Most Wanted

31

WITH THE AFTERNOON SUN BEHIND HIM, DOLAN Reed stood in front of the picture window, towering over his desk like some enormous statue of a dictator. His face stood out bright red against the glare. Only years of practice prevented Mary Hale from cowering as she approached him.

“What the fuck is this?” he shouted, throwing a piece of paper across the desk at her. She reached out and took it, forcing herself to move slowly and calmly. She sat down in a chair in front of his desk and settled her reading glasses unhurriedly on her nose. She found it worked best with him never to show fear.

“This is, or would appear to be, a subpoena from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for all documents held by us pertaining to the Securilex transaction,” she stated matter-of-factly.

“I can fucking see that, you moron. Didn’t I tell you to handle this Melanie Vargas person?”

“Served by fax, I would note. Not proper service unless we agree to accept it that way.”

“What are you suggesting? Call her up and say we don’t accept it? That’s idiotic.”

“It would buy us a couple of days to respond while they effect proper service,” Mary pointed out.

“A couple of days to shred, you mean!”

Her placid face betrayed no emotion. She’d have to consider what she’d do if he instructed her to destroy documents called for by a subpoena. Things between them in recent times had not been to her satisfaction. Cleaning up his messes was no longer as rewarding as it had once been, so why subject herself to criminal liability? Her mind flew forward, rapidly making calculations. She had it in her power to incite a coup. But she’d see. She’d see how she felt when the time came.

Dolan Reed knew Mary well enough to perceive the resistance in her neutral gaze.

“Oh, for Chrissakes, don’t go getting all moral on me now.”

“Whatever your ultimate decision, Dodo, we’d be wise to at least appear compliant.”

The intercom buzzed simultaneously with the door flying open.

“Miss van der Vere,” his secretary’s flustered voice announced over the intercom as Sarah bolted in.

“Look at this!” Sarah cried, holding out a piece of paper.

“Our Miss Vargas has been busy,” Mary noted wryly, taking it from Sarah’s hand and perusing it. “Hmm. This one’s a bit different. It calls for testimony before the grand jury pertaining to certain criminal acts. I’m a bit rusty on my criminal-code citations. Securities fraud I recognize, but this other one…hmm.”

Mary got up and strolled over to the bookshelf, pulling out a crimson-bound volume, enjoying the way they followed her with their eyes. She turned the pages slowly, drawing out the suspense.

“Oh, of course! Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951. Interference with commerce by threats or violence. It’s the extortion statute. How could I have forgotten?”

She snapped the book shut and replaced it on the shelf, then made her way sedately to her seat. Leaning back, she held the subpoena at arm’s length to see it better.

“So Sarah’s being asked to testify about acts of extor tion. And below, in the section relating to documents sought, it asks that she bring any and all videotapes and audiotapes used or intended to be used to extort any benefit, monetary or otherwise, from Dolan Reed, members of the Reed firm, its employees, agents, or clients.” Mary stopped reading, raising her eyebrows. “Any idea what that’s about, Sarah?”

Dolan was staring at Sarah, thunderstruck. He sat down heavily in his colossal leather chair.

“Mary,” he said, in the quiet tone she recognized as his most dangerous, “would you be so kind as to leave us alone?”