Sheldon looked up and stared into the camera for several seconds with the haunted look of a woman in emotional pain. “I wish to express my deepest sorrow and condolences to the colleagues, friends, and families of the slain FBI employees. I have fully cooperated with the FBI.” Her lip quivered and a tear rolled down her cheek. She wiped it away and looked off-camera. Breckensen stepped up to the podium and put his arm around her.
“Look at that son of a bitch,” Ernie hissed. “He wants a piece of that. I can’t believe this shit.”
“Shut up, Ernie,” Leonard said. “He’s just comforting her.”
“Yeah, right.”
Breckensen leaned in toward the microphones. “Ms. Sheldon has agreed to take a few questions.” He pointed to a reporter seated in the middle of the first row.
“Ms. Sheldon, have you had any contact with Ernie since the bombing?”
“No,” she said.
The same reporter fired a second question. “When was the last time you spoke with him?”
She looked at Breckensen, silently asking if it was okay to answer. He nodded. “Years ago. After he was released from the Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth. I haven’t heard from him since.”
Breckensen pointed to another reporter.
“Ms. Sheldon, is there anything from Ernie’s past that might’ve led up to this?”
“Not really. He was very angry about his court-martial, but that happened a long time ago. I don’t think this is about that.”
Just as Breckensen was about to point to a third reporter, a question boomed out from one of the back rows. “Have you told Ernie Bridgestone that he’s the father of your daughter, Janey Sheldon?”
The sudden anger in Amber’s face couldn’t be hidden. “That’s none of your damned business.” She twisted away from Breckensen and stormed from the podium. The camera showed Governor Schwarzenegger running to catch her.
Leonard looked at his brother, who was staring at the television with his mouth hanging open. “Ernie? You okay, man?”
“She never told me. How could she never fucking tell me?” He hurled the TV remote across the room.
Leonard didn’t know what to say, didn’t want to provoke Ernie, who seemed dangerously poised at the moment.
“She never told me. I knew she had a daughter, but I didn’t know she was mine. She said she got knocked up by accident in my first year in the Castle.”
“Hey, man, it doesn’t matter, okay?”
“It doesn’t matter? Doesn’t matter? What do you mean, it doesn’t matter?”
“Take it easy, Ern.”
“I had a right to know.”
“I’m not disagreeing with you, but we can’t let this change anything. We’ve got too much to lose.”
“I can’t fucking believe this shit.”
“This isn’t a coincidence, Ern. Can’t you see this whole thing is staged? They’re trying to bait us, to flush us out. It could be bullshit.”
“I can’t believe this.”
“It’s a trap, they’re baiting us. You know that.”
“Yeah, I know. Shit. This really sucks.”
“What can you do about it? Do you honestly think Janey’s going to welcome you into her life with open arms? She doesn’t even know you other than what she’s seen on TV and that hasn’t exactly been favorable lately. Think about it, Ern. You were out of Amber’s life. She wanted a divorce and you agreed. You must know Janey can never be a part of your life. Let’s not blow everything we’ve worked for over this.”
Ernie nodded, but didn’t respond.
Leonard walked into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. On the television, Breckensen was wrapping up the press conference. He watched his brother closely. What a disaster. He had to admit it, though. It was brilliant move on the FBI’s part. But it only worked if Ernie took the bait.
Leonard thought through his own options. It might be wise to put some distance between himself and Ernie, but he’d need to do it carefully, so it didn’t look obvious. He wasn’t willing to lose everything they’d earned over this. He didn’t plan on rotting on death row over a long-lost niece that he neither knew nor cared about. If Ernie became a liability over this, he’d be on his own.
He went back to the TV room. “We might want to accelerate our plans. Are you okay for a few hours? I’m gonna get our cash near Quincy. We’re gonna need it. We’ll pick up the big stash on our trip up north.”
“Want me to go with you?”
“Safer if you don’t. We shouldn’t be seen together, even in disguise.” He came over and patted Ernie on the shoulder. “I know you got a lot to think about. I’ll be back by sundown. If you haven’t heard from me, don’t assume the worst, just head up north to the rendezvous point. We’ll meet there. How much time do you have left on your cell?”
“I don’t know, a few hours.”
“Me too. I may not call, depending on the situation. Keep your cool, okay?”
“I will.”
He looked Ernie in the eyes. “I know you want to call Amber. I’m not even gonna tell you not to. But be careful when you do it. Make sure she calls you back from a pay phone to your cell. Don’t use the phone in here. Keep your conversation under thirty seconds. Don’t do anything until we’ve had a chance to work out a plan. I’m serious, Ernie, stay put. Everything’s going to be fine if you keep your cool. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
Ernie nodded.
“One more thing.”
“What.”
“If the owners of this place show up, don’t kill them.”
“Yeah, yeah. I won’t.”
As Leonard drove away from the cabin, he looked in the rearview mirror and wondered if he’d ever see his brother again.
Chapter 20
Rather than order room service, Nathan and Harv decided to head downstairs to Dawson’s American Bistro, a nice place with a classy atmosphere. The hostess seated them in a corner table. A few couples, engaged in quiet conversation, were present.
They hadn’t been real talkative with each other, and for good reason. They both felt deeply. Nathan took a swig of iced tea and again wondered why Frank Ortega hadn’t told them the truth. Ortega must’ve thought they wouldn’t take the assignment. The truth was that they would have helped him find his grandson, no matter what his motivation had been. None of this deception had been necessary. He really felt bad for Harv.
Nathan set his glass down. “You okay, partner?”
“Yeah, I’m okay. Just embarrassed I got us into this mess.”
“Harv, forget about it.”
“I can’t. I’ve known the Ortegas for over twenty years. Maybe I should’ve seen this coming.”
“Be careful, you’re starting to sound like me.”
Harv raised his glass in a toast. “I consider that a compliment.”
Nathan smiled and clinked his glass. “Everything’s in place, we’ve done what we can. Let’s hope Ernie takes the bait.”
“He probably knows it’s a trap.”
“No doubt he does.”
They both turned at the same time and saw their two FBI friends enter the restaurant. When Grangeland noticed them sitting across the room, she seemed to hesitate. Nathan was sure they weren’t here to keep an eye on them: that game ended in a wrestling match. He motioned them over with a nod. Harv switched sides and sat
