‘Does it help?’
‘Immensely, only I’m not sure just how for the moment.’
‘Can you fill us in?’ Eliza asked.
‘All right, but not until all three of you promise the information will not be shared with anyone... anyone, okay, Gunn?’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘Swear to it. Swear you will not reveal any information on this story until it’s a wrap.’
‘I swear it.’
‘Okay. Here’s the story so far. . .‘ and he told them in detail about his meeting with Falmouth, about Quill and Master and Thornley, about the Maria job, the murder on Maui, and the coup in South America.
‘Right now we have three leads. The first is Lavander, who’s slated to be grilled by a cutout and executed by Hinge if he gives the wrong answers—’
‘What’s a cutout?’ Eliza asked.
‘The man between an agent and his contact in the home office. A go-between. Usually he carries information back and forth. Sometimes he has the power to issue an assignment, as in this case.’
‘Do we know the Cutout?’ the Mag asked.
‘No, but we do know the assassin. Hinge.’ O’Hara took a Polaroid photo from his wallet and passed it around. ‘That’s Hinge. Falmouth gave me the picture. He used it to visually ID
Hinge on the job in Caracas. Lavander’s using the name J. M. Teach on this trip. Our best shot is to try to get to Lavander before he leaves the boat.’
‘Do we know where he’s going to be?’ Eliza asked. ‘This is a calculated guess, but I think he’s arriving in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Friday, early in the morning, I. . . took a wild flyer. I sent him a message telling him not to leave the boat and signed it “Quill.”
‘What if he doesn’t know who Quill is?’ said the Magician.
‘Well, he can’t run. It won’t be delivered until after the boat leaves Honduras. Then there’s no place for him to go.’
‘How about Hinge?’ Eliza asked.
‘He could come in just about any way, but considering the time element I think we can assume he’ll fly in.,
‘We can cover the airport at Montego Bay,’ the Magician suggested. ‘It isn’t that big.’
‘All we have to do is watch customs,’ said Eliza.
‘But of course!’ cried Joli. ‘There is only one customs room. Everyone enters the terminal through the same door.’
‘I’ll cover the airport,’ Eliza said. Even if he’s cautious, he wouldn’t expect a woman to follow him.’
‘Why not?’ said O’Hara.
‘Too macho. . . at least from what you’ve told us about him. He wouldn’t like to admit a woman might be in the same game he’s in.’
‘Maybe. But I also told you he’s a professional. He doesn’t take chances. And he kills by instinct— and in more ways than you can even imagine, Lizzie.’
‘Don’t start that.’
‘What?’ the Magician asked.
‘That Lizzie shit. My name’s Eliza.’
O’Hara looked at her and smiled. His eyes made contact with hers and they defied her to look away. Well, she thought, it’s about time. The first sign of any response to me since I got here.
And O’Hara thought, She’s going to get us in trouble. She’s big trouble I can tell by that look in those eyes and the set in her jaw.
The Magician was just the opposite, he could play it like James Bond or Laurel and Hardy, depending on conditions. And Joli would have other things to do.
‘Okay. I don’t know Lavander except by description, and Montego Bay isn’t that small. He gets loose and we’re in trouble. Suppose Mike and I take the boat and try to get to him before he gets on the street. E-liza, you cover the airport. If Hinge shows, give him plenty of rope — you get too close and he makes you —notices you, that is — he’ll kill you. Remember, this guy likes guns better than people. If you’re lucky, you may stay with him until he lights someplace.’
‘Then what do I do’?’ she asked.
O’Hara thought for a minute. ‘We’ll keep it simple. Use the hotel drop. Where will we be staying?’ he asked the Magician.
‘Half Moon Bay Club. We’ll get three cottages. You can get in and out without ever going near the lobby.’
‘Good. We’ll use the switchboard, If you make Hinge and you stay with him until he stops someplace, call the desk and leave a message for us to meet you there.’
‘There’s two of us,’ the Magician said. ‘We can check every five, ten minutes.’
‘And what about me?’ Joli asked indignantly.
