William Bernhardt - Double Jeopardy

Marnie jerked Staci violently by the shoulders. “Don’t you tell me what I may and may not say. You live in a dreamworld, just like she did. You have no idea what things cost. As if I could afford to put you in some expensive hotel. You already cost me far more than I can afford.”

“What about the money Travis gives you?”

That remark slowed Marnie down, if only momentarily. “Money? What did he tell you?”

“He didn’t tell me anything. But his secretary, Gail, told me he sends you two hundred dollars a month to help take care of me. So where’s my two hundred dollars, Aunt Marnie?”

“You brat.” She slapped Staci again, even harder than before. “I’ll beat you till you beg for forgiveness.”

Staci made her break for it. She twisted away and raced toward the kitchen door. Unfortunately, the sliding bolt was engaged; by the time she unlocked it, Marnie had her by the throat.

Marnie whirled her around and brought the flat of her hand sharply against Staci’s face. That was the third slap on the same side; it stung. Staci tried to push her away, but she wasn’t strong enough.

Marnie raised her arm, this time with her fist clenched. The blow caught Staci just below her right eye and sent her head thudding back against the door.

No more. Staci grabbed Marnie’s arm and twisted it—she gave her what the kids at school called an Indian burn. Marnie screeched, obviously startled to see Staci fight back. Staci used the moment of surprise to good advantage. She raised her right sneaker and kicked Marnie in the shin. Marnie fell back against the kitchen counter. Without wasting a second, Staci flung the door open and raced outside.

She was free—she’d made it! She couldn’t help but smile, but she didn’t slow down. She wasn’t going to give Marnie a second chance. She kept running full out, without looking back.

The tall thin man appeared out of nowhere. Before Staci realized what was happening, he had clamped a hand over her mouth and wrapped his arm around her neck. Another man appeared out of the darkness and grabbed her by the waist. The cloth the first man held over her mouth smelled like Pine Sol. She felt herself growing dizzy and faint.

“Is she the one?” the second man asked.

The tall man nodded. Staci couldn’t see his face clearly, but there was something wrong with it, something … deformed. He grabbed her Disney bracelet and with a sudden jerk ripped it off her arm. “She’s the one.”

Staci tried to struggle, but it was becoming increasingly difficult. Her whole body seemed heavy and tired.

“Relax,” the second man said. “No one’s going to hurt you.”

“Right,” the tall man echoed. “Well, not for twenty-four hours, anyway.” He began to laugh.

It was the last sound Staci heard before she drifted into unconsciousness.

SATURDAY

April 20

54

6:30 A.M.

AS SOON AS HE saw the number on his LED screen, Agent Janicek jerked the phone out of the cradle.

“Moroconi? Is that you?”

The voice on the other end of the line whispered, “I don’t know. Is it safe?”

Janicek punched two buttons on his control console. “It’s safe. You’re on a secured line.”

“Mooney isn’t listenin’ in?”

“Mooney—” The corners of his mouth turned up slightly. “Mooney won’t be bothering me anymore.”

“What happened?”

“He had an unfortunate accident. Died in the line of duty.”

“Duty? Workin’ with you? What’d you do, send him into a cross fire for a can of beer?”

“As a matter of fact, he was killed by your former attorney Mr. Travis Byrne.”

“Byrne!” Moroconi sputtered into the phone. “You must be kiddin’. That wimp wouldn’t pull the wings off a butterfly. You set him up.”

“I don’t see any reason to discuss my business with you, Moroconi. Why did you call?”

“I got the word you were lookin’ for me.”

“You heard right I need the list back.”

“So why are you tellin’ me?”

“Because I think you’ve still got it. You might fool the mob, but I know damn well you’d never give that list to Byrne. I want it back.”

“No way.”

“This is serious, Moroconi. I have to have it. Have you made any copies?”

“Not yet.”

“Then don’t. Bring me the original.”

“You little turd. Have you forgotten we had a deal? You sure as hell took my money fast enough.”

“I’ll return it. It’s too risky now. I think Henderson is suspicious.”

“Well, isn’t that too bad for you?”

Janicek clenched the phone tightly. “It’ll be too bad for you, too, you bastard, if I decide to tell everything I know.”

There was an extended silence, interrupted only by Moroconi’s raspy breathing into the receiver.

“Goddamn list isn’t complete as it is.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean it isn’t right!” Moroconi shouted. “I wanted Jack. Before I did anyone else, I was going to do Jack. But he isn’t there. The address on the list is wrong.”

“That can’t be. The list is checked and updated constantly.”

“Well, it’s goddamn true, you chickenshit.”

“If the list is incorrect, then you shouldn’t mind giving it back.”

“Wrong. That list is my insurance policy.”

“What do you need it for now? Just stay out of sight. They’ll never find you.”

“They already have, asshole. I got mail while I was holed up at the motel. Hand-delivered.”

“From … them?”

“You got it. Elcon, that’s what they call themselves. Pissants. Trying to scare me off, like I was some second-grader.”

“Don’t be a fool, Moroconi. You can’t beat them. The smartest thing you can do is keep a low profile and get the hell out of town.”

Moroconi seemed to consider. “Maybe you’re right. But I got some business to take care of first.”

“Revenge is for losers, Moroconi.”

“Not the way I do it.”

“You’re playing with fire. If you know what I mean.”

He laughed. “But I won’t be the one who gets burned.”

“Why don’t we meet somewhere and try to come up with a concerted plan of action? Two heads are better than one.”

Moroconi released a slow whistle. “You son of a bitch. You’re tryin’ to set me up, aren’t you? You’re gonna kill me!”

“Moroconi, you’re becoming paranoid—”

“Like hell. You’re tryin’ to lure me somewhere so you can off me just like you did that dick Mooney. Just to save your own sweet ass.”

“That’s ridiculous—”

“Don’t lie to me, you cheap motherfucker!”

“ I’m desperate !” Janicek shouted, then checked himself. He looked outside his office door. No one appeared to have heard, thank God. “Henderson suspects. Do you know what will happen to me if he figures it out?”

“You should’ve thought of that before you got greedy. You knew the risks you were takin’.”

“I didn’t know you were going to shoot two guards! I didn’t know you were going to kill some hood at the West End!”

“Your escape plan was fucked. I had no choice.”

“My plan was flawless. The only thing that was fucked was you .”

There was another long pause. Janicek could hear Moroconi muttering under his breath, but he was fortunately unable to hear what he was saying.

“I won’t be callin’ anymore,” Moroconi said, finally. “Don’t come lookin’ for me.” He paused, then added: “If I see you, I’ll kill you.”

55

7:02 A.M.

KRAMER RUBBED HIS HANDS together with expectation. The recent turn of events had been extremely promising. A successful capture last night, and now a positive ID on that damned yellow Omni. Who could ask for anything more?