Chip found a parking spot on Nassau, half a block from Burnham Pike. “I’m going in with you,” he said.
“Stay here,” Ben told him.
“If and when you start busting heads, I’ll stand back, but for now two government IDs beat one. Anyway this is an investment bank, which means it’s a civilized place, filled with civil people, not macho, knuckle-dragging tough guys.”
“Listen to me. I need you as a backup when the shit hits the fan. I need to keep you in reserve. I don’t want anyone other than the cop who arrested me to know your face.”
Chip was frustrated. “Well, I’m not going to let you go into the bank packing. In the first place they’re probably expecting you, and carrying a firearm in this state carries a pretty stiff penalty. Huggard wouldn’t be able to bail you out again.”
“You win, but in the meantime I need you to pinpoint the Brighton Beach location where they took Cassy.”
“I’m on it,” Chip said. “But I assume that after we’re done here, we’re going over to the morgue to try for the flash drive. Could be we’ll be able to find out something about the Russian who used his Raven ID.”
“I’m depending on you.”
“I have you covered.”
“What floor is Treadwell’s office?”
“Fifty-four.”
Ben got out of the car, walked up to the Burnham Pike tower. Inside he approached the registration desk, where two large men in blue blazers with the firm’s logo on the breast pockets looked up.
“I’m here to see Mr. Treadwell,” Ben told them, showing them his driver’s license.
“Do you have an appointment, Mr. Whalen?” one of the security people asked.
“No, but I think he’s probably expecting me.”
“Yes, sir.” The agent picked up the phone and called someone. “He’s here.”
A woman was just getting off the elevator. Ben turned and, moving fast but not running, vaulted the turnstile that blocked the lobby from the elevators. He got to the car before the doors closed.
“Stop now,” the guard at the turnstile shouted.
Ben hit the button for fifty, the highest floor it would go to, and as the doors closed, he saw one of the guards at the desk pick up a phone.