A car turned into the lot and Oscar stubbed out his cigarette. It was about time. The lawyer got out of his car and turned up the collar of his camel's-hair overcoat to protect his cheeks from the wind. Overnight, the weather had turned and it was close to freezing. The car pulled alongside Oscar, and the driver reached over and opened the door. He was Hispanic, with a flat, pock-marked face and a wisp of a mustache. That didn't seem right. Oscar was certain that Dupre had told him that Hunter was black. Well, this guy was dark. Baron didn't really care; as long as he was being paid, he'd deal with anyone.
'Agent Hunter was called away on another case, Mr. Baron.' He held out his credentials. 'I'm Agent Castillo.'
'Hunter just called me.'
'He was as upset as you are, but something came up. I really can't discuss his other case. You understand.'
'All I know is that he got me out of bed in the middle of the night,' Oscar complained as he slid onto the passenger seat.
'If we weren't concerned for your safety I would be snug under the covers myself.'
'Yeah, well, let's get this over with. I'm freezing my nuts off.'
'What does Mr. Dupre want?'
'To get out of jail.'
'That may be difficult. He killed a United States senator . . . .'
'He denies that.'
'Yes, well, then there's the little matter of murdering Mr. Hayes, which is a state matter over which the Bureau has no jurisdiction. Besides, I'm not certain I should be talking to you. I've been told that Amanda Jaffe represents Mr. Dupre.'
'Do you see Jaffe sitting here? She's a court-appointed lawyer. Jon doesn't trust her. He doesn't trust anyone except me.'
'So, she doesn't know anything about these negotiations?'
'Not a thing. Now, let's get down to business, so I can go home. You figure out a way to help Jon and Jon will help you fry some very big fish.'
'Such as?'
'Pedro Aragon, for one.'
'Go on.' Castillo said it as if he wasn't impressed, but his body language suggested otherwise.
'My client has knowledge of Aragon's operation. He can show you how his people bring the stuff in, he can draw you an organizational chart . . . .'
'We know a lot of this already, Mr. Baron.'
'But can you prove it? Jon's been secretly taping and filming conversations with Aragon's men; it's an insurance policy for situations like this. With Jon's evidence you can bag some of Aragon's lieutenants. Maybe they'll turn. And Jon says he's got other stuff that will make busting Aragon seem like small potatoes.'
'Oh. What would that be?'
'He didn't tell me. He just said to tell you that what he has is dynamite.'
Baron pulled a tape recorder out of his coat pocket and laid it on the seat between them.
'Let me play you a sample of the stuff he's got against Aragon.'
Baron hit the play button and a tape started to roll. Halfway through, Oscar zoned out. The stuff was good evidence, but pretty boring. A lot of drug jabber about quality and prices. It could have been two guys at a used-car lot. Oscar didn't snap out of his trance until Castillo flashed the car's headlights.
'What's that for?' the lawyer asked just as his door was yanked open. A hand grabbed his coat collar, and a huge man started to pull him out of the car. Oscar hung on to the dashboard. A gun butt smashed his fingers, and he screamed. He was on the ground before it registered that it was Castillo who had crushed his fingers. Oscar opened his mouth to protest, but the muzzle of another gun ripped past his lips and smashed his teeth. Oscar tried to scream again, but he choked on the muzzle. The man who had pulled him from the car pushed the gun barrel deeper into his mouth. Castillo walked into Oscar's line of sight.
'If you make a sound, the gun will be pushed down your throat and you will choke to death. Nod if you understand.'
Oscar jerked his head up and down. The metal barrel was tickling his throat and he had to fight his gag response. Castillo nodded. The gun slid out of Oscar's mouth and he gasped for air.
Castillo squatted beside Baron, grabbed his ear, and twisted. Baron grimaced, too frightened to cry out.
'You said that this tape is a sample. Do you have others?'
'Aah. Please. There's more in my safe.'
Castillo released the pressure on Oscar's ear.
'You're at our mercy, Oscar. No one is going to come to your rescue. Whether you live or die depends solely on how much you cooperate. Do you understand me?'
Oscar nodded.
'Good. We've had taps on your phone and we've had your home and office wired since you were at the jail yesterday. That's how we knew that you called the FBI. So don't bullshit me.'
'I won't.'
