulder. It only hurts if I move too suddenly. It's like a knife being pressed into my shoulder. I've never experienced pain like that before.”

“Have the doctors given you any schedule yet?”

“It looks like it may be several more weeks. I've asked why it was taking so long and they tell me it's because they are going to put a stainless steel plate in my shoulder and it has to be sculpted. They needed to make computer models to determine the exact size and shape. They just can't take one off the shelf. If it isn't just right, they would need to go back in later to reshape it. Nobody wants to go that route, least of all me. So we just have to be patient while the process takes its natural course.”

“It sure sounds complicated. I'm so sorry you have to through this. If I had come up the night you called, this would never have happened.”

“Mark, you've got to let that go. Stop beating yourself up. Dennis offered to help, too. It was my decision to go it alone. Anyway, it probably wouldn't have changed anything, except that you might have gotten yourself killed.”

“How can you say that?”

“We both know that Portman wasn't going to let anyone stop him. He would have thought nothing of killing you if you had gotten in his way. Look what he did to me and Roland, and to his partner in crime, Schaeffer.”

“Maybe you're right,” he said as he leaned forward and kissed her forehead.“Still, I wish I had done something other than taking a sleeping pill and escaping into la la land while you were going through that ordeal. That's the part that bothers me most of all. If you had called me needing help, I wouldn't have been there for you.”

“Enough of that nonsense. Promise me that you will let this thing go. There is nothing to be gained by rehashing things with a bunch of would'ves, could'ves and should'ves.”

“I guess you're right. I promise I'll clear it from my mind,” he said, as he raised his hand as if to swear.

“Well, okay, then. What else is troubling you? I can tell that something is on your mind.”

“I guess it's a promising sign that we're so close that you can read my feelings. You're right. It's about my training program at Quantico. I have to leave tomorrow.”

“Well, I know that, silly. You shouldn't be concerned, though. You'll do just fine.” She smiled as she said it.

“You know that it's not the course that's bothering me, smartass. It's because I'll be away from you at a time that I most want to be here for you. Especially with Mel Tarkington still on the loose. I know he is probably thousands of miles away by now, and I know that you are well protected, but I'm concerned nonetheless. I don't want to make another mistake when it comes to your safety.”

“You're so sweet,” she said as she touched his cheek. “Everything will be fine. I have the best specialists in the country treating me. You need to go do this training with nothing else on your mind but passing with flying colors. You hear?”

He gave her a mock salute. “Yes, ma'am.”

“You can get away for most weekends. We will see each other. Then, once your finished, we get to spend at least a month together while you familiarize yourself with my programs. If you're slow, you will have to stay even longer. That is something to look forward to. Right?”

“I can't wait.”

She stood up and they hugged. They kissed for a very long time before she pulled herself away. She smiled as she said, “Any more of that and I'll have to lock the door.”

“And what would be so bad about that?”

“Nothing, but I'm not sure my shoulder could handle it. There will be time enough for us. I look forward to the day when this will all be behind us.”

“So do I, my darling”

A nurse stuck her head in the door. “Sorry to interrupt, but it's time for your therapy session, Susan.”

“Okay, Betty, I'll be with you in a minute.”

Mark looked at his watch. It was time for him to leave. “Well, I guess this is goodbye for a week. I will call you every day.”

“You'd better. I want to hear how your training is coming along. I'm sure you'll ace it.” She looked deeply into his eyes and said softly, “I'm really going to miss having you around.”

They held each other as close as her shoulder would allow while they enjoyed one more kiss.

“I love you,” he whispered into her ear.

“I love you, too. Take good care of yourself.”

“You too,” he said as he left the room.

Mark returned to Susan's condo and packed a bag. He hid his gun and computer discs at the bottom of the clothes hamper and covered them with two shirts and several days of underwear and socks. He had about a six-hour drive ahead of him. He packed a few energy bars and bottles of diet coke in a small travel cooler, picked up his shades, fired up his 2002 Honda Accord and hit the road for Mark Matthews' big adventure

CHAPTER 37

New Agent training begins at the FBI Academy housed on the United States Marine Corp Base at Quantico, Virginia. The facility is situated on 385 acres of land, assuring the security, privacy and safe environment necessary to provide the diverse training required. The main complex has three dormitory buildings, a classroom building, a Forensic Science Research and Training Center, a 1,000-seat auditorium, a chapel, Administrative offices, a large gymnasium, an outdoor track and a fully equipped garage. Also situated on the complex is a mock city known as Hogan's Alley, which consists of facades that replicate a typical small town. “The Alley” is used to simulate actual investigations.

Mark was scheduled for the basic seventeen weeks, plus a week of brush-up training with the Investigative Computer Training Unit. The instruction was divided into four major areas: physical training, defense tactics, firearms and practical exercises. It had been a while since he had been in a classroom environment. He expected that it would take some adjustment, along with the 8-4 o'clock days, Monday through Friday, and no Denny's.
Thank God we have weekends off
.

The agent-in-training must pass a series of tests: academic, physical training, defensive tactics and the use of firearms. Graduation from the FBI Academy is determined by the successful completion of all these classes and the achievement of required scores.

He settled in and waited for the welcoming ceremony on Monday. It promised to be a long four plus months, but when it was finished he'd be sworn in as a Special Agent. It would be worth the hard work. As he walked around the facility with a printed guide in his hand, he looked like a tourist visiting a strange city. The campus was nicely laid out. There was easy access to classrooms, and field areas which would make it easy to move from one class to another. He recalled the hassle he went through at Indiana State having to get across the campus; sometimes within minutes. He set a record for being late for class. His grades were so good that it did not become an issue, however. Mark had a good feeling about being there. This was the right thing for him at this stage of his life. He was determined to buckle down and make Susan and Dennis proud of him.