Silent Treatment

Chapter40

'Green Dolphin Street.'

They were still a ways from Atwater'smansion when Harry began hearing the tune in his head. He tapped out the rhythmon the steering wheel and bobbed his head to the bass line.

'What are you doing?' Santana asked.

'Listening to music. It's a tune that popsinto my brain when I'm keyed. Sometimes I don't even realize I'm tense until Ihear it.'

Santana studied him. From within the blackgreasepaint, his eyes were glowing discs of pearl.

'Keep listening,' he said finally.

They drove toward the Hudson until theyfound the narrow, winding roadway that paralleled the Palisades. Harry cut theheadlights and slowed down. There were no cars on either side, moving orparked. The houses, each overlooking the Hudson from a majestic height, werewidely spaced and nestled in the woods a good distance from the road. Throughthe rain and the gloom, it was impossible to make out much more than lightsfrom any of them.

'You still think you know where we are?'Santana asked.

'I'm not as certain as I was a littlewhile ago,' Harry said, peering through the Winnebago windshield, which wasbeing squeegeed by wiper blades as big as hockey sticks. 'Maybe that's why thedamn tune in my head keeps getting louder.'

'Maybe it's time to stop listening. How'reyou even going to know we're there?'

'I'm looking for that wall I told youabout. That stone wall.'

At almost the moment he said the word, theysaw it — fieldstone set in cement, two feet thick, running along the road asfar as they could see. To their right, a six-foot-high chain-link fenceextended from the wall toward the cliffs. Harry pulled as far off the road ashe could, cut the engine, and gestured toward the fence.

'I would guess there's another one likethis on the other side, and then the cliffs in the back. So the place iscompletely enclosed.'

'A big corral,' Santana said. 'What betterplace for a gunfight?'

Peering down the road, they could justmake out the main gate, perhaps fifty yards away. Santana used a hoodedflashlight and set out their equipment, which included a snub-nosed revolverand the silenced semiautomatic that Harry knew had killed the gunman in thepark. In addition, there was a rope, adhesive tape, switchblade knives, wirecutters, wire, Swiss Army knives, powerful flashlights, and several boxes ofammunition. Santana handed Harry the revolver and some bullets.

'The safety's here,' he said. 'Flip it offafter you load it. Then just point and shoot.'

'Just point and shoot,' Harry echoed. 'Theultimate Kodak moment.'

'Load up your rucksack and be ready.'

Santana took the binoculars and the rifle,switched off the interior lights of the RV, then opened the door and slippedout. Harry watched, impressed, as the former DEA undercover agent moved quicklyand silently into the wall and scaled it in a heartbeat. He lay flattened onthe top, scanning the property. Then, after a few minutes, he was back.

'The house is pretty well lit and not thatfar away. I can actually see into some of the windows. There's one guard in alittle house by the gate. I didn't see anyone else.'

'Any dogs?'

'Not that I could see.'

'Shouldn't we have brought some big T-bonesteaks just in case?'

'You mean like they do in the movies?'

'Exactly.'

'Harry, any attack dog that's worth itssalt knows the difference between the kind of meat that just lies there and thekind of fresh meat it gets to hunt down and kill. We see a dog, we shoot it.That's too simple for the movies, but it's damn efficient. Now, here's what Ithink we should do. I'm going back up on the wall, about halfway down. When Iflash one time, call the house and demand to speak to Maura. That way we'llknow for certain she's there. Hopefully I'll see her through one of thewindows. If not, we'll just have to get close enough to figure out where sheis. If I flash twice, come along. Three times, there's trouble of some kind. Inthat case, hop up on the wall right over here, and be ready to use that gun.Lock the doors and leave the key wedged under the right rear tire. Questions?'

'None.'

'You ready?'

'I am. Ray, I guess there is one thing.'

'Go ahead.'

'Please don't take this wrong. I've got ascore to settle with these people too. A big score. I just want to remind youto … to keep your cool.'

Santana's response was not what Harryexpected. He glared at him in an unsettling, frightening way. The tic by hiseye and at the corner of his mouth intensified.

'Okay, you asked, now you listen,' hesnapped. 'I've lived in pain every second of every minute of every hour ofevery fucking day since that bastard shot that stuff into my body. Sevenyears. The only peace I ever got during that time was when I was able toimagine what it was like for him in that filthy Mexican prison. Now he's upthere in that mansion along with the bastard who set me up to be tortured.Don't you tell me to keep my cool.'

Harry felt himself recoil from the man'sfury. It took some time for him to regain his composure. Finally, he reachedout and rested his hand on Santana's arm.

'Sorry, Ray,' he said. 'We'll get them. Ipromise you we will.'

Santana left and quickly flattened himselfagainst the wall. The rain had let up considerably, and the gate was easier tosee. Harry peered at it for a second or two. When he looked back, Santana wasagain atop the wall. A moment later, his light flashed once. Harry checked thetime, 9:08, and dialed the number Atwater had given him. Atwater answered onthe second ring.

'Dr. Mingus?' Atwater said.

'It is.'

'Tell me again what you have for me.'

'I want proof that Maura's okay.'

'Tell me what you have.'

'Santana is staying at the rooming housein Spanish Harlem. I'll tell you the address and the name he's using when youlet Maura leave.'

'How did he find me up here?'

'Perchek left a thumbprint in Evie's room.Someone at the bureau told Santana. He's pledged the guy to secrecy. No oneelse knows about it except him and me — not even the crime guy who lifted theprint in the first place.'

'How'll I prove you're telling me thetruth?'

'Doug, I don't give a shit about you, whatyou prove or don't prove. Every cop in New York is looking for me. Once I haveMaura, I'm out of here. That's all I care about. Now, where is she?'

'Who have you been in touch with on TheRoundtable?'

'Two men. Jim Stallings is one. Now he'sdead. The other one I'll name as soon as I speak to Maura. He's told me all theother names.'

'Give me one.'

'Someone named Loomis. I can't rememberhis first name, but I have it written down.'

'He's not the other one you've spoken to?'

'No. Now, no more delay. I can't stay herethat long.'

'Call this number back in exactly fiveminutes.'

Harry hung up and waited in the dark. Upahead, he could barely make out the shadow that was Santana, pressed on the topof the wall. The rain had all but stopped now. The country air wafting throughthe open passenger-side door was scrubbed and sweet. The songs of peepers andcrickets filled the heavy silence. Harry ran his fingers over the greasepaintcoating the backs of his hands.

9:13. Harry picked up the receiverand hit redial.

'All right,' Atwater said as soon as heheard Harry's voice. 'You have thirty seconds. I'm standing right next to her,listening on a portable phone. Don't upset me.'

'Hello?'

'Maura, it's me. Are you okay?'

'Harry. I've been so worried about you.I'm all right. They. . they made me drink bourbon. I fought it, but theymade me. Then they gave that up and shot me some drug to make me tell themwhere you were. But I couldn't tell them what I didn't know.'

Her voice sounded strained, but strong.

'Maura, just be tough. I have everythingwe need to get us out of the country.'

There was the briefest hesitation, thenshe quickly covered up her confusion.

'I didn't think you could pull it alltogether so quickly,' she said. 'I'm ready.'

Her extension clicked off.

'Okay, Harry. Call this number again infive more minutes and we deal.'

'Make it half an hour. I can't stay whereI am any longer.'

'Who's the other man on The Roundtable you'vespoke to?'

'Harper. Pat Harper. Northeast Life andCasualty.'

Kevin Loomis had said the man's name justonce, but it had been easy for Harry to remember. A girl named Pat Harper hadbeen his first crush in junior high. Dropping Harper's name now was perfect. IfHarry didn't make it through the night, at least Loomis would be safe fromreprisal.

'Okay. Thirty minutes,' Atwater said.

Harry listened to the dial tone and triedto imagine what was transpiring behind the wall. For two minutes, there was onlyblackness up ahead. Then Santana's light flashed twice. It was time.

Harry slipped on the rucksack and snappedthe revolver into a holster on his belt. Keeping low, he flattened himselfagainst the wall and moved along it until he reached Santana, who was standingon the road side.

'They're not keeping her in the house,' hewhispered. 'Someone, I think it was Garvey, left by a side door and walkednorth. In a minute or so, he came back with her. Then they went back again andGarvey returned alone. Now, he's back in the house.'

'Where to first?'

'The guard by the gate. If there's goingto be any shooting, try and let me do it. My gun doesn't make any noise.'

'I remember.'

Santana set the rifle by the wall.

'It looks like it's all going to beclose-in work,' he said. 'Maybe I can get a refund for this.'

The fieldstones offered easy purchase forscaling the wall. Together, they reached the top, lowered themselves halfwaydown the other side, and dropped to the sodden ground. Harry found himselfanticipating pain in his chest before he hit. In fact, he did experience abrief jab, though not nearly as bad as when he jumped the backyard fence inFort Lee. If this was as bad as it got tonight, he could handle it easily.

Guns drawn, they inched up on the smallgatehouse. There was a dark, four-door sedan parked beside it. Through thesmall side window of the house, they could see the guard talking on the phone.

'If this is a check-in call, we're inluck,' Santana whispered. 'One less thing to go wrong. Have some two-inchadhesive tape ready.'

He motioned Harry to the far side of thegatehouse door, then tapped lightly on it once and flattened himself againstthe wall. The door opened cautiously. Gun drawn, the guard stepped out. Harryhadn't time to fully appreciate Santana's moves before it was over. Ray broughthis pistol down sharply on the man's wrist. The guard's hand went limp and thegun dropped as if it had suddenly become electrified. Before he could even cryout, Ray was on him, a hand tightly across his mouth, his leg around the backof his calf. The takedown was quick and silent. Ray came down straddling theman's chest with the muzzle of his silenced revolver jammed between his teeth.

'Not a sound!' Ray growled. 'Understand?'

The man nodded. Keeping the silencer inhis mouth, Ray rolled him on to his side and motioned Harry to tie his handsbehind him. Then he again rolled him to his back. He pulled his gun out andpressed it under the guard's jaw.

'Okay, where's the girl?'

The man stared up at Ray's blackened face.Harry could see him assessing the benefits and dangers of trying to lie. Theinternal debate lasted only seconds.

'Guest house. . down the path to theleft. .'

'Is Perchek with her?'

The mention of The Doctor's name brought aflash of fear to the guard's eyes. He hesitated, then nodded.

'How many men?' Ray waited for a response,and then set the silencer muzzle squarely on the man's left eye. 'How many?'

'One with P-Perchek in the cottage,' hestammered. 'Two in the house.'

'Plus Garvey?'

'Who?'

'Atwater.'

'Yes. Two plus him.'

'Put a bandana in his mouth and tape it intightly,' Santana whispered to Harry. 'Wrap the tape all the way around hishead twice. Then tie his ankles.'

Harry did so efficiently, and togetherthey dragged the man ten yards to a tree and tied him there. Santana checkedinside the gatehouse.

'The gate release is right inside thedoor,' he said. 'The door beside the gate is unlocked.' He glanced at hiswatch. 'We've got about twenty minutes. Let's go get her.'

They stayed close to the wall, which metthe chain-link fence on the far side of the property in a copse of low shrubs.Up the hill and to their right was the main house, with lights shining throughevery window and spots illuminating the front walk. Fifty yards or more to theleft of the main house, shining through a small wood, were more lights.

'There,' Harry whispered, pointing.

Ray nodded and led the way. They reachedthe trees and moved through them carefully, keeping low. The guest house, aminiature version of the mansion, was itself spectacular. It was almost allglass, built on steel girders that thrust up from the cliff so that its deckwas cantilevered out perhaps a hundred feet above the Hudson. Harry peered overthe precipice. There was a shoreline of boulders extending out ten or fifteenfeet from the base of the cliff. And directly across the still, black river,glittering like the Milky Way, was Manhattan.

Against the cliff, beneath the main floor,was a set of rooms not visible from the front of the guest house. Through onewindow, which was barred, they could see Maura alternately sitting on the edgeof a bed and pacing. She appeared worn and tired, but reasonably steady.Santana put a finger to his lips and pointed towards the house. Moving closer, theypeered in through a massive picture window. The expansive space — living room,dining room, and kitchen — was tent-shaped, gleaming hardwood and glass with acedar ceiling and a center pole fifteen feet high. French doors opened on tothe deck, and half a dozen large windows offered stunning views of the city. Aguard, his weapon in a shoulder holster, was pouring coffee. Behind him,reading at a table, sat The Doctor.

At the sight of him, an unnatural,guttural noise emerged from Santana's throat — the sound of hatred. He pickedup a shot-put-size rock and motioned with his gun for Harry to follow him. Theystopped just outside the glass door.

'Me first,' he whispered.

Before Harry could respond, Santana heftedthe rock and hurled it face-high through the door. The thick glass explodedinward. Ray was inside at almost the instant the rock hit the floor.

'Don't!' he barked as the gunman reachedfor his weapon.

Harry stepped through the empty door frameand took the man's gun. Anton Perchek, who had not even lowered his book,looked up first at him, then at Santana. His smile was one of bemusement. Theirises of his eyes were so pale as to appear almost white. His pupils werewide, black holes in the snow. There was not a hint of fear in the man thatHarry could see — or of any emotion at all, for that matter.

'Down on your face!' Santana ordered thegunman.

When the man hesitated, Ray dropped himwith a pistol butt behind the ear, all the while keeping his attention fixed onPerchek. The gunman was moaning but awake as Harry bound him with the techniquehe had perfected on the gatekeeper. Santana pulled a chair away from the table.With his silenced revolver still aimed at Perchek, he helped Harry lift thesemiconscious man into the chair. Harry tied him there. Then he stepped back,closer to Santana.

The Doctor eyed the two of them curiously.He was certainly the man Harry had seen outside of Evie's room, the man Maurahad drawn. But in some ways he wasn't. He looked like all of the computerrenderings, but none of them. He would have fit in perfectly behind the counterof a convenience store or piloting a jet. He was nobody and everybody. When hespoke, his voice was mellow, hypnotic, and totally devoid of emotion.

'Well, Ray. It's been a while, hasn't it,'he said. Santana pushed the table away from Perchek with his foot. Even throughthe black greasepaint, Harry could see the tension in his face. Clearly,Perchek sensed it, too.

'You don't look so good, Ray,' he said, asSantana was taping his wrists to the wrought-iron arms of the chair. 'Themuscle wasting in those hands. That twitch by your eye. What is it — drugs?Some sort of disease?'

Harry noticed that The Doctor's arms,especially his forearms, were thickly muscled. His biceps stretched the sleevesof his sky blue polo shirt. Santana checked him for a weapon, but found none.

'The key to Maura's room,' Ray demanded.

Perchek shrugged as if the business wastoo mundane for him to bother with.

'No key,' he said. 'Just a dead bolt inthis side.'

Santana motioned Harry down the shortflight of stairs. In half a minute he was back with her. She was hollow-eyedfrom strain and her lip was swollen and crusted with blood, but otherwise sheseemed unharmed.

'The big guy hit her when they kidnappedher,' Harry explained.

'Anything else?' Santana asked.

'Except for forcing the booze down me,they haven't really hurt me. I managed to spit a lot of it out, and after theyleft me alone I made myself throw up. I was drunk for a while, but I'm sobernow. They thought I'd start begging them for more, but I hated the feeling andeven the taste.'

Harry put his arm around her and held hertightly.

Santana glared down at Perchek.

'Who in the agency helped Garvey disappearso cleanly?' he asked.

Perchek continued smiling at him benignly.

'Ray, you look terrible. Absolutelyterrible.' His speech was as sterile as his eyes. 'You know, I keep thinkingthat back in Nogales I never had the chance to give you the antidote for myhyconidol. That's what's wrong with you, isn't it? My Lord, Ray, what anoversight. I am so sorry. So truly sorry.'

'Shut up and tell me who sent Garvey outwith a new identity.'

'There is an antidote, you know. And adamn effective one it is, too. The biochemical process is quite simple,actually. It's called competitive inhibition. The antidote just floods thebloodstream and replaces those nasty little molecules that have been locked onto those nerve endings of yours all these years, and Bingo, you'recured. No more pain, Ray. Think of it. Why. . why, just look at your eyes.You're addicted, too, aren't you. Oh, Ray. I can just imagine what you've beenthrough all these years. Why, it's a wonder you haven't done yourself in beforenow. .'

Santana listened as if transfixed. Perchekwas soothing, seductive, hypnotic — and totally believable. Harry wanted to saysomething, anything to break the spell of The Doctor's rhetoric. Instead, hetoo stood motionless. It was Santana's pain.

'. . Well, now you don't have to hurtanymore, Ray. Those horrible pain flashes you keep having? I can make them goaway for good. I promise you. No more need for narcotics. You'll feel thedifference in only a few minutes, Ray. Just think of it. No more pain everagain. Guaranteed. You can keep me tied up while you try it. Then you canleave. I promise no one will touch you. All I want is him.' He nodded towardHarry. 'In exchange for the antidote, all I want is half an hour with him.'

Perchek looked over at Harry and for thefirst time, Harry could see emotion in the man's eyes — a consuming,contemptuous loathing, focused directly and completely on him. Harry glancedback at Santana and saw a flicker of uncertainty. Perchek saw it, too, and wasagain smiling benignly.

Santana set his pistol on the table. Thenhe whirled and stretched two-inch-wide adhesive tape tightly across TheDoctor's mouth. Next he pulled out a contraption from his pocket — an arcanemetal frame with five finger rests and pointed screws over each. Perchekstiffened momentarily, but made no move to resist as Ray locked the fingers andthumb of his right hand in place.

'I don't have a pain drug,' he said, 'butI do have this thing I've been hanging on to for years. A friend brought itback from China. I'll bet you've used something like it yourself from time totime. First nail, then flesh, then bone, then through the other side. Eightfingers, two thumbs, millimeter by millimeter. I've been saving it, and Ididn't even know why. . until now.'

He tightened the screws down so that eachnail blanched. Perchek reacted not at all.

'Ray, don't let him make you into him,'Harry begged. 'There's no antidote for that drug. And even if there were,you know he'd never give it to you. I need him, Ray. They want me for murdershe committed. Let's just take him in and get him locked up. Don't sink to hislevel.'

'You don't understand, Harry,' Santanasaid icily. 'Siempre estaba yo a su nivel. I was always at his level.Now get out!' He snapped the words like a whip.

Harry started to protest, but he knew itwould serve no purpose. He took Maura by the arm.

'We'll be right outside,' he said. 'Weonly have about ten minutes before Garvey starts wondering why I haven'tcalled.'

They left as Santana was tightening thefirst screw.

'Who did Garvey own at the agency?' heasked. 'Who's protecting him now?'

Perchek smiled beneath the tape. Santanatightened the screw through the nail. Blood spurted out around the metal.Perchek stared ahead.

'Pain or answers,' Santana said. 'You'vegot a choice to make.'

'No, Ray. It's you who have the choice..'

Sean Garvey spoke to him from just outsidethe front door. He held a gun to Harry's head. They stepped into the room. Thehuge thug followed, roughly dragging Maura by the arm, then shoving her to thefloor. His gun was leveled directly at Ray.

'. . And you don't have a lot of time.'