Long Shadows (Amos Decker, #7)(95)

“Did you see him after he left the Service?”

“Yeah, he came to some reunions, birthdays, retirement parties. He was a big shot by then. Drove up in a Rolls-Royce one time, with a driver and everything. I could only shake my head.” Dykes chuckled. “He brought his daughter to one event. Hell, she was probably only ten or twelve, but you could tell he was already grooming her to be his heir apparent. She was clearly in awe of him. Heard she went the Secret Service route, too. That was long after I retired. Now she’s running the show at Gamma.”

“You heard what happened to Kanak?” said Decker.

“Yeah, I did. Crazy. I mean, we’d lost touch by then. Last time I saw him was maybe ten years ago. Ann, my wife, was still alive. He looked good, happy, content.”

“Did he mention anything when you saw him last?”

“No, it was all superficial ‘how ya doing’ bullshit. He was just a totally different guy by then. We just had our years at the Service in common by then, and it had been a long time. When I heard he went missing on his boat, I thought, what the hell was that about? It was like he just wanted to disappear. I mean, they never found any wreckage or anything. And you’d think they would have found something if the boat went down.”

“You’d think,” said Decker. “You ever see Kasimira again?”

Dykes nodded. “I went to his memorial service. They couldn’t really have a funeral, of course. She spoke at it. Very moving stuff. I was crying like a baby. She loved her father, that was for sure.”

“You have any inkling what could have happened back in Miami that night?” asked Decker.

Dykes eyed him. “All I can say is, whatever did happen, must’ve been goddamn life changing. Because it did change Kanak Roe’s life.”

Decker glanced at White before asking, “What hotel in Miami?”

Dykes took on a wistful look. “The Fontainebleau. Reagan liked it because the hotel had been used for a bunch of movies and TV. Jerry Lewis and Sinatra did stuff there. Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, and Judy Garland all stayed there. They filmed some of that Bond movie Goldfinger there. Reagan just ate it up. You know he was an actor before he was president.”

“Yeah, I heard. Was anyone else of note staying at the hotel at the time?” asked Decker.

Dykes shook his head. “I mean, after POTUS, everyone else is way down the pecking order.”

“Was his wife with him on the trip?” asked White.

“No, Mrs. Reagan was back in DC. It was only the one night. We flew back home the next morning. All routine stuff.”

Decker handed him a card. “If you can think of anything, give us a call.”

Dykes took the card and looked up at him. “What is going on here, Agent Decker?”

“I wish I knew. But we’re going to find out.”

As they walked to their car, White said, “Let me guess. Back to Miami and the Fontainebleau?”

“Where else?”





Chapter 70



I?T WAS NOW KNOWN AS the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. It had undergone a two-year, billion-dollar renovation and reopened in 2008. There was a Michael Mina steak restaurant, a slew of bars, and also Italian and Cantonese cuisine. The lobby was vast and expensive looking.

“Surprised the Service could afford the rates here on their per diem,” said White as they walked toward the concierge desk.

“It was cheaper back then, no doubt. And what the president wants the president gets.”

“Yeah, you’ll catch me at the local Marriott, thank you very much. A meal here probably equals one of my paychecks.”

“You know what they say, if you have to ask the price…”

They flashed their creds at the concierge, who, after they had told him what they needed, made a phone call and then directed the pair to a small office off the lobby. There a young woman rose to greet them.

Pamela Lawrence was in her twenties with an energetic manner and dancing blue eyes. “FBI, huh? That’s not something we see every day.”

“I hope not,” said White.

They sat down across from her. Decker said, “We’re interested in the hotel’s history.”

Lawrence said enthusiastically, “It is very historic. It’s on the National Register. And in 2012 the Florida chapter of the American Institute of Architects ranked the hotel number one on its list of Florida architecture.”

“Congratulations,” said Decker. “We were interested in another part of its history.”

“Okay, what?”

“In 1981 President Reagan gave a speech here.”

She looked at him blankly. “Reagan? I wasn’t aware of that. But that was almost twenty years before I was even born.”

“Do you have records that might address that event? I mean, it’s a pretty big deal when the president comes to your place.”

“We’ve had lots of big names here. When the hotel reopened in 2008, Usher and Mariah Carey performed.”

“Wow,” said White. “That’s some firepower.”

“Right?” said Lawrence, smiling. “I mean, I was only eight back then, and I don’t really follow their music, but I’m sure it was pretty cool.”

“Now you’re really making me feel geriatric,” quipped White.