Road Kill; Puppet Master; Cross Wired

by Jan Coffey

  “You’ve kept me alive this long. You know, you should get some reward for that,” Nathan told them.

  He’d been thinking about this for a while. He stepped toward the wall.

  “If you’re going to send my picture to the U.S. government, then send a copy of my photograph to my parents. They’ll pay you a lot of money…many U.S. dollars…to know I am okay.”

  The camera flashed.

  The guard looked at the image. “Look…” he said, pointed toward the door. Nathan turned his profile to the guard. The camera flashed again.

  “A million dollars. Even more,” Nathan said hurriedly as they started to leave the room. “They’ll pay you anything you ask. I am their only child. Google my father. Steven Galvin. You’ll see. He’s worth a billion dollars, and I am his only child. Contact him. He’ll pay you.”

  The door closed with a loud bang, and the only answer to Nathan’s suggestion was the sound of locks being snapped shut.

  CHAPTER 30

  LOSS

  Whatever Alanna’s imagination had conjured up regarding what branch of organized crime these “consultants” were part of, the mental image didn’t match their looks and manners. Both men, clearly close to retirement age, were definitely desk types, and both were extremely polite and professional.

  They introduced themselves, with Mr. Diarte deferring to his employer Mr. Lyons. Rather than sitting in the Equus restaurant, which appeared to be crowded, they were directed to the Pegasus Lounge, where they could have the place practically to themselves.

  An elegant baby grand piano sat silent in one corner, and Alanna glanced at the large antique sepia-colored photograph of the round barn from the days when the area was ranch land. Moving to the far end of the wood paneled room, Diarte led them to a table in a private corner, a good place for them to talk.

  Alanna had been in business long enough to recognize immediately that both men were eager to please. The realization came as a surprise, considering that Ray was the one who needed their assistance.

  “What is it that you two gentlemen do?” She got to the point as soon as they were left by the hostess who’d offered to bring them mimosas or Bloody Marys, if they preferred. Only Ray took the young woman up on her offer.

  “Hank Diarte works for me, at present,” Lyons explained. “I’m a principal in a consulting company. We manage projects.”

  “What kinds of projects?” she asked.

  “Mostly projects of a technical nature.”

  Alanna waited for the man to say more but he said nothing. “That’s pretty wide open, Mr. Lyons,” she persisted. “Can’t you be more specific?”

  “I’m afraid not. At least, not until we have some indication from you that you are willing to consider working with us.”

  “Me?” She glanced at Ray in surprise. His gaze seemed to be everywhere but on her. Her earlier suspicion that there was a lot more that he hadn’t told her about this meeting was coming true. “I’m afraid you’re mistaken. I’m not looking for a position.”

  “Oh, we know that, Dr. Mendes,” Lyons replied quietly.

  “Then I don’t understand.”

  “Let me explain. The projects we manage are generally of short duration—anywhere from a couple of days to a month, rarely ever more. The way we run them is to assemble the absolute top experts in the field for the required tasks, and just for that short length of time. Now most of the people who work with us, people like yourself, have no interest in permanently leaving their present situation. That works out just fine. Many use personal time or vacation time. The compensation alone makes it more than worthwhile.”

  Alanna leaned back in the chair and studied the three men who were sitting at the same table with her. Ray could as well have been a stranger.

  “I’m getting more confused by the second.”

  She turned to Ray. His gaze was now fixed on a wine list.

  “Ray, how did you find these people?” she asked him directly.

  “They found me.”

  She turned back to Lyons. Diarte was scribbling notes on a small note pad. “And how did you do that, considering the fact that he was in a witness protection program?”

  “We have connections in many areas, including the government,” Lyons said. “And our connections are not necessarily illegal. A lot of the information that we receive, as well as the projects that we manage come to us from some of the most respectable people and organizations in America.”

  “Don’t insult my intelligence, Mr. Lyons,” Alanna told him shortly. “This is just so much double-talk. Why would you think I would take what you say at face value? I don’t know you. And, to tell you honestly, this all sounds very suspicious to me. I’ve been asking direct questions. I expect straightforward answers.”

  Ray opened his mouth to say something, but Alanna placed a hand on his knee. He stopped.

  “Mr. Lyons. We really don’t have all day,” she continued. “So unless you are willing to get to the point of who you really are and what you can do for my fiancée—as well as what, exactly, you want in return—then this meeting is over.”

  Diarte was watching his superior, but Lyons never took his eyes off of Alanna’s face. Finally, he nodded and opened a briefcase that he’d placed on the floor when they sat down. He took out a folder.

  “I respect your directness, Dr. Mendes,” he said politely. “I should have expected nothing less, having—as I do—a pretty thorough knowledge of how you conduct your own projects. I apologize for not getting to the point sooner.”

  As Lyons continued, he laid his hand flat on the folder as if he were swearing on a Bible.

  “We are exactly what we said we are.” He opened the cover of the folder, took out a sheet of paper, and slid it in front of her. “This list contains the names and phone numbers of some of our references. The individuals listed here are experts who have worked with us on projects in the past.”

  She scanned the list of ten names, with positions, names of companies, and phone numbers. She was surprised to see that she knew a couple of the people through her work.

  “As far as what we can do for Mr. Savoy, we know all the specifics of the investigation he was involved with,” Lyons explained. “As you are probably aware, he was the only witness willing to cooperate with the prosecution of the case, which of course exposed your fiancée to the very real threat of retribution and certain death.”

  Alanna didn’t know any of these details, but she didn’t think this was the right time to admit it.

  “Fortunately, we have access to three other witnesses in the same case who never stepped forward. With proper financial compensation, they have all now agreed to testify. In fact, two of those witnesses have agreed to provide evidence in support of far more serious charges.”

  Ray’s attention was, for the first time, totally focused on Lyons.

  “I don’t want to bore you with every little detail, but once before we were able to resolve a similar situation. He slid another piece of paper in front of her. “You may be familiar with that name. It is all a matter of public record now, and the witness involved is living without fear. In this case—similar to the situation with your fiancée—the witness came out of the federal protection program.” Lyons paused to let his words sink in. “It’s fairly easy to eliminate one witness, but three or four…”

  “And you were the one who made the arrangements in this other case?” she asked.

  He gave a small nod. “You won’t find our names in the public records, but my company was instrumental in making it happen. That phone number will allow you to talk to the gentleman directly.”

  Alanna gazed at the paper. She remembered the case. It was a high profile court case involving two major corporations.

  “Who are the other witnesses?” Ray asked.

  Lyons gave a small laugh and shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you that. Let’s just say that we are not prepared to go forward until Dr. Mendes decides her course of action.”r />
  There was so much that Alanna didn’t know about the situation that Ray had been involved with. She needed to speak to an attorney before she could know for sure that what these people were saying was the truth. Or even legal. She saw Ray looking at her hopefully. He was allowing himself to be convinced far too easily. Of course, he had a lot at stake.

  But so did she.

  “What is it that you want from me?” she finally asked Lyons.

  “We’d like you and Mr. Savoy to join the rest of our team for two weeks—three at the most—at a resort on Grand Bahamas Island.”

  Alanna stared at Lyons incredulously. She motioned to him with her hand to say more. She knew her expression spoke of her impatience.

  “The individual who’d hired us for this recruitment—”

  “What individual?” she interrupted.

  Despite her interruption, Lyons kept his composure. “Our task here is to recruit a highly qualified group of individuals with specific talents for a predetermined period for this project. All of you will join us in the islands at the same time.”

  “You’re serving as headhunters?”

  He nodded. “In this case, you’re correct.”

  “You could have said that to begin with,” she reminded him. “So this is not your project. You are simply interviewing people for whatever this project is?”

  He nodded again.

  “And the fact that I am a United States government employee makes no difference.”

  “You are not being recruited to work for any foreign government, Dr. Mendes, I promise you.”

  “But there are still confidentiality issues with my job that can’t be compromised in any situation.”

  “We understand that.”

  “Okay, then, why me specifically?” she asked. “There are many others in my field with very similar qualifications. People who don’t have the trouble my fiancée and I are dealing with. People who would be far less costly for you to employ.”

  “Dr. Mendes, I know that what I am about to say does not make our bargaining position any easier, but we believe you will be very happy with what we are prepared to offer, above and beyond what we will do for your fiancée which as you know is very substantial. The bottom line, Dr. Mendes, is that there is no one else who has what you have to offer. The individual who hired us to assemble this team specified that you must be part of it. There can be no substitution for you.”

  Alanna looked from Lyons and Diarte to Ray. She wanted to shake him at this moment. There were things that he knew but hadn’t revealed to her. She was unprepared for this meeting.

  She loved him…that was why she was here. But he wasn’t reciprocating. She looked back at Lyons. “Well, that brings us back to who that individual is who wants to hire me, doesn’t it?”

  Lyons nodded. “Yes, I believe it does.”

  CHAPTER 31

  TERROR

  Belfast, Ireland

  Tea was for leisure time, coffee for work hours. It was nine-thirty at night, but Kelly knew Finn was working.

  She poured her husband a mug full of ink-black coffee. No sugar, no milk. Strong enough to have a spoon stand in it straight.

  At the top of the stairs, she heard the twins giggling. “You’d best be in bed,” she warned from outside their door.

  Immediate silence followed, but a few seconds later the door opened a crack.

  “Da hasn’t come in to tell us goodnight yet,” Conor whispered, peeking out.

  “No, he hasn’t,” Liam repeated, edging in front of his brother into the doorway.

  “You both get into your beds, and I’ll go get him.”

  They stood where they were, looking up at her with their bright green eyes—testing to see if she meant it.

  “Now.” She took a step toward the door, drawing a screech from them as they ran to jump into their beds.

  Kelly smiled and shook her head. Going by Mick’s bedroom, she paused again. The door was closed. She could hear the sound of American rap music. She liked to think things were improving. Mick was coming home every night just as Finn had ordered him to do. As far as she knew, he was going to his classes every day at the university. She hadn’t seen him stoned since that Sunday a couple of weeks ago. Still, she didn’t like the fact that Finn and Mick didn’t talk much. They behaved like two strangers. Polite, obligatory in responses to questions, but that was it. Kelly didn’t like it at all. There was trouble brewing. She felt the crawl of it on her skin.

  At the end of the hall, she tapped once on the door to Finn’s office and walked in. Her husband was engrossed in a file spread on his desk. The safe to the side of the desk was open.

  “I brewed you a new mug of black mud pie,” she told him.

  “That’s my sweet.”

  Kelly noticed that he pushed some photographs under the other pages as she approached. She knew everything about Finn—where he’d come from, all that he’d done, and what he was doing now. She’d been working with him years ago when she’d been a student, falling totally in love with the IRA group leader. It had taken him a while to notice her, even longer to fall in love. But here they were, married and raising their own family. She couldn’t wait until Finn gave up the job he was doing. They didn’t need it. With the money he’d made and invested in Belfast property, they were all set financially.

  “Only two more,” she told him as a reminder, putting the mug on his desk.

  “Yeah, about that,” Finn said, reaching up and taking her hand. “I have some good news and some bad news.”

  Kelly gave him a narrow glare. “I don’t care for the sound of that. You’re not going back on your promise, now?”

  Finn shook his head, then nodded.

  “Finn,” she said through clenched teeth.

  “I know…I know. I’m not doing it intentionally.” He tugged on her hand until she was standing next to his chair. He wrapped an arm around her waist. “This is absolutely the final job. This job and I never will accept another one. That’s my promise.”

  “Ninety-nine. I’m happy with that. So what’s the problem?” she asked.

  “Look at this.”

  She looked down at the number he’d underlined a couple of times on the cover letter. Her head spun a second. “That’s…that’s a lot of money, Finn.”

  “’Tis,” he said. “But that’s not for one, but three.”

  “Three?” she repeated.

  “Still, it’s double the normal rate per.”

  Kelly didn’t say anything. She had to trust him to make the decision here.

  “It’s all or nothing. I take on the three jobs or get none of them.” He reached for the mug of coffee and sat back in his chair. “This would be a grand style to finish, though, wouldn’t you say?”

  He looked up at her. “What do you think, darling?”

  “I won’t kick if this is the end. But it must mean, Finn, that you need to be finished after this, forever.”

  “Finished I will be,” he said with a smile. “This will be it.”

  Both of them looked up at the sound of the door creaking. The twins peeked in. “Da…”

  “Didn’t I tell you two to stay in bed and your Da will come and hug you goodnight?” Kelly headed for the door and so did Finn. The parents took the boys back to their bedroom.

  ~~~~

  A moment later, as Kelly and Finn disappeared into the boys’ room, Mick emerged from his own bedroom and moved quickly toward Finn’s office. Mick looked back down the hallway and slipped in.

  He knew where Finn kept his money. The safe was open. He hurried to it and took out what he needed. Not too much. Finn wouldn’t even notice it. He wasn’t robbing his family. He just took enough to pay his man what he owed. The price of blow was on the rise lately, what with the crackdown on importers.

  As he turned back toward the door, the folder on the desk caught his eye. He saw the number underlined on the paper. Quickly, he thumbed through it, saw the names. He stared for a moment at the pictures.
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  Sliding the pictures back beneath the rest of the papers, Mick went quickly out and back to his room.

  Finn wouldn’t even know that he was there.

  CHAPTER 32

  FEAR

  Washington, D.C.

  Steven Galvin could see the surprise still on the face of the senator as he entered politician’s office.

  “Come in. Come in,” he boomed, walking over to shake Galvin’s hand warmly.

  Paul Hersey was a large man, built like the ex-football player he was. He had a solid presence and square-jawed, all-American good looks. None of those qualities ever hurt him around election time.

  “I didn’t think I heard my secretary right when she told me you were here. In all the years I’ve known you, I think this is the first time I’ve seen you on Capital Hill.”

  He was correct. Steven had always made it a point to keep his distance from Washington.

  “Luckily, we in the industry always had Bill Gates to act as the lightning rod for us.”

  “True,” Paul said. “For all his complaining, I don’t think he ever really minded speaking before one committee or another.”

  Steven nodded. Bill was an interesting guy, that way. As for himself, Steven just preferred to stay in the background. Run things in a way that didn’t draw attention to himself. Part of that meant keeping clear of House and Senate subpoenas.

  Not that he wasn’t interested in politics. It just wasn’t his forte. That was what lobbyists were for…along with his substantial financial contributions to one or the other’s campaign funds. Paul Hersey, in addition to being a longtime friend, had been a primary recipient of Steven’s generosity over the years.

  The senator motioned for Steven to sit down, and he sat in the leather chair next to him.

  “So, is Kei with you?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “You know Amber has moved back in with me. Graduate student housing or Dad’s house. She took the latter. And I have to say, it’s very nice having her around. We are getting so much closer now than we were when she was a teenager. A whole new relationship.”