The Amendment Killer (Brooks/Lotello Thriller) Page 28

  “Lancer Solutions.”

  “Mr. Lance?”

  “Who’s calling?”

  “This is Justice Hirschfeld, Mr. Lance. I—”

  “Lancer’s fine.”

  “Yes, okay, well I have the fully executed escrow document. Where can I drop it off to you?”

  “Where are you headed after that?”

  “To our kids’ home.”

  “You don’t need to get it to me. I’ll send someone there to pick it up.”

  “Okay. Their address—”

  “I have it. He’ll be there in a couple of hours. You’ll be there until he arrives?”

  “Yes. When will my granddaughter be moved to you?”

  “Tomorrow. A.P. is being very skittish. Not surprising.”

  “A.P.?”

  “Anonymous Party. The kidnappers. By the way, Mr. Justice?”

  “Yes?”

  “I know it’s a difficult time. Try to relax. Focus on what you need to take care of on your end. Leave your granddaughter to me. That’s my job. I’ll call you when the transfer to me is completed.”

  “Okay. I guess. Thank you so much. We’re counting on you. I don’t know what else to say.”

  “Nothing else you need to say. For everyone’s sake, just get the amendment invalidated.”

  CHAPTER 100

  Saturday, May 10, 3:00 pm

  THOMAS WONDERED whether he actually suffered from OCD or was just very careful, but his call with Reyes had put him on edge. Was Reyes genuinely interested in him? Or just trying to keep him on the phone long enough to nail down his location?

  When he got back to the cabin, he parked the van further into the forest and covered it with brush and leaves. Satellites everywhere taking pictures. He couldn’t be too cautious. So far so good, but when he made the run in the morning to transfer the girl, the van would be out in the open and he could be spotted. If they were, in fact, looking for him. He thought about stealing another set of wheels, but that could lead to a police report, and even more attention.

  If that weren’t bad enough, he had to work through all of the transfer details. OCD or not, meticulous planning was key. To everything.

  The sooner he could destroy the van, the better. Once he transferred the girl, there would be no reason for him to return to the cabin. He would stay in town Sunday night and then catch his flight out of Dulles Monday following the final Court proceedings. They might have made the van, but they would have no idea what he looked like or under what alias he was traveling.

  In the morning, he’d move the girl to the van. Then he’d pack up and move everything other than the furniture into the van and fully sanitize the cabin, upstairs and down.

  He had originally planned to rent a car in town on Monday afternoon, and follow his ex-accomplice Haddad in the van to where he intended to dispose of it. Along with everything he had packed into it, including Haddad and the girl. With the premature disposition of Haddad, the logistics had become somewhat more complicated.

  Now he’d have to order a taxi to pick him up somewhere after he dumped the van. He’d choose a nearby pickup point within an easy walk, but that also might arouse suspicion. The taxi driver might wonder how he’d gotten there on foot. He’d work it out. Maybe say he and his girlfriend had a fight and she drove off and left him behind. Lucky that his cell was in his pocket and not in the car.

  He thought through the drop mechanics he would use to deliver the girl, and also worked out what he’d do if someone started to chase the van on the way. The greatest exposure would be the first few miles on the highway as he exited the forest. If any satellites had picked up the van while he spoke with Reyes yesterday, that’s where it would have occurred. And where there would be virtually no witnesses to any pursuit. They would have a much tougher time trying to locate him in heavier traffic as he approached D.C. Again, it was all just a matter of careful planning, and timing it correctly.

  There was nothing to do now but wait. He was restless. His lung was mending. He would’ve liked to go for a run, but his instincts told him to lie low. He was feeling lonely, isolated. Sometimes that was a good thing. Sometimes it wasn’t. At least the girl had shared the leftover pizza and spaghetti with him last night. That was nice. Until she started snooping.

  * * *

  Cassie finished exercising and tested her sugars. Her numbers were okay, still a little on the high side. As they’d been throughout the entire week. She’d taken a little extra insulin the night before to cover the carb intensive pizza and spaghetti she’d shared with the man as part of her plan to win him over. She thought it might be working because, more and more, he was making excuses for being around her. He didn’t do that at first. But she had made a mistake asking him where he usually played golf.

  She kept thinking about FaceTiming with Poppy. She couldn’t wait to get home. She’d have tons to talk about. Maybe she’d write a book about all of this during summer break.

  She also thought about what tomorrow would be like. When the creep took her from the cabin to wherever this Lance person would be waiting for her. She definitely wanted to get out of here, but she was nervous about being with another strange person in another strange place. Why couldn’t she just go straight home? But she didn’t have anything to worry about. Did she? Hadn’t Poppy said that everything would be fine, that she’d soon be home with her family?

  CHAPTER 101

  Saturday, May 10, 3:20 pm

  NISHIMURA FINISHED WRITING the copy for her breaking news piece. She’d read it out loud over and over in front of the mirror to make sure she had it memorized and that it was the right length. She’d go over it again in the morning. She only had to focus on the opening remarks. No need to prepare beyond that. Once she exposed the story, all hell would break loose. She’d then be the person of the moment, and could wing it from there.

  She’d been waiting for this for a long time. All of the years of preparation would finally bear fruit. She was eager. The weather was inviting. She decided to go for a run.

  * * *

  Brooks returned home to find Eloise putting away the groceries.

  “Please, dear, if you wouldn’t mind, there’s a couple of heavier packages still out by the car.”

  “Of course. I just need to check my email first.”

  “There’s some stuff that’ll melt if you leave it. Your email can wait.”

  “Melt? What if I wasn’t here now?”

  She didn’t answer. Brooks brought the remaining packages in and went to check his email. Her voice reached out to him from the kitchen: “What’ve you been up to?”

  “Didn’t I mention I had a meeting with Steve Kessler at the NoPoli offices? Maybe I forgot. Just some stuff we needed to go over concerning the final Court proceedings Monday morning.”

  That was more or less accurate. He would fill her in later.

  * * *

  Trotter and Nettleman had exchanged email copies of their respective draft opinions. They were just ironing out some details between the two that needed to mesh more seamlessly.

  “These two opinions are as different as night and day,” Trotter said.

  “And civil,” Nettleman added.

  “See you tomorrow morning to share them with the others and make any last minute necessary revisions. No one ever said writing by committee was easy.”

  “Revisions? Do you think anyone’s going to want to make any changes?”

  CHAPTER 102

  Saturday, May 10, 3:35 pm

  HIRSCHFELD WAS STRETCHED out on the sofa in the Webber family room. Eyes closed. Trying to get some sleep, which was proving impossible.

  All he could think about was what Cassie would be going through during the transfer in the morning, while he and the other Justices were reviewing and tweaking the majority and minority opinions. In spite of the surprising degree of bravado she had exhibited during their FaceTime, he figured the move would be quite hard on her.

  Even without his mind straying to Ca
ssie, his heart was not into refining the dissenting opinion he would be joining in the attempt to invalidate the amendment. It would prove to be a hollow gesture if Gaviota didn’t come through. Gaviota. He kept going over their discussion. He wanted to pick up the phone and call him, but there was nothing more he could say. He had to leave it alone. Give the man his space. But without Gaviota’s help, Cassie’s transfer would all be for naught. She would end up right back in the hands of her kidnappers.

  And then?

  He hadn’t discussed this with his family yet, but his present thinking—assuming that Gaviota turned him down tomorrow— was to go to the FBI immediately after Lance called him to verify that the transfer had been completed. Even if Lance felt obliged to return Cassie to the kidnappers to protect his reputation, he couldn’t imagine that he’d countermand directions from the FBI to stand down. The problem was that he didn’t know where Lance would be holding Cassie, although he did have his telephone number. That would have to do.

  “Hon,” Linda whispered, “are you sleeping?”

  Hirschfeld opened his eyes. “Tried. Can’t.”

  “The kids would like to talk. I’ll get them.”

  Everyone was gathered around him in the study. Not a smile or a hopeful expression among them.

  Webber said, “Dad, hopefully Cassie will at least momentarily be separated from her kidnappers in the morning, but where do we stand on the vote? If you haven’t secured a second vote, aren’t we just delaying the inevitable?”

  Hirschfeld sighed and rubbed his temples. “Yes. Right now the vote to invalidate is only four strong, including me. I need one more vote. I’ve reached out in confidence to one of the others. He’s considering switching to give us the necessary fifth vote.”

  “What do you think the chances are?”

  “Honestly, I really don’t know. Maybe 50/50, but that’s just a guess.”

  “Which Justice is it?”

  “Are you kidding? I can’t tell you that. I’m not going to violate his confidence. Besides, you don’t have any reason to know who he is.”

  “If he refuses, what then?”

  Hirschfeld walked them through his plan. No one said anything.

  CHAPTER 103

  Saturday, May 10, 7:00 pm

  LOTELLO HAD BROUGHT in Japanese because no one felt like cooking or going out. And because Madison loved sushi. Lotello and Leah were quietly cleaning up, neither one of them saying much. The food had briefly coaxed Madison out of her room, but she went right back. Normally a pretty good kid who pitched in, she hadn’t offered to help with the cleanup detail, part of what she was supposed to do for her allowance. Lotello decided to cut her some slack.

  Leah finally broke the silence. “I think we’re going to win the battle, but lose the war.”

  “Pardon?”

  “I think we have at least five votes to uphold. NoPoli wins, and I should be thrilled, a win in my first Supreme Court case. But I’m not. We win, Cassie loses.”

  “We have a better chance with Cassie moved tomorrow than if she remains in the hands of the kidnappers.”

  “Not if the Court upholds and the intermediary sticks to the terms of the arrangement.”

  “Well, you’re the lawyer.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Sorry.” He held up his hands in surrender. “I didn’t mean anything. I’m as much at a loss about how to feel as you are. I don’t know what more I can say, what more we can do, I—”

  “Well, you better say something to Madison. She’s scared to death, and furious with you. Can you blame her?”

  Lotello pushed his chair back from the dining room table and stood. “I’ll try talking to her.”

  He walked down the hallway to Madison’s room and knocked gently on the closed door.

  Five seconds passed with no response. He knocked again, a bit more firmly. Still nothing. Leaning close to the door, he called out, “Madison, may I come in, please?”

  Another minor eternity. Then, finally: “Do I have a choice?”

  “You do.”

  “I guess you can come in.”

  Well, that was a start. He opened the door and walked in. “Are you talking to me yet?”

  “That depends.”

  “On what?”

  “On whether you’re talking to me.”

  “I always talk to you.”

  “I mean the real stuff.”

  “I always tell you what I can.”

  “Yeah, I know. Your favorite loophole.”

  “Well, would you want me to tell you something I knew if I had promised to keep it a secret?”

  “If I really needed to know? Absolutely.”

  “What if you told me a secret only if I promised not to repeat it? Wouldn’t you expect me to keep your secret? No matter what?”

  “That’s not the same, Dad.”

  “Why isn’t it?”

  She didn’t answer. That was progress. He bent down and gave her a kiss on the forehead. She didn’t protest. That was more progress. He smiled and beat a hasty retreat. Before she thought of an answer.

  CHAPTER 104

  Sunday, May 11, 7:00 am

  CASSIE ROSE EARLY, as usual. She tested her sugars, ate, checked and double-checked to make sure that her knapsack was fully packed, including her insulin and diabetes kit, plus a couple of bottles of water. She felt ready, anxious to be getting out of there. She could hear the man moving about upstairs. She sat down to wait.

  * * *

  Thomas had everything upstairs packed and in the van. The rooms were sanitized to his satisfaction. Things with the girl were now going to get a bit unpleasant. He put on his mask, went down to the basement, and unlocked the door.

  “Morning, brat. Or should I call you baby?”

  “I’m not a baby.”

  “Well, I don’t know about that. Your grandfather kept calling you baby.”

  “Not. He called me his baby. That’s because he loves me. You wouldn’t understand that. Like I’ve said, who would love anyone like you? Maybe if somebody loved you, you wouldn’t be the way you are.”

  He changed the subject. “Moving day, brat.” He reached into his pocket and took out the handcuffs. “Give me one of your hands.”

  She backed away. Ready to fight. “No way! Why do you have to do that?”

  “Have to keep you tied down out of sight in the back of the van while I’m driving. You want to get going or just stay here?”

  Reluctantly, she held out her left hand. He snapped the cuffs in place.

  “C’mere, girl.”

  She tried to back away, but he was holding the free cuff. “No way. Why?”

  “Need to lock you to the pipe in the corner while I clean the basement.”

  “You don’t have to clean it. I kept it very clean. You can see for yourself.”

  “I’m talking about fingerprints and footprints. I need to make sure no one ever knows you were here.”

  “Why?”

  “Listen, brat, stop giving me a hard time or this is going to get unpleasant.”

  She reluctantly gave in.

  He cuffed her to the wall and sanitized the room. As he had already done upstairs. The goal was not to hide the fact that someone had been in the room, but who had been in there. That meant obliterating the ability to identify fingerprints and DNA as opposed to their existence. CSI to the contrary, all that took was a bucket of hydrogen peroxide and some elbow grease.

  He took all of her stuff out to the van and put it in the back.

  When she heard him open the outside door, she quickly put her fingerprints all over the wall as far as she could stretch. She also stepped up and down on the floor to mark her shoes. She was standing still when he returned. He took out the vial and syringe and came toward her.

  “No!” she screamed. “Why?”

  “You just showed why. That loud mouth of yours. Have to keep you quiet. Can’t have you screaming while I’m driving. Thought you weren’t a baby. Are you afr
aid of a little needle?”

  “I’m not afraid of needles. I live with needles every day. But I don’t want to be put to sleep. I can’t manage my blood sugars. Do you really have to do that? I promise not to make any noise. I’ll lie down in the back of the van and be quiet. You’ll already have me locked up with the handcuffs. Isn’t that good enough? Please!”

  He looked at her through the mask’s eyeholes for a long time. His posture softened.

  “Not one sound. Not one word unless I tell you to speak. You get out of line one time and you’ll be out like a light. Deal?”

  “Yes. Deal.”

  “Okay. I’m going to undo the cuff and carry you upstairs and out to the van. Ready?”

  “I don’t need you to carry me.”

  “Footprints. Remember?”

  “Oh, right. Okay.”

  He got her into the van and cuffed her to the side railing. “Remember, not a peep.”

  The cabin was completely isolated. No one would hear if she screamed, but if she did the deal was off. He’d put her out in a flash.

  He went back to the basement, and wiped down the walls and floor where she had been cuffed. Did she think I wouldn’t expect her to contaminate everything within her reach while I was upstairs?

  He returned to the van. She had kept their agreement. Not a sound. He wouldn’t sedate her. He stuck to his agreements too. Stuck. Apt choice of words.

  * * *

  He locked up the cabin for the last time and walked about one hundred meters past the van, beyond where she’d be able to hear him speaking softly into his cell phone, but where he could easily hear her if she started making any noise. Still not a sound.

  He called Lancer and arranged the time and location for the drop. He chose a time that would allow him to get there two hours ahead of time and make sure no one was watching. “Like we discussed yesterday, you need to be right on time. I’ll be watching. Understood?”

  “Understood.”

  He hung up, took one last look at the cabin, walked back to the van, retracing his steps and used some branches to rub out his footprints, climbed in, and drove off. This really was supposed to have been a two-man job. But he’d manage.