Fugitive

Bartenders meet a wide range of people and Rebecca had acquaintances, Batangan and otherwise, up and down the social ladder. Pierre had told Charlie that Rebecca would find someone who would help him escape from Batanga. This morning, a small boy had begged him for money using a code phrase. While Charlie was giving him a quarter, the boy told Charlie to come to the Mauna Loa at eight thirty.

Rebecca set a frosted green bottle on the bar, while Charlie casually sca

“I know you,” he proclaimed so loudly that he could be heard over the music.

“I don’t think so,” said Charlie, who could smell the booze on his breath from the distance of two barstools.

The man was broad-shouldered, big through the chest, and spoke with a southern accent. Charlie figured him for six two and two hundred. He was bald with a ruddy complexion and faint traces of boyhood acne and looked like he could handle himself in a fight.

“No, no, don’t tell me. It’ll come to me,” the drunk insisted. He gazed into space for a moment then snapped his fingers. “TV! I’ve seen you on TV.”

Charlie held his breath.

“You’re that guru. Tell me I’m wrong.”

“No, you got it.” Charlie sighed.

“Hey, honey,” the man said to the bar girl who sat between him and Charlie, “would you mind switching places? I’ll buy you another to make it worth your while.”

The bar girl surrendered her stool and the man moved next to Charlie.

“Hope you don’t mind but it’s not every day I bump into a celebrity in this place. Brad and Angelina don’t pop in here much,” he said with a braying laugh that set Charlie’s teeth on edge.

“Chauncey Evers,” the man said, reaching out a large hand. Charlie shook it reluctantly.

“Charlie Marsh,” Charlie answered as he tried to figure out how to get away. His contact was never going to approach him while he was with this clown.

“I have to apologize upfront. I haven’t read your book. I meant to but I haven’t. But I did see you on TV during the thing at the prison when you saved the prison guard’s life. That was something.”

Two men and two women vacated a table. Evers picked up his glass.

“Let’s grab that table and you can tell me all about the standoff at the prison.”

“That’s okay,” Charlie said, desperate to beg off. “I’m supposed to meet someone.”

“Well, you can drink with me until she gets here,” Evers said with an exaggerated wink, “and the drinks are on me. It ain’t often I get to meet a genuine hero who was on television and wrote a book.” Evers lowered his voice. “And wants to escape from this hellhole.”

“You’re…” Charlie started, but Evers had turned away and was weaving unsteadily through the close-packed tables. As soon as he was seated, he thrust a pen and a napkin at Charlie.

“Can I get your autograph for my girlfriend?” he asked loudly.

“Can you get me out of here?” Charlie said as he leaned over the napkin.

“That’s easy,” Evers assured him.

“How soon can you do it?”

“As soon as you pay me seventy-five thousand dollars.”

“Seventy-five?” Charlie repeated anxiously.

“And it’s got to be in cash. I don’t take checks. Is that a problem?”

“No,” Charlie said.

World News had agreed to do the interview, so Charlie would ask Rebecca to get a message asking for the seventy-five-thousand-dollar fee to Martha Brice through Pierre Girard and the rebels.

“What I want to know,” Charlie said, “is how you’re going to deal with Baptiste’s secret police?”

“You mean that guy over by the wall?” Evers said as he kept his eyes on Charlie, a big smile on his face. “I spotted that clown as soon as he walked in.”

“Yeah, well, don’t be so smug. I spotted him too. He tailed me from my apartment and he didn’t try to hide the fact that he was following me. There are people outside my place every minute I’m at home and someone on my ass whenever I go out. Baptiste wants me to know he’s having me shadowed. His secret police are very good. They can make themselves invisible if they want to. This is Baptiste’s way of telling me I’m on a short leash. What I want to know is how you’re going to deal with these guys.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Evers said confidently. “You get me the money and I’ll get you out.”

“Why should I believe you?”

Evers shrugged. “Beats me. But you’re the guy who sent for me. So,” the mercenary asked, “what did you do to get Baptiste’s panties in a bunch?”

Charlie hesitated. If Evers found out that the president had a personal grudge against him he might change his mind about taking him home. An American passport went only so far as protection, in Batanga.

“Come on, Charlie. If I’m going to risk my neck to get you out of here I have to know what I’m dealing with.”

Charlie looked down at the tabletop. “I had an affair with one of Baptiste’s wives.”

Evers whistled.

“He tortured her to death and showed me the results. Then he pretended he didn’t know who her lover was, but he knows,” Charlie said bitterly.

“Man, you are in a heap of trouble. But never fear. Chauncey Evers will come to the rescue.”

“What do I do next?” Charlie asked as he handed the autographed napkin to Evers.

“Get the money. Tell Rebecca when you have it and she’ll tell me. Then you do exactly what I tell you to do and you’ll be back in the good old US of A before you know it.”

CHAPTER 4

Some people said that God was good and merciful, but De

These were some of the things De

Levy forced himself to smile when he a

“Mrs. Brice is on an important call,” Daphne told him, clearly implying that Brice’s meeting with him was not important. “Take a seat and I’ll tell you when she’s ready to see you.”