Page 115 of The Furies

Beside me, Louis’s brow actually furrowed in shock, like a primatologist who has just discovered the text of Hamlet on a monkey’s typewriter.

“I hope you’re letting him win occasionally,” I said. “He can be a sore loser.”

“Are you trying to lighten the mood, Mr. Parker?”

“It would be difficult to make it any darker.”

“Well, the effort is appreciated, but you can stop now. I want to kill these men. I loathe them for what they’ve done, and for what they want to do.”

“Which is?”

“To leave me with nothing.”

“We’re not going to let that happen.”

“I want to believe you, but it may be too late. By the time I get in my car, only memories will be left of my daughter.”

She was a strong woman, but the days had taken their toll. At some point a person required more than general reassurance.

“It may not come to that,” I said. “We know who they are, and we have an idea of where they’re staying. We’re on our way there now.”

“Okay,” she said, and I heard her voice catch.

I killed the call. Louis was looking again at the photos sent to her phone, in particular the last of them.

“We may have to inflict damage,” he said.

I took the exit for Congress.

“Even if we don’t have to,” I said, “we will anyway.”

CHAPTER XLIV

Bobby Wadlin, fortified with so much Rescue Remedy that he believed he might already be half blossom, had made himself a cup of coffee and returned to the lobby. The TV was off because he couldn’t focus on a western for the present, an indication of how disturbed he remained. He’d dug out a CD of thirties and forties torch songs, which suited the ambience and his mood, and set it playing softly in the background. He’d positioned his chair so that it faced not the door, but the hallway to his left, and the stairwell leading down to the basement. He didn’t want to keep his back to it. It struck him as unwise. Bobby hoped the child wasn’t planning on taking up permanent residence down there. He didn’t think his nerves or his sanity could take it.

The Braycott’s front door opened and three men entered. Two of them hung back while the third approached the desk. It had, without fear of contradiction, been a lousy day for Bobby. Had he been asked, he could have come up with few misfortunes, short of serious illness or his own demise, guaranteed to make it much worse, but among them would have been a visit from the man who was standing before him. Bobby closed his eyes.

“Lord,” he said, “kill me now.”

CHAPTER XLV

I waited until Bobby Wadlin reopened his eyes before I began speaking. He looked disappointed to discover that I was still there.

“Don’t think I’m not tempted,” I said, “but I wouldn’t want to leave a mess.”

“Why? It’s never stopped you before.”

Wadlin stood and pointed past me to where Angel and Louis were watching him with nothing approaching interest.

“And I’ve heard all about those two as well,” he said. “I don’t want their kind in my place.”

“That’s prejudice,” said Angel.

“So sue me.”

“That would be the less appealing option.”

Angel unbuttoned his jacket, revealing the butt of a pistol. Louis advanced and tapped the plexiglass with a knuckle.

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