“Oh, my God!
Nathan, have you told the Feds about all of this?
Dude, this is really heavy stuff.
I mean, you are talking about screwing with banks and shit and causing havoc all over the world.”
Wayne was still in disbelief.
“I told them some of what Dad told me but not everything I told you.
Wayne, I’m scared to death!
I believe my mom and I are next.”
Wayne and Nathan drove down the beach for a few more minutes.
Nathan was scared but seemed to feel better that the entire story was off his chest.
Wayne’s head, on the other hand, was whirling.
This was a major, big time mess.
After a few minutes, Wayne looked at Nathan.
“I think the only thing you can do is tell the Feds everything you told me tomorrow morning.
They can set up some kind of protection for you and your mother until this is all settled.
If you do anything else, these guys are going to hound you for the rest of your life.
And I’m sorry to say, I don’t think that life will be very long.
Sooner or later they will kill you,” explained Wayne.
“I know, but…”
“But what, man?
You are playing with fire!”
“It’s just that this is going to kill my mother,” sighed Nathan.
“My God, she doesn’t know?” A surprised Wayne sat straight up in his seat.
“No, she doesn’t even have a clue.
Dad and Mom were a very traditional family.
Dad handled everything except the cooking and cleaning.
Since he handled all of the family’s finances, he was able to hide the money he earned.
And the trips he took were all under the guise of business trips.
The only good thing is Mom and I are very well set with Dad gone.”
“Well, as crass as I may sound, that’s good.
At least you won’t starve or have to move.”
“No, Wayne, you don’t understand.
Dad gave me all the information about several Swiss accounts he has.
I finally got the courage to check them yesterday.
One account alone has over ten million dollars in it.
Six other accounts have two to five million in them,” said Nathan.
“And he showed me his secret safe hidden in the basement.
There are hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in it alone.”
Wayne damn near fainted.
“Oh, my God…
You really think these Nazi guys will come after that as well?”
“Hell, yes!
With that kind of money, anything is possible with these guys,” Nathan answered.
“I think I’m next.”
“Nathan, you have to tell the Feds about this now,” Wayne said.
“If I were you, I would do it now and not wait until tomorrow.
Let’s go back to the house so you can call them tonight.”
“Yeah, I guess you are right,” answered Nathan meekly.
“This is getting bigger and bigger every minute.”
Friday, July 8, 2011
Miami Beach Patrol Headquarters, Miami Beach, Florida;
8:30 a.m.
The sun streamed down on a beautiful Friday morning in Miami Beach.
The beach was already covered with the early birds beachcombing and jogging.
An early morning Tai Chi class was under a few tall palms, going through their techniques.
Their slow, methodical moves seemed out of place but brought semblance of serenity to the waking beach.
The waves were small so the normal surfers were not out yet.
But it was already hot.
The white sands reflected the heat to some degree but anyone out in this sun was sure to need sunscreen.
Dane and Hugo pulled into the parking lot as Wayne pulled in.
“Good morning,” cried Wayne.
“Man, you are right on time today, my man,” quipped Hugo with a big grin.
Dane walked around the jeep and met Wayne as he got out of the car.
“How was your friend yesterday?” he said in a serious tone.
Wayne’s smile subsided as he got out of the car and took off his sunglasses.
“I need to talk with you,” he said.
Hugo heard the seriousness of Wayne’s voice and walked over.
“Anything I can do?” he asked quietly.
“No, thanks.
I spent most of yesterday with Nathan.
He told me everything.
There’s a lot more to the story.
That’s why I need to talk to you before the day begins,” Wayne said looking at Dane.
“You two go talk and I will see what’s up in the office.
It looks like Sherrie is already here,” said Hugo walking away toward the office.
Wayne and Dane walked through the parking lot and over to a park bench under a palm tree.
“What’s on your mind, Wayne?” asked Dane.
“Damn Dane, I don’t know where to start.”
Dane tried to inject a bit of levity to help Wayne with what must be some tough news.
“My mom always said the best place to start is the beginning.”
Wayne smiled.
“Makes sense to me.
First I want to say that what I am about to tell you is in strict confidence.
I would appreciate it if you would keep it between us.”
“That’s tough.
I honestly hate to promise anything without knowing what this is about but I will do my best,” he said seriously.
“I’m guessing this concerns the Feds and your friend’s father.”
“Yeah.
I found out last night that the family is in real trouble,” said Wayne.
“Well, that’s understandable under the circumstances.”
“No, not in the way you think.
Sure they are grieving, but there’s something else.
Something I need your advice on.”
“Okay.
Shoot.”
“Nathan thinks he knows why his father was killed.
He even thinks he knows who killed him,” began Wayne.
“I see,” said Dane.
“You are not going to believe this….”
Wayne began his story from the beginning.
Dane listened intently to the whole story before asking any questions.
“Do the Feds know about all this?” Dane asked.
“Nathan called them last night.
He is meeting with them this morning,” Wayne said, looking down at his watch.
“He has an appointment with the FBI at 9:00 a.m.”
Dane looked off over the Miami Beach sands.
He still was thinking of Dana and Randall and now this.
“Anyway, I wanted you to know what was going on.
Like I said, I’m not involved in any way but after what I heard last night I had to talk with someone I trust,” said Wayne, hoping to have Dane’s understanding.
Dane sat back.
“I’m glad you thought I was trustworthy enough for you to confide in,” said Dane.
“You don’t think these guys know who you are or will be coming after you, do you?”
“No.
I’m just a friend on the sidelines.”
“Good,” said Dane smiling.
He put his hand on Wayne’s shoulder as he stood up.
“Oh, and about that promise to keep things to myself.
I can do that.
Not a problem.
Just let me know if you want to talk about this anymore.
I’ll be here.”
“Thanks.
You have no idea how that makes me feel.
I really appreciate it.
Oh, any more word about your sister?”
Dane’s smile subsided.
“No, we haven’t heard any more yet.
We should know more by Monday morning.”
Wayne stood up and offered his hand to Dane.
“Please let me know if I can be of any help.
Dane, I really mean that.
If you need me to go with you, just say it.
I’m ready to help.”
They shook hands.
“Thanks. I will.”
“Well, time to hit the beach,” said Wayne as he put on his sunglasses and looked out over the ocean. “
“Give ‘em hell, kid,” Dane said as he turned and walked back over to the office.
As he walked in the door things were already popping.
“We got some numb-nuts on a float nearly a half mile out.
Tower Four spotted him when they got there this morning and have dispatched a jet ski.
Looks like they are going to start early on us today, Boss,” announced Hugo, scanning the ocean in the direction of Tower Four.
Sherrie walked in from the back room.
“Morning, Dane!
Gonna be a hot one out there today.
Did Hugo update you?”
Dane smiled.
“Yep, we are already cooking.”
He sat down at his desk, reached for some papers but his mind was still trying to grasp what Wayne had told him.
Nazis, gold, South America?
I thought this kind of stuff only happened in the movies.
Then it hit him like a ton of bricks.
Was there a connection with the Nazis and Dana and Randall?
Surely this was only a coincidence.
Dane bolted upright and walked quickly over to the windows overlooking the beach.
He saw Wayne trudging through the sand out to Tower One.
“I’ll be back in a second,” he said to Sherrie as he ran out of the door and down the stairs to the beach.
“What the hell was that about?” asked Hugo looking startled.
“Is there a problem?”
“No, not that I can see,” answered Sherrie grabbing up a pair of binoculars to see what was going on.
Hugo stood beside her.
“Where’s he going?” asked Hugo, his eyes still fixed on Dane, who was now running out onto the sand.
“Tower One, I guess.
At least that’s what direction he’s going,” said Sherrie dropping the binoculars from her eyes and placing them on the shelf below the window.
“Maybe he forgot to tell Wayne about something.”
Hugo stood quietly.
He knew Dane and Wayne had a conversation about the dead guy.
“Hold down the fort.
I’m going to see what’s up,” said Hugo as he walked out of the door.
“Hey, Wayne!” yelled Dane as he jogged out to the tower.
Wayne was washing his feet at the top of the tower steps.
He looked back and saw Dane, who was about twenty feet from the tower now.
“Yeah, Dane,” answered Wayne at the same time he picked up his neon orange lifeguard torpedo.
“What’s up?”
Behind Dane he could see Hugo on his way out.
“Quick question,” huffed Dane as he hit the bottom of the tower’s ramp.
“Sure.”
“When you told me about these Nazis, you said they were headquartered in South America?”
Dane was walking up the ramp.
“Yeah, that’s what Nathan told me.
Why?”
Dane reached the top and stood with Wayne.
“Did Nathan by any chance say where in South America?”
Hugo was walking up the ramp to join them.
“Well,” started Wayne glancing at Hugo, who caught Dane’s eye.
“Don’t worry about Hugo.
He will not say anything.
But I need to know where in South America.”
Wayne looked down thinking.
“If I remember correctly, he said somewhere deep in the Amazon jungle.
It’s a hidden, secret place that the Nazis built after the war.”