Robin Cook - Vector

Warren’s anger mellowed to a degree as he listened to the story. “I suppose there’s no way you could have anticipated that these guys would have come over here.”

“Of course not,” Jack said. “I don’t even know how they knew where I lived.”

“That kind of white trash scares me,” Warren admitted.

“They scare me, too,” Jack agreed. “The blond guy in the fireman’s uniform talked briefly about a militia called the People’s Aryan Army. I’d heard that name on Monday from an FBI agent who’s trying to learn about them. Have you ever heard the name?”

“Never,” Warren said.

“Which leads me to ask why you let them go? I would have turned them over to the police in a heartbeat. The police and maybe even the FBI would have loved to get their hands on them.”

“You’re shocked because you really live in a different world, despite occupying this apartment,” Warren said. “You don’t understand about gangs. When I let them go, I was thinking of the neighborhood, not the police department’s or the FBI’s agenda. It’s the same way I didn’t want any of them to get hurt. It’s not because I care about them! Shit, no! It’s because it would start something. They’d be back. It’s been my experience that this way they won’t. Sorta live and let live.”

“I’ll have to kowtow to your experience on this one,” Jack said.

“I’m afraid you didn’t have any choice,” Warren said. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Now how about some hoops? You still want to run?”

“I think I need it more now than I did before,” Jack said. He got up on wobbly legs. “I can’t promise how effective I’ll be. I feel shell-shocked even though no shells have gone off.”

Warren preceded Jack out into the hall carrying the guns. Jack locked his door and caught up to him.

“Thanks for being there when I needed you,” Jack said. “Since you’ve done it before, I think it’s my turn next.”

Warren laughed in spite of himself. “That’ll be the day!”

Jack rang Laurie’s bell and then turned to wave hello to Debra Engler. The nosy neighbor responded by slamming her door, which was a feat since it had only been open by slightly more than an inch. Jack turned back to Laurie’s and heard the little click that sounded when Laurie opened her peephole. Jack waved. Then he heard all the locks being opened.

Laurie was in a buoyant mood despite the scene she’d had with Paul. She gave Jack an enthusiastic hug before disappearing into her bedroom for her watch and jewelry. Tom-2 rubbed affectionately against Jack’s leg. Jack bent down to pet the cat.

“I trust you came in a cab like you promised,” Laurie called out from the other room.

“No, I didn’t,” Jack answered.

Laurie’s head appeared around the corner. She eyed Jack accusatively. “But you promised,” she said.

“Warren brought me,” Jack said. “And I hope you don’t mind, I invited him to eat with us.”

“Of course not,” Laurie said. “Is Natalie coming, too?”

“No, just Warren,” Jack said. “In fact, to be honest, he kinda invited himself. You see, I ran into a rather serious inconvenience this afternoon right after I spoke with you on the phone.”

“What happened?” Laurie questioned. She came out from her bedroom. Her voice reflected her sudden concern. Knowing Jack as well as she did, she sensed that whatever happened was a lot more than an inconvenience.

“In Warren’s vernacular, I was almost iced by the People’s Aryan Army,” Jack said.

Laurie’s lower jaw dropped. “What on earth are you talking about?”

Jack gave Laurie a quick rundown of the events that took place in his apartment. When he described the guns, and Warren’s timely arrival, she clamped a hand over her mouth.

“My God,” she said. “What in heaven’s name could have prompted such an ambush. I mean, I was the one who posted Brad Cassidy, if that was somehow involved. He’s the only connection I know of with this People’s Aryan Army.”

“I don’t think it had anything to do with Brad Cassidy,” Jack said. “It couldn’t have, because I had nothing to do with him. To tell you the truth, I think there’s a slight chance it had something to do with Paul Sutherland.”

Laurie’s face blanched. She sucked in a lungful of air, and her hand returned to cover her mouth in horror.

“Hold on!” Jack warned. “There’s no proof. It’s just the only thing I could think of on the spur of the moment, and nothing else has occurred to me since. And believe me, I’ve been giving it a lot of thought since it happened. The only reason I’m willing to tell you is because you should know even if there’s only a shred of possibility it is true.”

“Tell me why it occurred to you!” Laurie said.

Jack described the three Bulgarian Kalashnikovs Warren confiscated from the men. Then he went on to remind her of Paul’s implied threat that afternoon. When he finished, he shrugged. “I know it’s extremely tenuous, but that’s it.”

Laurie sank into her art deco chair and lowered her head into her hands.

“Hey,” Jack said, putting his hand on Laurie’s shoulder. “You’ve got to keep in mind this is all conjecture.”

“Maybe so,” Laurie said. “But it makes a certain amount of sense.” She shook her head. “How can someone’s social life be so tumultuous?”

“Come on!” Jack urged. He gave her a series of reassuring pats on her back. “Let’s not let this episode get us down. Let’s go out and enjoy ourselves.”

“Are you sure you still want to go after the experience you’ve had?”

“Absolutely!” Jack said. “Come on! We shouldn’t keep Warren and Spit waiting.”

“Where are they?”

“Down in their cars,” Jack said. “Warren insisted on coming and bringing backup on the off chance members of the People’s Aryan Army show up for an encore.”

Laurie leaped to her feet. “You should have told me Warren was waiting.” She rushed back into her bedroom.

“I told you he brought me,” Jack called after her. He stooped down to return to petting the cat.

“Who is Spit?” Laurie yelled. “Or shouldn’t I ask?”

“He’s one of the basketball regulars,” Jack explained. “Warren is his mentor and trusts him implicitly.”

“How did he get such an awful nickname?”

“It comes from one of his less endearing character traits,” Jack yelled.

When Laurie was completely ready, they took the elevator down to the ground floor and exited the building. They found Warren and Spit directly out front. Laurie and Warren enjoyed a sustained embrace, since they’d not seen each other in months.

“You’re looking good, woman,” Warren said, giving Laurie the onceover.

“You’re not looking bad yourself, man,” Laurie said, emphasizing the word “man.”

Warren laughed and introduced Laurie to Spit. Spit acted embarrassed for the first time Jack had ever seen. He even turned his baseball hat around to face forward as a sign of respect, another first in Jack’s experience.

“So where’s this restaurant?” Warren said. “I’m ready to get stuffed.”

“Come on,” Laurie said. “I’ll direct you.”

The trip to the restaurant went quickly and without incident. On Warren’s insistence both Jack and Laurie came with him while Spit brought up the rear in his car. Initially they talked about the disturbing incident in Jack’s apartment, but by mutual consent that soon gave way to more enjoyable topics. Laurie was particularly eager to hear about Natalie Adams, Warren’s “shortie,” whom Laurie had not seen since the last time she’d seen Warren. Laurie was glad to hear that she and Warren were getting along fine.