Paradise Island (Twins 2)

Paradise Island (Twins 2)
by Walter Edminster

Mike Fowler was sitting in a bar at the Los Angeles airport. He'd just learned the day before that he no longer had a job. Now he was on his way to Las Vegas to relax a little before going job hunting. He wasn't upset about being unemployed. There wasn't much that did upset him. People were always telling him he never took anything seriously. Maybe they were right but then he didn't have ulcers either.

Mike had gone on a short trip to Europe and met a girl in Amsterdam. He stayed a couple weeks more than he had planned to and when he returned home his position had been filled by another computer programmer. He didn't like the company much anyway. He had a sizable amount of money in the bank, as a result of his trip to Europe, and wasn't really in need of a job at the moment but he enjoyed his profession and wanted to return to it in the near future.

He was talking to a gentleman he*d just met named George Conners. George was on his way to a new job he didn't want. He wanted to do what Mike was doing. He wanted to go to Las Vegas and relax. George was a free lance problem fixer. He hired himself out to companies that had a management problems somewhere. He'd go find out what the problem was and fix it. He was good at it too. He always had a list of new jobs waiting for him. But right now, he didn't want a job. He was burned out. He was also slightly drunk. He plopped an airplane ticket down on the counter and said, "Mike, for just a little bit, I'd throw this thing away and go to Las Vegas with you."

"Well, why don't you?"

"Because they really have a serious problem that needs immediate attention. The last manager is in the hospital here in L.A. He met with an accident and almost died. He won't talk about it. Acts like he's scared to death of something. The two previous managers also had accidents. Theirs were less serious and they just quit. They wouldn't talk about it either. There's something going on there that isn't right."

"Aren't you afraid you might also have an accident?"

"That's what I'm hoping will happen. That's how I solve most of the problems they hire me to solve." Mike looked George over more carefully. He was a big guy, like Mike, he was in excellent physical condition, and had a very well coordinated way of doing things. He was smooth. When he reached for his glass it wasn't with a clumsy jerk most slightly inebriated people have. It was with a graceful sweep of his hand. The guy could have been a card shark. No wonder he wanted to go to Las Vegas. Mike decided George was one who would have no problem taking care of himself. "Do they know you're coming?"

"Yeah, they know, but they don't know who I am. I try to keep low key so my reputation won't get around. Gives me an advantage if they don't know who I am."

"Yeah. I can see where that would help. You know, I have an idea...." Mike was interrupted before he had a chance to discuss his idea with George. Two mean looking punks pushed in between Mike and George. "You guys get the hell out of here. We want to sit here at the bar."

Mike said, "There are several empty seats over there. What's wrong with them?"

"Nothing. But we don't want them. We want these. Now move before you get hurt"

"George, do you want to give one of these gentlemen your seat?"

"No."

"Neither do I." Mike's hand moved so fast the punk nearest him never saw it coming. The palm of his hand hit him under the chin, sending him to the floor. Within a few micro seconds the other punk, with George's help, was laying beside his partner. George turned to Mike and said, "Now what was this idea you were going to tell me about?"

"Well, you want to go to Las Vegas and I need a job. Why don't you and I trade tickets? You said they don't know who you are. How would they know I wasn't you?"

"A few minutes ago I would have laughed at that idea." George looked at the floor. The punks were just beginning to come around. "Now I'm beginning to think it might not be a bad idea. That big friendly grin of yours had me fooled. Where did you learn the art of self defense?"

"The Navy ran me through a course. I failed it. The instructor told me I never took anything seriously."

"That could be a good cover. Let's talk about this a little more."

Mike's flight landed in Hawaii at 7 am but he never had a chance to see the sights. He was paged shortly after he entered the terminal and was soon whisked away to the awaiting company plane, a Fokker F50. This told Mike two things; the island he was going to was about an hour away and probably had a short runway. He was met by an attractive lady who was somewhere between the age of 35 and 40. A very businesslike person but also very personable. She was to be Mike's secretary. When Mike introduced himself to Linda, which turned out to be her name, she looked a bit puzzled. Mike said, "What's the matter, am I not what you expected?"

"Well, actually, no. I mean, well I guess I expected someone a little more sinister looking. " She thought, "This guy with the big grin looks too soft. I don't think he's going to solve our problem."

"So what do you do around here?"

"I'm your right hand man, so to speak. I'm your secretary and I can fill you in on everything."

"Well, first off, I'm happy to have you as a right hand man even if you don't look like a man. Second, I'm darned glad you don't."

"Charming bastard. I wish he was a little less charming and a little more vicious. I'll fill you in on the way to our island paradise."

Mike was in his office going through the files on his computer. He was finding out a lot about what was taking place on this little island. There was a lot of construction going on. There was also a lot of hanky panky going on and most of it was centered around Jud Thornton and a few of his followers. Jud was the head foreman on the project. Things were so well concealed it would take a computer expert like Mike to find them. Jud was quite a manipulator. The intercom buzzed. It was Linda. "You're about to receive a visitor. Jud Thornton is coming up the path."

"Thank you Linda. I've been hoping he'd stop by."

"Be on your guard, Mr. Conners. This man is very tricky. He's also very dangerous."

"Thank you for the advice, Linda. Send him in when he gets here."

Jud didn't wait for an invitation. He just barged on in, sat down in a chair, and put his feet up on Mike's desk. A move which was obviously meant to intimidate him. Mike got up and extended his hand. He was smiling his best smile. "My name is George Conners. I'm the new ..."

"Sit down. I know who you are. Now you just keep quiet and listen. I'll tell you how things will be run around here. If you listen well, things will be just fine. You can sit at your desk, draw your salary, and go home with a bank full of money. Now here's how things...."

"Jud, I don't want to hear your version of how things are going to be run. I'm going to tell you how things are going to be run. But not until I'm ready. When I'm ready, I'll let you know." Mike was walking around his desk as he was talking. "In the mean time, get your feet off my desk and go back to work." Mike kicked Jud's feet and sent him backward onto his back. He stood over him with his hands on his hips. "Next time, come when you're invited." Jud picked himself up and walked toward the door. "You're going to be sorry you did that." Mike didn't think so. He sat back down at his computer and started browsing again. Linda walked in. She was grinning. "Jud's going to get you, you know."

"I know."

"You don't look like you're too worried about it."

"Worried? Gosh no. I want him to. I want to provoke him into doing something I can legally fire him for. I've been looking through things here on the computer. He's got quite a racket going. He obviously has someone high in the company whose in on the take and backing him or he wouldn't have lasted this long. I've got to get him for something that will get the board of directors shaken up enough to bypass the one who's protecting him. There have been a lot of accidents here. I want to know all about those people who were killed or injured. Everything you know about them.

"You've been here just about 14 hours now and you've learned more about this place than all the rest put together."

"That's because I'm snoopy. By the way, which side are you with? The good guys or the bad guys?"

"If I was with the bad guys I'd have already blown the whistle on you."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'm probably the only one on this island who has ever met the real George Conners, and you ain't him."

"Are you going to tell anyone?"

"No way. That's my secret but you'll have to tell me who you really are and why you're here or I'll squeal on you."

"You're right. I'm an imposter. George and I met in a bar at LAX. I was going to Las Vegas and he was coming here. I needed a job and he needed a rest. We swapped tickets. He's in Las Vegas playing Black Jack and I'm here playing like I'm the boss."

"How long did you know each other?"

"About an hour and a half."

"It doesn't sound like George, letting a stranger take his place like that. Did he ever leave for a while before he made the decision to swap?"

"He went to the men*s room once."

"Right. And he also made a few phone calls."

"You seem to know him pretty well."

"I worked with him once. He's very thorough. He doesn't make mistakes. He wouldn't have let you come here in his place in less he was sure you could do the job."

"Well, I wish I was as sure as he was?"

"You're off to a good start. Now let me tell you about those people you asked about."

Two days later Mike was still at the computer. Linda was watching over his shoulder. "Mike or George, I'd better call you George, you've been on that computer every day since you've been here. You haven't even been to the construction site yet."

"Did the last guy go to the site?"

"Yes."

"Do you know where he is now?"

"I get your point. But Jud is going to think he's scared you off."

"That's what I want him to think. I've stayed on the computer for the last two days because that's where all the evidence is. Now I need to know how to convince the people who can do something about it. A jury. I'm going out to the construction site as soon as I get a reply from the main land."

"You didn't discuss anything important on the phone, radio, or internet did you? That's where the man you replaced fouled up. I'm not even sure this office isn't bugged."

"Yes, and no. I did not talk to anyone on the phone. I did talk to someone by Email."

"Well, it was nice knowing you. Jud has a computer expert in his group and he's good. They already know everything you've discussed with the people back in the home office."

"You're right, he's good. But I'm better. Computers are my profession. This cloak and dagger stuff is just something I do between jobs. I wrote a program that will allow me to exchange Email with the man who hired George. George gave me his telephone number and his Email address. I can talk with him until dooms day and nobody will ever know it's being done. Even if they get into the message, it won't produce anything but garbage. I've made a few requests. When they call me back and tell me everything is ready, I'll go out to the site and stir things up a little." This may all be wrapped up by the weekend. As for the bug, there were two of them. One in your office and one in mine. I moved them into the bath room and attached them to the commode. Every time someone flushes the toilet, they get an ear full."

"You know? I believe you just might pull this off."

Mike was walking down the hill to the construction site. Jud was having a loud conversation with on of the workman who was saying, "I'm not going to do it. That generator won't last a week if I do that and you know it."

"So we*ll order a couple more." There were four of Jud's followers standing close by with picks and shovels in their hands. One had a baseball bat. Jud motioned to them. "See if you can persuade him." They hadn't seen Mike walk up behind them. The Major league hitter raised his bat to strike but never got a chance to use it. Mike snatched it out of his hand. "I don't know much about construction but this doesn't look like a tool one would normally find on a construction site." Jud said, "What the hell are you doing here?" "I work here you know. In case you've forgotten, I'm your boss. By the way, how much kick back will you get on those two very expensive generators? You got $100,000 on that broken Air Conditioning system last month." Jud's followers looked at him with angry expressions. "You said the take was $35,000. We only got $3500 between us. What's going on here?"

"He's lying. That AC unit was only $35,000. You got your 10%. He's just trying to make trouble."

"Jud, tell them about the three trucks and that new Bulldozer. You really ripped them off on those. You guys come up to my office tomorrow and I'll show it all to you on the computer."

Jud said, "You can*t prove any of this. Jim, go back up the files on disk and delete the database."

"You don't have to do that Jim. I've already backed it up and plan to turn the disks over to the head shed the next time one of them makes a visit to our little island."

" I don't think so." Jud picked up a shovel and started toward Mike. "You're about to have a fatal accident, Mr. Conners."

"Just like the accident you caused the last manager to have?"

"Yes, just like the accident I caused the last manager to have!" Jud raised the shovel and swung. There was a clang, a thud, and a scream. The clang was when Mike knocked the shovel out of Jud's hands with the baseball bat, the thud was when Mike kicked Jud in the crotch, and the scream was Jud expressing his displeasure with the pain that was now radiating through the lower part of his abdomen. Mike raised his hand and signaled. From out of nowhere came people dressed in military combat attire. They all carried dangerous looking weapons. Mike pointed to several of the workers standing around with worried looks on their faces. Jud and his people were quickly removed from the site by the gentlemen in the combat fatigues. There was a straggler coming down the hill carrying a video camera with a zoom lens. Mike looked up in surprise. "I thought you were in Las Vegas playing Black Jack?"

"I was but I started feeling guilty about sending you out here. I called the man who had hired me and confessed. He said you almost had things wrapped up and needed a little assistance so I decided to come along. I have everything here on tape including the conversations. Since this is an important military project, we were able to enlist the aid of a few Navy Seals."

"Well that explains that."

"Explains what?"

"The guy with all the black paint on his face who took Jud away saw me standing there with a grin on my face and said, "You still don't take anything seriously, do you?"

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