Rendezvous of Treason: A Story from the Dixie Chronicles

By RG

A call from a friend leads to a personal investigation into the friend’s murder. Skirting the local police, he winds his way through the south and southwest following clues wherever they take him. With the backdrop of international intrigue, a cartel leader attempts to put an end to his unwarranted intrusions into his business. Our character finds himself in a position where only relying on his wits can he hope to come out alive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Oct 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9781649799623

RG

RG was born and raised in the South, with ancestral roots dating back to the 1800s. A passion for the written word, who believes one’s hard work will ultimately provide the success and rewards. The 40 years of airline experience are the catalyst for his stories. “We all strive to do better and to reach the goals we have set for ourselves. We do what we can with the resources we have been given. I have been presented with an opportunity and with the Lord’s direction and help, I am confident of my success.”

Book preview

About the Author

RG was born and raised in the South, with ancestral roots dating back to the 1800s. A passion for the written word, who believes one’s hard work will ultimately provide the success and rewards. The 40 years of airline experience are the catalyst for his stories.

We all strive to do better and to reach the goals we have set for ourselves. We do what we can with the resources we have been given. I have been presented with an opportunity and with the Lord’s direction and help, I am confident of my success.

Dedication

To the people and associates I have met during my years, these individuals and locations have been the inspiration for my characters and story.

Copyright Information ©

RG 2022

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Ordering Information

Quantity sales: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

RG

Rendezvous of Treason

ISBN 9781649799609 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781649799616 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781649799623 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022915413

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published 2022

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street,33rd Floor, Suite 3302

New York, NY 10005

USA

[e-mail]

[phone]

Chapter 1

A fun party with old friends is in your future.

It’s been a long three days. It feels like it has been a month since he has slept in his own bed. All he wanted was to get home as quickly as he could.

He didn’t like traveling on the weekends or on Fridays. Unfortunately, he had to do both on this trip.

As a City Development Representative, his responsibility consisted of soliciting support funds from new and existing markets for his airline. This solicitation was important for it determined where the airline was going to operate next and for how long.

City leaders courted airlines heavily when they were in the race for new service. Josh Gantry had been on the road since Wednesday, and he was eager to get home to his bed.

The time had changed back to Eastern Standard Time, so it even seemed later than it really was. With the new time, it got darker sooner. Looking out the aircraft window, all he could see was darkness and the occasional twinkling of lights.

He was flying in from Sioux City, Iowa. With the service just beginning on Wednesday, the city had various celebratory functions planned to commemorate the inaugural direct service to Atlanta.

He knew it was going to take at least an hour before he could leave the airport. Waiting on the employee bus to take him to the employee parking lot normally took about 40 minutes. It would be 10 pm before he could be in his truck heading home.

The flight landed at 8 pm and taxied up to the gate at 8:15 pm. He always liked sitting in the back of the plane for privacy. He waited until all the passengers got off before he stood up to leave.

He pulled his company and airport IDs out of an exterior zipped pocket on his carry-on bag. Hanging it around his neck got the attention of the flight attendant. She looked up and smiled saying, Have a good night! He smiled back at her and said, Thank you. You, too! With that, he exited the aircraft.

Grabbing his 21" Pullman from the carry-on cart, Josh started walking toward the offices of the airline that were on the ground floor of the concourse where the aircraft was parked. He was walking down the hallway toward the employee bus stop passing restrooms, operations, and other offices when his two-way pager went off and started vibrating. In the four years of wearing this pager, it probably has only gone off a handful of times. He was shocked when it went off.

Reaching for the clip on his belt, he popped it out of its plastic holder. He opened it to look at the number and to see if there was a message. Seeing the message on the screen had him confused. He pulled out his cell phone and before he started to dial, he walked into what the employee’s used as the smoking room. Oddly, the room was vacant. He guessed it was because of the time of night.

He waited for the ringing to stop with his phone up to his ear.

The voice on the other end said, Hello.

Hey Babe! he replied.

How ya doin? he asked.

Not so good, replied Samantha. I found something that scares me and I want you here to help me, was her command.

Where are you? asked Josh.

I’m in Baton Rouge. Can you come tomorrow? she asked.

Sure! No problem. I can come. Where you staying? asked Josh.

The Hampton Inn, down the street from the airport, Samantha replied.

Okay, I will arrive on the first flight in the morning, said Josh.

I think it departs at 8:25 arriving about the same time Central Time, he said.

Good. Please don’t miss the plane! Samantha said before she hung up.

All the way home, Josh was wondering what Sam was talking about. He could tell by her voice that she was upset and nervous.

The following morning, Josh was up at 5 o’clock. He had only gotten just a couple of hours of sleep. Unfortunately, the route he took home the night before had experienced a single lane of traffic. It took him an extra 45 minutes to eventually arrive. He was out of the house by 6:30 am trying to beat most of the morning commute traffic going north to Atlanta and Hartsfield.

Josh was at the airport standing at the bus stop waiting on the employee bus by 7 am.

Plenty of time, he thought. The bus stopped to let all the early morning shifters off and the few crew members who just brought in the aircraft for the morning flights. They were off duty and would not have to be back until late that evening. Some Captains and First Officers would, however, from time to time, pick up an extra flight leg during this time for extra money. No problem normally as long as they were back in time for their next scheduled flight that evening.

His regular routine was to walk down to the pilot’s lounge and get him a cup of coffee. No change in his routine. Conversation a lot of times was dull, but they generally had coffee brewed and it was at the best price – free!

He figured it was going to be a good day for the pot had just got through brewing when he walked up. He poured himself a cup and turned sipping his morning nectar, the tonic that keeps him alive for the morning.

He spoke to several crew members and other employees he knew as he made his way upstairs to the concourse and to his departure gate.

It had been 45 minutes before his flight called for boarding. They still were going to be well ahead of schedule. No chance of being delayed, he thought as he handed his boarding card and showed his company ID to the customer service agent at the door.

The flight was right at an hour and twenty minutes. However, this of course did not include the twenty-minute taxi time at the Atlanta airport.

Arriving in Baton Rouge, the aircraft was parked at the end gate on Concourse A. Grabbing his small duffel bag from the overhead, he proceeded off the plane going to Ground Transportation to pick up the Hampton Inn Airport Shuttle Bus.

The drive only took about twenty minutes. Stepping off the bus, he walked through the sliding glass doors up to the registration desk.

Asking the girl behind the counter was a bit unsettling for when he asked for Ms. Samantha Sands room number, the clerk became very withdrawn, acting like it was privileged information.

The young girl immediately turned away and walked through the open door behind the counter. Within seconds, a dark-haired man with a charcoal black mustache stepped out through the doorway.

It was very obvious he was a local for he spoke with a very pronounced Cajun accent. So much so, Josh had a hard time understanding what he was trying to say. The young clerk had to translate.

***

Chapter 2

You might not have much to share but what you offer to guests this weekend will be top notch.

Josh and the hotel General Manager were walking down the hall toward room 312. As they approached, Josh noticed Police Officers standing outside the door.

Walking up, Josh allowed the General Manager to go in first through the doorway. He stood by the open door peeping around the corner looking into the room.

Initially, all he could see was several people standing and bending over, looking in the closet, opening drawers, looking through a suitcase, dusting the counter in the bathroom. Josh hesitantly stepped into the room as if he was stepping out onto a busy street and trying to cross to get to the other side.

Cautiously going deeper into the room, he walked as if he was barefoot walking on broken glass. He noticed two figures standing at the small desk over to the left side of the bed. One of the figures looked up over at him. As he approached, Josh noticed a gold badge hanging out of his jacket breast pocket.

Mr. Gantry? asked the gentleman. My name is Bob French. I am a Detective Sergeant with the Baton Rouge Police Department, and this is my partner Detective Jon Henré.

Hello, responded Josh. What’s going on? he asked.

We thought you could tell us, replied Detective French.

What do ya mean? replied Josh. Uh, you think I know what happened? he asked almost jokingly. "I don’t even know what’s going on!" Josh expressed.

Ms. Sands was found murdered in the bathroom lying in the tub. Her throat was slit from ear to ear, said Detective Henré. Do you know who and why this would happen to Ms. Sands? asked Detective French.

No! answered Josh with excitement