by Robert Crais
'Sure.'
'You can wait at the hotel, you want. Get the kid something to eat.'
'Sure.'
'I'll get back there soon as we find this clown.'
Two more FBI agents, another half dozen Orange County deputies, and the representative from the Secret Service arrived. Everyone was smiling and patting each other on the back because they figured Markov was in the bag. Only so many ways out, they kept saying, and all points of regress were covered.
One of the cops took us back to the hotel, but Charles didn't like it much. He said, 'I wanna go on Space Mountain. I wanna ride the submarines. I wanna climb the Matterhorn.'
Some things don't change.
I called Teri from the hotel lobby and told her that we had Charles and that everything was fine. Teri passed word to Winona, and they both shrieked and clapped their hands. It made me smile.
We had hamburgers at the hotel cafe, then hung around the lobby and the monorail station for another two hours, but when Hendricks finally showed up they still hadn't found Markov or Dobcek. Pike said, 'You want me to come back in and find them?'
Hendricks scowled. 'I think we can manage, but thanks.'
Pike shrugged.
I said, 'I want to get these people home, Hendricks. You can talk to them later and arrange the statements.'
Hendricks said, 'Okay,' but you could tell he didn't like it.
Charles coughed. 'A-hole.'
Hendricks glared at him, then stalked away shaking his head.
Pike took us back to the warehouse for my car. The FBI and Long Beach cops were still standing around the place, but Dak and his people were gone, and so were the bodies. The big truck door was open, revealing the litho press and the computer and plate maker, but no one seemed to be paying attention. Marsha Fields was there, as was a representative of the U.S. Attorney's Office, both of them talking to a couple of Long Beach PD detective-supervisors. When Marsha Fields saw me, she came over, introduced herself to Clark and Charles, then smiled at Joe. 'Hi, Joe.'
Pike's mouth twitched. I guess they knew each other, all right.
She smiled at him a little longer, then put the smile on Charles. 'You're a good-looking little devil.'
Charles turned a nice plum red.
She said, 'Mr. Hewitt, we're very anxious to speak with you.'
Clark was still in the Jeep. Too tired to get out. 'Of course. Anytime you want.'
I took Marsha Fields aside and said, 'So where do we stand with this?'
She watched three Long Beach cops laugh about something at the far end of the parking lot. Nothing had gone as we had planned. Markov hadn't been arrested as a counterfeiter, and instead we'd managed to shoot up both Long Beach and Disneyland. A small army of cops had seen the printing equipment, and each and every one of them knew what it was. The bodies had to be explained, and I still wanted Clark to get his money, and that meant he still had to print for Dak. I told her what I was thinking.
Marsha watched the cops laughing, and nodded. 'We made the deal in good faith, and so did you. We'll still want Clark's testimony on the kidnapping count.' She looked back at me. 'A deal's a deal. Just have Clark get this finished, and tell whoever is behind this operation that if they break the law again, I'll make them my hobby. Are we clear on that?'
'Clear.' I offered my hand, and she took it. I gave her the safe house number, and she said that she would call as soon as she heard anything. I thanked her.
Marsha Fields took three steps away, then stopped, looked back, and raised an eyebrow. 'Dong?'
I spread my hands. I wondered how she knew.
When I rejoined Pike and Clark, and told them that we were free to go, Charles said he wanted to ride home with me. He liked riding in the Corvette with the top down, he said. He thought it was cool. It took an hour and thirty-five minutes to drive up to Studio City, and Charles talked constantly about Marsha Fields, and never once mentioned Markov. I didn't mind. He seemed fine, and I guess he had fallen in love.
We arrived at the safe house maybe a dozen minutes after Joe and Clark. Charles was disappointed. He said, 'What a gyp! They beat us.'
This kid is something, isn't he?
When we went in, Teri and Winona scooped up Charles in a big hug, everyone crying, but this time they were happy tears. I got hugs, too, and then I asked Pike if Hendricks had called. He hadn't, and that worried me. If Markov and Dobcek slipped through their net, we were back where we started. I didn't think they had, but you never know. I went up to the office and phoned Dak. He wasn't happy to hear from me, but at least he was cordial. He said, 'The boy is all right?'
'Yes. And so is Clark. I spoke with Marsha Fields about this, and the deal still stands.'
'The police have been asking questions.'
'Those questions will go away. The paper will not be investigated about the printing equipment found on its premises, nor will you.'
Dak said, 'How will we explain the bodies?'
'It's already been explained. Employees of the Journal discovered a robbery in progress and the bad guys drew guns. Your employees acted in self-defense.'
Dak didn't say anything for a moment. 'She can do this?'
'It's the government, Dak. She can do anything.'
Nguyen Dak said, 'You're a man of your word, Mr. Cole. I have much respect for that.'
'Not me, Dak. Her.'
I told him that Clark would call tomorrow and arrange for the printing, then I hung up, and stared at the phone in the quiet of the room. I could hear the others down below, but up here was peaceful and the peace was soothing. I didn't feel particularly noble, and I didn't feel like I'd won anything. I felt lucky. I had come very close to being shot. Charles and Clark could have died, and I had killed men whose faces I could not recall. I looked at my hands. Dmitri Sautin's blood was still crusted around my fingernails. I felt myself start to shake, and I closed my eyes and waited for the shaking to pass, and when it did I went into the bathroom and washed my hands and arms. I had to wash twice, and then I showered.
When I went downstairs, Teri said, 'We've decided to have a party. We're going to get pizza.'
'Great.'
The phone rang then, and I thought it might be Marsha Fields, but it wasn't. Reed Jasper said, 'Have you heard yet?'
'Heard what?'
'We got 'em. Snagged Dobcek and Markov trying to sneak out of a maintenance exit on the north side of the park.'
I cupped the phone, told everyone that Markov had been captured, and Jasper laughed at the shouts and applause. He said, 'You guys going to be around?'
'Sure. We're going to have a little party, then I guess I'll take them home.'
'I want to swing by and talk to Clark. I'll probably head back to Seattle in the morning.'
'Sure, Jasper. That'd be fine.' I gave him directions.
We ordered the pizza, and Joe and Winona walked to the little minimart for soft drinks and beer. I volunteered to make a salad. The Hewitts wanted to go home after the pizza, and I thought that would be a good idea. Let them be a family again. Let them fall asleep under the same roof without wondering if someone would come through the door and shoot them. Teri and Charles went upstairs to pack. Clark hovered at the pass-through, watching me mince garlic. I said, 'You're going to have to tell them.'
'I don't know how.' He fidgeted like he was nervous. 'I've thought about it a lot, but nothing I come up with sounds good.'
'You just tell them, Clark. You sit them down and tell them you're sick and that you're going to die. Let them cry, and you cry with them.'
"They're so young.'
'They're older than you think.' I took tomatoes and a cucumber from the fridge. 'You feel bad, why don't you rest over there on the couch?'
He frowned at the couch.
'Would you rather help?'
'Huh?' He looked surprised.
'Would you like to help make the salad?'
Clark Hewitt stared at me. 'Sure.' He came around into the kitchen. I told him to w
ash the tomatoes and cucumbers, then slice them. As he did it, he nodded. 'I get it.'
'What?'
'I could sit on the couch over there and feel bad, or I can help make the salad.'
I put the garlic in a little jar and added some olive oil. 'Yep.'
'Either way I'm going to die.'
I nodded. It wasn't anything he didn't already know. The deal with Dak proved that.
'Maybe I should tell them tonight.'
'That would be good. If you want, I could sit with you.'
He thought about it, then shook his head. Thanks, but that's okay. I can do it.'
Good for you, Clark.
We were tossing the salad when someone knocked at the door, and Clark said, 'That's the pizza.'
I opened the door, but it wasn't the pizza. Reed Jasper came in, and Dobcek and Markov pushed in behind him. Dobcek pointed his gun at me, then backhanded me with it two hard times, knocking me into the wall. Clark said, 'Ohmigod,' and then Dobcek pointed the gun at him and touched his lips, going, 'Sh,' as he pushed us back into the living room.
Markov came in behind him. Markov was pale and shaky and standing hunched to the side with a wind-breaker draped over his shoulders to hide the blood. He looked at me with the kind of look that said he wanted to eat me while I was still alive, while the blood still pumped and he could feel it warm and hot in his mouth. I looked from the hungry eyes to Jasper, and I said, 'You sonofabitch.'
Jasper shrugged. He was holding his service gun loose along his leg. 'Hey, it's a living.'
Markov smiled when he saw Clark. His tongue raked dry lips. I guess you dry out when you're bleeding to death. 'I'm going to do you myself, you termite.'
Clark turned white and trembled. 'Please don't hurt my children.'
I said, 'Pike's upstairs. He's got a machine gun.'
Jasper pointed with his gun. 'Shut up and sit down.'
Markov slumped heavily on the couch, and Dobcek moved to the stairs.
I stared at Jasper. 'How'd you get them out of the park?'
Jasper looked in the salad bowl, nibbled at a piece of cucumber. 'It was touch-and-go there for a bit, but I managed. Dressed 'em up in a couple of maintenance uniforms.'
Markov shifted on the couch; you could tell he was hurting. 'Don't say a goddamned word.'
Jasper shrugged. 'What's it matter? He ain't going anywhere.'
'How long has Markov owned you, Jasper?'
Jasper ate more cucumber.
'That's why your buddy was killed the night Clark went under. You sold out three years ago, and it got a marshal killed.'
Jasper made a big-deal shrug. 'If he hadn't tried to play hero it wouldn't've been a problem.'
I stared at him, and then I looked at Markov. I was thinking that Pike and Winona should have been back. It was only two blocks to the market, and two blocks back. I was trying to remember if Pike still had his gun. I had left mine in my trunk. 'You've lost a lot of blood, Markov. You might not make it.'
'I'll make it. I'm gonna kill this bastard first, and then I'll get fixed up just fine.'
I looked at Markov, and then Jasper. 'You going to let him kill these children, too?'
Jasper nodded. 'Sure. Why not?' Like it was nothing.
Something thumped upstairs, and Charles said, 'Quit shovin', ya frig!' Charles and Teri came down the stairs with Dobcek behind them. Dobcek was holding Charles by the back of the neck, and Teri looked angry.
Dobcek said, 'Where's the other one?' I didn't know if he meant Pike or Winona.
Jasper looked irritated. 'Who gives a shit? Let's just do it and get out of here.'
Markov said, 'Da.'
When he said it, someone knocked on the door and Dobcek clamped a hand over Charles's mouth and aimed his gun at Clark. 'Sh.'
Jasper went to the door, raising his gun, and Markov pushed to his feet, holding his own gun loosely at his side. Pike and Winona had a key, but maybe Pike had seen Markov and Dobcek coming in. Maybe he'd seen Markov's blood trail leading to the door. Or maybe it was just the pizza man.
Jasper peered through the peephole, then frowned and stepped away from the door. 'I can't see shit.'
If it was Pike, he would make a move.
If it was Pike, the knocking would have been to focus our attention there while he came in from another place.
I looked at Teri and Charles and Dobcek. Dobcek was breathing hard and staring at the door with the kids in front of him and the muzzle of his gun maybe three centimeters from Charles's head. I stood. 'I'd give up, if I were you. It's the cops.' I said it in a normal speaking voice.
Dobcek pointed his gun at me. 'Shut up.'
Markov waved his gun at Dobcek and hissed, 'Make him shut up.'
Something creaked above us, and Dobcek glanced up the stairs, like maybe he'd heard it but wasn't sure. A drop of sweat worked down from his hairline and along his temple.
I spoke even louder. 'What's that smell, Dobcek? You so scared you messed your pants?'
Dobcek took a single step toward me, but he was still between the kids. I wanted him away from them, and thought maybe I could bait him to me. Of course, he might decide to shoot me instead.
I spoke louder still. 'Why don't you chickenshits just open the door and see who it is?' I took a step toward Markov. 'Christ, you want me to do it?'
Markov hissed angrily at Dobcek, 'Make him be silent, goddamn you.'
Dobcek surged past Charles and Teri, and put his gun to my head. He clamped his hand over my mouth and kept the gun there and smiled horribly. His face was red, and his snow-blond buzz cut stood sharp and spike-like up from his head. 'When this is done I will kill you slow.'
I caught Teri's eye and snapped a glance at the floor. She grabbed Charles and pushed him down.
Everything in the room was focused on the door when Markov wet his lips and told Jasper, 'Open it.'
Jasper threw open the door, but no one was there except Winona's little troll, hanging over the peephole. It looked angry.
Jasper bunked. 'What the hell?'
A shadow flicked at the top of the stairs and Alexei Dobcek must've caught the move because I felt him tense a tenth of a second before Joe Pike shot him once through the temple and Dobcek collapsed away from me as the pressure wave and burnt powder residue blew past me like a hot rain.
Jasper jerked at the blast, but I was already moving. I put my shoulder into Markov, twisted the gun out of his hand, then shot Jasper three times, knocking him through the open door and out into the breezeway, shooting until he was over and out and gone.
When I turned back to Markov, Joe Pike was on him. Markov was still on the floor, confused and blinking up at us, profoundly surprised at how fast his life had taken a downward turn. I said, 'Close.'
Pike shrugged with an absolute lack of expression. 'Not even.'
That Pike is something.
The Hewitts were fine. I said, 'Clark, why don't you make a citizen's arrest, and we'll call the police.'
Pike said, 'Already called them. They're on the way.'
Charles ran over to Markov and kicked him. 'A-hole!' Pike had to lift Charles away to get him to stop.
The police didn't get there in time.
Little by little the angry wolf hunger drained from Andrei Markov's eyes and he was gone. Bled to death before the police arrived.
Pike went out and brought in Winona. He'd put her in his Jeep after he called the cops.
I put my arms around the Hewitt family, and I told them that it was over, and this time it was.
* * *
CHAPTER 37
The courtyard and the sidewalk by the street filled with police and gawkers, and pretty soon a news crew from the local ABC affiliate showed up.
The cops on the scene got pretty tense about finding three bodies, especially when one of the bodies was identified as a U.S. Marshal. I called Marsha Fields, but she was still in Long Beach. I finally reached Emily Thornton, and after she spoke to the lead cop, he was only too happy to a
ccept my version of events. It pays to have friends in high places. When the pizza arrived, Charles ate some and the cops ate the rest. No one else wanted it.
When the lead detective told Clark that he could go, Clark came over and asked if he could speak with me. He looked embarrassed.
I took him aside, and he said, 'What about Dak?'
'Call him tonight and set it up for tomorrow. He'll probably send a limo, he wants the dong so badly.'
He looked at his children. The three of them were standing in a little group under a pine tree by the street. He said, 'Well, I might be down there a couple of days. I don't want to just leave them alone.'
I had to smile when he said it. 'Call me, Clark. They can stay with me.'
Clark looked uncertain, and then he went back to his family and the four of them walked away. Joe drove them home.
I left not long after, stopping at Gelson's for a nice salmon steak and a couple of fresh baking potatoes and a six-pack of Budweiser. I would've preferred Falstaff, but they didn't have it. As in all things, you do what you can.
When I got home I set the coals in my Weber, popped the potatoes in the oven, then took a shower while they cooked. After the shower I called Lucy. It was after eight in Baton Rouge by the time I called, and she answered on the second ring. I said, 'It's done.'
She asked me about it, of course, and I told her, speaking for most of a half hour as I watched the coals redden, their heat visibly rising in the cooling evening air. Stuart Greenberg had been good at his word, and now, one day after her meeting with him, he had finalized her deal with David Shapiro, the deal that would bring her to Los Angeles and, I hoped, make her a part of my daily life.
When the coals were ripe for the salmon, I told her so, and promised to send her Sunday's real estate section. She said, 'I love you, Elvis.'
'I love you, too, Lucy.'
Just talking to her made me smile.
I doused the salmon with soy sauce, placed it on the grill, and then the phone rang. I thought it might be Lucy calling back, or Joe, or Clark to tell me when he needed me for the kids, but it wasn't. A man's voice said, 'You didn't win anything.'