The Blue Zone

CHAPTER FORTY

Kate stepped forward, surprising the heavyset man as he stepped out of the office building on Thirty-third Street.

“Howard?”

Howard Kurtzman had worked for her father for twenty years. It wasn’t hard to find him. Her dad’s old secretary, Betsy, knew the toy company where he worked now. The accountant had always been a creature of habit. He always went out at twelve o’clock sharp for lunch.

“Kate?” His eyes regarded her nervously. People rushed by on the busy street. “Jeez, Kate, it’s been a while. How’ve you been?”

Kate had always had a fondness for him. When she was growing up, he was the guy who always handled the office’s day-to-day. The type who always felt he was the glue that held the place together. It was Howard who always sent Kate her monthly allowance checks back in college. Once he even vouched for her when she went over her credit-card limit in Italy and didn’t want her father to know. Howard was still overweight, had lost a little hair on top, and spoke with a bit of a wheeze. He was still wearing the same thick support shoes and fat, out-of-style tie. He always referred to Kate as “Boss’s Daughter Number One.”

“Congratulations,” he said, adjusting his glasses. “I heard you got married, Kate.”

“Thanks.” She looked at him. There was something about this that Kate felt was a little sad.

“So is this a coincidence, or what?” The accountant tried to laugh. “I’m afraid the old checkbook is closed.”

“Howard, I read the transcripts.” Kate stepped forward.

“The transcripts…” He scratched his head uncomfortably. “Jeez, Kate, a whole year’s gone by. Now?”

“Howard, I know it was you,” Kate said. “I know you were the person who turned him in.”

“You’re wrong.” He shook his head. “I was subpoenaed by the FBI.”

“Howard, please…” Kate placed her hand on the accountant’s arm. “I don’t care. I know that my father did some bad things. I just want to know, why did you do it? After all those years? Did someone put you up to it? Pressure you? Howard, you were like part of the family.”

“I told you.” His eyes flitted around anxiously. “They subpoenaed me, Kate. I didn’t have a choice.”

“Maybe someone else did, then? In the business. Did someone pay you, Howard? Please, this is important.” Kate realized she was sounding a little frantic. “I have to know.”

Howard led her over to the curb, away from the flow of people. Kate could see he was really afraid.

“Why are you doing this, Kate? Why are you going back there now?”

“It isn’t ‘back there’ for me, Howard. My father’s missing. No one’s seen him for the past week. My mother’s crazy over this. We can’t even find out if he’s dead or alive.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “But you can’t be here, Kate. I have a life-”

“We have lives, too, Howard. Please, I know you know something. You can’t hate him that much.”

“You think I hate him?” There was a little denial in his voice, something Kate took as sadness, too. “Don’t you understand, I worked for your father for twenty years.”

Kate’s eyes glistened. “I know.”

He didn’t budge. “I’m sorry. You were wrong to come here, Kate.” He tried to pull himself away. “Face it, your father was a criminal, Kate. I did the right thing. I’ve got to go.”

Kate reached out and took hold of the accountant’s arm. She could barely hide her feelings. She had known Howard Kurtzman since she was a kid.

“I did the right thing, Kate. Don’t you understand?” He looked like he was having a meltdown. “Go away now, please. This is my life now. Leave me alone, Kate, and don’t come back.”