Andrew Grant - Even

The reflection of Rosser’s pale, humorless face floated in the polished granite like a ghoul hovering over a giant overturned gravestone.

“Downstairs, was the death penalty mentioned?” he said.

“It might have been,” I said. “I can’t remember. People are threatening to kill me all the time. And yet, here I am.”

“Good. Because I’ve changed my mind. I’ve got something else lined up for you.”

“An apology? A first-class ticket back to London?”

“An eight-by-ten cell,” he said, reaching to his left and slowly drawing the edge of his hand across the shiny surface. “Think about it. That’s about a quarter of the size of this table.”

“I don’t see a judge in here.”

“Eight feet by ten. Your whole world. Twenty-three hours a day. How long would you last?”

I didn’t answer.

“Not long, a guy like you,” he said. “So this is what you’re going to do. Go back downstairs with Lavine and Weston. Tell them about the guy who hired you. Every last detail. Help us take him down. Him, and his rat buddy in the bureau. Then, maybe we’ll think about sending you back to London.”

“I can’t do that,” I said. “There’s no one to tell them about. No one hired me. I’m not involved.”

“We can prove you are. Don’t kid yourself. Force us into court with this and the whole thing will land right at your door. It’ll destroy you.”

“You can prove nothing. And London will never stand by and watch me walk into a courtroom.”

“They’ve already agreed. You’ve been disavowed, Mr. Trevellyan. You’re not a lieutenant commander anymore. You’ll walk into that courtroom a private citizen. It’ll be you and a public defender against the bureau’s attorneys. How do you think the cards will be stacked then?”

I didn’t answer.

“Don’t believe me?” he said. “OK. Louis-get London on the phone.”

Thirty-five minutes later the door swung open and Tanya Wilson strode into the room. She was wearing the same smart suit as before, but had replaced the briefcase with a small, blue leather handbag. There was no sign of the prop glasses and her expression was aloof and impatient, like an executive who had been called into a meeting with people she thought were going to waste her time. She scowled at me as though that were my fault, then took a quick look across the table.

“Afternoon, gentlemen,” she said, and introduced herself.

I glanced at Tanya’s watch. It had just turned five to four.

“Ms. Wilson,” Rosser said. “Sorry to drag you across town, but you have some information for Mr. Trevellyan?”

“I do,” Tanya said. “Though I’d appreciate a moment’s privacy with him. This episode has been embarrassing enough. London wouldn’t thank me for airing any more of their dirty laundry.”

“Understood. Agent Lavine-find Ms. Wilson a suitable room down the hallway. Will five minutes be enough?”

Tanya nodded. I got to my feet and we followed Lavine back out into the corridor. He led the way to the first door on the right. Tanya pushed it open and stood aside for me to go through before her. She followed me in and seemed surprised to find Lavine hard on her heels. He walked to the center of the room and turned slowly around, surveying the blank walls and empty floor space. The only object to be seen was a set of emergency evacuation instructions. They were in a plain clip frame on the wall to the side of the door. It had a glass front. Lavine removed it on his way out.

“Four minutes thirty,” he said. “I’ll be right outside.”

“What are you doing here, Tanya?” I said. “It seems you’re not my attorney anymore.”

“No, I’m just a messenger now,” she said, stepping closer and taking hold of my lapels. For a moment I thought she was going to reach up and kiss me. At least I hoped she was. “I’ve been sent to tell you something.”

“What is it?”

“London has been on the phone,” she said, letting go of my coat and taking a step back. You can always rely on Headquarters people to dampen the moment.

“And?”

“I’m sorry, David. There’s no easy way to say this. They dressed it up in a load of bullshit, but the bottom line is, London is washing their hands. As far as this current situation is concerned, you’re on your own.”

“They’re cutting me loose?”

“I’m sorry, David. I wouldn’t personally go this way, but it’s London’s call.”

“That’s ridiculous. Why?”

“This dead agent. The eyewitness. Something about some physical evidence the FBI found at your hotel.”

“That’s nothing.”

“It’s something to Washington. Whatever they found, it somehow convinced them you’ve been freelancing. They say they’re coming after you personally unless you give up your client.”

“And London? They believe that?”

“They don’t know either way.”

“So they just gave me up, anyhow?”

“It wouldn’t be the first time someone crossed the line. And Washington thinks they’ve got a traitor in the bureau, which is making them extra crazy.”

“That’s their problem. London should have stood up.”

“I’m sorry, David. I agree with you. I think they’re making a mistake. I tried to argue with them, but who am I?”

“Don’t worry about it, Tanya. It’s not your fault. You didn’t go over there and remove their backbones.”

“I still feel bad, though.”

“That’s life. Shit happens. It’s what you do about it that counts.”

“But what can you do? You didn’t kill their agent, and you don’t have a name to give them. It’s a lose-lose situation.”

“Something will come to mind.”

“Like what? If you don’t cooperate they’ll think you’re holding out on them. They’ll come after you extra hard, out of spite.”

“It won’t come to that.”

“How can you avoid it? The moment they get you in a courtroom, you’re finished. The odds are totally stacked in their favor.”

“So maybe I won’t go into a courtroom.”

“David, there’s no way to avoid it. Without London’s help you don’t have a choice. Face the facts. You’re stuck with it, so we’ll just have to think of a different approach. Something to balance the scales a little.”

“Such as?”

“This legal aid person Washington is offering? Their public defender? Forget him. Hire a better lawyer. It would be expensive, but if you worked with them to build a really strong case you could beat the FBI at their own game. And make London eat humble pie at the same time. How sweet would that be?”

“Work with a lawyer?” I said, moving over to the window. There were fewer people on the street now, and the ones that were left seemed somehow smaller and farther away. “That’s one option.”

There was a bang on the door.

“Sixty seconds,” Lavine said, from the corridor.

“His watch must be fast,” Tanya said. “Arsehole. So anyway, decision time. What are we going to tell Rosser when we go back in?”

“Tell him whatever you like,” I said, crossing to the opposite corner of the room. “But for now, do me a favor. Stay where you are.”

“David? What are you doing?”

I found a spot where I’d be concealed by the door when it opened and got into position, lying on my back with my right knee slightly bent and my arms stretched out above my head, as straight as the handcuffs would allow. Then I slowed my breathing right down and relaxed my whole body until it was perfectly still.

Lavine didn’t knock a second time, and he came into the room well before the final minute was up. He took a step toward Tanya and then stopped abruptly with one hand still holding the door. After a moment the closing mechanism pulled the handle clear of his fingertips and it swung back into place with a bang.