your disposal.’
‘Flitcraft’s still on the roster, huh?’
‘He’s my number one.’
Hatcher poured himself another glass of wine and fiddled with the file for a few moments.
‘You know I can’t go back there,’ he said finally.
‘C’mon, that was, what? Eight, ten years ago?’
‘Wouldn’t matter if it was fifty..’
‘You get in a bind, I’ll give you all the backup you need. I’ve still got a few heavy hitters over there.’
‘What’s the deal with this Thai, what’s his name again?’
‘Wol Pot. Look, I don’t care what you do to the little slope. If he gives you any shit, break his legs, hang him on the rack, pull out his fingernails. I don’t care.’
‘Same old Harry.’
‘It’s his story, make him prove it.’
‘That’s not what I mean. Does he get his visa?’
‘If he delivers, I suppose I can arrange something.’
‘It’s got to be straighter than that. If he turns him up, I’ve got to know what kind of deal I can give him.’
‘If he turns him up, we’ll provide protection and get him out of Thailand.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘Why do you care?’
‘If I make a promise I want it kept.’
‘Done. You’ll do the job, then?’
Hatcher stared at him for several seconds. He put the
‘The price will be $236,600.’
‘What!’
‘That’s two hundred dollars a day for every day I was in that rat hole.’
‘Get real, man.’
‘That’s as real as it gets, Harry.’
‘Where am I going to get that kind of money?’
‘Hey, this is Hatch, remember? You got private-sector accounts all over the world. Panama, Switzerland, the Bahamas. So maybe you’ll have to scrimp somewhere else. Tough shit.’
‘You’re a rich man, Hatch.’
‘Punitive damages. The price is $236,600, non- negotiable. Take it or leave it.’
Sloan’s grin broadened as big as it could get. His eyes began to twinkle again. ‘It’s more than that, isn’t it? I can see it in your eyes, pal. You miss the edge. You miss the old adrenaline pumping. Life’s too easy. Hell, when you’re hooked, you’re hooked forever.’
Part of what Sloan said was true. But it wasn’t that razzle-dazzle feeling one gets running the edge that was sucking Hatcher back to the old life, back to places he’d sworn never to go back to, to people he never thought he’d see again, to work again for Sloan, a man he once thought he was going to kill. It was Cody, man who had once been more of a friend than Sloan hid ever been because Cody had always been honest with him.
‘I’ll take the jaunt because of Murph Cody and the old man, period. It has nothing to do with you and me. If Cody’s there, I’ll find him. If he’s not, I’ll let you know. And if you ever come back here again, I’ll feed you to the fish.’
Sloan leaned over closer to him, the old teeth sparkling, the gray eyes twinkling.
‘You know, I think you’re serious, he said.
Hatcher smiled back without mirth.
‘Keep thinking it,’ he said. ‘Your life may depend on it.’
PREPARATIONS
It was dusk when Ginia, responding to Hatcher’s call, returned to the boat carrying a wicker picnic basket. She opened it and took out the contents while Hatcher took the boat out through the sound and into the open sea, sticking close to the shore.
‘Fettuccine with fresh vegetables from Birdie’s, homemade clam chowder, cold shrimp and hush puppies from the Crab Trap,’ she said. ‘How soon do you want to eat?’
‘Now. I’m starving.’
