Morgan nodded his head at the phone on the bedside table. I called Jason Carroll. He was in. I had the feeling he was always in. Always at the alert for a call from Dixon.
I said, “This is Spenser. Don’t mention the name of my client and yours, but I have finished what we agreed I’d do and the cops are involved and they are asking questions.”
Carroll said, “I think our client will not approve of that. Are you at your Montreal address?”
“No. I’m in the hospital.” The number was on the phone and I read it off to him.
“Are you badly hurt?”
“No. I’ll be out today.”
“I will call our client. Then I will be in touch.”
I hung up. “I have no desire to be a pain in the ass,” said to Morgan. “Just give me a few hours till I talk with my client. Go out, have lunch, come back. We cleaned up something for you. We prevented a very bad scene fo you.”
Morgan nodded. “I know that. We are treating you very nicely,” he said. “You’ve had experience with the police. We don’t have to be this nice.”
From the next bed Hawk said, “Haw.”
I said, “True. Give me a few hours till I hear from my client. ”
Morgan nodded again. “Yes. Certainly. I’ll be back before dinner. ” He smiled. “There will be an officer outside your door if you need anything.”
“He got on a bright red coat?” Hawk said.
“Just for formal occasions,” Morgan said. “For the Queen, yes. Not for you.”
He left. I said to Hawk, “You really think she shot hin trying to escape?”
Hawk said, “Hell no. The minute we took off after Zachary she picked up the rifle and shot him. You know goddamned well that’s what she did.”
“Yeah, that’s my guess.”
“I don’t think they know different, though. Morgan don’t look dumb but he got nobody to swear it wasn’t like she telling it, I think. I bet everybody looking at you and me and old lovable Zach, when she done it.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I think that too.”
Three hours and fifteen minutes later, the door opened and Hugh Dixon came in in a motor-driven wheel chair and stopped beside my bed.
I said, “I did not expect to see you here.”
He said, “I did not expect to see you here.”
“It’s not bad, I’ve had worse.” I gestured at the next bed. “This is Hawk,” I said. “This is Hugh Dixon.”
Hawk said, “How do you do.”
Dixon nodded his head once, without speaking. Behind him in the doorway was the Oriental man who had opened doors for me the last two times. A couple of nurses looked in through the half open door. Dixon looked at me some more.
“In a way it’s too bad,” he said. “Now I have nothing.”
“I know,” I said.
“But that’s not your fault. You did what you said you’d do. My people have verified everyone. I understand they have the last one in jail here.”
I shook my head. “Nope. She’s not in it. I missed the last one.”
Hawk looked over at me without saying anything. Dixon looked at me a long time.
I said, “How’d you get here so fast?”
“Private plane,” Dixon said, “Lear jet. She’s not the one?”
“No, sir,” I said. “I missed the girl.”
He looked at me some more. “All right. I’ll pay you the full sum anyway.” He took an envelope from his inside pocket and handed it to me. I didn’t open it. “I’ve sent Carroll to the police,” Dixon said. “There should be no difficulty for you. I have some influence in Canada.”
“Get the girl out too,” I said.
Again he looked at me. I could almost feel the weight of his look. Then he nodded. Once. “I will,” he said. We were silent then, except for a faint whirr from his wheel chair.
“Carroll will take care of your medical bills,” Dixon said.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Thank you,” Dixon said. “You did everything I wanted done. I am proud to have known you.” He put out his hand. We shook hands. He rolled the chair over to Hawk and shook hands with him. He said to us both, “You are good men. If you need help from me at any time I will give it to you.” Then he turned the chair and went out. The Oriental man closed the door behind him and Hawk and I were alone in the room. I opened the envelope. The check was for fifty thousand dollars.
I said to Hawk, “He doubled the fee. I’ll give you half.”
