Michelangelo & The Angel Dog

Michelangelo Agosto, alias Mick, slowly rolled over and felt completely alone. The love of his life was gone. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and sat on the edge of the bed. He knew this would happen one day. He had this thing about relationships with women. They always left. His only true-blue companion was his German Shepard Angel Dog. She was the only female that ever stayed. She had been with him for three years since he resigned from the Las Vegas Police Department to become a private detective.

So, such is life, in Mick’s head. No real job and no woman. He laid back down on the bed, wondering what he would do today. He could see Lennon and her flowing red hair with her piercing dark eyes. She had been with him through thick and thin even before he quit. Even though he was an outstanding detective, he simply burned out. It just became too much. Too much killing, rape, violence, robberies, etc.. He had seen it all in twenty years as a crime solving sleuth. But enough was enough. So, he quit. Then, after three years of love and loyalty, Lennon quit. The obsession with each case he solved - the drinking to ease the pain of his chosen profession - he would be gone for days and sometimes weeks, leaving her alone to ponder what was next. He wouldn’t commit and she finally moved out and away. Heartbroken, Mick went into a fearful depressive state and now he was aimlessly wandering.

He knew he had taken the wrong path three years ago and now wondered what and how he could get back in the game of life and do what he was best at, solving crimes. He painfully found out that private detective work required actual clients.

And Lennon! his redheaded, dark eyed muse. They were in love, or so he thought. But now she was gone. Plus, he was just scraping by - spending his small pension on seedy motels and dog food. Mick never envisioned this for himself when he was at the top of the crime solving universe in Las Vegas.

Then fate appeared. Mick answered his cell phone. He didn’t recognize the number. The caller spoke with very clear and concise language.

The caller said, “Hello, am I speaking with Michelangelo Agosta”

“Yes, this is he – Mick,” he replied.

“I would like to meet with you to discuss a problem I need you to solve.” said the lady on the call.

“Well, I don’t know you, so, let’s start with your name.” replied Mick.

“My name is Amanda Rossi,” she replied.

Mick pondered that for a few seconds.

Then Mick asked, “Are you who I think you are? Are you the wife of Carlo Rossi, the owner of Fortunato Hotel & Casino?”

“Yes, I am. And I respectfully request that my identity and this phone conversation be kept strictly between us,” replied Amanda.

Mick thought a little more. This extraordinarily wealthy woman wants me to “solve a problem”?

Mick, being a former cop with the ability to smell trouble, thought - no way in hell!

However, he was dead broke. If this fateful chance could bring in some money, he should at least hear the problem the woman needed solved.

So, Mick said - “Ok, where would you like to meet to discuss your problem?”

Amanda recommended, “Let’s meet at Ventana’s in Hendersonville. It’s outside of Vegas and I will get us a private room. They are very discreet.”

“When?”

“How about tomorrow at two?” she offered.

 Mick agreed, “OK. I’ll see you then. How will I know you?”

“Just ask the concierge when you come in. He knows me.” she replied

Mick ended the call, sat back down on the bed and pondered this upcoming talk with the wife of one of the wealthiest casino proprietors in Vegas with some trepidation. However, he told himself, this could bring in some serious money.

So, Mick, feeling pretty good, decided to take Angel Dog for a run. After the run, he grabbed some take out and headed back to the low rent room he and his best girl were staying in. He fed Angel, then sat down and ate the tacos and fries with a nice cool beer. He was feeling pretty good as he thought about this meeting he would have the next day.

He said to Angel Dog, “So girl, you’ll be by yourself for a while tomorrow. But I won’t be gone very long. But, if I take this job the lady’s talking about, you and I might be going on some trips to places unknown.”

After finishing his tacos and fries, he hopped in the shower, dried off and went peacefully to sleep for the first time in quite a while. He dreamed about Lennon all night. Her beauty, her smarts and her love kept rolling in visions of perfection that he deeply missed. He wanted to call her or text her or find her, but he decided to wait until he got his life back together.

Mick woke up with a new feeling. Who knows he thought, today could be the start of something big. He decided to take Angel out for an early morning walk. As he walked down the Vegas Strip, he watched the people starting their day, preparing to lose lots of money. He understood the 11th commandment – The House Always Wins. He had given up gambling, but sometimes he was still drawn to it, even though he knew that 99.9% of the time he would lose.

His best girl, Angel, was always at the ready. She had been “Brain Trained” at the Las Vegas Police Dog Training Academy. She was extraordinarily smart and, if needed, she could become, in a split second, a bona fide bad ass. She had protected Mick many times when he or other detectives got in a bad situation dealing with some of the most violent criminals that seemed to always be lurking in Vegas.

As they walked, Angel was never on a leash. She was so well trained that she knew what to do when commanded. Mick thought they made a great pair. He also thought about how much Lennon loved Angel, and it hurt Mick deeply that she was gone from his and Angel’s life.

After the walk, they stopped at one of Mick’s favorite little spots just off the strip for breakfast. The owner always had a nice snack for Angel. They finished their breakfast and headed back to the tiny room he was renting. He took a shower and got dressed for his 2:00 PM meeting with the lady with a problem.

He put out some food for Angel and left her in the room.

After about a thirty-minute drive, he arrived at Ventana’s a little before 2:00. He parked and walked in. He was immediately glad he had worn his best suit, even though he did not wear a tie. This place was way above his pay grade. When he asked to see Mrs. Rossi, the concierge took him to the back of the restaurant into a private room where she was eagerly awaiting his arrival. They shook hands, introduced themselves, and sat down. She asked what he would like. He said just water for now.

Mick asked first, “How did you find me?”

Amanda replied, “I found you because you were recommended to me by your former girlfriend. She says you are the best.”

Mick asked, “How do you know Lennon?”

Amanda said, “A friend of a friend gave me her number. I called her and she recommended you. Also, I did not tell her specifically who I was trying to find. So, she has no knowledge of why we are meeting today.”

Mick remembered that Lennon was also in the private eye business. She handled small cases for people who wanted to find their birth parents, check the security of a business with an owner or find out if a spouse was cheating. Mick felt, maybe Lennon was still in his life, though remotely. Lennon, unlike Mick, was also a very talented gambler. She usually won a lot of money when she played.

Amanda began to tell him, in exact detail, the problem she needed him to solve.

First off, “I must tell you that every word of this conversation and any others we have must be kept completely secret between you and me.”

Mick agreed, “Of course. Anything you tell me will be held in the strictest confidence.”

Amanda started, “I want you to find my lover. I have been in love with a man for over two years unbeknownst to my husband. My husband does not love me. He abuses me. He doesn’t beat me, but he constantly belittles me and makes me feel like I am worthless to him or anyone else. My lover treats me like a lady every time we are together. His name is Tyler Jones, and we have been seeing each other in secret now for over two years. He disappeared two weeks ago. No email, no text, and no call – just vanished. I think something terrible has happened and I need to know what happened and where he is. So, I want you to find him, no matter the cost.” Mick then said, “Are you sure that he just vanished. Were you and he having any relationship problems?” To which Amanda replied, “Absolutely not. The last time we were together, it was passionate and wonderful. I cried when I had to leave him to return to the hell in my marriage.

Mick asked, “When and where did you two meet up and for how long the last time you saw him?”

Amanda answered, “It was exactly two weeks ago in a small private hotel in San Francisco, Nob Hill Place. I go there regularly under the guise of visiting my sister, Kimberly, in San Francisco. She knows about my affair. I did not see her on that trip. It was just Tyler and I having a wonderful time together.”

Then Mick asked, “What does Tyler do for a living?”

Amanda said, “He is a remarkably successful entrepreneur. He owns several businesses in San Francisco and other parts of California. He’s not super rich but he is very well off. Money is not a problem. And he’s not married.”

Then Mick said, “Any information you have about Tyler will help immensely – Where does he live, the names of his businesses, what kind of car does he drive, who are his friends, etc. and of course, pictures and any communications you have had with him such as emails, texts, would be helpful.”

 Then Amanda said, “OK. I will gather as much info as I can find for you the next day or so. So, will you take this project on and how much do you expect it to cost?” Mick replied, “Well, let’s start with a $20,000 retainer to begin with. After that it will be $200 an hour plus expenses. And I can promise you that I will find your lover. That’s what I do, and I am very good at it.” Amanda reached in her handbag, pulled out her checkbook and wrote his retainer for $20 K.

Mick sent his email and telephone number to Amanda’s cell, got up and left. As he drove back to his motel, he pondered the challenge of finding a missing person who just happened to be having an affair with the wife of one of the most powerful rich people on the planet. He drove to his bank, deposited Amanda’s check, and withdrew a thousand dollars. When he arrived, Angel welcomed him as always. Then he took her outside to poop. After feeding her, he fell asleep and dreamed of Lennon all night again.

The next morning, Mick was up and at ‘em at 6:00. He packed his clothes, threw everything in the trunk of his immaculate 1967 Regimental Red GTO with a perfectly restored black vinyl top and let Angel sit in the front passenger seat as always. He and his best girl hit the road for San Francisco to find Amanda’s lover boy. It was a long drive, but Mick loved the road and Angel loved riding in that leather front seat. They stopped overnight at a roadside motel and arrived in San Francisco the next day.

Mick found a small upscale hotel on the outskirts of San Francisco that allowed pets. After checking in, he and Angel went for a walk and found some places they could get some fairly good food. They stopped in a nice burger joint, had dinner and headed to the hotel for a restful night.

In the meantime, Amanda had emailed all of the information she could find about Tyler– his home address, his cell phone number, the hotel they stayed in, the businesses he owned and the address and contact number for Amanda’s sister. Amanda had called her sister to let her know what was going on. Mick entered all the information in his journal for quick reference.

When Mick was on a case, he did a tremendous amount of research to ascertain who, what and where about the people he was being asked to locate. All he knew right now was that Amanda’s lover had vanished into thin air. So, he decided to start by calling her sister to get any information she might have that Amanda hadn’t told him. He dialed up Kimberly. After talking to her for about thirty minutes, the only information he got was that Amanda had been coming to San Francisco about once a month to see Tyler and that she didn’t see her every time she came.

She also told him that sometimes Amanda and Tyler would hook up in other places closer to Las Vegas. And she confirmed that Tyler lived on a small vineyard in Napa Valley that he owned. However, they rarely went there because it was more private to stay in the suite he always reserved at Nob Hill Place. She also told him they would sometimes go to a small place he owned on Lake Tahoe. So, Mick thought to himself, “these two are enjoying a creative way to have an affair, if they hook up for love in all these cool places.” However, he was still pondering the big question, “where did this guy go?” And, as of right now - not a clue!

Mick and Angel headed out to find Tyler’s house. Amanda had given him a key so he could gain entry to investigate. As he pulled into the driveway, there was no one around, so he and Angel got out as Mick unlocked the door and entered the upscale residence. Upon entering, he noticed some furniture turned over and some shattered glass on the floor. The kitchen had unwashed dishes in the sink. Being the former cop that he was, he immediately felt that something bad had happened here. As he searched the rest of the house, he noticed that the master bedroom had an unmade bed, and all the lights were on. Also, the master bath was completely disheveled with all manner of items just left on the bathroom counter as if someone had left with no concern for neatness. Then he inspected the garage with Tyler’s $130,000 Classic 1965 356 SC Porsche left in the garage.

All of these things that Mick noticed and photographed gave him great pause. Either someone has kidnapped Tyler, or he left in a hurry because someone was after him. However, it would seem that he would have taken his car if that were the case. No. He was fairly certain that Tyler had been forcibly removed after a struggle from his house. So, he and Angel left the house without bringing any attention to his search of the house. Next, Mick called Tyler’s housekeeper. He asked her if she had any knowledge of what had happened. She told him that she did not because she only came once a week and she had not been there this week. Mick told her what he saw and advised her not to come back to the house until further notice. And to call him if she wanted to talk. Then he sent Amanda an email with photographs telling her what he had found at Tyler’s house.

Next stop. Nob Hill Place. Mick left Angel in the car as he entered the exclusive five-star hotel and asked to speak to Mr. Andrews the concierge, who knew both Tyler and Amanda on a personal level. Amanda had already called him and told him to expect Mick.

Mick and Mr. Andrews sat down in a private office.

Mick asked. “How often did Mrs. Rossi and Mr. Jones come here and usually for how long?”

Mr. Andrews answered, “They usually came at least once a month for anywhere from a week to ten days. They would also show up on holidays like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, and other holidays.”

Mick asked another important question, “Are you aware of the relationships that Mrs. Rossi and Mr. Jones have in their separate lives?”

Mr. Andrews replied, “Only that Amanda is married to a very wealthy casino owner in Las Vegas and that Mr. Jones is single. Also, Mr. Jones always pays the bill.”

Then Mick asked, “What kinds of things do they do. Do they go out very much or do they stay close by the hotel?”

To which Mr. Andrews replied, “Actually, they go out very little. They always stay in our presidential suite which is very private. It has its own sauna, hot tub and small swimming pool. It also has its own spa where they regularly have massages together provided by private massage therapists. They often order room service from our restaurant or other places in San Francisco and eat in the small dining area in the suite.”

Finally, Mick asked, “Has anyone else come to the hotel looking for Mrs. Rossi or Mr. Jones or have you been asked about the couple from anyone other than me.”

Mr. Andrews said, “As a matter of fact - yes. A very attractive young woman by the name of Lennon English was here about three weeks ago asking about Tyler. However, I gave her no information.”

Mick immediately pondered this information. So, Lennon was interested in finding Tyler Jones as well. Who in the name of the Good Lord would hire her to do that? This added a completely new wrinkle to the task at hand for Mick. He needed to find Tyler. But he also needed to find out who hired Lennon and why.

Mick immediately dialed Amanda.

Mick asked Amanda, “Are you aware of the fact that someone, I don’t know who yet, has hired Lennon English to find your boyfriend?”

Amanda said, “Oh my God, I have no idea. However, the first person on that list would have to be my husband. He is a very powerful man who knows many important people and, also, many, people that do things that other people don’t do. It’s possible that he could have seen my phone or my laptop and gotten information from texts or emails. Tyler and I are always texting passionate things back and forth and I don’t always delete them after I read them.”

Then Mick asked, “Do you have any contacts that you can trust that may know this kind of information about your husband.”

She said, “No I really don’t. I have very little to do with his circle of friends and fixers that he regularly employs.”

To which Mick replied, “OK. I have some contacts in Vegas that will help me find out what is going on with Lennon. But, for now, just be cool and don’t ask anybody any questions about this.”

Mick decided he needed a run, so, he and Angel went for a couple of miles so Mick could clear his head and figure out his next move. As a former cop and now a private eye, he knew many people in the information business, who could find out things that nobody else could. Some were cops and others were guys that could ask questions quietly to get information. So, he dialed one of his closest acquaintances, Gino Farina, who operated on the dark side as a confidential informant for the police in Las Vegas. He had done time, but he was very good at finding things out quietly under the radar.

Mick called Gino and told him that he needed to know who had hired Lennon and whether or not she was looking for Tyler. They agreed on the job and the price. Mick made it very plain that this must be on the QT, or it could get both of them hurt. Mick told Gino to call him as soon as he had the information he needed.

Mick was getting a very uncomfortable feeling about this turn of events. He thought about calling Lennon but decided against it. He did not want her in any more danger that she could already be in.

Mick decided to cool his jets until he heard back from his Confidential Informant. He had learned over the many years of being a cop that patience, sometimes, is a virtue. Meanwhile, he and Angel Dog went for walks and runs to relax and get some exercise and enjoy the outdoors. On one walk they encountered a guy that seemed to be out of control. He ran up to Mick demanding his wallet and any money he was carrying. Then, all of a sudden, Angel Dog took him down with one pounce. His loyalty to Mick and his training always prevailed in any serious confrontation. He stood over the man as Mick called him off and they walked away, leaving the man to rethink his attitude about his need to confront people and demand things that weren’t his. Mick and Angel Dog continued their walk as the man slowly got up and headed in the opposite direction.

Mick and his girl stopped off at a little diner that had outstanding chili and a glass of wine. The owner gave Angel Dog a nice treat from the kitchen. After dinner, they returned to the hotel. Mick took a shower and went into a deep sleep still dreaming about the woman he loved so deeply - Lennon.

The next morning, Mick’s cell rang while he and Angel Dog were having a light breakfast.

Mick answered Gino’s call – “What do you know?”

Gino replied – “I know as much as you need to know and it doesn’t sound good.”

Mick said – “Lay it on me.”

Gino continued – “The big man, Rossi, has indeed hired your lady Lennon to find the guy you are looking for – Tyler Jones. According to my contact in the casino, the boss knows she has been having an affair with this guy, and he wanted Lennon to find him.”

Mick then asked – “Did you find out whether or not she found the guy?”

Gino said – “According to my contact- the answer is yes, and it gets worse from there. Apparently, she found him, and a small group of goons followed her, found the guy and kidnapped him and now have him locked up in a back room in the basement of the casino. No information on what exactly they are going to do with him.”

Mick thanked Gino and hung up. This was a very bad development for him, Amanda, Tyler and Lennon. Lennon was not a “tough broad”. She was a gentle soul who enjoyed helping people find out things and people as a private eye. Business investigations, husbands and wives gone astray, and other minor kinds of things were all she really knew. She had no idea what she had now become involved in. Mick did not know if she knew Tyler Jones had been kidnapped.

Mick now had two things to do. At the top of the list was to call Amanda and give her a status report on Tyler and let her know that Lennon had found him. He also needed to let her know that he was being held in a private secure space in the basement of the casino. Second, he needed to talk to Lennon, find out what she knew and come up with a plan to, basically, save Tyler Jones’ life and not endanger Lennon or himself. Even though no one really knew, the rumors of Rossi having mob ties were rampant. Therefore, Mick knew he was going to need a perfect plan to free Tyler and end up with everyone alive and well. From his many years of experience, Mick knew that it never ended well when someone was kidnapped and locked up somewhere, particularly if he is the lover of a beautiful woman who is married to a very rich and powerful casino owner not really subject to the same laws and rules of society that regular people are. So, Mick decided to go see Lennon in person.