He nodded rapidly a few times. Stalling. Processing. “So, leave me your card. If I hear from her, I’ll tell her you came by.”

The card would go in the trash the moment Ted walked out the door. He was losing.

“Could you give her a call? Give her my name. She’ll talk to me.”

“No. I don’t think so. You leave your card.”

Ted had pushed too hard, too fast, and now he’d hit a dead end. Lawyers talk for a living. Thinking, arguing, persuading—these were his tools, his talents. When they failed him, he had no plan B. Grabbing the man and shaking him until he gave up his daughter’s number wasn’t going to work. He dropped a card on the counter but kept his expectations to himself.

That buzzer sounded again as the door opened.

“Is this the guy?” Lester asked. “The father?”

He had removed the sunglasses. One eye was so bloodshot it looked as if he should have been weeping blood.

“I’m with him, Mr. Z.,” Lester said. “You see all this?” He held up the cast and indicated his bruised face with the other hand. “Some very nasty people are upset with us.” He was doing much better at speaking around and through the metal in his mouth, but Ted could tell it was costing him to do so. “She may be next. I’m not asking you to trust us, but she ought to be warned.”

“What in hell are you people involved with?” Zielinski said. He was scared. Lester had gotten to him.

Lester ignored the question and turned to Ted. “Did you give the man your cell phone number?”

“I did,” Ted said.

“Then let’s go. We should keep moving.”

He was right. Ted started for the door.

Lester spoke to the man again. “Ted and Lester. Tell her. It’s the right thing to do.”

Lester followed Ted out to the street.

“You make a convincing case,” Ted said.

“Let’s hope,” Lester answered.

-36-

-36-

It didn’t take long. Kenzie barreled around the corner and down the thoroughfare. People on the sidewalk stepped out of her way. She was heading for her father’s store.

“Hold up,” Ted called, extricating himself from Mohammed’s chariot.

She saw him and came wading through the light traffic, fists clenched.

Ted’s relief at seeing her unhurt didn’t last long. The anger on her face was formidable. He wasn’t sure what he’d done to deserve it, but there was no doubt in his mind that her wrath was aimed at him. “Can we talk?” he said. “Give me one minute. Thirty seconds.”