Abel Baker Charley (36 page)
“Out in the other room? Yeah. You were talking to your
self and going into some kind of trance.”
self and going into some kind of trance.”
“And it made you angry, didn't it? Do you remember
being very angry, Harrigan? You felt something like it in Dayton and again in California.”
being very angry, Harrigan? You felt something like it in Dayton and again in California.”
”I remember.” He shrugged. “Tanner Burke felt it too.
Y
ou were trying to read my head is what I figured and it
pissed me off.”
Y
ou were trying to read my head is what I figured and it
pissed me off.”
”I can't read minds, Harrigan. I told you that.”
“So?”
“But Charley can. Would you like to know how?”
Harrigan threw the blue shirt to the floor. “Come on,
Goddamnit. No games.”
Goddamnit. No games.”
Baker smiled. “You felt a sucking feeling. What that was, Harrigan, was my Charley probing your Charley. Forming
him. Pulling him together and then letting him go. Your Charley's all there, Harrigan. He's only in pieces now, but
he's there. He's everything you ever feared or despised about
yourself, Harrigan. He's a fat and frightened little man.”
him. Pulling him together and then letting him go. Your Charley's all there, Harrigan. He's only in pieces now, but
he's there. He's everything you ever feared or despised about
yourself, Harrigan. He's a fat and frightened little man.”
“Bullshit!” Harrigan reddened. “It's your guy who was a piece of suet. I didn't feel like that. What I felt like was tear
ing your head off.”
ing your head off.”
“Do you begin to get the picture, Harrigan?”
Harrigan's lips moved but no sound came. The color
began to drain from his face.
began to drain from his face.
“When your Charley is pulled together, Harrigan, what
does that leave? Wanting to tear my head off should have told you something.”
does that leave? Wanting to tear my head off should have told you something.”
13
At the elevator bank in the lobby of the Plaza, another ath
letic club type named Carter Merrick paced distractedly.
Now and again he would dip his fingertips into the unzip
pered leather briefcase he carried, brushing them over the
two pistol butts hidden between its folds. His eyes, wherever he paced, did not stray far from the elevator dials above him.
letic club type named Carter Merrick paced distractedly.
Now and again he would dip his fingertips into the unzip
pered leather briefcase he carried, brushing them over the
two pistol butts hidden between its folds. His eyes, wherever he paced, did not stray far from the elevator dials above him.
At his back, forty feet toward the Central Park entrance,
Doug Peterson closed the other end of the trap. Merrick
checked his watch. Thirty minutes. If Harrigan or Baker
were not down by then, they would go in. In force. But Mer
rick hoped they'd come. You don't get your ticket punched, he knew, by being one of a crowd. But being the one to take Connor Harrigan, and this Baker character, that's promotion
city. That's a month's leave in France or the Greek Islands, with Duncan Peck picking up the tab. And he had the best chance of anyone. Harrigan didn't know him. Harrigan and Baker and maybe the girl would walk right past him into a
crossfire, and Harrigan would be down before he knew what
hit him. Merrick and Peterson had practiced the move ten
times already on guests descending from other floors.
Doug Peterson closed the other end of the trap. Merrick
checked his watch. Thirty minutes. If Harrigan or Baker
were not down by then, they would go in. In force. But Mer
rick hoped they'd come. You don't get your ticket punched, he knew, by being one of a crowd. But being the one to take Connor Harrigan, and this Baker character, that's promotion
city. That's a month's leave in France or the Greek Islands, with Duncan Peck picking up the tab. And he had the best chance of anyone. Harrigan didn't know him. Harrigan and Baker and maybe the girl would walk right past him into a
crossfire, and Harrigan would be down before he knew what
hit him. Merrick and Peterson had practiced the move ten
times already on guests descending from other floors.
He turned away from the dials, none of which was within
four floors of fifteen, long enough to scan the lobby once more for potential interference. It was mostly empty now.
Just enough people to make the scene seem normal. A
woman, fortyish and expensively dressed, sat with an open
purse on her lap and a mirror in her hand, probing an eye
with a piece of Kleenex. Lazy rich, he decided, noting
the
carefully done hair that probably covered a tuck scar and the
tan that was the work of several seasons. And probably a
screamer if anything more violent than a fallen souffle hap
pened in her sheltered little life. Merrick mentally prepared
himself for the scream. And for the contents of her purse
being scattered all over the floor. They would
distract
Harrigan or Baker, but they would not distract him. Carter Mer
rick would be ready.
four floors of fifteen, long enough to scan the lobby once more for potential interference. It was mostly empty now.
Just enough people to make the scene seem normal. A
woman, fortyish and expensively dressed, sat with an open
purse on her lap and a mirror in her hand, probing an eye
with a piece of Kleenex. Lazy rich, he decided, noting
the
carefully done hair that probably covered a tuck scar and the
tan that was the work of several seasons. And probably a
screamer if anything more violent than a fallen souffle hap
pened in her sheltered little life. Merrick mentally prepared
himself for the scream. And for the contents of her purse
being scattered all over the floor. They would
distract
Harrigan or Baker, but they would not distract him. Carter Mer
rick would be ready.
There was one other man, a tourist in a safari jacket, who
stood at the desk of the fruity little clerk, trying to decipher
a Manhattan street map. The clerk was drumming his fingers
and making a face at the tourist's outfit. Neither would be a problem, Merrick decided. He returned his attention to the
elevator dials.
stood at the desk of the fruity little clerk, trying to decipher
a Manhattan street map. The clerk was drumming his fingers
and making a face at the tourist's outfit. Neither would be a problem, Merrick decided. He returned his attention to the
elevator dials.
On the twelfth-floor landing of the fire stairs, Harrigan
paused and raised a hand. He nodded to Baker, who was grunting under the weight of Hackett's body, and pointed silently toward the corner nearest the fire door.
paused and raised a hand. He nodded to Baker, who was grunting under the weight of Hackett's body, and pointed silently toward the corner nearest the fire door.
Jared Baker eased to one knee and allowed the corpse,
now dressed only in Harrigan's worn raincoat and a pair of
socks, to slide from his shoulder. Harrigan crouched and
began arranging the body.
now dressed only in Harrigan's worn raincoat and a pair of
socks, to slide from his shoulder. Harrigan crouched and
began arranging the body.
“What are you doing?” Baker asked, rubbing his burning
shoulders. He tried not to look at the dead man's face.
shoulders. He tried not to look at the dead man's face.
“Confusion to mine enemies,” Connor Harrigan
grunted. He tidied the folds of his raincoat, which he'd do
nated less out of concern for Tanner's emotions than in the hope that the assassin might pass for an hour or two longer as a sleeping drunk. Or better yet a sleeping pervert, which
would cause him to be shunned all the more. Now he drew
up Hackett's knees and folded his arms across them, form
ing a nest that would hide his swollen face. Baker was re
lieved that this was done. Hackett's eyes had begun to open
and the skin beneath them had blackened. The tip of his
tongue was visible through lips that were covered with a
crust of dried foam. The sight was making Baker sick. And
he didn't much like Harrigan for being so comfortable with
the broken remains of a man who had been alive only
hours before.
grunted. He tidied the folds of his raincoat, which he'd do
nated less out of concern for Tanner's emotions than in the hope that the assassin might pass for an hour or two longer as a sleeping drunk. Or better yet a sleeping pervert, which
would cause him to be shunned all the more. Now he drew
up Hackett's knees and folded his arms across them, form
ing a nest that would hide his swollen face. Baker was re
lieved that this was done. Hackett's eyes had begun to open
and the skin beneath them had blackened. The tip of his
tongue was visible through lips that were covered with a
crust of dried foam. The sight was making Baker sick. And
he didn't much like Harrigan for being so comfortable with
the broken remains of a man who had been alive only
hours before.
Harrigan, satisfied with the effect he had created, now
began patting his pockets in search of items he might leave
with the dead man to confuse matters further. Meaningless
little clues that would lead nowhere. An empty airline ticket
envelope, perhaps. Or a matchbook from a California motel.
Ah, but that would be inconsiderate, he decided. No way to
treat the lads of the local precinct who'd be assigned to iden
tify the body of the mysterious Plaza flasher. Simplify, Con
nor. Always simplify. He drew a fiber-tipped pen from his
pocket, and on the back of Hackett's hand he carefully
printed the unlisted phone number of Mr. Duncan Peck.
Pleased with himself, smiling, he rose to his feet. The smile
faded when he saw the look of disgust on the face of Jared
Baker.
began patting his pockets in search of items he might leave
with the dead man to confuse matters further. Meaningless
little clues that would lead nowhere. An empty airline ticket
envelope, perhaps. Or a matchbook from a California motel.
Ah, but that would be inconsiderate, he decided. No way to
treat the lads of the local precinct who'd be assigned to iden
tify the body of the mysterious Plaza flasher. Simplify, Con
nor. Always simplify. He drew a fiber-tipped pen from his
pocket, and on the back of Hackett's hand he carefully
printed the unlisted phone number of Mr. Duncan Peck.
Pleased with himself, smiling, he rose to his feet. The smile
faded when he saw the look of disgust on the face of Jared
Baker.
“This troubles you?” he asked.
Baker told Harrigan with a look that he'd asked a thor
oughly stupid question. ”I have to get going” was all he said.
oughly stupid question. ”I have to get going” was all he said.
“You do get used to it, lad,” Harrigan said softly. “You live with it or you fold, as with any other sorrow.”
“You're more than used to it, Harrigan,” Baker answered
wearily. “You enjoy it. You make a game out of it.” He ges
tured toward Hackett's hand. “Living the way you do isn't
worth the effort.”
wearily. “You enjoy it. You make a game out of it.” He ges
tured toward Hackett's hand. “Living the way you do isn't
worth the effort.”
Harrigan reddened.
His eyes and teeth flashed, and it
seemed for a moment that he might bring the back of his hand across Baker's face. But he only shook his head and
turned away to make a last adjustment to Hackett's position.
His eyes and teeth flashed, and it
seemed for a moment that he might bring the back of his hand across Baker's face. But he only shook his head and
turned away to make a last adjustment to Hackett's position.
“Notice,” he said, standing erect to face the taller man,
“notice how I restrain myself from telling you what a smug son of a bitch you are. Not being in the happy circumstance
of being able to blame some inner beastie for any unpleas
ant behavior on my part, notice how I rise above the insult. I won't even tell you that my little game, as you put it, was
as much to draw the dogs away from Tanner Burke as it was
to cause discomfort for Duncan Peck. I don't tell you these
things because my attention is now focused on the business
of surviving the day and not on the task of preserving my humanity at the cost of my life. You can go to hell, Baker.
You can go to hell and take your two friends with you, which
I suspect is what you have in mind if the beastie will not be
have. But for all our sakes, go to hell tomorrow, not today.
“notice how I restrain myself from telling you what a smug son of a bitch you are. Not being in the happy circumstance
of being able to blame some inner beastie for any unpleas
ant behavior on my part, notice how I rise above the insult. I won't even tell you that my little game, as you put it, was
as much to draw the dogs away from Tanner Burke as it was
to cause discomfort for Duncan Peck. I don't tell you these
things because my attention is now focused on the business
of surviving the day and not on the task of preserving my humanity at the cost of my life. You can go to hell, Baker.
You can go to hell and take your two friends with you, which
I suspect is what you have in mind if the beastie will not be
have. But for all our sakes, go to hell tomorrow, not today.
Today you'd better damn well find your own way to live
with it.” Harrigan brushed past Baker and walked up the
three flights of stairs. Baker followed.
with it.” Harrigan brushed past Baker and walked up the
three flights of stairs. Baker followed.
Baker hesitated at the door of Tanner's room, then
touched Harrigan's shoulder and motioned him down the
carpeted hall toward the elevator alcove. Baker pressed the down button.
touched Harrigan's shoulder and motioned him down the
carpeted hall toward the elevator alcove. Baker pressed the down button.
“You'll watch out for them, Harrigan?” Baker's voice
was subdued.
was subdued.
”I said I would. You look out for you. You're sure you can
draw Peck's people off without getting shot?”
draw Peck's people off without getting shot?”
Baker nodded. “Give me twenty minutes or so. I'll stay
around until I know you and Tanner are clear. Is your car
still downstairs?”
around until I know you and Tanner are clear. Is your car
still downstairs?”
“It should be. A blue Oldsmobile just west of the Park
Lane Hotel. Bend the windshield wipers forward if it's safe
to use.” The elevator hummed to a stop and the doors slid
open. Harrigan placed a hand against them. “You're going to
see Sonnenberg, I take it. It must be damned important to
you if you're trusting both your daughter and Tanner Burke
to a soulless bastard like myself.”
Lane Hotel. Bend the windshield wipers forward if it's safe
to use.” The elevator hummed to a stop and the doors slid
open. Harrigan placed a hand against them. “You're going to
see Sonnenberg, I take it. It must be damned important to
you if you're trusting both your daughter and Tanner Burke
to a soulless bastard like myself.”
Baker lowered his head and stared at his shoes. “I'm
sorry about that,” he said. “What you said about learning to
live with
it...I
haven't found the way yet.”
sorry about that,” he said. “What you said about learning to
live with
it...I
haven't found the way yet.”
“And you think Sonnenberg might have some ideas? He won't let you go, Baker. He didn't go to all this trouble just
to shake hands and wish you godspeed.”
to shake hands and wish you godspeed.”
“I'm not going to give him a choice.”
Harrigan stared at Baker appraisingly, his hand still on
the rubber, reluctant to see Baker leave with so much unan
swered. What could Baker say to Sonnenberg? Threaten
him? With what? There was only violence or exposure. Son
nenberg didn't seem a man easily frightened. As for expo
sure, even assuming Baker knew what there was to expose,
Sonnenberg would simply go underground. Well, he
thought, one thing at a time. Let's see if Jared Baker can
even reach the street before we start planning the rest of his
day.
the rubber, reluctant to see Baker leave with so much unan
swered. What could Baker say to Sonnenberg? Threaten
him? With what? There was only violence or exposure. Son
nenberg didn't seem a man easily frightened. As for expo
sure, even assuming Baker knew what there was to expose,
Sonnenberg would simply go underground. Well, he
thought, one thing at a time. Let's see if Jared Baker can
even reach the street before we start planning the rest of his
day.
“Peck figures to have men in the lobby,” he told Baker.
“
They'll be watching for fifteen to light up. You might have more of an edge if you start from another floor.”
They'll be watching for fifteen to light up. You might have more of an edge if you start from another floor.”
Baker did not respond except that his eyes glazed over
ever so briefly. Harrigan saw that and shrugged. Baker knew
damn well who was where. “The stairs are clean?” Harrigan
asked.
ever so briefly. Harrigan saw that and shrugged. Baker knew
damn well who was where. “The stairs are clean?” Harrigan
asked.
“At the moment.” Baker tapped Harrigan's staying hand and stepped into the car. “But keep Tanner behind you when
you use them.”
you use them.”
Even as the elevator doors closed on Jared Baker, Harri
gan thought he could see his body begin to stiffen.
gan thought he could see his body begin to stiffen.
Carter Merrick watched the indicator as it stopped on fifteen
and stayed there. Too long, he thought. It could have been a
bellhop loading someone's luggage. Maybe. Or maybe
Baker and Harrigan trying to haul Hackett out in a trunk.
Whatever. The indicator began to move. Merrick glanced back at Peterson and cocked his head toward the flashing
light. Peterson nodded and unbuttoned his jacket.
and stayed there. Too long, he thought. It could have been a
bellhop loading someone's luggage. Maybe. Or maybe
Baker and Harrigan trying to haul Hackett out in a trunk.
Whatever. The indicator began to move. Merrick glanced back at Peterson and cocked his head toward the flashing
light. Peterson nodded and unbuttoned his jacket.
The elevator stopped at eight. Someone getting on, Mer
rick hoped. Not Baker or Harrigan getting off. No, they
wouldn't get off on eight. If you'd walk eight flights, you'd
walk fifteen. And if they did, they'd have to come out in the
lobby anyway. Merrick had already jammed the downstairs
fire doors. Nor could they ride to the lower level as long as
Merrick kept the down buttons lit up.
rick hoped. Not Baker or Harrigan getting off. No, they
wouldn't get off on eight. If you'd walk eight flights, you'd
walk fifteen. And if they did, they'd have to come out in the
lobby anyway. Merrick had already jammed the downstairs
fire doors. Nor could they ride to the lower level as long as
Merrick kept the down buttons lit up.
The red lights were moving again. Get ready. Look re
laxed. Look bored. Damn! The screamer with the purse was on her feet and standing too close behind him. And the jerk with the street map was moving into Peterson's line of fire.
Merrick shifted his position and the woman moved with
him. The indicator light passed three. The hell with it. He'd
knock her on her ass if he had to. Merrick dropped his eyes to the elevator threshold and kept them there.
laxed. Look bored. Damn! The screamer with the purse was on her feet and standing too close behind him. And the jerk with the street map was moving into Peterson's line of fire.
Merrick shifted his position and the woman moved with
him. The indicator light passed three. The hell with it. He'd
knock her on her ass if he had to. Merrick dropped his eyes to the elevator threshold and kept them there.
The doors opened abruptly, almost making him jump. Two sets of legs. Don't look up yet, Merrick. Don't look at
their faces. Let them go past you. First man's middle-aged.
Skinny. Gray hair. Not Harrigan. No woman in the car. The
gray-haired man was already stepping by him. Now the sec
ond man. No, he's not moving. Merrick raised his eyes, in
differently he hoped, toward the man who hung back.
Younger. Taller. Yes. Yes, it's Baker—
their faces. Let them go past you. First man's middle-aged.
Skinny. Gray hair. Not Harrigan. No woman in the car. The
gray-haired man was already stepping by him. Now the sec
ond man. No, he's not moving. Merrick raised his eyes, in
differently he hoped, toward the man who hung back.
Younger. Taller. Yes. Yes, it's Baker—
Merrick's mouth fell open. The face he saw was the face in Burleson's photographs except—Jesus! He clawed at the pistol in his open briefcase, stepping backward at the same
time. But he hit something. The woman, damn her, was in
his way. More than that, she was resisting him, leaning into
him. Her hand, oh goddamn it, was reaching under his arm and covering his gun butt.
time. But he hit something. The woman, damn her, was in
his way. More than that, she was resisting him, leaning into
him. Her hand, oh goddamn it, was reaching under his arm and covering his gun butt.
Merrick never saw the hand that snaked to his throat. He
saw only the face. The green wolf eyes behind tinted glasses
and the terrible grin beneath them. He felt his body floating
toward the face as his cheeks and temples swelled, and he
felt his shoe tips stuttering across the carpet. Oh God, the
barred glass doors were sliding closed behind him. Merrick
wanted to scream but could not. He could only kick and
twist and slap against the arm that was holding him, hang
ing him, a full foot off the floor. The face grinned wider at
his efforts. The breath coming from its mouth blew at him in
short, panting bursts, and the temples pulsated from a heart
beat that was impossibly fast. The face faded behind a burst
of light and Merrick remembered nothing more.
saw only the face. The green wolf eyes behind tinted glasses
and the terrible grin beneath them. He felt his body floating
toward the face as his cheeks and temples swelled, and he
felt his shoe tips stuttering across the carpet. Oh God, the
barred glass doors were sliding closed behind him. Merrick
wanted to scream but could not. He could only kick and
twist and slap against the arm that was holding him, hang
ing him, a full foot off the floor. The face grinned wider at
his efforts. The breath coming from its mouth blew at him in
short, panting bursts, and the temples pulsated from a heart
beat that was impossibly fast. The face faded behind a burst
of light and Merrick remembered nothing more.
In the lobby, the tanned woman turned as if bewildered at
the sound of Merrick's partner running toward her from the
revolving door. She saw shock on Peterson's face, but she
saw also that her own face meant nothing to him. She saw
him hesitate, as if unsure of what he'd seen, and then she
saw him back away, slowly at first, then at a run toward the
doors facing Central Park. Melanie Laver relaxed. She al
lowed a small automatic to fall from her fingers and closed her Gucci purse over it. The indicator light read
L
for lower level. Melanie nodded almost imperceptibly to the tourist in
the safari jacket. Roger Hershey folded his street map, shouldered his rucksack, and headed calmly toward the re
volving door. Melanie took the next elevator down.
the sound of Merrick's partner running toward her from the
revolving door. She saw shock on Peterson's face, but she
saw also that her own face meant nothing to him. She saw
him hesitate, as if unsure of what he'd seen, and then she
saw him back away, slowly at first, then at a run toward the
doors facing Central Park. Melanie Laver relaxed. She al
lowed a small automatic to fall from her fingers and closed her Gucci purse over it. The indicator light read
L
for lower level. Melanie nodded almost imperceptibly to the tourist in
the safari jacket. Roger Hershey folded his street map, shouldered his rucksack, and headed calmly toward the re
volving door. Melanie took the next elevator down.
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