Part 23 (1/2)
”Do you think that fire in your office set itself” he asked.
Thomas was mystified.
”How could a man in his late seventies be so dangerous?”
”I don't know. And I don't recommend finding out.”
Thomas considered the blaze at his office. And he considered Leslie McAdam, struggling naked on a bed while her own father's hired killer attempted to murder her.
”I have a client,” he said.
Zenger was livid.
”You also have sawdust between the ears if you take this woman seriously. First off, she is an impostor Second, Sandler's not the type of man you'll want to try pinning a paternity suit on even if she's not an imposter. Third, you'll never collect a cent of inheritance. This girl will never be able to prove she's a real daughter of Arthur Sandler. And you'll never be able to prove that a man legally dead twenty-two years ago is alive today. You'd have to successfully trace a man who's been gone for almost a quarter of a century.”
”It could be done.”
”Thomas! Come to your senses! Do you think Sandler's going to let you and some girl pick through his wealth and his interlocked companies? Do you think he'd risk having his new ident.i.ty exposed?”
”How is he going to stop me?”
”Listen, boy,” said Zenger, shaking his head in disgust, 'you don't want to live as long as I have, do you? I'll tell you how he's going to stop you ” Zenger paused and caught his breath. He was very weak, but his anger-or fear-kept him going.
”All I know is what I learned from your father. In confidence, in the years after the war. But when Sandler got a new face he also got a job in our government. High. Very high. So high that only two people knew who he was. Both were murdered in their homes within a week. Both the same night. Both with a wire” Thomas Daniels practically bolted upright.
”A wire?”
”A wire'” said Zenger, elaborating in hopes of scaring Thomas off the case.
”It was a trick Sandler learned in the war. In a hollow heel of a shoe he carried two bra.s.s rings with a piano wire strung between them. A makes.h.i.+ft garrotte. Always with him and d.a.m.ned effective.
His favorite.”
Thomas broke into a slow smile. Zenger c.o.c.ked his head, looking at the younger man.
”What did I say?” Zenger asked.
”You just proved that my client is telling the truth'” Thomas said.
”I'm sorry. I'm taking her case.”
Chapter 8
Thomas returned to New York the same evening. When he unlocked and pushed open the door to his apartment the white envelope was immediately conspicuous. ”I Thomas turned on the light, closed the door behind him, and tossed his travel case onto a table. He picked up the envelope and tore it open.
From it he pulled a yellow ticket. Second Promenade, the ticket said, Madison Square Garden. Hockey. Rangers vs. Boston Bruins. February eight. Sunday evening.
It made no immediate sense. Then he unfolded a small piece of plain white paper that accompanied the ticket. It read: Mr. Daniels, Please be there. And don't tell anyone.
Leslie McAdam Thomas searched for a further explanation and found none.