Jesse squatted on the toilet seat, put his hands on the walls to either side and got ready to spring. He’d have to overpower the guy and hope he didn’t get shot while doing it.
“Last chance,” the man said, and took a step, his shoe leather ringing on the marble floor.
Then the floor under Jesse was illuminated as a strong flashlight searched for feet in the stalls.
“Shit,” the man said. There were more steps, and the door closed behind him.
Jesse tried to make himself comfortable; he was not going to move until his muscles forced him to, and he figured he could last a while. He waited and listened as the cop radioed in; the voice was faint from the hall, but he could make out the words.
“It’s Prentice,” the cop said. “Call somebody who has the keys to the courthouse and get him over here. I found a side door unlocked.”
There was a rasp and an unintelligible squawk as the reply came.
“I thought I saw a flash of light from inside the building, so I investigated,” the cop said back. “But everything seems okay, except the open door. I’ll stick around until somebody comes and locks it. Ten-four.”
His footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Jesse heard the side door open and close. Painfully, he straightened up, then sat down on the toilet seat to wait. Half an hour passed before somebody showed up with the keys and locked the door. Jesse waited another fifteen minutes before letting himself out of the building and heading for the truck.
The first light of dawn was in the sky before he crept back into bed with Jenny.
Chapter 29
As Jesse was loading Jenny’s car for the trip to the Spokane airport, Kurt Ruger drove up and got out, carrying a briefcase.
“You’re up early, Kurt,” Jesse said. It was not daylight yet.
“Jack Gene sent me, Jesse,” Ruger said. “He’d appreciate it if you’d do him a favor while you’re in New York.”
Jesse wasn’t sure how Coldwater could know that he was going to New York, but he smiled. “Sure, glad to.”
Ruger handed him the briefcase. “He’d like you to deliver this to an address in midtown Manhattan at eleven o’clock tomorrow morning.” He handed Jesse a card with the address typed on it. 666 Fifth Avenue, suite 7019, and a name, Mr. Enzberg.
“I can do that; my appointment isn’t until tomorrow afternoon.”
“Jesse, the contents are very important; you’re not to let the case out of your sight, not even to put it in the overhead luggage rack on the airplane. Keep your hands on it at all times. When you arrive in New York tonight, put it in the hotel safe and get a receipt.”
“All right, I’ll do as you say.”
Ruger nodded, got into his car and drove away. Jesse looked at the briefcase. It was black aluminum, the sort of thing that might usually hold cameras, and there were two combination locks, one for each clasp. He hefted the case; heavy, something solid inside.
The airplane set down at La Guardia in a light rain, and by the time it had taxied to the ramp Jesse was practically having to hold Jenny in her seat.
“I’m sorry,” she said, trying to be patient, “but I’ve never been this excited before.”
“La Guardia is the least exciting part of this trip, believe me,” Jesse said, laughing.
They got their luggage and a cab, and as they approached the Midtown Tunnel, the lights of the skyscrapers swam out of the fog.
“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” Jenny sighed.
“Not even the mountains of Idaho?”
“I never want to go back. I want to live in one of those buildings.”
They were at the hotel by six and, as they approached registration, Jesse saw Kip Fuller. He was behind the front desk, pretending to use a computer.
“My name is Barron; I have a reservation,” he said to Kip.
“Yes, Mr. Barron; just a moment.” Kip tapped a few computer keys. “Here we are; a room with a view. How did you wish to pay?”
Jesse handed him his credit card, and Kip produced two room keys. “Bellman!” he snapped, and a uniformed man appeared at Jesse’s elbow. “Please take Mr. and Mrs. Barron up to their room.” He handed the keys to the man.
“Oh, by the way,” Jesse said, “I’d like to put this case in your safe.” He waited for the receipt.
As they made their way to the elevator Jenny tugged at Jesse’s sleeve. “They must know you here, the way they’re treating you,” she said.
Jesse laughed all the way up.
The room was large and sported views of both the Chrysler and Empire State buildings. Jesse tipped the bellman generously and began unpacking, while Jenny inspected everything in the room and read all the information in the hotel’s information packet.
“You can have dinner in your room!” she exclaimed.
“We’re not going to do that,” he said. “I’m taking you someplace fancy.”
“Where, where?”
“A place called Café des Artistes.” He had booked the table a week before. The phone rang, and Jesse picked it up.
“Out your door and to the left,” Kip said. “First door; it’ll be ajar.” He hung up.
“I’ll be right down,” Jesse said into the dead telephone.
“Where are you going?”
“They didn’t get a proper imprint of my credit card, so I have to go back to the front desk for a minute. Why don’t you get into a tub? Dinner’s at eight.”
Jenny began removing clothes from her luggage.
Jesse left the room and went next door. He pushed open the door and closed it behind him. Kip Fuller stood up, smiling, and offered Jesse his hand.
“Jesus, it’s good to see you,” he exclaimed, clapping Jesse on the back.
Jesse smiled back. “You too, Kip.”
Kip turned and indicated another man. “This is Ted Manners, from our office. Ted, this is Jesse Barron.”
Jesse noted that Kip had used his cover name.
“Ted, will you excuse us?” Kip said.
Manners nodded and left the room.
“I wanted him to get a good look at you,” Kip said. “He’s going to be following you while you’re here.”
“Following me?”
“Or maybe I should say, following the man who’s following you.”
Jesse blinked. “Somebody followed me here?”
“About thirty-five, five-nine, a hundred and sixty pounds, dark hair, gray suit and a gray felt hat. He was on your flight.”
“I guess they’re not taking any chances,” Jesse said.
“What’s in the briefcase you checked downstairs?”
“I don’t know, but I suspect that’s why I’m being followed. I guess they want to see if I’ll do as I’m told.”
“It was pretty heavy,” Kip said. “Felt like a lot of money, to me.”
“Why would they send me to New York with a lot of money?”
“Where are you supposed to take it?”
Jesse produced the card, and Kip made a note of the address. “We’ll check it out. Listen, I want you to make time for a serious debriefing while you’re here. When’s good?”
Jesse shook his head. “Not if I’m being followed. I’m not taking any chances on getting busted, not at this stage of the game. Anyway, you know everything that’s happened so far.”
“I didn’t know about the woman,” Kip said. “She’s lovely.”
“My landlady. Well, that’s how it started out, anyway. Things developed.”
“I see. What will you be doing while you’re here?”
“I’ve got an appointment at an architect’s office at Fifty-Seventh and Fifth tomorrow at two. There’s a chance I could have to see them again on Monday. I’m to drop off the briefcase at eleven tomorrow morning.”