Tanner was stunned. «What are you trying to say?»
«I’m telling you that you’ll do exactly what we’ve planned. We’re too close now. I want Omega.»
«You can’t force me and you know it!»
«Yes, I can… Because if you turn, if you run, I withdraw every agent in Saddle Valley. You’ll be alone … and I don’t think you can cope with the situation by yourself.»
«I’m taking my family away …»
«Don’t be crazy! Omega raced in on a simple logistical error. That means they, whoever they are, are alert. Extremely alert, fast and thorough. What chance do you think you’ll have? What chance do you give your family? We’ve admitted a mistake. We won’t make any others.»
Tanner knew Fassett was right. If he was abandoned now, he didn’t have the resources for control.
«You don’t fool around, do you?»
«Did you ever—in a mine field?»
«I guess not… This afternoon. What was it?»
«Terror tactics. Without identification. That’s in case you’re clean. We realized what had happened and put out a counterexplanation. We’ll withhold some of your property—small stuff, like jewelry, until it’s over. More authentic.»
«Which means you expect me to go along with the ‘robbery.’»
«Of course. It’s safest.»
«Yes… Of course.» Tanner reached into his pocket for cigarettes. The telephone rang and Fassett picked it up.
He spoke quietly, then turned to the news director. «Your family’s back home. They’re okay. Still scared, but okay. Some of our men are straightening up the place. It’s a mess. They’re trying to lift fingerprints. Naturally, it’ll be found the thieves wore gloves. We’ve told your wife that you’re still at headquarters making a statement.»
«I see.»
«You want us to drive you back?»
«No… No, I don’t. I presume I’ll be followed anyway.»
«Safety surveillance is the proper term.»
Tanner entered the Village Pub, Saddle Valley’s one fashionable bar, and called the Tremaynes.
«Ginny, this is John. I’d like to talk to Dick. Is he there?»
«John Tanner?» Why did she say that? His name. She knew his voice.
«Yes. Is Dick there?»
«No… Of course not. He’s at the office. What is it?»
«Nothing important.»
«Can’t you tell me?»
«I just need a little legal advice. I’ll try him at the office. Good-bye.» Tanner knew he had done it badly. He had been awkward.
But then, so had Virginia Tremayne.
Tanner dialed New York.
«I’m sorry, Mr. Tanner. Mr. Tremayne’s out on Long Island. In conference.»
«It’s urgent. What’s the number?»
Tremayne’s secretary gave it to him reluctantly. He dialed it.
«I’m sorry, Mr. Tremayne isn’t here.»
«His office said he was in conference out there.»
«He called this morning and canceled. I’m sorry, sir.»
Tanner hung up the phone, then dialed the Cardones.
«Daddy and Mommy are out for the day, Uncle John. They said they’d be back after dinner. Do you want them to call you?»
«No … no, that’s not necessary…»
There was an empty feeling in his stomach. He dialed the operator, gave her the information, including his credit card number, and three thousand four hundred miles away a telephone rang in Beverly Hills.
«Osterman residence.»
«Is Mr. Osterman there?»
«No, he’s not. May I ask who’s calling, please?»
«Is Mrs. Osterman there?»
«No.»
«When do you expect them back?»
«Next week. Who’s calling, please?»
«The name’s Cardone. Joseph Cardone.»
«C-A-R-D-O-N-E…»
«That’s right. When did they go?»
«They left for New York last night. The ten o’clock flight, I believe.»
John Tanner hung up the receiver. The Ostermans were in New York! They’d gotten in by six o’clock that morning!
The Tremaynes, the Cardones, the Ostermans.
All there. None accounted for.
Any or all.
Omega!
14
Thursday—3:00 A.M.
Fassett had set a convincing scene. By the time Tanner returned home the rooms had been straightened up, but there was still disarray. Chairs were not in their proper places, rugs off center, lamps in different positions; the woman of the house hadn’t yet put things to rights.
Ali told him how the police had helped her; if she suspected collusion she didn’t let on.
But then Alice McCall had lived with violence as a child. The sight of policemen in her home was not unfamiliar to her. She was conditioned to react with a minimum of hysteria.
Her husband, on the other hand, was not conditioned at all for the role he had to play. For the second night, sleep was fitful, ultimately impossible. He looked at tire dial on the clock radio. It was nearly three in the morning and his mind still raced, his eyes refused to stay shut.
It was no use. He had to get up, he had to walk around; perhaps eat something, read something, smoke.
Anything that would help him stop thinking.
He and Ali had had a number of brandies before going to bed—too many drinks for Ali; she was deep in sleep, as much from the alcohol as from exhaustion.
Tanner got out of bed and went downstairs. He wandered aimlessly around; he finished the remains of a cantaloupe in the kitchen, read the junk mail in the hallway, flipped through some magazines in the living room. Finally he went out to the garage. There was still the faint—ever so faint now—odor of the gas which had been used on his wife and children. He returned to the living room, forgetting to turn off the lights in the garage.
Extinguishing his last cigarette, he looked around for another pack; more for the security of knowing there was one than from any immediate need. There was a carton in the study. As he opened the top drawer of his desk, a noise made him look up.
There was a tapping on his study window and the beam of a flashlight waving in small circles against the pane.
«It’s Jenkins, Mr. Tanner,» said the muffled voice. «Come to your back door.»
Tanner, relieved, nodded to the dark figure on the other side of the glass.
«This screen-door latch was broken,» said Jenkins softly as Tanner opened the kitchen door. «We don’t know how it happened.»
«I did it. What are you doing out there?»
«Making sure there’s no repetition of this afternoon. There are four of us. We wondered what you were doing. The lights are on all over downstairs. Even in the garage. Is anything the matter? Has anyone phoned you?»
«Wouldn’t you know if they had?»
Jenkins smiled as he stepped through the door. «We’re supposed to, I guess you know that. But there’s no accounting for mechanical failures.»
«I suppose not. Care for a cup of coffee?»
«Only if you’d make enough for three other guys. They can’t leave their posts.»
«Sure.» Tanner filled the hot water kettle. «Instant be all right?»
«Be great. Thanks.» Jenkins sat down at the kitchen table, moving his large police holster so it hung free from the seat. He watched Tanner closely and then looked around the room.
«I’m glad you’re outside. I appreciate it really. I know it’s a job, but still …»
«Not just a job. We’re concerned.»
«That’s nice to hear. You have a wife and kids?»
«No sir, I don’t.»
«I thought you were married.»
«That’s my partner. McDermott.»
«Oh, I see… You’ve been on the force here, let’s see … a couple of years now, isn’t it?»