The Maltese Cube (Chapter 10)

What happened in Chapter 9

Mac wakes up after a rough night. He calls Sherlock and tells him to get any info he can on Pindler, Gassly, Lisa, and M. Bell. Lisa gives him Newton’s last known address

Chapter 10
Finding Newton

‘Are you sure this is Newton’s last address?’ I asked.

‘That’s where he was the last time I saw him.’ She said.

‘Listen.’ I said. ‘I was too tired to ask some of this last night, but I need to know. Just what is this Maltese Cube?’

She shrugged her shoulders. ‘I don’t know exactly. He never showed it to me. I just know he’s been scared ever since he told me he had it.’

Earlier she had told me that she knew what the Maltese Cube was. I thought about bringing that up, but at the time she made that statement, she was very scared. I decided to let it go for now.

‘How did the two of you meet?’

‘Big surprise. I met him in a bar. I was just’¦’ She hesitated. ‘separated from my husband and I was lonely. I saw Newton in the back of the bar, sitting by himself, nursing a drink. He looked like a nice guy so I went over to talk to him. I could hardly understand him at first, but I got used to his manner of speech pretty easy(1).’

‘So then you two started dating?’

‘Not exactly. I was looking for a place to stay and he was leaving on a trip to California. He offered me the use of his apartment while he was gone. Seemed like a good arrangement.’

‘When did he get the Cube?’ I asked.

‘It was while he was in California. Newton just showed up at the door two weeks early from when he said he was coming back. He was very frightened.’

‘Did he tell you where he got it?’

‘Yes he did.’ She said. ‘Newton told me has driving late one night near Cupertino, California(2) and saw a car off the side of the road. He could tell by the skid marks that it had crashed. He got out to see if he could help and saw a man in a Black Mock-Turtleneck(3) shirt behind the wheel all slumped over barely conscious. Newton asked him if he was all right and the man grabbed a package from the passenger side and gave it to him. He started muttering ‘Don’t let them get it. Keep it safe.’ Before Newton could say anything, he heard a car driving slowly by. When he turned to look, he saw that the car was badly dented on one side. Just as it came to a stop, he heard the sound of Fire Engine sirens coming down the hill. The man in the car stared at Newton and told him he would see them again and he better give them what was theirs.’

‘Why didn’t he just give it to them?’

She thought about that for a moment. ‘I believe he would have, but he said they just took off.’

‘What happened next?’

‘Well,’ she said. ‘The Fire Truck and ambulance showed up and took the man in the Black Mock-Turtle neck to the hospital. Newton said he tried to tell them what he had seen, but he isn’t the easiest person to understand even when not stressed out. Eventually they gave up trying to get a statement, took his business card and told him to go back to his hotel.’

‘Did he?’

‘He said he did. On his way back to the hotel, he told me he thought he saw that same car following him. He saw it again the next day. He was so scared, he concluded his business early and left California to come back here.’

Something still seemed strange. ‘So why did he keep the Maltese Cube? Why not just dump it?’

‘I’m not sure. Some sense of obligation? Ask him why.’

‘I intend to.’ I said firmly. ‘Why did the two of you leave his apartment uptown for this dump he’s staying at now?’

‘Not long after Newton got back from California and told me this story, he got a phone call. After picking it up, he turned white as a sheet and slammed the receiver down. He told me to pack up, we were moving someplace temporarily.’

“Who was it on the phone?”

“He didn’t say. My guess would be that it was the same person following him in California.” She said.

“That would probably be a good guess. Okay.” I said. “That answers a few questions. Next up, why me? How did you know to seek me out?”

“Newton suggested it. He told me you were one of the few people he trusted. I don’t think he really trusted me either, but he was too afraid to go out. He gave me your office number and address.”

“Why didn’t you call first? I would have come to you”

” Newton didn’t trust the phones. He said to only use it as a last resort. When I first went by your office, I saw those two horrible men on their way in. They frightened me, so I went to the coffee shop across the street and decided to wait until they left .I’¦lost track of time and didn’t see them leave, but I did see you step out. I followed you for awhile until I got up enough courage to approach you.”

I thought about all Lisa had said. It seemed to make sense and it fit. There was still a lot I didn’t know, but I didn’t believe Lisa had any more answers for me right now.

Lisa was watching me, waiting to see what I would do next. After our encounter with Pindler and Gassly, she seemed unsure of my actions. Like I wasn’t following whatever script had been written for me and was off-balance.

“I want you to stay here. Don’t answer the phone, and push that chest against the door after I’m gone. Can you do that?” I said.

She nodded her head. I stepped out the door and headed down the landing. I heard the door lock and the sound of furniture moving across the floor.

Notes for Chapter 10

(1) Newton’s manner of speech ‘“ Apple’s Newton PDA was a brilliant concept who mainly just came out at the wrong time. One problem that it had, especially when it first came out was it’s handwriting recognition. It didn’t always display exactly what was written. Numerous jokes were made at Apple’s expense when this came to light. It was (and still is) easier to use than the Palm and Handspring PDAs out now.

(2) Cupertino, California ‘“ Location of Apple’s corporate headquarters

(3) Black Mock-turtle neck man ‘“ What seems to be our iCEO’s favorite mode of dress at public functions. I’ll take Industry leaders odd manner of dressing for $200 Alex.