Tick Tock: Four

The skyline was more than magnificent that morning.  She was glad to have a view of it from her bedroom.  Paddy came in and he suggested she put on men’s work clothes, a baseball cap and tuck her hair up inside the cap.  Thin rimmed glasses, a partial mustache and she looked like a young carpenter.  Time was running out.

Kelli hopped inside the truck Paddy left for her complex with a full tool box.  Fortunately Kelli knew her way around tools.  Having a father who was a carpenter was helpful.

She double checked to ensure the key was still in her pocket.

TD Bank.  324.

It had to be a box number.  Kelli was glad to be there when the bank opened.  The clerk asked no questions and Kelli was shown to a small cubicle.  She closed the door. Paddy was waiting in a Mercedes outside.  Just in case.

Inside the safe deposit box was a bottle with another note and another key.

“It’s all in here. But there is more.  Go to the Service Credit Union on Lafayette Street, box 105.”

Kelli got into her truck and phoned Paddy.

“There is another key.  Follow me to Service on Lafayette.”

“Got it.  I’ll be right behind you.   As will some unmarked.”

Kelli was beginning to imagine herself in a film.  She hoped she didn’t look ridiculous in her carpenter’s get up or that she might see someone she knew.

So she found the box, another zip drive and returned to the safe house.  Paddy and his IT expert joined her there.

Monihan opened his laptop and put in the zip drive.  There were photographs of congressional staff members, audio as well.  Hours of conversations.  The secretary transcribed it the following day.

“We’ve reached the jackpot,” he said.

“We have enough to indict a few people now.  But Kelli, you’re going to need to stay out of the public’s eye for some time.  Maybe a year or two until the case is together.  Can you do that?”

“Well actually, you don’t have a choice.  You have been fingered in this already so it is to your benefit to go underground for a while,” the IT man said.

“Kelli, I have an idea.  I have some time coming to me.  Why don’t we leave the country for a while.  Go to Ireland.  My family has a cottage there and we will be okay.”

She thought for a while.

“Okay.”