by Bob Mayer
“At all?
“No.”
“In other words,” Kane said, “he’s not taking it well. And he’s probably not happy about Damon disappearing. His Westway deal hinged on Damon. Are you out of that?”
“I was never in it,” Toni said.
“Your father called you into that meeting with Damon,” Kane reminded her.
“You don’t believe me?” Toni shook her head. “Damon wanted me there at the start to make a point to my father and I. Once they got ready to talk Westway, I was dismissed.”
Kane knew what that point was and it was best not to pursue. “Good.”
Toni took a deep breath. “It’s hard to believe Damon’s really gone. He was—” she shook her head. “A demon hovering over our lives. A malevolent cloud.”
“He was evil,” Kane understated.
The moment was broken by the bartender daring to intrude. “Ms. Marcelle?” He had a phone in his hand. “It’s your office.” At her nod he plugged it into a jack underneath the bar and slid it across.
“How does Mrs. Ruiz know the exact moment?” Kane asked, referring to Toni’s secretary.
“ESP,” Toni said. She picked up the receiver. “Yes?” A slight pause and then: “We’ll be down right away.”
“’We’?” Kane asked as she hung up.
“Crawford’s guy is here.”
“’Guy’? He said he was sending his people, plural.”
“Apparently he misspoke. Put it on my tab,” she told the bartender.
Kane indicated the banded money.
“Take it,” Toni said.
Kane put it back in the map case and followed her to the elevators.
“Now you’ll finally make your visit,” Toni said.
“Right.”
“I really could use you.”
“Stop hassling me,” Kane said as they entered the elevator.
Toni shot him a look. “What?”
“Something someone told me to say when someone asks the same thing too many times.”
“I’m offering you a good deal.”
“That’s what I said and was told it was hassling.”
The elevator halted just a few floors below the restaurant and Toni led the way. “We’re facing north.”
“I like the south view,” Kane said. “The harbor, the Statue, Ellis Island. Did you know—“ He gave up when he saw she wasn’t listening.
Toni opened a door and they entered a foyer that allowed an unobstructed view through to the windows facing north. Manhattan stretched into the distance, the Empire State Building centered right. Lower than where they stood. To the northeast was the Bronx, where Kane had grown up. Beyond it in the haze was Westchester. To the north the George Washington Bridge arced over the Hudson River. Northwest, the Palisades guarded the shoreline of New Jersey. And somewhere in that smudge on the horizon on the west side of the river, fifty miles north, was West Point, Kane’s alma mater.
Toni halted and faced him. “You were saying?”
“Not bad,” Kane admitted.
Mrs. Ruiz, a matronly woman who’d worked for Toni at their former firm, held court at a u-shaped desk centered in the foyer, chatting amiably with a man dressed in black boots, worn, faded jeans, an un-bloused brown shirt and sporting long, straight dark hair tied in a pony tail that extended to just below his collar. When he turned to face them, he revealed a narrow, sharp face and bronze skin. He was six-two, lean, and sparkled dark eyes. He had an old brown leather satchel in one hand. He wore a silver and blue turquoise necklace around this throat.
“My, my,” Toni murmured as she missed half a step.
Mrs. Ruiz stood up, flustered. “Ms. Marcelle, this is Mister Yazzie.” She was smiling, something Kane wasn’t sure he’d ever seen Ruiz accomplish.
“Ma’am.” Yazzie nodded and held out his hand.
Toni took it. “Welcome to New York, Mister Yazzie.”
“A pleasure to meet you,” Yazzie said. He turned. “Captain Kane.”
Kane shook his hand. “I’m not in the Army anymore.” He noted the bulge of a weapon on the man’s right hip and something else on his left. There was a shade in those eyes that resonated with Kane, but not in a positive way.
“Our service stays with us,” Yazzie said.
“Stays or sticks?” Kane asked.
“Shall we talk in my office?” Toni suggested.
Toni led the way followed by Yazzie and Kane. Toni indicated the square table with four chairs. Crawford’s ‘man’ took the chair Kane would have, facing the door.
Kane paused at the only item mounted on the wall: a West Point saber inside a wood case backed with black velvet. The saber was drawn and resting on two small hooks, the scabbard just below it. Three medals—purple heart, bronze star and Vietnam service ribbon were pinned to the velvet under the blade along with a combat infantry badge. A metal scroll at the bottom:
THEODORE JOSEPH MARCELLE
CLASS OF 1966 USMA
Below it was a battered, black footlocker with MARCELLE, T.J. LIEUTENANT stenciled in faded white paint. Kane turned from the saber. “Ted would be proud,” he said to Toni, indicating the office. “That you’re making it on your own and away from your father.”
Toni nodded, swallowed hard. “Thank you.”
He indicated the footlocker. “Your dad gave you Ted’s locker and his medals?”
“After I took the saber, he sent it over,” Toni said.
Kane pulled out a seat and Toni sat. He claimed his own directly across from Yazzie, putting the map case on the floor.
Toni pulled on her professional mask. “What can we do for you, Mister Yazzie?”
“Just Yazzie, Ms. Marcelle,” he said. “My people use one name.”
“I go by Toni.”
Yazzie nodded. “Toni, then.” He turned to Kane.
“You can call me Captain.”
“Don’t be a dick, Will,” Toni said.
“Kane works. My people use one name too. Unless there’s two of us in a room at the same time, but that’s a rare event and even then, we don’t speak so it’s never an issue.”
Yazzie shrugged. “Kane.” He shifted to Toni. “Boss Crawford wants me to follow up on the events of last night.”
“’Boss’?” Kane asked.
“We all call him that on the ranch,” Yazzie said.
“Subtle,” Kane said.
Yazzie stared at him for a second too long before facing Toni.
“I just heard what happened,” Toni said. “I’m not appreciative of the fact that Mister Crawford threatened my employee.”
“I’m in the room,” Kane said.
Yazzie didn’t turn from Toni. “His hasty action was necessary, but he did compensate Mister Kane for the misunderstanding.”
Toni smiled. “Yes, I know of the cash payment. Will didn’t hide it from me. You underestimate.”
“Did he just insult me?” Kane asked.
Yazzie shook his head. “I’m sorry we’re getting off to a difficult start, Toni, but it’s an uncomfortable situation.”
“Three shots in my direction,” Kane said. “It would have been a lot more uncomfortable if one of them had hit.”
“But yours did?” Yazzie asked.
“See,” Kane said, “your tone indicates that’s a question. You’re barking up the wrong tree, hombre. Didn’t Crawford relay to you what I told him occurred while he was not particularly conscious and lying on top of a half-naked woman not his wife?”
“Boss’s wife passed some years ago,” Yazzie said.
Kane drew his forty-five and put it on the table. “I’ll show mine if you show yours?”
Yazzie looked at Toni but she didn’t indicate one way or the other. He pulled a Browning Hi-Power out of the holster on his right hip and put it on the table, muzzle facing away.
“Thought cowboys used revolvers,” Kane said.
“I’m not a cowboy.”
“My bad,” Kane said. “Bow and arrow?”
“Your h
umor escapes me,” Yazzie said. He indicated the .45. “Old school.”
“Reliable,” Kane said. “What kind of name is Yazzie?”
“One that has a long and honorable lineage.”
“Will,” Toni warned.
“What’s on your left hip?” Kane asked. “Extra mag?”
Yazzie unclipped a device roughly five inches long by two wide by one deep. It was shiny metal and MOTOROLA Pageboy II was written on it.
“I’ve heard of those,” Toni said. “Do you mind?”
“Go ahead,” Yazzie said.
Toni examined it. “What kind of range does it have?”
“Far enough,” Yazzie said. “Especially here in the city with retransmitters on tall buildings. On the ranch, we’ve built towers to cover it all.”
“Excuse my ignorance,” Kane said, “but what is it?”
“A pager,” Toni said. “A way of getting hold of someone remotely. It what, beeps?” She asked Yazzie.
“Sounds a tone,” Yazzie took it from her and clipped it on his belt. “A caller can also leave a short voice message.”
“What good does that do?” Kane asked.
“If someone wants to get a hold of me or let me know something important,” Yazzie said, “they page me.”
“Sounds like you’re on a short leash,” Kane said.
“That’s one way of looking at it,” Yazzie said. “I prefer to view it as granting me freedom. I’m not tied to a phone or desk.”
“I’ve been thinking of getting some for the office,” Toni said.
“Count me out,” Kane said. He indicated the gun. “I’m not thrilled about you coming to Toni’s office armed.”
Yazzie spread his hands in apology. “You’re correct. I’ve appeared impolite, especially since you’ve graciously granted me this meeting on little notice.” He nodded at Kane. “Can you please tell me what happened last night in your own words? I find it’s best to get things first-hand. Especially since, as you note, Boss Crawford was not fully conscious for a key portion.”
“Hold on.” Toni interrupted “Before we make any statements, we’re going to need a certified document from Mister Crawford regarding—“ she paused as Yazzie reached into his satchel, retrieved a binder and removed a legal document and handed it to her.
Toni scanned it, then nodded. “Vague enough not to cause problems for Mister Crawford but specific enough to keep Will clear of anything from Crawford’s end.”
Yazzie held up a finger. “We cannot, of course, vouch for this Truvey woman’s recollection of events with regard to your employee.”
“Have you talked to her?” Toni asked.
“Yes,” Yazzie said.
“Crawford pay her off, too?” Kane asked.
“Our business is our business,” Yazzie said. “We’re content about her on our end, but we can’t vouch for her on your end.”
“Forget about the paper,” Kane said. “Is Boss Crawford going to stick with the facts?”
“He wants no part of this made public so there will be no facts to stick to.”
“We’re just supposed to take your word on that?” Kane said. “Honest Injun?”
“Boss is a trust-worthy man,” Yazzie said, his voice tight.
“Because he cuts your paycheck?” Kane asked.
“Because he’s my foster father,” Yazzie said. “I’ve known him my entire life.”
“You call your dad, boss?” Kane asked. “Does that cause psychological issues?”
Yazzie ignored the comment.
Kane continued. “Boss leveraged me into committing a crime by not reporting the shooting.”
“Which makes him complicit,” Yazzie said. “Correct, Toni?”
“Yes,” Toni said.
“Was he more concerned about the cocaine?” Kane asked.
“There was no cocaine,” Yazzie said.
“Right,” Kane replied.
“Tell the story, please,” Toni prompted Kane.
He quickly recounted what had happened. Yazzie didn’t make any notes or ask a question until Kane was done.
“Where is the bomb?”
“I’ve got it,” Kane said. “Gonna have an expert look at it. Try to get an idea where it might have come from.”
Yazzie nodded. “Could you keep me apprised of that?”
“That’s my business,” Kane said.
Yazzie considered him for a few seconds. “I could reach into this pack and put twenty thousand in cash on the table. However, I fear you would take that as an insult, Kane. What would—“
Kane cut him off. “You didn’t say please.”
Yazzie smiled, revealing very white, even teeth. “My apologies. Could you please keep me apprised concerning what you learn about the bomb?”
“Surprised you didn’t ask me to turn it over,” Kane said.
“This is your land,” Yazzie said, indicating the view out the window. “My resources are limited. Also, given your background, I believe you would have access to someone with excellent bomb expertise.”
“What do you know of my background?” Kane asked.
“Enough,” Yazzie responded.
“You didn’t put the money on the table,” Kane said.
Yazzie did so, four bundles identical to the one from the previous evening.
Toni spoke up. “Do you have suspicions about who did this? An enemy of Mister Crawford?”
“Boss has several enemies capable of nefarious deeds,” Yazzie said. “My brothers are investigating them.”
“’Brothers’?” Kane asked.
“Yes,” Yazzie said, without explanation
“Then what are you investigating?” Kane asked.
“The event,” Yazzie said. “Wherever that leads.”
“Meaning?” Toni asked.
“That it’s possible Boss wasn’t the intended target,” Yazzie said. “There were two other people on the boat. If one of them was the intended, then we no longer need be concerned about a reoccurrence.”
“Will you keep us apprised of your progress?” Toni asked.
Yazzie nodded. “Of course.” He took two of the four bundles off the table and put them in the satchel. “Who knew Boss Crawford was going to be on the boat?” he asked Toni.
“Me,” Toni said.
“You didn’t tell Mister Kane beforehand who the passengers were?” Yazzie asked.
“I am sitting here,” Kane said. “No, she didn’t. Just where the boat was to be picked up, what time to be there, and that I was to take some people out for a cruise around the Statue of Liberty and wherever else was desired.”
“That’s your job here?” Yazzie asked. “Boat driver?”
Toni interjected. “Mister Kane is head of research and security. He was doing me a favor.”
“Who would want to kill Boss Crawford?” Kane asked. “It would help to get an idea.”
Yazzie shook his head. “I’d hate to cast aspersions without proof. This incident is rather unexpected.”
“For unexpected you got here pretty quickly,” Kane pointed out. “And had legal paperwork drawn up. And already talked to Truvey.”
“Boss Crawford owns several planes. I was on my way as soon as he called last night. As far as the paperwork, there are fax machines.” Yazzie turned to Toni. “Who asked for and paid you to set up the excursion?”
Toni frowned. “Mister Crawford knows that since he agreed to the meeting. The producer Tom Selkis. He wanted to pitch his latest project.”
“Why wasn’t Selkis on the boat?” Yazzie asked.
“I provided what was requested,” Toni said. “The boat and security. I wasn’t privy to the details of what the meeting would entail.”
“Speaking of details,” Yazzie said, “did Selkis specifically request Mister Kane or just someone to pilot the boat and provide security?”
Kane joined Yazzie in staring at Toni who was startled for the first time. “Selkis requested Will by name.”
“Why would he do that?”
Yazzie asked.
“Selkis was a client at my old firm,” Toni said. “He came with me after I left. Will has a very good reputation.”
“Convenient,” Yazzie said.
“Let me ask you something,” Kane said to Yazzie. “Crawford knew my background. How did he get that information?”
“We called and checked with Selkis about security arrangements,” Yazzie said. “He gave us your name. I ran a background check. Your military service wasn’t hard to uncover given it made national news in 1969, although your actual records seem to have disappeared. My deeper sources weren’t as forthcoming. You have storm clouds in your past, Kane.” He shifted to Toni. “When did you last speak with your father, Ms. Marcelle?”
“Hold on,” Toni said. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Please, bear with me,” Yazzie said.
“Not since I left the firm,” Toni said. “Almost a month.”
“Was the parting amicable?” Yazzie asked.
“Why are you asking?” Toni said.
“I’m trying to get the lay of the land,” Yazzie said. “Your father didn’t ask you to arrange the meeting?”
“I told you I haven’t had any contact with my father since I left his firm. It was Selkis.”
“This conforms with the information I have,” Yazzie said. “The only reason you are not under suspicion for arranging this attack is that lack of contact between you and your father.”
“What information do you have to even consider such an accusation?” Kane asked.
“I was at Marcelle, van Dyck, Feinstein and Marcelle earlier this morning,” Yazzie said.
“Did you talk to my father?” Toni asked.
“He wasn’t there.” Yazzie was focused on Toni. “Is there any reason your father would want to kill Kane?”
“You’re forgetting the Captain or the Mister,” Kane said, trying to give Toni some time to regroup.
“Are you implying he was the target?” Toni asked.
“The attackers knew where the boat would be. The only person, other than you, aware of who would be on board was Mister Selkis and he requested Kane by name. Selkis told this Truvey woman where to direct the boat. Selkis wasn’t aboard the boat on which a bomb was planted. Rather convenient for him.”
“You’d have to ask Selkis,” Toni said.
“I did.”
“You’ve been busy,” Kane said.