AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kennedy said in a voice markedly unlike the one he’d last used on Jason, “Where are you?”
“Is Chief Gervase with you?”
“No. Listen, West. Jason. I realize I may have been a little abrupt earlier. I apologize. We need to speak as soon as possible.”
A little abrupt. That was almost funny.
Jason spotted the turnoff up ahead. “I’m en route to Rexford. I’ve just reached the overpass.”
There was a very loud silence on the other end of the line. “Say again.” Kennedy spoke in the tone of one who was determined not to get a little abrupt again.
“I’m going back to look for the mermaid charm I dropped when I fell through the floor.”
There was a strange noise on the other end. “No,” Kennedy said. “No, you’re not doing that because everything I’ve seen so far indicates you’re a smart and careful guy. And going back to Rexford on your own would be fucking insane.”
“If you thought I was so smart and careful, maybe you should have taken the time to tell me what the hell was going on.”
Silence.
“Anyway, I’ve got to find that charm. It’s the only way I can prove my case.”
“Your case? This is our case—”
“Oh, then you did notice.”
?
?—and I’m telling you, no. Don’t go back there. For God’s sake. We can get divers.”
“Divers? It’s a few inches of water. A foot at most.”
“You know what I mean. We have recovery specialists for this kind of thing. You splashing around in the basement of a condemned building is a bad idea. Stop and think. That place is liable to come down on top of you. And I don’t know where Gervase is.”
“There we go,” said Jason with bitter triumph. “That’s the part of our case you didn’t feel like sharing earlier. Chief Gervase is our guy, and you’ve known it for how long?”
Another of those pauses. Kennedy said, “I had a pretty good idea when we found Davies alive and unhurt. I’ve known for sure since this morning when you said you’d lost the mermaid charm.”
Yes, looking back, Chief Gervase had seemed almost jovial at Jason’s admission. In fact, looking back, a lot of his emotional cues had been just plain wrong.
The car bumped down hard in the grass and dirt. Jason had driven as far as he could go. He parked and turned off the engine. He reached down to unlatch the trunk, got out of the car, and went around to the back, still listening to Kennedy who was saying, “We don’t need the charm to make our case.”
Jason unlocked the lockbox and shrugged into a bullet-proof vest. “That charm is the only piece of evidence that can’t be explained or argued away. Everything else is circumstantial. We both know it.”
Kennedy’s voice dropped.
Jason stopped, listening. Kennedy said with quiet sincerity, “I would rather lose the case than lose you.” He added gruffly, “And I don’t say that to all my temporary partners.”
“I’ll bet you don’t.” Jason sighed. “And thank you. For the record, I’m not doing this because I’m angry or need to prove anything to you. We require that piece of evidence. And we both know this is our sole window of opportunity.”
“Have you not heard a single word I’ve said?”
“Sam, I’ve heard every word you’ve said to me since the day we met.” A bird warbled, filling the stricken pause that followed. Jason said, “I’m going to have to hike in from here.”
Kennedy groaned. “Goddamn it! You stubborn bastard. You’ve got maybe three hours of good daylight left. That village is going to get very dark, very fast.”
“I know.”
“I’m hoping Gervase isn’t as crazy as you, but if he is, you could have company before I get there.”
