Singularity

by Eldon Farrell

  His left eye swollen shut, Leo focused his right on Logue. He jerked in the chair as he struggled to breathe. Logue stood up and said, “Can we get these bindings off him? I don’t think he’s going anywhere.”

  Nathan stepped behind Leo and with one motion slit his bindings. Leo’s arms fell forward and threatened to carry the rest of his body with them but Nathan’s hand on his shoulder arrested the fall.

  “So what do you say, Leo?” Logue asked, “You ready to cooperate yet?”

  His shoulders heaved, and he grimaced in pain. After a long moment, he mouthed, “Yes.”

  “Good boy.” Logue patted him on his head. “You’re here because we need to know everything you’ve told King. We know what she’s published—but what is she holding back?”

  “And how do you know anything to tell her?” Nathan asked.

  “Well,” Logue said as he looked from Nathan to Eli, “I think that’s obvious. He found his father’s ledger and gave it to King.”

  A vacant look crossed Eli’s face for a moment before he nodded in agreement.

  “I didn’t …”

  Logue turned to Leo. “What was that?”

  “I didn’t …” Leo whispered, “I didn’t…tell her…anything.”

  Logue’s mouth contorted to a narrow slit as he shook his head. “See, now,” he said, “I don’t like that. You agreed to cooperate, yet you begin with a lie.”

  “Not lying.”

  Logue looked over his shoulder to Eli. “What do you think, Judge?”

  Eli nodded. “Must be a slow learner, sounds like a lie to me.”

  Leo tried to shake his head but winced from the effort. “I swear…not lying.”

  Logue bent over Leo and got right in his face. “The judge says you’re lying. I say you’re lying. Do you expect us to believe you never met with King?”

  A tear tinged with blood ran down Leo’s cheek as he lowered his gaze to the floor. His chest heaved as sobs wracked his body.

  “Fuck this.” Logue stalked toward his desk. “We’ll do it your way.” He reached inside the top drawer and lifted out a steel cylindrical rod eighteen inches in length. He smacked it against his palm twice to display its heft.

  “No please …” Leo cried, “Please…I’m telling the truth!”

  Logue smiled sadistically. “We’re past that now.”

  Quinn grabbed Logue by the arm and blocked his path back to Leo. Logue’s eyes widened as he stared at the offending hand. “He’s had enough,” Quinn said.

  “Is that your hand on my arm?” Logue asked in a low voice, overflowing with malice.

  “He knows nothing,” Quinn said.

  Still staring at the hand, Logue said, “Remove your hand from my arm, before I remove it from yours.”

  Quinn kept the hand in place.

  “Baker,” Nathan cautioned.

  Dropping his gaze, Quinn released his hold and stepped back. With one final glare at Quinn, Logue marched over to Leo. “Hold him, Nate,” he said as he slapped the cylinder against his palm.

  “Please no, don’t …” Leo pleaded, “I’ll tell you…what you want to know!”

  “Too late,” Logue said with a sick grin. Nathan cinched his hold on Leo as Logue raised the rod over his head and brought it down across Leo’s thighs. Leo screamed in agony. Again and again, Logue landed crippling blows to Leo’s body. He slammed the rod into his ribs, his knees, his shins, and finally whipped a vicious shot up to his chin. Blood splattered across Logue’s face and splashed back onto Nathan’s clothes. The anguished cries for help ceased and Leo slumped over onto the floor.

  Breathing heavily, Logue grinned at his handiwork. He dropped the rod with a dull thud on the carpet and wiped the blood from his face.

  Nathan bent over Leo’s prone body and checked for a pulse. “He’s still alive,” he said.

  “Maybe so,” Eli said, “but I doubt he’ll be talking anytime soon. That last shot had to have broken his jaw.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Logue said. “King is discredited. If he told her any more—which I doubt—she won’t find an audience for it.” Another whump from outside shook the office. Logue turned to Quinn. “Load him into a car. He’s going to take the ride his father took.” He narrowed his gaze and added, “One objection and I’ll see you join him on that ride.”

  A haunted look on his face, Quinn blinked several times before he stepped forward and bent down to lift Leo. He grabbed him under the shoulders and dragged him from the room. With each step they descended, Leo’s feet banging on the staircase echoed in the room.

  Logue tossed a towel to Nathan to clean the blood off his clothes. “Happy?” Logue asked. “Your traitor will soon leave this world.”

  “If he’s the traitor,” Nathan said.

  “What do you mean if?” Eli asked.

  “Eli’s right,” Logue said, “Your source gave him up. I have no doubt he squealed to King. She had no recent specifics—only vague notions. All of which could easily have come from Mickey’s ledger. Consider the problem solved. Our other problem though,” Logue pointed to the office door, “I don’t trust your partner, Nate.”

  Nathan shook his head. “We’ve been over this. He’s good.”

  Logue turned to Eli. “After what just happened, you still vouch for him, Judge?”

  Eli and Nathan exchanged a look before Eli answered, “Like Nate said, he’s good. Guy’s queasy, is all.”

  Logue moved behind his desk and took a seat. Leaning back in his chair he said, “You better be right. Next shipment is coming in two days, and I don’t want any more leaks. We can’t afford to draw any attention from the AG.”

  “He’s on board,” Nathan said.

  The scream of crushed steel drowned out any further reply.

  Alexis watched her source climb the hill with a growing sense of dread. His gait appeared agitated, his movements fearful. An ill wind blew on the back of her neck, and she did her best to keep from shivering as he approached.

  He paced back and forth in front of her before sitting in his usual position on the bench beside her. While he wore a hooded jacket and reflective shades, she noticed his scarf was missing, exposing part of his face.

  Silence stretched between them, filled by the rustling of wind through the tree branches.

  At last, he cleared his throat and said, “Leo Spagnuolo is dead.”

  The declaration hit her with a force she hadn’t expected, and Alexis stammered in shock. “That can’t…I mean…Where did…How?”

  He leaned forward and placed his head between his knees. Alexis swore he was crying. “They murdered him,” he whispered.

  “How did they know about him?” Alexis asked.

  “You must have been followed when you met him.”

  “No chance.” Alexis shook her head. “I know I wasn’t followed.”

  “Well, they knew didn’t they?” He lifted his head back up and wiped at his eyes beneath his glasses. “One of Miller’s contacts named Leo as the traitor. I watched them torture and kill him because they thought he was me. And I did nothing to stop it.”

  “It’s not your fault.” Alexis attempted to comfort him. “You didn’t kill him. There was nothing you could have done.”

  “I could have done something. I could’ve told them they had the wrong man.”

  “And you think they would’ve let him live?” Alexis asked. “They would’ve killed you both.”

  He said nothing for a long time. The wind whipped across the hill biting into the flesh beneath her clothes. Gripping her jacket tighter, Alexis looked at the full moon glowing overhead and waited for him to speak.

  He hung his head and asked, “Do you know who I am?”

  Unsure whether to admit the truth, Alexis remained silent until he lifted his head to wait for an answer. She bit her bottom lip and said, “Yes.”

  “How long have you known?”

  “Since the beginning,” Alexis s
aid.

  He shook his head. “Say my name.”

  Alexis blinked at the strange request. “Excuse me?”

  “Say my name,” he repeated, “I want to hear it pass your lips.”

  She gave a nod and looked right at him. “Quinn Baker.”

  Quinn reached up and slid the hood back off his head. He removed his glasses and carefully folded the arms shut before he said, “If you know who I am, then you know what I am. I’m a cop. And tonight I let an innocent man pay for my sins.” He sighed. “I never should’ve started this.”

  Quinn stood and looked down at her. “We’re done, it’s over. I won’t let anyone else die because of me.”

  “Wait a minute!” Alexis said, “I’ve been attacked by Miller’s thugs, accused of attacking him, and had my blog discredited by the Cabal. Do you expect me to stop now because you think it’s your job to protect everyone? I never asked for your protection, Quinn. You may be finished—but I’m just getting started.”

  Quinn looked perplexed for a moment as he stared at her. “You have nothing to go after them with. I’ll not risk your life any further.”

  Alexis stood and cinched her collar tighter. “Don’t treat me like I’m helpless. Once I have Mickey’s illicit ledger—I’ll bring them all down.”

  She strode past him and felt his hand on her elbow stopping her from storming off.

  “Don’t be foolish, Lexi.” Quinn said, “If you’re right, and you weren’t followed to the meet with Leo, then someone in your inner circle sold you out. Keep digging and you might find it’s your grave.”

  They stared at each other a moment. Long enough for Alexis to realize he was better looking than his photos. He has a compassionate face.

  “Please,” Quinn said, “I started this. Leave it to me to finish it.”

  He released his hold on her and walked away. “Wait,” Alexis called after him, “Who gave Miller Leo’s name?”

  Quinn looked back over his shoulder and shrugged. “Leave it be, Lexi.”

  “If someone betrayed me, at least give me a chance to find out who. You owe me that much.”

  She watched him through the twilight as he mulled this over. He took one step toward her and said, “Austin Cain. He’s a mid-level boss dealing in prostitution and—”

  “Gambling.” Alexis interrupted.

  Quinn furrowed his brow. “You know him?”

  She shook her head. “No. Someone close to me does.” A chill swept through her that had nothing to do with the temperature.

  31

  Alexis dropped her shoulder bag on the desk beside her assistant. The thud startled Elise, making her jump. “Tell me you didn’t do it.”

  Elise looked at her slack-jawed. She lifted her hands from the keyboard and shrugged.

  “Don’t!” Alexis said, “Don’t you dare look all innocent with me, not after what you’ve done.”

  Finding her voice, Elise said, “What I’ve done? What have I done? I don’t know what you’re talking about, Lexi, or why you’re so pissed.”

  Alexis stalked back and forth in front of her. Her anger would not abate. “I know it was you. I want to hear you admit it.”

  Elise shook her head. “Lexi, I don’t—”

  “Don’t lie to me!” Alexis shouted. “No more lies, Elise. Tell me right now what you told Cain.” Elise’s eyes widened. She looked down and swallowed. Alexis insisted. “Tell me!”

  “All right,” Elise whispered, “All right. He wanted information, said he wanted to know who you’d been talking with.”

  The admission struck Alexis like a punch to the gut. She stumbled backward and rested on the edge of her sofa. “Why? Why would you do it?”

  Elise lifted her gaze. She ran her fingers through her hair and admitted, “I got in too deep. I owed Cain a lot. He called in my marker, told me I had two days to pay up—or else. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have the money.”

  Alexis closed her eyes and listened to Elise explain the sordid details.

  “Then he made me an offer,” Elise said. “He told me he’d forgive my debt if I did something for him. What choice did I have? I agreed. I only gave him Leo’s name though. He really wanted the name of your source on Miller, but I didn’t give him that.”

  “Betrayal isn’t a matter of degree.” Alexis opened her eyes and looked at Elise. “If you knew my source’s name, don’t pretend you wouldn’t have given it up to save yourself.”

  Her eyes welled up and Elise said, “I would never do that, Lexi. I wouldn’t give up a source. What I gave him was harmless.”

  Incredulous, Alexis said, “Harmless? Harmless! You have no idea what you’ve done. Leo is dead because of you.”

  Elise gasped. Her hand covered her mouth and tears spilled down her cheeks. “What? No, he can’t be. How? I didn’t…”

  “You didn’t think.” Alexis chastised her. “You saw a way out of your own problems and you took it. You didn’t care what Cain would do with the information once he had it. He gave Leo up to Miller as my source, and Miller tortured and killed him.” She pointed a finger at Elise. “That’s on you.”

  Her shoulders heaved as Elise sobbed. “I never wanted—”

  “It doesn’t matter what you wanted,” Alexis interrupted. “It matters what you did. A man is dead because I got him involved in this and you betrayed my trust.” Alexis rose from the sofa and turned her back to Elise. “We’re finished. Gather your stuff and leave. I can’t stand the sight of you.”

  “Lexi,” Elise said, “I’m sorry. Please.”

  Alexis refused to look at her. “I know you’re sorry, but it doesn’t make Leo any less dead. I warned you about Cain. You refused to listen. Please, just go.”

  She heard Elise gather her belongings and listened to her sobs. She would not give her the satisfaction of acknowledging her pain. Leo was tortured and killed. She’s getting off easy. From the corner of her eye, Alexis saw Elise walk toward the front door. There she paused a moment to offer another apology. Alexis turned further away.

  When she heard the door close, Alexis screamed. She grabbed the desk and toppled it. Kicking and punching the walls, she let loose a banshee cry filled with rage and heartache. Her energy spent, Alexis collapsed to her knees on the floor. Beneath the sofa she spied the ledger where it had fallen from the desk.

  She snatched it up and rushed out the door.

  The door opened and Alexis stared into the smug face of Eli Wurth. His eyes betrayed shock at seeing her on his doorstep. An amused grin played at the corners of his mouth. He laughed, and the sound sickened her. “You must be lost, girlie?”

  Alexis fought the urge to slug him in his arrogant mouth, her fists shaking by her side with the effort.

  Eli brought a glass to his lips, spilling the liquor. His laughter sated, he took a gulp. The drink flushed his skin and dimmed his eyes. Alexis surmised it was not his first nor last of the day. “I have a proposition for you.” She choked on the words.

  Eli let his eyes roam over her body. Her skin crawled. With a lecherous grin, he said, “I might be a tad old for you, but I’m willing to try.”

  She felt bile rise in her throat and swallowed hard. Taking a step forward, she jabbed a finger against his chest. “Suggest that to me once more, and I’ll see you never use it again. We clear, old man?”

  His smile broadened. He went inside, leaving the door open and Alexis on the step. She followed him into the home. An alcohol smell wafted into her nostrils and mixed with the pungent aroma of stale food and dry rot. In the sitting room, Eli shoved empty chip bags and bottles to the side and sat on a worn recliner. A cat leapt into his lap and settled on him.

  Alexis turned her nose up at the shambles of the place.

  “Not to your liking?” Eli said, “I suppose I could use…a woman’s touch.”

  “You want me to vomit?” Alexis asked. “Not like you’d notice it in this mess.”

  “Feisty,” Eli st
roked the cat, “I like that.” He took another swig and said, “So, make me laugh.”

  “I know you took a ledger from Mickey Spagnuolo’s safe deposit box.” Alexis said, “I know you have it upstairs inside a safe in your office.”

  Eli continued to stroke the cat, its purring filled the silence between them. “Be careful you don’t know too much.” Eli warned, “You’re all alone, girlie. Far from home.”

  Alexis balled her hand into a fist. “Call me ‘girlie’ again and see how feisty I get.”

  Eli laughed off the implied threat. “Why are you here?”

  “I’m here for that ledger.” Alexis kinked her eyebrow. “You’re going to give it to me.”

  “Is that right?” Eli said, “Can’t say you didn’t make me laugh.”

  “Well, see if you find this funny.” Alexis stepped around his sofa. “You give me the ledger, and I keep you out of it. Your masters can think it came from Leo, you know, before you murdered him.”

  Eli gave her a deadpan stare. “Why would I do such a thing?”

  “Save it,” Alexis said. “We both know why you murdered him—to protect yourself. That’s why you kept the ledger all these years too, and why you’ll hand it over now.”

  “You’re delusional.”

  Alexis shook her head. “No, I’m not. Because if you don’t give it to me, I’ll go to Miller and tell him you have it. I’ll tell him where it is and why you kept it. You know, as leverage against your conspirators. How do you think that will go down?”

  Eli knocked the cat from his lap and leaned forward. “They’ll never believe you.”

  She stared through him. “Only one way to find out. What’s it going to be?”

  Eli leaned back in his chair and took another drink. With the glass still in his hand, he said, “There’s always a third option. I could make sure you never say a word.”

  “You think I came here without telling someone?” Alexis bluffed. “Anything happens to me, and you’ll be the one to answer for it. Think about it, I’m giving you a chance to get away clean. Give me the ledger, and I erase any mention of your involvement. You’ll be free.”