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“It’s done.”
DeLuca smiled when the voice on his cell told him what he wanted to hear. Battista would never be a problem again. “What about Beckett and the woman?”
“Batt shot the man. I went to the house. Her clothes and belongings, including her purse, were still there. It looked like she had just showered. She must have heard the shot and ran out the front. She couldn’t have gone far without any money.”
“That’s true. Was there any place to hide?”
“A lot of big trees, but the town is pretty small. I’m going to stick around. Someone called the cops, so they’re swarming all over the place. I’ve asked a few people, I have her driver’s license picture that Batt had in his pocket. I’ve even talked to the local priest. No one’s admitting to seeing her.”
“The woman can only identify Battista, with him dead she has nothing the police want. Unless she saw you.”
“If she did she wouldn’t be able to describe me. I had on a disguise. I never leave lose ends. She’d eventually return to New York.”
“Still don’t risk it, get out of there. Lay low for a while.”
“Get out of where?” Rosa’s voice from the doorway startled Antonio.
The phone shut with a snap, he turned to his daughter. “Rosa how are you?”
She wasn’t going to be distracted though. “Who were you talking to? Battista?”
“No. It’s nothing to concern yourself over. Come and tell your papa how your day was.”
“You’re not going to tell me?”
“No. Sit down. Would you like a glass of wine?”
“Zin, please.” He went to the bar and selected the best, and poured the rich red liquid into the glass.
By the time she settled by the fire, he handed the glass to her and sat across from her. His daughter looked pensive, that wasn’t like her.
“Papa, can I ask you a favor?”
“Anything my little Rose.”
“That makes me feel so young, Papa.” When she looked at him a little twinkle entered her eye. “Anyway. Has Battista asked you if he could ask me out?”
“Did he bother you?” Antonio reminded himself he didn’t have to worry about the man anymore.
“No, but he’s been making snide innuendo’s. Papa, I know you trust him, but I don’t.” She took a gulp of wine. “Please don’t make me go out with him. Let me choose someone on my own. This isn’t the dark ages of arranged courtships.”
“Rosa, say no more. Battista will never bother you again.”
“Really? You’re not upset with me.”
“No, why would I be upset? Young people today decide these things for themselves.” God, now he sounded like the guy on Fiddler on the Roof.
“Well that’s a relief.” She took another sip and placed her glass on the side table. “Did you get him the information? Do you know if he found Beckett?”
“Yes he did, but the woman is gone.”
“So it’s not over.” She sighed heavily.
Antonio didn’t know how much to tell her, so he didn’t say anything, just sipped his own wine. What she said was true, it wasn’t over, he’d just thought of something.
“Rosa, how did you find out where the safe house was?” His stomach rolled uneasily as he waited for her answer. Her cover could be blown. His most valuable asset.
“I got lucky.”
“Rosa, this is important, not a time to joke. Beckett’s dead and they may put two and two together to find out who gave away the information.”
“I placed a listening device under the table. Abe Rothschild, Gabriel Despain, and David Solomon were having coffee at Starbucks. I’m not sure why the detective was there, but I figured he had some news. I still had some of those things you gave me.”
“So you went to their table. Great they’ll probably have it swept now and find the bug.”
“I’m not an idiot.” Rosa stood indignantly and paced to the fireplace. “I went on my way home and retrieved it. Nothing out of my routine, you know how addicted I am to my mocha’s.”
Relief flowed and warmed his blood. “I’m sorry, I should have known you’d cover yourself.”
Rosa backed away from the heat. She’d never liked the warmth as much as he did. It must be from all those winters when he lived on the streets.
“They still may be suspicious since you were there.”
“I’m sure they will, however, I left, how would I hear? Don’t worry Papa, I’ll keep my eyes and ears open.”
*****
Insistent ringing finally penetrated Abe’s consciousness, either that or his wife’s elbow to the rib. Reaching over he grabbed his glasses, then peered at the clock. Two in the morning. Not good.
“Abe Rothschild.”
An unfamiliar voice announced over the line. “We have an officer down here that I believe is one of yours.”
“Give me a minute.” Abe threw the covers back, climbed out of bed and took the cordless to the other room. “Who is this?”
“Sheriff Jenkins of Warren County.”
“And the name of the man who was shot?”
“Well we have two, one survived and one didn’t. Strange thing is; they resembled each other, coloring, hair, features...”
“Battista and Beckett.”
“Agent Tyler Beckett was the name on the ID we found. The other man had no identification. That must be Battista. From the look of things, Battista shot Beckett in the back. Then someone shot Battista.”
“Who shot him?”
“We haven’t found anyone else around. My men have canvassed the area.”
“You said one survived?”
“Your Beckett did. The bullet in the back came pretty damn near his heart. He’s in bad shape. We didn’t dare transport him by ambulance.”
“Where is he?”
“We put him on a life flight to Albany Memorial Hospital. It was the closest. They have an excellent intensive care unit.”
“Battista is dead?”
“Yes, he must have died as soon as the bullet entered. My forensic team is on it. We’ll let you know as soon as we find anything to help find the other person.” There was a pause on the other end before he continued. “Battista, I’ve heard that name. Isn’t he associated with Antonio DeLuca?”
“Battista Salinger.”
“The Batt. He was after your man?”
“No. He was after the witness he was guarding. Her name is Keira Cavanaugh. Tall thin redhead, you haven’t seen anyone around by that description.”
“I haven’t been looking, we’ll ask around. One of my officers said it looked like a woman had been there, but all the neighbors said that Matthew Beckett didn’t have a wife. I’m assuming that’s the brother of your agent?”
“Yes, when the other safe house was compromised he moved. We’d just found out where they were. I seem to have a serious breach.”
“Yes, you do. Do you have a picture of Ms. Cavanaugh?”
“I’ll fax one to your station first thing in the morning, or I guess I should say later this morning.”
Abe cut the connection. He’d better contact Beckett’s family. Gabe said they had been gone for their anniversary. He’d have to check his file for his emergency contact information. He wouldn’t get any more sleep. He might as well head into the office.
*****
Father Augustus pulled into the drive by the church. A feeling of concern still hung over him for the young woman. She’d been so frightened when he’d touched her. Down the road, he could see the police lights and people gathering.
He may as well see what was going on. The small town didn’t deliver a lot in the way of excitement. He looked to the heavens and quickly apologized to his Boss, after all he wasn’t supposed to be looking for earthly pleasures.
He saw one of his parishioners standing by the crime scene tape. He was an avid CSI fan, and his heartbeat stepped up a notch.
“Mrs. Mulligan, what’s going on?”
The woman jumped, turned, and placed a hand over her breast. “Father Augustus you scared the living daylights out of me. You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that.”
He raised his brows at her dramatics. “Have you heard anything?”
“We’ve had a murder. You missed the helicopter. It landed right over there in the field behind Matthew’s house.”
“Really?” He sighed, he always missed the excitement, then he looked to the heavens again and shrugged his shoulders. “Why would they need life flight if the man was dead?”
The woman let out a little surprised squeal. “Didn’t I tell you? There were two men. One shot in the back, and then the other man was killed dead.” She looked around as if someone may hear her and lowered her voice. “I think there has to be a third person involved.”
Father Augustus thought about what the young woman had said when he asked who she was frightened of: No, the man who killed him.
He looked around anxiously. “Have you seen Sheriff Jenkins?”
“You know something?”
He couldn’t tell her, she had to confess every week about gossip. “I wanted to ask him over for Sunday dinner. Looks like he’ll need it after tonight.” Father was going to have to go to confession himself.
“He’s over there. See? In the middle of that group of officers.”
“Thank you, I better go talk to him, I need to get to the parish soon.”
“See you on Sunday, Father,” she called after him.
Father Augustus sidled up to the circle of men as close as he dared and listened while he waited for his opportunity. Disappointment filtered through him, when they noticed him almost immediately. And before he heard anything Mrs. Mulligan hadn’t already told him.
No new details.
“Father, what are you doing out?” Young Charlie Forthsite asked. He’d known him his whole life. He’d grown up to become a deputy and his father couldn’t have been more proud.
“I need to tell the sheriff something.”
Sheriff Jenkins turned when Father Augustus spoke, then made his way over to him. “What’s up Father?”
“May I speak to you?” He looked around at all the people waiting to hear what he said. “Alone?”
“I’m a little busy now, can it wait?”
“No. I don’t believe it can.”
He heard the sheriff sigh, “Okay, come over to my squad car.”
Father climbed in the passenger side when the sheriff opened the door and then waited until he walked around and climbed in the driver’s seat.
“What’s this about?”
Father Augustus twisted in his seat to face the other man. “Earlier this evening a young woman came into the chapel. She was very upset. She said something.”
“What?”
“It didn’t make sense at the time, but now I wonder. She said someone had won, and she was very angry at God about that. Then I asked if I could do anything and she said she needed to go to the bus station.”
“What did she mean about someone winning?”
“I don’t know. But when I came back from locking up, she was crying s’hard it broke my heart. When I touched her shoulder she literally jumped off the pew bench and landed on the floor.”
The Sheriff merely raised his brow and Father took that to mean he just wanted him to continue. “I asked if she was afraid of the person who had won, and she said, ‘No. The man who killed him.’ Then I took her to the station, and when I returned I saw all the lights and walked over.”
Father watched as the sheriff pulled a pad out of his breast pocket and scribbled some notes. “What did the young woman look like?”
“She had hair of fire, wet, as if she’d been in the rain. But it hadn’t been raining. She was taller than me, but then most people are. After all I’m only five feet, and if I’m lucky and stand straight, five inches.”
“Father, can you just tell me in normal terms what she looked like.”
“I thought I was.” Father Augustus felt a stab of annoyance at the sheriff. Hadn’t he just said the woman was tall and had red hair?
“Let’s try it this way. Was she thin?”
“As a reed.” Father didn’t like the way the man rolled his eyes at his answer. Didn’t the man have any poetry in his soul where the young ladies were concerned?
Sheriff Jenkins scowled for a moment then asked another question. “How young?”
“Past the first bloom of youth, but not in her cups yet.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“Now Sheriff, I’m just answering your questions.”
“Give me her age in number form.”
Father Augustus gave a displeasured grunt. “I think late twenties, early thirties. You know how women look nowadays with all the products to fancy themselves up it’s hard to tell.”
“Thank you. So we have a tall, thin woman, thirtyish with, I think you meant, red hair.”
“See, I’ve been giving you a description, you just need to listen.” Father Augustus tugged on the handle to open the door and then pulled himself out. “I need to be going home now.”
“Father?”
He bent down “Yes?”
“I’m going to come by tomorrow with a picture for you to identify.”
“Fine.” He straightened and stopped. “Would you like to come to Sunday dinner?” There, now he hadn’t lied.
The sheriff looked surprised. “I’ll ask MaryKay if she has any plans and let you know tomorrow. Thank you for the invitation Father.”
Father Augustus smiled at him, turned and walked in the direction of the church. He’d forgotten the sheriff had married MaryKay Tomas from across the river. They weren’t parishioners, or he’d have remembered. Well, it would be nice to have company.
*****
Captain Rothschild faxed the picture as promised. He picked up his cover sheet, turned to walk to his office and almost ran into the admin person.
“Connie, how are you this morning. I see you’ve made your ritual trip to Starbucks.”
“Hi Cap, I couldn’t live without it.” She fell into step beside him. “Do you need me for anything today?”
“I haven’t really gone over my calendar today, I’ve had some things come up.”
“I hope nothing serious.” She frowned in concern, he knew she’d never ask, she’d been told her first day, most things were confidential in the office. “Will you check and if you don’t need me may I have some personal time?”
“I think we’ll be okay without you, I hope you have nothing serious.”
“Thank you. I need to help my sister. She fell and broke her leg. My aunt’s coming from Florida to help with the baby, but she won’t get here until tomorrow.”
“Give her my best and I’ll see you tomorrow.” He continued to his office then turned back. “Connie, if for any reason you’re still needed tomorrow just call in.”
“Thanks Cap. I should be able work tomorrow.”
Abe shut his door as he walked in his office then went to his desk and sat. Placing the cover and picture in the file, he watched Connie grab her purse from her desk, wave at one of the clerks as she left. She couldn’t be their leak, could she?
The time had come to call one of Tyler’s sisters. It had been too early when he’d come to the station this morning. Thumbing through the file he found the list of numbers he’d been given.
After the fourth ring he decided it was time to hang up. As he pulled the phone from his ear he heard a woman’s voice. He brought the receiver so he could hear.
“Hello?”
“Hello?” It sounded as if she’d been running.
“Jessica Beckett?”
There was a pause and then, “Yes, and you are?”
“Abe Rothschild, I’m Tyler’s Captain.”
“I don’t understand. Captain of what?”
“He worked at Hancock Industries for us. He’s no longer on that assignment.”
Another long pause, he would have thought she hung up but could still hear her labored breathing. “Ms. Beckett, are you all right?”
“What? Oh yes, you caught me doing my morning workout.”
“Sorry.”
“Has something happened to Tyler?” Worry almost vibrated over the line. What he’d been telling her must have finally sunk in.
“I’m sorry, he’s been shot. He was at your brother Matthew’s home...”
She didn’t let him finish. “Shot? “Where’s Ty? Is he okay?
“He was put on a life flight to Albany Memorial Hospital. I haven’t been apprised of his condition, the last I heard he was still in surgery.”
There was silence on the other end as if she were digesting the information. “Wait, Matthew’s in Europe. Why would Tyler go there?”
“To take a witness. He was using the place as a safe house.”
“Oh.” Again, a lengthy pause, “I need to get a hold of my parents. Thank you. I need to go.”
She hung up before he could say anything else. He slowly placed the phone in its cradle. He ran both hands through his hair. Tyler was a good agent. He hoped he’d come through.
There was a quick knock, then the door opened and Gabe walked in. “I tried to call Tyler to make sure they arrived safely, but I didn’t get...” He stopped talking a moment, swung the door shut and turned back. “What’s wrong?”
“Their safety was compromised again. Battista shot Tyler in the back, he’s in surgery. Batt’s dead, and we have no idea where Keira Cavanaugh is.”
“Fuck!” The word pinged off the windowed walls of the captains’ office. “So Tyler got a shot off before he went down. Good for him.”
“No, someone else shot Battista.”
“Who?”
“Your guess is as good as anyone’s.” Abe stood and paced to the window and looked down on the city. “I’m going to the hospital to see how Tyler is. I’ve just informed his sister he’s been shot.”
The phone interrupted what Gabe was about to say. Abe strode over to pick it up.
“Yes?”
“Captain Rothschild, Sheriff Jenkins here. Father Augustus, the priest here, has just identified the picture you faxed..”
“He saw Keira? She’s alive?”
“He gave her a ride to the bus station, it’s about ten miles away. This must have been shortly after the shootings. He said she was very upset, she must have witnessed what happened.”
“Did anyone else see her?”
“No, but there’s been a man asking around and he has the same picture you faxed me.”
“How can that be?” Abe punched the speaker button.
“He must have access to the department of motor vehicles, same place you got yours.”
“What does he look like?”
“Father Augustus said that he was standing by the church last night when he returned from talking to me. It was dark. He didn’t get a good look.”
“Was he able to describe him?”
“Father Augustus is very colorful in his descriptions I’ll give you the shortened version.”
Abe raised his eyes in question at Gabe, he shrugged back, neither one of them could guess what the sheriff meant.
“The man wasn’t very tall, had a ball cap on and a fake beard. Father said that it was starting to fall off, that’s how he knew. He also wore a tan overcoat.”
“Great, nothing we can go on.”
“No, but he didn’t talk to anyone else. I’m not sure if we should be concerned or not. I wonder if he was at the church when Father left for the bus station with the woman?”
“Did the man say anything that indicated that?”
“No. Father said he claimed to be her uncle and needed to find her. Father told him he’d never seen the woman in the picture, then proceeded to complain that he’d have to confess.” Sheriff Jenkins paused for a moment, crackling could be heard on the speaker. “It has to be the other killer.”
“Tell your men to keep an eye out for him. It sounds like he’s moved on.”
“Maybe. If not, we’ll find him.”
After that, the connection was broken. Abe hadn’t heard of any other hired guns that fit the description, but then it could have been anyone.
“DeLuca hired someone to get rid of Batt, his best hired hand or do you think it was another organization that sent the hit?” Gabe asked the question that Abe had been trying to figure out.