Something about walking through all the plants felt good. He liked his plan.
He entered the men's room in the very back of the place and opened the window. There was no screen. Not a hundred feet away, parked on the grass, was the helicopter he had ordered. Quickly, hoping he wouldn't be seen, he crawled out the window and jumped down in a small enclosure that stored the garbage cans and housed the air conditioner. It was an easy vault over the low wall and a quick walk to the helicopter. Hans could fly passably, and it was a sunny calm day.
Without filing a flight plan and with the transponder off, he flew below 1,000 feet for 200 miles to a strip in Fortuna, California, where he picked up the Spaniard, pulled fuel in cans from a hangar, and then flew to Jack Morgan's. Nobody but the Spaniard could put him anywhere near Palmer. Legitimate receipts would show that he checked into the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.
25
Maria and Dan were in the public library reviewing a Sunday-magazine newspaper insert article about the death of Catherine Swanson.
"I'm sure the body in the mine was the photographer, so we know he didn't kill her."
"It was a body without a head," Maria said.
"Clothing matches. He was skinny like the photographer."
"OK, I'll concede that. I think you should leave town for a while."
"No way."
After a short argument and a longer discussion, Dan changed the subject, explaining that he had to meet some clients the next day even though it was a Saturday.
"It's a bit of a problem," Dan said.
"Why's that?"
"Pepacita's going to visit her family. And worse yet, Nate was supposed to stay with his friend John Barge. Debbie Barge is great, but I'm reluctantly coming to the conclusion that her live-in boyfriend is into drugs. Now that Lynette's gone…"
"Are you working up to something?"
"Well, I'm in a bind."
"You know I'll do it," Maria said between bites of her tuna sandwich. "I just want you to ask, instead of sliding all around it."
''He's liable to have an attitude. The boyfriend was taking them for a ride in his drag boat."
"I can deal with it."
On the first floor of the castle, there was a large ceremonial room. History was prominently featured with swords and body armor from various eras, even equestrian armor, and all manner of ancient fighting implements. The floor of the long rectangular room was gleaming mahogany from a nearly extinct species. The walls were redwood and the ceiling Japanese white cedar. Functions for up to 200 could be held in this room.
Off of the ceremonial room lay a relatively small study. This room looked much more Western and prominently featured several large computer screens. Yoshinari sat in front of one such screen that displayed a detailed map of northern California. Shohei had just called by satellite phone. Groiter had disappeared at a Santa Rosa airport. Shortly after he entered a public eating establishment, a helicopter took off and Groiter could not thereafter be found.
Shohei could wait in San Francisco and collaborate with Satoru, or he could go to Palmer and wait. Yoshinari studied the map. There was nothing of great interest in San Francisco. Maria Fischer was from Sacramento. Dan Young was from Palmer. Kenji's laboratory was near Palmer and Corey Schneider was there as well.
"Go to Palmer. You have a radio that will monitor the police?"
"Yes."
"Use it. The pressure on Kenji is great. Groiter may do whatever he's working so hard to conceal at any moment. Let me know the minute you hear anything out of the ordinary."
"Ossu."
Yoshinari flirted with the idea of sending more men but thought better of it. More men meant greater risk of exposure. And Shohei was incredibly talented.
He dialed his daughter.
"Micha."
"Father," she said softly. "How wonderful to hear your voice."
"How are you, my daughter? Beautiful flower in my garden."
"I would love to see you and Mother."
"Maybe we will take that shiny plastic bubble of a thing and aim it at America."
"Father, it's a Gulfstream GV. Kenji envies you."
"Nothing but wires and metal. No beauty. But if it will take us to you, maybe there is something to be said for it."
"Something is on your mind."
"How did you know?"
"Mother comes on the line first when you are not worried."
Yoshinari smiled. His daughter was indeed observant. "How is Kenji?"
"He paces in the night. His teeth grind in his sleep."
"So what do you think is worrying him?"
"He keeps me far from his worries."
"Yes."
"And if I ask, he gets angry. So I don't ask."
"I see."
"How is my granddaughter?"
"She is well. You should come and see her. Already she paints like Mother. She has your love of the garden."
"I will come soon."
"Rest easily, Father. You will figure it out. You always do."
He hung up. For better or worse he had just told his daughter that he was very worried. Now she would be doubly alert. Turning off the screen, he rose to retire to his garden. And wait.
David Dun
At The Edge
Corey looked out the window of the study. Through a break in the overcast, a shaft of sunlight beamed through the shadows. Looking down at her glass-topped desk, she saw that both the sun and the clouds were reflected there in an interplay of gray and gold.
Sitting back in the oak chair, the straightness of it feeling good against her back, she focused her anger and reviewed the plan. Maria was supposedly in Palmer this afternoon and was to remain through the weekend. But that information had come from a fund-raiser who had talked to Maria's assistant; it was two days old. After thinking it over for a minute, Corey picked up the phone.
"Maria Fischer's legal assistant, please."
"This is John."
"John, this is Terry Hatcher. I'm an attorney and I'd like to consult with Maria Fischer. Will she be in this afternoon?"
"No, but she'll call for messages. Would you like her voice mail?"
"I'd like to talk with her in person. Where could I reach her tomorrow?"
"I can take your name and number and get back to you."
"Certainly. But you know, I was told she was going to be in Palmer tomorrow and I was hoping I might catch her there."
"I believe she will be in Palmer. If I could just take your number, I'll tell Maria you called."
"I'll be out. I'll have to call back."
The harlot and the pimp, she had taken to calling them. The phrase felt good and bolstered her determination. At the German's insistence the three of them were to have one more meeting before the big event. If Jack was nervous about her, he was incoherently frightened by the German. Now she was convinced Jack would put his heart into this thing to save himself. Wisely, he had sent his entire family to Mexico. These days he looked like a man who had seen his darkest moments, and when September brought this year's crop, she imagined he might move out of Nolo County altogether.
Startled by the ringing phone, she answered, certain that it would be the German.