Brett Battles - The Silenced

Julien looked confused. “What do you mean?”

“Your client is expecting you to report back.”

“Ah,” Julien said. “Don’t worry. I’ll tell them I found nothing. Basically that’s true.”

“They’re going to ask you if you were at least able to confirm that she lives here, and were able to get a photo.”

“What would you like me to say?”

“You’d lie?”

“For you, yes. I don’t spy on my… friend’s friend’s families. That’s not right.”

Quinn couldn’t help but smile. Thirty minutes ago he was punching the man in the face, and now Julien was offering to lie for him. “You’re a good man.”

“I am only good to people who are good to me.”

Quinn was silent for a moment. “All right. Tell them that as far as you can tell, it’s her apartment, but it appears like she might be out of town.”

“And the photo?”

“Tell them there wasn’t any.”

“D’accord,” Julien said.

“They’re going to ask you to keep an eye on the building,” Quinn said.

“And I’ll tell them I’m not available.”

“No,” Quinn said. “Tell them you’ll do it.”

Julien raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“Think of it as free money.”

“I like the sound of free money.”

“Then you’ll like the sound of double pay even more,” Quinn said.

Julien smiled. “What do you have in mind?”

“While they will think you’re working for them, in reality, you’ll be working for me.”

They left Julien at the cafe and checked in to a small hotel near the Seine River. They took only one room. If things didn’t go well at Liz’s, they could get a second one later.

They each took a shower, and changed their clothes before returning to the cafe. Julien was sitting at the same table. He had a newspaper now, and there was a plate with the remains of a sandwich in front of him.

“I could go for something to eat,” Nate said.

“Later,” Quinn told him. To Julien, he said, “Status?”

“Unless she snuck out the back, she’s still inside,” the Frenchman told him.

Quinn shook his head. “No reason for her to do that. And no reason for us to waste any more time. Julien, check in with your client. Nate, you’re with me.”

“That will take me only a few minutes,” Julien said. “What after that?”

Quinn gave him the once-over. “Get a haircut and a shave.”

Julien grinned. “Now you ask the impossible.”

“Then maybe you can get us some hardware,” Quinn said. “You know what I like. Nate’ll take yours. So you’ll need to replace that.”

“Why don’t I bring you both nice new pieces? Nate will be happier.”

“My plan is better.”

Julien frowned. “You want me to just pass it across the table?”

Nate picked up his backpack and handed it to him. Julien gave Nate a smirk, then unzipped the top. Once the gun was safely inside, he returned it to Nate.

“Yours I should have in an hour,” he said to Quinn.

“Good. You can take two. Is Shywawa still in business?”

“Of course.”

“Then that’s where we’ll meet.”

Julien pushed himself up from the table and thumped Nate on the back.

“Make sure you don’t shoot Quinn’s relative.” With a laugh, he took off down the street.

As Nate started to rise, Quinn reached out and touched his arm, stopping him.

“I can’t have you screwing this up,” Quinn said.

“I’m not going to screw this up.”

Quinn closed his eyes for a second to focus his thoughts. “I didn’t mean that like it sounded.”

“Look. I get it. This isn’t about a job. This is your family. This is about as personal as it can get. But I’m part of your team, Quinn. So that means it’s just as personal for me.”

“Thanks.”

“Shall we do this?”

Quinn tried to think if there was anything else he needed to tell his apprentice beyond what he’d already filled him in on while they were at the hotel. “Liz’s anger toward me is deserved,” Quinn said. “Don’t judge her by that.”

“Judge her? Hell, if anything, I’m going to be sympathetic.”

“Let’s go over your legend again,” Quinn said, ignoring Nate’s attempt at humor.

With a sigh, Nate said, “I’m a son of a colleague. Traveling around Europe for a few months before starting grad school in January.”

“What school?”

“UCLA.”

“In?”

“History. Just like my undergrad degree.”

“Go on.”

“Since you were in Paris on business, your colleague asked you to check on me. I arrived in town today, so I decided to hang with you for a few hours, secretly hoping for a free meal. Since we were close to your sister’s apartment, you thought we should stop by. How’s that?”

“How much do you know about me?”

“Very little. You’ve done business with my father. He works at Bank of America. I don’t know which bank you work for, and I don’t even know what you do. I hate the banking business, so don’t pay much attention.”

Quinn nodded.

“Anything else you want to know?” Nate asked.

“What’s your name?”

“Nate.”

Quinn’s eyes opened wide.

“Relax,” Nate said, holding his hands up. “My name’s Andrew Cain. My father’s Andrew also, so that would make me Junior, but I never use the Junior. My friends sometimes call me Andy. My really close friends call me A.”

Quinn raised an eyebrow. “A?”

“Makes me sound cool.”

“Makes you sound stupid.”

“Matter of opinion.”

Quinn stood up. “All right. Then let’s go, A.”

“I said my close friends.”

Four minutes later Nate and Quinn stood at the door to Liz’s apartment. From inside they could hear music.

Jazz? Quinn wondered.

He listened a moment longer.

Miles Davis. “How Deep Is the Ocean.” One of Quinn’s favorites.

“You all right?” Nate whispered.

As way of answer, Quinn raised his hand to knock on the door. But he hesitated, wondering again if this might be a mistake. Maybe a perimeter stakeout would be best. Liz could go on as she always did, completely unaware of his presence.

Or maybe I’m just making excuses.

He let his hand rap against the door three times, then took a step back.

There was no indication from inside that someone had heard him.

Quinn knocked again.

“Une minute, s’il vous plait.” Liz’s voice, distant.

“You ready?” Quinn whispered.

“I am. Are you?” Nate asked.

From beyond the door, he could hear the soft thud of feet on carpet, then the knob turned, and with little fanfare the door opened. Liz stood just inside, wearing the same clothes he’d seen her arrive home in. The friendly smile she initially greeted them with faltered.

“Jake?” she said, confused.

“Hi, Liz.”

She stared at him as if she wasn’t sure he was there.

“Can we come in?”

For the first time she seemed to realize Quinn wasn’t alone. She looked at Nate, then back at Quinn. Finally, she stepped aside so they could enter.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“I’m in town on business,” Quinn said. “Thought I’d come by for a visit.”

Several silent seconds passed, then she said, “Okay, you’ve visited. You can tell Mom you stopped by, saw my place, saw that I wasn’t living in a shack. You can even tell her we had a nice talk if you want.”

She reached for the door.

“Liz, please,” Quinn said.

She stopped.

“Can’t we just talk for a bit?” He smiled. “That way I don’t have to lie to Mom.”

Her shoulders rose as she took a deep breath, then she straightened up and ran a hand through her hair. She led them into the living room and nodded at the couch.