[Quinn 02] - The Deceived

THE APARTMENT NE WIN HAD SET THEM UP IN WASN’T

quite as luxurious as the ones at the Quayside Villas, but it was clean and it was furnished. There were two bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room/dining room combination, and a walk-through kitchen.

When Quinn arrived, he found Orlando standing near the back window. She’d been looking outside, but had turned toward him as he entered.

“Our little outing at the Far East Square made the news tonight,” she said. She glanced over at the TV. It was on, but the volume was low.

“Are they shutting the city down?” he asked.

Gunfire in Singapore was not a usual occurrence. The authorities’ response to even one shot would be something other countries might consider an overreaction.

“They’re calling it a prank.”

“Really?”

“They say it was a particularly loud firecracker,” she said. “I believe that was the newscaster’s exact phrasing.”

“What about the body?” Quinn asked. “The guy I shot up on Club Street?”

“Nothing.”

Quinn thought about it for a moment. A sudden heightened sense of security would probably have forced Guerrero and his fellow congressman to head out of town, thus lessening the threat against Jenny. So it might have actually been preferable. At least this way, though, he could still move around the city without causing any suspicion.

But what he didn’t want was to drag things out any longer than

necessary. “Where’s Nate?” he asked. “Sleeping.” Quinn walked down the hallway, looking first in the master bed

room, then the smaller room, where he found his apprentice stretched

out on the bed, snoring. Quinn walked over and gave Nate a shake. “Get up,” he said. Nate’s eyes shot open. “What? What is it?” “Get up.” “It can’t be morning already.” “It’s not,” Quinn said as he turned for the door. “Get dressed and

come out. I need your help.” “Ah... okay,” Nate said, sleep still heavy in his voice. “Can you

give me a minute?” “I’ll give you two.” Back in the living room, Quinn quickly filled Orlando in on his

meeting with Jenny. “You’re going back, aren’t you?” Orlando said when he was finished. He pulled the cassette Jenny had given him out of his pocket and

held it out to Orlando. “Here,” he said. “You’re changing the subject.” “Yeah. I am.” She scowled, then took the cassette from him. She twirled it

around. “This is an AIT tape.” “Data tape?” he said. “Yeah. Sony’s version. Similar to an eight-millimeter cassette.” “She said it was a recording.” “Could have a sound file on it. Usually we’d just need to de-

archive it. But the container looks damaged.”

“I have faith in you.” “I don’t even have anything I can play this on,” she said, obviously annoyed. “Call Ne Win,” Quinn said. “I’m sure he can get something sent

over.” “He’s not going to have something like this just lying around.” “He’ll find one.” “Then you call him,” she said. Quinn thought about it for a moment. “Fine,” he said. There was

something he needed to ask the old man to do anyway. From down the hallway, they could hear Nate shuffle out of his

room. “You taking the Boy Wonder with you?” Orlando asked. “Thought I might.” “Maybe I should go with you this time.” “We really need you to figure out what’s on that tape.” “If I can figure it out.” “If anyone can do it, you can.” “Gee, thanks, Dad.” Her face turned serious. “Be careful.” “Be careful?” Nate said as he entered the living room. “Be careful

of what?”

They walked from their apartment to the Quayside Villas. Earlier in the day, Quinn had all but decided to forget about Markoff ’s message. Whatever was at the Quayside Villas wasn’t as important as getting Jenny off the island. But that plan hadn’t worked out. In fact, Jenny’s feeling that whatever Markoff had found might have helped her had only refocused Quinn’s attention on the building. So a return trip seemed the logical thing to do.

On the way, Quinn called Ne Win. He wasn’t surprised to find the old man still up. After Quinn told him what he needed, Ne Win said, “I’m not convenience store.” “I never thought you were,” Quinn said.

There was a sigh on the other end. “Data tape player might take a little while. I’ll call when you can pick it up.”

“We need it as soon as you can get it. So instead of calling, have one of your men bring it to the apartment.”

“You are big trouble, you know that?” Ne Win said.

“You should have thought about that before you sent me the container with Markoff ’s body in it.”

“I never said I sent you container.”

“So you’ll get the recorder over to the apartment?” Quinn asked, getting back to business.