The Fugitive's Trail (8 page)

Springfield, MO

When JR arrived at his building, he saw Mia’s car parked in her spot. He hurried up the stairs to the second-floor apartment and stepped inside. The sound of her singing could be heard from the living room. She was standing at the kitchen counter tearing lettuce for a salad. She turned her head and smiled as he entered the room. JR rushed across the room and hugged her tightly.

The embrace lasted longer than normal. She pushed away. “What’s wrong, JR?”

“Nothing,” he said. “I just missed you.”

“Right.” She looked at him, her eyes narrowing. “How many beers did you have?”

He chuckled. “Just one. I didn’t even finish it.”

She smiled. “Okay.” Returning to the salad, she started to say something but stopped. Her smile disappeared and she said, “JR, can I ask you a question?”

He stepped back and frowned as his stomach tightened. The beginning of a panic attack swept over him. He caught the edge of the kitchen table as he stumbled, but didn’t fall. Had Joseph spoken to her?

She was startled at his reaction, “Are you okay?”

He nodded, “What did you want to ask me?”

“How do you feel about me?”

The sudden tension melted away and his smile returned. “I can’t get up in the morning without wondering if you’re up yet. The last thing I think about before bed is you. Plus, I spend most of the day imagining what you’re doing.” He paused briefly. “I’m falling in love with you Mia, that’s how I feel.”

She sighed deeply. “I’ve felt the same way about you for some time now.” She sniffled, shivered slightly and took a deep breath. “Ever since my grandparents died, I’ve felt alone. My roommate in college was my best friend. After graduation, she got married and moved to the East Coast.” She paused and wiped a tear with the back of her hand. “Everybody I’ve ever cared about is gone. First my mom left, then my grandparents died, and then my best friend moved away.” She paused, buried her face against his chest and sobbed deeply, “I don’t want to lose you too.”

He felt wetness on his chest as his shirt absorbed her tears. She continued, “I’m falling in love with you too, JR, and it scares me. I know it sounds selfish, but if I give my heart to you, then something happens and you leave…” She was quiet for a few moments, then in a voice barely above a whisper, said, “I don’t know—I might not be able to handle it.”

In that instant, his decision was made. He would talk to Joseph in the morning and agree to meet with him at six tomorrow. “Mia, I don’t know what the future holds for either one of us. I do know how I feel about you. I’ve had exactly one serious girlfriend in my life, and that relationship was more in my head than reality. She moved to Florida, supposedly to find a rich beach bum. I hope she found him.” He paused. “Sorry, don’t know why I’m babbling about my ex-girlfriend.” He sighed. “For any relationship to survive, there has to be trust the other person feels the same way.” He paused again. She kept her cheek against his chest and continued to sob. He said, “Since I’ve been here, I’ve met a lot of couples who have spent their entire married lives together. Can we? I would like to think so. I want to get married, I want a family, and I want to grow old with someone. That someone is you.”

Mia lifted her head from his chest and held him tighter. He saw tears rolling down her cheeks. Her body shuttered and she took a deep breath, trying to suppress the crying. She didn’t succeed. She put her head back on his chest and wept harder. He held her as tight as he could while her body shook. Finally after a minute she calmed down, looked up, reaching behind his neck and pulling him to her lips. They kissed. Then she pushed away, took his hand, and led him toward the bedroom.

The intensity of their lovemaking was beyond anything he had ever experienced. Afterward, they lay next to each other, sweating and holding each other tightly. She had not said a word since the kiss in the kitchen. Raising her head off his chest, she stared into his eyes. “If you ever leave me, you will never experience it that way again.” She laid her head back on his chest. Her breathing slowed and became rhythmic as she drifted off to sleep.

JR continued to hold her. “Mia, I promise, I’ll never leave you. Afraid you’re stuck with me.”

The next thing he knew, it was morning. Her side of the bed was empty, but the smell of coffee and her singing from the kitchen made him smile. He grabbed his cell phone and called Joseph. “I’ll be there.” He listened, “Yeah, six sharp. Thanks Joseph.”

A few minutes later, she was back in the bedroom holding two cups of coffee. She smiled and handed a cup to him. She was wearing one of his old t-shirts, which he thought looked great on her. Sitting on the bed cross-legged facing him, she sipped her coffee and smiled. “And you’re stuck with me.”

***

Monday evening Kruger sat in O’Dowd’s Irish Pub several blocks from his apartment drinking a beer and on the verge of feeling sorry for himself. He liked the place, but the few times he’d been there were with Stephanie. She had not answered or returned his calls on Sunday or today. As he was reaching for the phone to call her, it vibrated. He checked the ID and accepted the call as quickly as possible. “Hi.”

“Hi back…”

“I’m sorry for what I said Saturday. I was totally out of line.”

“That’s why I called.”

Kruger sat up straighter on the barstool, he blinked several times. “Oh…”

“I’m wrapping up early, I’ll be home Wednesday. I’m sorry too, Sean. I shouldn’t have called that late on Saturday. I was…”

“Lonely—so was I.”

“Is this a good thing Sean? Missing each other this much.”

“Yeah, it’s a real good thing.

They talked for an hour.

***

Tuesday morning Kruger’s cell phone vibrated again. The ID was blocked, but he accepted the call anyway. “Kruger.”

“Sean, its Joseph.” His tone was crisp and military.

“Aren’t we a little formal this morning?”

“I need you in Springfield this afternoon. You owe me so many favors it’s not funny. I’m cashing one in right now.”

“Okay, when do you want me there?”

“No later than three. We need to talk before we meet someone.”

Kruger was quiet for a few moments, “Who are we meeting?”

“I will discuss it only in person.”

Frowning at the demeanor coming across the phone, “I have to be back in KC on Wednesday, but I’ll be in Springfield tonight.”

“Good.” The call ended.

Staring at the phone, Kruger said, “What the hell was that all about?”

***

JR sat at his usual spot at the bar, staring at the evening news on one of the TVs, and waiting. It was almost a quarter after six, and the weather report was starting. So far, no Joseph. He placed a napkin on the seat to his right for Joseph after a tall man had taken the seat to his left. JR glanced at him as the man ordered a Boulevard Pale Ale. JR smiled. One of his favorites too. After the man was served, he tried to engage JR in conversation. JR responded with clipped one-word answers until the man finally stopped talking. The absence of Joseph and the stranger on his left started to wear on his nerves. Where was Joseph? When he had spoken to him earlier in the day, Joseph had emphasized being at the pub no later than six o’clock. JR was ready to move forward with getting his life straightened out. Not making small talk with a stranger.

At 6:30 p.m., as a Cardinals baseball game was starting on TV, Joseph arrived and sat down next to JR. “Sorry I’m late. Got caught on the phone. So, have you met Sean Kruger yet?”

JR stared at Joseph. “What the heck are you talking about? I haven’t met anyone.” His eyes widen. He turned to his left and saw the man smiling.

The tall man and Joseph shook hands. The stranger said, “Nice to see you again, Joseph. Your friend here has been nervous, apparently not interested in small talk.”

“He can be rude sometimes, under the current circumstances. Please forgive him.”

The man offered his hand to JR. “I’m Sean Kruger.”

“Nice to meet you.” JR limply shook the man’s hand. “I think.”

Joseph grew serious. “JR, this is the man I told you about. He can help you. I trust him explicitly. You should as well.” He stood up, looked at JR in a stern, parental manner. “Listen to him, he’s fair and can help you more than anyone else right now.” He turned and walked out of the pub.

Kruger said, "Before you wet your pants, I'm not here to take you back to New York. I think you were defending yourself, I'm here to help."

Remaining quiet, JR stared at him.

Kruger nodded. "Okay, here's what I know..."

He proceeded to tell JR about the investigation and how they had lost track of him outside of the Westminster Hotel in New Jersey. JR realized the man knew a lot, but not the critical side of it: his side.

As JR listened, Kruger explained what Plymel had told the police and how he knew Plymel was lying. Finally, when the FBI man finished, JR said, "What do you plan to do with this knowledge?"

Kruger sipped his beer, stared at the TV, and said, "Nothing. I need someone like you to help me once in a while.”

“Help you with what?”

“You know—computer stuff. If you want to help me, fine. If you don't, I'll walk out of here and you'll never hear from me again."

“How do you know Joseph?” JR asked.

Kruger shrugged. “Old family friend, he recruited me for the FBI. His nephew is my supervisor at the bureau.”

"If I help you, what's in it for me?"

"I'll start the process of clearing your real name."

He stared at Kruger. If he and Joseph had been friends for years and they both wanted to help him, then it might be the best way to make good on the promise he had made to Mia last night. If he could start their life together without looking over his shoulder, it was worth taking a chance. "What do you want to know?"

“How much money did Plymel have stashed away?”

“It was over sixty million, scattered across numerous accounts in the Caymans and Bermuda. Why?”

Kruger smiled. “With your skills, I hope you diverted some of that money.”

JR laughed and nodded.

“Good, I’ll need a copy of the files you acquired from Plymel’s computer. Plus, I need you to hack into P&G’s server to determine any measures they’ve taken to find you. I’ll need to squelch those efforts immediately.”

JR nodded and said, “I’ve already been in P&G’s server. I’ve got a backdoor just in case I need it.” He paused and said, “You’re not like most FBI agents, are you?”

Kruger smiled. “I made a pledge to prosecute the guilty, not the innocent.”

JR smiled and took a sip of his beer. He turned to Kruger. “I don’t get it—why do you want to help me?”

Kruger laughed and took a gulp of his beer. “Good question. I read what P&G Global claimed in the police report; it didn’t make sense. Too many time gaps—witness accounts too consistent with each other. They’re covering something up. Bottom line, they lied to me. I don’t like people lying to me.”

“Thank you. I didn’t think anyone would ever believe me.”

Kruger frowned. “Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t done anything. When this is all over, you can thank me.” He was quiet for a few moments. “I may need your assistance, but I’ll try to keep you out of it as much as I can. Agreed?”

JR nodded. “Yes. Just let me know what you need.”

He stood. “JR, I’m in your court. But, if I you lie to me in any fashion or manner, I will turn on you so fast.”

JR swallowed hard. “All I can do is to tell you what happened. It’s my word against theirs. I’m only one person against a bunch of very rich guys. You have to make the distinction.”

Kruger smiled. “Let’s go to your place and you can tell me everything.”

***

Kruger walked out of the pub and headed toward his car. Joseph was sitting in the passenger seat when he got in behind the steering wheel. Joseph said, “What do you think?”

“I believe him. I’m not sure he has the ability to lie to anyone he trusts. He trusts you, therefore he trusts me.”

Joseph nodded. “He was an exemplary soldier. But, unfortunately had a commanding officer who was scared of individuals with more intelligence. I need him in my little world, and I believe he would benefit you at times. Am I wrong?”

Kruger shook his head. “No, you’re not wrong. Once I have the files from JR’s transgression into P&G’s server, I can go to the US attorney general and get a subpoena. Then I can bring in CPAs that carry guns. I’m kind of looking forward to that. It should be fun.”

Joseph grew quiet. He stared out the passenger window for a moment then turned back to Kruger. “My biggest concern is there may already be someone else looking for him.”

“You told me you found him after I mentioned his old name the other night. Are you starting to lie to me after all these years?”

Joseph shook his head. “No, I’m not lying to you. The point is, regardless of how careful JR has been, there are always trails. The more people looking for you, the more chances those mistakes will be found and acted upon.”