The October List Part 31

The other of the triumvirate here said nothing but she sensed 'Joe' was not a felicitous option.

The dark red needles tapped their dull tips. Karpankov explained the situation about Reardon to Joseph, much as he'd explained it to her. Then he added, 'Gabriela is taking on the job of finding these men and eliminating them. She's asked for an a.s.sociate to help.'

Joseph said, 'Sure. Whatever I can do.'

Silence, save for the clicking of the needles. Finally she said to Joseph, 'What I'll be doing is putting together a set. You know the word "set"?'

'Police talk for undercover operation. Like a play, sort of.'

'I still have to think out the details I'll do that over the next few hours. But in essence I'll get some people at my regular job to put together an operation, a sting, to catch Reardon and his a.s.sociates. It'll seem like some police officers're after me, so that Reardon'll believe I've got access to a lot of money and some secrets or something like that. With the cops after me, he'll be inclined to believe it's legitimate. I can talk my captain into it, I'm sure.'

'Police?' Joseph said, confusion hazing his face. 'Your captain?'

Gabriela said, 'I'm a police officer.'

'You're ...'

'I'll call and set up a meeting with them, my captain and a couple of other detectives in a few hours.'

'The police?' Joseph repeated, though with less uncertainty than before.

Karpankov filled in, 'Gabriela's a decorated NYPD detective. That job has been ... helpful to us. As you can imagine.'

Joseph gave no reaction other than a time-delayed nod. He then lifted an eyebrow. 'How did you happen to end up there?'

'My father was NYPD too,' she said calmly. 'I followed in his footsteps. I was interested in photography-'

'She's good,' Karpankov broke in. 'Real good.' He gestured to a black-and-white landscape on his wall. 'That's one of hers.'

Joseph reviewed the image without reaction and looked back.

Gabriela continued. 'I took a job with the Crime Scene unit as a photographer. One day we got a call in Queens. A shootout. n.o.body checked my last name, and it turned out that my father was the victim.'

'Well.' Joseph's brows dipped.

'There wasn't any mystery; he was killed by friendly fire. Two junior detectives just emptied their guns at a kid they thought was an armed rapist he wasn't either of those, by the way. The investigators screwed up and had the wrong man. The supposed suspect was wounded superficially. My father he was backing them up was. .h.i.t six times and died instantly.

'When the lead detective realized who I was they took me off the case conflict of interest, of course but I shot plenty of pictures anyway. I wanted to record who the killers were, his fellow cops.'

'They went to jail?' Joseph inquired.

'No. My father's death was deemed accidental. They were suspended for two weeks with pay. Then returned to duty. Like nothing had happened.'

'They're still on the force?'

'They're no longer with us,' she said quietly. Then she looked at Joseph. 'But aren't you really asking how I ended up here, working with Peter?'

'Yeah, I guess I am.'

'After Dad's death, my mother fell apart. She was sick, emotionally sick, even before it happened. His death destroyed her. The department and the city didn't do anything for her. It was like they couldn't admit they'd screwed up. But Peter showed up on our doorstep. He saved her life, got her into a hospital. His wife took care of her too. It turned out that Dad had worked for Peter all along. I decided I was going to do the same.'

'I didn't want her to at first,' Karpankov said. 'But she was persistent. I'm glad she was. Ralph McNamara was helpful getting my organization inside information about investigations and the like. Gabriela's been helpful with that ... and with other skills.'

Gabriela didn't tell Joseph that her father's nature was ingrained within her. She could recall dozens of incidents at school where she'd ended up in the princ.i.p.al's office, often along with security or even the police, after she'd lost it madly attacking a girl or boy who'd bullied her or another student. The Professor's status as a respected detective protected her from the juvenile system and he helped her learn to control her urges toward violence.

But control only, never eliminate.

Now Gabriela disposed of family history with a click of knitting needles. 'So, with Reardon, we'll have the NYPD help us.' Ideas were continuing to come fast. This was how it always worked. The mind is an inventive and fertile creature. Some thoughts she discarded, some she wrestled into shape, some she let stand as perfectly formed components of her scheme. Her palms were damp with sweat and her heart beat a fast, visceral rhythm.

Joseph asked, 'What can I do?'

'I'll explain to my captain and the police that you're a confidential informant working for me. That'll let me keep you anonymous. We'll use only your first name. I'll be Gabriela ... McKenzie.' Her eyes had taken in the brand name on the label of a bottle of whisky sitting on the credenza behind Karpankov. 'Gabriela McKenzie, a businesswoman of some sort, and you'll be extorting me for a lot of money.' A faint thud as an idea emerged. It was gold. 'We'll pretend you've kidnapped my daughter.'

'You have a daughter?'

'No. I don't have any children. But you come up to me when I'm with Reardon and tell me that you've kidnapped her and you'll kill Sarah if I don't get you what you want.'

'Your daughter's going to be Sarah?'

'That's right. It's the name of my horse. A filly I stable upstate and ride on weekends. But we'll download some pictures of a six year old. Videos, too.'

Joseph nodded. 'People're idiots, how much they post online.'

'Isn't that the truth.'

'What am I going to want from you that's worth kidnapping a little girl?'

Another idea occurred. Sometimes they fell like snow. 'A doc.u.ment. A secret list. Very valuable. A list that everybody wants which means Reardon'll want it too.'

'A MacGuffin,' Joseph said.

'What's that?' Peter Karpankov asked.

Gabriela said, 'Hitchc.o.c.k.' She was surprised Joseph knew the term. Not because he seemed ignorant just the opposite but he was only in his forties and the film director had coined the term more than a half century ago. She explained to Peter Karpankov, 'A MacGuffin's a thing, an object that everybody's chasing after in a suspense movie. The treasure of Sierra Madre, the lost ark, the NOC list of secret agents. Doesn't matter that it doesn't even exist. It's what drives the story forward. I'll come up with some bomb plot or something equally ridiculous. Blow up a bank. Or take out the stock market for a few hours. The implication is that the people on the list stand to make a fortune when that happens. Short selling stock maybe.'

Joseph said, 'What about we call this list something mysterious? Give it a name.'

Karpankov suggested, 'I have an idea. How about the October List?'

Gabriela nodded. 'Good, I like it. But why that?'

'The wife and I went to the Hofbrau last night, Third Avenue. Thursday's Oktoberfest night. The best Wiener Schnitzel and Sauerbraten in the city. Oktoberfest ... October List. Just occurred to me.'

'Perfect. It's mid September; I'll drop clues that whatever's going to happen'll happen next month. Now, Joseph, you want this mysterious list. And some money too. Reardon stole four hundred thousand from Peter. But let's go for five interest payment.'

The Russian nodded.

'How will you get the cash from them?' Joseph asked.

She considered this for a moment. 'Ah, Reardon'll come up with it for me to pay as the ransom. He'll hit one of his accounts and cough up the money. Of course, what he'll really use it for is to pay you as an incentive to do business with them. Only you can tell them how to best use the October List. They'll need you for that.'

Joseph too had a thought. 'Let's start out with four hundred thousand, but to add believability, maybe you could miss a deadline and I up the ante to five hundred thousand.'

'Yes, I like that.' Her eyes shone. 'And when I miss that deadline, you send me something of my daughter's to show you mean business.' She happened to glance down at her fingernails, which were dark red. 'Maybe ... I know, a b.l.o.o.d.y finger.'

'What?' Karpankov blurted.

She gave a smile. 'Just from a mannequin or a doll. Get some fake blood. Or buy a b.l.o.o.d.y steak.'

Joseph nodded, as if this were the most logical idea in the world.

She continued to him, 'We'll play it out till Sunday night. You pick a target zone a safe house somewhere and arrange to meet them. When they show up, you kill them.'

Joseph considered this. 'I've got a warehouse in SoHo I'm just about finished with. I'll use that. They think I've kidnapped your daughter, right? The place has a room in the back. I'll put on some kids' videos in there. When they go to check it out and open the door, I'll take care of them from behind.' Then he frowned. 'But what'll you tell your captain? If it's an undercover sting, won't they be expecting to get evidence, from a wire or something?'

It was a good point but she'd thought that through. 'I'll tell them that you my CI went rogue, killed Reardon and the others and stole the money. Then vanished. n.o.body trusts CIs anyway. It won't look too great a failed operation but the fact is, my captain won't be very p.i.s.sed off. After Reardon's dead, we'll search his houses and office; we should be able to close a half-dozen cases he and his crew were behind. And they'll've saved the expense of trial.'

'Brilliant, Gabriela,' Karpankov said reverently.

Tap, tap.

Gabriela added a lengthy row to the shawl she was knitting. She had another thought. 'You know, Peter, it would be helpful if it looked like there was someone else after me. It'll draw Reardon into the set more if he feels there's another player after the October List too. Make it seem that much more valuable. Any thoughts?'

Now Karpankov, sitting back, was the one scanning the ceiling with his gray-and-gray eyes. 'Would it make sense if this person died?'

'Interesting idea,' she replied. 'It could work. Why?'

'I'm aware of something.'

'Yes?'

'There's someone ... this p.i.s.s-ant from Brooklyn. Thinks he's the G.o.dfather. Hal Dixon. Do you know him?'

'I think I've heard the name.'

'He's been talking about moving into Manhattan and Jersey. I've been thinking about taking him out. This could be the chance.'

Gabriela smoothed her skirt as she considered the additional player. She said to Karpankov, 'You could meet with Dixon. Tell him you've heard that there's this October List and that I have it. Give him the job to get it. When he comes after me, I'll make sure n.o.body can see me and take him out. Afterward, I'll tell my captain it was Reardon who did it.'

This brought up another thought, and the yarn ended up in her lap. 'There's a personal situation I need to deal with too.'

She squinted slightly as she explained, 'I've been having some trouble with someone. It goes back a month or so. I'd finished a job and had taken care of the body, but the police were closer than I thought. I ducked into a movie theater and picked up this guy, so we could leave like a couple. It worked. But the problem is, he didn't go away. It cost me a couple of dates. He's turned into a bit of a stalker. He spies on me, shows up outside my apartment. He could eventually make the connection that I work for Peter. He's even taken pictures of me when he thinks I don't know.' Her lips tugged into a grimace. 'He's pretty sick he's got a shoe thing. He starts salivating when he sees me in high heels. Takes pictures of me with his mobile, and always makes sure he gets my shoes in the frame. d.a.m.n pervert.' She shrugged. 'It would be helpful if he died too.'

Joseph asked, 'What's his name?'

'Frank Walsh.' She described him and added, 'Let's frame Reardon for his murder too.' She resumed knitting. The men looked at the aluminum needles. She got the impression they'd be wondering if she'd ever killed anyone with them. She never had. 'I know what would work. After Reardon and I find the list, I'll arrange to get it to Frank for safekeeping, maybe have it delivered to him. I'll make sure Reardon's prints are on the envelope or box or whatever I put it in. Peter, could you arrange for one of your men to be in the building we use for the set? Pretend to be a janitor. I'll have him deliver it to Frank.'

'Sure. How about Rafael?'

'Yeah, he's good.' Then she said to Joseph, 'After the package is delivered on Sunday you go to Frank's, shoot him and get whatever evidence has Reardon's prints or DNA on it. So it'll be at the target zone when you take Reardon and his a.s.sociates out. But get Frank's mobile and wipe his hard drive. He'll have pictures of me on it.'

Joseph nodded. Then he said, 'Your a.s.sociates the detectives, your captain they'll want to run surveillance on you. That could be a problem.'

She grimaced. 'I know. Even after I tell them not to, they'll try to put some eyes on me. I'll just have to keep it in mind and make sure I lose any tails or electronic snooping.'

Putting down the knitting, Gabriela sat forward. She was pleased with Joseph, liked that he was smart and that he looked back into her eyes so easily, without challenge or timidity or flirt. 'Now, before we go any farther, I want to say something: Obviously you're familiar with movies. You know what method acting is?'

'I've heard about it. Don't really know exactly.'

'It's when actors mentally and emotionally become the characters they're playing. For this to work, to fool Reardon and make sure you and I both survive, I'm going to be the office manager and single mother I've created. Gabriela McKenzie. Gabriela McNamara will cease to exist.'

She didn't share with Joseph or Karpankov that this would be an all-consuming transformation. She'd move into a different place entirely. She'd repeat the name of her fictional daughter over and over again aloud and to herself until the girl came alive. She'd come to believe that if she didn't deliver the October List and the cash, she'd never see her beloved Sarah again. She'd feel regret at the death of Hal Dixon. At Frank Walsh's too, even though he was in reality an irritating complication in her life. She'd feel genuine fear the police were after her. And she'd form a real attraction to Reardon, as if they'd mutually picked up each other in the bar, a spark igniting what might turn into a real relationship. She might even f.u.c.k him.

And after Joseph shot Reardon dead, she'd go through a period of mourning.

Gabriela was good at what she did precisely because she tricked herself as smoothly as she did her victims.

She looked levelly at Joseph. 'You understand?'

'Yes.'

'I need you to do the same thing.'

'I get it.' Joseph looked off for a moment. 'You know, talking about acting. What do you think about this? I could be like that actor who died, the one in that Batman movie a few years ago. Heath Ledger, the Joker. Taunting, unpredictable, eerie.'

'I like that. And what was his philosophy?' she reflected, thinking back to the film. 'The only good is what furthers my interest. That'll be your driving force.'

Joseph c.o.c.ked his head. '"The only good is what furthers my interest." I'll remember that. I like it.' Then he asked, 'One question, at the kill zone? You'll be there too?'

She considered this. 'No, they won't want me there. Reardon and one of the others will want to meet with you alone. They'll leave me with a babysitter, probably Sam a safe house somewhere.' A look at Karpankov. 'Most likely the same place they took Carole, that apartment in Midtown, the one his company keeps.' Then she said to Joseph, 'I'll text you the exact location when I know.'

'You'll have a weapon with you?' Joseph asked.

'No. I can't. But I'm sure Sam will.' She thought back to Reardon's pattern. 'Reardon will probably be planning on coming back to the safe house after he cuts a deal with you probably to finish me off himself. And, considering what he did to Carole, I imagine he and Sam may have other plans for me first. More rope and knots.

'So after you kill Reardon and Andrew, get the key to the safe house and come over there. If there's a chain or security bar on the door, I'll take it off. You text me when you're close and I'll distract Sam or Andrew or whoever my babysitter is. I'll tell him I've figured out the mystery of the October List, or something like that. You let yourself in. Whoever's there probably will think it's the other two returning and not be too suspicious.

'But we should be careful. When I hear the door open I'll say one of two things. If I say "Is my daughter all right?" that'll mean Sam doesn't have a weapon out. He doesn't suspect anything. It's safe to just walk in and shoot him. But if I say, "Daniel, what happened?" then that means he is suspicious and has his weapon. Get back into the hall. It'll be a firefight. I'll take cover and do what I can from inside.'

Joseph nodded. '"Is my daughter all right?" means I'm green-lighted to shoot. "Daniel, what happened?" means take cover.'

'That's right.'

'Got it.'

'Good.' Gabriela slipped the yarn and the half-finished shawl back into her bag. She glanced affectionately at Gunther, who wagged his tail once more. She rose, shook Karpankov's hand then Joseph's. 'So. Let's get to work.'