‘He actually found you?’
‘I found him. Which is why I had gotten as far as this hotel.’
‘Where is he now?’
‘Walking home from St. Vincent’s Hospital, probably.’
‘Is this something you really want to be telling to an NYPD detective?’
‘He fainted. I helped. That’s all. Talk to the witnesses.’
‘Whatever, it’s going to put the cat among the pigeons with Lila,’
‘She thinks gun ownership is compulsory in Virginia. She probably thinks mugging is compulsory in New York. She grew up with propaganda.’
We got out of the elevator in the lobby and headed for the street door. Lee asked, ‘But if all of this is so innocent, why are here feds involved?’
‘If the story is true, then an American soldier met with a Red Army political commissar back during the Cold War. The feds want to be absolutely sure it’s innocent. That’s why HRC’s response was delayed by weeks. They were taking policy decisions and putting surveillance in place.’
We got into Lee’s ear. She said, ‘You aren’t agreeing with me all the way, are you?’
I said, ‘If the Hoth family business is innocent, so be it. But something wasn’t innocent. That’s for damn sure. And we’re saying that other something brought Susan Mark to the exact same place at the exact same time. Which is a hell of a coincidence.’
‘And?’
‘How many times have you known a million-to-one chance turn out a winner?’
‘Never.’
‘Me either. But I think it’s happening here. John Sansom is a million to one against, but I think he’s involved.’
‘Why?’
‘I spoke to him.’
‘In Washington?’
‘Actually I had to follow him to North Carolina.’
‘You don’t give up, do you?’
‘That’s what he said. Then I asked him if he had heard the name Lila Hoth. He said no. I was watching his face. I believed it, and I thought he was lying, too. Both at the same time. And maybe he was.’
‘How?’
‘Maybe he had heard the name Hoth, but not Lila. So technically, no, he hadn’t heard the name Lila Hoth. But maybe he had heard the name Svetlana Hoth. Maybe he was very familiar with it.’
‘What would that mean?’
‘Maybe more than we think. Because if Lila Hoth is telling the truth, then there’s a kind of weird logic working here. Why would Susan Mark bust a gut on a case like this?’
‘She had sympathy.’
‘Why would she in particular?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Because she was adopted. Born out of wedlock, presumably wondering about her real folks from time to time. Sympathetic to other people in the same situation. Like Lila Hoth, maybe. Some guy was very kind to her mother before she was born? There are a lot of ways to interpret a phrase like that.’
‘For example?’
‘Best case, he gave her a warm coat in winter.’
‘And worst case?’
‘Maybe John Sansom is Lila Hoth’s father.’
THIRTY-TWO
Lee and I went straight back to the Precinct. Jacob Mark had finished his business with Docherty. That was clear. And something had changed. That was clear too. They were sitting opposite each other across Docherty’s desk. Not talking any more. Jake looked happier. Docherty had a patient expression on his face, like he had just wasted an hour. He didn’t look resentful about it. Cops are accustomed to wasting time. Statistically most of what they do leads nowhere. Lee and I walked over to them and Jake said, ‘Peter called his coach.’
I asked, ‘When?’
‘Two hours ago. The coach called Molina and Molina called me.’
‘So where is he?’
‘He didn’t say. He had to leave a message. His coach never answers his phone over dinner. Family time.’
‘But Peter’s OK?’
‘He said he won’t be back anytime soon. Maybe ever. He’s talking about quitting football. There was a girl giggling in the background.’
Docherty said, ‘She must be some girl.’
I asked Jake, ‘You OK with that?’
Jake said, ‘Hell no. But it’s his life. And he’ll change his mind, anyway. The only question is how fast.’
‘I meant, are you happy that the message was for real?’
‘The coach knows his voice. Better than I do, probably.’
‘Anyone try calling him back?’
‘All of us. But his phone is off again.’
Theresa Lee said, ‘So we’re satisfied?’
‘I guess.’
‘Feeling better?’
‘Relieved.’
‘May I ask you a question about another subject?’
‘Shoot.’
‘Was your sister adopted?’
Jake paused. Switched gears. Nodded. ‘We both were. As babies. Separately, three years apart. Susan first.’ Then he asked, ‘Why?’
Lee said, ‘I’m corroborating some new information received.’
‘What new information?’
‘It seems that Susan came up here to meet a friend.’
‘What friend?’
‘A Ukrainian woman called Lila Hoth.’
Jake glanced at me. ‘We’ve been through this. I never heard that name from Susan.’
Lee asked him, ‘Would you expect to? How close were you? It seems to be a fairly recent friendship.’
‘We weren’t very close.’
‘When was the last time you talked?’
‘A few months, I guess.’
‘So you’re not completely up to date with her social life.’
Jake said, ‘I guess not.’
Lee asked, ‘How many people knew that Susan was adopted?’
‘I guess she didn’t advertise it. But it wasn’t a secret.’
‘How fast would a new friend find out?’
‘Fast enough, probably. Friends talk about stuff like that:
‘How would you describe Susan’s relationship with her son?’
‘What kind of question is that?’
‘An important one.’
Jake hesitated. He clammed up and turned away, physically, like he was literally dodging the issue. Like he
