She had $400,000 in a cash management account at Martin Smith Securities. She could liquidate stocks to raise the rest-$1,600,000. Borrow it on margin if she had to. She called her broker, a former University of Michigan basketball player named Bill Lelich-Billy Lee-six foot six in black wing tips and his standard uniform: blue suit, white shirt and red tie, looking and sounding more like an evangelist or self-help guru than a broker. Owen had referred to him as the Rudy of the Big Ten, Billy Lee only seeing action for a couple of minutes in one game against Northwestern during his three-year college career.
Kate told him she was in Cathead Bay buying a piece of property and needed two million dollars and the money had to be wired to the Traverse City Bank and Trust the next day. Billy said, “That’s all, pretty Mrs. McCall, my number-one client? That’s all you need? Piece of cake.” He’d have it there by ten the next morning. “Anything else? There must be something.” Giving her his full-court confidence-like every request was a snap-if you dealt with Billy Lee.
Kate felt relieved the money was taken care of. Now she had to deal with Bill Wink, call him, because she knew it was just a matter of time before he’d show up again. He answered his cell phone on the second ring. Kate said, “I just heard from Luke; he’s back in Bloomfield Hills. Freaked out and took a bus home. Can you believe it? Said being up here reminded him of his dad’s death and it was too painful to handle.”
Bill said, “I’m glad he’s okay. But I’ve got to tell you I’m surprised. It didn’t look too good this morning. Sorry if we scared you. Johnny and Del were pretty convinced about what they saw.” He paused now, like he was trying to think of what to say next. “What’re you going to do?”
“Go home,” Kate said.
“Can I buy you dinner first?”
“Bill, that’s nice of you to offer, but I better get back and keep an eye on Luke. Thanks for all your help.”
That was it. He sounded like he bought it. Now she just had to be careful she didn’t run into him.
Jack arrived four hours later. She heard a car, opened the front door, and there he was. She put her arms around him and hung on, feeling a sense of relief, like he was going to make everything better.
Jack said, “Hey, you all right?” He held her face in his hands.
“You always come through,” Kate said, “don’t you?”
“Tell me what’s happening.”
They went in the kitchen and she made drinks-Maker’s and soda-and handed one to Jack. They sat on the same side of the breakfast room table, chairs turned, facing each other, Jack giving her his full attention. Kate showed him the ransom note and told him about the phone call from the kidnappers.
Jack said, “You didn’t call the police, did you?”
Kate shook her head. She could feel tears well up, losing it now, telling herself she wasn’t going to do that.
Jack got up and put his arms around her.
Kate said. “If they hurt Luke…” She let it hang-didn’t tell Jack what she’d do, how she’d hire pros to hunt them down.
“Why’re you talking like that? They’re not going to hurt Luke. We’re going to get through this,” Jack said. “It’s about money. They’ve invested too much time to fuck it up.”
“How do you know how much time they’ve invested?”
Jack said, “I can understand how this can put you on edge. Listen, I’m here to help you.”
“I’m sorry,” she said, “why am I taking it out on you?”
He met her gaze and sipped his drink. “ ’Cause I’m the only one here.”
She grinned. “I should be grateful, huh?”
“That would be in the right direction,” Jack said.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Kate said. Then she told him about ordering the money. “It’s coming by armored car from the Federal Reserve in Chicago.”
“When’s it get here?”
“The manager didn’t know and wouldn’t tell me if he did.” Kate sipped her bourbon and said, “This remind you of anything?”
Jack said, “You’re not talking about Guatemala, are you?”
“What else? You’re the first person I think of when I’m in trouble.”
“I don’t know if that’s good or not.” He reached over and took her hand. “It’s all going to work out.”
“They said thirty-six hours or they’d cut off a finger or an ear.”
“That’s drama,” Jack said. “To get your attention. If they’ve got a brain between them, they know you’re going to want to see Luke before you pay them a dime. They hurt him, it’ll screw everything up. They’re trying to scare you-that’s all.”
“It’s working,” Kate said.
They had dinner-spaghetti carbonara and a bottle of Italian chardonnay called Cabreo that Kate said they’d brought back by the case from Tuscany. Kate picking at her food, barely eating, quiet, distant.
Jack said, “Where exactly is Tuscany at?”
Kate didn’t answer, then looked up from her plate and said, “Huh?”
“You don’t want to talk, it’s okay.”
“What’d you ask me?”
He repeated the question.
Kate said, “North of Rome, all the way up to Florence, which is the capital.”
Jack was thinking if things worked out, he’d like to see the world. He’d only been as far west as Vegas, as far north as Toronto, as far east as New York City, and as far south as Guatemala City, a place he wouldn’t recommend based on what he’d seen-his brief visit.
After dinner Kate picked up their dishes and took them into the kitchen.
Jack said, “Come and sit. I’ll do those.”
“I can’t. I’m too wound up,” Kate said.
“Let me help you.”
She was at the sink with her back to him. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. Kate turned and looked over her shoulder at him. “This is your idea of helping, huh?”
Jack grabbed her forearm and turned her toward him and kissed her and she kissed him back and held him. Then she took his hand and guided him out of the kitchen, to the stairs and led him up, never looking at him or saying a word.
And then they were standing next to her bed-moonlight coming through the windows-kissing and taking each other’s clothes off and then they were naked in bed, the warm feel of their bodies pressed together. Jack studied her face in the dim light and thought she looked the same as she did in college. Could’ve been in her Ann Arbor apartment. The only thing missing was Marvin Gaye singing “If I Could Build My Whole World Around You” or “Distant Lover.”
This is what he wanted to happen, but something wasn’t right. She wasn’t herself, looking up at him without expression. He couldn’t tell if she liked it or not. He kissed her and she reached down and took him in her hand and opened her legs and guided him in. He was conscious of his weight on her and the pleasure he felt, bodies moving together with vague familiarity. Like he knew her but didn’t know her. And when they were finished, Jack said, “God, that felt good.”
She didn’t say anything, just slid out from under him and got up and walked across the room naked, Jack staring at her perfect ass. He said, “Hey, where’re you going?” She was acting strange. And wasn’t it her idea?
Her robe was hanging on the back of the bathroom door. Kate put it on and pulled it closed and looked at herself in the mirror. Knew why she did it. She was lonely and stressed out and liked Jack and needed someone to comfort her. Now she felt guilty. It didn’t have anything to do with Owen. He would’ve encouraged her to move on. It was Luke. She felt like she was betraying him, going to bed with someone while he was being held hostage.
She went back in the bedroom. Jack was still under the covers with his head propped up on pillows, a grin on his face.
He said, “What’re you doing? Get in here, we’re just getting started.”
