Part 26 (2/2)

Just then her phone rang. She answered. It was Gail Leer.

Gail stood at the bar of the Buena Vista, a popular tavern overlooking Aquatic Park. An Irish coffee was in front of her as she waited for Angie. It wasn't Angie who approached, though. It was Paavo.

The BV had two exits, one near each end of the bar. As soon as she saw him, she headed for the exit opposite. The crowd of people made it hard for her to get through quickly, and before she escaped, Paavo grabbed her arm.

”We've got to talk,” he said.

”Where's Angie?”

”She's not coming.”

”You have no reason to hold me.” She tried and failed to pull free. ”I'm leaving.”

”You told Angie the FBI is on to you, that you needed to talk to Hannah. I'm here to listen,” Paavo said.

She studied his eyes a long moment, as if trying to decide whether she could trust him or not. ”I'd hoped Angie would bring me to Hannah, or at least relay a message to her. Tell her I didn't know about Tyler's plans. If I had, I would have stopped him. Tell her I wasn't a part of any of it, that...that I was hoping to help her raise her baby.”

Her words surprised him and he let her go. Oddly, at that same moment, the pieces of the case began to fall together. ”If not you, who was Tyler working with?”

A long moment pa.s.sed. ”My husband. I wasn't a partner in what he was doing, Inspector Smith, you've got to believe that! I knew about it, and in that I know I'm complicit. But I never actually did anything.”

”Who else did he work with?”

She looked stunned by the question. ”Well...Michael Zeno.”

”And?” Paavo asked.

She rubbed her head. ”I don't know. I once heard a name-Nadine Nadler. But I don't know who she is. I'm not even sure if she's involved.”

He thought about that a moment, then asked, ”Did you ever tell Hannah you'd help her? Why leave her alone, thinking no one cared?”

She lifted her chin. ”I thought there was more time. The baby was about three weeks early. And, as I said, I had no idea what Tyler was planning.”

”Hannah may be arrested for Tyler's murder,” Paavo said. ”Evidence points her way; evidence I can't ignore. I don't want to take her in, but if I find her, I don't have a choice. Inspector Mayfield has a warrant for her arrest. I'd have to honor it.”

”You can't do that to her!” Gail cried.

”She's a suspect in a murder.”

Gail bowed her head, shaking it from side to side. ”She's no killer! d.a.m.n, why didn't I talk to her, have her come to me? I'd have helped her.”

Her cell phone began to ring. She glanced at the number. ”It's the restaurant.”

She stepped out to the sidewalk as she hit the talk b.u.t.ton. ”h.e.l.lo?” Her eyes, wide with surprise, met Paavo's. ”What? She is?...All right.... Yes.”

She snapped her phone shut and put it in her purse. ”I've got to go.”

He cupped her elbow. ”What's going on? You're in this too deep to walk away, you know. You can talk here or at the Hall of Justice.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but then shut it. He let go as she walked away from the Buena Vista, across the street to the Aquatic Park, her breathing heavy the entire time. Paavo stayed with her, giving her time to sort this out in her mind, and hoping she'd make the right decision on her own, without him having to make it for her.

She stopped just past the cable car turntable, facing the water.

”If it's about Hannah,” he said, ”let me talk to her. The safest thing for her is to give herself up, to tell her side of the story. She needs to work with us. You know that, Mrs. Leer. Do what's right.”

She nodded, and then her shoulders sagged in defeat. ”The call was from my husband,” she began in a soft and tremulous voice. ”This morning, I told him I was leaving. That I couldn't believe he'd planned to sell Hannah's baby, that the FBI was lurking around-everyone on the dock saw them the other night-and that I couldn't sit back and watch him in silence any longer. Then I called Angie. I wasn't only calling about Hannah, but for myself as well. I'd hoped she'd be a go-between, that she'd talk to you and tell you my side of the story so I wouldn't be thrown into jail.”

”Yes,” he said, urging her to continue.

”Eugene called now to say Hannah's at the restaurant looking for me. She needs my help.” Tears filled her eyes. ”He asked me to come back, to help Hannah-and him. He said he'd been wrong; that he'd give everything up if I'd go back to him.”

”Do you believe him?” Paavo asked.

”He's my husband.”

Outside the Athina, the sign in the window said CLOSED. The front door was locked. Gail used her key to go inside. Paavo waited in the doorway, his gun ready.

The restaurant was empty. Even the kitchen.

”Eugene?” she called. She went into the kitchen. ”No!” she cried.

Paavo hurried after her, gun drawn. Eugene Leer held her, a gun to her head. ”Drop it,” Paavo ordered.

”Wrong, Inspector.” Eugene nodded behind Paavo.

He glanced quickly over his shoulder. Michael Zeno stood a few steps behind him, also holding a gun.

Chapter 29.

When Angie returned from the hairdresser, she called Paavo's cell phone and pager, but he didn't answer. She tried the Buena Vista with no luck. She then phoned Homicide. Yosh was no help, so she left a message for Rebecca Mayfield.

Fear and anger warred. Anger that he did anything at all, including his job, on this important Sat.u.r.day. Why couldn't he wait? Why ruin their engagement party? But much stronger was fear that something terrible had happened to him. She could think of no other reason for him not to answer his cell phone. For him not to be home by now.

He was simply going to talk with Gail Leer, then head home and get ready for the party. He'd convinced Angie he wouldn't confront Gail, that she wasn't a threat to him and their meeting wouldn't be dangerous in any way. He'd question her about Tyler and Lance Vandermeer, and suggest she turn state's evidence for the FBI.

It wasn't even supposed to take an hour.

Where was he?

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