Page 6

CHAPTER 6

D EVINE HAD WALKED ABOUT HALFWAY to his hotel when he sensed someone following him, and it wasn’t the pair of gents from before. This pursuer was traveling solo.

Devine turned right at an intersection, picked up his pace slightly, and then turned right again at the next street.

When the man who was tailing him mimicked these movements, Devine stepped out of a niche cut into a building facade and said, “You look lost, friend.”

The man gazed up at him, a smirk on his face. He was around five-five and a flabby buck fifty wearing a cheap suit and scuffed loafers. His hair was rapidly thinning, revealing patches of pale, flaky scalp. He smelled of booze and was smoking a cigarette. He looked totally unfazed by the sudden confrontation. In fact, he looked rather pleased as he flicked ash onto the pavement.

“I’m actually right where I need to be, friend . And maybe you are, too,” he added.

“I’m listening.”

“You just left Betsy Odom and her handler.”

“Did I?”

A frown creased the man’s face. “I’m not getting any younger so don’t waste my time playing stupid or this is going nowhere.”

“It’s probably going nowhere anyway. What exactly do you want?”

“More to the point, what do you want? You’re a fed. So my guess is you want information on Danny Glass, right? He wants to take ownership of the girl, right?”

“ Ownership? Interesting choice of words.”

“Glass owns people, didn’t you know?”

“And why do you know anything about him?” asked Devine politely.

“I keep my ear to the ground. People who do that tend to know stuff, valuable stuff.”

“You local?”

“Maybe,” replied the man curtly.

“Well, Glass isn’t from here. So why would you have anything on him?”

“I’m not from here, either. And they’re prosecuting his ass right here in Seattle. But if you don’t want to deal, I’ll find somebody else who does. See you around, sucker.”

He started to walk off, but Devine grabbed his thin arm, freezing the man in place.

“Let’s start again. How about with your name?”

“Oh, sure, it’s Fred. What’s yours?”

“Okay, Fred , what do you know about Glass?”

“Not how it works, dum-dum. You fork over money and then I tell you.”

“And if I don’t think it’s worth what I paid?” said Devine.

“You file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. Not to worry, I’m a member in good standing.”

“How much money are we talking?” asked Devine.

“A hundred grand is a nice number, don’t you think? I can give you my wire transfer instructions. I don’t like to carry cash. Too many criminals around here. Gut you for a gift card.”

“Hundred grand? Sure, let me run to an ATM like two hundred times and see if my government debit card will actually melt.”

“Take it or leave it. No skin off me.”

“That kind of money comes with at least three levels of approvals and a face-to-face beat-down with a battalion of government accountants. I can have a decision by this time next year, but I don’t think you’ll like our counteroffer, which might actually be a gift card.”

“Boy, I thought you had a brain—my mistake.”

“So what can you tell me for, say, a hundred bucks?”

“I already told you. My name. It’s Fred. So fork over the C-note.”

“You are one funny man,” remarked Devine.

“And you are one unfunny loser .”

“You know anything about Betsy Odom?”

“I know Glass wants her. And maybe, just maybe, I know why, which I think might be valuable to you, but maybe I’m wrong.” The man’s look did not match his last few words.

Devine processed this provocative statement along with the man’s triumphant look. “Okay, maybe I can get you some money.”

“Better make it fast. I hear he’s going to take ownership of the girl real soon.”

“You seem wired into things you shouldn’t be,” noted Devine.

“Everyone has to make a living. This is how I make mine.”

“Which is how exactly?”

“Providing valuable information and receiving valuable compensation in return. Hopefully from you, if you’re smart enough to seize an opportunity staring you in the face.”

“How can I get in touch with you?” asked Devine.

“I’ll get in touch with you, if necessary. But don’t wait too long.”

Fred walked off and this time Devine did not stop him.

He waited until the man was nearly out of sight and then Devine took up the chase.