Abel Baker Charley (32 page)
“baker and sonnenberg just like now. sometimes tina.
that man. he's thinking baker and sonnenberg now. that
lady, she's thinking baker, baker and cooper sh
a
w.”
that man. he's thinking baker and sonnenberg now. that
lady, she's thinking baker, baker and cooper sh
a
w.”
“Cooper Shaw?” he murmured.
“That's a new name,
Charley. Who's Cooper Shaw?”
“That's a new name,
Charley. Who's Cooper Shaw?”
Tanner Burke's head snapped up at the sound of the
name. She opened her mouth to speak, but Connor Harrigan
slashed an open hand through the air, silencing her.
name. She opened her mouth to speak, but Connor Harrigan
slashed an open hand through the air, silencing her.
“most times he 's her boyfriend out where she lives, some
times she lived with him and slept with him and everything,
she did things in bed with other men too. things like she
didn't even want to do with baker, she's thinking how she liked cooper sh
a
w better than you. she's thinking
—”
times she lived with him and slept with him and everything,
she did things in bed with other men too. things like she
didn't even want to do with baker, she's thinking how she liked cooper sh
a
w better than you. she's thinking
—”
“Shut up, Charley!”
Baker was livid.
“What goddamned
business is that of—and why, goddamn it, are you saying
it?”
Baker was livid.
“What goddamned
business is that of—and why, goddamn it, are you saying
it?”
“abel said to.”
“Well, fuck Abel,”
Baker fairly screamed in his head.
“And anyway, Abel didn't hear her thinking. You did. And
you also made up part of that, didn't you, Charley? I know
damned well that at a time like this, Tanner Burke is not sit
ting around comparing the men in her life.”
Baker fairly screamed in his head.
“And anyway, Abel didn't hear her thinking. You did. And
you also made up part of that, didn't you, Charley? I know
damned well that at a time like this, Tanner Burke is not sit
ting around comparing the men in her life.”
Charley did not answer.
“Last warning, Charley. You're coming out.”
”i made up the last part, abel said to.”
“Why, Charley?”
“because she wants to be your friend and help you. be
cause harrigan wants you to be his friend and help him. but
abel says you don't need friends, abel says you only need charley to know things for you and you only need abel to
keep people from hurting you. abel says that way we don 't
need friends, abel says they don 't even like you. they want to
hurt you.”
cause harrigan wants you to be his friend and help him. but
abel says you don't need friends, abel says you only need charley to know things for you and you only need abel to
keep people from hurting you. abel says that way we don 't
need friends, abel says they don 't even like you. they want to
hurt you.”
Charley, you just said they want to be my friends”
abel says that was wrong, they don 't like you. they don 't
want you to be free, the man wants you to be his friend for
years and years just to tell him things and to do things for
him. the woman doesn't want you to need us. she wants you
to need her so you won 't be free, she wants you to have tina
so you won't be free too.'
f
want you to be free, the man wants you to be his friend for
years and years just to tell him things and to do things for
him. the woman doesn't want you to need us. she wants you
to need her so you won 't be free, she wants you to have tina
so you won't be free too.'
f
Tanner Burke was f
um
ing. She was feeling her third or
fourth flash of anger since Baker revived, but this was the
first time that she understood. It's true, she thought. It's true
that Baker can reach inside my head and he has no right. Even if it was just to read a fleeting thought about a some
time lover and what a simple little boy he now seems com
pared to Jared Baker.
um
ing. She was feeling her third or
fourth flash of anger since Baker revived, but this was the
first time that she understood. It's true, she thought. It's true
that Baker can reach inside my head and he has no right. Even if it was just to read a fleeting thought about a some
time lover and what a simple little boy he now seems com
pared to Jared Baker.
She felt Harrigan watching her and she glared back at
him. Now, damn it, Harrigan's trying to read my mind. Isn't
anyone in this town normal? Every time she got a little mad
in the past half-hour, she'd look up, and Harrigan would be
watching her. It was as if he knew the anger was there, but
he couldn't have because it came out of nowhere. Nothing
happened to cause it. There would just be a tiny crowding
feeling inside her head and she would feel her blood rising
toward it. Next, there would be a new feeling. A sort of suck
ing feeling, like a tissue being drawn from its box, and then
the anger would leave. She would have ignored these feel
ings or dismissed them as a product of fatigue except that Harrigan seemed to feel them too. He had the same little startled expression whenever she felt her own tissue being
pulled away.
him. Now, damn it, Harrigan's trying to read my mind. Isn't
anyone in this town normal? Every time she got a little mad
in the past half-hour, she'd look up, and Harrigan would be
watching her. It was as if he knew the anger was there, but
he couldn't have because it came out of nowhere. Nothing
happened to cause it. There would just be a tiny crowding
feeling inside her head and she would feel her blood rising
toward it. Next, there would be a new feeling. A sort of suck
ing feeling, like a tissue being drawn from its box, and then
the anger would leave. She would have ignored these feel
ings or dismissed them as a product of fatigue except that Harrigan seemed to feel them too. He had the same little startled expression whenever she felt her own tissue being
pulled away.
Harrigan reached his hand over and gave her a touch
meant to be comforting. Then he lit his pipe and returned his
attention to Jared Baker. His own crowding feeling, he was
almost sure, was Baker probing him. As much as possible,
he made an effort to keep his brain on idle. As for the anger,
Harrigan was less certain about that. When it first passed, earlier, he thought it might have been a sense of indignation,
a resentment of this violation to his inner self. But he knew
that it had to be more. He'd felt it, of course, during the
months of his surveillance and long before he'd had any no
tion of Baker's probing his mind. Yes, this was much more.
There was something almost primal about the anger he felt.
There had been a moment earlier, and another just now,
when he wanted to hurt Baker. It was a flash compulsion that
s
urged from deep within his brain and receded just as
quickly. He leaned closer to Tanner Burke.
meant to be comforting. Then he lit his pipe and returned his
attention to Jared Baker. His own crowding feeling, he was
almost sure, was Baker probing him. As much as possible,
he made an effort to keep his brain on idle. As for the anger,
Harrigan was less certain about that. When it first passed, earlier, he thought it might have been a sense of indignation,
a resentment of this violation to his inner self. But he knew
that it had to be more. He'd felt it, of course, during the
months of his surveillance and long before he'd had any no
tion of Baker's probing his mind. Yes, this was much more.
There was something almost primal about the anger he felt.
There had been a moment earlier, and another just now,
when he wanted to hurt Baker. It was a flash compulsion that
s
urged from deep within his brain and receded just as
quickly. He leaned closer to Tanner Burke.
“Keep your mind off him for a moment if you can,” he whispered. “Did you just get a feeling that you wanted to
hurt someone?”
hurt someone?”
“Yes. It was like—”
Baker flung a look over his shoulder that silenced Tanner.
He stepped closer to the wall mirror, his face now only
inches away. Harrigan saw that Baker was more than angry.
His fists were opening and closing, and the muscles of his
back were already knotted. He knew that he was watching a
man at war with himself. Harrigan folded his arms and set
tled back. Barely moving, he worked the bolt of the gas pis
tol at his belt and slid a new dart into place. That was in case
Baker lost.
He stepped closer to the wall mirror, his face now only
inches away. Harrigan saw that Baker was more than angry.
His fists were opening and closing, and the muscles of his
back were already knotted. He knew that he was watching a
man at war with himself. Harrigan folded his arms and set
tled back. Barely moving, he worked the bolt of the gas pis
tol at his belt and slid a new dart into place. That was in case
Baker lost.
“Charley, what was that about my daughter?”
There was no answer.
“Charley, if either of you try to cut Tina out of my life, so
help me, I
’
II
...
Charley, answer me.”
help me, I
’
II
...
Charley, answer me.”
“abel says don't.
I’
m going to sleep now.”
I’
m going to sleep now.”
“Abel can't help you if I bring you all the way out,
Charley.”
Charley.”
“you won't.”
“Charley!”
“abel says you won't, you're afraid it will make her not
like you.”
like you.”
“You just watch me, you little bastard,” he whispered.
Harrigan and Tanner heard him. She leaned forward in
her chair as if to stand and move toward Baker. Harrigan
pressed her forearm. Wait, he mouthed.
her chair as if to stand and move toward Baker. Harrigan
pressed her forearm. Wait, he mouthed.
“He's going to explode again.”
”I don't think so. Don't stop him.”
Baker turned to face Harrigan. The slackness that Harri
gan thought he had seen was gone. In its place, beneath the
anger, was the look of a man betrayed. Baker's eyes softened
as they fell on Tanner and his head shook just a fraction, as
if in apology. Harrigan put more pressure on her arm.
gan thought he had seen was gone. In its place, beneath the
anger, was the look of a man betrayed. Baker's eyes softened
as they fell on Tanner and his head shook just a fraction, as
if in apology. Harrigan put more pressure on her arm.
“I'm going to the bathroom,” Baker said.
“Yes,” Harrigan answered.
“I'd like you to not bother me for a while. You'll know
when to come in.”
when to come in.”
“Jared!” Tanner pulled free of Connor Harrigan. “You're
not thinking of doing anything .. .”
not thinking of doing anything .. .”
“He's fine,” Harrigan answered softly. “He'd simply like to go to the bathroom.”
Baker hesitated for a moment, holding Harrigan's gaze.
Go on, lad, thought Harrigan. Have your private meeting of
the minds and see if you can sort out who's going to be in
charge. And perhaps you'll come back with an answer or
two.
Go on, lad, thought Harrigan. Have your private meeting of
the minds and see if you can sort out who's going to be in
charge. And perhaps you'll come back with an answer or
two.
Baker walked to the bathroom door and closed it behind him.
Tanner jumped at the sound of the lock being turned. “What is it?” she asked. “What's happening to him?”
”I don't know, to be honest.” Harrigan glanced up at the
sound of the bathroom tap running. He had at least begun to
understand the man who had just left the room. What might
now emerge from that bathroom was another matter entirely.
If it turned out to be the beastie, Harrigan would very prob
ably have to kill him. He raised a hand, interrupting as Tan
ner was about to speak. “Miss Burke,” he said, “I'm going
to have to ask you to trust me.”
sound of the bathroom tap running. He had at least begun to
understand the man who had just left the room. What might
now emerge from that bathroom was another matter entirely.
If it turned out to be the beastie, Harrigan would very prob
ably have to kill him. He raised a hand, interrupting as Tan
ner was about to speak. “Miss Burke,” he said, “I'm going
to have to ask you to trust me.”
“What are you going to ask?”
“I'd like you to leave at once and not look back. I prom
ise that I'll take care of Baker and that I'll do all I can to
keep you from being involved further.”
ise that I'll take care of Baker and that I'll do all I can to
keep you from being involved further.”
”I won't do that,” she answered.
“You can't help. You can only distract. You can end up
losing your hide and costing me mine as well.”
losing your hide and costing me mine as well.”
“I've already helped, and that includes your hide. Any
way, Jared could have been killed in the park last night, but
he didn't walk away from me.”
way, Jared could have been killed in the park last night, but
he didn't walk away from me.”
‘That wasn't the same, Miss Burke.” Harrigan shook his
head. “The two in the park didn't have a chance in the world
against Baker. The man isn't who you think he is.”
head. “The two in the park didn't have a chance in the world
against Baker. The man isn't who you think he is.”
“You mean this other-personality business. Well, there's
a real Jared Baker who's a good and decent man and . . ”
a real Jared Baker who's a good and decent man and . . ”
Har
rigan raised a hand again and Tanner pushed it aside.
“And stop shutting me up, damn it. If you think I believe for
one moment that Jared Baker is some sort of monster, I have
to tell you that I know him a hell of a lot better than you do,
no matter how long you've been watching him.”
rigan raised a hand again and Tanner pushed it aside.
“And stop shutting me up, damn it. If you think I believe for
one moment that Jared Baker is some sort of monster, I have
to tell you that I know him a hell of a lot better than you do,
no matter how long you've been watching him.”
“You know him so well that you'd bet all you have on
him? It's a wasteful risk, Miss Burke. He doesn't need you.”
him? It's a wasteful risk, Miss Burke. He doesn't need you.”
“I'll leave when he tells me that.”
“Is that a promise?”
“No.”
Harrigan sighed and he rose to his feet, moving closer to
the bathroom door. He listened. There was nothing. Only the
hushed sound of water from an aerated faucet. He returned to Tanner's chair and eased himself onto one knee beside it.
the bathroom door. He listened. There was nothing. Only the
hushed sound of water from an aerated faucet. He returned to Tanner's chair and eased himself onto one knee beside it.
“It's like this is a railroad train,” he said, “and this is the only stop. You must get off here or stay until the end. I must
tell you that the likelihood of a happy end is almost nonex
istent.”
tell you that the likelihood of a happy end is almost nonex
istent.”
“You're patronizing me, Mr. Harrigan.”
“No, I'm trying in my clumsy way to find the argument that would make you leave a situation you're not equipped
to help.”
to help.”
“I've already helped, Mr. Harrigan,” she said stubbornly.
“So we're talking in circles?”
“And we're wasting time,” she answered. “I'm willing to trust you, Mr. Harrigan, because you seem to know what
you're doing. I'll help you as long as I can believe that.”
you're doing. I'll help you as long as I can believe that.”
Harrigan let out a long, defeated breath. I know what I'm
doing, is it? There's not a damned bit of it that makes any sense. Not Sonnenberg's intentions, not Tortora's involve
ment, and least of all the anxiety of Duncan Peck. All that's
clear is that I have Jared Baker and that now everyone in
volved will be forced into action of some sort. Including
Jared Baker.
doing, is it? There's not a damned bit of it that makes any sense. Not Sonnenberg's intentions, not Tortora's involve
ment, and least of all the anxiety of Duncan Peck. All that's
clear is that I have Jared Baker and that now everyone in
volved will be forced into action of some sort. Including
Jared Baker.
But how much to tell Tanner Burke? She can hardly
claim a need to know. Oh, to hell with that, he thought, ft¾
her life as well that might end without a decent breakfast.
She might even have a useful thought to offer. But where to
start?
claim a need to know. Oh, to hell with that, he thought, ft¾
her life as well that might end without a decent breakfast.
She might even have a useful thought to offer. But where to
start?
“Let's find out together just how well I know what I'm doing, Miss Burke.” He frowned.
“Shall we begin with Dr.
Sonnenberg?”
“Shall we begin with Dr.
Sonnenberg?”
Tanner Burke nodded attentively.
“He's the fellow at the core of all this, you know. Son
nenberg created your friend Baker. In fact, he created several
others who are just as remarkable in their own way. I even
have some notion of how Sonnenberg does it because I've
been reading his mail for the past nine months. He's forever
receiving research papers from Cal Tech and one or two
other institutions involved in the study of behavioral modi
fication. It wouldn't surprise me if he's planted one of his
people out there.
nenberg created your friend Baker. In fact, he created several
others who are just as remarkable in their own way. I even
have some notion of how Sonnenberg does it because I've
been reading his mail for the past nine months. He's forever
receiving research papers from Cal Tech and one or two
other institutions involved in the study of behavioral modi
fication. It wouldn't surprise me if he's planted one of his
people out there.
“The material ranges from hypnosis to psychosurgery to brain cell transfusions, much of it very advanced stuff that's
never been tried on humans. Except, it seems, by Sonnen
berg. If we're to believe Jared Baker, what he's doing with it
is scientifically risky but not necessarily sinister. Putting the
best face on it, he might, like many scientists, be doing it
simply because it can be done. His subjects may indeed be
no more than men and women who want to start new lives.
If that sounds farfetched, you heard Baker say that there are
at least two federal agencies whose function is to create new
identities for people who are in mortal danger otherwise.
Beyond that are the entrepreneurs, mostly private detectives
and lawyers, who make a business out of showing people
how to get lost. Each year there are literally thousands of
takers. It gets so I can hardly look at a moving van anymore
without wondering who the new people really are.
never been tried on humans. Except, it seems, by Sonnen
berg. If we're to believe Jared Baker, what he's doing with it
is scientifically risky but not necessarily sinister. Putting the
best face on it, he might, like many scientists, be doing it
simply because it can be done. His subjects may indeed be
no more than men and women who want to start new lives.
If that sounds farfetched, you heard Baker say that there are
at least two federal agencies whose function is to create new
identities for people who are in mortal danger otherwise.
Beyond that are the entrepreneurs, mostly private detectives
and lawyers, who make a business out of showing people
how to get lost. Each year there are literally thousands of
takers. It gets so I can hardly look at a moving van anymore
without wondering who the new people really are.
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