James Patterson - Judge & Jury

Me-that could be an entirely different story.

I'd done secret meets dozens of times, but always with the confidence that someone with a listening device and a sniper's rifle was watching my back. Never naked, on unprotected turf-and with the slight complication of having kidnapped some cold-blooded killer's kid.

Crowds were starting to form. Some Israeli folksinger was performing two levels up. The setting couldn't be better. I told myself, just think like it's Madison Square Garden. All I had to do, once the exchange was made, was blend in with the crowd and get away.

At five of six, I took out my cell in front of the statue and gave Remlikov our final call."Are you here?"

" I'm here. What about my son?"

"Walk to the statue of Ali Muhammad off Ben Gurion Street. You know it?"

"I know it. How will I know you?"

"I'll be the one holding the twelve-year-old with tape over his mouth. Don't worry, I'll know you."

Remlikov sniffed, unamused."It will take me a few minutes. I'm on the upper level."

"Don't bother, then. In five minutes, I'll be gone." I punched off the line. He'd be here. I didn't want to give him a single extra moment to prepare.

I HAVE TO ADMIT, the following couple of minutes were as tense and heart-stopping as any in my life. I tried to focus on the crowds, mostly young people and families heading up to the higher terraces. An occasional policeman wandered by, dangling the ubiquitous Uzi.

I checked my Glock one last time. I adjusted my sunglasses. I tried to calm the riot in my gut.

5:59 p.m. Come on, Remlikov. This has to happen now!

Then I spotted him coming out of the crowd. He was wearing an open-collar print shirt and a black leather jacket. A few people passed in front of us, but he focused directly on me. Must've been the chess book I was holding prominently. He walked right up to me. He removed his sunglasses and took a long look into my eyes. I had seen the faces of many professional killers. There was always a dull glaze in the eye, even when they smiled. Remlikov had it in spades.

"Stand in front of me," I said, shifting my back to the statue. I didn't want any sudden ambush taking me by surprise.

He glanced at the chess book."I believe that's mine."

I handed it over to him.

"And my son, " he added as if we were talking merchandise.

"Cavello," I replied.

"You've come a long way on the premise I know where he is." He smiled.

"You're wasting time that could be very valuable. I leave here in two minutes."

"Two minutes." He pursed his thin lips."I'll take my chances. Neither of us wants to walk away empty-handed. You surprised me today. Surprise is a reaction I've grown used to doing without. I'd take it as a courtesy if you told me how you found me."

"The business in New York or your real name?"

"Any order." He shrugged back politely.

I glanced toward the ground. Then I looked back at him with a slight smile."Your shoes." He was still wearing them."Not very high-tech, I'm afraid. But I hear they're all the rage in this part of the world."

"My shoes." Remlikov snorted, at first with surprise, then with a roll of his eyes. He shifted on his bum left leg."My feet kill me." He shook his head."Even now."

"You might think about a change of brand, if you plan to continue work."

"No more," he said,"I'm finished."

"Wise. You're a family man. Now, you have something for me?"

"You didn't finish." Remlikov continued to look at me."Though I have the feeling I can take it from here. If you were able to identify my shoes, you must have seen some kind of security tape of what took place. To link that to me, my history, and find me here, that would take a lot of help. Resources. Governmental resources, I'm quite sure. Homeland Security? FBI?"

"Those are a lot of assumptions," I said with a deferential nod,"for a man who only has one minute."

"Not so high-tech also." Remlikov smiled."I recognize you as the person who shot at us in the courthouse during our escape."

I took off my glasses. Now we were staring at each other face to face."Paid good money for these suckers, too."

"But more important, I'm wondering why an American law enforcement agent in Haifa has to kidnap my son instead of breaking down my door with a warrant if he knew my whereabouts. And more to the point-for purely selfish reasons-how many other people you might be associated with know as well."

"All good questions," I said, deciding to indulge him a few seconds longer."And what have you come up with?"

"That you must somehow be a very desperate man. Or, at the very least, extremely passionate in your work."

"Chat's over. Now you have to convince me why I should give you back your boy and not shoot you on the spot for what you did in New York."

A wistful smile creased Remlikov's lips."Because I have something very valuable for you. Something that could get us both killed, and very probably will one day."

"And what if that isn't enough?" This man had done such horrible things. He deserved to die or at least to rot for the rest of his life in prison. An urge rose up in me, to take out my gun and do to him what he deserved-after he gave me what I needed.

Of course, he was probably thinking the same thing.

"Then, because you're not me." Remlikov shrugged."How is that?"

I wanted to get this done with. Andie was probably dying with anxiety, wondering what was going on here."Clock's on," I said.

"What you are looking for is in South America," he said." Argentina, I believe. Or Chile. At the very bottom, near the tip. Cavello has a ranch there. Sheep, I think."

"Keep going," I prodded. I knew he was holding back.

"How do I know you will not turn my name over to the authorities the minute you have Cavello?"

"How do I know you won't alert him as soon as you have your boy?"

We stood there facing each other, looking into each other's eyes. Remlikov smiled."My son is a chess player. He has a natural gift for avoiding stalemates. But of course, you already know that."

"I don't play chess." I shrugged."But I was thinking, since we both know something about the other that would be best not to get out, it would probably be a good thing if we never set eyes on each other again."

"I was thinking that, too." Remlikov nodded."I believe it's near a town called Ushuaia. Close to the tip. The weather is not so good, I am told, but the isolation is worth every penny. Even the name is telling."

He told me the name of Cavello's ranch. Hearing it, I smiled. I knew his information was true.

"Now, I think you have something for me. " Remlikov put his sunglasses back on, our business complete.

I TOOK OUT MY PHONE and pressed the Send button. Andie answered quickly.

"You can bring him now."

I tried not to glance in any direction. I didn't want to alert anyone, Remlikov or a possible accomplice, as to how this was going to take place. My hands were moist, and sweat trickled down my collar. There was nothing to do but wait, and stare at each other.

"So, who was it, if I can ask?"

"Who was who? " I shrugged. I figured he was talking about Andie.

"Who was on that bus? The reason you want Cavello so bad?"

"Consider yourself lucky I don't kill you right here for what you've done."

"Interesting," he said, snorting."I was thinking the very same thing about you."

I saw him rub the tips of his fingers. I knew this killer wouldn't just let me get away. I looked around. I needed cover. A group of young people were passing by. I spotted two policemen, meandering our way.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw our white Ford pull up on Ben Gurion Street at one of the entrances to the park. Andie held there, just as I told her, waiting for my signal. I shot another glance at the policemen, my insurance.