The Greatest of These by Greg Wendleton (booksvooks txt) 📕

know how good of a job he did tonight. He’s usually the dishwasher, but we had to press him into double duty tonight.” Jasmine laughed at her own joke, which was pretty funny. “Will you be paying with a credit card or leaving cash and hiding your tracks like those pigs?”

I pulled out my American Express card and said, “Oh, no cash tonight. I’ve got nothing to hide.”

She took my card and ran it through the machine, then returned with the charge slip and a pen. Jasmine placed them on the table and looked down at me. “Garret, thank you for coming in tonight. I hope the rest of your stay on Maui is more pleasant than today has been. Have a great night.”

I paused briefly before responding. “Jasmine, this day started off with little hope, but it has ended with great hope. Thank you for your kindness and for being so helpful. Take care of yourself and have a good night too.”

I looked at the charge slip for $16.95 and quickly signed it. I added a tip of $10.00 and totaled it up. As I was replacing my American Express card in my wallet, I pulled out two, twenty-dollar bills and set them under the signed charge slip and then rose and walked out the door.

It was time to go back to the Inn at Mama’s Fish House, send Fonda a message and dream about her beauty, both inside and out.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Working under the cloak of darkness, which seemed appropriate for Conrad’s hired computer hacker, the man entered the bank account of Wilhite Logistical Consulting, based in San Antonio. He had been in this same account, setting up a twenty-five million dollars transfer from Conrad’s Cayman Island bank account to this very same San Antonio bank’s account for Chad Wilhite’s company, less than thirty-six hour ago. Now it was time to make some corrections due to errors and omissions.

The hacker had promised to safeguard the large sum of money from the reach of the Treasury Department and the FBI, and that was exactly what his goal was for tonight. The first step had been to establish a new account in a trusted institution that could harbor the funds while he worked to wash the money clean as new driven snow. It wouldn’t be all squeaky clean, but it would surely pass the scrutiny of the authorities. Back dating activity with legitimate looking paper trails would make this account look like it had been opened in 2011, making the total balance believable.

The hacker, working only by the ambient light cast by his computer screen, toiled tirelessly for three hours before he stopped to stretch his aching shoulders and back muscles. He stood and walked out of his office and peered out the front windows of the building he was sequestered in. Nothing was out of the ordinary. He released a sigh, took a deep breath, held it for a five count and released it slowly. He felt good, but needed a jolt of caffeine to finish his task. He had a few more hours of paper trail building to do before he would be satisfied with his finished product. It was going to be a masterpiece.

He grabbed a Coke from a stash he had in the refrigerator and purposefully strode back to his dark office. He opened the tab on the top of the can and took a long pull. Feeling the burn of the carbonation and the jolt of caffeine, he gritted his teeth and shook his head. Wow, that was the rush he needed! He took another gulp from the can and then set it down on his desk and got back to work.

He worked straight through for another two hours, and as expected, he had created a flawless masterpiece. It was without a doubt his finest work and worthy of the owner of the account. Now it was a matter of waiting for the surprise to be sprung, at just the right time. But, for now, it was time to go home and slide in bed and make love to his beautiful wife.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

I had set an alarm for six the next morning, but it wasn’t necessary. I was awake before four and had done some stretching exercises in my suite, and taken a long, hot shower. After shaving and getting dressed in fresh olive-green cargo pants and a white Tommy Bahama polo shirt, I exited my room, with my backpack slung over my shoulder and walked toward the restaurant.

I was shown to a small two-top table close to the open shutters and breathed in the smell of the ocean surf breaking on the beach only steps away. When the waiter came over to my table, I ordered a three-egg, ham and cheese omelet and fresh squeezed orange juice, and of course, coffee.

Five minutes later, Pat, the manager who had been so helpful on Tuesday night, brought my order to my table. “Good morning, Mr. Cooper. I have your omelet, home fries, fresh pineapple, orange juice and our special blend coffee.” Placing everything in front of me on the table, he asked, “May I join you?”

I smiled, hoping that he could see the joy in my eyes, since he couldn’t see my actual smile, and said, “I’d be honored. I have great news.”

He sat in the chair opposite mine and almost immediately a cup of coffee, already prepared for him, was placed on the table by my waiter. “I hope it’s about the Wilhites.”

“Yes. Yes, it is. We located them yesterday afternoon and they are at Maui Health. They should be released today. I’m sure they can’t wait to get back here to the Inn. Maybe I should make a dinner reservation for tonight to celebrate.”

“That is a most excellent idea! I’m so pleased to hear that news. Of course, I’ll make the arrangements. Would seven o’clock this evening be a good time?”

“I’m sure it would be. That would