Page 147 of Maddy's Justice

“Well,” Cal began saying, still smiling, “I had plans to attend to.”

“Who are the twin girls?” Maddy asked.

“Um, my nieces,” Cal answered.

“Right,” Maddy said. “You and those two have mostly the same DNA? Sorry. They’re prisoners, aren’t they?”

“Not at all. Besides, it’s none of your business.”

“Give me half a chance and I’ll make it my business,” Maddy said.

Turning serious, Cal looked at Evan and said, “I warned you about her. A beautiful viper.”

“Tell me something, Cal. How did you do it? Who was the old man on the beach who took your place?”

“A retired Aussie I found down there who resembled me enough to fool a well-paid coroner. It was easy and fairly cheap to have a sample of my blood drawn and sent to the FBI for comparison. They had my DNA on file and, of course, it matched the sample. Less than ten thousand dollars to bribe the Costa Rican medical examiner.”

“Was Samantha in on it?”

“Not at first. She really believed she had her father killed,” Cal replied.

“Cold bitch,” Maddy said.

“Survivor, like her old man,” Cal replied.

“I thought Samantha made a deal to give back the money to stay out of jail.”

“Not nearly all of it. Just what the Feds thought she had. I had plenty still stashed away to start up again,” Cal replied.

“So, what do I call you now? You’re not using Cal Simpson, I’m sure,” Maddy asked.

“Zane Wagner. Retired Argentine businessman. Wagner spelled with a W but pronounced as a V.”

“The son of a Nazi hiding out in Argentina after the war?”

“Perhaps,” Cal/Zane said still smiling.

“War criminal. It fits. Other than you missed me, why am I here?”

“Information. We need to know what you and your friend Carvelli found out snooping around. Speaking of friends, congratulations on your engagement. Although a criminal defense lawyer? I’m surprised at your taste.”

“We didn’t find anything. Your security is quite good,” Maddy said ignoring the remark about Marc. “You going to torture me before you have your rent-a-thug here kill me?” Maddy asked looking at Evan.

“There are better, less painful ways,” Zane said. He looked at Evan who reached toward Maddy with a device in his hand. Before she could move to avoid it, Evan hit her in the shoulder with 10,000 volts.

When Maddy fully recovered from the stun gun, she found herself flat on her back, completely immobilized. Moving her eyes around she saw a room with padded walls and a bright overhead light. As her head cleared, she realized she was securely strapped onto a hospital surgical table.

“She’s coming around,” Maddy heard Odessa’s unfamiliar voice.

“Hello, Madeline,” Zane said. He was leaning over her looking at her eyes. “Are you with us?”

“Who are you? Where am I? What is this?” she asked looking confused.

While Zane continued to hover over her, inches from her face, Odessa poked the bottom of her bare left foot with a sharp needle.

“Ow! Goddamnit, that hurt,” Maddy yelled.

“Her eyes are clear. She’s with us,” Zane said.

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