“That means that one way or another you’re coming for a ride with me, Mr. Valdez. You can take that ride in the back seat of this car, or the trunk. It makes no difference to me. So, you choose. Make it quick, or I choose for you. You won’t like my choice.”

Chapter Six

My appointment was on the 43rd floor of a high-rise going up on the corner of Wabash and Van Buren. The floor was unfinished and the evening air vented through the places where windows had not yet been installed. There were two folding chairs. I was placed in one by the men who invited me for a ride. Fifteen minutes after I had been seated, another man arrived to take the other. He was smartly dressed and flanked on either side by two bulky-looking men, one of whom looked vaguely familiar. They stood while he sat.

“Mr. Valdez,” the man said. “A pleasure. Thank you for taking the meeting.”

“I couldn’t miss it,” I said.

“No, I don’t suppose you could. I take your trip here was not uncomfortable.”

“Aside from being kidnapped and frisked, it was fine.”

“Good.”

“One of your people took my wallet and keys and phone.”

“There are reasons for that. I’ll make sure they are returned to you after our discussion.”

“If I find hinky charges on my credit card, I’m going to be upset.”

The man smiled. “You won’t. Now, do you know me?”

“No.” I looked in the direction of the guy who threatened me to get in the car. “This charming associate of yours seemed to imply that I was being taken to meet Fintan Tunney. But you’re too young to be him.”

“You are correct. I’m Brennan Tunney.”

“I’m guessing this means you’re his son.”

“Correct again. His son and CEO of Tunney Holdings.”

“So you’re the legit side of things.”

“It’s all the legit side of things now.”

“I keep being told that. And yet we’re meeting in a building under construction after I’ve been kidnapped by a dude with a gun.”

“There was urgency in our meeting.”

“You could have just asked me to come into your office.”

“Not secure enough.”

I looked around at the open air 43rd floor. “And this is?”

“Yes.”

“If you say so. I’d think if you were that worried about security, you wouldn’t have a meeting in a building you own.”

Tunney smiled. “That’s just it, this isn’t our building. It’s being built by someone else entirely. I called in a favor. I don’t even like the fact it’s being built. My favorite parking lot in the Loop was here. Convenient to my interests. Now there’s just going to be another goddamn high-rise and nowhere to park.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.”