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It was clear that the sixteen months Hatcher had spent in Attica hadn’t done much to rehabilitate him. In the mere seconds he’d been sitting to my left, he had already slipped the tubby guy next to him a small envelope. I watched with my peripheral vision as the man slid some cash back to Hatcher. He wasn’t even subtle. He just shoved the cash across the varnished wooden bar.
I knew Hatcher would have a gun on him. What a great opportunity to get a dangerous criminal off the street. But I couldn’t act. At least not at the moment. It would do nothing to help the homicide investigation I was actually working on. It may not have beenSophie’s Choice,but it was still a difficult decision.
I was still trying to eavesdrop on Kyle Banning and Terry’s conversation, but now I was also trying to watch the pair on my left. If nothing else, I could text someone about what I just saw. Maybe we could get some help here quickly.
When I glanced up in the mirror again, I locked eyes with Robert Hatcher. It was clear he recognized me.
I almost nudged Terri. No matter what happened, I couldn’t let this situation get out of hand. We were in a crowded bar in Manhattan.
The tubby businessman sitting between me and Hatcher realized there was an issue. His hands started to shake. He used a napkin on the bar to wipe his face. Pieces of the napkin stuck to his cheeks and chin and made it look like he had whitehead acne. He scooted his stool backward and made a beeline for the front door.
That left Hatcher and me staring at each other across an open space. I felt like an Old West gunfighter in a showdown. I tried to read the emotions on his face. I got nothing.
My pulse increased and my hearing became sharper. At least that’s how it feels while I’m under stress. This was going to be a close encounter no matter what happened.
Then Robert Hatcher turned on his stool to face me.
This was it.
Chapter39
ROBERT HATCHER KEPTboth of his hands on the bar even as he faced me. He looked like every felon I’d ever pulled over as a patrol officer. They know to keep their hands on the steering wheel or stick them out the driver’s window so the approaching cop can see their hands are empty.
Hatcher didn’t say a word. He slowly took his hands off the bar and held them in front of him. He didn’t put them in the air because that would attract attention and look like he was being robbed.
Then he carefully backed away from me. About halfway to the front door he turned, then walked quickly until he disappeared outside.
I considered calling someone, hoping to catch him with some dope and a gun on him. But I realized I couldn’t solve all the city’s problems in one evening. I was relieved things had played out the way they did.
I focused back on Terri and Kyle Banning to my right. It didn’t sound like Banning had answered any questions. Terri was going in another direction now. She kept a playful voice, but I knew her well enough to realize she was coming up with a new question as she spoke. Maybe something that would get this guy talking.
Terri and I had discussed the possibility of having Banning follow her to a coffee shop on the corner. I’d reluctantly agreed that I could follow them by myself a few doors down to the mom-and-pop coffee shop called The Free-Trade Shop. I sort of liked the subtle dig at Starbucks.
Now Terri was using that option. I heard her say, “Want to go someplace a little quieter? Maybe the coffee shop down the street?”
There was a pause. I couldn’t believe how interested I was in hearing his response.
Banning turned in his seat to face her. He had a sincere look on his face. He said, “Maybe we could meet at a hotel later. But I have a certain reputation among these guys. And no offense, but you are a couple of years older than the women they usually see me with. It may sound harsh, but reputation is everything in the financial industry.”
It was one of the dumbest, rudest comments I think I had ever heard. I wasn’t sure I’d heard him correctly until I glanced down and saw Terri flexing her hand into a fist. Part of me wanted to see that punch land right on this guy’s smug face. Maybe knock a couple of those perfect teeth crooked.
Instead, Terri did a more elegant thing: she threw what was left of her bourbon into his face. It was the perfect move on several levels. It maintained her undercover persona very nicely and gave her a release. It was clear Banning wasn’t going to say much more in the bar. She had nothing to lose. And it was less awkward than slugging this creep.
I tensed, waiting to see his reaction.
Banning casually pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket. The white hanky even had his initials monogrammed on it. Classy. Banning calmly blotted his face and chest. He kept a very mild expression as he looked up and said, “Does that mean you won’t meet me at the Holiday Inn Express on Water Street?”
Terri glared at him but didn’t say a word.
Banning stood from his stool and said, “It wasmostlynice chatting with you.”
I watched as he joined a group of chattering young men in the corner. Several of them were laughing and one slapped Banning on the back.
Terri sat at the bar and stared straight ahead. She mumbled to me, “I’ll meet you back on the corner. I don’t want to give this guy the satisfaction of thinking he chased me out of here. I’m going to have another drink.”
It looked like the direct approach was the only one I could take against Banning. This guy appeared pretty sharp. But first I wanted to gather more information. Unless I had everything nailed down when I talked to him, he might get more from an interview than I would.
Chapter40
