Part 9 (1/2)
Why, Reed wondered now, had Talbot been sent to Grand Cayman? What possible expertise could he bring to this case? Was it because of the way Andy Dianetti had been taken out in a blaze of glory? Perhaps the agency expected that same kind of attack on Selena. If so, why hadn't Charlie warned him?
Reed didn't have the information he needed to make any kind of definite a.s.sessment, but he did know that he had no intention of letting Nick Talbot into the middle of this case.
If a line opened up to negotiate with Selena's abductors, Reed would take the call. If Selena's incriminating journal had to be compromis6d, he'd sacrifice it. He'd watched the jury process work enough times to know that Selena Elliot's flesh-and, blood testimony would impress them far more than a book full of numbers, anyway.
The real question was, why had Morrell's forces taken this sudden detour?
Why the focus on the journal?
Reed decided to let those questions simmer and to aim his immediate attention on confronting and removing Nick Talbot from the scene. He was out of seat and halfway across the dining room when waiter caught up to him with the breakfast Reed had ordered, all boxed and bagged and ready to take up to the room.
Reed hastily scratched a fict.i.tious name and Tess's room number on the back of the tab, but by the time he glanced up, Nick Talbot was gone.
After a quick search of the lobby, Reed headed to a pay phone on the wall outside the men's room in the 'bar.
When Charlie answered, Reed said, ”Call your boy in, Charlie.” ' ”What? Who is this--hey, McKenna, is that you?” The fuzz in Charlie's voice told Reed he was the older agent's first call of the day.
”What the h.e.l.l are you guys trying to do,” Reed demanded, ”get me and all your witnesses killed?”
”Wait a minute, hang on,” Charlie sputtered.
”What are you talking about, Mac?”
”Talbot.”
”Talbot? Nick' Talbot What about him? What's'he got to do with this?”
”That's what I was about to ask him, right' after he finished his rum punch.”
”Nick Talbot's in Grand Cayman?”
”In the flesh, and looking about as convincing as a native as i'd look in a convent.”
”I thought he was working the Dianetti case.”
”You should have told me' ” Hey, believe me, Mac,” if I'd known he had been called in to find the bookkeeper, I would have told you. I don't know why' he there.
Honest.”
Reed had learned from experience that most people only added ”honest”
when they were in the midst of telling a lie, but for some reason he couldn't name, he believed Charlie Franklin was telling the truth.
”Well, somebody had to have given him his orders, and whoever it was needs to get him the h.e.l.l out of here,” Reed demanded.
”And by the way” -- he dropped his voice a notch and cradled the phone cloer ”--Morrell's men grabbed the bookkeeper yesterday.”
”d.a.m.n it!” Charlie shouted.
”Do you have a link yet? Have they contacted the cousin?”
”Yes, in both cases.”
”Is she willing to work with you?”
”She wasn't at first, but I think I may have changed her mind.”
”Do you think the bookkeeper's still alive?”
”I think so.”
”Strange. I mean, why? They certainly didn't give Dianetti a econd chance.”
”My thoughts exactly, Charlie.” Reed didn't mention the incriminating journal. He sensed it was his trump card and until he was prepared to show his hand, the fewer people who knew of the existence of Selena Elliot's journal, the better.
”What are you going to do, Mac?”
”Whatever I have to.”
”Anything I can do at this end to help you out?”
I'll let you know. For now, just get Talbot out of my way before I have to.
Charlie groaned.
”I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that.”
”Pretend whatever you like, buddy. But I'm warning you, I've got too much at stake to let some G-man muck it up.”
”What about the kid?”
”She's not your problem.”
'”The h.e.l.l she isn't!” Charlie shouted.
”I stuck my neck way out to get approval for you to take temporary custody.
I just hope you had sense enough to stash her some place safe before you left the country? ' Charlie's ulcer would explode like an overinflated bal16on if he knew Reed had ken the child out of the country.
”Are you trying to tell me how to do my job, old man? Maybe when I retire, you'd like to take over my clients?” Reed jabbed, diverting Charlie's questioning from a potentially dangerous route.
”Ready to do a bit of free-lancing, Charlie?”
The older man's laugh was nothing but a cynical snort.
”Mac, I wouldn't have your job for all the gold in Fort Knox.”