Part 26 (1/2)
”Private contractors,” Jack said.
”The government?” Heather asked. ”Are you here to arrest me for-””No, nothing like that. It's an international company. We get hired to help any country indiscriminately, and this has nothing to do with...with...” Brett suddenly looked uncomfortable and wouldn't meet Heather's eyes.
”Prost.i.tution,” Jack filled in.
Heather felt her face burn and looked away.
”Real subtle, Jack.” Brett stared at Jack with a piqued expression for a few seconds. ”This doesn't involve Direct Connect. This is about your client, Dario. We have reasons to believe he works with Andor Rozsa.”
”Isn't he the guy who spread the H1N6 virus?” Heather asked.
”Yup, it's that son of a b.i.t.c.h,” Jack replied.
The papers and TV news reports had been full of little else for months-first reporting on the millions dead or dying from the virus, and then, just a few weeks ago, relaying word that the man * 200 *
responsible for it all had eluded capture. ”Oh, my G.o.d. I had no idea. But Rozsa disappeared.”
”Yes, no one can find him,” Brett said. ”And it's very important we do.”
”The b.a.s.t.a.r.d has my girlfriend hostage.” Jack clenched her fists. Heather saw pain as well as fury in the woman's eyes. ”I'm sorry,” she said. ”But I still don't understand what this has to do with me. I mean...I had no idea Dario was involved in any of this.”
”We know,” Brett said.
”How did you find out Dario was seeing me?” Brett still wouldn't look at her. She kept staring at the floor.
”He made an electronic payment to Rozsa from the brownstone's IP address.”
”Why would he do that?”
”We don't know. We a.s.sume he panicked for some reason.
When we checked out the IP address we discovered that the building belonged to Direct Connect. After that, it was just a matter of finding out who was there during the time of the transaction.” Brett paused, and when she continued her voice was almost apologetic. ”Everyone present that night: girls, customers, Ma.s.simo, were all suspect. You included.”
”But how did you find my real name?”
”We followed you to your house,” Brett said.
”And checked the registry,” Jack added. ”I've been shadowing you for a week. We also know about your day job.” Heather looked at Brett. ”And my brother?” Brett nodded without looking up.
”That night at the Cave, you came looking for me.”
”Yes,” Brett said.
”That's why you asked for my number. Why you asked me out.”Brett sighed. ”Yes.”
Heather reached for the coffee table and grabbed the graphic novel from under the Cosmo. ”But you signed this as the author.”
* 201 *
Brett took it from her. ”Because I am. Cooland is my pseudonym,” she said, and looked at Jack.
”Your day job,” Heather said.
”Of sorts.”
”What pseudonym?” Jack asked. ”What are you talking about?” She looked from Heather to Brett.
Brett looked uncomfortable as she handed the graphic novel across the table to her.
Jack stared at the cover for several seconds, then opened it to the inscription page. ”Well, f.u.c.k me.”
”I was going to tell you,” Brett said.
”You're Cooland?” Jack asked.
Brett nodded. ”I have been for eight years.”
”Well, d.a.m.n.” Jack shook her head in disbelief and glanced down at the novel again. ”Why didn't you let me know?”
”Oh, I don't know.” Brett shrugged. ”Maybe because I haven't exactly been in the mood to share anything with you.”
”You clearly don't have a problem sharing your opinion about me.””Not now, Jack.”
”You started it,” Jack mumbled, and looked back down at the novel. ”Hey, this is next month's issue.”
”It's a proof,” Brett said.
”It's for my brother,” Heather said pointedly. Jack was clearly coveting it.
”Why does he get one?” Jack asked Brett.
”Can we do this later?” Brett turned to Heather, but once again avoided eye contact. ”We've been following you because we thought you were somehow connected to Rozsa.”
”And you don't think so anymore.”
”Correct,” Brett said.
”Why not?”
”Because it's obvious you're clueless as to who Dario is,” Jack replied.
”Obvious how? I mean, I am...but why are you now convinced I'm not involved?”
* 202 *
Brett squirmed and looked down at her feet. ”We had your room at the brownstone bugged and heard tonight's conversation.