'I'm sorry. It wasn't supposed to be this way. I'm sorry.'
Lucy slapped him, then hit him with her fist. He didn't move, and he didn't try to protect himself. She hit Richard over and over again, grunting loudly with each
effort--unh, unh, unh--like when she played tennis. 'Lute.'
I caught her arms gently and eased her away.
Richard blubbered like a baby with ShOt running from his nose. Lucy had broken it. He slumped onto the edge of the bed, and sat there shaking his head.
'I don't have the money. I can't get it in time. It wasn't supposed to be like this. It wasn't.'
Myers said, 'We have four minutes.'
Fontenot shook his head.
'He wants the money this bad, he'll wait. We can tell him it'll just be another hour, that the money is on the way. He'll go for it.'
Pike spoke softly.
'No, he won't. He's pressing because that's how he controls the situation. He wants to keep you off balance. He won't give you time to think. He wants the money, but he also wants to survive the mission, and that means he will not let you stall. He planned the operation, and now he's working the plan. He'll do what he said he would do, and then he'll disappear.'
Fontenot said, 'Jesus Christ, you make it sound like he's in a war.'
:97
Richard rubbed his face. His fingers went through his hair. He seemed calmer now, but still nervous.
'I don't know what to do. I don't have the money.'
I looked at Myers again.
'What's supposed to happen if you had the money?'
'He would tell us where to meet them, then we'd trade the money for Ben.'
I looked at the Tumi bag. It was a big bag because three million dollars took up a lot of room, but five million would take up almost twice as much.
I went over to the bed and sat beside Richard.. We stared at each other for a moment, and then he glanced away.
I said, 'Do you love him?' Richard nodded. 'I love him, too.'
Richard blinked a bit, and his eyes filled with sorrow. His voice was hoarse.
'You can't know how much I hate you.'
• 'I know, but now we're going to save Ben together.' 'Haven't you been listening? I already offered them
the three million, but they wouldn't take it. They want five. They said it's five or nothing, and I don't have that
much. I can't get it. I don't know what to tell them.'
I put the hotel phone into his hands.
'Do what you do best, Richard. Lie. Tell them that you have all five million and that you're ready to trade for your son.'
Richard stared at the phone, and then he dialed.
CHAPTER 23
time missing: a hours, 38 minutes
Richard made the call at exactly nine P.M. and he was convincing. Myers and I listened on the extension. Fallon told Richard to bring the money to the west end of
Santa Monica Airport. He told Richard to bring it alone. Myers and I both shook our heads. Richard's voice shook when he answered.
'No goddamned way. Myers is coming. It'll be just us, and you'd better have Ben. If Ben's not there, I'll call the
police. I should call the police anyway.' 'Is Myers li stening ?' 'I'm here, you prick.'
'It's the west end of the airport on the south side. Drive past the hangars and stop. Get out of your car but stay next to it, and wait.'
Myers said, 'No boy, no money. You won,t even get close to the money unless we see the boy.'
'I just want the money. Stop, get out of your car, and you'll see me when I want you to see me. I won't be close to you, but you'll see me. When you see me, call this
number again. Do you understand?'
'I'll call you when I see you.'
'Guess what happens if I see anyone else?'
'I don't have to guess.'
