Page 71 of Keep Quiet

“I know, sorry. It’ll just be an hour later—”

“That’s too late!” Jake checked his watch—9:02. Voloshin would take the photos and video right to the police. It would ruin Ryan and him, and now, even Pam. She’d kept their secret, a judge who kept quiet about her son’s hit-and-run.

“Harold, leave the damn meeting! Where are you, Timbuktu?”

“North Jersey. It’s too important, and if I did, it would raise questions.”

“But thismatters more! Leave!”

“Jake. I would leave if I could, but I can’t make it back in time anyway.”

“Make somebody else wire the money!”

“No. We have another woman in the wire room but it wouldn’t be prudent to use her.”

“Why not?” Jake heard himself panicking. “All she has to do is push a button!”

“But it’s going to an offshore account.”

“Harold, don’t tell me I’m your only client to wire to an offshore account!” Jake found himself on his feet. “I wasn’t born yesterday!”

“I’m not saying that.” Harold’s voice stiffened. “What I’m saying is that only Barbara handles such transactions. I can’t ask anyone else to do it. I’ll do it myself as soon as I get back to the office.”

“There’snobodyelse? Not even one of your other bankers?”

“No, not possible.”

“You can’t trust one of your other bankers to send a wire for one of your best clients? Are you kidding? You have all my personal accounts, all of my business accounts, and Gardenia’s!”

“Jake, that would be imprudent. Trust me, I have only your interests at heart. I’ll be in by noon—”

“Can’tIgo over and do it? I know how to do a wire transfer—”

“Hold on, I got a better idea. Let me go to Plan B. I may have a way to get it done ASAP, but I can’t be sure.”

“What way?”

“Let me hang up and see if I can make it happen. I’ll call you as soon as it’s done.”

“Call me as soon as you fix it!”

“I will. Talk soon.”

Jake pressedEND,sat down in front of his computer, and got online and plugged in GreenTech. Blood pounded in his temples. His mouth tasted dry. He had to go to his own Plan B. He couldn’t take the risk that Voloshin would go to the cops. The GreenTech site came on the screen, and he clicked to the Contact Us page, found the main number, and pressed the link to make the call.

“GreenTech,” answered a woman. “How can I help you?”

“I’m calling for Andrew Voloshin.”

“I don’t see him. May I tell him you called?”

“Do you know where I can reach him? Is he out of the office?” Jake’s heart throbbed in his chest. Voloshin could be on his way to the Caymans. Or sitting outside the police station.

“I don’t know. Our receptionist isn’t at the desk, and I just happened to be passing by.”

Jake felt frantic. “Is there anyone else there who would know where he is? It’s really important that I speak to him.”

“Why don’t you call him on his cell?”