“Now.”
“I'm afraid that's-”
“Now,” Carmeli repeated.
“I'm in the middle of-”
“I know what you're in the middle of. Where you're
“Zev-”
“And don't think about sneaking out the back door, Sharavi. Someone's watching.”
“You're making a huge-”
The connection broke. As he put down the phone, two men came in, both young, one blond, one dark-haired. Dark suits, open-necked white shirts. He knew them by face and name. Guards from the consulate, Dov and Yizhar. He hadn't heard them enter. Carmeli had known the phone call would distract him.
Mr. Ninja, indeed.
And a good evening to you, too, schmuck. “Do you have any idea what you're doing?”
The man shrugged.
Yizhar smiled and said, “Following orders. Who says the only good Germans are Germans.”
54
Milo was at his desk at the West L.A. station when Captain Huber called him in.
Huber was doing paperwork at a chaotic desk and didn't look up or speak. His bald spot was pink, slightly flaky.
“Sir.”
“Your lucky day, Sturgis. Meeting downtown with Deputy Chief Wicks. What'd you do, solve a crime or something?”
“When?”
“Now.
Huber stopped writing, but kept his head down. “Maybe it's an affirmative-action thing, diversity and all that good stuff. Don't look so glum.”
Never making eye contact, so he had no idea about Milo's expression.
“I-”
Now Huber looked up sharply, thick face mottled with anger. Wicks's call had caught him by surprise. Out of the loop.
Milo suddenly understood why and his bowels began to churn.
“What's that, Sturgis?”
“I'm on my way.”
“Looks like you are, indeed. Making any progress on your cases?”
“Which ones?” said Milo.
“All of them.”
“We're doing okay.”
“Good. Don't keep them waiting. Close the door on your way out.”
55
Body-searched, pockets emptied, daniel sat sandwiched between the two men in the consulate car, breathing in their tobacco smell, knowing there was no chance to break free. He feigned relaxation.
They drove him to the consulate, placed him in Zev Carmeli's office, and remained outside the door.
He sat wondering if Zev would show.
Feeling like an idiot for neglecting the obvious. How could he have not seen it? How could it have been any other way?
Denial, pathological denial.
Had Milo been intercepted, too? How far did this go?
Hopefully, it wouldn't matter, Alex walking into the date unprotected. Just a date with a crazy girl and back to the Genesee apartment.
More denial.
Alex was expecting full coverage, would behave accordingly.
He remembered the tranquil look on Baker's face, all those murders and the guy was taking in the sun, unbothered by life.
Guy like that,
He looked around Zev's office. Saw something that could help, pocketed it, and knocked on the door.
Dov opened it. “What?”
“Bathroom.”
“You're sure?”
“Up to you, soldier. I can piss on his desk.”
Dov smiled, took his arm firmly, and propelled him to a nearby unmarked door.
No need for another search, the first had been so thorough.
“Have fun,” Dov told him.
Once inside, Daniel urinated, flushed, turned on the faucet, took the cell phone he'd lifted from Zev's desk out of his pocket, and dialed a familiar number. Time for only one call- he hoped the phone was a normal line, not one of Zev's preassigned coded things.
Ringing. Good.
Pick up, friend, pick up, pick up…
“Hello?”
“Gene? It's me. I can't talk long. I need your help.”
Knocking on the door. Dov's voice, “Hey, you drown or what? How long does it take to pee?”
“Wait til you reach my age,” Daniel called out.
“Ain't that the truth,” said Gene.
56
Zena was at the store when i made the confirmation call.
