It's been a while, Art.
A coupla years.
This is my daughter, Amanda. Amanda's hand disappeared in the gangster's massive paw. You may remember her. She assisted me during the motion in Cedar City.
Nice to meetcha, Prochaska said. Then he returned his attention to Frank. Martin said you wanted to talk.
And I appreciate the quick response.
I ain't sure I can help, but I'll try. What can I do for you?
I' d like to know what happened at the cabin in Milton County four years ago, Amanda said.
Prochaska looked surprised that Amanda had asked a question. When he answered, he turned away from her and spoke to Frank.
I was never there. I was playing cards that night. I had five witnesses.
Amanda wanted to disabuse Prochaska quickly of the idea that she was Frank's secretary.
I' m sure they were wonderful witnesses, Mr. Prochaska, she said firmly, but I was at the cabin, too, and I saw you drive away just as I arrived.
Prochaska turned his attention back to Amanda. She met his stare and held it.
You're mistaken.
Probably, if you have five witnesses, Amanda answered with a smile that said that she wasn't buying his bullshit. But let's say, for the sake of argument, that I wasn' t. Why would you have been at the cabin at that time of night?
What would it matter?
I' m representing Vincent Cardoni's ex-wife, Justine Castle. She's been charged with committing several murders at a farmhouse in Multnomah County. There's a makeshift operating room in the basement of the farmhouse. Other victims were found buried in a graveyard on the farm.
So?
The murder scene is almost identical to the scene of the crime in Milton County.
Why should I care?
It's possible that Vincent Cardoni cut off his own hand four years ago to make everyone think he' d been murdered. If Cardoni was trying to convince everyone that he was dead, it would be convenient for me to see you leaving the cabin just before I discovered his hand.
Prochaska stared at them like a gangster Buddha.
I' m not interested in getting you in trouble, Mr. Prochaska. In fact, it's my understanding that Martin Breach would be very interested if Cardoni is alive. You should be too if Cardoni tried to set you up.
Prochaska mulled over Amanda's information.
Anything you tell us will go no further, Art, Frank assured him.
When Prochaska spoke, he directed his remarks at Amanda.
I was never at that cabin, understand?
Amanda nodded.
Prochaska leaned forward and spoke so softly that it was almost impossible to hear him over the club's loud music.
Martin did some business with a doctor at St. Francis. This doctor stiffed Martin for a lot of money, and he wanted it back. Then the doctor turned up as one of the corpses the cops found at that cabin, but the money didn't show up. Martin thought Cardoni had it.
Prochaska waited to see if Amanda was following him. When Amanda nodded, he continued.
The night you found that hand, outa the blue Cardoni calls and says he wants a truce. He's got the dough at the cabin. Martin should send someone up. Martin sent me. As soon as I saw the hand I knew it was a setup. I got in the car and left. That's all there is to it.
You didn't find the money? Amanda asked.
If Cardoni set me up, there wouldn't be no money, would there?
Prochaska was on the phone as soon as his visitors closed the door behind them.
Guess what, Martin? Vincent Cardoni might not be dead.
That's why Jaffe wanted to see you?
He's representing Cardoni's ex-wife. He told Breach about the meeting with the Jaffes.
Son of a bitch, Breach said when Prochaska was through. If Cardoni's back in Portland, I want him found before the cops get him.
Chapter 49
Andrew Volkov moved his cleaning cart against the wall to make way for two internists. They were deep in conversation and didn't even glance at the invisible man in the gray custodian's uniform. When they passed, Volkov moved his cart forward. As he did so, he noticed another doctor watching him from the end of the hall. He ducked his head and the doctor averted his eyes, but it was obvious that Volkov had been the object of his attention.
The physician walked toward Volkov, who turned his cart and pushed it in the opposite direction. A hall led off to the right and he entered it. Halfway down the corridor was the entrance to a stairwell that led to the basement. He left his cart next to it, waited several beats before opening the door, then pushed it wide so that it would take time to close. If the doctor was following him, the door would bait him. If he missed it swinging shut the cart would provide a clue to where he' d gone that only an idiot would miss.
Volkov moved down the stairs slowly, pausing at each landing until he heard the hall door open. He had been right. He was being followed. He waited a moment, then continued to descend the stairs, making certain to step heavily enough so that his footsteps created echoes in the stairwell. When he reached the basement, Volkov opened the door and let it slam shut. In front of him was a narrow hallway made narrower by the exposed steam pipes that were attached to the walls. Low-wattage bulbs, spaced far apart, kept most of the corridor in shadow. The air was damp and cool. Volkov moved down the corridor at a steady pace until he was almost at a side hall that led to the boiler room. He paused until he heard the basement door open before turning into the side passage and pressing against the wall. Volkov heard footsteps drawing closer. They stopped at the entrance to the hallway. Then the doctor stepped around the corner.
Why are you following me? Volkov asked.
The doctor's eyes widened with fright. He pulled a scalpel out of his pocket and lunged. Volkov blocked the thrust and lashed out with a front kick. The doctor leaped back, and the janitor's toe only grazed him. Volkov's body flowed forward behind the kick. His fist caught the doctor's shoulder, slamming him against the concrete wall on the other side of the hallway. Volkov's next kick should have shattered his foe's kneecap, but he was surprised when his attacker moved into him, nullifying its power.
Volkov felt a sharp pain in his side and realized that he' d been stabbed. The doctor lashed out again, and the scalpel ripped through Volkov's shirt, slicing through skin. Volkov grunted, slashed upward with an elbow and saw blood gush from a broken nose. The doctor struck out blindly and stabbed Volkov in the cheek. The janitor unleashed a kick that connected solidly, driving the doctor backward until he lost his balance and fell to the floor.
Andy?
Arthur West, another janitor, was standing at the far end of the corridor.
What's going on? West shouted.
The doctor still held the scalpel and was struggling to his feet. Volkov hesitated. West started walking toward him. Volkov kicked the doctor again and ran toward the exit door at the end of the hallway. He tore it open and fled across the street to the employee parking lot.
Chapter 50
Amanda walked from the Stockman Building toward the river for several blocks and found Vasquez waiting for her in a booth at the back of O' Brien's Clam Bar.
What's up? Vasquez asked
Amanda handed him the list of employees that Tony had faxed to her.
A friend of mine is a doctor at St. Francis. I told him a little about our case. He thinks that there's a good possibility that the person who planted the scalpel, clothing and coffee mug at the farmhouse works at St. Francis, since all of the evidence came from the hospital. This is a list of men who have been hired at St. Francis during the
