Alderley had to be right. It was a code, one that could give him the answers he wanted. But without the clue he needed to crack it, it was worthless…
The music changed: the opening bars of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Free Bird’. One of Eddie’s favourite records, but on this occasion it filled him with an unexpected melancholy. At one time, it had been a symbol of his wanderlust and desire for action when he felt stifled by the demands of his relationship with Nina and an office job at the IHA. Now, though, a life of everyday domesticity with her was the thing he wanted most in the world. Longing pulled at his heart…
‘Eddie, my friend!’ Strutter’s voice jerked him back to grim reality. He looked round to see the middleman approaching, wearing an electric blue suit and a purple silk shirt beneath it.
‘You found some new threads, then,’ said Eddie as Strutter sat opposite him.
‘I have an image to maintain.’ He regarded Eddie’s beard. ‘You should consider yours too.’
Eddie shrugged. ‘I dunno, I like it. Makes me look distinguished.’
‘More like disreputable. But as for myself, I wouldn’t attract many clients in prison rags, would I?’
‘Lose much business while you were away?’
‘In Africa, there is
‘I’m only interested in Stikes,’ Eddie said impatiently. ‘Do you know where he is or not?’
Strutter leaned closer. ‘No. But,’ he added quickly, ‘I know someone who does. I put the word out to my contacts, and I heard back from a man in Yemen, who had spoken to another man in Pakistan—’
‘I don’t care who talked to who. I just want to know what they said.’
The sharpness in Eddie’s voice warned Strutter to stick to the facts. ‘Okay, okay. There is an American called Scarber, Madeline Scarber, in Hong Kong. She knows where Stikes is.’
‘So where is he?’
Strutter shifted uncomfortably. ‘Well, the thing is, my friend… she would not tell me. She will tell you — but only in person.’
Eddie had never heard of Madeline Scarber, and didn’t like that the reverse was apparently not the case. ‘Why?’
‘I don’t know. But that’s what she told me.’
‘How do you know she’s not working for Interpol? Or Stikes, for that matter?’
Strutter shook his head. ‘People I trust have vouched for her.’
‘The only people you trust are on banknotes, Strutter,’ Eddie said scathingly. ‘You’ve spoken to her?’
‘Yes.’
‘Recently? Like, just now?’
‘Before I came here, yes.’
‘Call her. I want to talk to her.’
The Kenyan wasn’t happy at the prospect. ‘I don’t know if that is a good idea.’
‘Flying all the way to Hong Kong to meet someone I don’t even know on your say-so isn’t a good fucking idea either. Make the call.’
Strutter reluctantly acquiesced. After a brief exchange, he held his phone out to Eddie. ‘She’ll talk to you.’
‘Good.’ He took it. ‘Madeline Scarber?’
‘Speaking,’ came a dry, rasping voice. Scarber was clearly a chain-smoker; she sounded quite old.
‘I’m told you’ve got some information for me. About Alexander Stikes.’
‘You betcha. I know where he is now, and where he’ll be for the next couple of days.’
The silence that followed became long enough for Eddie to think that the connection had been lost, until he heard Scarber cough faintly. ‘So… you going to tell me, or what?’
‘Or what, I’m afraid. For now. I’ll tell you how to find Stikes, but I want you to do something for me in return.’
‘My rates are two hundred quid an hour, and you provide the condoms,’ Eddie said irritably. ‘Kissing costs extra.’ Scarber made a sound that could have been a laugh. ‘Whatever you want me to do, I’m sure you could find someone to do it in Hong Kong. All I want is information.’
‘And you’ll get it. But only face to face. And I’d get here pronto, if I were you. When Stikes leaves, I don’t know where he’ll go. Call me on this number when you arrive. See you soon, kiddo.’
‘Arse,’ Eddie muttered as the phone went silent. He noted down the number, then returned it to Strutter. ‘Was she the only lead you had on Stikes?’ The other man nodded. ‘I might have fucking guessed.’
‘What did she say?’
‘She wants me to do some job for her before she’ll tell me anything.’
‘What job?’
‘I don’t know. And I doubt it’ll be anything good, either.’ He blew out a frustrated breath. ‘Looks like I’m going to Hong Kong. Phooey.’
4 New York City
Nina entered the restaurant with some trepidation. The last time she shared a meal with Larry Chase, the evening had not gone well. Eddie had been estranged from him for over twenty years, the reunion taking place only at Nina’s urging… and father and son immediately resumed old hostilities, to the point of almost coming to blows.
And according to Eddie’s sister Elizabeth, when the two men briefly met again shortly after Eddie had gone on the run, their conflict indeed became a physical one.
Nina knew that Eddie had met Larry in the Colombian capital a few days before the fateful night at the Peruvian pumping station. Whatever they had discussed, though, he kept to himself. But despite his closed mouth, it was clearly something Eddie had considered very serious.
In all honesty, if not for this black hole in events, Nina probably wouldn’t have agreed to meet her father-in- law and his second wife at all. While she found Julie Chase pleasant enough, Larry’s arrogance was far less appealing. But there was the possibility of learning what had happened in Bogota, which might provide new insight into subsequent events… and there was also a chance, however small, that Larry could have news about Eddie.
Larry and Julie were already seated, and the maitre d’ guided Nina to their table. ‘Nina, hi!’ Julie chirped. ‘Great to see you again.’
‘Hi, you too,’ she replied as Larry stood to greet her. She somewhat awkwardly accepted his kiss on the cheek, then sat facing the couple. Even the restaurant’s low lighting couldn’t hide the age gap between them; Julie was over twenty years younger than her husband. ‘This is, uh… kind of a surprise.’
‘We’re here on holiday,’ Larry announced. ‘Doing a quick tour — New York, New England, San Francisco.’
‘Sounds like fun. Though I’m not sure you picked the best time of year for it. September would have had much better weather than November.’
‘Well, to tell the truth,’ said Larry, leaning closer in an exaggeratedly conspiratorial way, ‘I’m attending an international logistics conference in Frisco, but I’m claiming the whole trip as a business expense. Just don’t tell the taxman, eh?’ He laughed, Julie joining in with a giggle. Nina put on a thin smile.
‘But I’ve wanted to come to the States for ages,’ added Julie. ‘We’re going skiing in Vermont, which sounds lovely.’
‘I’m flying us to the lodge,’ Larry bragged.
Nina was surprised. ‘You’re a pilot?’
