'Maybe that's where the connection with Kev comes in,' I said.
'DEA, drugs what do you think?'
'Maybe. The Brits have been giving the Americans a hard time for years over Noraid giving money to PIRA, but the Yanks can't fuck around with all those millions of Irish American votes.'
I sat back and studied his face.
'Go on.'
'I've heard that PIRA buys cocaine and gears it up once they get it out of the US. It's been going the rounds for years there's nothing new in that. But maybe it's a starting point for you. I mean, fucking hell, you're the brainy one, not me.'
It made sense; if you've got some money and you're a terrorist organization, of course you're going to buy drugs, sell them, and make a profit. And there was no way the Americans were going to attack Noraid; it would be political suicide but if Noraid could be shown to be linked with drug trafficking, that was something else. Maybe Kev was working against PIRA and got killed by them.
I said, 'Do you reckon Kev might have come across some shit? Or maybe he was even part of it, and got fucked over?'
'I haven't got a clue, mate. Stuff like that gives me a headache.' He paused.
'So tell me, what do you need?'
I shrugged.
'Cash.'
He stopped eating my sub and got out his wallet. He handed me an ATM card and told me his number.
'There's about three thousand dollars in there,' he said.
'It's a savings account, so you can draw out as much as you need. What about Kev's girl? What's the score?'
'She's all right, mate. I've got her.'
If Pat was setting me up, at least I was sending a message that I was aware of that possibility and taking precautions.
I said, 'Thanks very much for this, mate for the ATM card, and just for being here.' With friendships like this you didn't have to write a letter every week. I knew that he would help me out, but I didn't want him to think I was taking him for granted.
I said, 'Look, I'm not going to get you in trouble. I won't compromise you, but there is something else I need. Is there any chance of you phoning me sometime tonight? I need to sit down and think about what I've got to do.'
'About nine-thirty?'
I smiled. Then all of a sudden I had my second brainstorm of the day.
'You don't know any Sinn Fein or PIRA locations in D.C.?'
'No, but I can find out. What are you thinking?'
'I need to see if there's a connection between PIRA and the people who are trying to zap me and who maybe dropped Kev. If I can check who comes in and out of a location, well, it's a start. If it came to anything, maybe I'd go in and have a look around.'
Pat demolished the last of my sub.
'Be careful, mate.
Don't get fucked over.'
'I won't. Right, I'll stay here I'll give you ten minutes and then I'll leave. The mobile will be switched on from nine twenty-five.'
'No drama; we'll talk. Be lucky.'
As he got up, he picked at the fragments of cheese and meat at the bottom of the basket. I went back into the mall via Sears, found an ATM, and drew out three hundred dollars.
It was dark outside, but the shopping mall was packed.
There was still a possibility that I was being watched, so I stood off and waited before picking Kelly up. Nothing looked unusual; the only thing I had to be aware of was the security cameras. The quicker I got in and out, the better.
I watched the area for ten minutes, then moved in closer.
Across from the play center was a sporting goods store; I went in and became an instant basketball fan, studying all the shirts that were part of the display near the window. Kids Have Fun was crammed with kids, but I couldn't see Kelly.
I hung around the store a bit, went back to the rack, had another look, and caught sight of her. She was sitting on the floor watching a home-cinema type TV She was there with about a dozen other kids, each with a small carton of juice. It dawned on me that the girl did nothing but eat, drink, and watch TV It was a wonder she didn't look more like Slack Pat.
I went in, presented my identification card, and asked for my daughter. They went through their process of verification, and a few minutes later Kelly appeared with an escort.
I started to put her shoes on.
'Hi, Josie, how's it going?'
She sat there sulking because I'd arrived halfway through a movie. I took that as a good sign; it showed there was a slight trace of normality coming back in. It had been a relief not having her with me for a short while, but at the same time it felt good to have her back. I didn't know quite what to make of that.
We got a taxi but had it drop us off about four blocks short of the hotel and walked in. It was our only secure area.
I opened the door. The TV was still on, telling us how great Toyota cars were. I flicked the light switch, told Kelly to stay where she was, and looked inside.
The beds weren't made and the curtains were closed, so it looked as if the maid had obeyed the sign on the door. She wouldn't have given a damn; it was less for her to clean, and she still got the same money.
More tellingly, the small pleat was still in the blanket. If I'd seen from the doorway that it had been disturbed, I'd have needed to make a very quick decision on whether to just walk away.
We went inside. Using the TV for support, I leaned to the rear of the bureau, looking into the gap between it and the wall. The match was still in place, covering the pinhead-sized pen mark. Even if they'd noticed that they'd dislodged it when checking under the chest of drawers, it was very unlikely that they'd have put it back in exactly the same position. Looking good so far.
'What are you doing, Nick?'
'I'm just checking to see if the plug is in properly. It looked like it was going to fall out.'
She didn't say anything, just looked at me as if I'd had a stupidity leak. Still not looking at her, I got on my knees, ready to look at the drawer.
'Do you want some help. Nick?'
'I'd like to hear what's on the TV' She sat down on the bed and went to work on a box of Oreos. This kid was really eating healthy.
There were three drawers in the low chest; I'd slipped the paper clip in the front left side of the middle one. I got the table lamp and shone it up and down, trying to catch the reflection of the paper clip. I did; the drawer hadn't been opened.
I got Kelly sorted out, coat off, shoes in the pockets and hung by the door. I cleaned her bed up a bit, gathering up the food wrappers and brushing away the crumbs.
'Are you hungry?' I said.
She looked at the half-empty box of Oreos.
'I'm sorta stuffed, but I'm sorta still hungry.'
'Without a doubt. I'll go and get some food. You can stay here. I'll let you stay up late. But don't tell anybody, it's our little secret!'
She laughed.
'I won't!'
I realized that I was hungry, too. Pat hadn't left me much at Sub Zone 'Same routine, OK?' I went through it all over again.
