The Erection Set

“The answer would be the same,” she said. “He wants Barrin. It’s not just a toy like the other organizations he controls, it’s a project.” She took my hand and we started down toward the water to skirt the edge back to the path. “It’s a hangover from when your grandfather was alive. Cross was determined to be the biggest and Cameron Barrin was the only obstacle he had to hurdle. Poor Cross, he never could make it. That old man tripped him up every time he tried to move.”

“Now he thinks he has it made?”

“Well, he’s gloating. I’ve seen him do it before and when he gloats it means he’s won.”

For a minute we just walked, kicking at the sand. We reached the path and turned up toward the dunes. I said, “What’s he going to do with it if he gets it?”

“Have you ever seen a company raided, Dog?”

I nodded and helped her over a grassy mound of sand.

“He says it won’t matter because there’s nothing left to salvage anyway. He’s looking to the future when everything here can be his to do with as he likes.”

“Then he can’t be very happy,” I said.

She stopped and looked up at me. “You know about the beach being sold?”

“Somebody in the family bought it, I understand.”

“That somebody could be in trouble if there’s any way at all to do it. He’ll spend everything he has to get his hands on the Barrin property.”

“Hasn’t he got enough now?”

“Until he has it all, he’ll never have enough. I told you, Cross is dedicated.”

“Too bad.”

“Why?”

“Guys like that ache pretty bad when they can’t get the things they want.”

She caught the inflection in my voice and I felt that shudder run up her arm again. “Some things are just impossible,” she said.

“Not if you think about it. Now suppose I ask you something.”

“I’m all ears.”

“Why did you bother seeing me?”

“There was something I wanted to find out about you.”

“Did you?”

“Yes.”

“Sorry?”

“No guilt complex, Mr. Kelly. My curiosity has always led me into odd situations.”

“It can get you into trouble.”

“That I found out a long time ago.”

I was going to say something, decided not to and steered her toward the end of the path. When we reached the car I held the door open and she got in. She had a pixie tilt to her eyes and she was smiling again. I got behind the wheel and turned the key.

“Are you taking me back to my car?”

“You’ve had your curiosity satisfied for one night, doll. Besides, I have a conference to attend.” I looked at my watch and it was a little after nine. “My cousins are finishing their meeting in thirty minutes. Then it’s my turn.”

“Dog...”

“Uh-huh?”

“We had a very interesting evening. Will you ever see me again?”

“Indubitably, kitten.”

“Even if Cross wants to kill you?”

“He’ll have to stand in line,” I said.

Hobis and The Chopper hadn’t had any trouble since they took up the stakeout. Three hours ago Hobis had reported that he thought there was a surveillance on Lee’s apartment but didn’t want to expose the setup by checking it out. I passed the word for him to get in somebody else if he wanted to assign a tail to be sure of it, but for him to hold his position.

My man at the other end said it would be done, coughed and lapsed back into French again. “I’ve had a call from the Continent.”

“So?”

“Pierre Dumont was shot just outside Marseilles.”

“Bad?”

“Superficial wound in the leg, but O’Keefe is sending him back. That shipment apparently was bigger than anyone realized. Every possibility is being covered and the city is a focal point for every assassin that can be bought.”

“Don’t write me a story. Just tell me what the scoop is.”

“Pardon?”

“Just tell it.”

“I see. Yes. Le Fleur has posted a ... a ... how do you say it?”

“Reward?”

“Exactly. The shipment is worth approximately seventy million in street money. The loss cannot be tolerated. The government has confiscated the last two and this one was to make up the deficit. There are some stories circulating that it has already gone out.”

“To whom?” I asked him.

He coughed again and was hesitant with his answer. “To you,” was all he said.

“Somebody’s got their wires crossed.”

“I have been advised that we should sever all connections.”

“You’ve been advised wrong, my friend. Just don’t cross any of my wires.”

“It isn’t like ... before, Mr. Kelly.”

“Nothing has changed at all, old buddy. You’re getting your fat deposits in the bank and let it stand just like that. I don’t like this shit any more than you do, but when the heat’s on, don’t try ducking out or you’re the one who’s liable to be caught in the middle.”

“Mr. Kelly ... it isn’t just me.”

“Take your pick then ... which one are you afraid of the most?”

“Sir?”

“You got the picture,” I said. “Now I’m going to add to it. You know the Guido brothers?”

“Mr. Kelly ...”

“They were the consignees. They’re looking hard too. There’s no way that stuff can get to me, but all that flap is making me one special kind of a target I don’t like, and this thing gets ripped apart in a hurry or this here dog is going to lay somebody out, you understand?”

“I understand.”