“Agreed,” Varley said. “And we’re going to take them. Because I know what you’re thinking. They’re to blame for your friend’s death. Well, the way I see it, they’re to blame for Mike Raab’s death, as well. Lesley’s guy pulled the trigger, but Mike’s path only crossed because Tungsten was dropping bodies everywhere. These guys, they’re top of the list. We’ll get them. Have faith.”
“Those are just words,” Tanya said. “I want action. We’re not going to get anyone, sitting here. I want us to do something, now.”
She was starting to sound alarmingly like me.
“OK,” Varley said. “What?”
“We know they’re at the clinic,” Tanya said. “A few streets away. Taylor told David. So we find another reason. Tax evasion. Operating without a medical license. Immigration issues. Anything. Then throw a net over the others later, when you’re ready.”
“No,” Varley said. “And don’t obsess over later. We’re not talking days. As soon as we’re done here, we’ll get onto INS. Kyle will get the tech crews rolling. I’ll liaise with the other cities, personally. I’ll talk to the overseas guys, as well. Then, when we know the who and the where, we’ll move. It’ll be tomorrow morning, at the latest.”
“What if Taylor warns them before tomorrow?” Tanya said.
“We’ll up the watch on the airports,” Lavine said. “All flights in and out of that region.”
“And Taylor can’t warn anyone,” Varley said. “He’s in jail. They’re holding him in solitary.”
“What if he already did?” Tanya said. “David left him alone in the apartment. He could have phoned before you picked him up.”
“The phone was broken,” I said.
“How do you know?” Tanya said. “Did you check?”
“No. I broke it,” I said.
“What about their cell phones?” Tanya said.
“They lost their cell phones,” I said.
“All three of them?” Tanya said. “Doesn’t seem likely.”
I reached into my pocket and laid the three phones on the table.
“What if his disappearance spooks them?” Tanya said.
“Tanya, I know you’re frustrated,” I said. “And no one cuts more corners than me. But this is not the time. The organ smuggling, the hit on Simon, finding Mansell, they’re part of the same thing. We’ve led the horse to water. Now leave it. It’s up to these guys to make it drink.”
Varley took Weston and Lavine downstairs to hit the phones, leaving me to keep an eye on Tanya. He didn’t trust her to stay away from the clinic until we reconvened at 5:00 P.M. The conversation left me wrong-footed. One minute he was shooting me daggers, the next swearing me in like I was his deputy. All I needed was a tin badge. It was a strange role to give me. And not one I was interested in playing.
I went across to the window and watched the city drift by for a couple of minutes. Looking down through the glass made the streets seem remote, like a museum exhibit. Which reminded me of something. I turned and headed for the door. Tanya came with me. She stayed close all the way down in the elevator and through the garage, but she didn’t open her mouth until we’d climbed the ramp and stepped out onto the sidewalk.
“What next?” she said.
“Don’t know,” I said. “Should we walk? Or take a cab?”
“To the clinic?”
“No. To the Museum of Modern Art.”
“Why there?”
“I heard they’ve got a helicopter in one of the displays.”
“What do you want with a helicopter?”
“Nothing. But in an art gallery? It sounds interesting. And we’ve got to do something till five o’clock.”
“We’re not going to the clinic?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“There’s no point. The only reason would be to find out what’s happening and work out if it’s a problem. But we know what’s going on already. We’re in a different phase now. It’s time to pass the baton.”
“Not good enough, David. We need to at least go and look.”
“No. Why?”
“They’ll be getting ready to run. If we lose them now, we’ll never find Mansell.”
“No. It’s more likely we’d just spook them.”
“We don’t have to go in. We could just drive by. Find something to convince Varley.”
“No. We’re not going anywhere near that place. Neither of us. Have you got that?”
Tanya didn’t reply.
“Is that clear?” I said. “The risk is not justified.”
“Risk?” she said. “Listen to you. Since when have you worried about risk? When we went to Tungsten’s place? Rooted round their office? Stole their mail?”
“That wasn’t a risk. That was a tactic.”
“When you made me meet Hamad, then? Got into a knife fight with him? Or when you went to see Taylor and his thugs? No. But now Varley wants to take the reins and you think there’s a chance to sneak back home…”
“Tanya, your judgment’s impaired. Your head’s still stuck in Morocco. The answer is no. We stay away from the clinic.”
“This has nothing to do with Morocco.”
“Your obsession with finding James Mansell, then.”
“It’s not an obsession… David, wait. See those two men? They’re the ones who were watching me this morning.”
“Which ones?”
“Black car, four bays down on my right. Reading newspapers.”
I saw it. A black Cadillac Deville with no license plate at the front.
“Sure?”
“One hundred percent.”
“OK. Let’s see if they’re happy with just watching. This is what I want you to do. Lean over and kiss me on the cheek. Softly, like we’re friends saying good-bye. Then I’ll head into the garage. You take a couple of steps-no more than two-and take out your phone. But don’t hold it to your ear. Keep it low, like you’re texting. Ready?”
“I guess…”
Nothing happened for twenty seconds after I moved out of sight. Then a car door slammed. I heard an engine start. A man came into view, walking fast. He was a fraction over six feet tall, slim, in his early twenties with short dark hair, black leather bomber jacket, and mid-blue jeans. He was heading for Tanya. He sneaked right up behind her, hesitated for a moment, then grabbed her. He locked his arms around her waist. She started to struggle. The Cadillac appeared. It pulled in next to them, snaking across to our side of the street. Its trunk lid was already swinging open. The guy on the sidewalk started to wrestle Tanya toward it, lifting her half off her feet.
The driver rolled down his window and gestured impatiently. He looked jumpy and inexperienced. I didn’t want him escaping while I was still disentangling Tanya so I stepped up to the car and punched him hard, just to the side of his ear. He went over sideways, sprawling across the front seats and revealing a small black Colt. 38 that had been wedged under his left thigh. I paused to check he wasn’t moving. Then I heard a voice behind me.
“Hold it.” A man’s voice. He sounded nervous. “Don’t turn around.”
I turned around. The other guy had moved back, out of reach, almost pressing into the little booth at the top of the ramp. He still had one arm around Tanya’s waist. A black. 38 was grasped in his free hand. Another Colt. It matched the driver’s. Only this one was pressed against Tanya’s right temple.
“On the ground,” he said. “Or she’s dead meat.”
I reached down behind me, through the car window, using my body to hide the movement. My hand found the waistband of the driver’s jeans. I traced my way down his leg until my fingers brushed against metal. I felt for the
