by Jeff Abbott
‘Love doesn’t leave. It doesn’t die. People walk away from love. I love you because at the least you gave life to me and I loved you when you were with me. And I loved you when you were gone, because I wanted you back, more than anything in the world, I wanted a mother. Maybe this time I’ll be the one who walks.’
‘You haven’t walked away yet,’ she said and he heard the little tremble of fear in her voice, and he felt ashamed for what he had said, the pointless hurt of it. Nothing he said to her was going to hurt her the way she had hurt him. Words could not equal years of indifferent silence and for a moment he hated what she had done to his family with a depth that made his stomach turn.
‘I’m trying to save you, not change you,’ he said. ‘What happens if we make it through this? You run again? Or you suddenly decide you’re my mom for real.’
‘I’m never, ever going to let you go again, Whit. Not after what you did for me.’ She came, sat next to him, put her arm around him and for a moment her touch was like a memory, and he could see her cradling him against her arm and shoulder, sitting on their back porch, reading him a book, his brothers nowhere around. He wanted to believe her, with a thrum in his chest as hard and real as sudden pain.
‘Let’s order room service,’ she said. ‘You used to love pizza, I remember. Pepperoni with mushrooms, thin crust.’
‘It’s still my favorite,’ he said. His voice was hoarse but she didn’t seem to notice.
She called room service. He went back into his room, shut the door, showered fast, tried not to imagine Gooch with his nails being pulled out or a bullet tearing through brain matter or his penis stuffed into a blender or whatever bit of deranged sickness Paul and Bucks might inflict on him if all went wrong. He dressed and went back to her room. Eve sat on her bed watching the local news.
‘Nothing new about the murders or the shooting at the Pie Shack,’ she said.
‘We’ve clearly made the decision to trust Frank up to a point. Can we?’ Whit said.
She switched off the TV but kept her gaze fixed on the blank screen. ‘He loves me.’
‘That’s not always an indicator of loyalty.’
Now she looked at him. ‘Stop swiping at me. For a while, so we can function as a team.’
He gave her a smile. ‘I wasn’t jerking your chain. Besides, you’ve had an almost thirty-year break from Mosley-family sarcasm.’
She laughed. ‘Yes, that’s true. God, you boys had mouths.’
Her cell phone rang. Frank calling. Whit answered.
Frank’s voice was as hushed as if he were in church. ‘Paul’s getting his mother, kicking and screaming, off to Vegas now. If Paul’s working over Gooch, it will be soon.’ And clicked off, no good-bye.
Whit turned to Eve. ‘I want Frank sticking close to where they have Gooch. We need someone else to stick on Bucks.’
‘I don’t have a traitor in mind,’ she said.
‘Actually, I have an idea,’ Whit said. ‘But it’s really risky. More to me than you.’
‘Who?’
‘Her name is Claudia,’ he said. ‘And I’m going to ask her to go against her grain in helping us. But I need Bucks’ address.’
Eve wrote it down for him and he went into his room. God, this could be a mistake. If Claudia found out he’d left the scene of a crime, failed to report Gooch’s kidnapping, and harbored a fugitive – even if it was his own mother – she would lose all respect for him. Their friendship would fracture. Permanently. Claudia believed in rules, fiercely. He was breaking them right and left, caring that they were broken, knowing the pain of leaving a little of himself behind each time, but he was making the choice. She was his friend. She would help. If she could focus on Bucks, it could save Gooch without calling the police and having to turn over his mother.
He paced for a minute, deciding, and then called Claudia’s cell phone before he talked himself out of it. She answered on the second ring.
‘Are you speaking to me?’ he said.
‘Depends. I want you to answer my questions.’
‘All right.’
‘Are you really okay?’ she said.
‘Yes.’
‘Do you know who killed Harry?’ Surprising him with the bluntness of her question.
‘I have a suspicion but no proof.’
‘Who?’
He swallowed. ‘A man named Greg Buckman, also called Bucks. He’s a former energy exec involved in a crime ring here. Doyle was delivering money for a drug deal. Bucks killed the banker for the money and Harry was at the wrong place at the wrong time.’
‘Why was Harry anywhere around these people?’
‘Bucks is connected to the Bellinis.’
‘Where is your mom, Whit?’
‘I haven’t found her. Yet.’ The lie felt fine in his mouth and he closed his eyes.
‘So you rushed to Houston, on what, impulse?’
‘I wanted to be here if Harry found my mom. I couldn’t sit around waiting in Port Leo.’
‘The Houston police want to talk to you, Whit.’
‘Fine. When?’
‘As soon as possible. Why, are you booked today?’ Losing patience.
‘Not today. Tomorrow or Monday.’ When this had played out and he had Eve safely hidden. Where she couldn’t be taken away from him.
‘I’m sorry that your calendar is so full.’
‘If you want to help me, truly, Claudia, turn the police onto Greg Buckman. But he’s very dangerous.’
‘No. You should talk to the police with me. Or the DA’s office. I have a friend who works in Special Crimes; she can help us.’
‘I don’t want to talk to anyone but you right now.’
Claudia said nothing for several seconds then said, ‘I’m listening.’
‘Buckman lives at 3478 Alabama, number 12. It’s a fancy townhouse. He’s about six-one, maybe one sixty, thinning blond/brown hair, dresses very conservatively, like a Brooks Brothers poster boy.
He drives a silver Jaguar, late model. Vanity license plate of B-L-E-E-V.’
‘Believe?’
‘He’s a big fan of Chad Channing, the self-help guy.’ Frank had given him this information.
‘He sounds very frightening.’
‘I believe he has killed at least two people,’ Whit said.
‘There’s no mention of him in Harry’s records. His assistant gave those to the Houston police. She faxed me a copy this afternoon.’
That meant the police now knew the name Eve Michaels. ‘Harry mentioned Bucks in a phone conversation.’
‘Whit, you tell me the truth right this second. Have you found your mom or this Eve Michaels? Are you protecting her?’
‘Claudia, please.’
‘You have found her. Where are you?’
‘I can’t tell you. Please don’t ask me.’
‘Whit. Do you want the police actively looking for you or your mother as material witnesses? They are insistent on talking to you.’
‘I’m asking for your understanding.’
‘You’re asking me to suppress information related to two homicides. To Harry’s murder! I can’t. I’m a peace officer. You’re an officer of the court. You’ve sworn an oath, Whit. You-’
‘I’m asking you to get information. To follow Buckman, watch him. He killed Harry for this money, he’s got to have it hidden close to him. But no police, Claudia, please.’
‘You have freaking lost your mind,’ Claudia said.
‘Meet me,’ he said. ‘Meet me and I’ll explain. But no police. Just you and me.’
‘Of course I’ll meet you. Where?’
‘There’s a little Mexican restaurant off Montrose, on Richmond. Chapultepec’s. It’s in an old house. I’ll meet you there in thirty minutes.’
‘Fine,’ she said.
‘Claudia?’
‘Yes?’
‘I’ve really messed up,’ he said. ‘I thought I did the right thing and now, I know I’ve really messed up.’
‘
We’ll fix it,’ she said, and he wanted to believe her. ‘I’ll see you in thirty.’
Claudia clicked off the phone. She wrote down the address and description for Greg Buckman. This morning she had driven to the murder site, drawn by a need to be close to where Harry died. But it was still roped off, under police tape. She didn’t get out of her car, drove by twice before heading back to her hotel. But now. Now she could do something. She picked up the phone.
‘Vernetta? I heard from my friend that was Harry Chyme’s client. I need you to come to a meeting with me.’ She sighed. ‘He won’t be happy about it but I need you to help me talk sense into him.’
Thirty minutes later, Claudia sat in a booth at Chapultepec’s, sipping water, nibbling from a mound of nachos. Vernetta sat four booths over, waiting for Whit to arrive and sit so she could join them. Claudia traced the beer rings on the worn wooden table with her fingertips, waiting for Whit, waiting to see if he was still the man she knew, afraid of what she had heard in his voice.
The nachos grew cold. Whit never showed.
31
Two Louis Vuitton bags, one for makeup and hair, one for clothes, were all his mother was taking to Vegas but to Paul her packing process was slower than moving mountains. He was ready to shove his mother out the door when Tasha pulled up in the circular driveway, ten minutes too early, in her little Honda.
Not what I need, Paul thought, but he smiled and gave Tasha a too-quick, just-friends hug, knowing his mother was watching from a window.
Tasha leaned back from him. ‘I stink now?’
‘No. I’m tense. Bad, bad day. Getting my mother out of town.’
‘Introduce me. I bet I make her want to stick around.’
He took her into the hallway. Frank Polo and Mary Pat Bellini were already in the foyer, Frank wheezing, with Mary Pat’s two packed-to-the-brim bags.
‘Mom,’ Paul said, ‘this is Tasha. She’s a friend of mine.’
‘How nice to meet you,’ Mary Pat Bellini said and her smile seemed to rise like a fence as she shook Tasha’s hand. ‘What a lovely sweater.’
‘What a lovely home,’ Tasha said. ‘Paul has told me all about you. For hours on end.’
‘You’re catching me heading out the door.’ Mary Pat glanced at Paul. ‘Practically being pushed. My son thinks I need a little vacation. He doesn’t give a lady much choice.’
‘He can be real pushy,’ Tasha said. ‘But in the sweetest way.’
‘Mom, Frank’ll drive you to the airport. Have a great time. Don’t go crazy at the baccarat tables, okay?’ Frank looked surprised at the announcement of his assignment but he picked up Mary Pat’s luggage and carried it out to her Mercedes’ trunk.
‘Paul, darling,’ Mary Pat said. ‘You look like you’re considering a coronary.’
‘I’ll see you on Tuesday, Mom. Unless we got developments here and you need to stay in Vegas.’
‘I’m not being gone from your daddy that long, Paul. Forget it.’
‘Or away from Paul, either, right?’ Tasha said.
Mary Pat snapped a quick smile at Tasha. ‘Nice to meet you, dear.’
‘It’s great to meet the woman who raised Paul. The source of his brains and good manners.’
Mary Pat’s smile brightened but it was aimed at her son. ‘I’ call you when I get to my hotel, Paul.’
Paul kissed his mother, shut the door, watched Frank pull out past the extra guards at the gate. ‘Thank Christ she’s gone.’
‘The color went out of her face because of the color of mine,’ Tasha said.
‘That’s a terrible thing to say,’ Paul said. ‘She treats all my girlfriends bad. She was very accepting of you. I have lots of black friends.’
‘Business associates, yeah,’ she said, ‘but I doubt you have many black friends. Or friends, period.’
‘What’s that mean?’ Paul sounded hurt.
‘Friends are a luxury for a guy like you.’ Tasha ran a finger along his jawline, made her voice husky.
‘But I have you.’ He pulled her close, gave her a quick kiss. She allowed it, kissed him back, teased his mouth for a moment with her tongue. She broke the kiss. ‘Ralph did that credit check you asked for on Bucks and Frank and Eve.’
‘Great.’
‘I need five thou to give Ralph, sweetie. For this and finding Eve’s credit card. I got to throw him a bone.’
‘If he can wait, I can pay him and you more when we get the money.’
Tasha considered his offer with a frown. ‘They’re all clean. Nothing unusual. I don’t know if that helps you or not.’
He looked a little deflated. ‘Okay. Come inside. I need a favor.’
She followed him into the grand living room, her eyes checking each piece of furniture, noticing the rich silk of the draperies, the marble on the floors, the fresh flowers in every vase. She had imagined a former mob wife would lean toward zebra stripes and magenta, bad taste run amok. Instead the house was simple and elegant, all at once, and a twinge sounded in her heart. A lot of pain and death had bought this beauty and Tasha Strong fought an urge to smash it all, set it afire.
‘Dad moved his eyes a bunch more today.’ He led her upstairs and into a front bedroom. The room was dark, lit by the greenish goblin glow of medical equipment. Tommy Bellini lay in the bed, eyes at half-mast. Tasha expected a nurse but instead Doc Brewer was there, checking Tommy’s eyes.
‘How is he?’ Paul asked. ‘I think he’s more alert.’
‘He’s the same, Paul,’ Doc Brewer said.
‘Our guest upstairs still unconscious?’
‘The same,’ Doc Brewer said. He patted Tommy’s hand and excused himself.
‘Brewer’s an idiot. Dad knows what’s going on,’ Paul said. ‘Knows I’m in trouble. He’s fighting up toward consciousness.’ He lowered his voice. ‘I was changing his diaper earlier and he was sporting wood. That’s a good sign, right?’
‘Sure, Paul.’ It surprised her he would tend to his dad.
‘Maybe he needs additional stimulants to regain consciousness.’
‘That’s not how comas work, sweetpea,’ Tasha said.
‘Well, Mom’s been reading to him. Or leaving books on tape playing next to his bed. All his favorite books. Robert Ludlum, Louis L’Amour. He loves those. And I run Mel Brooks movies on the DVD player for him.’
‘So read to him.’
‘What about a direct approach?’ Paul said. ‘You could do a lap dance for him.’
She blinked. ‘A lap dance.’
‘It couldn’t hurt. And he had a woody earlier, so he’s still got some juice in his brain.’
‘Do you ever hear yourself talk, Paul?’ A lap dance for a guy two seconds from choking on his own drool.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘I admire your concern for your dad. Really. But you have millions missing, Kiko isn’t waiting forever for his money, you’ve got a guy half-dead upstairs you’re going to start torturing, you’ve got Eve and this Whit man gunning for you. The police could descend on you any second. And you want me to lap dance for your comatose daddy.’
Paul slapped her.
She fell back against the withered legs under the covers. His legs felt like sticks under the sheets.
‘Don’t mouth off at me. Especially in front of my dad.’ Like Tommy Bellini was going to open his eyes, shoot them a disapproving look.
‘You hit me, Paul.’ She slowly got up from the bed. ‘After all I’ve done for you…’
‘I hit you because I want you to realize the seriousness of my request. I didn’t ask you to do him, that would be gross.’ He took a step toward her. ‘Just rub against him. If it works, it works. I’m sorry, baby, please.’
‘And we could all get written up in a medical journal.’ She moved to the other side of the bed, keeping it between her and Paul. ‘Charming. He can wake up and slip the tip in my G-string.’
‘Tasha. I need my dad. I need him bad now because I don’t know what to do.’ H
e started to cry. More than cry. Blubber.
‘Paul, don’t.’ She was still spitting mad and the sight of tears on his face made her even madder. She hated to see a man cry; it turned her stomach.
‘Kiko’s gonna put my balls in a grinder. I got to have that money.’
If he had cried for his father, her heart would have softened toward him. But he was crying because he was afraid for himself. It wasn’t tears for his dad or for anyone else. She wanted to slap him.
‘Hush now,’ she said quietly. ‘Be strong, Paul.’
‘I need my dad. We’ve spent all this money to take care of him, he sure ought to get better.’
Tasha counted to ten silently. ‘Paul. Your father’s not going to recover. Ever. That’s clear to everyone but you. You’ve got to take charge, take responsibility.’ She touched his shoulder. ‘Let me help you.’
Her pager beeped. She glanced at the readout. Ralph, her computer hacker friend. She pulled a cell phone – a real one, not the clever little gun she carried that no one knew about except, now, Whit Mosley – out of her purse and dialed his number.
‘Tasha. Ralph sounded excited. ‘Emily Smith is using her Visa again. At Greystoke Hotel. The charge is for two rooms.’
‘Which rooms?’
‘Charge doesn’t say.’
‘Ralph, you are a god.’ She clicked off and turned to Paul, told him what Ralph reported. ‘You got ’em in your sights, sugar. Call Bucks, call your dogs in for the kill and act like a man.’ She lowered her voice, came to him, put a hand on his chest. ‘I done the work for you. I got a lock on Eve and her buddy. Now go make your daddy proud.’
32
‘You lied to me,’ Kiko said.
‘I told you exactly what I was told,’ Bucks said. ‘That there was a delay in getting the money.’ He rock-steadied his voice. ‘Paul lied to us both because Eve robbed him blind. She’s gutted him. He has very little left he can quickly convert to cash with that money gone.’
‘Why should I believe you now?’ Kiko said.