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Epilogue

The Man

The man slipped on a new T-shirt, stepped into his khaki shorts and worked his feet into his flip-flops as the coffee machine in the kitchen began to gurgle.

He poured himself a cup and took it to the work station. He picked up his Bluetooth headphones, and his phone, and moved onto the balcony with his coffee. This was the last condo in the development to sell, because it was the most expensive. Partly you were paying for the view – an unobstructed one-eighty vista of Miami Beach and the vast Atlantic Ocean.

Life was good for the man.

He sipped his coffee and smelled the sand and the sea.

His phone rang.

Caller display read Bedford Hills Correctional Facility.

He stared at the number for a moment, perplexed. Bedford Hills was a women’s prison. He answered.

‘Hello, can I help you?’ he said.

The voice on the other line was female.

‘Hi, I’d like to talk to someone about movies,’ she said.

‘May I have your name, please?’ said the man.

‘Ruby,’ she said.

‘Any particular actors you’re interested in?’

‘Marlon Brando,’ she said. ‘Two movies in particular. The Chase and One-Eyed Jacks .’

The man hesitated, said, ‘We should discuss a rental fee for those titles. They can be expensive.’

‘I don’t have any money. Tell him Ruby called,’ and she hung up.

The man thought for a moment. He didn’t work for free. However, his colleague might be irritated if he didn’t pass the message along.

The man dialed a secure number, rerouted many times through a sophisticated cell network to ensure that no one could possibly eavesdrop on their conversation. He took another drink of coffee.

‘Good morning, Mr. Christmas speaking . . .’

‘Good morning to you,’ said the man. ‘Just got a call from a woman named Ruby. I imagine she used the payphone in Bedford Hills Correctional.’

‘What did she say?’

‘She said she didn’t have any money. I think that’s most important.’

‘She is a friend,’ said Mr. Christmas.

‘Is this the same Ruby you were supposed to deal with in New York?’ asked the man.

‘The very same. We became acquainted. That was an enlightening project. A lot of our competition retired. And Flynn and his team did most of the work for us. Ruby was the highlight of my trip, by far. She’s now serving life in Bedford Hills, New York, for multiple murder. She pleaded guilty. I imagine she struck a deal in exchange for her mother’s immunity.’

‘She killed people with her mom?’

‘Just one. Ruby and her mother killed her father, Josef, and hid his body in the house. Afterwards, they never spoke of it. Her mother insisted that the father had left home and run away to Kansas. I think something broke inside Ruby when she killed her father. Fascinating young woman. Ruby loves her mother, in her own way. She was protecting her. The whole thing was about Ruby protecting her mother. What else did she say?’

‘She said she was interested in two Brando pictures. The Chase and One-Eyed Jacks .’

The line fell silent.

The man gazed out at the ocean.

‘Does that mean anything to you?’ asked the man.

‘Those movies have a number of things in common. Brando stars in both. And both have a prison break as a key element of the plot.’

‘We’re breaking people out of prison now? For free?’ asked the man.

‘Money isn’t everything,’ said Mr. Christmas.

‘Money helps. And we’re not prison breakers. We operate a niche business here, need I remind you, we’re professional hitmen.’

‘I suppose I could always kill a few correctional officers while I’m there if that would make you feel any better . . .’

‘That’s not the point. It’s a huge risk.’

‘Let me think on it,’ said Mr. Christmas. ‘While I’m thinking, if you would be so kind, please book me a flight to New York City.’

Mr. Christmas hung up.

The man took off his earpiece, drank his coffee and smiled as he stared out at the blue horizon.