“I do, Mr. Cage. I’m awfully quick when it comes to getting to know people. Congratulations on your brother’s success, by the way. Hell of a ballplayer. And your father-in-law, Mr. Shaw, why, he’s sold a lot of books, hasn’t he? Oh, I know you’re separated from Claire, but until the divorce is final, he’s still your father-in-law.”
He gave them an empty smile. “Now, how about that talk?”
“All right,” Eric said, reaching up to squeeze the back of his neck, the headache seeming to be lodged there now, driven toward his spine. “Let’s hear it.”
“Good. But much as I’ve enjoyed meeting Mr. Cage, this is a private discussion. So if he’ll wait for you for a few minutes, let’s take a walk down there to the gardens.”
Eric hesitated, but Kellen said, “Go on, man. This boy’s got a pretty clear plan. Hate to get in his way.”
“Appreciate that,” Gavin Murray said, and then he turned and walked away from the cars, leaving Eric to follow.
25
I WASN’T PLANNING ON grabbing you in the parking lot like that,” Gavin Murray said as they walked away from Kellen. “Was going to go into the hotel and ask them to send you down, but before I had a chance, you walked out. Figured now was as good a time as later.”
Eric said, “I’m guessing Alyssa didn’t send you.”
“No.”
“Who, then?”
“I can’t answer that question,” Murray said. “I’m in a confidential business.”
“And what business is that?”
“CCS is an investigations and solutions firm. Think of us as troubleshooters.”
“Traveled all the way down here from Chicago instead of making a phone call. This must be some trouble you’re shooting.”
“We like to conduct business in person. The discussion I need to have with you is important, and it’s actually to your benefit.”
“Is that your opinion or your client’s?”
“Both, in this case.”
Eric was silent. They were walking into the gardens now, toward the fountain.
“I understand that you’re down here working on a video history,” Murray said. “Sounds like an interesting line of work. Must be fun. But this isn’t the project for you.”
“No?”
“No.”
“I think that could stand some clarification. Like who sent you.”
“I’m really not at liberty to disclose that. I’m sure you understand.”
“Sure,” Eric said. “You’re doing your job. Respecting your client’s wishes, fulfilling their requests.”
“Exactly.”
Eric stopped walking. They were beside the fountain now, and a strong wind pushed fine drops of spray across his skin.
“Well, that’s what I’m doing, too,” he said. “And it’s what I’ll keep doing, Gavin, old buddy. I’ve been paid, and I’ll complete the job.”
Gavin Murray didn’t look up at him. He took a pack of American Spirits from his pocket and pulled one out, pausing to offer the pack to Eric, then sliding them back in his pocket when Eric shook his head. He lit the cigarette, took a deep drag, and exhaled smoke through his nose, gazing back up at the hotel.
“How much is she paying you?”
“That’s both irrelevant and none of your business.”
“I’ve been authorized to give you fifty thousand dollars to cease the endeavor.”
“Hell,” Eric said, “that’s less than I’m making on it.”
A lie, of course, but he was curious just how much this was worth to whoever was at the other end of Gavin Murray’s puppet strings. Fifty grand was a hell of a starting point, one that put a prickle in his spine.
Murray smiled around his cigarette. “A negotiator. Well played. I can go as high as seventy-five while we stand here. You can ask for more than that, but you probably won’t get it, and you know seventy-five is more than you could hope for.”
“I’m not going to ask for more than that, and I don’t
“Give the self-righteous thing a rest, Shaw. I’m surprised at this. You were in the movie business for long enough that you should know how rare a sure-money offer is, and how fast they can go away.”
“They go away fast,” Eric agreed. “But you know what never does? Cocksuckers who try to use money as muscle. There seems to be an inexhaustible supply. Shit, L.A. alone has more than I ever cared to meet. But I met a lot of them, enough to get awfully tired of the act. So go on and call your client, tell him to roll his seventy-five or a hundred or two hundred grand up nice and tight and put it right up his ass.”
He started away but Murray followed, saying, “You’re too smart for this. You know how business works at this level. Money’s a first attempt, and other leverage is found if it’s needed.”
Eric stopped walking and turned to face him. “What does that mean?”
Murray tapped ash out of his cigarette. “It’s not a complex statement.”
“It sure as hell better be. Because if it’s as simple as it sounded, then you just threatened me, asshole.”
Murray sighed and brought the cigarette back to his lips. “Guys like you are exhausting, you know that? There’s no reason in the world—
“Must be nice to have a bank ledger where your ethics should be, Gavin. You’ll probably go on to big things. Most people like that do.”
“It would be a great idea to negotiate, Mr. Shaw. I can assure you of that.”
“Negotiate with
“Excuse me?”
“The only person who’d be worried about what I’m doing would be somebody close to Campbell Bradford back in Chicago.”
Gavin Murray smiled. “You would think that, wouldn’t you?”
Eric waited but nothing else was offered. He said, “I’m done with you, Gavin. And tell whoever hired you that they can find me directly if they want to talk.”
“I’ve got one more question,” Murray said. “What exactly were you discussing with Josiah Bradford?”
Eric cocked his head. “You really do know everybody, don’t you?”
That got a tight smile and a nod.
“What I told him was a private matter,” Eric said. “But if you don’t get the hell out of my sight, I’ll go fill him in on some more things. Like the fact that somebody’s in town waving seventy-five grand in my face. Wonder what they’d wave in his.”
“Not a cent.”
“I find that hard to believe. Looks to me like somebody’s awfully concerned about the Bradford legacy. And probably the Bradford stock portfolio.”
“Not true.”
“No? Then what are you doing in beautiful French Lick, friend?”
Silence.
“Right,” Eric said. “Well, enjoy your stay, buddy. And keep away from me.”
This time, Murray let him go.
26
KELLEN WAS WAITING IN the car with the windows down and music playing. He turned
