Stone Junction

‘Keyes. Are you available? It’s for me only.’

‘If it’s interesting.’

‘It’s an interrogation. Somebody either knows more than he’s telling or I’m getting jerked around.’

‘That’s not interesting.’

‘A quarter of a million, with the possibility of more – say ten million – if you recover a certain object associated with the inquiry.’

‘What sort of object?’

‘I can’t discuss it until you agree.’

‘Two-five for an interrogation? He must be extremely reluctant, well protected, or dangerous.’

‘We can talk tonight at 8 p.m. in Albuquerque. Mama’s Cafe.’

‘Half in front, as usual. The Cayman account. You have the number.’

Keyes chuckled. ‘I’m always glad to see a man save for his retirement.’

‘I don’t save anything,’ Debritto said. He hung up.

The phone booth was freezing cold in the desert sunrise. By the time Daniel finished dialing, his breath had fogged the glass.

Volta answered after three rings.

‘Allied Furnace Repair.’

‘Hello,’ Daniel said, teeth nearly chattering.

Volta didn’t reply.

‘I got it,’ Daniel said.

‘Yes, so we heard,’ Volta said softly. ‘Good.’

‘There were complications.’

‘You knew there could be complications. There usually are.’

‘There still are,’ Daniel said. His voice sounded tight, jerky.

‘So I’d surmised,’ Volta said. ‘Their existence, not the specifics. What are they?’ Soft. Patient.

‘How did I do it?’ Daniel blurted. ‘You must know.’

‘No doubt you imagined it.’

‘No doubt? None? No, I have doubts. That should please you.’

Volta didn’t respond.

Daniel said, ‘I don’t know whether I imagined it or it imagined me.’

‘Come visit. Perhaps I could be of help in understanding the distinction.’

Daniel shuddered. ‘No. You don’t even understand what I’m saying. You don’t need to see it. I do. I need to see it. It’s my responsibility now. I’ve seen inside it and I need to see more because it wants me to.’

‘I never considered the Diamond my responsibility,’ Volta said. ‘I considered it my due. We have both earned rights in this matter. I only ask that you honor mine.’

‘That’s what I’m trying to do, don’t you understand?’

‘No, I don’t,’ Volta said.

‘You’d have to vanish with it to see inside, to see what you want to see, to even know if you want to see it.’

‘I respect your judgment, Daniel, and I truly thank you for your concern, but I have to reserve that decision for myself.’

With his fingertip Daniel drew ragged circles on the fogged glass.

‘Come see me,’ Volta said gently. ‘Take your time. They just discovered it’s missing. As far as we know, you’re clear. If it’s too complicated, I can always come to you. Tell me where and when.’

Daniel said quickly, ‘I can’t think now. I’m freezing. I’ll call again later.’ He hung up.

Volta eased the receiver back into the cradle. He shut his eyes and inhaled slowly. ‘You lost him,’ he said. THE THERAPEUTIC JOURNALS OF JENNIFER RAINE APRIL 2 (EVENING)

My name is Jennifer Raine, Malinche Cortez Rainbow, Sandra Dee, Emily X, Desiree Knott. Still crazy after all these years, huh girls?

This afternoon Doc Putney tried to be more aggressive with me. Wasn’t surprised. Men have one of two responses to me – flight or fight. I was telling him about the lightning-strike scar I got when my father was killed. It’s right at the base of my spine, shaped just like a lightning bolt. I was telling him I wasn’t killed too because when the lightning hit my brain and shot down my spine, the small of my back was touching the boat, and pulled out just enough juice to save me. I mean, I don’t blame the lightning. It just wants to get to the bottom of the lake. If it doesn’t connect, it can’t go home.