“I am off to the second location; I need a couple of hours to set up.”
“Thanks, Randy, the mirrors were great. I give you high marks for the flourish at the end.”
“I try to be a showman, so you get your money’s worth.”
“As always, you have earned everything coming to you. Fine work, Randy.”
The van drove away and Patrick thought to himself, “Yes, you arrogant little bastard. After all these years and all the money, you still can’t follow instructions. It will be a pleasure making you disappear.” He felt the Walther PPK in his pocket.
Under the street light, a figure in a dark trench coat and hat lit up a cigarette. It was the signal. Patrick lit up one himself and started to walk. The figure, remaining on the other side of the street, followed. The person in the window quickly made his way down to the street and followed them both. It was tricky, as the point of them walking on opposite sides of the street was to be able to keep an eye open for anything out of the ordinary, but he wasn’t noticed.
Patrick was hungry and was pleased the Falcon had chosen a restaurant. Patrick liked the Falcon; he respected the Falcon’s organization and skill at keeping secrets. In that, they were birds of a feather. He looked over his shoulder, thinking he had seen something. The paranoia was getting bad. A nice meal would help.
The figure entered the restaurant first, and then Patrick crossed the street. He hungs his coat next to a dark trench coat. On the lapel was a small falcon, this is the one, he thinks. Patrick slipped the instructions into the pocket and then asked for a table.
Mike rounded the corner in time to see Patrick enter the restaurant. He crossed to the other side of the street. Mike stood there for a while and then decided to find a pay phone.
“Hey Henry, this is Mike."
Henry said, so everyone could hear him, “Mike, good to hear from you buddy, where are you at?”
“I hung out after you left. It took a little while, but then I saw them load up the van. Your guy Patrick then took to waiting for someone. I found a good vantage point and was able to keep an eye on him. I don’t know how long he stood there, maybe 20 – 30 minutes, but eventually they showed up. I couldn’t see who it was. I followed them to a restaurant. They're in there now.”
“We were getting worried.”
Mike chuckled, “Sorry, but I couldn't get to a phone and keep an eye on him.”
“Can you get a look inside the restaurant, without being seen?”
“I can, but does it matter? Patrick doesn’t know me from Adam.”
“It probably doesn’t, but I want to play it close to the vest.”
“Will do, I'll call in later. Are you going to be at the office?”
“Yes. I'll order some Chinese food and wait for your call.”
“Order me some egg rolls and soup.”
Mike walked to the corner and crossed, then approached the window. He tried to look casual by reading the menu, when all of a sudden there was a pounding. He looked and Francis LeMange, the food critic and up until recently, someone he didn’t care for, was knocking and motioning for him to come inside. When Mike was in the hospital, earlier in the year, Francis came by every day to check on him. Their common friendship with Henry had been enough, their differences had vanished. Now, they were friends and it was biting him right in the butt. It couldn’t be avoided.
Mike went in and joined Francis at the table in the window. At least he would be able to eat.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Mike shook Francis's hand and took a seat. The table had a bottle of wine, and Francis had still been looking at the menu when he spotted Mike. He had his notebook out, pen at the ready, and a blank page awaiting his thoughts.
“I'm just delighted that you happened past my little window seat. It will be nice to have someone to dine with this evening.”
“Are you here doing a review for the paper?” Mike said looking around the restaurant. He spotted Patrick sitting alone near the far wall.
“Oui et Non, I am working on my article, but it isn’t about tonight’s meal, but today’s lunch. I eat here fairly often. The calamari is brilliant.” Francis waved his hand and a young man with jet black hair appeared next to the table. “It would bring me an almost immeasurable amount of pleasure to share, with my friend Mike, a plate of your calamari.”
The waiter looked at Francis and then Mike. “It will be right up and I'll bring a wine glass for your guest.”
“I have to admit I was getting pretty hungry.”
“Did you catch any bad guys, today?”
“I decided to take a couple of week’s vacation and help Henry on a case. Did you hear about Mickey?”