Living with the Dead
Page 71
Standing on the sidewalk, looking up at Nast corporate headquarters and instantly disliking it, Finn was aware that this was a conclusion based on stereotyping.
The building annoyed him, plain and simple... maybe because the building itself was not plain or simple. The block was full of historical landmarks, stately and dignified. In their midst, the Nast building looked like a Euro-chic runway model swanning through a room of refined dowagers, contempt in every glance she cast on her elderly neighbors.
Finn guessed that one of these grand old dames had been felled by a wrecking ball to make way for this soaring postmodern blot. Could he overcome that prejudice?
He doubted it.
Though it was Sunday, the lobby lights blazed. When he pulled a door open, it made a sucking sound, as if the vestibule was vacuum sealed. Past the second set of doors, a young man sat behind a stainless steel desk that bore an uncanny resemblance to a morgue gurney. His trim build and suit suggested he was more reception than security, but Finn suspected that was for appearance's sake.
Finn reached for the interior door. Locked. The young man looked up sharply, as if Finn had set off an alarm. There was a whoosh as the door behind him closed tight.
He couldn't help thinking of those movies where a guy walks into a tiny room that seals behind him and slowly fills with poisonous gas. The faintly metallic smell of the cold air blowing down on him didn't help. Nor did the guy at the desk, who watched him, blank-faced as a cyborg.
Finn turned to say something to Damon... and saw him still outside on the sidewalk. He discreetly gestured for Damon to walk in. Damon not-so-discreetly gestured that he couldn't.
Finn opened the outer door, abashedly relieved to see that it would open. Damon walked up to the opening and bounced back. He put his hand out and his palm flattened and whitened, as if pressing against glass.
"Huh," Finn said. "Maybe you're a vampire now. You need to be invited."
"A joke? I'm impressed. We'll need to work on your delivery, though. Right now..." Damon rapped his knuckles against the invisible barrier. "Small problem."
"Is this what happens when Robyn's around?"
Damon's eyes lit with hope, then it faded. "Nah. With Robyn, I get relocated, like a raccoon wandering into the city.
I'll look for another way in."
When Finn stepped back into the vestibule, the guard was still watching him, face still impassive, as if he saw guys leaning out the door talking to themselves all the time. On the Sunday shift, he probably did.
The guard made no move to come to the door or turn on the intercom and ask Finn's business. Even when Finn buzzed, the man continued to sit there.
As Finn raised a hand to buzz again, the man finally pressed a button. A speaker overhead clicked.
"Nast Corporation. How may I help you?"
Finn held his badge to the glass. "Detective John Findlay, LAPD."
For almost twenty seconds, the man sat there, as if waiting for a better explanation. Finally, he pressed another button and the door opened.
As Finn approached the desk, the young man sat robot straight, his eyes gray ball bearings fixed on Finn's forehead.
"I'm looking for this man." Finn lifted a cropped version of the photo, without the girl. "I've been told it's Irving Nast."
The guard's gaze flickered across the image. "I couldn't say, sir. The photo quality appears degraded."
"Let's pretend it is Mr. Nast, then. I need to speak to him. His wife said he was in the office this morning."
"Mr. Nast has left for the day."
"Could you check that? Call his office for me?"
Those ball bearings bored holes over Finn's eyebrows. The young man waved at the computer display embedded in his desktop. "Our security system monitors all access. Mr. Nast used his code to exit the rear doors at 11:23 and did not
reuse it to enter."
"All right. Then I'll take his cell phone number."
"I'm not at liberty to divulge that information."
"This is a matter of some delicacy," Finn said, in the same measured tone. "I'm sure Mr. Nast would prefer I didn't call on him at home. Why don't you call him and ask if you can give me the number. Or call and hand me the phone."
"Mr. Nast has left for the day. I don't expect him to return. It's Sunday."
"Which is why I'm asking for his number."
The guard checked his display screen. "Oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Nast is unavailable this weekend."
"Has he left town?"
The young man's lips pressed together for – yes, Finn counted – eight seconds. "I'm not privy to the personal plans of our employees, sir. Mr. Irving Nast has indicated he is unavailable this weekend and if a situation requiring executive attention arises, it should be directed to another vice president. Would you like me to do that for you?"
At the sound of footsteps, Finn looked to see a man striding from the elevators. He was midtwenties, tall and slender, carrying a briefcase and wearing a navy-striped crewneck and dark jeans. Finn pegged him as a fresh MBA.
Part of that expensive education should have taught him that as important as it was to put in overtime, corporate success was just as dependent on image, and the casual look and blond ponytail wasn't going to score him any points with upper management, even on a Sunday.
"Sir?"
Finn looked back at the guard.
"Would you like me to contact an alternate executive?"
"I don't think that would help with my investigation and I'd hate to waste anyone's time. It's very important that I speak to Irving Nast himself, and I can't wait for tomorrow, not on a case that involves four murders, including the deaths of two LAPD officers."
"I'm quite certain Mr. Nast would know nothing about that."
"I'm sure you're right." Finn sucked the sarcasm from his words. "I still need to speak to him."
"Let me contact Josef Nast for you. He's our CFO. Perhaps he can – "
"I don't think you understand. The CFO – "
" – will really not want to be bothered on a Sunday," said the young ponytailed man from behind Finn. "My uncle Josef is at church, as I'm sure your schedule shows, Mark."
The clerk jerked up, like a soldier snapping to attention. In the consternation that crossed his face, Finn saw the first proof that the man was indeed flesh and blood.
The building annoyed him, plain and simple... maybe because the building itself was not plain or simple. The block was full of historical landmarks, stately and dignified. In their midst, the Nast building looked like a Euro-chic runway model swanning through a room of refined dowagers, contempt in every glance she cast on her elderly neighbors.
Finn guessed that one of these grand old dames had been felled by a wrecking ball to make way for this soaring postmodern blot. Could he overcome that prejudice?
He doubted it.
Though it was Sunday, the lobby lights blazed. When he pulled a door open, it made a sucking sound, as if the vestibule was vacuum sealed. Past the second set of doors, a young man sat behind a stainless steel desk that bore an uncanny resemblance to a morgue gurney. His trim build and suit suggested he was more reception than security, but Finn suspected that was for appearance's sake.
Finn reached for the interior door. Locked. The young man looked up sharply, as if Finn had set off an alarm. There was a whoosh as the door behind him closed tight.
He couldn't help thinking of those movies where a guy walks into a tiny room that seals behind him and slowly fills with poisonous gas. The faintly metallic smell of the cold air blowing down on him didn't help. Nor did the guy at the desk, who watched him, blank-faced as a cyborg.
Finn turned to say something to Damon... and saw him still outside on the sidewalk. He discreetly gestured for Damon to walk in. Damon not-so-discreetly gestured that he couldn't.
Finn opened the outer door, abashedly relieved to see that it would open. Damon walked up to the opening and bounced back. He put his hand out and his palm flattened and whitened, as if pressing against glass.
"Huh," Finn said. "Maybe you're a vampire now. You need to be invited."
"A joke? I'm impressed. We'll need to work on your delivery, though. Right now..." Damon rapped his knuckles against the invisible barrier. "Small problem."
"Is this what happens when Robyn's around?"
Damon's eyes lit with hope, then it faded. "Nah. With Robyn, I get relocated, like a raccoon wandering into the city.
I'll look for another way in."
When Finn stepped back into the vestibule, the guard was still watching him, face still impassive, as if he saw guys leaning out the door talking to themselves all the time. On the Sunday shift, he probably did.
The guard made no move to come to the door or turn on the intercom and ask Finn's business. Even when Finn buzzed, the man continued to sit there.
As Finn raised a hand to buzz again, the man finally pressed a button. A speaker overhead clicked.
"Nast Corporation. How may I help you?"
Finn held his badge to the glass. "Detective John Findlay, LAPD."
For almost twenty seconds, the man sat there, as if waiting for a better explanation. Finally, he pressed another button and the door opened.
As Finn approached the desk, the young man sat robot straight, his eyes gray ball bearings fixed on Finn's forehead.
"I'm looking for this man." Finn lifted a cropped version of the photo, without the girl. "I've been told it's Irving Nast."
The guard's gaze flickered across the image. "I couldn't say, sir. The photo quality appears degraded."
"Let's pretend it is Mr. Nast, then. I need to speak to him. His wife said he was in the office this morning."
"Mr. Nast has left for the day."
"Could you check that? Call his office for me?"
Those ball bearings bored holes over Finn's eyebrows. The young man waved at the computer display embedded in his desktop. "Our security system monitors all access. Mr. Nast used his code to exit the rear doors at 11:23 and did not
reuse it to enter."
"All right. Then I'll take his cell phone number."
"I'm not at liberty to divulge that information."
"This is a matter of some delicacy," Finn said, in the same measured tone. "I'm sure Mr. Nast would prefer I didn't call on him at home. Why don't you call him and ask if you can give me the number. Or call and hand me the phone."
"Mr. Nast has left for the day. I don't expect him to return. It's Sunday."
"Which is why I'm asking for his number."
The guard checked his display screen. "Oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Nast is unavailable this weekend."
"Has he left town?"
The young man's lips pressed together for – yes, Finn counted – eight seconds. "I'm not privy to the personal plans of our employees, sir. Mr. Irving Nast has indicated he is unavailable this weekend and if a situation requiring executive attention arises, it should be directed to another vice president. Would you like me to do that for you?"
At the sound of footsteps, Finn looked to see a man striding from the elevators. He was midtwenties, tall and slender, carrying a briefcase and wearing a navy-striped crewneck and dark jeans. Finn pegged him as a fresh MBA.
Part of that expensive education should have taught him that as important as it was to put in overtime, corporate success was just as dependent on image, and the casual look and blond ponytail wasn't going to score him any points with upper management, even on a Sunday.
"Sir?"
Finn looked back at the guard.
"Would you like me to contact an alternate executive?"
"I don't think that would help with my investigation and I'd hate to waste anyone's time. It's very important that I speak to Irving Nast himself, and I can't wait for tomorrow, not on a case that involves four murders, including the deaths of two LAPD officers."
"I'm quite certain Mr. Nast would know nothing about that."
"I'm sure you're right." Finn sucked the sarcasm from his words. "I still need to speak to him."
"Let me contact Josef Nast for you. He's our CFO. Perhaps he can – "
"I don't think you understand. The CFO – "
" – will really not want to be bothered on a Sunday," said the young ponytailed man from behind Finn. "My uncle Josef is at church, as I'm sure your schedule shows, Mark."
The clerk jerked up, like a soldier snapping to attention. In the consternation that crossed his face, Finn saw the first proof that the man was indeed flesh and blood.
