Divine Justice

CHAPTER 7

CALEB SHAW and Reuben Rhodes had been depressed before Alex Ford came to Caleb's high-rise condo and dropped the latest news on them. Now their attitudes sank right through the floor.

Caleb poured himself a sherry and started popping greasy potato chips in his mouth as fast as possible, a longtime nervous habit of his, and he was the possessor of many. "How much more tragedy are we expected to endure?" he exclaimed.

Reuben said, "So he killed Simpson and Gray?"

"He didn't come right out and say it in the letter, but that looks to be the case," Alex said.

"Pricks deserved it," Reuben said staunchly.

"It was still murder, Reuben," Alex pointed out.

"And look what they did to him. Anybody get one day in jail for that? Hell no."

Alex looked ready to debate the point as he had with Annabelle but then seemed to think better of it.

"Where do you believe he is?" asked Caleb.

"Running," answered Alex. "And don't be surprised if the FBI shows up on your doorstep asking questions."

"If they do, I don't know nothing," Reuben stated firmly.

"Be careful on that score," Alex warned. "A perjury charge can get you a few years in a federal lockup."

"I'm not saying anything that'll get these bastards caught up with Oliver, Alex. And I'd expect you to do the same."

"My situation is a little different," Alex said defensively.

"Are you Oliver's friend? Didn't he save your life?"

"Yes. And I returned the favor, unless you've forgotten."

"And isn't he the reason you got that special commendation for busting that spy ring?"

"I get the point, Reuben."

"No, obviously you don't," the big man said, rising up to stand next to the tall Secret Service agent. "Because if you say anything to help them find Oliver, you're a traitor, plain and simple."

"There's nothing simple about it, Reuben. I'm still a federal agent. I took an oath to uphold the law."

"What does Annabelle think about that?" Reuben demanded.

"What the hell business is that of yours?"

"She thought it sucked too, didn't she?"

"Please," Caleb pleaded. "I'm sure Oliver would not have wanted this to drive a wedge between us."

"There's no wedge, Caleb. There's just the right way to be a friend and a wrong way," Reuben pointed out. "And I just want supercop here to be real clear on which side he needs to come down."

Alex did an eyeball-to-eyeball with Reuben. "Is that some sort of threat?"

"Oliver has been through hell and back because of Simpson and Gray. I'm glad they're dead. I would've put a round in their heads myself."

"Then you would've gone to prison."

"Right, under your way of thinking I guess Hitler deserved a trial."

"What the hell is your problem? You're making it seem like I'm against Oliver."

"It sounds to me like you are!"

"Alex, maybe you should leave, before things get out of hand," Caleb said. "Please."

Alex looked from the red-eyed Reuben to the distressed Caleb and walked out the door.

So much for the Camel Club, he thought. That was over. Done. Dead. And he was reasonably certain he would never see Annabelle again.

So preoccupied was he that Alex never saw the two men watching him from their car. When he drove off they followed. Meanwhile, another pair waited outside Caleb's apartment. The hunt apparently had already started.