Page 36 of You Can Leave Your Hat On

“I don’t have it!” Alan yelled.

“Of course you don’t. Where’d you put it?”

“It’s in a safe deposit box.”

The gun the mayor was holding rose as he pointed it toward Alan. “Where?”

“At First National Depository in Corbin.”

Mayor Curtis stared at him for a few seconds before he exploded. “And where’s the fucking key, Alan? Give me the key!”

“It’s in the console of the car out there.” Alan’s hand went to his pocket.

“You’d better be careful, Alan,” Jeff murmured.

“I’m just getting my car keys! Here.” Alan pulled the keys from his pocket and tossed them toward Jeff. “It’s on a Linley Motors keyring. Box twelve eighty-one.”

“I didn’t see a car.”

“It’s out past the weeds by the airport fence.”

“Okay. And you’re coming with me,” Jeff told Maisey as he pointed the gun at her. “Try anything funny and I’ll shoot you. And if you try anything funny,” he told Alan, “I’ll shoot her and it’ll be on your conscience. Come on.” He opened the door and waved the gun between Maisey and the opening. “Let’s go get this key.”

When they got to the car, Jeff handed Maisey the car keys and made her retrieve the safety deposit box key. As soon asthey got back to the shack, he grinned. “Here. Put these on, but through that pipe there,” he said as he tossed a pair of handcuffs to Alan. Maisey watched as Alan handcuffed himself to the pipe. “Now we’re going on a little adventure, Mrs.Friedman. Let’s go.” Maisey didn’t see a car anywhere, so it didn’t surprise her when he marched straight up to hers. “You got a cell phone?”

“Yeah. In the car.”

“Get in and turn it off.” Maisey did as he said. No one would be able to find her without the phone’s signal. She felt doomed. “Now, you’re going to drive to that bank and you’re going to open that safe deposit box. What did he say the number was?”

“Twelve eighty-one,” Maisey answered. She knew once they had the money, he’d bring her back out to the shack and kill her and Alan. There was no doubt in her mind.

They drove into town, and Maisey cursed the fact that Aaron was in Williamsburg, but if he’d known what she was up to, he would’ve been furious. As they drove along, she tried to think of ways to get away. Maybe she could tip off the people at the bank somehow. Problem was, she didn’t bank there, and no one knew her. If she knew someone who worked there, she couldn’t think of who it could be.

They pulled up to the bank and parked in the side parking lot and climbed out of the car. “Remember, I’ll be right behind you,” MayorCurtis said. “Everybody knows me, so if I tell them you’re with me, they won’t think anything about it. But I’ll still have this pistol trained at your back, so don’t buck me, Mrs.Friedman. I fully intend to get my money back today.” With that, they stepped inside the front doors.

“Hello, Mr.Mayor! Can we help you with something today?” an older gentleman asked.

“Yes. I need to get into my safe deposit box, and I require a witness, so Mrs.Friedman agreed to be my witness. She’s a family friend.” Maisey gave the man a weak smile.

“Certainly! Come right this way. Let’s just step into the vault. What’s the number?”

MayorCurtis looked at Maisey. “Twelve eighty-one.”

“Yes, yes. Right here. Your key?” Maisey handed the gentleman her key, and he pushed it in with his own, turned them, and pulled out the box, then placed it on the marble-topped table in the middle of the room. “Here we go. I’ll give you all some privacy. Let me know if you need any help.”

“Yes, sir, we sure will.” As soon as he was out of sight and the privacy door was closed, Jeff opened the box. “Oh, my. Look at all the thousand-dollar bills. I’ve never seen so many! Put these in your bag, and don’t try anything funny.” Maisey picked up the money with shaking hands and started stuffing it into her bag, with Jeff holding the gun, pointed toward her, the whole time. When it was all in there, she closed the box. “Uh, I’ve never done this before,” he mumbled. “Do we call him back in to put it back? Or do we put it back? Or what?”

Maisey shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“Uh, sir,” Jeff said, cracking the door open. “We’re finished.”

“Good, good! I’ll put the box back. You have a pleasant afternoon, and if we can help you with anything else, just let us know.” He breezed past Maisey and Jeff, so the mayor gave her a little shove to send her out toward the entrance. As soon as they reached the car, he turned toward her. “If you do anything stupid, I’ll start shooting and innocent people will get hurt.”

“I’m not well-known for doing stupid shit,” Maisey grumbled.Except for this. This was stupid, she griped internally. Why had she gone looking for Alan alone? Because she was stubborn and headstrong, and she knew it. But those were things Aaron loved about her, right? Except that if Jeff didn’t finish her off, Aaron would. She was pretty sure of that.

She kept trying to figure out a way to signal someone, but she couldn’t think of anything. When they reached the littleshack, Jeff got out with the gun still pointed at her. “Get out and get inside. Now.” Maisey grabbed her bag and headed for the building with Jeff right behind her.

They stepped inside and the mayor closed the door. “This is where we part company. I have my money?”

---