“If you’ve got a copy of the tape, I’ve got Belov,” he said.
“Amy brought them by. When and where do we meet Belov?”
“Tomorrow morning. And you’ll love the place.”
“Where?”
“Inside Tower City Mall, next to the fountain.”
“You’re kidding me. The city’s most dangerous gangster wants to meet us in the mall?”
“Uh-huh. My guess is we won’t stay there long, though. He probably wants to start in a public place so he can be sure we aren’t setting him up. Once we show, I imagine his thugs will send us elsewhere to meet him.”
“Great. You know our last meeting like this didn’t go so well.” I closed my eyes and saw that red dot on Hartwick’s chest again.
“Yeah. But in this case, if anyone dies, it’ll probably be us.”
“A comfort,” I said, “that’s what you are.”
“Speaking of comfort, I just got a call from Tim Eggers. You’re wanted for questioning by police in South Carolina, and now our old friends at CPD would love to chat with you, as well.”
“They can wait.”
“Uh-huh. The good news is, the Russians must have taken the body with them, because the South Carolina cops have no idea anyone was killed.”
“That is good news.”
“Thought you’d like it. We’re supposed to meet Belov at nine. You want to leave the woman and girl alone, or should I call Kinkaid?”
I thought about it. “I’ve got a better idea,” I said. “Why don’t you bring John Weston out?”
“Weston? Why the hell would I do that?”
“We are still working for him,” I said, “although in all the chaos that’s been kind of easy to forget. Julie wants to see him again before she pulls her vanishing act, so tomorrow morning will be as good a time as any.”
“Okay, I’ll call Weston tomorrow morning and drive him out. The old man’s going to be beside himself. Once we’ve met with Belov, we need to get Julie to some sort of police presence. Any ideas on who that should be?”
“Yes,” I said. “James Sellers told me there was a prosecutor who had handled quite a few cases with the Russians. I think she’d probably be the best bet. Once we’ve met with Belov, I’ll get in touch with her.”
“Okay. I’ll be out to the cottage tomorrow around eight, hopefully with Old Man Weston riding beside me.”
“Was that your partner?” Julie asked, stepping out onto the deck after I’d hung up with Joe.
“Yes.” I told her about our meeting with Belov and what we hoped it would accomplish. “He’s a dangerous, powerful man,” I said. “If he doesn’t want you to be harmed, it could mean a lot.”
“I plan to be far, far away from all of them anyhow.”
“I know, Julie, but it can’t hurt to have Belov on our side. He’s the man in charge.”
She sat down on the picnic table and motioned for me to join her. She was wearing an oversized sweatshirt that said myrtle beach, and she had the sleeves pulled down over her hands, trying to keep warm. I’d finally pulled a jacket on over my T-shirt. The night air was cool and fresh, laden with the scent of pine needles.
“Will I talk to the police tomorrow?” she asked after I’d sat down beside her.
“Yes. After Joe and I meet with Belov, I’m going to get in touch with a prosecutor who has some experience with this sort of case. I’m expecting she’ll be a little more understanding of your fears and safety concerns than others might be.”
“All right.”
“I told my partner to bring your father-in-law out tomorrow morning,” I said. “Is that okay?”
“John? Wow.” She exhaled loudly and closed her eyes. “Yes, it’s okay. I need to see him before we leave.” She opened her eyes again, and there was surprise and recognition in them. “He doesn’t even know we’re alive, does he?”
It’s amazing how some people can lose sight of the things that matter most to others. I shook my head. “No, Julie, he doesn’t.”
For a while we sat in silence, and then she had another question. “You’re very close to Amy, aren’t you?”
I shrugged. “Why do you ask?”
“There’s just something in the way you interact with her, that’s all. Both her and your partner… you just seem to let your guard down with them. It’s the first time I’ve seen you do that. I figure you must be close with your partner if you were willing to go into business with him, and if you act similarly around Amy, you must be pretty close to her, too.”
I looked out at the dark pond. The water was still covered by a thin layer of ice, and it looked as black and smooth as a freshly paved stretch ofasphalt.
“I’m probably closer to Amy than she realizes,” I said. “Last summer, when I was just drifting along without any purpose, and pretty content to remain miserable, she forced me out of it.”
Julie tilted her head to the side, her face half obscured by the shadows. “Explain.”
I told her about my dismissal from the police department. I hadn’t shared the story with her yet, and she listened with interest.
“After that, I was a little lost,” I said. “Hell, I was very lost. My life had been made up of two parts: work and my fiancée, Karen. Then they were both gone. I used what little money I had to buy a rundown gym on the west side, and I just faded out of my old life. I didn’t keep in contact with anyone from the department except for Joe, who wouldn’t let me avoid him. I worked at the gym during the day, worked out in the evenings, and sat home alone and brooded with the rest of my time. I was listless. Then a guy who went to my gym was murdered, and Amy showed up on my doorstep asking questions and insisting I help her look into it. She was a real pain in the ass, but she was relentless. Eventually, I gave in. Somewhere along the line, I found my way again. Joe saw the change in me, saw how revitalized I was by having a case again, and asked me to go into business with him. I agreed, he retired, and here we are,” I concluded. “Amy played a pretty big part in getting me back on my feet, which is sort of funny, considering I was a stranger to her. And, I have to admit, a bit ofan asshole to her at first.”
“I see,” Julie said. Then, after a pause, “I’m glad I asked that question, Lincoln. I found out a lot more about you.”
“Scary stuff, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s not. And I’m sorry about what happened, about how you lost your job. It sounds like this Karen woman really let you down.” The corner of her mouth twitched in a cold smile. “I know what that feels like.”
“No,” I said, and shook my head. “What happened to me happens to a thousand guys every day. Most of them handle it better, that’s all. What happened to you is an entirely different circumstance. Don’t compare the two.”
“All right.”
I turned to her and moved slightly closer on the wooden bench. “You amaze me,” I said. “You know that? The way you’re facing all of this, it’s incredible. You must be terrified at the idea of leaving your old life behind, but you’re determined to do it because it’s the best thing for Betsy.”
“I am terrified, though,” she said, her voice almost a whisper. “I’m scared to death, Lincoln. And I’ve never been more lonely.”
I put my hand on her arm. “You’re not alone, Julie. As long as I can help you, I’m going to be here trying to do it.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
She leaned forward and looked into my eyes. Her face was so beautiful that I was almost nervous when she put it that close to mine.
“Then come with us, Lincoln.”
I stared at her. “Come with you?”
She laughed, and her cheeks flushed slightly. “This is an absurd request. There’s no way you can accept it, and I know that, but I’m going to ask anyhow, so you can decline it, and we can move on. Come with us, Lincoln. I’ve got a beautiful, safe place to raise my daughter, and I have plenty of money. I don’t want to have to raise her alone, though. I don’t want to be alone.”