Writing and Travel, for me, bring me pleasure beyond imagination
So - Today's post is not, technically about travel. It's a short story of love, infidelity, intrigue, very bad people, very good people, kidnapping and a world of lawless people and a man, the woman he loves and his crew correcting a very bad situation. The lead characters are Michelangelo (Mitch), Lennon, Amanda, Tyler, and, of course, Angel Dog. The bad guys are Carlo and his very bad "problem solvers". It takes place in Las Vegas and other locales. So have a good read. I hope you enjoy my first attempt at short story writing. You can also find the story on www.wattpad.com.
Michelangelo and The Angel Dog
Michelangelo Agosto, alias Mick,
slowly rolled over and felt completely alone. The love of his life was gone. He
rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat on the edge of the bed. He knew this
would happen one day. He had this thing about relationships with women. They
always left. His only true-blue companion was his German Shepard Angel Dog. She
was the only female that stayed. She had been with him for three years since he
resigned from the Las Vegas Police Department, after serving as a highly
decorated detective for over twenty years, to become a private detective. Due
to her age, after serving in the police department for almost ten years, all of
his fellow detectives made sure he took Angel Dog with him into retirement.
So, such is life, in Mick's head.
No real job and no woman. He laid back down on the bed, wondering what he would
do today. He could see Lennon and her flowing red hair with her piercing dark
eyes. She had been with him through thick and thin even before he quit. Even
though he was an outstanding detective, he simply burned out. It just became
too much. Too much killing, rape, violence, robberies, etc. etc. He had seen it
all in twenty years as a crime solving sleuth. But enough was enough. So, he
quit. Then, after three years of love and loyalty, Lennon quit. The obsession
with each of his cases. Drinking to ease the pain of his chosen profession. He
would be gone for days and sometimes weeks, leaving her alone to ponder what
was next. He wouldn't commit and she finally moved out and away. Heartbroken,
Mitch went into a fearful depressive state and now he was wondering.
He knew he had taken the wrong path
three years ago and now wondered what and how he could get back in the game of
life and do what he was best at, solving crimes. He painfully found out that
private detective work required actual paying clients. And Lennon! His
redheaded, dark eyed muse. They were in love, or so he thought. But now she was
gone. Plus, he was just scraping by - spending his small pension on seedy
motels and dog food. Mitch never envisioned this for himself when he was at the
top of the crime solving universe in Las Vegas.
Then fate appeared. Mitch answered
his cell phone. He didn't recognize the number. The caller spoke in very clear
and concise language. The caller said, "Hello, am I speaking with
Michelangelo Agosto. "Yes, this is he – Mick." he replied. "I
would like to meet with you to discuss a problem I need you to solve."
said the lady on the call. "Well, I don't know you, so, let's start with
your name." replied Mick. "My name is Amanda Rossi." she
replied.
Mitch pondered that for a few
seconds.
Then Mitch asked - "Are you
who I think you are? Are you the wife of Carlo Rossi, the owner of Platino
Hotel & Casino?" "Yes, I am. And I respectfully request that my
identity and this phone conversation be kept strictly between us." replied
Amanda.
Mitch thought a little more. This
extraordinarily wealthy woman wants him to "solve a problem"?
Mitch, being a former cop with the ability
to smell trouble, thought – "no way in hell"! However, he was dead
broke. If this fateful chance could bring in some money, he should at least
hear her out.
So, Mitch said, "Ok, where
would you like to meet to discuss your problem?" Amanda recommended,
"Let's meet at Ventano's in Hendersonville. It's outside of Vegas and I
will get us a private room. They are very discreet." "When?"
Mitch asked. "How about tomorrow at two?" she offered. Mitch agreed,
"OK, I'll see you then. How will I know you?" "Just ask the
manager when you come in. He knows me." she replied.
Mitch ended the call, sat back down
on the bed, and pondered this upcoming talk with the wife of one of the
wealthiest casino proprietors in Vegas with some trepidation. However, he told
himself, this could bring in some serious money.
So, Mitch, with mixed feelings,
decided to take Angel Dog for a run. After the run, he grabbed some take out
and headed back to the low rent room he and his best girl were staying in. He
fed Angel, then sat down and ate the tacos and fries with a nice cool beer. He
had a pretty good feeling as he thought about the meeting he would have the
next day.
He said to Angel Dog, "So
girl, you'll be by yourself for a while tomorrow. But I won't be gone for very
long. But, if I take this job the lady's talking about, you and I might be
going on some trips to places unknown."
After finishing his tacos and
fries, Mitch hopped in the shower, dried off and went peacefully to sleep for
the first time in quite a while. He dreamed about Lennon all night. Mitch woke
the next morning deeply missing her beauty, her smarts and her love. He wanted
to call her, text her, or find her, but he decided to wait until he got his
life back together.
Who knows, he said to himself,
today could be the start of something big. He decided to take Angel out for an
early morning walk. As they walked down the Vegas Strip, Mitch watched the
people starting their day, preparing to lose lots of money. He understood the
11th commandment – The House Always Wins. He had given up gambling, but
sometimes he was still drawn to it, even though he knew that 99.9% of the time
he would lose.
His best girl, Angel, was always at
the ready. She had been "Brain Trained" at the Las Vegas Police Dog
Training Academy. She was extraordinarily smart and, if needed, she could
become, in a split second, a bona fide bad ass. She had protected Mitch many
times when he or other detectives got in a bad situation dealing with some of
the most violent criminals that seemed to always be lurking in Vegas.
As they walked, Angel was never on
a leash. She was so well trained that she knew what to do when commanded. Mitch
thought they made a great pair. He also thought about how much Lennon loved
Angel, and it hurt Mitch deeply that she was gone from his and Angel's life.
After the walk, they stopped at one of Mitch's favorite little spots just off
the strip for breakfast. The owner always had a nice snack for Angel. They
finished their breakfast and headed back to the tiny room he was renting. He
took a shower and got dressed for his 2:00 PM meeting with Mrs. Rossi. He put
out some food for Angel and left her in the room.
After about a thirty-minute drive,
he arrived at Ventano's a little before 2:00. He parked and walked in. He was
immediately glad he had worn his best suit, even though he did not wear a tie.
This place was way above his pay grade. When he asked to see Mrs. Rossi, the
manager took him to the back of the restaurant into a private room where she
was eagerly awaiting his arrival. They shook hands, introduced themselves, and
sat down. She asked what he would like. He said just water for now.
Mitch started the conversation,
"How did you find me?" Amanda replied, "I found you because you
were recommended to me by your former girlfriend. She says you are the
best." Mitch asked, "How do you know Lennon?" Amanda said,
"A friend of a friend gave me her number. I called her for help and she
recommended you instead. I did not tell her specifically who I was trying to
find. So, she has no knowledge of why we are meeting today."
Mitch remembered that Lennon was
also in the private eye business. She handled small cases for people who wanted
to find their birth parents, check the security of a business with an owner or
find out if a spouse was cheating. Mitch felt maybe Lennon was still in his
life, though remotely. Lennon, unlike Mitch, was also an extraordinarily
talented gambler. She usually won a lot of money when she played.
Amanda began to tell him, in exact
detail, the problem she needed him to solve.
First off, "I must tell you
that every word of this conversation and any others we have must be kept
completely secret between you and me."
Mitch agreed, "Of course.
Anything you tell me will be held in the strictest confidence."
Amanda started, "I want you to
find my lover, Tyler Jones. I have been in love with him for over two years
unbeknownst to my husband. My husband does not love me. My husband abuses me.
He doesn't beat me, but he constantly belittles me and makes me feel like I am
worthless to him or anyone else. Tyler treats me like a lady every time we are
together. Tyler and I have been seeing
each other in secret for over two years. He disappeared three weeks ago. No
email, no text, and no call – just vanished. I think something terrible has
happened and I need to know what and where. So, I want you to find him, no
matter the cost." Mitch then said, "Are you sure that he just
vanished. Were you and he having any relationship problems?" To which
Amanda replied, "Absolutely not. The last time we were together, it was
passionate and wonderful. I cried when I had to leave him to return to the hell
in my marriage."
Mitch asked, "When and where
did you two meet up and for how long the last time you saw him?"
Amanda answered, "It was
exactly three weeks ago in a small private hotel in San Francisco, Nob Hill
Place. I go there regularly under the guise of visiting my sister, Kimberly, in
San Francisco. She knows about my affair. I did not see her on that trip. It
was just Tyler and I having a wonderful time together."
Then Mitch asked, "What does
Tyler do for a living?"
Amanda said, "He is a
remarkably successful entrepreneur. He owns several businesses in San Francisco
and other parts of California. He's not super rich but he is very well off.
Money is not a problem. And he's not married."
Then Mitch said, "Any
information you have about Tyler will help immensely – Where does he live, the
names of his businesses, what kind of car does he drive, who are his friends,
etc. And of course, pictures and any communications you have had with him such
as emails, texts, etc. Amanda said, "OK. I will gather as much info as I
can find for you in the next day or so. So, will you take this project on and
how much do you expect it to cost?" Mitch replied, "Well, let's start
with a $20,000 retainer to begin with. After that it will be $200 an hour plus
expenses. And I can promise you that I will find your lover. That's what I do,
and I am very good at it." Amanda reached in her handbag, pulled out her
checkbook and wrote his retainer for $20 K.
Mitch sent his email and telephone
number to Amanda's cell, got up and left. As he drove back to his motel, he
pondered the challenge of finding a missing person who just happened to be
having an affair with the wife of one of the most powerful, rich people on the
planet. He drove to his bank, deposited Amanda's check, and withdrew a thousand
dollars. When he arrived, Angel welcomed him as always. After feeding her, he
fell asleep and dreamed of Lennon again.
The next morning, Mitch was up and
at 'em at 6:00. He packed his clothes, threw everything in the trunk of his
immaculate 1967 Regimental Red GTO with a perfectly restored black vinyl top
and let Angel sit in the front passenger seat as always. He and his best girl hit
the road for San Francisco to find Amanda's lover boy. It was a long drive, but
Mitch loved the road and Angel loved riding in that leather front seat. They
stopped overnight at a roadside motel and arrived in San Francisco the next
day.
Mitch found a small upscale hotel
on the outskirts of San Francisco that allowed pets. After checking in, he and
Angel went for a walk and found some places where they could get some fairly
good food. They stopped in a nice burger joint, had dinner, and headed to the hotel
for a restful night.
In the meantime, Amanda had emailed
all of the information she could find about Tyler – his home address, his cell
phone number, the hotel they stayed in, the businesses he owned and the address
and contact number for her sister. Amanda had called her sister to let her know
what was going on. Mitch entered all the information in his journal for quick
reference.
When Mitch was on a case, he did a
tremendous amount of research about who, what and where on the people he was
being asked to locate. All he knew right now was that Amanda's lover had
vanished into thin air. So, he decided to start by calling her sister to get
any information she might have that Amanda hadn't told him. He dialed Kimberly.
After talking to her for about thirty minutes, the only information he got was
that Amanda had been coming to San Francisco about once a month to see Tyler
and that she didn't see her every time she came.
She also told him that sometimes
Amanda and Tyler would hookup in other places closer to Las Vegas. And she
confirmed that Tyler lived on a small vineyard in Napa Valley that he owned.
However, they rarely went there because it was more private to stay in the
suite he always reserved at Nob Hill Place. She also told him they would
sometimes go to a small place he owned on Lake Tahoe. So, Mitch thought to
himself, "these two are enjoying a creative way to have an affair, if they
hook up for love in all these cool places." However, he was still
pondering the big question, "where did this guy go?" And, as of right
now, not a clue!
Mitch and Angel headed out to find
Tyler's house. Amanda had given him a key so he could gain entry to
investigate. As he pulled into the driveway, he noticed that there was no one
around. The eerie stillness he felt gave him much cause for concern. As they
entered the upscale residence, he noticed some furniture turned over and some
shattered glass on the floor. The kitchen had unwashed dishes in the sink.
Being the former cop that he was, he immediately felt that something bad had
happened here. As he searched the rest of the house, he noticed that the master
bedroom had an unmade bed, and all the lights were on. Also, the master bath
was completely disheveled with all manner of items just left on the bathroom
counter as if someone had left with no concern for neatness. Then he inspected
the garage with Jeff's 2022 $150,000 Porsche Taycan Turbo left in the garage.
All of these things that Mitch
noticed and photographed gave him great pause. Either someone had kidnapped Tyler,
or he left in a hurry because someone was after him. However, it would seem
that he would have taken his car if that were the case. No. He was certain that
Tyler had been forcibly removed after a struggle, So, he and Angel left without
bringing any attention to his search of the house. Next, Mitch called Tyler's
housekeeper. He asked her if she had any knowledge of what had happened. She
told him that she did not because she only came once a month and had not been
there this month. Mitch told her what he saw and advised her not to come back
to the house until further notice and to call him if she discovered any
additional information concerning the disappearance of Tyler. Then he sent
Amanda an email with photographs telling her what he had found at Tyler's
house.
Next stop. Nob Hill Place. Mitch
left Angel in the car as he entered the exclusive five-star hotel and asked to
speak to Mr. Westbrook, the concierge who knew both Tyler and Amanda on a
personal level. Amanda had already called him and told him to expect Mitch.
Mitch and Mr. Andrews sat down in a
private office.
Mitch asked, "How often did
Mrs. Rossi and Mr. Jones come here and usually for how long?"
Mr. Westbrook answered, "They
usually came at least once a month for anywhere from a week to ten days. They
also usually come on holidays like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and other
holidays."
Mitch asked another important
question, "Are you aware of the relationships that Mrs. Rossi and Mr.
Jones have in their separate lives?" Mr. Westbrook replied, "Only
that Amanda is married to a very wealthy casino owner in Las Vegas and that Mr.
Jones is single. Also, Mr. Jones always pays the bill."
Then Mitch asked, "What kinds
of things do they do. Do they go out very much or do they stay close by the hotel?"
To which Mr. Andrews replied,
"Actually, they go out very little. They always stay in our presidential
suite which is very private. It has its own sauna, hot tub, and small swimming
pool. It also has its own spa where they regularly have massages together
provided by private massage therapists. They often order room service from our
restaurant or other places in San Francisco and eat in the small dining area in
the suite."
Finally, Mitch asked, "Has
anyone else come to the hotel looking for Mrs. Rossi or Mr. Jones or have you
ever been asked about the couple by anyone other than me." Mr. Andrews
said, "As a matter of fact, yes. A very attractive young woman by the name
of Lennon English was here about three weeks ago asking about Mr. Tyler.
However, I gave her no information."
Mitch immediately pondered this
information. So, Lennon was also interested in finding Tyler Jones. Who in the
name of the good Lord would hire her to do that? This added a completely new
wrinkle to the task at hand for Mitch. He needed to find Tyler. But he also
needed to find out who hired Lennon and why.
Mitch immediately dialed Amanda.
Mitch asked Amanda, "Are you aware of the fact that someone, I don't know
who yet, hired Lennon English to find your boyfriend?" Amanda said -
"Oh my God, I had no idea! However, the first person on that list would
have to be my husband. He is a very powerful man who knows many important
people and, also, many people that do things that other people don't do. It's
possible that he could have seen my phone or my laptop and gotten information
from texts or emails. Tyler and I are always texting passionate things back and
forth and I don't always delete them after I read them." Then Mitch asked,
"Do you have any contacts that you can trust that may know this kind of
information about your husband?" She answered, "No I really don't. I
have very little to do with his circle of friends or any of the fixers he
regularly employs." To which Mitch replied, "OK. I have some contacts
in Vegas that will help me find out what is going on with Lennon. But, for now,
just be cool and don't ask anybody any questions about this."
Mitch decided he needed a run, so,
he and Angel went for a couple of miles so Mitch could clear his head and
figure out his next move. As a former cop and now a private eye, he knew many
people in the information business who could find out things that nobody else
could. Some were cops and others were guys that could ask questions quietly to
get information. So, Mitch dialed one of his closest acquaintances, Gino
Farina, who operated on the dark side as a confidential informant for the
police in Las Vegas. He had done time, but he was very good at finding things
out quietly under the radar.
Mitch told Gino he needed to know
who had hired Lennon and why she was looking for Tyler Jones. They agreed on
the job and the price. Mitch made it very plain that this must be on the QT, or
it could get both of them hurt. Mitch told him to call him as soon as he had
the information he needed.
Mitch was getting a very
uncomfortable feeling about this turn of events. He thought about calling
Lennon but decided against it. He did not want her in any more danger than she
could already be in.
Mitch and Angel Dog hunkered down
and took the long trip back to Vegas, stopping to rest when needed then checked
into an upscale hotel near the strip. He decided to cool his jets until he
heard back from Gino. He had learned over many years as a cop that patience,
sometimes, is a virtue. Meanwhile, he and Angel Dog went for walks and runs to
relax and get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors. On one walk they
encountered a guy that seemed to be out of control. He ran up to Mitch
demanding his wallet and any money he was carrying. Mitch quietly said
"down" and Angel Dog took the guy down with one pounce. Angel's
loyalty to Mitch and her training always prevailed in any serious
confrontation. She stood over the man as Mitch called her off and they walked
away, leaving the man to rethink his attitude about his need to confront people
and demand things that weren't his. Mitch and Angel Dog continued their walk as
the man slowly got up and headed in the opposite direction.
Mitch and his girl stopped off at a
little diner near his hotel that had outstanding chili and a glass of wine. The
owner also had a treat for Angel Dog from the kitchen. After dinner, they
returned to the hotel, Mitch took a shower and drifted off to sleep wondering
about Lennon’s involvement in this case.
The next morning, Mitch's cell rang
while he and Angel Dog were having a light breakfast.
Mitch answered Gino's call,
"What do you know?" Gino replied, "I know as much as you need to
know, and it doesn't sound good." Mitch said, "Lay it on me."
Gino continued, "The big man, Rossi, has indeed hired your lady Lennon to
find the guy you are looking for. According to my contact in the casino, the
boss knows his wife has been having an affair with this guy and he contacted
Lennon to find him." Mitch then asked, "Did you find out whether or
not she found the guy?" Gino said, "According to my source - the
answer is yes, and it gets worse from there. Apparently, she found him, and a
small group of goons went to the guy's house in Frisco, kidnapped him, and now
have him locked up in a room in the basement of the casino. No information on
what exactly they are going to do with him."
Mitch thanked Gino and hung up.
This was a very bad development for him, Amanda, Tyler, and Lennon. Lennon was
not a "tough broad." She was a breathtakingly beautiful female with a
gentle soul who enjoyed being a small-time private eye. Business
investigations, husbands and wives gone astray, and other minor kinds of things
is all she really knew. She had no idea the seriousness of what she had now
become involved with. Mitch didn't know if she knew Tyler Jones had been
kidnapped. Mitch now had two things to do. At the top of the list was to call
Amanda and give her a status report on Tyler and let her know that Lennon had
found him. He also needed to let her know that he was being held in a private
secure room in the basement of the casino. Second, he needed to talk to Lennon,
find out what she knew and produce a plan to save Tyler Jones' life and not
endanger Lennon, himself, or Amanda.
Even though no one really knew, the
rumors of Rossi having mob ties were rampant. Therefore, Mitch knew he was
going to need a perfect plan to free Tyler and end up with everyone alive and
well. From his many years of experience, Mitch knew that it never ended well
when someone was kidnapped and locked up somewhere, particularly if he is the
lover of a beautiful woman who is married to a very rich and powerful casino
owner not really subject to the same laws and rules of society that regular
people are. So, Mitch decided to go see Lennon in person.
Mitch and Angel Dog headed to find
Lennon. He had gotten her address from his Vegas contact. They pulled into the
driveway of a tiny house that Lennon was renting. He and Angel Dog walked up to
the door and Mitch knocked. The door opened and there stood the love of his
life. Angel Dog immediately responded lovingly to Lennon as she had done so
many times before. Lennon returned that love energetically. Then she asked,
"First, how did you find me and second, what do you want?"
Mitch said, "This is going to
take a while, can I come in?" She said, "OK, have a seat?" Mitch
wanted to take her and hug and kiss her so badly, his heart was pounding a
thousand beats a minute! But he just sat down on the small couch she had in her
place. He started the conversation, "The reason for my visit is
complicated. First, were you hired by Carlo Rossi, owner of the Platino Hotel
& Casino, to find a man named Tyler Jones?" To which she replied,
"As you know that kind of information is usually confidential. So, I need
to know why you want this information and what you are going to do with it if I
give it to you."
Mitch continued, "OK - One PD
to another. I was also hired to find Mr. Jones and have come up empty so far.
Then I called a contact in Vegas, and he discovered that you had found Mr.
Jones. First of all, how did you find Tyler Jones? She replied, "Well, I
am a private detective. I found him online pretty easily actually. He is well
known throughout California due to all the businesses he owns. I found his home
address, located him, and confirmed that he was, indeed, living there. I also
found some information, purely by searching online, on his monthly visits to a
San Francisco hotel named Nob Hill Place. Then Mitch asked, "Also, what
did you tell Mr. Rossi once you found Jones and what did he do when you gave
him Jones' location?"
She said simply, "I called him
on the phone and sent him an email report along with my invoice. He promptly
sent me payment and that was that. He never told me why he wanted to find Jones
– only that he had disappeared, and he needed to talk to him. He never said
what about."
Mitch quickly pondered how to tell
Lennon what he knew about the kidnapping of Amanda's lover and what they should
do to free him from captivity and make all this end peacefully for everyone
involved.
Mitch decided to tell the whole
story, "OK. What I am about to tell you must be completely, utterly
confidential." Lennon said, "I understand." Mitch started,
"Like I said, I was hired by Amanda Rossi, the wife of Carlo Rossi, to
find her lover, Tyler Jones. Amanda and Tyler have been having an affair for
over two years and, according to her, he simply vanished three weeks ago. I
went to Jones’ house and discovered that he had likely been taken from his
house against his will. Then I went to the hotel in San Francisco where they
usually stayed. That's where I learned that you were there asking questions
about the whereabouts of Jones. Then I called my contact in Vegas, and he
discovered that you had indeed found Tyler, and informed Rossi of his
whereabouts. Then, the bombshell – he said Amanda's husband hired some of his
goons to kidnap Jones from his house. They kidnapped him, brought him to the
Platino and are keeping him in a secure room in the basement."
Lennon
freaked, "Oh my God, what have I done? All I thought I was doing
was finding a man that Mr. Rossi needed to talk to. I had no idea this would
happen. This is very, very bad!" Mitch continued, "Yes, it is very,
very bad. Generally speaking, people who get kidnapped and locked up somewhere
rarely survive. So, we need to come up with a plan to free Mr. Jones, protect
you and me and, somehow, make this all go away with all parties still alive and
unharmed. That will not be easy given that Rossi is one of the richest, most
powerful casino owners in Las Vegas with alleged mob ties. Add to that the
kidnapping of the man who has been having an affair with his wife for two
years."
Lennon asked, "So how on earth
can we do that?" Mitch said, "First, I need to call Amanda and find
out what her status is with Carlo. That's where we need to start. And we need
to do whatever we are going to do quickly. I don't think Tyler has much time
before something very bad is done to him. You just lay low here and contact me
if you get any calls or anything else that gives you a concern. I'm going back
to my hotel, think about this and call Amanda. I'll call you as soon as I have
a plan."
Mitch and Angel Dog headed back to
his hotel. All the way there, Mitch kept thinking to himself, "How do I
handle this so everyone ends up alive and Carlo goes away quietly. All tough
things to accomplish." After arriving at the hotel, Mitch fed Angel, sat
down, and called Amanda.
Amanda answered the call, “This is
Mitch and I have some very difficult things to discuss with you and I must
develop a plan to solve your problem with everybody still alive and well."
Amanda, very nervously asked, "What have you found out? Is this something
we need to talk about face to face?" Mitch replied, "Yes. I believe
we need to meet one on one. When can you meet me again at Ventano's?" She
said, "I can leave right now. Let's say 2:00 o'clock." He replied,
"Sounds good. See you in a few."
Mitch said goodbye to Angel, jumped
in his car, drove to Ventano's, walked in, and was ushered to the private room
to see Amanda. As they sat down, Mitch knew that this conversation was going to
be hard on Amanda. He needed her to know some critical information now. Mitch
started, "First – I know where Tyler is. He has been kidnapped and locked
up under the order of your husband in a private room in the basement of the
casino. However, that's only the beginning of this story that has some
extremely difficult things that no one expected." Amanda, surprisedsurprised,
asked, "What are those things?" Mitch replied, "In the first
place, I am not the one who found Tyler. My former girlfriend, Lennon, did. I
discovered this after I inspected Mr. Jones house in San Francisco. There was
broken glass on the floor, turned over furniture and other indications that Tyler
had been kidnapped from his house. That was further supported by the fact that
his Porsche was still in his garage. After I saw this, I called a contact I
have in Vegas and tasked him to find out what, if anything, had happened to
Tyler. He confirmed my worst fears. This alone places this job in a whole new
category. Your husband obviously knows that you have been having an affair and
we don't know what, if any, information Tyler has given him."
Amanda began to tear up with
obvious concerns for the man she was truly in love with. She didn't know what
to say or even ask. Mitch continued, "Here is what we have to do to
extract you and Tyler from the love triangle that has been created by you,
Tyler and now Carlo. It's going to require some very dangerous actions to simply
rescue Tyler. He is under constant surveillance and security is very tight.
What your husband has done is a felony under Nevada law. However, as they say –
the rich are different than you and me. Therefore, he is not subject to the
same laws and rules as the rest of us."
Then Amanda said, "What if I
simply filed for a divorce? We have a very strongly written prenuptial
agreement and adultery cannot be used to alter any alimony that has already
been set up, which is $20 million. The only reason I have not left him by now
is pure, unadulterated fear. He is a very possessive man and always tries to
control me. We have become completely uninvolved with each other."
Mitch started to lay out a plan –
"First, we need to confirm exactly where Tyler is, free him and then hide
him. I have some people that can help me accomplish that. Once we do that, then
we will find him, free him, and then hide him. We will need to document all of
this with photographs and other proof that Tyler was, indeed, kidnapped. I will
also bring Angel, my retired Police Dog, along when we free Tyler. She will
take care of the guys that are guarding Tyler if necessary. I also think Lennon
should be part of the rescue plan because she is the one who found Tyler."
Amanda then said, "I hope you
know what you are doing. This sounds extremely dangerous." To which Mitch
replied, "Don't worry about that. I have done this kind of thing for over
twenty years. If it's planned properly, with the right people, it will be
successful." They agreed to move forward with Mitch's plan. Mitch said he
would prepare a detailed report with the plan and email it to her by the next
day.
When Mitch got back to his hotel
room, around 8:00 PM, he was surprised to find Lennon asleep in his bed with Angel
Dog quietly lying beside her. Mitch was struck by this real
vision that he had been dreaming of night after night since she had left. It
was almost surreal. To be sure she was not disturbed, he just sat down in the
chair and fell asleep.
Mitch woke up around 7:00 AM and
took Angel Dog out for a run. They stopped off at one of his favorite places
and filled up on an omelet and got some breakfast for Lennon. He didn't want
her going out anywhere until this love triangle resolution was completed. They
walked in around 9:00 and she had taken a shower and put on a robe. Seeing her
beauty with her wet red hair just drying freely brought back some fabulous
memories he had over the last three years.
One thing he noticed was that she
was relaxed and not nervous or tense. This made him feel good. He took Angel
outside so she could do her business then he fed her. He sat down on the bed
and looked at Lennon with pure unadulterated love and desire. As she began to
eat the breakfast he brought her, Mitch got up and took a shower and came out
in his robe. He thought to himself, "This is like old times – being with my
two favorite girls." It seemed so natural. But that discussion was for
later.
Meanwhile, he needed to tell Lennon
what they – he and she - were going to do to resolve the kidnapping issue and
ensure everyone was alive and free from the wealthy casino owner. So, he laid
the entire plan out for her and asked, "What do you think and are you
in?" To which she replied, "Absolutely. I've never done anything this
big before, but I am with you and the team all the way."
After that discussion, Mitch
decided to call some people he knew could help get Tyler Jones free. He also
called and reserved a four-bedroom AIRBNB located in a quiet neighborhood in
Hendersonville. Then he reserved a small hotel in the isolated town of Boulder
City about thirty minutes from Vegas. After calling the crew he was going to
use to accomplish the rescue of Tyler, he arranged a meeting at the AIRBNB the
next day. After that he and Lennon just enjoyed each other's company,
reminiscing about all the great times they had when they were together. Mitch
still did not mention the possibility of Lennon returning to him.
The next morning after feeding
Angel Dog and grabbing a quick breakfast, Mitch, Lennon, and Angel Dog drove to
the AIRBNB to meet the crew. As they drove up to the house, he noticed that everyone
had already arrived. He opened the door with the code provided by the owner.
They all sat down in the living room to discuss the plan and time frames. Mitch
brought an easel to write on so everyone could gain a complete understanding of
the task at hand. This group was comprised of a very eclectic group of people
who had experience in police work, intelligence and other more serious actions
involving extremely violent perpetrators of various crimes. The group included
Bobby, a former cop that Mitch had worked with for over twenty years, Joe, a
retired CIA agent and Gino, a confidential informant who found out Tyler was
being held in a room in the casino building, Mitch, and Lennon. And, of course,
Angel Dog would be an important part of the crew to perform any actions needed
during the rescue.
Mitch explained the plan from top
to bottom and expressed to all that they were dealing with a potentially
dangerous encounter when they attempted to free Tyler Jones. After finishing
his explanation of his plan, he asked, "Any questions?" To which one
of the crew asked, "When?" Mitch answered, "Three days from now
on Monday right after midnight. After we free him, I will take him in a rental
car to the place where he will be hidden. None of you need to know where. You
will all be paid within 24 hours of completing the rescue. Joe, I would like
you to do some snooping at the casino and figure out where, exactly, they are
holding Mr. Jones. Angel Dog and I will deal with Rossi."
Then Mitch said, "Please, if
there is anyone who wants out, now is the time to speak up. I have you all here
because I know you are exceptionally good at the things you do. Enjoy staying
here until we complete the mission. Please do not go out together. I will have
some food sent over to make sure you are all comfortable."
No one bowed out, so, everything
was a go depending on what Joe found out about the location of Tyler in the
casino. Joe, the retired CIA agent, knew several people that were connected
with the casino that he could trust for information and silence.
Mitch called Amanda. He told her,
"I have met with my crew and the plan is being implemented. For your
protection, I will not give you any details. Also, I will text you as soon as
we have rescued Tyler and taken him to a place you don't need to know about
just yet. In addition, you need to know that the rest of this project is going
to set you back another $40,000. To which she replied, "Do you need that
now or can it wait? He said, "Just have it ready when we meet after the
rescue."
Then Mitch asked, "Have you
met with your attorney?" To which she replied, "Yes, everything is in
place. All of the divorce papers are ready to file and the prenup agreement has
been set up for Carlo to sign. However, this is not going to be easy. He is a
very paranoid, controlling man. But I am ready to do this. All I want is to
leave the hell I am living in to be with the man I love."
Mitch ended the call, "Amanda,
I cannot stress enough, you must keep a low profile until you hear from me that
we have Tyler. I will text you as soon as we complete this mission with the
word DONE."
Mitch had it clear in his mind how
this rescue mission could be accomplished. But,But
the biggest problem was how to deal with Carlo about the impending divorce and
the agreement to forget about Amanda and Tyler and let them live their lives.
So, he decided to call up a Las Vegas prosecutor he knew from his days as a cop
to discuss what his options were in dealing with Carlo, who was guilty of
arranging and hiring the men that kidnapped Tyler.
Mitch dialed the number. A lady
answered, "Las Vegas Prosecutor's Office, may I help you?" Mitch
said, "Please connect me with Theo Clarkson. Please tell him it's Mitch
Agosto and it's urgent." Theo answered the phone, "Mitch, how long
has it been.been?
What are you up to these days." Mitch replied, "Well, I'm a private
detective and I am on a huge case, and I need to run something by you. Theo
replied, "Lay it on me." Mitch started, "OK. I have a big,
complicated case. Anything I tell you must be kept in the strictest confidence.
I am trying to help a very high-profile woman, who is married to a very
high-profile casino owner. She has a lover who was kidnapped under the
direction of her husband. She is ready to file for divorce, but, first, I have
to rescue her lover who is being kept under lock and key in a room in the
basement of a casino. That part of this job is fairly simple and straight
forward. I have an exceptionally talented team of men and one woman and my
favorite girl Angel Dog to find the guy and rescue him. The problem I have is
the husband. He is very wealthy, allegedly has mob ties and will probably not
be willing to let his wife and her lover ride off into the sunset. So, my
question is, Can I tell this guy, if he doesn't agree to the divorce and to
leave my client and her lover alone, I will notify the police and your office,
and he will be arrested, charged, and tried for kidnapping? Would you take that
on and prosecute him if that came to pass?"
Theo answered, "Absolutely if
convicted of kidnapping, he would serve 15 to 20. However, you must get
absolute proof that that is what he did, particularly if he is a wealthy guy.
You know what they say – The rich are different than you and me." Mitch
replied, "Well. The lover has been locked up in the casino for about three
weeks, so I don't think getting solid evidence will be difficult." Theo
answered, "OK. Just be incredibly careful. These kinds of things can get
people hurt or killed, so make sure you use your 20+ years of experience to
accomplish this task." Mitch closed the call, "Don't worry, my team
is ready.
Mitch knew that this rescue had to
be planned to the utmost degree. No detail was too small. Then Mitch called Joe
to see if he had any information on the location of Tyler in the casino.
Joe explained, "Yes, I know
what room he's in. It's in the basement of the Platino. I also got the floor
plans of the casino, so we will be able to easily go to the room. I also found
out that three guys are securing the space he is being kept in. Two guys
outside and one inside. So, we need to plan how we are going to take all three
out of the picture when we go in." Mitch said, "Good news. Tell the crew
that I will be over tomorrow to discuss who will do what."
It was around 9:00 AM when Mitch
finished the calls he needed to make. He looked at Lennon, still asleep, and
began to imagine their life together, past, present, and future. He wanted to
talk to her about getting back together but decided to wait until this rescue
was over. He also decided to personally see Carlo after they rescued Tyler and
had him sequestered in the hotel in the small town of Boulder City, Nevada. He
knew this would be the most dangerous part of the plan, but he was certain he
could get Amanda and Tyler free and clear after Carlo agreed to the divorce.
After Lennon woke up Mitch told her
he and Angel Dog were going for a short run and would bring back some breakfast.
The rest of the day, Mitch and Lennon looked at the floor plans and reviewed
the plan to rescue Tyler. She knew and Mitch knew that, as a gorgeous female,
she could play a key role in taking the thugs that were guarding Tyler off
their game. Mitch knew that he had assembled a very accomplished crew that
could get this potentially dangerous job done. At 5:00 o'clock, Mitch, Lennon
and Angel Dog piled into the GTO and headed to the AIRBNB. As the team gathered
in the living room, Mitch laid out the casino and hotel floor plans and the
schedule of activities and who would accomplish them.
Mitch began, "We know that
Tyler is being held in an empty unused room, No. 101, in the basement of the
casino. The simplest way in is from the lower level of the parking deck.
However, that is under heavy security and difficult to enter. So, we are going
to reserve several rooms separately at the casino. Once we check in, everyone
needs to get the layout of the place quickly. Most important is the
determination of how to escape fast and safely. Then I will relocate Tyler to a
place only I know about. Also, how do we take out the two hallway guards and
the guard in the room? We must be very efficient as we determine these two
critical things. We will communicate with our phones. Once we are confident we
have all the issues resolved, we will return to our rooms to prepare for the
rescue. I think we should do this right after midnight."
After confirming the escape route
and the plan to take out the guards, Mitch texted the team– Let's do
this.
The hallway where Room 101 was
located was curved and fairly long. Gino was able to stand at one end of the
hallway as a lookout without being seen. He also had a view of the
entrance/exit. Mitch parked a rental car right next to the entrance/exit. Then,
from the other end of the hallway, Lennon, dressed in the most seductive dress she
could find, along with Angel Dog, Joe, and Bobby, gets off the elevator and
begins to talk slowly with slurring speech as if she had too much to drink. As
they got closer to the two guards by the door, she says to Joe and Bobby –
"Hey, I think we're lost, we need to get to our room so we can
party." As they got right to the first guard, she stumbled and fell to the
floor. As the guard leaned down to help her up, Joe tasered him. Then Angel Dog
lunged at the other guard, took him down, and held him down on the floor while Joe
chloroformed both guards on the floor, handcuffed them, and relieved them of
their guns. He also found the key to the room in one of the bodyguards’ pockets.
Then Lennon opened the door to the
room and entered as seductively as she could. Still feigning being drunk, she
told the bodyguard that the door was open, then leaned against the wall, held
up her room key and asked the guard if he could help her find her room. As the
guard approached her, Angel Dog came through the door and leveled him. Joe
rushed in, chloroformed him, handcuffed him, and relieved him of his gun.
Lennon untied Tyler while Joe and
Bobby dragged the other two bodyguards into the room.
Lennon helped Tyler stand up.
Apparently, he had been treated fairly well while in captivity. She, Tyler, and
Angel Dog headed out the door towards the exit as Mitch pulled up. Tyler sat in
the front seat with Mitch with Lennon and Angel Dog in the backseat. Mitch
slowly drove out of the garage and headed to Boulder City. After driving the
short thirty minutes down US 515, he pulled into the small hotel in a high-end
area and checked in. Mitch told Tyler to stay there until he contacted him. He
also gave him a cell phone so they could communicate. He told him, "Do not
leave, do not call anyone – just lay low until I complete this project. I will
have food brought in for you each morning." Tyler didn't say much, he just
nodded with an understanding of what he needed to do and not do over the next 24-48
hours.
Mitch got back in the rental car,
texted DONE to Amanda and said they needed to meet to discuss
Phase Two of this insane and dangerous project. Lennon got in the front seat
and sat quietly next to the man she was regaining some intense respect for as
she remembered the great times they enjoyed in the past. Mitch took her and
Angel Dog to her place and told her to lay low for the next 24-48 hours.
Mitch met Amanda at Ventano's in
Hendersonville. As they sat down in the private room, she was visibly shaken. She
said to Mitch, "Now that you have rescued Tyler, how do we end this thing
with my soon-to-be ex-husband?" Mitch started talking, "Let's assume
for a moment that Carlo does not know that Tyler is gone. His three guards are
handcuffed and locked up in the room in the basement with two of my guys
keeping guard, so he may or may not know."
Mitch laid out the plan for Amanda.
"Here is how we are going to end this. First, you need to call Carlo and
set up a time to meet him in his office. She said, "Normally, he doesn't
have guards around, but he might if he finds out Tyler has been rescued."
Mitch said, "Angel Dog and I will take care of that if required. Next, you
need to pack, get in your car and drive to the hotel where I took Tyler. No one
knows where he is except me. Once, you get there, you and Tyler need to book a
flight to Italy, Spain, France, or wherever you want to go, preferably out of
the country, and disappear."
Mitch continued, "The next
part of this plan is convincing Carlo to 1) Sign the divorce papers, sign the
prenup papers and write you the settlement check for $20 million. 2) Agree to
leave you and Tyler alone forever and 3) Forget about everybody and anybody
that participated in the rescuing of Tyler. If he refuses to agree to those
conditions, then, I will tell him that he will be arrested soon after I call
the State Attorney General to send his detectives to arrest him for kidnapping.
They both agreed on the plan and
Mitch told Amanda to call him when the meeting was set. Mitch decided to go to
Lennon's place to make sure she and Angel Dog were ok. What she had just done
was way out of her comfort zone, but Mitch was extremely impressed by how she
performed. He knocked on the door. When Lennon opened the door, she kissed him
deeply as they held each other tightly. She even suggested that Mitch stay the
night.
Early the next morning, Amanda
called Mitch to let him know that the meeting was arranged with Carlo. She also
indicated that she didn't think he was aware of Tyler's rescue. The meeting was
set for 4:00 PM in Carlo's office. Mitch got Angel Dog and drove to the casino.
Mitch and Angel Dog entered the
main lobby of the casino, got on the elevator, and headed up to Carlo’s office
on the top floor. Mitch and Angel Dog walked right in. Carlo, realizing that
Amanda was not there for the meeting, was very angry. Mitch pulled out the
divorce and prenup papers from his attaché case and spread them out on the
table. Then he said, "I know by now you are aware that Tyler has been rescued and his kidnaping has been
very well documented. I am here for three reasons, 1) I want you to agree and
sign these documents for an uncontested divorce that honors your prenuptial
agreement and write a settlement check for $20 million to Amanda 2) I want you
to agree, without any reservations, to leave Amanda and Tyler Jones alone for
the rest of their lives and 3) To forget about ever contacting or threatening
any of the people who assisted in the rescue of the man you kidnapped."
Carlo listened intensely to every
word he said and waited a few seconds. He picked up his phone and dialed one
digit and said, "Frank, bring Al and come to my office immediately."
A few seconds later the door swung open and two large men walked in wearing
guns on their shoulders. As soon as they cleared the door, Mitch quietly said,
"down" and Angel Dog took the first bruiser to the floor with her
massive teeth around his neck. Mitch pulled his gun and said, "You really
need to drop your weapon because you do not want that dog to teach you a very
painful lesson." The man dropped his weapon and stood perfectly still as
Angel Dog waited for another command.
Carlo, Mitch, and Angel Dog stood
in silence for several seconds. Finally, Mitch said, "Mr. Rossi, do you
really want to push this? I strongly suggest that you sign the papers, write
the prenup check and agree to leave well enough alone. Because, if you don't,
my next call will be to my very good friend, Mr. Theo Clarkson, Chief
Prosecutor for the Las Vegas Division of Law Enforcement. He will send his
detectives to arrest and charge you with kidnapping, false imprisonment, and
any other criminal acts of which you are guilty. I have all the facts,
photographs and sworn statements that will convict you and send you to prison
for 15-20 years."
At that point, Carlo sat down and
asked Mitch to let his man up. Mitch walked over and removed his gun from his
holster, looked at Angel Dog and quietly said, "up." Carlo told the
two men to go back to their offices and never discuss what had just happened.
Then Carlo said, "OK. You got me. I will sign the papers and write the
check. As far as forgetting about Ms. English, and the rest of your crew, I
also agree to leave everyone alone. However, if any person involved in this
rescue of yours ever says a word about this agreement or this meeting all bets
are off." He signed the papers and handed them to Mitch. Then he wrote a
check for $20 million to Amanda and handed it to Mitch. Mitch put the signed
papers and the check in his attaché. He then told Carlo that he would call his
people watching the three bodyguards downstairs, tell them to uncuff them and
leave the casino. He thanked Carlo and walked out of the office with Angel Dog.
Mitch called his guys in the basement and told them to uncuff the other
bruisers and let them go.
Mitch called Amanda and briefly
told her about the meeting. Then he asked Amanda why she thought Carlo agreed
to sign the papers and leave well enough alone. To which she replied,
"Because he has not loved me for a long time and he realized that I meant
business and I also think he knows that he would have placed himself in an
untenable situation if the kidnapping were made public, which he knows it would
be. I mean, keep in mind he is highly connected with some bad people who don't
like things that get, shall we say, complicated."
Mitch drove to the hotel in Boulder
City, gave Amanda the signed papers and the prenup check, and took his final
payment of $40,000 to pay his crew and himself for completing a very dangerous,
complicated project. She hugged him and Angel Dog, thanked them, and said, "Hopefully,
I will never need to call you again." She was smiling big as she closed
the door. Life had turned around for this troubled woman and the man she loved.
Tyler was on the phone making reservations for their trip to wherever. Then
Mitch drove back to the AIRBNB, paid his team and thanked them for a job well
done and told them to never talk about this crazy, complicated rescue they had
just completed to anyone. He left Angel Dog with Gino and said, "I'm gonna
be gone for a while, take care of my favorite girl." Gino just smiled,
nodded, and said, "Enjoy yourself, see you when you get back." Mitch
went to Lennon's to celebrate the project they had completed together.
Mitch sat down on the couch and
asked Lennon, "Would you be interested in a romantic trip to Italy with me?
I've left Angel Dog with Gino." She smiled and said, "Absolutely.
Let's go!" They headed to the airport, turned in the car and settled into
their first-class seats for their flight to Florence. They smiled, kissed, and
held each other close. As they raised their glasses for a toast to their new
life, Mitch and Lennon knew their life was back in order. And this time, Mitch
was going to commit to the woman he knew he would love forever.
Love, Read and Travel
D.L.Stafford
thenomadARCHITECT.com
Lyle Lovett & His Large Band perform live in Germany. Just click and enjoy -
