Vegas or Bust: An Aggie Underhill Mystery (13 page)

Chapter 13

Sylvie threw her hands up in the air.  “What do you want me to do about it?”

“Mama, I need money.  The kidnappers won’t return Miriam until I pay the ransom,” Jack said, sitting next to his mother at the foot of her bed.

“Call the police,” Sylvie said, resuming her nail filing.  She blew on her thumb nail and then held it out so she could examine it.

“Mama, I told you already,” Jack said, exhausted.  “I can’t call them.  They’ll kill Miriam.”

“Then I don’t know what to tell you,” she said, setting her nail file down and grabbing the remote that was resting on the bed behind her.  Skipping through the TV channels, she checked to see what was on.  “There’s nothing good on in Vegas.  You’d think that Las Vegas of all places would get more TV channels.” 

“Mama, I don’t know why you’re sitting in your room anyway,” Jack spat.  “You’re in Las Vegas!  You’re not supposed to be watching TV.”

“Don’t you sass
your
mother!  Just because your fiancé has selfishly gone and gotten herself kidnapped, which is beyond me on how she could allow that to happen on her wedding night…doesn’t give you the right to talk to me that way!  Do you understand me, young man?”

“I’m sorry, Mama.  I’m just upset,” Jack said softly.

“Of course you’re upset.  We’re all upset.  She made you look like an idiot standing there, waiting for her at the altar.  And now she’s gone out of her way to have you beat up by her kidnappers.” 

“It wasn’t purposely Mama.  You can’t hold that against her.”

“Maybe not,” Sylvie said softly.  “At least now I can save face and tell everyone that she didn’t ditch you on your wedding day.  It was all a big misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?  Mama, the woman I love has been taken against her will.”

“Just as I said, a
big
misunderstanding.  Besides, not to change the subject, but,” Sylvie frowned, “as you know I don’t gamble.  It’s sacrilegious.  Why you wanted to get married in Las Vegas, I’ll never know.  And I’ll have to come up with some sort of excuse for that as well.  Guess that’s the kind of woman your fiancé is.  I know I raised you right.  You wouldn’t have chosen to get married in the city of sin.  You know what?  Maybe I should rent a movie.  Would you like to see a movie?  How about a nice Disney movie to get your mind off of things?  When you were little, you loved a good wholesome movie.”

“Mama, I don’t want to see a
freakin’ movie!  I
want
to get Miriam back.  I need a way to get money quick.”

Sylvie muted the television and stared at her son.  “I don’t
have
that kind of money.  Not without mortgaging the house.  And Miriam isn’t worth my house.  What do you want me to do?  Go and live on the streets?”

“No, Mama.”

  “You know what?  You should go ask her granny.  Maybe she wouldn’t mind putting money against her home.  I don’t know why kidnappers would want Miriam anyhow.  She’s not very attractive.”

“Mama!”

“Don’t you
Mama
me!  You asked me for my advice and I gave it to you.  Go call the police and let them handle it.”  Sylvie turned the volume up on the television set.  As far as she was concerned the conversation was over with.

Jack buried his face in his hands and then remembered something that Miriam had mentioned.  Anita had told Miriam that Aggie Underhill had a cop for a boyfriend.  That was one
of the reasons Miriam had wanted to invite Aggie to the wedding.  She’d hoped that Aggie would bring her boyfriend with her in case Harold showed up and tried to ruin the wedding.

“You know what Mama?  You’re right,” Jack said, hopping up from the bed.  “I’m
gonna contact the police.”

“Of course I’m right,” Sylvie said, smiling at him.  “That’s the smart thing to do.  I knew I could talk some common sense into you.”

Jack leaned down and kissed his mother’s cheek. “Thanks, Mama,” he said and then left the room in search of Aggie Underhill and her friends.

***

“I was feeling depressed,” Harold explained, sucking down another beer.  He, Aggie and Betty had been joined by Roger.  The four of them were sitting at a table near the bar in the casino.

“It’s understandable,” Betty said. 

“I can’t believe that you flew all the way to Las Vegas to stop the wedding,” Roger said. 

“Yes, but I changed my mind,” Harold explained.

“That’s very commendable of you,” Aggie said. 

“What a waste of money,” Roger said.  “You flew all the way out here from Ohio and then didn’t even follow through with it!  I think it’s crazy!”

“I think it’s romantic!” Betty stated, smiling at Harold.  “Except for the fact that you’re a cheating louse.”

“Thank you, I think,” Harold sighed and then pushed his fingertips to his temples.  “How did I get myself into this mess?”

Aggie shook her head, mulling over all of the information that Harold had just given her.  He flew to Las Vegas to try and stop Miriam from marrying Jack.  He came here to ask for her forgiveness and to reconsider giving him one more chance.  He had explained that he knew it was a long shot, but thought he’d try anyhow.  Once he got to the hotel he’d seen Miriam and Jack enter the lobby to check into their rooms.  They’d seemed so happy.  Miriam had a special warm, happy glow to her.  A happiness he hadn’t seen in a very long time.

Harold had decided to let things be.  In all of the years he’d been married to Miriam, neither one of them were as happy as she appeared to be with Jack.  Harold headed for the slot machines, had more beers than he could count, and somehow ended up at a poker table.  He played several hands and as luck would have it, had done very well.  He vaguely remembered being bought several more drinks and being invited to a private poker game.  Stupidly, he accepted, and lost.  Somehow the men that he now owed a lot of money to had tied Miriam to him.  Even though he and Miriam’s divorce was just recently finalized, they believed they were still married.  In a drunken stupor, he must’ve mentioned her.  He remembered the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach as he was being tossed out of a car.  One of them men gave him a time limit to pay his gambling debt or else Miriam would be killed.

“Two hundred thousand dollars?” Aggie questioned the amount of the ransom.

Harold nodded.  “That’s with an hourly interest being tacked on.”

Roger whistled.  “That’s a lot of dough!  I can’t believe you gambled that big.”

Harold shook his head.  “The funny thing is I don’t remember any set amounts on the card games.”  He shrugged.  “I know I had cash on me from winning at the tables in the casino, but I don’t know what happened to it.  I just don’t remember much.  They kept giving me more drinks…it’s all a blur.”

“Sounds like they may have drugged you,” Betty said.  “I’ve heard of that happening.” 

Roger smoothed his mustache with his forefinger.  “You’d better pay those guys.  I don’t know what else to tell you.”

“Don’t pay them!” Betty said.  “Those thugs belong in jail!”

“I think Roger’s right,” Aggie agreed.  “You need to pay them.”

“I don’t have the money,” Harold said.  “I was trying to get on a winning streak again and it never happened.  I’m completely tapped out.  I was thinking of going to the bank and getting some sort of loan.  The only problem is that these guys want their money by midnight.  If I don’t get it to them… if… oh, God… Miriam… You think they’ll cut me a break and give me more time?”
“Not a chance,” Roger said.  “I know they want their money.  I mean, they might give you more time and up what you owe them and Miriam might lose a finger or two.”

“Oh, God,” Harold sobbed.  “What have I done?”

“I’m telling you, you need to go to the police,” Betty said.  “It’s the only way.”

“No,” Harold cried, and then cleared his throat while trying to get in control of his feelings.  “They’ll kill her.  They already warned me.  No police are to be involved.”

“You have to take that chance,” Betty said.  “You need to contact them.”

“I think Harold’s right,” Aggie said.  “I think the goons that have Miriam are watching.  They’ll know if he goes to the police.  You’ll have to pay them.”

“Like I said,” Harold began, “I don’t have the…”

“I have the money,” Aggie stated.  “Don’t worry.”  She was financially secure and two hundred thousand dollars wasn’t going to break her.  She could afford it, especially if it was to save a life.

Roger and Betty stared at Aggie wide-eyed. 

“Aggie,” Roger gasped.  “That’s a lot of…”

Aggie held her hand up to silence him.  “I don’t want to hear it.  You spent $200,000 on a fish.  This is for a woman’s life.”

Roger bit his lip.  He spent the equivalent, if not more in the long run, on a rare silver
Arowana fish that was considered good luck from a breeder in Singapore.  He purchased Angelica to be a part of his decorating motif within his home.  And her good luck had brought him lots of good fortune within the world of decorating.  “You’re right,” he said, suddenly feeling guilty for his stinginess.

“There you are!” Jack said, joining them in the bar.  He stood at the end of the table.  “Aggie, I’ve been looking for you everywhere.  I just checked your room and then started searching the casino… Thank God you weren’t on the strip.  I’d never have found you.  Are you still dating a cop?”

“You mean Tom?” Betty asked.  “He’s…”

“Um, we’re friends,” Aggie answered, quickly.  She was surprised to see Jack and equally surprised by his question.  She noticed his swollen lip and that his eye was turning purple as if he’d just been slugged moments before.  “Are you all right?  We were concerned about you.  Were you in a fight?” 

“I need to ask you a favor…” Jack’s eyes shifted from Aggie to Harold, who was sitting across the table from her.  He’d been so focused on finding Aggie that he hadn’t noticed Miriam’s ex-husband until now.  “What’s he doing here?”

“It’s not what it looks like,” Harold said, jumping up from the table, his chair flying backwards.  He defensively put his hands out in front of him.  “I didn’t mean for them to take Miriam.  I swear!”

“What did you say?” Jack asked.

“I didn’t mean for them to take her.  I swear!”  Harold’s voice cracked.

“It’s because of you!” Jack screamed.  He lunged at Harold.  Harold ducked out of the way.  The only reason Jack missed him was because of a sharp pain that penetrated his side.  He grunted and clutched hold of his ribs.  He was sure that at least one of them was broken from being kicked repeatedly. 

“It’s all a misunderstanding!” Harold said.  “I swear!  I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” 

“I bet you didn’t!” Jacked shouted.  “And I bet that’s why you’re here!  To wish the bride well?  Yeah right!”

“Stop it!” Aggie yelled.  “No one meant for this to happen!” 

One of the bartenders rushed over and positioned himself between the two men.  “Is everything all right here?” he asked Aggie.

“Everything’s fine,” Aggie said.  “Right?”

“You did this to Miriam!” Jack yelled, pointing at Harold who was standing behind the bartender. 

“Take this outside or I’ll have security take you out,” the bartender said to Jack.  “Understand?”

Pure adrenaline pulsed through Jack’s veins causing him to shake.  Jack held his breath, forcing himself to calm down.  He knew that if security took him away, he’d be no good to Miriam.  He needed to talk to Aggie.  He needed to ask if her cop boyfriend could help without letting the kidnappers know that the police had been contacted.  Jack nodded at the bartender.

“All right,” said the bartender.  “Anymore of this and I’ll have you all kicked out.”

Both Jack and Harold nodded curtly.  Jack caught Harold’s eye and sneered.

When the bartender was out of earshot, Jack turned his back to Harold and put his hand on Aggie’s shoulder.  “Your cop friend… can you ask him for his advice?  Can you get him involved without me actually going to the police?”

Betty was listening in.  She nodded.  “I think that’s a good idea,
Agsie, dear.  Call Tom.”

Aggie shook her head.  “In this case it’s better to pay the ransom.”

“I would,” Jack said.  “But I don’t have that kind of cash.”

“
Aggie’s gonna pay it,” Harold said.

“What?  You’d do that?” Jack asked.  He leaned over and grabbed Aggie in a bear hug.  Pain seared through his ribcage and he groaned.  “Thank you.”

“Think of it as a wedding gift,” Aggie said, remembering how she’d forgotten to buy them a gift. 

“I can’t thank you enough.”

“Why don’t you go to the hospital and have your ribs looked at?” Aggie suggested.  

“How’d you know?” Jack grunted while clutching his side.

“It doesn’t take a genius to see that they’re broken.”  Aggie shook her head, staring at him. 

“All they’re
gonna do is tape them up.  It’s no big deal,” he said.  “I’ve broken ribs before.  Besides, I need to see this through with Miriam first.”