Part 32 (1/2)
The room became silent. Even the rain lancing against the French doors seemed suddenly muted.
”n.o.body threatens my father,” Frank said.
”That stuff about Luigi sure sounded like your father was threatening me,” Decker said. ”I came here in good faith to discuss a mutual problem. Instead of being treated with respect, I was forced to-”
”Mutual problem?” Giordano asked.
”Diana Scolari.” Decker paused, focusing his emotion. Everything depended on what he said next. ”I want to kill her for you.”
Giordano stared.
Frank stepped forward. ”For what she did to Joey, there are plenty of us who want to kill her.”
Decker's expression remained rigid. He didn't dare show the relief that flooded through him. Frank had used the present tense. Beth was still alive.
”You expect me to believe you want to kill her after you've been s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g her?” Giordano asked.
”She lied to me. She used me.”
”Too d.a.m.ned bad.”
”For her. I'm going to find her. I'm going to give her what she deserves.”
”And we're supposed to tell you where she is?” Frank asked.
”And where Brian McKittrick is. He used me, too. He set me up. It isn't the first time. He's going to pay.”
”Well, you can get in line for him, as well,” Frank said. ”A lot of us are looking for both of them.”
”Looking for ...? I thought he was working for you.”
”That's what we thought. He was supposed to report in yesterday. Not a word. Is he back working for the U.S. Marshals Service? If she shows up in that courtroom tomorrow-”
”Frank,” Giordano said, ”how many times do I have to tell you to shut your mouth?”
”You don't have any secrets from me,” Decker said. ”I know she's supposed to testify against you tomorrow. If I could find out where she is, I'd solve your problem for you. She'd let me get close enough to-”
The phone rang again.
This time, Giordano and Frank kept their full concentration on Decker.
”That'll be your friend again,” Giordano said. ”Get rid of him.”
Decker picked up the phone.
”Give me Nick,” a New England-accented voice demanded smugly.
Brian McKittrick.
10.
Time seemed suspended.
As Decker's pulse faltered, he urgently lowered his voice, hoping that McKittrick wouldn't recognize it. ”Is the woman still alive?”
”You're d.a.m.ned right. And she's going to stay that way unless I get a million dollars by midnight. If I don't get the money, she goes into that courtroom tomorrow.”
”Where are you?”
”Who is this? If I don't hear Nick's voice in ten seconds, I'm hanging up.”
”No! Wait. Don't do anything. Here he is.”
Decker handed the phone to Giordano, whose eyebrows were raised in question. ”It's McKittrick.”
”What?” Giordano grabbed the phone. ”You son of a b.i.t.c.h, you were supposed to call me yesterday. Where-Stop. Don't answer right away. Is your phone secure? Use that voice scrambler I gave you. Turn it on.” Giordano flicked a switch on a black box next to his phone-a voice scrambler presumably calibrated to the same code as McKittrick's scrambler. ”Now talk to me, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d.”
Decker stepped away from the desk. Frank and the guards, the fourth member of whom had come back, were riveted by Giordano's savage expression as he shouted into the phone.
”A million dollars? Are you out of your mind? I already paid you two hundred thousand ... It wasn't enough? Is your life enough? I told you what I do to smart guys who try to mess with me. Here's the best deal anybody ever offered you. Do the job you promised. Prove to me you did it. I'll forget this conversation happened.”
To the left of the guards, parallel to them but not wanting to arouse their suspicions by stepping behind them, Decker scanned the room and focused his attention on the fireplace.
Giordano listened to the phone, shocked. ”You dumb b.a.s.t.a.r.d, you're really serious. You're going to hold me up for a million bucks... I don't need reminding her testimony can put me away for life.” Giordano's expression became even more fierce. ”Yes, I know where that is. But midnight's too soon. I need more time. I need to ... I'm not stalling. I'm not trying to double-cross you. All I want is to solve my problem. I'm telling the truth. I'm not sure I can get the money by midnight... Here's a gesture of good faith. The guy you talked to at the start of your call-he's the guy you wanted us to take out in Santa Fe as part of the deal. Your buddy, Steve Decker.”
As Giordano and everyone else in the room looked at him, Decker's reflexes tightened.
”He paid us a visit. Called me up and wanted to come over for a heart-to-heart. He's standing right in front of me. Want to come over and visit? ... No? Don't you trust me? ... Okay, here's my offer. We'll do him for you. You prove the woman's dead. I'll prove Decker's dead. You'll get the million. But I can't get you the money by midnight.” Giordano scowled. ”No. Wait. Don't.” He slammed the phone onto its cradle. ”b.a.s.t.a.r.d hung up on me. Midnight. Says midnight or it's no deal. Thinks I'll pull a fast one if I've got more time.”
”Where are we supposed to meet him?” Frank asked angrily.
”The scenic lookout two miles north of here.”
”In Palisades State Park?”
Giordano nodded. ”The b.a.s.t.a.r.d's right here in the neighborhood. We leave the money and Decker behind the refreshment stand.”
”And McKittrick leaves the woman?”
”No. He says he won't do the job until he's positive we don't try to follow him after he leaves with the money.”
”s.h.i.+t.”
Giordano turned toward the wall of leather-bound books. He pressed a portion of the wall, releasing a catch.
”You're actually going to give him the money?” Frank asked.