“Then where are they?”

“Why did you sell them?”

Denny crossed his legs and relaxed in the old chair. “I got spooked. The FBI grabbed two of my friends the day after the theft. I had to hide the treasure and skip the country. I waited a month, then two. When things settled down, I came back and went to see a dealer in San Francisco. He said he knew a buyer, a Russian who would pay ten million. He was lying. He went to the FBI. We had a meeting scheduled and I was supposed to deliver one manuscript as proof, but the FBI was waiting.”

“How did you know?”

“Because we tapped his phones before we went in. We’re very good, Oscar. Very patient, very professional. It was a close call and we left the country again so things could cool off. I knew the FBI had a good description of me so I stayed out of the country.”

“Are my phones tapped?”

Denny nodded and smiled. “Your landlines. We couldn’t hack your cell phone.”

“So how did you find me?”

“I went to Georgetown and eventually made contact with Joel Ribikoff, your old pal. Our facilitator. I didn’t trust him—who can you trust in this business—and I was desperate back then to unload the manuscripts.”

“You and I were never supposed to meet.”

“That was the plan, wasn’t it? You wired the money, I delivered the goods, then I disappeared again. Now I’m back.”

Oscar cracked his knuckles and tried to stay calm. “And Ribikoff? Where is he now?”

“He’s gone. He died a horrible death, Oscar, it was awful. But before he died he gave me what I wanted. You.”

“I don’t have them.”

“Fine. So what did you do with them?”

“Sold them. I flipped them as fast as possible.”

“Where are they, Oscar? I’m going to find them, and the trail is already bloody.”

“I don’t know where they are. I swear.”

“Then who has them?”

“Look, I need some time to think. You said you’re patient, so just give me some time.”

“Fair enough. I’ll be back in twenty-four hours. And don’t do anything stupid like try to run. There’s no place to hide and you’ll get hurt if you try. We’re pros, Oscar, and you don’t have a clue.”

“I’m not running.”

“Twenty-four hours, and I’ll be back for the guy’s name. Give me his name and you get to keep your money and go on with your life. I’ll never tell. You have my word.”

Denny jumped to his feet and left the office. Oscar stared at the door and listened to his footsteps as he went down the stairs. He heard the door open, heard its little bell ring, then it closed quietly.

Oscar put his face in his hands and tried not to cry.

4.

Two blocks away, Denny was in a hotel bar eating pizza when his cell phone rattled. It was almost 9:00 p.m. and the call was late. “Talk to me,” he said as he glanced around. The place was almost empty.