Industrial Magic
Page 66
Thank you.
Im not doing it for you.
The Usual Suspects
INSTEAD OF HAVING BENICIO FOLLOW US, I DECIDED TO ride with him and let Jaime follow us in her rental car. I had questions, not about why hed betrayed Lucas, but about the investigation. When Lucas saw his father hed be too upset to ask about the case, so Id do it for him.
Benicio confirmed that the Cabals had resumed their investigation. After Joey Nasts death, theyd changed tactics. No longer content to follow the clues, theyd rounded up the usual suspectsanyone known to have a beef with the Cabalsand were trying to extract clues.
Extract? I said, the blood draining from my face. You mean torture.
Benicio paused. The Cabals do employ intense interrogation techniques. I would hesitate to use the word tortureBut you must understand, Paige, the pressure that the Cabals are under. Not just the pressure, but the fear, the feelings of impotence. Do I think this is the best way to proceed? No. But Id be hard-pressed to find members of my board who agree. The Nasts are in charge of the investigation now.
Because of Joey.
Correct. He gazed out the side window for a moment, then turned to me. Until last month, the Nasts New York office was in the World Trade Center.
Did they lose?
Twenty-seven people, out of a staff of thirty-five. The Cabalswe place ourselves above such things. We may kill one another but, as supernaturals, we have little to fear from the outside world. If we are attacked, we have the resources to strike back. But what happened last month He shook his head. Theres no revenge for that, and the Nasts are damned if theyre going to be victimized again. He looked at me. You cant concern yourself with our side of the investigation, Paige, because you cant stop it.
I can if I find the killer.
He looked at me, then nodded.
I didnt lie to Lucas. As he so often reminds me, Im horrible at it. The best I could do was omit damning details about my encounter with Benicio, and slant the story so hed draw the conclusion that his father had expected Lucas and me to be together. Did he buy it? Probably not, but since I was obviously intent on brokering peace, Lucas decided not to stall the negotiations with a fresh injury complaint.
Once Id secured Lucass approval, I phoned down to Benicio in the lobby and invited him up. Since this was family business, I suggested Jaime take Troy and Morris to the hotel restaurant for coffee. Troy agreed, but Morris decided to wait in the hall.
Less than a minute after I hung up, Benicio rapped at the door. Lucas opened it. Before he could get in so much as a greeting, Lucas cut him short.
Having renewed the investigation, Paige and I are committed to using all available resources. If you agree to communicate only for the purpose of sharing our findings, I will accept your calls. I trust that whatever leak led to the raid on Everett Webers house has been repaired.
You have my word
Right now, I could have your blood oath and still not believe you. Perhaps instead you will take my word. If you lie to me again and another person dies because of it, we are through.
Lucas, I want to explain
Yes, I know you do, which leads me to my next request. I dont want to hear your explanation. I know perfectly well what happened. You made an executive decision. To your mind, Weber was obviously guilty and I was questioning that simply because it is my nature to question. Therefore, given the choice between indulging your sons quixotic whims and saving the Cabal from embarrassment, you chose the Cabal.
He paused. Benicio opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Lucas continued. I would like copies of the crime-scene reports for Matthew Tucker and Joey Nast.
Uh, yes, certainly. Ill courier them over right away.
Thank you. Lucas walked to the door and opened it. Good day.
Are you angry with me? I asked after Benicio left.
He blinked, his surprise at the question answering. For what?
Bringing your father here.
Lucas shook his head and put his arms around mywaist. I needed to get those case files, but I have been, Im afraid, avoiding making the call.
How are you holding up? I asked.
Besides feeling like an idiot? After twenty-five years of experience, I consider myself a reasonably good judge of my fathers capacity for deception, and yet I never once suspected he wasnt lobbying to get us an audience with Weber. I cant believe I was that stupid.
Well, I certainly dont know him anywhere near as well as you do, but I never doubted his intentions, either. He knew you were upset about the raid, so naturally hed want to get back in your good books by going to bat for you on Weber. It made sense to me.
Thank you, he said, kissing the top of my head.
Im not just saying that to make you feel better.
A crooked smile. I know. Thats one thing I can count on, that you always tell me the truth. With my father, I know hes not the most trustworthy of men, but I He paused. I cant help wanting a closer relationship, like we had when I was young. I feel like we should have that again and, somehow, that the onus for reestablishing it falls to me.
Im not doing it for you.
The Usual Suspects
INSTEAD OF HAVING BENICIO FOLLOW US, I DECIDED TO ride with him and let Jaime follow us in her rental car. I had questions, not about why hed betrayed Lucas, but about the investigation. When Lucas saw his father hed be too upset to ask about the case, so Id do it for him.
Benicio confirmed that the Cabals had resumed their investigation. After Joey Nasts death, theyd changed tactics. No longer content to follow the clues, theyd rounded up the usual suspectsanyone known to have a beef with the Cabalsand were trying to extract clues.
Extract? I said, the blood draining from my face. You mean torture.
Benicio paused. The Cabals do employ intense interrogation techniques. I would hesitate to use the word tortureBut you must understand, Paige, the pressure that the Cabals are under. Not just the pressure, but the fear, the feelings of impotence. Do I think this is the best way to proceed? No. But Id be hard-pressed to find members of my board who agree. The Nasts are in charge of the investigation now.
Because of Joey.
Correct. He gazed out the side window for a moment, then turned to me. Until last month, the Nasts New York office was in the World Trade Center.
Did they lose?
Twenty-seven people, out of a staff of thirty-five. The Cabalswe place ourselves above such things. We may kill one another but, as supernaturals, we have little to fear from the outside world. If we are attacked, we have the resources to strike back. But what happened last month He shook his head. Theres no revenge for that, and the Nasts are damned if theyre going to be victimized again. He looked at me. You cant concern yourself with our side of the investigation, Paige, because you cant stop it.
I can if I find the killer.
He looked at me, then nodded.
I didnt lie to Lucas. As he so often reminds me, Im horrible at it. The best I could do was omit damning details about my encounter with Benicio, and slant the story so hed draw the conclusion that his father had expected Lucas and me to be together. Did he buy it? Probably not, but since I was obviously intent on brokering peace, Lucas decided not to stall the negotiations with a fresh injury complaint.
Once Id secured Lucass approval, I phoned down to Benicio in the lobby and invited him up. Since this was family business, I suggested Jaime take Troy and Morris to the hotel restaurant for coffee. Troy agreed, but Morris decided to wait in the hall.
Less than a minute after I hung up, Benicio rapped at the door. Lucas opened it. Before he could get in so much as a greeting, Lucas cut him short.
Having renewed the investigation, Paige and I are committed to using all available resources. If you agree to communicate only for the purpose of sharing our findings, I will accept your calls. I trust that whatever leak led to the raid on Everett Webers house has been repaired.
You have my word
Right now, I could have your blood oath and still not believe you. Perhaps instead you will take my word. If you lie to me again and another person dies because of it, we are through.
Lucas, I want to explain
Yes, I know you do, which leads me to my next request. I dont want to hear your explanation. I know perfectly well what happened. You made an executive decision. To your mind, Weber was obviously guilty and I was questioning that simply because it is my nature to question. Therefore, given the choice between indulging your sons quixotic whims and saving the Cabal from embarrassment, you chose the Cabal.
He paused. Benicio opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Lucas continued. I would like copies of the crime-scene reports for Matthew Tucker and Joey Nast.
Uh, yes, certainly. Ill courier them over right away.
Thank you. Lucas walked to the door and opened it. Good day.
Are you angry with me? I asked after Benicio left.
He blinked, his surprise at the question answering. For what?
Bringing your father here.
Lucas shook his head and put his arms around mywaist. I needed to get those case files, but I have been, Im afraid, avoiding making the call.
How are you holding up? I asked.
Besides feeling like an idiot? After twenty-five years of experience, I consider myself a reasonably good judge of my fathers capacity for deception, and yet I never once suspected he wasnt lobbying to get us an audience with Weber. I cant believe I was that stupid.
Well, I certainly dont know him anywhere near as well as you do, but I never doubted his intentions, either. He knew you were upset about the raid, so naturally hed want to get back in your good books by going to bat for you on Weber. It made sense to me.
Thank you, he said, kissing the top of my head.
Im not just saying that to make you feel better.
A crooked smile. I know. Thats one thing I can count on, that you always tell me the truth. With my father, I know hes not the most trustworthy of men, but I He paused. I cant help wanting a closer relationship, like we had when I was young. I feel like we should have that again and, somehow, that the onus for reestablishing it falls to me.
