Time and Again(76)
“You were bluffing? You don’t know where the ‘Eye’ is?”
“No, never did, but you knew I could bluff well enough to get here. Wasn’t that your plan?”
“Yes it was, but the way you said…well, you even convinced me.”
“The clock is ticking kitten. Are you the Falcon?”
“Yes.”
“Were you the Falcon when we met?”
“No, I was just me.”
“Did you ever care for me?”
“Yes, of course I did, I mean, I do. Can’t you tell?”
Her answers came quickly, no need to think, she was telling the truth. The next question caught her square in the jaw.
“Why did Mickey have to die?”
“He…I mean…”
“He was my best friend and you knew that. Was it you in the car?”
“No” A horrified look on her face, tears starting to fall.
“But it was you, you ordered it. You had to keep your secret. Who killed Mickey?”
“I…Henry…please let me explain.”
Henry let her have it, both barrels, looking into her moist eyes. “We don’t have time for your explanation. I need an answer. If we don’t wipe the slate clean, if you don’t tell me what you have done, I can’t begin to forgive you.” Giving her some hope, “I might as well take the money. Let the truth die with you. It will hurt, but not as much as your betrayal. I need to know who killed Mickey, the why can come later.”
“Henry it is complicated…”
Slightly louder, a little colder, with an edge, “Who killed Mickey?”
The door opened. “It has been 5 minutes. You must call now.”
Henry stood, looked at her, and then dialed. When he got the voice on the other end, “The ‘Eye’ is behind a wall, on the second floor. Go through the door you can see from the phone booth, there are stairs at the end of the hall. Once you get to the second floor, go down the hall, and take the first left. This hall goes for a ways; there are office doors on both sides. This hall connects to another hallway. Turn right and open the first door on the left. It is a large room, the back wall is brick. There is a hidden space behind the false wall. There is a release, but it is hard to explain how it works. Just use the sledge hammer near the corner. If you open it up near the corner, it will be safe; the boxes with the ‘Eye’ are at the other end of the space.” Henry sat down, with the phone on his knee. “We talked.” Then he listened for a moment.
Tears streamed down her face.
“I will take the…”
“No wait…it was Arthur.”
Henry holding the phone, “But he works for you?!”
“Yes.”
“You knew.”
“Yes.”
“You knew and didn’t tell me.”
Katarina was completely broken, sobbing into her hands, “You don’t understand, I needed the ‘Eye’…”
Henry stood up slowly, and then said, “You get that captain?” He hung up the phone and set it on the table.
The two men guarding the door came in and identified themselves as police officers. They carried cuffs and asked her to stand. “You have the right to remain…”
Henry walked towards the door.
Katarina ran up to him, grabbing his arm, confused. “What? What’s going on?”
Henry waved off the two officers and grabbed her by the elbows. “You lost. You played everyone for the fool, even me. I let you. I couldn’t help it. But I can’t let you get away with Mickey’s murder. I won’t.”
Screaming and crying, “But I need the ‘Eye’, I need to ask it something. I need to talk to God.”
Henry gave the officers a nod and they pulled her arms behind her back. “You don’t need a 2000 year old machine. You just talk. You find a quiet place and talk.”
Henry walked out and down to the street. The professor pulled up and he climbed in. “Mike is over helping take Arthur and Hans down to the station. He said he would catch up with us later. The chief said you would need to make a statement, but it could wait until morning. Where to?”
“I need a drink.”
“The Dublin Rogue it is.”