Agent Weisman and Solly were walking into the outer office when the burly man waved them down.
“The woman is screaming her head off. I asked her to keep quiet but, in a few minutes, she started up again.”
“She and her friend, Gerald will be leaving shortly, you’ll have to live with another few minutes of lunacy.”
Solly smiled. Both Gerald and Jewel had so many different crimes stacked up against them, there was no chance of either one getting off. Interpol wanted to take Gerald back to Holland, but they would have to wait for the arraignment in Mays Landing before they could start legal proceedings. Jewel could get the death penalty. Gerald might not if he went back with Interpol. It isn’t my problem anymore, Solly thought. Little did he know!
Solly, Weisman and the case which originally held the jewels would be heading to Atlantic City at 9:00am. Weisman wanted to bring the case to show the people they would meet just how crazy it had been. The diamonds living in a glob of wax in a false bottom of an old wooden case for 60 years without detection.
They would stop and pick up Jonas, M&M at the chateau. Their meeting was with Patrick Appleby Quinn, the representative for the diamond consortium. He and his associates would check the Star of LaMar, for authenticity and return it to Holland and the family which owned the diamond. They were not interested in the other diamonds. The Star was worth the $125,000,000 alone. The rest were small diamonds which Larsen had stolen from personal jewel collections. It included rings, broaches, bracelets and such, from which he had removed the diamonds for easy transport.
Larsen was a bad gambler and was caught stealing in Rio de Janeiro a few years after he arrived. He had sold the diamonds to an American businessman. He used the money to pay off his gambling debts but continued to incur more. A trap was set for him one night. He has never been heard from since he was arrested in 1952.
Mudd was up early. He didn’t know why. A shower and then off to see the world.
Mother jumped out of bed. He was ready for whatever was to happen. He spent fifteen minutes doing his short exercise program and then filled his belly with a bottle of water.
Jonas was still worried about Belle. He managed to get himself ready for the trip to Atlantic City, he wasn’t going to miss the reward. Unbelievable he thought I was carrying all those diamonds worth all that money and had no clue.
They all met in the café for a light breakfast. They weren’t very hungry. Too much on their minds.
Muddy spoke first. “At least we won’t have to worry about Gerald or Jewel. I was told they would be on their way to Mays Landing and a strong jail cell.”
“They’re not the kind of people you should count out until the day is done,” said Jonas.
“You have a point, let’s hope all goes well,” Mother added.
“Well Jonas, are you as excited as I am about the reward?”
“If you are ecstatic and have a feeling of euphoria Muddy, as I do, yes!”
All were very quiet during most of the meal. Suddenly they heard a friendly voice.
“Are you all ready to go?” inquired Solly.
They all nodded affirmatively, as their mouths were full of food.
“Agent Weisman and I are going to have a good cup of coffee and some toast and then off to AC.”
“Did Jewel and Gerald get off this morning?” Mother asked.
“Please don’t ask,” said Weisman, “Jewel is a pain.”
“I know,” replied Mudd, “she scared the living daylights out of me.”
They all finished about the same time. Weisman and Solly ordered a coffee to go.
“They have really good coffee,” said Weisman.
“We are gassed up and ready to travel, let’s hope for a not too eventful day, we’re due for one,” declared Solly.
Jewel and Gerald were cuffed. They sat in the back seat behind a strong metal separator and a roll up window. The doors were locked tight with the controls to unlock them located in the front of the car. The two agents were in complete control. They enjoyed the silence. Jewel would scream an obscenity on occasion, but it was barely audible. Gerald told her to keep her mouth shut.
“Shut up yourself, Mickey Mousey!”
The trip was going smoothly. Only thing slowing them was the construction between mile post 47 and south to 37. They had come through the construction in the Toms River area earlier with little difficulty. The two agents didn’t talk much. The one in the passenger seat scanned the horizon as they traveled. All was still clear. They hoped to arrive somewhere between nine and ten o’clock. There would be a few papers to sign, which shouldn’t take long. Then they would head back to Newark and some peace and quiet.
Svetleva had the unenviable job of trying to figure out how to get her half sister and brother out of FBI custody. She had called for help from her Philly friends. Six men were setting up to do the job. Three at each location. They had to cover two approaches to Mays Landing. Route 50 and the back way using Mill Road to Ocean Heights Avenue and through the lower Pinelands. Svetty hoped for the Mill Road route. They would know as soon as the car exited the Parkway. Exit 37, probably, Route 50. Exit 36, probably, Mill Road. They all waited.
The agent driving had decided to take Route 50. However, the construction had Exit 37 partially blocked. He had to stay in the left lane. This changed his route.
“Looks like we’re going via exit 36, reset the route on the GPS,” he told the other agent.
“I got it.”
Exit 36 was one mile down the Parkway. As they crossed Tilton Road the exit would circle from the Parkway to Tilton, “Keep to the right and go to the light which will be Fire Road,” were the words coming from the GPS unit. They had a sensual female voice set to give directions. “Go 2/10 of a mile and turn right at the light, take Fire Road 1.4 miles to Mill Road.” As they approached the light they heard, “Make a right at the light, Mill Road continue for 3.3 miles.” As they approached the end of Mill Road the GPS spoke again. “Take a right on to Ocean Heights Avenue, continue for 5.8 miles” the GPS went quiet. The quiet put the agents on alert, quiet was not in the manual but quiet was in most suspense movies. They looked at each other and laughed. Laughing may be bad. Stay alert!
The agents didn’t notice a white pickup truck turn in behind them as they passed the gas station. When the SUV had gone 2.3 miles the pickup truck pulled over and stopped. The driver waited for a call.
~
Solly pulled the car out of the parking lot at Chateau 54. Drove to the gate at the end of the long driveway and made a right. He continued for two miles and made a left on to Route 37, where he headed straight to the Parkway. He didn’t need the GPS, this was a route he had driven many times. Lots of chatter in the car as the excitement was growing.
Jonas tried to call Belle but his phone didn’t get a signal. He would have to wait.
“What are you going to do with your part of the reward money Jonas,” asked Muddy.
“I don’t know exactly, but I do know I’ll fix things up for my immediate family.”
“What kind of things?”
“The home in Georgia needs some work. My son lives there but needs help keeping up with things. Belle…well I don’t know what she’s doing. I haven’t told you about the latest conversation. She sounded strange. I mentioned to you I thought she had lost her Southern drawl during one conversation I had with her and yesterday she ended the conversation with, ‘youz guys have a good day’ or something like that. She had her drawl until she made the comment. Am I going overboard or could there be something I’m missing?” Jonas told his friends with a feel of trepidation in his voice. “That’s some of the things I’ll be doing with my money. What about you Mudd?”
After a moment’s hesitation Muddy replied, “I don’t know. Maybe help some of the kids, maybe sell the house and downsize or just get a couple of young ladies to hang out with me in my later years, which will soon be arriving.”
Muddy a
lways had a way to get a laugh. Maybe he planned it, maybe not but even serious Agent Weisman laughed.
Solly was keeping the speed limit. The car was rolling smoothly as they came to the construction area at mile post 47. It was after 9:00am. The road narrowed to one lane. They were impatient to get there but patient enough not to let it bother them. The car was still rolling along at a 45 mile per hour clip. Not bad and it was only for a few miles.
“Our turn is coming up soon. It should be exit 38B, straight to AC,” Solly said.
~
Svetleva was getting uptight as the illegal transfer of prisoners was about to happen. On Ocean Heights Avenue as the road went through a barren section of the Pinelands her friends had set up a simulated automobile accident. The car stuck out from the woods onto the road. It looked like it had struck a tree. There was steam coming from under the hood. One man was helping another to his feet. A very convincing act. Svetleva called the two pickup trucks and told then to set up the barricades. She told them she needed five minutes. Then they were to pack up the barricades and move on.
“Should we stop,” asked the FBI agent driving.
“Just long enough to call for help,” the other agent said.
No sooner had they stopped, rolled down the windows asking if they could be of assistance when a man and a woman appeared. They had come up from behind with guns drawn.
“Keep quiet and no one will get hurt,” Svetleva was doing the talking.
“We need to tell you we are transporting two prisoners.”
“Exactly why we’re here, unlock the back doors.”
The agents did as they were asked.
“You won’t be able unlock the…” said the agent but stopped talking as Svetleva punched some numbers into her phone and unlocked the final lock, the destination lock.
“Guess it’s not fool proof,” said the other agent.
As soon as the doors were unlocked Jewel and Gerald got out. Jewel wanted to get at the agents, but Svetleva told her to get in the other car. Gerald grabbed her and they jumped in the back seat of the car which had steam coming from under the hood. As if by magic the steam stopped. It had been a sham. A propane tank filled with a solution of rubbing alcohol and peroxide had been set off under the front of the car with a hose mounted on the grill. “Special effects,” Gerald told Jewel.
“I suppose you don’t have a key for the cuffs,” Svetty asked the agents.
“Correct,” said the agent behind the wheel. “The keys to unlock the cuffs are at our destination.”
“Figured so,” Svetty said. “This won’t hurt but you will sleep for a good hour.” She pulled out a dart gun and shot both of the agents in their necks. They fell asleep within fifteen seconds. Their car was pulled alongside the road and left there as if they were resting from a long drive. Jewel was screaming, “Get me loose, I want to kill those miserable guys.” No one paid her any mind. They needed to get out of there before someone came along. Another car was waiting for them nearby. They changed cars. The Philly guys would get paid and head home. A very good, almost perfect exchange of prisoners. Svetleva had done her job. Her half brother and sister were almost free. Only the cuffs remained.
FortyThree — The Great Escape
Gerald and Jewel had escaped their fate, at least for the present; Svetleva called it, “The Great Escape.”
“You are so full of it,” said Jewel, “I could have done the same.”
“Yeah, but would you?”
Mickey was getting fed up with the bickering. He planned to leave the country. He would make his own great escape.
“Do you have a way to get these cuffs unshackled?” He asked.
“Of course,” said Svetleva. “You don’t think I’d send you out into the world cuffed and shackled. Do you?”
“You think of everything don’t you sis,” said Mickey, as Svetty unlocked and removed his cuffs.
“Let’s get the diamonds while we have the chance,” said Jewel. “After you unshackle me…you will unshackle me, won’t you?”
“Of course she will, Jewel. You do know you have little or no chance getting the diamonds. You should leave while you can.”
“Never! I want the diamonds.”
“You’re choice, Jewel. How about you Svetty, what are your plans?
“I need to think on it before I make a decision.”
“You always need to think. Why don’t you make a move and come with me,” said a miffed Jewel.
“Sounds dangerous and there doesn’t seem to be a good percentage of success,” Svetty said.
“Okay, then I’ll take this car if you don’t mind,”
“Fine, drop us off on the way, I have a car parked at the Shore Mall.”
Jewel dropped Mickey and Svetty at the appointed spot and headed to AC. Mickey asked Svetleva if she could get another car for him.
“There will be a dozen or so to choose from at Dante’s used car lot. He’s been paid ahead for anything we might need.”
Svetty asked Mickey what he would do now. He told her he planned to go to Canada and get a flight from there to someplace in Europe. He has passports ready and would pick up what he needed at his place in Toms River.
He asked if Svetty might help with things if he was unable to move everything before he left. She agreed and wished him luck. Lucian Santana Gerald, would go away as Mickey McGrath returned. He would disguise himself and use one of his many fake passports to get into Canada. He thought he was smarter than law enforcement and would make a complete exit to a new life. Would Mickey pull off his Great Escape? Time would tell.
“What do you think happened?” asked Solly.
“Don’t know nothing yet, lets hear what the home office has to say.”
Weisman’s phone rang. It was Mays Landing. They told him the agents did call. They were taking the Mill Road to Ocean Heights Avenue route because they were unable to get off at Exit 37 due to construction.
Newark tried to call them but they were not answering. A police vehicle has been dispatched and is back tracking the route. They would give the police time to get to Mill Road before they start a large-scale search.
Weisman was worried. Solly could feel the atmosphere in the car changing from a lofty exuberance to a down right feeling of depression.
It wasn’t long before the call came. The agents were found sleeping from some drug apparently administered with a needle. They were fine and starting to come out of their funky sleep. Weisman wanted to talk to one of them a.s.a.p., if not sooner.
“They’re probably heading out of the country.”
“Who’s heading out of the country?” Mudd asked.
“Everybody is…why am I talking to you?” Weisman said.
His phone rang. It was one of the agents. He told him how it happened.
Patrick Allenby Quinn, was waiting to hear from Weisman. He had everybody he needed on standby for a thorough check of the diamond known as the Star of LaMar.
Mr. Quinn was a portly gentleman of Irish decent. He had worked for the diamond consortium since he graduated from college. A perfect gentleman with a slight Irish brogue, a ruddy complexion, a great smile placed perfectly below a stunning handle bar mustache. The room phone rang. The front desk advised him his guests had arrived.
“Send them up immediately! Immediately!” He told the man on the phone in a gentle but absolute voice.
Shortly, there was a knock on the door.
Mr. Quinn had patiently waited for the moment he was about to experience. Finding the Star of LaMar was a goal he had set for himself when he first became head of the diamond consortium. He wasn’t sure it would be found, but he wanted to r
esolve the issue before he retired. This couldn’t be better, he would be bringing home the diamond and presenting it to his peers.
“Henrick, open the door for our guests.”
Weisman, was on a short leach. He would be ready to move at a moment’s notice. Solly, M&M and Jonas Lundgren greeted Patrick Allenby, as he shook each hand with untold energy, he was a happy man.
“Please, let’s be seated. I want to hear the whole story. How did you trace down the Star of LaMar and how were you able to secure it?” he asked. “But first, if you would be so kind, can your man go with my group so they can authenticate the fabulous diamond.”
Weisman had to leave. He told Solly to go with the designated group of men.
Jonas would start the story he narrated his part beautifully. When his story ended in Chicago, Muddy continued. He talked, but had to repeat some of what he said, as he did not always speak the King’s English. Muddy took the story to Fair Lawn. Solly had returned and filled in what he thought may have been missed.
“Thank you, gentlemen,” said Patrick Allenby.
The group returned. “Sir, it is the Star of LaMar.”
“Wonderful!” said Patrick Allenby. “Now you must all join us for lunch while my secretary makes out the checks for the reward to the two gentlemen who in an unbelievable manner have brought us the Star of LaMar.”
Lunch was served. When the dessert came Muddy and Jonas received an envelope. Mr. Quinn stood up and saluted them with a short toast. Muddy wondered if it would be polite to look at the check. He didn’t want to be short changed. Jonas didn’t look at his check, so Mudd held off. At least until he was alone, but it was killing him. He had never had a million dollars in his hand, never.
Solly, told Mr. Quinn they had better be on their way. He picked up the case. It was still part of the evidence. Patrick Allenby, thanked him for bringing it along. It was a thrill to see how the diamonds had been carried in complete secrecy for so many years.