Industrial Magic
Page 65
Sure. Does this happen a lot?
Is three or four times a week a lot?
Are you serious?
She nodded. Now, I have to admit, most arent middle-aged admirers, just folks who want me to contact someone for them. I dont do private consultations, but people dont believe me. They think they just arent offering enough money. There was this woman once, a friend of Nancy Reagans. You remember Nancyor are you too young for that?
She had a thing for psychics. Id read this somewhere, having been in preschool during the Reagan administration, but I doubted Jaime would appreciate a reminder of our age difference.
Well, Nancy had this friendIs this where were parked?
Next lot.
Jesus, my memory latelyI swear, the holes are getting bigger.
We walked into the parking lot. Though it was midday, tall buildings surrounded the tiny strip of land, wrapping it in shadow.
What? Buggers too cheap for hydro? Jaime said, squinting into the half-filled lot. Hey, our city has only the second-highest crime rate in the nation. When we hit number one, well celebrate by springing for security lights.
Id cast a light spell, I murmured. But I hear footsteps.
As Jaime shoulder-checked, a car door slammed. We both jumped.
I didnt see a car turn in here, did you? I said.
She shook her head. I glanced around, but saw no one.
Lets just Jaime began.
The slam of a second door cut her off. She followed the noise and swore under her breath.
Walk fast and dont look, she whispered. Two very big guys bearing down fast.
How big?
Huge.
I stopped and turned around. Hey, Troy.
Troy lifted his sunglasses onto his head. Hey, Paige. Morris, this is Paige.
The temp bodyguard was the same one whod been at the courthouse yesterday. He was several inches shorter than Troy, broader in the shoulders, and black, which ruined the whole bookend-bodyguard effect. Morris did, however, share Griffins stone-faced demeanor, responding to the introduction with a nod so abrupt I thought it might be a hiccup.
Across the lot, our middle-aged stalker headed for a Mercedes. Troy lifted a hand in greeting. The man waved back, confirming what Id only just suspected, that he was a Cabal employee sent to follow not Jaime, but me.
I completed the introductions by identifying Jaime. Troy smiled and shook her hand.
The celebrity necro, he said. Pleased to meet you.
Uh, thanks, Jaime said, surreptitiously tucking in the back of her T-shirt. So Im guessing you guys are Cabal security?
Benicios bodyguards, I said.And Im guessing the boss is in the SUV waiting for me.
Yeah, different city, same plan. I told you, he likes routine.
Benicio Cortez? Here? Jaime glanced at the Cadillac SUV. Oh, shit.
Its more like aww, shit, I said. Now comes the boring part. I have to send Troy back to say I want Benicio to come here, then hell insist I come there, and poor Troy will get his daily dose of jogging running between us.
Troy grinned. True, but the good part is that its definitely not routine. Most times, when I say Mr. Cortez wants to speak to someone, they trip over me running to get to him.
Its getting late, so let me make this easy on you. Wait here and Ill see what he wants.
I walked to the SUV, tapped the rear window, and motioned for the driver to lower it. Instead, Benicio opened the door.
Come around the other side and get in please, Paige.
No, thanks. I held the door open and stepped into the gap. Let me guess: The clinic called you when I showed up, then you had one of your security guys hang around outside and follow me when I left.
I wanted to speak
Im not done. My point was that you knew the moment you got that call that Lucas wasnt with me, and hed already told you he wasnt happy about your approaching me in Portland. So now, when hes probably never been more pissed off with you, you decide this is a good time to follow me into an empty parking lot, corner me, and strong-arm me into talking to you.
I would like to speak
Am I talking to myself? Did you hear anything I just said? No, forget it. You go ahead and talk, and then Lucas will find out about it, and you can save yourself one place setting at Christmas dinner for the next umpteen years. I tried to stop there, but couldnt help adding, Do you have any idea how upset he is right now?
Having my phone calls automatically blocked was a good clue. I want to explain myself, but I cant do that if he wont speak to me. So I hoped perhaps I could speak to you instead.
I shook my head. I wont be your go-between.
Im not asking for that. What Im saying is that I recognize youre a full partner in Lucass life and in this investigation, and Im speaking to you as such. Youre an intelligent young
Dont, I said. Dont insult me and dont play me. You have something to say? Fine. But youll say it to both of us. Youll follow me back to the hotel and Ill take you to Lucas. Well tell him you met up with us outside the clinic and, seeing he wasnt with me, you asked if you could speak to us both at the hotel.
Is three or four times a week a lot?
Are you serious?
She nodded. Now, I have to admit, most arent middle-aged admirers, just folks who want me to contact someone for them. I dont do private consultations, but people dont believe me. They think they just arent offering enough money. There was this woman once, a friend of Nancy Reagans. You remember Nancyor are you too young for that?
She had a thing for psychics. Id read this somewhere, having been in preschool during the Reagan administration, but I doubted Jaime would appreciate a reminder of our age difference.
Well, Nancy had this friendIs this where were parked?
Next lot.
Jesus, my memory latelyI swear, the holes are getting bigger.
We walked into the parking lot. Though it was midday, tall buildings surrounded the tiny strip of land, wrapping it in shadow.
What? Buggers too cheap for hydro? Jaime said, squinting into the half-filled lot. Hey, our city has only the second-highest crime rate in the nation. When we hit number one, well celebrate by springing for security lights.
Id cast a light spell, I murmured. But I hear footsteps.
As Jaime shoulder-checked, a car door slammed. We both jumped.
I didnt see a car turn in here, did you? I said.
She shook her head. I glanced around, but saw no one.
Lets just Jaime began.
The slam of a second door cut her off. She followed the noise and swore under her breath.
Walk fast and dont look, she whispered. Two very big guys bearing down fast.
How big?
Huge.
I stopped and turned around. Hey, Troy.
Troy lifted his sunglasses onto his head. Hey, Paige. Morris, this is Paige.
The temp bodyguard was the same one whod been at the courthouse yesterday. He was several inches shorter than Troy, broader in the shoulders, and black, which ruined the whole bookend-bodyguard effect. Morris did, however, share Griffins stone-faced demeanor, responding to the introduction with a nod so abrupt I thought it might be a hiccup.
Across the lot, our middle-aged stalker headed for a Mercedes. Troy lifted a hand in greeting. The man waved back, confirming what Id only just suspected, that he was a Cabal employee sent to follow not Jaime, but me.
I completed the introductions by identifying Jaime. Troy smiled and shook her hand.
The celebrity necro, he said. Pleased to meet you.
Uh, thanks, Jaime said, surreptitiously tucking in the back of her T-shirt. So Im guessing you guys are Cabal security?
Benicios bodyguards, I said.And Im guessing the boss is in the SUV waiting for me.
Yeah, different city, same plan. I told you, he likes routine.
Benicio Cortez? Here? Jaime glanced at the Cadillac SUV. Oh, shit.
Its more like aww, shit, I said. Now comes the boring part. I have to send Troy back to say I want Benicio to come here, then hell insist I come there, and poor Troy will get his daily dose of jogging running between us.
Troy grinned. True, but the good part is that its definitely not routine. Most times, when I say Mr. Cortez wants to speak to someone, they trip over me running to get to him.
Its getting late, so let me make this easy on you. Wait here and Ill see what he wants.
I walked to the SUV, tapped the rear window, and motioned for the driver to lower it. Instead, Benicio opened the door.
Come around the other side and get in please, Paige.
No, thanks. I held the door open and stepped into the gap. Let me guess: The clinic called you when I showed up, then you had one of your security guys hang around outside and follow me when I left.
I wanted to speak
Im not done. My point was that you knew the moment you got that call that Lucas wasnt with me, and hed already told you he wasnt happy about your approaching me in Portland. So now, when hes probably never been more pissed off with you, you decide this is a good time to follow me into an empty parking lot, corner me, and strong-arm me into talking to you.
I would like to speak
Am I talking to myself? Did you hear anything I just said? No, forget it. You go ahead and talk, and then Lucas will find out about it, and you can save yourself one place setting at Christmas dinner for the next umpteen years. I tried to stop there, but couldnt help adding, Do you have any idea how upset he is right now?
Having my phone calls automatically blocked was a good clue. I want to explain myself, but I cant do that if he wont speak to me. So I hoped perhaps I could speak to you instead.
I shook my head. I wont be your go-between.
Im not asking for that. What Im saying is that I recognize youre a full partner in Lucass life and in this investigation, and Im speaking to you as such. Youre an intelligent young
Dont, I said. Dont insult me and dont play me. You have something to say? Fine. But youll say it to both of us. Youll follow me back to the hotel and Ill take you to Lucas. Well tell him you met up with us outside the clinic and, seeing he wasnt with me, you asked if you could speak to us both at the hotel.
