Bad Faith

28

Marlene glanced quickly at the note her husband had given her as they sat on the couch that evening in their loft, before handing it back. “ ‘Talk to Warren.’ Any idea who left it?”

“Darla swears it wasn’t on her desk before everyone arrived for the meeting at lunch,” Karp replied. “She says that everyone was sort of milling around in the reception area before going into the conference room, so it could have been one of them. Or maybe someone slipped in and out of the office while she was getting coffee.”

“But whoever it was wants you to talk to Dirty Warren. And then he tells you that David Grale wants to meet with you?”

“That’s about the size of it,” Karp replied. “He says it has to do with Malovo and the Halloween parade, and that I have to come alone.”

A car honked outside the building. “I believe my chariot awaits,” Karp said. He stood and walked over to the coatrack at the front door and pulled on a brimmed hat he rarely wore and a heavy trenchcoat. “I’m off,” he announced.

Marlene hopped up from the couch and walked over to give him a kiss. “What’s with the Humphrey Bogart look?”

“Just trying to look the part, schweetheart,” he replied in his best Bogie.

“Ah, of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, you had to walk into mine,” Marlene said with a smile. “Sure you don’t want me to go with you, Rick?”

“Nah, the boys and Lucy will be back from the synagogue in a half hour and want dinner,” he said. “This won’t take long. And besides, we’ll always have Paris.”

Marlene laughed and patted him on the chest. “Well, just remember that David has his own agenda,” she said. “If he thought it would further God’s work, he’d sacrifice you.”

“I’ll listen with the proverbial grain of salt,” Karp replied, and walked out of the apartment.

Reaching the street-level foyer, Karp stepped outside and up to the yellow cab that waited at the curb. One of the uniformed police officers assigned to the two patrol cars outside his residence was already talking to the driver.

“Evening, Mr. Karp,” the officer said. “This guy says you called for a cab?”

“That’s right, Eddie,” Karp replied. “I’m meeting someone. It’s for a case.”

“I’d be happy to drive you,” Officer Eddie said.

“That’s okay,” Karp replied. “I’m trying to do this low-key.”

“That’s why the Sam Spade look,” Officer Eddie said. “But Chief Fulton will have my butt in a sling if I let you go somewhere without an escort.”

“I’ll clear it with Clay,” Karp said, turning to the cab driver. “I’m sure Mr. …”

“Farouk,” the cab driver said helpfully.

“Mr. Farouk will deliver me to my meeting and return me safe and sound,” Karp said.

The officer looked doubtfully at the cab driver and then shrugged. “Well, as long as you clear it with the chief …”

“I promise,” Karp replied.

“And you take the cab back and forth … no walking around,” Officer Eddie insisted. He pointed a finger at the cab driver. “I have your name and cab number, no funny business.”

“Business is not funny,” Farouk replied with a frown.

“Now that that’s settled, I need to get going,” Karp said, and got into the back of the cab.

“Where to, sir?” the cabbie asked, looking in the rearview mirror.

“You know where the Bowery Mission is?” Karp asked.

“Yes, sir,” Farouk answered, then realized what Karp was asking. “But oh no, sir, you don’t want to go there. It’s a rough place.”

“And yet to the Bowery Mission I must go, my friend,” Karp replied. “Step on it.”

Fifteen minutes later, the cab pulled up to the front of a large dour brick building with a red neon sign that announced it as the home of the Bowery Mission. Looking out the window, Karp was not surprised to see the sidewalk in front of the mission crowded with small knots of unkempt, and in some cases dangerous-looking, homeless men and even a few women.

“Are you sure, sir?” Farouk asked. “If something was to happen to you, the police officer will make it very bad for me.”

“Nothing’s going to happen,” Karp replied. “You’ve done a great job so far, and I’ll make sure your superiors hear about it. Now if you can wait twenty minutes or so, I’ll make it worth your while.”

Farouk handed him a business card. “Thank you, kind sir. Call me when you are ready and I will be here in a jiffy,” he said. “I do not like the look of these men and I would prefer to drive around the block until you call.”

Karp glanced out the window and noticed that some of the rougher looking men were eyeing the cab and moseying over for a closer look. Then he saw Dirty Warren Bennett and the Walking Booger emerge from the shadows of the alley next to the building and walk swiftly toward the cab.

“Aha,” Karp said with a grin, “my friends are here to meet me.” He opened the cab door and stepped out onto the sidewalk.

Seeing a well-dressed man exit the cab, some of the sidewalk denizens picked up the pace toward him, but then Booger swerved to intercept them. The huge man bellowed something incoherent, but in a loud and aggressive tone, and the others shied away and went back to their places in front of the building.

“Hello, Mr. Karp … son of a bitch crap whoop whoop … thanks for coming,” Dirty Warren Bennett said. “He’s waiting inside.”

Bennett then led the way back to the alley and a side entrance to the building. He knocked and another big man opened the door. “This is … oh boy oh boy nuts tits … him, Harvey.”

The man nodded and started to say something that sounded like a greeting, but a coughing fit took him. So he just stepped aside and pointed down a hallway.

Karp was led through a small maze of hallways and through a couple of storage rooms whose shelves were stacked with canned goods, bags of rice, and blankets. His guide led him to a door and there knocked again. A muffled reply came from within, at which Bennett opened the door. “Go ahead … whoop bastard … he wants to talk to you alone,” the little man said.

Walking into what appeared to be a reading room with shelves full of books and several overstuffed chairs with lamps next to them, Karp stopped short as David Grale rose from his seat. It had been some time since they’d last seen each other and Karp was shocked by how gaunt and ill the man looked; the pale skin that covered his face and hands-the only parts visible-looked stretched and fragile, and dark circles hung beneath his eyes like purple half moons.

“Hello, Mr. Karp,” Grale said, extending a hand, “thank you for coming.”

“Hi, David,” Karp replied, wondering why it was that once again he found himself in the presence of a sociopathic killer and yet felt completely safe. “Warren said you had something important you wanted to talk to me about regarding Nadya Malovo and the Halloween parade.”

A look of sadness passed across Grale’s face. “Yes, there’s no time for pleasantries, even if I wasn’t who and what I am,” he said after a moment. “I have some information I’d like to share and, if you’ll listen to what I have to say, a plan that I think may benefit us both.”

“I’m willing to listen,” Karp replied. “But if you’re going to admit to any crimes, David, I think you should seek counsel first.”

Grale looked surprised and then laughed. “You are the last of an honorable breed, Mr. Karp,” he said. “A serial killer asks to meet with you to discuss stopping another killer, and you offer to protect his rights.” The look of sorrow again crossed his face. “I truly appreciate who and what you are, Mr. Karp. Maybe someday you will have occasion to read me those rights; however, there is no need at this moment.”

Karp smiled. “Good. I’d rather not attempt to make a citizen’s arrest, not on your turf anyway.”

Grale laughed. “You never know, perhaps I’d go along docilely as a lamb,” he said. “Then again”-he gave Karp a funny look-“a little bird told me that Nadya Malovo is spreading a rumor that you are actually in league with the Sons of Man.”

Karp’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s a new one,” he said. “This wouldn’t be the same little bird that left a note in my office telling me to speak to Warren at lunch today?”

“I wouldn’t know about that,” Grale said. “But apparently that evil woman would like to sow dissension among friends-or is she correct and you’ve gone over to the dark side?”

“But what about what I’ve done to thwart the Sons of Man and prosecute its members when they break the law?” Karp asked.

“All part of a smoke screen to keep you above reproach,” Grale replied. “At least according to Malovo. But don’t worry; if I truly believed that, you would be dead already. I do think it provides us with an opportunity. She believes that she can divide us, which means while she knows there is a certain ‘connectivity,’ she is unaware of our long and varied history … as well as my great affection for you and your family.”

Karp nodded. “So what does this have to do with the Halloween parade?” he asked. “I will tell you that Lucy filled me in on your meeting and discussion in Central Park, and while I’m on that subject, I’m asking you to turn Andrew Kane over to us for prosecution.”

At the suggestion, Grale frowned, and for a moment Karp was taken aback by the sudden flash of insane anger he saw in the man’s eyes. “I’m not here to discuss Andrew Kane,” he snarled before controlling himself with great effort. “Excuse me, I didn’t mean to lose my cool, but that subject isn’t up for discussion. However, Malovo and her Halloween plotting is. … My little bird told me that after this she will have completed what the feds are asking of her and will then be placed in the witness protection program.”

It was Karp’s turn to frown. “You’re sure of this?” he asked.

“My information is top-notch,” Grale replied. “Obviously, that would not please you, or your friend Espey Jaxon, who I take it hopes to get more information about the Sons of Man from her before any such reward.”

“Go on,” Karp said.

“Well, I don’t believe that Nadya Malovo sees herself fitting into the witness protection program,” Grale said. “I’m not sure how she plans to pull it off, but I think her plot is much grander than that. And I think I have a way of foiling her, and at the same time giving you and me what we want.”

“I’m all ears,” Karp replied.

An hour later, Karp arrived outside of his loft. He tipped Farouk handsomely and got out of the taxi. He looked over the top of the cab at the officers in their patrol cars and waved.

Just as he turned, a dark shadow emerged from the alley next to the building and moved swiftly toward Karp. Something in the figure’s hand flashed.

“Look out!” Farouk shouted. “He’s got a knife!”

Karp turned and warded off the downward slash of the knife with his forearm. The blade tore through the arm of his trenchcoat. With his other hand, he punched his assailant in the face, knocking him back.

“Stop, police!” an officer shouted from across the street.

The hooded attacker looked over at the police cars and then ran back into the alley as two officers came to the rescue. One of them pursued the attacker into the dark while the other stopped to check on Karp.

“You okay?” the officer asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Karp replied, then held up the sleeve of his coat. “That was pretty close.”

The sound of a gunshot came from the alley. Karp and the other officer ran to the entrance and peered into the dark.

A moment later, Officer Eddie emerged from the shadows. “He got away,” he said. “The guy ran like he can see in the dark. I got a shot off but I don’t know if I hit him.”

The other officer spoke into the radio transmitter on his shoulder. “All nearby units respond to Crosby and Grand. Be on the lookout for a white male, dark hooded sweatshirt. Suspect is armed.”

“Did you get a good look at him?” Officer Eddie asked.

Karp nodded. “Yeah. I know him.”

“Great! What’s his name? We’ll have a dozen cars surrounding this place in two minutes.”

“His name is Grale. David Grale. There’s a few warrants out for him; he’s wanted for a half-dozen murders.”

The other officer pointed to Karp’s sliced coat. “And now attempted murder of the district attorney. Guy’s moving up in the world.”