Read Online Recoil by Brian Garfield - Free Book Online Page B

broke; he heard the click when she hung up her extension.
    Roger said, “I hope all your trails keep downslope with the wind at your back, old-timer.”
    â€œMaybe one of these days we’ll come back.”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œAt least I’ll see you in the movies.”
    â€œYou do that.”
    â€œChrist this is a pain in the ass.”
    â€œJust look after that good family you got, Fred.”
    â€œSo long, Roger.” When he hung up he couldn’t stop the tears.
    3
    Bradleigh woke him up, banging on the motel room door. Mathieson crawled out of bed, glanced at Ronny on the cot and went to the door. When the three-and-three knock repeated itself he opened up.
    â€œCome next door a minute.” Bradleigh talked in a whisper.
    He locked the door and carried the key with him, padding along the galleried porch in his pajamas. It was still dark.
    When he entered the room Caruso gave him a tired nod. The bed was made; nobody had slept in there. Bradleigh closed the door and handed Mathieson a styrofoam cup of coffee.
    He stumbled to the chair with it. “Thanks. I need it.”
    â€œA little hung?”
    â€œYou could say that.” He’d thrown the empty vodka bottle in the wastebasket; it was the last thing he remembered.
    â€œI had a call from Washington. They’ve found the leak. I thought you wouldn’t mind being rousted early for that bit of news.”
    â€œUh-huh. Time’s it, anyway?”
    â€œQuarter to five.”
    â€œJesus Christ don’t you guys ever sleep?”
    â€œWhen we have time to. It’s one of the secretaries in our office. They were blackmailing her—never mind for what. Ever heard the name C. K. Gillespie—a lawyer in Washington?”
    â€œNo. Gillespie? No. You mean he was blackmailing her and he was stupid enough to tell her his name? ”
    â€œNo. She was smart enough to follow him after one of their meetings. She took down his license number.”
    â€œHe’s a lawyer? Then it’s a dead end. He’ll plead confidential privilege.”
    â€œHe doesn’t know we’re onto him. We’re keeping the woman on ice. We’re going to bug Gillespie every way from Sunday. Phones, office, apartment, car, even his clothes. After a while he’ll realize she’s disappeared—then we’re hoping he’ll panic and start calling people.”
    â€œThis wiretapping and bugging. Is it legal?”
    â€œWarrants from the Circuit Court, sure. We want them airtight, we’re not going to fuck around with illegal taps.”
    â€œShe’s the one who fingered me to this Gillespie?”
    â€œAnd Benson and John Fusco and Draper. All four of you. We’ve got the other three under cover, we’re relocating them all. Incidentally it looks like Benson’s going to make it all right. But don’t worry about C. K. Gillespie, he’s a drop in the bucket.” The smell of Bradleigh’s cigarette was slightly nauseating. “We may have a chance at the whole megillah this time, Fred. All we need is a few breaks. If we can get enough on Gillespie we can make a deal with him and maybe bring the whole structure toppling down.”
    â€œImmunity from prosecution and a new identity if he’ll blow the whistle on Pastor and Ezio Martin and the rest of them. That’s the ‘deal’?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œSo Gillespie set us up, and he ends up going scot-free.”
    â€œCome on, Fred, be sensible. He’ll lose his law practice, that’s for openers. I told you, forget him. He doesn’t matter; he’s the smallest potato in the sack.” Bradleigh picked up an ashtray; he kept his feet, holding the ashtray left-handed like a guest at a cocktail party. “Given any thought to where you want to go? Discussed it with Jan and Ronny any?”
    â€œRonny’s all for doing a Swiss Family Robinson somewhere in the South