44

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13
1:44 A.M.
SOUTHERN SUBURBS OF MINNEAPOLIS

Nearing the Twin Cities on 35W, Ian heard Callahan answer his phone, his voice deep and throaty coming through the Camry’s speakers.

“Yeah,” Callahan said.

“I can retrieve the money tomorrow. I need you there.”

A pause. “Why do you need me there?”

“Because as soon as I retrieve the money, I want to distribute it to the trust’s beneficiaries. Immediately. I want this to be over with—and you can keep my fee.”

Ian could almost hear the Irishman thinking. At last he said, “Where?”

Ian described the time and the setting.

“You’re kidding. No way. That’s way too public.”

“It’s there or nothing. The people with the money insisted. And I’ve got no way to reach them again before the meeting. Don’t think there’ll be another chance either.”

His lie was followed by more silence.

“Anything else?” Callahan asked.

“I need your help to locate Rory. They want him there too.”

“He’s not entitled to any of the money,” Sean growled.

“It doesn’t matter. They want him there and I don’t have time to locate him.”

Callahan snorted. “That part won’t be a problem. Rory’s been stayin’ with me the last few days till we saw if you had any luck retrievin’ the cash before the deadline.”

“Did he tell you anything?” Ian asked, worried.

“No. I’ve a feelin’ he knows who took the money, but if he does he’s kept it to himself so far. On that topic, since it obviously wasn’t Rory, who did take the money?”

“You’ll find out tomorrow. That was another condition of the exchange.”

The pause that followed was pregnant with distrust. “Alright, boyo,” Callahan said, his suspicion belied by the grin in his voice. “We’ll do it their way.”

The line went dead.