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“I didn’t. I didn’t have a chance. He hung up.”
“You got this call at home. Interesting.”
“Why? Where else would he call at three thirty in the morning?”
“That’s not the point. It’s a snap to reach you at Pierson & Company. The number’s listed. Your home phone’s not.”
“Well, apparently he got it.”
“Actually, I’m wondering if he already had it. That would level the playing field in terms of where he called.”
“You think it’s a close acquaintance?”
“You tell me. Did you recognize the voice?”
“I couldn’t. He used one of those voice scramblers.”
“No surprise.” Monty’s wheels were turning. “Did you hear any background noise? Anything that might tell you where he was calling from?”
“A couple of honking horns.”
“Car horns or truck horns?”
“Car, I think.”
“What about road noise? Could you tell if the vehicles were traveling at high speed or low? Zipping along quietly, or rumbling heavily?”
“What difference does any of that make?”
“The difference between a city and a highway. Eighteen-wheelers make one kind of racket. Manhattan taxis make another.” Monty paused. “I’m assuming you didn’t tape the call?”
“I wasn’t expecting it, so no. The letter came to my office. I assumed he’d continue to contact me there. If he had, I would have been ready for him.”
“We’ll put a wiretap on your home phone. Not that it’ll do us much good. If he’s using a voice scrambler, he’s probably taking other precautions to make sure he can’t be made. Like a convenience store cell phone with prepaid minutes, cash and carry.”
Edward blew out a frustrated breath. “Twenty-four hours. Damn. There’s no way I can liquidate two million in assets fast enough.”
“Even if you could, you don’t know if that’ll make the extortionist shut up and go away. He could try shaking you down for more. Remember, once you pay him, you’re his.”
“So what do you suggest I do?”
“Go through the motions. Start liquidating. If this person is someone connected to you or your company, he’ll be paying attention, and it’ll appease him. Also, expect him to contact you late tomorrow to make sure everything’s set. I’ll prep you for that call. In the meantime, I’ve got Jenkins coming in at eight and Blake giving us access to your computer systems at eight thirty. I’ve got a day to dig around. I know what to look for. So does Jenkins. As for your family, I’ll make a few phone calls and arrange for added security to protect them. Stay calm. We’ll get the guy.”
“We better. Before he gets someone else I love.”
CHAPTER 15
John Sherman, PI, was shaving in the bathroom of his apartment in Astoria, Queens, when his cell phone rang.
He tossed down the razor, patted his face dry with a towel, and flipped open the phone. “Sherman.”
“Boy, do you sound out of it. You must have just woken up. Work or a woman?”
Sherman grunted. “Gimme a break, Monty. What woman would put up with my hours? I’m out of it because you dumped a whopping caseload on me. I spent all day yesterday on follow-up, and all night tailing that rich broad and her boyfriend to see if your hunch about them was right.”
“And?” Monty queried. “Did you see anything?”
“Just a few sex moves even I’ve never dreamed up. Unfortunately, now that I learned them, I don’t have time to try them out.”
