Together Again(63)
“Viktor apparently knows who you are. He expects Margo Keyes, not some police officer who’s your height and weight.”
“Then how about you doing it with me? He won’t … ”
“He gave you a yard-long list of requirements to make this happen including who you could bring. If we change anything, he’ll bolt and you know it. Look, I don’t care what’s going on in your personal life. I only want two things. First, I want you to get your ass over here so we can get this taken care of. And second, I’d like you to act like the professional I know you are.”
“When?”
“When do I want you to act like a grown-up?”
“When do you want me over there?”
“Half an hour work?”
“I’ll be there.”
• • •
The room where they were to meet was empty when she got there. Less than five minutes later, Tony walked in. He stopped in the doorway when he saw her. She was sure the expression on her face reflected how nervous she was.
“Hi,” she said. She hated how her voice quivered. “How was Long Beach?”
He dropped a notebook on the table at the opposite end from where she was sitting. “Didn’t see much of it except the port and police headquarters.”
“Did it help with what you’re working on?”
“Some.”
The arrival of Sam and Danny along with a few other members of the task force relieved her of having to think of something else to say.
“Okay, people, let’s get this organized,” Sam said. Most of the task force members were clustered near Sam. Only Margo and Tony were at the ends of the table. He glanced at them. “Could one of you move so I don’t have to look back and forth like I’m watching a tennis match?” After a few seconds, both Tony and Margo got up and moved to chairs directly across from him. “That’s better. Tony, anything from Long Beach we should know?”
“I know why he put off meeting with Margo. He was in Long Beach to meet with a guy who’d agreed to sell Genentec information. Guy got cold feet at the last minute and went to the FBI. They taped his conversation arranging the handover. But Viktor never showed.” His eyes slid over to Margo, then went back to Sam. “This morning I heard from Long Beach. They found the Genentec source. Shot.”
“Christ, this guy piles up bodies like hay bales. Margo, I want to know where you are this weekend and I’m upping the patrols out on Marine Drive.”
“For once, I agree with you, Sam.”
“Okay, what Tony just told us makes it even more important that we take him down on Monday. Margo, you know what you’re supposed to do. Tony, you’re not supposed to come armed but I want a weapon in there with you. He’ll ask you to get rid of it but at least it’ll be within reach.”
“Where’ll you be, Sam?” Margo asked.
“Across Marine Drive in that industrial site. I’m concerned that it’s not an easy place to get buttoned down. He can see anyone on Marine Drive and the neighborhood to the south is a rabbit warren where we can hide, but we can’t see a fucking thing in the park.”