Abel Baker Charley (31 page)
“You just slept,” Tanner Burke answered. “You even
smiled once. You called me Liz.” She looked down at the
hand she was holding and then again into his eyes. “Jared,”
she whispered, “Mr. Harrigan told me about you.”
smiled once. You called me Liz.” She looked down at the
hand she was holding and then again into his eyes. “Jared,”
she whispered, “Mr. Harrigan told me about you.”
Baker looked away. “He told you what about me?”
“Most of what I know,” Harrigan answered, “about Jared
Baker, anyway. How it began, what happened to your fam
ily, and about this thing you do. She knew what you'd done
in the park, Jared. She was trying to believe it was a dream.”
Baker, anyway. How it began, what happened to your fam
ily, and about this thing you do. She knew what you'd done
in the park, Jared. She was trying to believe it was a dream.”
“Why?” he asked hoarsely. “Why didn't you leave it that way?”
“Because like I keep telling you, she's involved. And
there are people who'll be nervous about what she might know. We can keep her from harm, Baker, if we help each other. And believe it or not, I'd even like to help you.”
there are people who'll be nervous about what she might know. We can keep her from harm, Baker, if we help each other. And believe it or not, I'd even like to help you.”
”I don't need you, Harrigan,” he said quietly, pulling
himself to an upright position on the couch.
himself to an upright position on the couch.
“You haven't heard my offer.”
“If you want to deal, we'll deal about Tanner. I don't need
your help for the rest of it.”
your help for the rest of it.”
“My offer is this,” Harrigan said patiently. ”I will not
ask you to betray any person who is in hiding. Nor will you
be asked to testify against anyone at all. Moreover, I will help you to be with your daughter anyplace of your choos
ing in the Western Hemisphere. That's what you get, lad.
Freedom, peace, and protection for Jared and Christina
Baker.”
ask you to betray any person who is in hiding. Nor will you
be asked to testify against anyone at all. Moreover, I will help you to be with your daughter anyplace of your choos
ing in the Western Hemisphere. That's what you get, lad.
Freedom, peace, and protection for Jared and Christina
Baker.”
Harrìgan felt something from Tanner Burke when he said
the last. He glanced at the back of her head and then at
Baker. “You can build any life you like, Jared lad.”
the last. He glanced at the back of her head and then at
Baker. “You can build any life you like, Jared lad.”
Baker felt it too. He didn't look at her. Whatever future
he had, he could not let himself imagine that it might include
her. This was not a time for fantasies. And even if it were
more than a dream, even if they both shared the dream, it
was impossible. But that dream was what that bastard Har
rigan was trying to sell. As for Tina, though, I will be with
her. With or without you, Harrigan. Around you or over you.
he had, he could not let himself imagine that it might include
her. This was not a time for fantasies. And even if it were
more than a dream, even if they both shared the dream, it
was impossible. But that dream was what that bastard Har
rigan was trying to sell. As for Tina, though, I will be with
her. With or without you, Harrigan. Around you or over you.
”I said I don't need you, Harrigan.”
Tanner Burke sat beside him, her hand still on his. “Jared,
listen to him,” she urged softly. “At least hear him out. It doesn't hurt to ask what he wants from you.”
listen to him,” she urged softly. “At least hear him out. It doesn't hurt to ask what he wants from you.”
Baker looked up at Harrigan and waited.
“Knowledge,” Connor Harrigan answered. “Knowledge
and friendship.”
and friendship.”
“Which means?”
”I want to understand you,” he said. ”I want to know how
you are possible. I want to know why you exist and why the others exist. I want to know what you can do now and what
you might do. I want to know why there are people who fear
you, and especially why they fear Sonnenberg.”
you are possible. I want to know why you exist and why the others exist. I want to know what you can do now and what
you might do. I want to know why there are people who fear
you, and especially why they fear Sonnenberg.”
“And after you have your evidence?”
”I said knowledge, Baker. Evidence and knowledge are not the same. Evidence is slower.”
Baker waited again.
”I mentioned friendship,” Harrigan added. “Friends stay
in touch. Now and then they do each other favors.”
in touch. Now and then they do each other favors.”
Baker nodded. It was about what he expected. “You're
not stupid, Harrigan,” he said. ”I think you know I have a
place to go and it's not likely to be that houseboat. You
haven't told me why I need you.”
not stupid, Harrigan,” he said. ”I think you know I have a
place to go and it's not likely to be that houseboat. You
haven't told me why I need you.”
Tanner Burke touched his thigh. “Do you care what I
think?”
think?”
“Yes.” More than you could know.
“You might need someone who understands the people
who want to hurt you. Someone like Harrigan. You're just
not like them, Jared.”
who want to hurt you. Someone like Harrigan. You're just
not like them, Jared.”
”I can handle anyone I have to, Liz.” He tried to say it in
a way that did not sound brutal.
a way that did not sound brutal.
“Except for that thing inside you.”
Baker heard the loathing in her voice when she said
that word. He'd expected it. But he'd hoped he'd never
hear it.
that word. He'd expected it. But he'd hoped he'd never
hear it.
‘That isn't true,” he said with a trace of sadness. “He
came out when we were in the park because I called him out.
I wanted to help you and so did he, even if our reasons were
different. When he was finished, I sent him back. I'm not
crazy, Tanner. And this is not some sickness. This ‘thing’ is
simply a part of me that I've learned to use. Even you have
a
…
” He chose not to finish the thought.
came out when we were in the park because I called him out.
I wanted to help you and so did he, even if our reasons were
different. When he was finished, I sent him back. I'm not
crazy, Tanner. And this is not some sickness. This ‘thing’ is
simply a part of me that I've learned to use. Even you have
a
…
” He chose not to finish the thought.
Harrigan looked up from the pipe he was packing. “I'm
afraid it was him who was using you, lad. Do you remember
just before I stuck you? When this friend of yours was try
ing to get out?”
afraid it was him who was using you, lad. Do you remember
just before I stuck you? When this friend of yours was try
ing to get out?”
“He wouldn't have.”
“All the same, at that moment do you remember me ask
ing you a question about the park? About the two men
there?”
ing you a question about the park? About the two men
there?”
”I think so.” Baker blinked.
‘Try to remember. I asked you several times.”
”I remember. You kept asking me their names. I have no
idea what their names were.”
idea what their names were.”
Tanner Burke looked from Harrigan to Baker and back
again. There was confusion in the tilt of her head. She re
called no such question. Certainly not a repeated question.
again. There was confusion in the tilt of her head. She re
called no such question. Certainly not a repeated question.
“You're sure now?” Harrigan pressed. “You don't re
member their names?”
member their names?”
“They called each other nicknames. One was Jace or maybe
Chase. The big one was called Sumo. Why does this matter?”
Chase. The big one was called Sumo. Why does this matter?”
“It matters because the one called Jace or Chase happens
to be the only son of one Domenic Tortora.”
to be the only son of one Domenic Tortora.”
Baker's eyes flashed. Tanner felt his shoulder muscles go
taut.
taut.
”I take it you know the name.”
“That's not possible.” Baker seemed thunderstruck. ”I
didn't even know he had a son.”
didn't even know he had a son.”
“It
's not only possible, it's a fact. You've attacked and se
verely injured the son of a man who's been dogging you
since you jumped bail. You found him at night, in the mid
dle of a very large park, within two hours of your arrival in
one of the biggest cities in the world. Food for thought, isn't
it? And what do you suppose Mr. Tortora is thinking?”
's not only possible, it's a fact. You've attacked and se
verely injured the son of a man who's been dogging you
since you jumped bail. You found him at night, in the mid
dle of a very large park, within two hours of your arrival in
one of the biggest cities in the world. Food for thought, isn't
it? And what do you suppose Mr. Tortora is thinking?”
“You're both thinking I must have known he was there. I didn't. And that either means a hell of a coincidence or I was
set up.”
set up.”
“My view exactly. Would you like to know who set you
up?”
up?”
Baker waited.
“It was your violent
frie
nd.”
frie
nd.”
“He'd never do that. He'd never hurt me.”
“He didn't hurt you. He hurt them. All he did was get you
to deliver him there. All he had to do was get you to stroll
through the area where the young scamp had laid hold of his
victim.” Harrigan apologized to Tanner with a bow of his
head.
to deliver him there. All he had to do was get you to stroll
through the area where the young scamp had laid hold of his
victim.” Harrigan apologized to Tanner with a bow of his
head.
“You're wrong, Harrigan.” Baker pushed up from the couch and began to pace. “He wouldn't have known a thing like that was happening.”
“He would if he could read their minds.”
Baker stiffened. “He can't do that.”
“Charley?”
Baker called the name silently.
Baker called the name silently.
“For true, Mr. Baker?” Harrigan asked.
“It's the truth, Harrigan. Depend on it.
CHARLEYl”
CHARLEYl”
“Then who can read minds, Mr. Baker?” Harrigan strug
gled not to show his excitement. “Someone can read minds.
Someone is telepathic. If it isn't the violent one, who is it?”
gled not to show his excitement. “Someone can read minds.
Someone is telepathic. If it isn't the violent one, who is it?”
“No one is telepathic,” he lied. Baker stood drumming his
fingers on the mantel of a false fireplace. A small mirror hung above it between two sconces. He moved toward the
mirror.
fingers on the mantel of a false fireplace. A small mirror hung above it between two sconces. He moved toward the
mirror.
“But it keeps happening, doesn't it, Baker? Let me count
the ways. In California, you knew if I got too close. It now
appears that you've known my name for some time as well. You knew that I was out there on the landing. Maybe you
even knew about the guy in the cop suit before he jumped
me. Next, you knew he was a fake and that his pockets were empty when I'm the one who searched him with my back to you. I think you even know who sent him.
9
’
the ways. In California, you knew if I got too close. It now
appears that you've known my name for some time as well. You knew that I was out there on the landing. Maybe you
even knew about the guy in the cop suit before he jumped
me. Next, you knew he was a fake and that his pockets were empty when I'm the one who searched him with my back to you. I think you even know who sent him.
9
’
Baker didn't answer.
“The guy had a number he was supposed to call after he iced maybe all three of us. You kept looking at his pad. But
you weren't sure it was there until after I spotted it. You
knew when I knew, Baker. You read my mind.”
you weren't sure it was there until after I spotted it. You
knew when I knew, Baker. You read my mind.”
“It isn't true.” Baker turned, looking not at Harrigan but at Tanner. “I'm a man,” he told her, “not some freak. Some
times I know what people are thinking or feeling but just in
little flashes. I'm like you, Liz. You do it too. Just tonight,
you knew the name I gave you was wrong. There were other
little things you sensed about me. I don't want you thinking
I can get into your head or into anyone else's head who
doesn't want me there.”
times I know what people are thinking or feeling but just in
little flashes. I'm like you, Liz. You do it too. Just tonight,
you knew the name I gave you was wrong. There were other
little things you sensed about me. I don't want you thinking
I can get into your head or into anyone else's head who
doesn't want me there.”
Harrigan raised a hand before she could speak. “I've mentioned several ways, Baker. The next one is a peach. It has to do with the names of those two in the park. Have we
established that you recall that question?”
established that you recall that question?”
”I remember,” he said absently, turning back to face the
mirror.
mirror.
Harrigan faced Tanner Burke. “And what of you, miss?
Do you remember me asking that question?”
Do you remember me asking that question?”
“Before you stuck him with that thing? No, I don't re
member. I don't think you did ask.”
member. I don't think you did ask.”
“Mr. Baker.” Harrigan clapped his hands together. “Why
do you suppose Miss Burke can't recall a question that you and I know was asked right in front of her?”
do you suppose Miss Burke can't recall a question that you and I know was asked right in front of her?”
Baker stared at the mirror.
“It's because I asked that question only in my mind, Mr.
Baker.”
Baker.”
From across the room, Baker could almost feel the chill that
went through Tanner. He kept his back to her, his eyes
locked upon his image in the mirror.
went through Tanner. He kept his back to her, his eyes
locked upon his image in the mirror.
“How, Charley? How did you know they'd be in the
park?”
park?”
No answer.
“
Talk to me, Charley. Talk to me or I'll say your name out
loud right here.”
Talk to me, Charley. Talk to me or I'll say your name out
loud right here.”
“you won't.”
“Answer, Charley. If you don't, I'll let them ask you.
You'll be all alone with them and they'll make you tell
f
Charley.”
You'll be all alone with them and they'll make you tell
f
Charley.”
”i didn't do anything.”
“You told Abel those two were in the park. Why, Charley?
Why did Abel want to hurt them?”
Why did Abel want to hurt them?”
“they were like the first one.”
“First one? You mean the one who killed Sarah?”
“yes. they even knew the first one.”
Baker put aside his surprise.
“So they wanted to get even
with me. Is that it, Charley? You heard them thinking bad
thoughts about me and you told Abel?”
“So they wanted to get even
with me. Is that it, Charley? You heard them thinking bad
thoughts about me and you told Abel?”
“no. they weren't thinking about baker then, only about
tanner burke and vinnie cuneo and tortora.”
tanner burke and vinnie cuneo and tortora.”
Baker whispered Vinnie Cuneo's name aloud question
ingly. The name meant nothing to him. Harrigan heard the name and stiffened, not at the mention of a minor hoodlum
but at the realization that a conversation was taking place in
Baker's head. From his chair he could see half of the image facing Baker in the mirror. Its gilded fruitwood frame dis
sected Baker's face. The half that showed was slack and
dull. It did not reflect the tension evident across Baker's
shoulders.
ingly. The name meant nothing to him. Harrigan heard the name and stiffened, not at the mention of a minor hoodlum
but at the realization that a conversation was taking place in
Baker's head. From his chair he could see half of the image facing Baker in the mirror. Its gilded fruitwood frame dis
sected Baker's face. The half that showed was slack and
dull. It did not reflect the tension evident across Baker's
shoulders.
“Charley, if they weren't thinking about me, how did you
know they were there?”
know they were there?”
“they were thinking tortora. that tortora might be mad at
them for doing bad things to tanner burke, they would tell
vinnie cuneo because he would laugh and say it was good,
but they would not tell tortora because tortora wouldn't
laugh.”
them for doing bad things to tanner burke, they would tell
vinnie cuneo because he would laugh and say it was good,
but they would not tell tortora because tortora wouldn't
laugh.”
“But how could you hear that, Charley? You know when
people are thinking my name. You know when they're think
ing Sonnenberg's name. But that's all you learned to do.
You don't know when they're thinking other names. Do you
know a new trick, Charley? Did Abel teach you another trick?”
people are thinking my name. You know when they're think
ing Sonnenberg's name. But that's all you learned to do.
You don't know when they're thinking other names. Do you
know a new trick, Charley? Did Abel teach you another trick?”
“no.”
“What names can you hear, Charley?”
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