From Manhattan With Revenge Boxed Set

by Christopher Smith

  “You won’t be after my McAdoo lime chile pepper hits your mouth.” She called out for Max. “A glass of water, Max. Lemon to freshen it. Make it tall. Tout suite!” She returned her attention to Carmen, who was reaching for a cracker and adding a hunk of cheese because, truth be told, she was indeed famished.

  “What happened last night?” Babe asked.

  Already, Max was coming toward them with a glass of water on a silver tray. A slice of lemon was hooked right on the rim. She took the glass, thanked him for it, ate the cracker and cheese—and immediately went for the water.

  “You see,” Babe said. “I knew you’d need the water. It’s my own blend. We tried to sell it on the shelves, but no one bought it, not that I care. The masses want it bland whereas I like it hot.”

  Carmen’s tongue felt scorched. “Apparently.”

  “Aren’t you Spanish?”

  She nodded.

  “And that’s too spicy for you?”

  “It’s nuclear.”

  “It was meant to be. So,” she said. “Shall we get down to it? What happened last night?”

  Carmen took another drink of water, started at the beginning and told her in detail.

  “So, you killed a man?”

  She nodded.

  “But you spared another?”

  She nodded.

  “I have to say, it’s ingenious how you threw the other men off. A triple stabbing? Reporting it yourself to the police? Walking away from the men because you knew they couldn’t touch you with the police present? This is the stuff for which I live.”

  “You said that earlier. May I ask why?”

  “Because I’m a McAdoo.”

  “What does that have to do with it?”

  Babe sipped her champagne. “I was born into a terminally dull life. When I was young, everything was scripted for me. The family and societal expectations were crushing. My sisters and brothers embraced every bit of it because with it came power and status, which don’t interest me. When they were alive, my mother and father reveled in their positions for the same reasons. But not me. I think around the time I was in college, I realized I needed something more, but I didn’t know what it was beyond the fact that I needed adventure in my life. Some sort of intrigue that wasn’t unlike the mysteries I read. Years later, I found that in a new beau. I learned he was an assassin. Still is, actually. We had a lovely affair. He is far younger than I—I believe he was just starting out at the time—but it didn’t matter. As brief as it was, we had a wonderful time together. I was fascinated by what he did for a living. He was fearless and talented. Gifted and bright. We got along famously. Still do. He introduced me to a lot of the people who likely will help us now. Parts of me still live vicariously through him.”

  She had to ask. “Are you talking about Spocatti?”

  “What if I were?” She shrugged dismissively. “Let’s get down to it, Carmen. Who do you think is behind all this?”

  She told Babe about the syndicate. She told her about what Laurent tried to do to her and Alex, how she and Alex murdered him at the Four Seasons in front of a crowd gathered to celebrate Leana Redman’s gift to assist suicide prevention, and how Alex was murdered at her house in Bora Bora just three weeks later.

  “I’ve never liked those Redmans,” Babe said. “Well, at least the majority of them. The way George Redman bulldozed this city to make so much of it his own is disgusting given some of the beautiful old buildings we lost. I do like his daughter, Leana, though. I met her once at a benefit on Anastassios Fondaras’s yacht. She has a spark, that girl. And she’s rebellious, which I like. I always thought her father cut her a raw deal, but that’s the sort of man he is. He always favored Celina, when I would have taken after Leana. You watch. Leana is hungry. She’s poised to go places, regardless of who she has to take down to get there.”

  She saw the patient look on Carmen’s face and finished her champagne. “But I digress. This syndicate you talk about—of course, I’ve heard of it. Over the years, I’ve met Laurent a few times, though he only warmed to me when he learned I was a McAdoo, which he adored, as so many do for reasons that make my skin crawl. He seemed like a real son of a bitch to me. There was something about him that put me on edge. Then, of course, I found out he was part of this syndicate and my uneasiness about him made sense.” She looked at Carmen. “You do know what the syndicate is about, don’t you?”

  “They’ve aways been secretive with me, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure it out. The men and women I was hired to take out were leaders of industry. CEOs. Presidents of corporations. That sort of thing. After a successful hit, I’d wait a few days and then Google who replaced the person I killed. Sometimes, I’d learn that the company was put into play because of the sudden lack of leadership. When I learned who benefitted from the hit, I had a better scope of what I was dealing with. The syndicate doesn’t comprise a few people. It comprises many, mostly powerful men and women so ambitious, they’ll kill to elevate their positions to the top spot within the company or to takeover a company when it’s at its most vulnerable.”

  “Was Laurent the only person you worked with?”

  “No. I also worked with a man named Katzev. I believe he’s responsible for having Alex and me followed to the island. I don’t know that for certain, but I think he wanted to avenge Laurent’s death. He got Alex, but not me, which is what last night was all about. Do you know him?”

  “I met him years ago.”

  Carmen couldn’t help her surprise. Even she hadn’t met Katzev. “You did?”

  “I did. A long time ago. He’s got the accent down, but he’s not Russian.”

  “I hear he’s Scottish.”

  “That’s right, but it’s difficult to tell, isn’t it? In some ways, I think he’s worse than Laurent. Nastier, if that’s possible.”

  “How did you know him?”

  “Through Laurent. It was only in passing, but I wouldn’t want to meet him again. Gave me the creeps. Probably beats women. How certain are you that he’s responsible for what happened to Alex?”

  “I never could be certain. But my gut says that he is, and my gut has yet to fail me. I rely on it. Beyond that, the facts add up. We killed Laurent. Three weeks later, we were tracked down, Alex was dead and nearly, so was I. That can’t be a coincidence.”

  “All of this would seem to point to the syndicate,” Babe said. “But what of your other work? You have enemies out there. Have you considered them?”

  “Spocatti asked me the same question. I’ll be frank with you, Ms. McAdoo—”

  “Babe.”

  “Babe. In any assassin’s life, there always will be someone seeking you out. Payback is the nature of the game. Could it be someone else? Sure. But I don’t think it is.”

  Babe leaned forward in her chair. She put the palms of her hands together and pointed her fingers at Carmen. “I don’t either,” she said. “In fact, I know that Katzev is behind this. Would you like to know how I know?”

  Carmen was intrigued by the sudden turn of events. McAdoo knew? “Of course, I would.”

  “I thought so.” Babe turned in her chair. “Max!” she called out. “Bring him in.”

  CHAPTER NI

  NE

  Carmen had been deceived before and wondered if she was being deceived now. Was she calling for Katzev? Did Babe McAdoo join the syndicate so she could have the little side adventures she felt she needed to live a full life? Did she call ahead for him to come, knowing that soon Carmen would be here?

  Her mind raced. Spocatti trusted Gelling, which meant he trusted the man’s contacts. But at any point, Babe could have deflected, as many did. Had she? She looked at her. The woman was looking over her shoulder, toward the entrance to the room, and seemed at ease. There was a hint of a smile on her lips.

  A self-satisfied smile?

  Carmen listened to the house and heard footsteps coming from the far end of a hallway she couldn’t see. She was seated in the center of the room. The
doorway into it was at her far left. Instinctively, she went for her Glock and immediately regretted giving it up when she entered the house.

  Babe looked at her. “Don’t be frightened,” she said. “We’re here to help you, Carmen.”

  “Who is ‘we’?”

  “You’ll see.”

  When she saw, she was speechless. Then instinct took over, she stood and looked around the room for something to protect herself with while Babe also stood and put her hand on Carmen’s arm, which Carmen shook off.

  “What is this?” Carmen said.

  “It’s not what you think.”

  “What the hell am I supposed to think?” Carmen pointed at the man she knew only as Jake. The man who followed her last night. The man who got into a cab with her last night. The man who left the bar, sold her out to Katzev’s men and nearly got her killed last night. “Stop,” she said to him. “Right there. Stop.”

  “Why?” he said, not stopping. “You’re unarmed. You’re half my size. You don’t tell me what to do, Carmen.”

  She whirled at Babe McAdoo. “You set me up?”

  Babe looked offended. “I did no such thing. He’s here to help you.”

  “Help me? He nearly got me killed last night. He sent them directly to me. You know that.”

  “I had no choice,” he said.

  “You had every choice,” Carmen said.

  “No, I didn’t. I left that note for a reason. It was to give you a heads up. Don’t be naive. They were following me. They saw us on the street. Because of traffic, we lost them at a light when we were driving around the city, but that didn’t stop them from texting me. When we arrived at the bar, I waited for you to make your phone call before checking the text. They ordered me to call them, so I did. They threatened me to tell me where we were, so I told them. You would have done the same thing. All we have is our own survival, Carmen. You of all people know that. At least I tipped you off before getting the hell out of there. I didn’t have to, but I did.”

  “So, now you’re a fugitive to them?”

  “I am.”

  “Right.” Again, she looked at Babe. “Why are you doing this? I don’t trust him. Unless you’re with him, you shouldn’t either. If anything happens to me, you know Spocatti will take both of you out.”

  Babe McAdoo lifted her pale yellow caftan at her sides and let the fabric flutter against her slender body. “While I love the drama you’re creating, Carmen, it’s all for not, so just snuff it. Spocatti will do nothing of the sort. You’re overreacting. Just be quiet and listen. I’m telling you, it’s not what you think.” She looked over at Max. “Bring me the phone, please.”

  Max took the phone off the table behind him and brought it to her. Babe dialed then handed Carmen the phone. “Go on,” she said. “Take it before he answers.”

  “Before who answers?”

  “Spocatti. We’re here to help you. He’ll tell you that. He knows all of us are in this room. You’re misinterpreting the situation. He’ll make that clear to you, then we can get on with it.”

  It was a moment before Spocatti came on the line and when he did, he sounded out of breath. “Yes,” he said.

  “It’s Carmen. Are you all right? You sound winded.”

  “You’ll need to ask her if I’m all right, Carmen. Would you like to speak to her? She’s lovely. All sweaty and naked and lovely. I know you’ve always wondered how it would be with me, so here’s your chance. She’ll tell you if I’m all right—if I’m better than all right—but you’ll need to rely on your Italian because her English is shaky at best. Not that it matters much with her mouth so full. Have I told you that I love Capri?”

  “Vincent—”

  “Oh, and if you’re calling about the situation you’re in right now, you’re fine. Babe’s the best. Just listen to her. Trust her. I’ve known her for more than twenty years and she’s as legit as they come. I was debriefed before you got there because they knew you’d have questions and concerns. Lay them to rest. I’ve worked with Jake, whose real name you’ll find out soon enough. Jake is better. You’ll see why he chose it over the name his parents saddled him with. Not unlike you, he’s being pressured by the syndicate. He did try to help you last night, but they got to him before he could do much of anything. Don’t blame him. We always choose ourselves first, no matter what. You’re no different. If you were in his shoes, you would have done the same thing. So, join forces with him. Listen to Babe. Find Katzev. Apparently, he is the one you’re seeking, from what Jake tells me. And Babe. Now, I’d love to talk to more, but...I can’t remember her name...is as red as a beet and wants a moment to breathe. Keep in touch. You know I’m here if you need me. So, I expect to hear from you. Soon.”

  The line went dead.

  She clicked off the phone and handed it to Babe, who gave it to Max, who walked across the room with it and placed it in its cradle. Vincent never would set her up. She knew that. She trusted him as if he were her brother. She looked at Babe and then at Jake, who were looking at her as if they didn’t know how she would react.

  She trusted no one easily. But she had to listen to Vincent. When it came to her, he’d never be responsible for holding out the noose that took her life.

  She sat down in one of the red chairs.

  “Babe, if you have coffee, perhaps all of us could talk?”

  “I have my private McAdoo blend,” she said.

  “I had a feeling you would. I assume it’s strong?”

  “It’ll blow your head off.”

  “That’s not what I want to hear right now, Babe,” Carmen said.

  CHAPTER TEN

  When Max brought a tray with a pot of coffee, cups, saucers, cream, sweeteners and cookies on it, he placed it on the table between Carmen, Babe and Jake, and offered to pour.

  “I’m fine,” Carmen said. “Thank you.”

  She poured herself a cup, took it black, sipped it, decided she liked it and chose a short bread sugar cookie from the platter. With the exception of the cheese and cracker she ate earlier, she hadn’t eaten today. She bit into it and leveled Jake with a look.

  “What’s your real name?” she asked.

  “Fred.”

  “So, Jake,” she said. “Why don’t you fill me in on what you know? Why were Alex and I targeted?”

  “You’re end-of-cycle,” he said.

  She knew what that meant, but she wanted to push him to see how much he’d reveal. “And what does that mean?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? Even before you killed Laurent, they were finished with you. They thought you knew too much and it was time to invest in other people as skilled as you.”

  “Too much about what?”

  “No idea.”

  “You must have some idea.”

  “I don’t. But they think you know too much about something. Maybe them. Maybe something they did. Maybe something Alex did. Who knows?” He leaned forward and poured himself a cup of coffee. “But now that you’ve killed Laurent, they also want you dead for murdering their colleague. Maybe even especially because you killed him and thus dared to challenge them. All of their resources are pointed at you right now, Carmen. They want to send a message to the other agents working for the syndicate. Fuck with them, meet your death.”

  “How many are on me?”

  “Best guess? Another agent recently told me that the syndicate employs about seventeen people. Give or take. Probably more. Before Alex died, that included you, Alex, myself and the two men who died last night—the one whose chest I crushed, and the one hit by the truck. With us out of the picture, that would leave about a dozen or so. That said, no one knows for sure.”

  “Why are you out of the picture, Jake?”

  “End-of-cycle. They’re cleaning house. Apparently, I also know too much, though I’m not sure about what and I don’t have time to find out. I want out of this city and this life. Time for a change.”

  “Here’s what doesn’t make sense to me,” she said. “If the syndicate
wants you dead, why did you agree to work for them last night? Why were they on the phone texting you about my whereabouts?”

  She looked at Babe, who was looking at Jake with a furrowed brow.

  “Am I the only one who finds that odd? Do you, Babe?”

  “I do.”

  “So, why don’t you explain, Jake? How are you a target one day, then their champion the next?”

  “I’m hardly their champion, Carmen, but I’ll tell you how it went down. The two men hired to kill me last night proved that the syndicate wants me dead. I needed to buy time and figure out a way to get out of the city safe. Because of what you did to Laurent, I thought I had another shot with them and took it. After the guy who chased me became roadkill, I contacted Katzev and promised I could deliver you to him. I told him I knew he wanted me dead, but to give me a chance to prove my loyalty to them. So, I used my contacts. I found you. I bought time. When you left me at the bar alone, I answered their text, left you a note and got the hell out of there before they arrived. You and I both know that when you’re targeted for elimination, that’s it with them. Sure, I found you for them. But they’ll still try to kill me.”

  “So, in other words, you set me up for nothing.”

  He studied her over his coffee. “No, in other words, I bought myself time. You’ve been around long enough to know this isn’t personal, Carmen. You also know I owe you nothing. My first responsibility is to myself. Same goes for you. If I can buy myself time to figure out a way to get out of this city and away from Katzev and the rest of them, that’s what I plan to do.”

  “And yet here you sit,” she said. “Why?”

  Babe McAdoo turned in her chair and looked at Carmen with delight on her face. “Finally,” she said. “The best part.”

  “What’s the best part, Babe?”

  “We’re going to have an adventure,” she said. “My biggest and most aggressive one yet.”

  Carmen saw it and waited for it.

  “It’ll be fun,” Babe said. “Just the three of us, with Spocatti a phone call away to offer guidance should we need it. Oh, and so long as we call him with daily updates to feed whatever part of him needs to be fed in order to keep him alive, Gelling has promised us access to his contacts. And of course we have mine, which dig deeper into the roots of New York than Katzev ever could imagine. This isn’t, after all, my first time at the rodeo.”