Page 85 of Wild Oblivion

I handed the phone back to Sally. She said a few words to James before hanging up.

I felt bad about putting a hole in James’s floor. I’m sure we’d figure out a way to make it up to him.

Sally looked at me and smiled. "I'm so glad you guys got to talk. I'm right next door if you need anything."

I thanked her again, and she shuffled back across the lawn to her home.

I breathed a sigh of relief, then found Juan inside. “Timeline has been bumped up. They're coming back tomorrow."

"What time?"

"I don't know. But I need that tile set, and this place cleaned up.”

He shrugged. "Okay, boss. But I'm just saying, my nephew better get a good deal."

We left them to finish up and took Henrik back to theAvventura. It probably wasn’t the best idea to leave convicted criminals alone in James’s house, but we had run out of options.

When we were a few blocks away, I turned on my phone. Missed messages flooded through, one from Klaus, one from an unknown caller. I called Klaus back right away.

He answered after the first ring. "I expect you to answer when I call."

"It's been a busy day.”

"Do you have what I requested?”

"Yes."

"Excellent. I will give you a location to meet. May I remind you that any attempt to involve other law enforcement officers will result in the untimely demise of Henrik’s granddaughter. Bring Henrik and the crystal. Otherwise, she dies. Have I made myself clear?”

"Crystal," I replied.

I don't think he was amused by the pun.

Meet me at the corner of Commerce and Terminal Ave. At 11:00 PM. No funny business.”

He ended the call, and I updated Jack.

“How do you want to handle this?”

45

Idrove Henrik to the corner of Commerce and Terminal in Jack’s Porsche. Henrik liked the car.

We made a pass around the block, but I didn’t see anyone.

It was a little before 11:00 PM.

The streets were desolate this time of night in the warehouse district. The stars flickered above, and the moon glowed. The buzz of a mercury vapor light overhead provided the soundtrack. Moths swarmed around the light that cast long shadows, making for dark alleyways. Lots of places for bad people to hide.

We parked at the curb not far from the corner. I hopped out, hustled around, and helped Henrik climb out of the low-slung car.

I kept my head on a swivel as I escorted him to the street corner. He’d brought the cane for a change. This was not an area you wanted to be after dark. I think he liked the ideathat he might be able to whack someone with it, if need be. Self-defense. But if it came down to that, it meant we were in trouble.

Several blocks away from the practice studio, the echo of a snare drum bouncing off brick walls drifted about.

With a wireless earbud and encrypted comms, I had contact with Jack. He had positioned himself on a neighboring rooftop with a sniper rifle, providing overwatch.

Henrik and I stood on the corner as instructed.