Part 43 (1/2)
Time for a change of tactics.
He heaved a sigh of resignation. ”Okay. You got me. But you don't need the hardware. I'm not a cop.”
”I never thought you were.”
”Then who-?”
”You killed my mother!”
The words came at screech pitch, forced through Alice's clenched teeth. She looked bug-eyed scary, ready to pull that trigger, like she knew of nothing else in the world she wanted to do more.
And at this range, she couldn't miss.
So much for the theory that she was in on her mother's death. But if she didn't blame her father for it, then who-?
Later for that. Had to keep her calm.
”I killed your mother?” He pointed to Goren. ” killed your mother?” He pointed to Goren. ”He killed your mother.” killed your mother.”
”He did not not!”
”That's what everybody thinks.”
”But you know better!”
Who did she think he was?
”Look, I'm not here about any of that. I simply want to ask your father some questions.”
”Bulls.h.i.+t!” That screech again. She inched the pistol forward. ”She was burned alive and now you're here to finish the job!”
The new angle on the pistol allowed Jack a look at its safety ... she had it in the on on position. position.
Sweet.
”Easy, Alice, easy,” Goren said. He faced Jack. ”We don't want to hurt you-”
”I do!” do!”
He ignored his daughter and spoke in a rush. ”Look, we could kill you here and now and get away with it, but I'm sure you've reported back already, and they'll only send someone else. All I want is to live in peace. You can go back and tell them I won't say anything. I haven't breathed a word in all these years and I'm not about to change now. I've proven I can keep silent. Please, there must be a way we can work this out.”
”Don't beg, Dad.”
Baffled, Jack said, ”Who do you people think I am?”
A hint of uncertainty crept into Goren's tone. ”You ... or someone connected to you ... you tried to kill me and my wife.”
That could simply be the story he concocted to square himself with his daughter. But he seemed to believe it himself.
Jack looked around. ”Did they ever film The Twilight Zone The Twilight Zone here? Because I feel like I just stepped into it.” He faced Goren. here? Because I feel like I just stepped into it.” He faced Goren. ”I ”I'm not who you think I am. Let go of my arm. She's got the drop on me. Let's discuss this like civilized people.”
”Civilized?” she screeched.
Goren hesitated, then released him.
”Dad, no!”
Jack had had enough. He took a quick step toward Alice, saw her finger pull against the trigger, but it wouldn't move. He s.n.a.t.c.hed the pistol away and pushed her into her father.
”You forgot the safety.”
He made a show of flicking the lever as he trained it on them.
Goren pushed her behind him. His mouth worked but no words would come. If this were one of the movies they tended to film here, he'd be saying, It's me you want! Kill me if you must, but let my daughter go! It's me you want! Kill me if you must, but let my daughter go!
Or something like that.
Jack popped the magazine from the grip, ejected the chambered sh.e.l.l, then tossed the pistol to Goren. He caught it and gave Jack a baffled look.
”I don't ...”
”Like I said: I have no idea who you think I am, but I had nothing to do with anything that happened to you in the past. I heard your name for the first time yesterday. I just want to ask you some questions.”
”Oh, G.o.d!” Alice said through the fingers pressed against her mouth. ”If the safety had been off, I could have killed you.”
Jack smiled. ”Trust me, lady. If the safety had been off, I wouldn't have made that move.”
”How did you know to follow Alice?”
He looked at her. ”If you've got something to hide on your computer, Wi-Fi is not a good choice. An investigator tapped into your e-mails.”
”Investigator?” Goren said. ”Who's investigating Alice?”
”Someone unconnected to whatever you saw down there or what happened after. Someone with questions about nine/eleven. I'm here to find the answer to one of them.”
”Are you with the government?”
”Not likely. But let me get this straight: You didn't torch your house and you've been on the run from somebody other than the police?”
He nodded. ”Don't ask me who because I don't know.”
If Goren was telling the truth-and Jack believed he was-then Weezy was right: Something more than Islamic fanaticism hid behind the fall of the Towers.
Conspiracies everywhere.
”Maybe I can find out-if you tell me what you saw. Nothing you say will be recorded anywhere. Only one other person besides myself will know, and we won't be talking.”