today. That, however, very seldom happened and only when certain crewmembers were on board that aircraft, and Austin knew he was one of those pilots.
The reason for such an arrangement, Austin always guessed, was an incident that happened a while back on a flight to Bogota, Colombia.
Due to his friendly demeanor, Austin became very friendly with the ground staff at the Bogota airport. After several flights he was approached by a member of the ground staff who considered himself closer to Austin than the rest. He asked him if he would keep an eye on a parcel. He explained to Austin that he would not have to handle it or touch it, just make sure that a certain person picks it up and if someone else picked it up, all he had to do is tell them on his next flight over and they would pay him ten thousand dollars for every trip.
Austin knew how dangerous it would be to turn these people down and he had no doubt in his mind that they would kill him if he reported it to anyone; he had to think hard to get himself out of this predicament. He despised those people and he really would like to see them all thrown in jail, but this was his job and he would be flying to this airport on many more occasions and couldn’t take a chance on his life. After pondering the issue for a few minutes, he told the guy that he would have to decline the offer and promised him that he would never tell anyone about their conversation, hoping that the guy would believe him. He did tell the staff member that he would be checking the aircraft from top to bottom and if he ever found any drugs on it, he would tell everything he knows. Austin came to the conclusion that if he only promised not to tell, he would appear weak and there was no guarantee that they wouldn’t try to hide some narcotics on his flights anyway. By threatening that he would tell if he found anything illegal and then following through with extensive checks of his aircraft, he hoped that they would take his word for it and not harm him. He would have shown them that he knows how powerful they are and what they could do to him, but at the same time show them that he was willing to take that chance and not show the fear that he really felt.
During the next several flights, Austin searched that aircraft with a fine-tooth comb, and even though he never found anything, he did have a suspicion one time and he acted on it.
On one of those flights, they were carrying a horse from Bogota to the United States. That by itself seemed odd to Austin. The horse was not anything special and made him wonder why anyone would pay a great sum of money to ship such a nondescript animal to the U.S., of all places. When he went down to the main deck during the flight to check on the cargo like he always did, he took a couple of pieces of sugar and an apple and a bucket of water to give the horse. When the horse would not have anything to do with what he had, he decided on a course of action.
On arrival at Miami International Airport and as they arrived at the customs office, Austin told the customs officer of his suspicions and explained why. Upon X-raying the horse and not finding anything, Austin decided to keep his word and not squeal on the ground staff member.
Ever since that incident, Austin noticed that he was always waved through when he went to clear customs and was almost positive that somehow, United States Customs knew of his attitude towards drugs and smuggling illegal substances. He figured that had to be the reason he was never searched and why he was treated very respectfully by customs officers. This arrangement was perfect for him. He knew that no matter what he brings in, chances are he would not be suspected of anything as long as he remained discreet. Austin always suspected that customs officials had a profile on almost everyone who traveled to the U.S. in any regularity.
By the time they were done with the formalities and got to their hotel, it was 10:00 a.m. and Austin was exhausted. No matter how much sleep you think you got on an aircraft, it was never enough and never restful enough. He thought about calling the woman, but he fell asleep out of pure exhaustion before he could decide whether to do so or not. When he awoke it was almost 3:00 p.m. He reached for the telephone and dialed the same number their mutual friend in London had given him.
“I have some news for you,” Austin said after she answered. It took her only a second to recognize the voice.
“I heard the news a few hours ago and was hoping you would call me.”
“How did you hear so soon?” he asked.
“My Scotland Yard friend called me. She said they found him in some alley near the theatre but not before doing the same thing again. They found a woman in his dressing room at the theatre. She was almost dead and they believe that the condition they found her in, he probably did try to kill her, but I don’t think so. I think she just put up a better fight than I did and things got out of control.”
So that’s why that son of a bitch was late, Austin thought.
“You are not going to forget our bargain, are you?” he asked.
“No, I am not and you don’t have to worry about that. I can afford it.”
“Good then, maybe we’ll talk later.”
Before Austin could hang up the phone the woman was still talking.
What now, Austin thought. “Anything else I can do for you?” he asked.
“I would like to talk to you if you don’t mind.”
“What about?” he inquired.
“I mean face to face,” the woman said. “I would like to meet you.”
“Sorry, I can’t,” said Austin. “Maybe I’ll call you some other time.”
“Please,” she said. “I need to know why you did this for me and why you wouldn’t accept payment. I need to know who you are.”
“Money means nothing to me. I have enough of my own to live on and don’t need any more.”
“Please don’t leave me suspended like this; I really need to know who you are.” She had to think of a familiar place to meet this man. It only took her seconds to think. “I will be at O’Malley’s every evening between five and seven in the evening at the back corner table. I’ll wear a white carnation on my lapel so you’d know me. Do you know where O’Malley’s is located?”
“I know where it is,” said Austin. “I have to leave town but will be back here in a couple of days. I’ll think about it and call you to let you know when I’m back in town.” He hung up before this woman could keep him on the phone much longer.
The woman looked at the telephone receiver for what seemed an eternity before she hung it up. It had been almost six months since that bastard almost killed her. She had spent three weeks in the hospital just to heal her wounds and broken ribs. It was months before she could bring herself to look into a mirror, afraid to see who might be looking back, and when she finally did, she realized that she needed plastic surgery to repair the damage, and that took a couple of more months.
She tried to put her life back together but the rage ruled her. She could not spend one waking moment without the rage. She was restless and even frightened in her dreams and awoke exhausted. She was anxious and angry and took it out on everyone around her, even her closest friends and family. She was losing everything - her friends, her business, her family and, most of all, her mind. She needed revenge. She needed to get this guy. She tried once to hire someone through a discreet and trusted friend but he thought she was kidding. “You just don’t go hiring hit men,” he said.
“What do you do when you have a problem?” she asked.
Her friend told her to call the police and explain, but she knew the result of that. Her name and face would be plastered all over the newspapers and television and she was not going to let that happen. She had worked very hard and went through many hardships to build her business and reputation and she would be damned if she let that asshole ruin all of it, especially after all the pain he put her through.
She was becoming desperate when the call finally came from London informing her of the bastard’s death.
Two days later, she received a call from the man telling her he would be in Chicago that evening and would try to meet her.
That evening she went