“I’ll leave now if you want,” she repeated.”I might have one of my own coming up tomorrow night.”
“That won’t be necessary. Come. We have time to chat for a few minutes, don’t we David?”
“If you’d like, Doctor. We’re only ten minutes away from where we’re going.”
They went up to the suite where Sharon asked if she could use the bathroom. Stonetree and Camden sat on the couches, the doctor pulling a receipt from his shirt pocket.
“Are you nervous?” he asked.
“A little. Maybe a little more than a little. I don’t even know if I’m supposed to be here. I went back to the office after we left but everyone was gone. Did you get back here all right?”
“Yes, everything was fine. No problems. Maybe I’ll go into the spy business.”
“I still think law school is what you should do next. You really had Lane on the ropes with your contract demands.” He paused.”Did you send that release agreement to her?”
“My counsel did. It was acceptable and she’ll bring it along.”
“Did Robin meet you back here?”
“Matter of fact,” Camden replied, a look of concern crossing his face.”I’m a little bewildered about a couple… something doesn’t fit.”
“What makes you say that?”
“When you talked to Lane, did you mention where I was staying?”
He thought for a moment.”No.”
“Are you sure?”
“All I said was that you were in town. I never even said you were in a hotel. Just that Robin would call you.”
“You’re absolutely sure?”
“Positive.”
Camden stood and slowly began to pace back and forth. He seemed about to ask another question when Sharon stepped back into the room.
“This is certainly a lovely place,” she gushed.”This is living. Why do you look so serious?”
“We have to talk about something,” Stonetree said.”I think you’d better excuse us now.”
“I’m on my way. Could I have the keys for the car? I left my purse on the seat.”
“Sure,” he said, pulling them out of his pocket.”Better yet, why don’t you get a newspaper downstairs and wait for us in the lobby? We’ll be down in, oh, ten minutes?”
“That’s fine. It was certainly a pleasure to meet you, Doctor,” she said, stepping toward the door.”Good luck with the project.”
“So what’s the problem?” Stonetree asked, resuming his seat.
“I don’t know if it’s a problem. There’re just a few things that concern me.”
“What about the hotel?”
“When we were in her office discussing a place to meet, she said she’d rather go to the Hyatt than the club. Just before that, Smite suggested we go to where I was staying. Might be a coincidence. Does she come here often?”
“Not that I’m aware.”
“And then there’s this,” he said, handing over the receipt.”At 1:30 Robin was leaving and I turned on the TV to watch ESPN. I know what time it was because I looked at my watch. Robin asked to use the bathroom then left. I went in to use it and noticed the phone was wet. I figured if he wanted to use it, he just would have asked.”
“Right.”
“So I called down to the desk and asked if it’d been used. They said it wasn’t on my bill yet but could provide a printout of all the calls made from the room, so I went down to check. That’s when you saw me.” He pointed to the receipt.”Do you recognize this phone number? It was called from here at 1:30.”
“Local pre, 2979,” Stonetree said aloud.”No, I don’t.”
“They looked at the log and he was on the phone for less than a minute.”
“That’s his exchange. That’s around where he lives. Maybe it’s his cleaners or something.”
“I don’t know.”
“Let’s call information. I’ve got a number you can call and they give you the owner’s name and the address.” Stonetree made the inquiry, only to discover the number was unpublished.”Beats me,” he said, disconnecting.
“And then there’s the interview he did with you.”
“What about it?”
“He played part of the recording for me.”
“Why did he do that?”
“To introduce you to me, I guess.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“Do you remember the last thing you said to him, at the end? Was it something about your wanting him to have mercy on you?”
“That’s right, I did. So?”
“That’s the impression I got too. But there’s more, and it didn’t sound like you were being interviewed, that you knew you were being recorded.”
“Like what?”
“First you talked about a picture of his wife and then you said some things about Lane you probably wouldn’t have said to anyone if it was being recorded. Something about a C word?”
“And he played it for you?”
“Twice. To show how sincere and courageous you were.” He paused.”And simple.”
“He said that?”
“The implication was there.”
Stonetree searched his memory for other anomalies but couldn’t think of any.”I don’t know,” he finally said.”I’m surprised.”
“I’ll tell you what I’d like you to do. Robin said he’d wait at his apartment to hear from us. Why don’t you go over there and satisfy yourself that everything’s right.”
“Do we have time?”
“I’ll take a cab to this Sirius place. Would a driver know where it is?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll go there and wait for you outside. We don’t have to meet them ’til 5:00.”
“If you want me to go…are you sure?”
“Do it. I’ll see you later.”
They shook hands and Stonetree left. Sharon intercepted him in the lobby, a concerned look on her face.
“What’s wrong? You don’t look too happy.”
“I’ve got to go check with Robin about something.”
“Let me go with you.”
“No,” he said as they walked toward the car.
“Why not?”
“Because it might get a little ugly.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure. Something might be wrong.”
“Let me go with you,” she insisted.
“No. It might be dangerous.”
“David!” she yelled, grabbing his arm and turning him around just in front of the Mustang.”David, listen to me. Ugly I can handle, as long as it’s with you. Can’t you understand that? When are you going to get that through your head?”
“What?”
“I love you. I just want to be with you. To share with you. To protect you... from yourself.”
They held each other for a moment. Stonetree thought of holding her hand at the Tower of London, and the walls around him.
“Get in. We don’t have much time.”
His thoughts raced as they made the short drive to Wilson Towers and raced more as they approached the elevator. Local pre, 2979e he said to himself. Local pre, 2979 he thought as the doors closed. Local pre, 2979. Where had he heard that number before? As they stepped to the apartment, he reached into his pocket and removed his trans, flipping to the recent calls section. About a third of the way down he found it.
He rapped on the door twice, McReynolds opening it almost immediately.
“Dave,” he said, taking a step backward and looking at Sharon.”What brings you here? I didn’t expect to see you ’til later.”
“Really?” he replied, stepping in with Sharon close behind.”I don’t recall making any plans along those lines.”
McReynolds closed the door and eased back.”Just figured. Who’s this?”
“This is Sharon. Sharon, this is Robin.”
“Oh, you’re Sharon. Nice to meet you. Dave talks about you all the time.” He turned to Stonetree.”Could I interest you in a cocktail?”
“I’ll have a
scotch. Sharon?”
“Do you have any white wine?”
“White wine and a scotch, coming up.”
He returned with the drinks quickly.
“So, what brings the two of you uptown? A little dinner maybe?”
“Just thought we’d drop by to say hello,” Stonetree said.”What’re your plans for the evening?”
“Don’t know,” McReynolds shrugged, reaching for a cigarette from the table.”Want one?”
Stonetree took it.
“No big plans. But you know what I always say.”
“No rest for the wicked.”
“You got it.” He turned to Sharon.”Did you like the way our friend here came out in the Journal article? I took the picture.”
“With his new camera,” Stonetree added, walking to the desk and picking it up.”Old Robin here loves his new toys. And he buys dangerous toys too,” he continued, opening up the burgundy case and removing the revolver.”Dangerous toys.” He disengaged the cylinder, looked at the bullets then nudged it closed, walking back to the couch and showing it to Sharon.”He thinks somebody’s after him. Don’t you, Robin?”
“Hey, Dave? Put that back. It’s not a toy. It’s real.”
“I know,” he replied, rolling it from one hand to the other.”Has it been fired yet?”
“No,” McReynolds said, starting to stand up.
“Stay there.”
He hesitated, then sat down.
“Got any Febrifuge around here?”
“Sure, Dave. Always. Want to get cool?”
“Got any thousands?”
“I might.”
“Any eleven hundreds?”
“Hey,” McReynolds cautioned, putting out his cigarette.”Lighten up, okay? I don’t need this attitude of yours, whatever it is.”
“Got any special versions? New formulations?”
“Listen man, I don’t need you coming in here and giving me shit. Maybe you ought to get to your dinner engagement.”
“We’re not going to dinner, Robin,” he replied, continuing to roll the gun.”Not until we clear a couple things up.”
“Like what?”
“Like a recording you played for Camden.”
“What about it?”
“There was more on it than I thought. What’s the story?”
“Maybe there was. So what? We were there to get your thoughts, remember? You knew it was on.”
“Not at the end.”
“So what? What else you want to know?”
“How do you fit into this, Robin?”
“It’s a story, man. A big, big story. Come on, I’ve got things to do. What else?”
“How long have you known her?”
“Who?”
“You tell me.”
“No, you tell me! What the hell are you talking about, man? Climb off, okay?”
“How long have you known her?”
“Look Dave,” McReynolds said, relaxing into the couch and smiling, his hands resting on his knees.”I know you’ve got a few questions you want answered and I’m sure I can clear it all up for you.” He looked at Sharon.”But this is a rather confidential matter, you know. Maybe we can talk about it later, huh?”
“How long, Robin?”
McReynolds jumped to his feet. Stonetree raised the gun and pointed it at his head…then cocked it.
“David! What are you doing?”
“Yeah, listen to her, man. What are you doin’? Don’t get carried away. We don’t have to have problems. I can explain this.” He looked at Sharon.”Tell him to put it down.”
“David, what is the problem?”
“Stay here,” he told her, pointing toward the bedroom with the gun.”Let’s go in there and talk, Robin. We ought to be able to clear this up quick, don’t you think?”
“Fine, man. Just fine. Let’s talk it out.”
Stonetree motioned with his head for McReynolds to step to the room, following behind then closing the door.
“Okay, what do you want?” McReynolds asked as he sat on the bed.”What’s the problem?”
“How long have you known her?”
“Three months, maybe four. I met her on the elevator one day when she was checking something being changed before she took possession. I recognized her from the Forbes article so said I might be doing a piece on SUE. We had a couple of drinks and she told me if I got the gig I should give her a call; offered to have me over for dinner.”
“And?”
“And I did the article.”
“What next?”
“A book.”
“On what?”
“Not sure yet.” He smiled nervously.”Lots of possibilities.”
“You’re setting him up, aren’t you?”
“Who? Camden? Just bringing some consenting adults together to resolve some of their differences. That’s all.” Stonetree rubbed the butt of the pistol against the side of his head, still unaware of how deep McReynolds was into the arrangement, or the precise role he played, or what he was doing in his friend’s apartment holding a gun while Sharon sat in the living room.
“So what happens now?”
“Beats me. No idea. I’m out of it for now. So are you. Put away the gun, huh?”
“What happens now?”
“Uh, let’s see. Camden goes to Sirius. Camden turns the stuff over to Trisha. Trisha gives the capsules to Smite. Smite gives the masters to Trisha. Trisha puts out the album. Maybe SUE runs a blood drive. Trisha makes more of the specials. The possibilities are endless.” He settled back on the bed.”Lots of possibilities.”
“What’s Camden get?”
“Only a kick in the balls if he’s lucky.”
“What about his notes? The cure.”
“He’s holding stolen property. Trisha isn’t. The stuff belongs to her. The notebooks do too. Camden’s lucky if he keeps his ass out of the penitentiary.”
“What about the cure?”
“Not my problem, pal. I’m out of it for right now. The specials could be a big story, Dave. The biggest yet. We might be at the dawn of a new age. And I’m gonna be right there recording it for prosperity. I don’t need a fucking cure. I’m part of the future.”
“You make me sick,” Stonetree snarled, moving toward the closet.”How did you get sucked into this?”
“Hey, interesting choice of words. You ought to ask yourself a few questions like that. We’re not all lily white, are we?”
“Turn over,” Stonetree ordered as he pulled a handful of ties out of the closet.
“Cut the melodrama, man.”
He lowered the barrel a foot in front of McReynolds’s face and thumbed the hammer.”I’m not kidding, Robin. Better yet, here,” he continued, tossing him the bunch.”Around the ankles. And tight.”
“Okay, Dave,” he said as he began to wrap one of the ties around his legs.”You’re a big boy. You make your own choices.”
“That’s right.”
“Lemme ask you a few questions.”
He didn’t answer.
“D’you get a snake from that Keshi place?”
No response.
“Just curious. One morning when she was taking a shower I was looking around her den. Found a half-dozen.”
No reply.
“Hey, I’m getting good at this tying stuff.” He paused.”Must be…d’she have you get the handbags out of the drawer?”
No response.
“After she knelt down and had you tie her wrists to the bed…”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“After tying her wrists, which choice did you make? Did you opt for the silk or the leather blindfold for her?”
“Shut the fuck up.”
“Or did you go for option three, having her…”
“You remember that concussion you had from the accident? Two inch gash above your ear?”
“I’m guessing here, but she must have taken care of you at least…”
“One more word and you’re going to be r
econcussed.”
“I’ve got news for you,” McReynolds said, finishing the knotting.”This deal goes bad and Smite finds out you wrecked it, you can kiss your ass good-bye.”
“I’ll take my chances. Roll over on your stomach. Put your wrists behind you back.”
“And he’s not the type to let people off,” he hissed as Stonetree tied his wrists together.”He’s crazy. He’ll kill you. He’s been in a very bad mood lately.”
“Haven’t we all,” Stonetree agreed as he dropped the gun and looped a tie between his ankles and wrists, securing it with three knots. Then he rolled his captive over on his side, breathing deeply as he retrieved the weapon.
“And Trisha won’t be very happy with you either…what’s left of you. No more of those romantic, secluded nights.”
“I guess I’m really not much better than you.” He thought a moment about whether it would be a good idea to put some tape or something over McReynolds’s mouth to keep him quiet but decided against it, figuring it’d take a rescuer more than ten minutes to get someone into the apartment after he and Sharon left. And a ten-minute jump was all he wanted.
“Listen, I’ll come back or I’ll send someone back. I’m gonna rip the phones out and take your trans. Do me a favor and don’t be a hero,” he added, tearing a cord out of the wall and crushing the plug with his heel.
“I think you want that distinction.” McReynolds smiled crookedly as he lay his head down and closed his eyes.”It was nice knowing you.”
Stonetree began to leave, then hesitated and looked back.
“Why did you do it to me, Robin? After all this time, all these years.”
“Opportunity knocks only once, so you have to take your chance when you see it. You just happened to be the doorman. Nothing personal.”
“I’ll send someone,” he sighed, patting his former friend on the leg.”See you later.”
As they rode down in the elevator, Sharon didn’t ask any questions and Stonetree didn’t offer an explanation, even when he handed her the gun to put in her purse. He looked at his watch. It was 4:50. He again looked at the log of recent calls, not believing he’d been conned so perfectly.
CHAPTER 16
The Mustang braked in a screech two buildings from Sirius. It was a few minutes after 5:00 and Camden was nowhere to be seen. Stonetree pulled into a space then shut off the engine. After taking a deep breath, he turned to Sharon.
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