Page 105 of Maddy's Justice

“Very good at what they do, or so it seems,” Forrest answered.

“This Rivers woman has killed people. Threw one guy out of an eight-story window,” Labelle said.

“And Carvelli’s at least as tough. He was primarily responsible for bringing down a drug ring that was washing money for Islamic terror organizations,” Forrest said.

Labelle looked at the island’s owner and said, “You don’t seem too surprised.”

“This is on the internet. Can you spell Google? Where are they in their investigation?”

“So far, they seem to be content with interviewing potential witnesses for the lawsuit the two outside lawyers are handling. A stupid decision in my opinion,” Forrest said.

“What was?”

“To hire outside counsel.”

“It’s a little late, now.”

“Melanie Stewart, sir,” Forrest continued. “She’s getting nosy and pissed off. Kadella has told her some things that the others have kept from her.”

Forrest opened his case and removed a multi-page document and gave it to the man.

For the next few minutes, the island’s owner read the transcription of what had occurred in Melanie’s office the day before. When he finished, he placed the pages with his other papers.

“Is she a problem?” Labelle asked.

“She might be,” the island’s owner said.

“What do you want to do about her?” Forrest asked.

“For now, leave her alone, but keep an eye on her.”

“Yes, sir.”

“So, Kadella saw the idiot on thirty-eight but he doesn’t know what is going on down there,” the island’s owner asked.

“Seems so,” Forrest replied.

“Put the bugs back in his office.”

“Yes sir. I’ll take care of it.”

The Sikorsky S92 executive helicopter was slowing down as it flew over the Wisconsin retreat. The island’s owner was the only passenger and he was anxious to land. Jet airplane travel did not bother him, but for some reason a helicopter made him uncomfortable. Even though he was the only one in the eight-seat passenger compartment, he did not take a window seat. In fact, he had made sure all the window shades were drawn.

He could feel the helo slow down and then begin its descent. That alone made him feel better and relieved his anxiety knowing he would soon be on the ground. The pilot, a retired army chopper pilot with thousands of hours of flight time, dropped the bird dead center on the landing pad. The landing was so soft he barely felt the bump.

“Hello, Evan,” he said as he disembarked.

“Glad you made it all right, sir,” Evan replied. Evan Carlin was originally an East End Londoner with a Cockney accent. Over time in his current position, he had become to sound almost American.

“How are the girls?”

“They’re fine, sir. They’re set up in cabin three.”

The Wisconsin compound was made up of eight buildings. The main building was almost a five-star luxury hotel. It had seven large bedrooms each with its own unique styling and enormous bathroom. There were three cabins. All of them almost as luxurious as the main house. The remaining buildings were housing for staff, security, and maintenance. The exterior of each building was made from large Eastern red cedar trees grown locally in Wisconsin.

The two men turned to watch the helicopter lift off for its return flight. As soon as it cleared the compound, the portion of the privacy net over the helipad was raised back into place. The area on which all eight buildings stood was more than ten acres. The entire ten acres was covered by cammo netting. Much like a camouflage ghillie suit used by snipers. There was an eight-hundred-acre lake a hundred yards away if anyone needed sunshine. The compound was built for privacy.

“Are the girls getting bored?” he asked Evan.