The Bernie Factor
Page 28
Chapter 25
Gionelli slammed the phone into the rental car dashboard and watched it careen off the windshield and land on the passenger side floorboard. How did this happen? Schwartz was chasing after Whiteside, who presumably had the dog. Whiteside wouldn’t answer the phone, for what are now obvious reasons. What were the chances of the two worlds colliding in this shithole little town?
Gionelli reached down and dialed Schwartz’s number. He had one final solution to this problem, and it was time to roll the dice. He told O’Neil not to contact any outside law enforcement personnel, alluding to the sensitive nature of program clientele. It was an easy sell to a relative rookie. Schwartz wouldn’t be as easy to convince. Schwartz was an old timer, but he kept up to date with modern technology, and Gionelli knew he loved Bluetooth cell phone technology. The phone rang seven or eight times before he heard Schwartz’s voice over the wail of police sirens.
“You’re not going to believe this one, boss,” Schwartz bellowed over the police sirens and the scanning mutual aide radio channels. “Fucking Surey Whiteside is still alive. I saw him face to face, and I’m 100% it’s him. I don’t know how, but it’s definitely him. I don’t know what he’s up to, but I’m damn sure going to find out.”