“So who was at Mrs. Lumner’s?” Ronnie looked at him with confusion.
“That’s exactly what I’ve been asking myself.” Gadi smiled mysteriously. “I asked her again to only check when the call had been received, but she refused again. I noticed that both times I asked her for information, her eyes rested for a moment on a ledger in front of her. I snatched it, and while she was screaming, went over all the calls that’d been received between the night of October 16th and the morning of the 17th. I couldn’t find any reference to a call received from the Lumner family. A minute later, two security men came in with a police officer and arrested me. They took me to the local police station, where they held me in custody without allowing me any contact with the outside world. Not everything you see in the movies works in real life. I screamed, ‘I have my rights, you know!’ until my throat got sore, but it seemed they weren’t familiar with the concept.”
“So what’s the story with Garcia?” Ronnie asked.
Gadi lowered his eyes, just like he had all those years ago, when they’d first met in Lod. “When we met more than a week ago in Sunnyvale, I searched the staff locker room and found the driver’s license of a certain Ramon Garcia. Looking at the license photo, you’d think he’s my long lost twin brother. Well, actually he’s not as handsome as I am, but pretty close. I had a feeling his identity might come in handy in the future.”
Liah shook her head in disbelief.
Gadi offered her a devilish smile in return. “When I’d reached Bedford, I rented a car under that name and that’s how I identified myself at the electric company and the police station. My real ID was carefully hidden beneath the seat upholstery of the rented car. A day later, they let me know I could be released for a bail of five thousand dollars. I only had five hundred. I sat in the cell and thought, ‘Who’s going to give a miserable Latino such as myself another forty-five hundred dollars?’ But then one of the cops, who, lucky for me, was also Hispanic, a real one for a change, told me there was actually someone who might. He was a tough bail-bond agent that could serve as my guarantor. He said he expected me to pay him seven hundred dollars and took care to warn me if I tried to run he’d find me and break every bone in my body. I guess he’ll be looking for Ramon Garcia for many years to come. I destroyed all the paperwork and shaved the beard I’d grown during my time in jail. I think I should be pretty safe for the next hundred years or so.”
“Did they take your fingerprints?” Ronnie asked.
“Yes, but who’ll compare the fingerprints taken in a small town in—”
“There’s a federal FBI database,” Ronnie insisted.
Gadi simply shrugged.
“You’re nuts,” Liah whispered.
“Nuts about you and Ronnie.” Gadi flashed two rows of brilliant white teeth.
“Cut it out, you two.” Ronnie stopped the budding argument. “About Christian Lumner, are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Yes,” answered Gadi gravely, “and I really don’t like it.”
Chapter 34
Las Vegas, October 26, 2013, 6:28 PM
Roselyn D’Angelo sat curled up on the floor in a small hotel room off the Las Vegas strip, her entire body shivering. She knew the car that’d almost hit her just an hour ago had intentionally attempted to harm her. Did they somehow find out I’d called my grandmother? She tried to rise, but her feet betrayed her and her body collapsed back to the floor. He was so polite at first, she remembered, how could I’ve known a monster was hidden behind that pleasant appearance?
He’d made their meeting appear like a coincidence. She was late leaving her station behind the orthopedics department desk, on her way home and running through the hallway toward the elevator. He held the door for her and gave her a warm smile that gave her shivers. They began to talk, and he told her about a hospitalized relative and how pleased he was with the excellent treatment he and his family members had been receiving from the staff. When he asked her what her job was in the hospital, she exaggerated and told him she was in charge of scheduling operations for the orthopedics department. He laughed at her heartily, gently held her arm and told her, “Thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for?” She was surprised.
The man smiled again and said, “For giving me a chance to make the acquaintance of another wonderful staff member.” This time, they both laughed. When they went out of the elevator, he invited her for coffee and said he’d like to get to know her better. When she answered that she needed to get back home urgently, without mentioning the embarrassing fact she didn’t really have a home to go back to, just a small bedroom in a small apartment where her disabled grandmother lived, he promised he was asking for just a few short minutes of her time.
“I’ve had a terrible day,” he said pleadingly. “I’d be so happy if you could spread some light on it.”
What a fool I’ve been. What was I thinking? I couldn’t even get a date for the high school prom and had to go by myself. I’m the only one in the orthopedics department who never got any dirty offers. Why would such a handsome man hit on me?
He wasn’t only handsome, but also had a tongue as smooth as silk. His oriental features were soft and caring when he listened to her, and pretty soon, he’d invited her to spend the evening together. Her heart was fluttering with excitement as she accepted and said she’d love to go out with him.
Her grandmother was delighted to hear her beloved granddaughter was finally going out instead of spending another evening with her on the sofa watching reruns. He arrived at exactly eight o’clock, dressed in a yellow jacket and a blue t-shirt that complemented his muscular body. His green eyes, which she would later discover were the product of colored contact lenses, hypnotized her. They never made it to the restaurant. The sex, even though it took place in a run-down motel room, was amazing. The best she’d ever experienced in her almost nonexistent sex life. He told her how beautiful she was and insisted on taking pictures of her. She felt lucky, perhaps even in love.
The night flew by quickly, and they arranged to meet again the next evening at the same place. She couldn’t pay attention to her work the entire day and needed to use all her self-control not to get to the motel room too early. The sex was just as amazing as it’d been on the previous night, but as soon as they were done something in his mood changed. “I need to ask you for a favor,” he said, then pleasantly added, “and I’m willing to generously reward you for it.” For the first time, she felt something rough and unpleasant in him, but it quickly disappeared again behind the mask of pleasantries.
She said that, of course, she’d love to help him and tried to get back into his arms, but he moved away from her and with an icy voice instructed her to get dressed. She gathered her clothes from the floor and could hardly believe the man sitting on the bed now, following her every movement, was the same pleasant and soft-spoken man she’d just finished making love to. When she turned to leave, barely able to contain her tears, he grabbed her hand with an iron grip and demanded that she copy for him the list of all scheduled operations for the next two months. In return, he would be willing to pay her a handsome amount. When she refused and explained such an act could make her lose her job, he just tightened his grip and smiled.
When she’d returned home, she was happy to discover her grandmother already sleeping. She couldn’t fall asleep all night. The insult stung her even more than the fear, as she realized she’d gotten herself in trouble.
To her surprise, the following day passed by uneventfully. She was hoping the man had just given up and even started to think perhaps she’d imagined the entire affair. On her way back home, she’d already suppressed the events of the previous two days and was completely at ease when she entered the little apartment she and her grandmother shared. They ate dinner together, chatting about this and that, then they sat together to watch their favorite shows.
The telephone call startled her. She rose from the sofa and hesitantly went to answer. When she picked
up the receiver, she heard his cold voice asking, “Did you have time to think about my request?”
All the tension that had accumulated within her throughout the day burst out as she yelled at him to leave her alone and slammed down the phone. A few seconds later, the telephone rang again. She decided not to pick up. The phone rang for a long time, until her grandmother moved to answer it. Roselyn, who was afraid of what that terrible man might say to her grandmother, sat her back down gently and asked her to ignore the phone. That was also the moment the blood froze in her veins. A red laser sniper dot darted on her grandmother’s chest. The phone stopped ringing and she jumped up. The laser dot didn’t budge. She tried to help her grandmother to her feet, and the dot travelled to her forehead. She felt she was about to faint and crawled back, falling on the nearby sofa. The phone rang for the third time. With a hesitant step she went to answer. “Let me explain to you again. You’re going to do what I’ve asked you to, because you’re afraid, and you should be, that I’ll kill your grandmother, or because seventy thousand dollars might just buy you the life you’ve always dreamed about. Tomorrow morning, at exactly ten o’clock, you’ll come with the orthopedics department’s surgery schedule to the coffee shop where we first met. Don’t say anything to anyone, especially not to the police. We’re following your every move.”
She remained standing, staring at the silent receiver. Her grandmother gave her a questioning look, and she hurried to apologize for having to go back into her room to work. Deep down, she’d already accepted the fact she had no choice but to agree to the man’s demands and hope he’d then leave her alone.
The following morning, she arrived at the office very early and managed to print the schedule and place the copy into her bag before any of her coworkers arrived. The next few hours passed by in a haze. Twenty minutes before the designated time, she approached her manager and told her she wasn’t feeling well and needed to go back home and rest. She politely rejected the offer to be examined by a doctor and left the place on trembling feet.
“You’re two minutes late,” the man welcomed her with an emotionless expression.
The coffee and cake she’d ordered on their previous meeting were already waiting on the table. She sat in front of them and silently handed him the papers. He copied a few names to his phone and texted them to an unknown recipient. “I’m happy you’ve decided to help me. I wouldn’t want to hurt you or your family. If you do exactly as I ask, I promise to disappear from your life for good.” The same warm smile that had conquered her heart the day they’d met appeared on his face, but his eyes were hidden behind a pair of fashionable sunglasses.
An incoming message vibrated his phone. He carefully read it, then returned to examine the list in front of him. When he was finished, he raised his face to hers and pleasantly explained she should reschedule an operation for one Abraham Berkowitz to an earlier date. He continued to give her precise details specially emphasizing the date and exact time of the operation.
She couldn’t understand the relationship between the Chinese man sitting in front of her and the Jewish person he wanted to help so much, but she was afraid to ask. The man took out a thick envelope from his pocket and said, “There’s seventy thousand dollars here, a little gift for your help. Take it. I trust you to do what I’ve asked. And I have another little request. Quit your job and go on a long trip. South or Central America, Las Vegas, Europe, wherever you want. You can’t be in New York on the day of the operation. You’ve got enough money in the envelope to help your grandmother as well as to travel without worrying about any financial difficulties. You’ll also find a passport and a driver’s license there, both under a different name. Use only them. Don’t worry, they’re very high quality and you look very happy in the photos. If you decide not to go because of your grandmother, I’ll see to it that the reason for your refusal to leave will be eliminated.” He removed his sunglasses and looked at her. This time, his eyes, no longer green, appeared completely dead to her, and an uncontrollable shiver run down her spine. He dictated an email address to her, asked her to send a confirmation to it that the dates and exact time had been changed, and added that from the moment she left New York, she mustn’t tell anyone about what’d happened and under no circumstances was she allowed to contact anyone. Without adding a word, he left the table, leaving her by herself with the thick envelope.
The following two days were the most difficult of her life. She changed the operation dates and bought an airline ticket to Las Vegas under her new name. The city had always fired up her imagination. The thought of the warm weather and the distance from New York appealed to her. She explained to her grandmother she was going with her new sweetheart to Central America. The happy news caused her grandmother great joy, which helped balance her discomfort with the nursing student who’d rented Roselyn’s room in return for taking care of her.
Her resignation had left her coworkers shocked. “I owe myself a trip like this. I’ve spent my entire life doing what other people expect me to. Now, I’ve decided that’s it, I deserve to add some spice to my boring life.” She’d practiced this little speech dozens of times, until she felt she’d be able to say it to her coworkers without bursting into tears. A bitter sadness overwhelmed her when she saw the envy in their eyes. She promised to post photos on Facebook, so they would be able to share all the wonderful travelling experiences with her.
In Las Vegas, she rented a room in a small, clean hotel that cost thirty-eight dollars and ninety-nine cents per night, including breakfast. It was located away from the hustle and bustle of the casinos and everything that went with them, and pretty soon she realized, that with proper planning, she’d be able to live off the money she had for a long time. In the first few days, she explored the city and was surprised to discover the casino restaurants were fairly inexpensive and that one could even watch free shows there, all in order to lure stray tourists into the gambling halls.
She decided to try and forget the circumstances that had brought her there and enjoy her new life. Yet, the growing concern for the only person on earth she cared for refused to leave her. The call from the hotel lobby pay phone was brief. She was happy to hear her grandmother was feeling well, and that the student who’d rented the room was taking good care of her. When she’d finished, she decided to walk to the nearest casino for an early dinner. A few minutes later, a black SUV with dark windows appeared suddenly and drove up on the sidewalk in front of her. She froze. The driver had turned the wheel at the last moment, got off the sidewalk and disappeared.
The message was clear, just like the realization she was the only witness to whatever it was they’d done, and even if she keep quiet, sooner or later, there was a good chance they’d decide to get rid of her.
Chapter 35
New York, October 26, 2013, 6:45 PM
The moment he stepped into the darkened restaurant, he realized something was wrong. He quickly glanced at his watch and relaxed a bit when he saw he wasn’t late for the appointment. The one time he’d arrived two minutes late for an appointment with the head of the family, he’d found himself with a loaded gun against his temple. “Germans, even though I despise them, have some good qualities,” the boss had explained to him in a heavy, venomous accent. “Punctuality is the most important of them. Being late for an appointment is unprofessional, and the last thing I need is an employee who is unprofessional.” He’d breathed onto his face, before slowly uncocking the gun.
The bodyguard who blocked his way wouldn’t have been able to stop him even if he wanted to. None of the people in the room could. But the Chinese man knew there were enough weapons in the room to arm a small country. He stopped in his tracks and waited. Behind the back of the fat Italian who was blocking his way, he could see the boss sitting at the head of the table, a plate of gnocchi and a glass of 2009 Lamoresca Rosso in front of him. The boss imported dozens of cases of the wine and during each meal took care to tell everyone a man is measured by the quality of the wine h
e drinks, and there’s good wine only in Sicily.
As if they’d been given a sign, all the people in the room stopped talking and looked at him. Even though he was careful to maintain a relaxed appearance, his eyes, hidden behind his sunglasses as usual, searched the room, while in his mind he was already planning his next move. He’d been working for the boss for over ten years and the latter had never barred his way before. The message was clear — they were not pleased with his performance.
The bodyguard, encouraged by the hostile atmosphere, extended his hands to search for concealed weapons on the Chinese man’s body. That proved to be a grave mistake. Before the former could realize what was happening, his wrist was twisted with a painful screech, followed by his obese body, which was hurled toward the floor where his nose met the guest's knee, already moving up with lightning speed. The encounter was devastating. Before anyone could react, the bodyguard lay unconscious, blood pooling on the floor around him.
The Chinese man remained standing erect, ready for any development. The silence was broken by the boss who, with an indifferent flick of his hand, ordered the unconscious man to be removed from the room and the floor to be cleaned. He raised his glass toward the assassin and instructed him to come closer. The Chinese man reached the table, lowered his head and waited for an invitation to sit down. The invitation never arrived.
“Why did you attack the Israeli?” The question was hurled in his face. “Now he must be convinced that the family or a similar organization is behind the recent moves. When will you start using your brains, or perhaps Chinese people are brainless?” The boss drew a gun and pointed it at the Asian’s head.
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