The Negotiator Page 27

  “How did Peter typically react when he found out?” Dave asked.

  “Furious, of course. He’d rant on about his authority and order us not to follow such substandard practices, but there was little he could do to enforce that edict. Nathan was the boss, after all.”

  “And Nathan made the banks more human,” Kate observed.

  “Not always good business, I know. But the personal touches were Nathan’s way of doing business.”

  “Is there a time stamp on the fax, when it was sent?” She asked.

  Mr. Tanner scanned the document. “Tuesday, 10:48 A.M.”

  “Where does Wilshire Construction stand now?” Dave followed up.

  “We put through the ninety-day extension when we received the fax Tuesday morning.”

  “Would you know why Nathan and/or Devlon was raising money?” Dave asked.

  “It’s not exactly hidden knowledge that Devlon would have liked Nathan to take the Union Group’s banks public. The stock he hopes to receive in such a situation would be worth millions. Every few years he was able to convince Nathan to tighten policies, raise more cash, to get the banks ready for such a move.”

  “Nathan used the cash to go buy another bank instead?”

  The manager smiled. “Exactly. Nathan was content to keep the banks under private ownership.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Tanner. You’ve been very helpful.”

  Kate waited until they were back in the car. “Tony didn’t have a reason to kill Nathan Young; the loan had been extended.”

  “He was still being blackmailed, and he couldn’t make those payoffs even with a loan extension,” Dave pointed out.

  “True,” Kate conceded, “but who was really blackmailing him? Nathan or Ashcroft? And what do you want to bet Devlon now convinces the widow she would be better off a multimillionaire, that it’s time to take the banks public?”

  “Probably. But how does that relate to Tony? He’s the one getting blackmailed.”

  Kate sighed. “I don’t know.”

  “Where to now?”

  “Back to your place. I want to look at the files again. I missed something; I know it.”

  “Kate, you need to get some sleep.”

  “Later.”

  “Try now. Lean your seat back; you can get a thirty-minute nap on the way back to the house.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Kate, go to sleep.”

  It was his look as much as his words that made her chuckle and recline her seat.

  “Good night.”

  Kate sorted through the boxes in the formal dining room and pulled out two to take over to the table, following a hunch.

  Dave leaned against the dining room table beside her. “What are you looking for?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll know when I see it.”

  “I’ll get you an early lunch.”

  “Thanks.” She barely noticed when he ruffled her hair before he walked away.

  He came back with two plates, sandwiches and fruit, and took a seat beside her.

  “The explosives.” She took a bite of the sandwich he had brought her as she paged through the file. “These are Wilshire Construction’s invoices. There should be something here.”

  “How does that help Tony? Proving the explosives used in the bombing were shipped to Wilshire Construction just tightens the case against him.”

  “Only if he took them.”

  She pulled some paperwork from the file with a frown. “They bought two lots of explosives for the same demolition. That’s interesting. Look at the dates and project codes.”

  It took Dave time to trace through the paperwork. “It looks like one shipment went to the subcontractor doing the work; the other appears to have disappeared. It’s not in the inventory or the shipment log as being returned. There is a receiving slip for the shipment on April 5; we’ve got an inventory audit on…April 8. The lot is missing.”

  “Any signatures?”

  “The receiving clerk and the supply manager, nothing unusual. Those signatures are on 80 percent of the paperwork here.”

  She looked over at the boxes. “Dave, hand me that top far left box. Henry Lott kept all his old timecards.”

  “You don’t think…”

  “April 5 to April 8.”

  They split the stack and thumbed through the timecards looking for the right dates. Dave found two, she found one. “He worked security those three nights.”

  Dave got to his feet. “Come on, Kate, let’s go see Henry.”

  Kate leaned against the one-way glass as she watched Henry Lott. They had decided it was best if Graham did the interview. Henry still looked angry, bitter, much as he had at the bank. Kate was grateful she didn’t have to hide what she was thinking and pretend to like him at the moment.

  “Henry, we know the explosives that brought down the plane came from Wilshire Construction. We know you worked security the three nights when they were taken. Do you really want to be an accessory to 214 murders? Who was around the site those nights, Henry?” Graham’s voice sounded slightly hollow through the audio feed.

  “He told me to look the other way. Paid me a grand. Cash.”

  “Who, Henry? Who told you to look the other way?”

  “Ashcroft.”

  “Blame a dead guy. That’s real smart, Henry.”

  “I’m telling you the truth. Ashcroft shows up, tells me to look the other way, mind my own business, and he pays me a grand to do it. I don’t want the grand, but I don’t want the trouble either. He’s a mean one, Ashcroft. So I looked the other way.”

  “Just like you used to do in the old days, huh, Henry? Turn your head and mind your own business? Is that how you knew they were moving drug money back before Ashcroft went to jail?”

  Kate glanced at Dave. It was enough. “Ashcroft taking the explosives puts him deeply involved.”

  “He’s still dead, Kate.”

  They had enough for a warrant to search Ashcroft’s home. Kate didn’t know what she hoped to find. Evidence being used to blackmail Tony, something to suggest where it was.

  What they found was an apartment of a man who had thought he was traveling to New York for a few days. The place was neat, orderly. The draperies had been closed; the refrigerator had been emptied of perishables and the trash taken out.

  The answering machine flashed several times showing messages.

  A dead man’s home always felt slightly…wrong.

  She played the answering machine messages, found nothing there, and then played the introduction message, hoping to find she recognized Ashcroft’s voice. To her profound disappointment, there was no introduction message recorded, just the recorder beep.

  She followed Dave through the rooms as they decided where to begin.

  Within an hour, Kate stopped expecting they would find anything. Ashcroft didn’t keep even general financial records such as cable bills, magazine subscriptions, and ATM slips. There was no trace of a safe-deposit box key, anything to indicate other places he might store records.

  There were no address or appointment books, no calendars. It was possible they had been with him on the plane, but Kate figured it was more likely Ashcroft’s habit to write nothing down.

  “Anything?”

  She looked up from the last drawer in the desk. “No. You?” Dave had begun in the living room, then moved to the bedroom.

  “No.”

  Kate sighed and looked around the room for anything she might have missed. “We’ve got another dead end.”

  “The press will show up here soon; we should go. The guys from downtown can finish this.”

  She nodded, knowing Dave was right. She walked back with him to the car. “This is getting depressing.”

  “We know a little more. Ashcroft was expecting to go to New York for a few days.”

  “It’s as good an alibi as any. If Nathan had gotten on his private jet carrying that briefcase, he, his wife, and Devlon would have been killed, and we would have natura
lly been looking at Ashcroft, only to find we had him on security tapes sitting at the MetroAir gate.”

  “Exactly. I’m sorry, but none of this really helps Tony.”

  “I know.” She sighed. “We’ve got to explain what happened without Tony being part of the story. I really do think it’s there. I just don’t see it.”

  He put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a hug. “You’re trying, Kate. That’s what matters. I’m proud of you.”

  She really hated the fact she blushed. “Really?”

  “You’re acting on the hope he’s innocent. That can’t be easy given how much the evidence suggests otherwise.”

  “He’s family, Dave. Not the kind of relative I would have chosen, but he’s family. He’s going to get every benefit of the doubt I can give him.”

  “Jennifer, if you’re going to prune my roses for me, at least cut yourself a couple bouquets to take inside. You’re embarrassing me.” Dave handed her a glass of ice tea as he joined her.

  Jennifer smiled. “They are so beautiful. I’m just enjoying the chance to work with them. This is pure therapy. Where’s Kate?”

  “I hope she’s taking a nap, but I somehow doubt it. She’s probably back in the files again. I wish I had something to offer her, but I’m just as stumped as she is.”

  “She’s like this when something about a case is bugging her. Don’t worry about it. She can conserve energy better than anyone I have ever met.”

  Dave cut her one of the American Beauty roses. “I’m glad you agreed to stay here. Kate needs the diversion. She literally lit up when she saw you arrive.”

  “I’m the favorite of all the O’Malleys, didn’t you know that?”

  He laughed at her tongue-in-cheek reply. “I think you might be, if only because they’re relieved you are the youngest, not them.”

  “Do you have any idea what it was like to have six guardians?”

  “Stephen wouldn’t be so bad. And having Kate for a roommate had to be an adventure. But Marcus? How did you ever get a date past him?”

  “Put them all together and they were pretty intimidating.” Jennifer smiled and turned her attention to the white roses. “Could I tag along with you to church in the morning?”

  “Sure. Services are at ten o’clock.”

  “Thanks.”

  Dave crouched down beside her to gather up the cuttings. “How do you think Kate will react if I invite her to come?” It was a casual question, but one he carefully weighed asking. He was aware Jennifer paused, studying him a moment before answering.

  “She’s the type who will invite herself if she’s interested. But I’m planning to ask her.”

  “I don’t mean to ask behind her back, but is she interested in Jesus, Jennifer? Or has the bombing pushed away that interest?”

  Jennifer rocked back on her heels. “Dave, she has to get to the point she can trust Him. She’s not there yet. It’s not just the confusing realities such as why God allowed the plane to be bombed, or the difficulty in following commands like ‘love your enemies.’ Those are there, but ultimately, with Kate, it’s personal. She has rarely heard ‘I love you’ where it was meant without strings. Give her some time to realize Jesus means it.”

  “Her childhood.”

  “Exactly. It was pretty rough.”

  “I’ve been figuring that out.”

  “There’s hope for her. The Lord won’t change what He means with ‘I love you.’ Kate’s the type that will keep testing it until she figures that out.”

  “I had figured it would be understanding justice, mercy, and the rest.”

  Jennifer chuckled. “Oh, she’ll challenge you for answers and explanations on all kinds of tough questions. She’s nothing if not logical, and she expects to find out answers to questions or at least understand the theological knot. Giving her a simplistic answer is the worst thing you can do. But the bottom line with Kate is whether someone really is who he presents himself to be.”

  “I’m sorry God used something so difficult as your cancer to push Kate to look at the gospel.”

  “You noticed that, too? I didn’t mention it to her.”

  “I noticed. What do you want me to pray for, Jennifer?”

  “That God gives me enough time to complete this mission.”

  He understood it, what would be closest to her heart. “To lead all the O’Malleys to Jesus.”

  “Yes. Kate’s the first nick in the wall. When she comes around, there will be two of us to convince the third. When the third believes, the fourth becomes easier to convince.”

  Dave chuckled. “And here I thought Kate was the plotter.”

  “I’m the youngest one in the family, remember? I know how to get things done.”

  “Here you two are. I wondered where you had disappeared.”

  Dave turned to see Kate crossing the patio. “Come convince Jennifer to cut herself a bouquet of flowers.”

  “How about a bouquet of pink ones, Jen? They would look great in the living room.”

  Jennifer nodded and began to cut the bouquet. “They would.”

  “Sara and Adam are planning to come over for lunch tomorrow. Anything in particular you two would like fixed on the grill? Ribs? Pork chops?”

  “You’re brave enough to fix ribs?” Jennifer asked, glancing up.

  “Sure. Think Marcus and rest of the family would be willing to join us?”

  “Jack and Stephen are off duty; Lisa would be the only question mark,” Jennifer said.

  “I’ll ask them,” Kate offered.

  Dave heard the pager. It startled him, and he tensed as he realized it was Kate’s pager going off.

  She reached down and shut it off, reading the number as she reached for her cellular phone. She dialed. “Yes, Jim.”

  Dave watched her eyes shadow. “Of course. I’m on my way.”

  She closed the phone and studied it for a moment before looking up at him. “Can I borrow your car?”

  “About this case?”

  “No. It’s unrelated. They’ve got a standoff, and I’m the closest.” She looked at him quietly, waiting.

  She couldn’t tell him details; he knew that from dozens of his own cases. He wasn’t ready for this, but he had to be. She was going back into danger because it was her job to do so. It was a test, not one she had asked to create, but one that was suddenly there between them. “Can you duck the press?”

  “Jim said he would make sure my name stays off the radio.”

  He reached in his pocket, found the keys, and handed them to her. “Switch the radio to your department frequency. It’s set to ours. Be careful.”

  “I will. I may be late for dinner.”

  He watched her leave and wanted to swear at her for making her last words such a casual comment. If something happened to her…

  Jennifer slipped her hand into his. “Relax. She doesn’t take unnecessary chances.”

  “Jennifer, she’d step in front of a bullet if it were necessary, the same way she would step in front of someone going for a basket and take the charge. She would never think about the risk to herself; she’d just act.”

  “You’re in love with her.”

  His frustration over the situation was intense. “And it’s the most miserable reality of my life. My hands are tied.”

  “She’ll believe, Dave. She has to.”

  “I just hope it’s sooner rather than later.” He sighed. “She’s going to be annoyed, but it will be easier to wait where she is than here. Would you like to come along?”

  Jennifer smiled. “No. I’ve got more practice at this than you have. But call me when you know something, please?”

  “I will.”

  Kate leaned her head back to catch the breeze coming along the side of the brick apartment building, tired but content after two hours spent settling a violent quarrel that had begun over the simple reality of melted ice cream. She wondered how many cases this made that she had resolved peacefully. It was an idle thought since she onl
y counted the ones that had failed. A win was simply to be enjoyed.

  Dave sat down beside her on the metal stairs of the fire escape. She was too tired to be surprised that he had found her. She gratefully took the water jug he offered her, drinking half the quart of ice water before pausing. “It was hot up there.” She looked over at him. “Any word on Tony?” He shook his head. “No.”

  She nodded. “It would have been too good to hope for.” “You settled this one peacefully?” “Yes.”

  She finished the ice water. He handed her an apple. She smiled. “I prefer junk food. This is marginally healthy.” She took a big bite anyway and wiped away juice running down her chin with the back of her hand. “Natural sugar. You’ll get used to it.” Her smile broadened. “You’re trying to change me.” “If I didn’t meddle, you wouldn’t have anything to complain about.” She grinned and toasted him with the apple. “True.” Her shoulders were stiff, and she rubbed the right one, hoping to relax.

  “Let me.”

  He started to work out the kinks. “Lower to the left.” She relaxed. “Right there.”

  “What were you leaning against? You’ve got a rust streak down your back.”

  “Do I look like a skunk?” She tried to twist and see, finding the idea amusing.

  “Maybe a red one.” He dumped some water on a towel and wiped off the worst of it. “Would you like to go chase the sunset?”

  She was working on the apple and wasn’t sure she had heard him correctly. “Do what?”

  “The sunset is beautiful from the plane. And the weather is perfect. The case investigation won’t slow down if you take a couple hours off. It would do you some good to get away from it for a while.”

  “Tonight?”

  “Yes. We can catch it if we hurry.”

  “I thought we needed to stay away from O’Hare.”

  “Sara and Adam took the jet to New York. I had them route it back to Milwaukee. It’s not too far a drive.”

  She was ready for a nap, but she could sleep anytime. She looked at him, trying to decide if it was love or just affection that made his face so endearing to her. “What about Jennifer?”

  “Lisa came over. They were making brownies and talking about Fourth of July plans when I called.”