High Chicago

CHAPTER 46

The top of the Birkshire Millennium Skyline was not my favourite place in Chicago. Then again, neither was Millennium Park, Daley Plaza, Avi's den or my bathroom at the Hilton, so the competition wasn't that stiff.

It was colder and windier than it had been the previous night. The first of November in Chicago: batten down the hatches. Jenn had her hands thrust deep in the pockets of a navy peacoat. Avi looked like he was sweating and shivering at the same time. I had a sudden flashback of him at Har Milah: always sweaty, even at four in the morning when we started work to get in our hours before the hot sun came up. Beads forming on his forehead, running down around his eyes, his shirt darkening as sweat ran down his chest and back, his hands damp whenever we shook, even if he'd already wiped them on the back of his pants. I hoped his palms didn't get so clammy now that he dropped his recorder like a bar of soap. Like us, it wouldn't survive a fall from this height.

"You know what you're going to do?" Jenn asked me.

"I have an idea."

"That's it?"

The walkie-talkie crackled and Ryan's voice said, "They're here." So I didn't have to answer.

We looked down and saw headlights sweeping the street far below us, pulling to the curb outside the gate. I got out my field glasses and saw Birk get out of the passenger side. He looked at the dark trailer then nodded at Curry, who got out of the car and locked it with a fob. So it was just the two of them. Birk waited for Curry to roll the gate open-always leaving the heavy lifting to someone else-and close it behind them. They were walking toward the elevator when Ryan slipped out of the darkness and trained his Glock on them. Ryan spoke, then Curry and Birk both took off their jackets and let them fall to the ground. Curry took his gun out of its holster and handed it to Ryan butt first. Ryan gestured with the gun and Curry pulled up his pant legs one at a time. Nothing there. Ryan said something and Curry leaned against the trailer as though he were about to be frisked. Then the gun moved to Birk and he too pulled up his pant legs, showing pale legs above black socks.

When Ryan was satisfied, he pointed toward the elevator with his gun hand. Birk bent down to pick up his jacket but Ryan levelled the gun at him and shook his head. Birk gestured in complaint; Ryan's foot lashed out and caught him in the chest, sending him sprawling into the dirt. Curry held out his hand and helped Birk to his feet and then the three of them headed to the elevator, two in shirt sleeves, only one gesturing in complaint.

Ryan's voice came over the walkie-talkie: "How'd this turd ever make a billion? Over."

"Bring him up and we'll ask."

When the hoist arrived at ground level, Ryan made them get in first. He pointed downward with the gun, making them sit, then got in and started the car on its long, slow ascent. Watching the descending counterweight reminded me of my forced climb down. My hands clenched involuntarily, and painfully, at the memory, but I reminded myself that Birk had a lot more to answer for than that.

"Where do you want me?" Avi asked.

"What's the range on your recorder?"

"Normally very good. It has a zoom mike for meetings. But with this wind…"

"I don't want them to see you yet. Just stay in the shadow of the centre block for now."

"Here okay?" He was moving to his right when he stepped on a sheet of plywood that had been placed over a gap in the flooring. It sagged under his weight. "Whoa!" he cried, jumping back onto the firmer corrugated surface. "Did you see that? That almost broke under me."

"Relax, Avi," I said. "I'm sure workmen step on it all the time. It just gives a little."

"I don't-"

"Just pick a spot and stay still, okay? You'll be fine. You ready?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm ready."

The elevator doors opened and Ryan backed out. Birk and Curry were both sitting on the floor of the car, hands behind their heads. Ryan pointed the gun at them and said, "Up."

They got up.

"Out," he said, pointing behind him with a little bow, palm up, as though welcoming them to Giulio's.