Thin Blood Thick Water (Clueless Resolutions Book 2) (25 page)

Don Chace had suggested to Maurice that Mahlah Bickford, likely accompanied by Chip Chaplain, might be lured into a meeting with a buyer offering a Million US dollars for the Lab property. He felt that it could be arranged for at location on US soil. Then they could detain Mahlah, as a U.S. citizen with a home address in New York, and hold her for questioning about the arranged sale. The insurance investigators could then probe for details on her husband’s accident. Under those conditions, the potential buyer would certainly withdraw from the sale. If Chip got nervous and tried to re-enter Canada, he could be detained on that side and questioned on his involvement

Now it was time to address the most important part of the luncheon discussion, the recruiting of Maggie and Max to help set the stage.

“So, where would we come in on this so-called sale?” asked Max. Don Chace suggested that, if he and Maggie could keep Chip engaged in discussions of Max’s estimate of market value, the amount of the sale price would surely be passed on to Mahlah. Then, when a surprise buyer was produced by Maggie as an alternative to USAP buying the property, Chip would notify Mahlah, and a time and place could be set for the money to be negotiated and transferred.

“You two could act as liaisons to the transaction and go with them to the Canadian side for final papers and deed transfer,” Chace suggested. “They should have no questions as to your involvement in the transaction.”

“Actually, if we can detain Mahlah on the U.S. side of the border, the whole deal will be canceled and your part will be over,” Don said to the civilians. “Officially, we’ll keep the real motive for the plan off the records for your protection. Do you agree Maurice?” Maurice agreed and expressed his confidence in the plan.

“What do you amateur private-detectives think about this caper?” Don Chace asked of Maggie and Max. The query was accompanied by a smile, but they knew Don, and they knew he was deadly serious. Maggie looked at Max with a look of indecision. Max gazed back at her with a ‘here we go again’ sort of look.

“I’ll let Maggie answer for herself,” Max answered after a moment of reflection. “I put her in a dangerous position by asking her to help on our last trip to Nova Scotia. As for me, I am really pissed-off at Chip for sending me up there under the impression it was for the Partnerships potential investment. That disingenuous s.o.b. obviously had ulterior motives and he deserves whatever happens. I’m not too anxious to make another trip to Canada for a while, but as long as it takes place in the U.S.A. I’m game.”

“I’m okay with it,” Maggie said. “I can do the paperwork and, when and if we get an offer from a buyer, I can handle the negotiations.”

Other information pertinent to the plan went on for twenty or so minutes. Maurice was pleased that Max and Maggie agreed to attempt the plan. “Maybe I can finally make a move on this case. It’s been a while!” he stated emphatically, as he rose from the table.

“This one’s on me,” he told the others. “I’ll pick up the tab, you guys split the tip. Call me with the arrangements, Don,” he directed, as he walked to the waitress stand and settled up.

“I’ve got the tip,” Chace said as he dropped a twenty dollar bill on the table. “I’ll call you when Inspector Leblanc arranges things at one of the border stations on his side.” Chace then caught up with Maurice and they exited the White Coach Tavern.

“Here we go again, Mag,” Max said, as they followed the other pair out to the parking lot.

“If they’re going to put the cuffs on Chip, I wouldn’t miss that for anything, Max,” she replied.  “Oh, shit!” she exclaimed. “I forgot to ask if they knew why or how that river water turned red.”

Max Hargrove and Maggie Marshall had joined as partners in business, social activities and eventually in their private lives over the previous five years. It had been nearly to the point of exclusivity.  They had known of each other within their local community for a few years before that, and each had notched out a special place for the other on their subconscious lists of ‘okay people’.  In their ensuing relationship, those assessments of each other were enhanced to the point of respect and trust. They both had experienced enough of life to realize that they shared something rare and special.

Now they had reached another crossroads in their lives where individual decisions impacted each of them correspondingly.  Instinctively, each had arrived at the decision to go along with Don Chace’s and Maurice Leblanc’s plan to dispense justice, while staying within the restraints of international and ethnic guidelines.

The core of the plan hatched by Chace and Leblanc hung on greed. The details of the plan, as described during the meeting at the White Horse Tavern, suggested that it was well thought-out. The two law enforcement officers theorized that, with the life insurance claim stalled due to the questions surrounding the airplane-related accidental death, Mahlah might be anxious to sell the Laboratory property. Chip’s frequent unregistered visits to the location of the accidental death, combined with his close relationship with Mahlah and the suspicion of his being a witness to the death, justified the detention of both he and Mahlah for questioning by Canadian officials. Chip might be trying to cash-in on the Bickford property sale somehow. If a willing buyer able to pay cash was presented to the couple, the desire for the quick money would tempt them to agree to a hasty private transaction. The transaction could be arranged on U.S. soil, but in close proximity to a secret refuge on the Canadian side of the border, to dispel their fears of being too long in one spot.

Chip and Mahlah would be considered innocent until proven guilty of any criminal activity under the American Constitution. The crimes they were suspected of occurred in Canada, and officially there was no valid reason to detain them outside of the Canadian borders. No charges had been filed against either of them, so no Canadian magistrate could authorize their detention.  If, and when, presented with the opportunity, an un-anticipated reversal of the transaction might panic the expected recipients into a spontaneous, irrational grab for the money. That would present cause on either side of the border for an arrest on attempted robbery. The full weight of the law would then collapse upon them, regardless of which side of the border had jurisdiction. The prosecuting country would be fully supported by the other. In the process, much-needed light would be shed on the questionable death of Ernest Bickford. Also, the drug smuggling investigation could proceed with less resistance.

Maggie felt that the cause was just. Max also was generally in favor of justice, but as he pointed out, there were extenuating circumstances in his case.

For instance, he began to tick-off certain facts. He had never met the widow Mahlah Bickford, and he had replaced Ernest Bickford in his position at USAP.  Chip Chaplain was senior partner in USAP and functioned as Chief Executive Officer of the organization. He had backed Max to be accepted by the partnership, preforming the function as Chief Financial Officer, replacing Ernest Bickford. All this had taken place after the investigations by the insurance company concerning the accidental death benefit claim, and the RCMP investigation of the circumstances surrounding Ernest Bickford’s death. The case could be presented by a desperate defense lawyer, or barrister, in such a way as to make it seem that Max had much to gain by Bickford’s death. Sad as it was, nevertheless it was true.  Max could be implicated in the suspected crime although he had no prior knowledge of the circumstances.

“Max, you are jumping at shadows!” Maggie scolded. “You’ve got to relax a little more.”

“I have to stay ahead of this Mag,” Max responded with a serious tone. “With what we’ve been through the past few years, you of all people should know what can happen when you walk around with blinders on.  Maggie was taken aback by the stern, lecture-like, response. She hesitated for a moment with a blank look on her face.

“Yeah, I know,” she said softly. “You’re one hundred percent right. We can turn and walk away on this and continue our lives, I suppose. That would be the safe thing to do.”

They shared a silent moment of reflection as they sat in their idling car waiting for the heater to kick in.

“But…Max started.

“But, but what?” Maggie interrupted with a coy smile.  Max relaxed, turned to Maggie and put his hand on her shoulder with a tender squeeze.

“First, I want you to understand there might be some risk involved here,” Max stated calmly. “Second, I don’t know how the other Partners are going to react if Chip is pulled in for questioning. That’s the idea behind Don Chace’s plan, don’t forget. Third, we don’t know which or if any of the Partners are involved in the drug smuggling.”

“But…?” Maggie repeated, sensing that Max had something to add.  She sensed correctly. Max was irritated with the mysteries and complex operations management within USAP. They had more than a few conversations in that regard, especially since the Nova Scotia investigations. He had begun to adapt to the military-style leadership that Chip utilized. The presumption was that strict security had to be maintained with certain operations, especially with government agencies involved. However, under that imposed ‘umbrella of secrecy’ self-serving issues could be authorized by the one individual who was the overall operations manager. That person was Chip Chaplain.

“Are you thinking of leaving USAP Max?” Maggie asked.

“Not really,” he replied without hesitation. “I like the idea behind what the organization stands for and it’s an interesting way to earn a living. But, that was then and this is now,” he added. “If Chip is mixed up in this alone, I’d be the first one to say he has to go. At that point I would want to help clear the Partnership of any question of its code of ethical practices. If there were multiple other Partners involved it could mean the end of the USAP as we know it.

“I can understand the conflicting sentiments,” Maggie replied, as she reached over to cup his chin in her hand. “What you just said describes the man that you are, the man that I trust and admire,” she said as she craned her neck to engage in a long, loving kiss. “I’m with you whichever way you handle it,” she said, when their lips parted.

“Whew!” Max exclaimed tugging at the shirt collar around his neck. “You should warn me when you’re going to warm me up like this.”

“Actually, genius, the heater is on full blast,” she said with a chuckle, referring to the air system. At that point the car had idled in the parking lot for around fifteen minutes. They shared a laugh and began the drive back to East Wayford.

So it had been decided and agreed upon, that when Don Chace called with the date and place for the implementation of the plan, Max and Maggie would be ready with clear heads and bags packed.

The call from Don Chace came much sooner than they expected. Max’s cell phone buzzed at 6:10 PM that evening.

Chace described the place of the ‘sale’ that had been decided upon. It would be set up at a border crossing near the town of Fort Fairfield, Maine. The town was located on the Aroostook River where it intersected with Maine State Highway Rt.1. The border-crossing customs station was located a mile or so east on state highway 161 to Perth-Andover, New Brunswick. The Saint Johns River was nearby on the Canadian side, running north-south parallel with Trans-Canada Highway #2. The location was readily accessible by car, boat, rail, or air. Twelve miles southeast of Fort Fairfield, the Maine Northern State Airport was located in the city of Presque Isle. An Aroostook Railroad station was also situated at Presque Isle. The surrounding area in Aroostook County was mostly open farmland with potatoes being the main crop. Potato farming also prevailed, surrounding the Canadian Customs side of the border crossing at Perth-Andover.

Max had put his cell phone on speaker and Maggie took notes. Chace suggested a discrete run-through of the transaction might be a good idea so he asked if they could take time off, perhaps over the coming week-end, to meet in Fort Fairfield with Maurice. Getting a nod from Maggie, Max agreed.

The suggested place and time was Sunday morning at 10:00 AM at the Country Vista Bed and Breakfast on Route 1A, Fort Fairfield, Maine. Chace said he would book the reservations.

Then it was time for two hungry adventurers to eat. Two double-sized egg omelets loaded with peppers and onions were prepared and cooked by Maggie while Max opened a bottle of Riesling wine that he located in the back corner of their wine cooler. Maggie had developed the art of cooking ‘one hell-uv-an omelet’ according to Max and it had become a big favorite. 

“Aha, one of my favorite late suppers by one of my favorite babes”! Max exclaimed with a faked, raucous-sounding accent and a smirk.

“I’m one of your favorite babes”? Maggie quipped indignantly. “This might be your last favorite omelet, you turkey!” Maggie laughed at the sound of her own response. Max pinched her cheek and chuckled while he gave her an open handed pat on the butt.

It seemed that the idea of a new, slightly risky, adventure had gotten them both into an amorous mood. To Maggie it was a welcome change from the funk that Max had been mired in.  Max was glad to be doing something, actually anything, to resolve the questions in his mind.

The Maggie and Max team’s after-dinner hours were preoccupied with researching travel times and travel modes. From East Wayford, to Presque Isle, turned out to be an 8 hour, 525 mile drive. That pretty much eliminated the driving method.

Flight had become the preferred mode but Max couldn’t use his USAP privileges in this case without arousing suspicion. The only choices were, a commercial flight for two on a commercial airline, or a rental airplane. Price checking indicated that a commercial flight for two would be the most economical choice, but renting an airplane would provide the economy of time. Since Max qualified, the rental of a two-passenger airplane in which he had ‘checked out’ was the way to go. The flight times ranged between 1.1 hours in a small jet plane to 3.5 hours in a relatively inexpensive prop plane. They could meet-up with Chace at the Presque Isle airport and proceed from there on a 12 mile drive to Fort Fairfield. Since the airplane costs would come out of their own pockets, a small prop plane became the transportation mode of choice. A Cessna Skylane was selected and a rental was booked at Tweed Airport for an 8:00 AM Sunday departure to Northern Maine airport at Presque Isle.