An explosion of yelling came from below. The truckers were done unloading.

“Let me see how many of those vodka bottles you have left,” Ted said.

Lester opened the bag. It was almost full. “One of us has to be able to think straight,” he said.

Ted related all that had transpired over the past few hours, interrupted once by the produce truck starting up, emitting deafening diesel farts of blue smoke. The frustrating talk with Detective Duran’s partner elicited a snort of disgust from Lester.

“You’re going to want to show that video to someone. Aside from a few real estate filings, which may or may not be fraudulent, that’s the only hard evidence you’ve got of any kind of conspiracy.”

Ted nodded absently. “First thing I’ve got to do is figure out how to get some armed guards for Kenzie—without upsetting her parents.”

“Khalil got me to thinking about that,” Lester said. “Follow me for a bit. As long as the lady is in a coma, they don’t have to worry about her. It’s only when she comes out of it that she can start talking about what she remembers. Until then, they’ve got a free pass.”

“On the other hand, she’s unable to defend herself or escape. They could easily find her.”

“They don’t let just anybody into ICU, am I right? Someone on staff would notice a stranger strolling around even if he wasn’t a Russian hit man. She’s safe.”

“Maybe.” Lester made a good point, but Ted wasn’t convinced. Access to the ICU was restricted, but he had sailed in with ease. On the other hand, she was definitely not capable of giving information or identifying her attackers at the moment. Her condition protected her even more than the presence of armed guards would. “It’s good that one of us is thinking straight. I was ready to call in the cavalry. Air strikes. Drone attacks. Weapons of mass destruction.”

“Let’s save all that until we really need it.”

-56-

-56-

Ted left Lester watching golf with the two Afghans and went back outside to make his next call. He was ready.

“Detective Duran, please. And, no, I don’t want to speak to his partner.”

Duran picked up a minute later. Ted’s luck had changed.

“I’ve got nothing to add,” Duran said. “Detective Kasabian filled me in on your earlier call.”

“Your partner is an obstructionist.”

“Don’t throw four-syllable words at me, Molloy. I went to public school.”

“There’s a case here. A good case. Let me help you break it.”

“We’ve been warned off.” Duran sounded a touch less absolute about it than his partner. “What does Nassau County have to say?”

“You know, I haven’t talked to them.”

“Well, maybe you should.”

“They think this is a carjacking,” Ted said in exasperation.

“And maybe they’re right.”