Read Online Widow’s Walk by Robert B. Parker - Free Book Online Page B

said without shifting his focus.
    “Want to go?”
    “Sure. They still tailing you?”
    “Not unless they’ve gotten better at it.”
    “Figure Brink Tyler was the one they was worried about?”
    “Yes.”
    “So now that you seen him they don’t see no reason to follow you?”
    “Maybe. Or maybe they are going to try another approach now that I’ve confronted the followers.”
    “So you going to go straight over there and present yourself, case they do want to take other measures.”
    “Yes.”
    “Which be why you inviting me along.”
    “Yes.”
    “We doing it to get even?” Hawk said.
    “We’re doing it because, right at the moment, I don’t know what else to do,” I said.
    “There’s a surprise,” Hawk said.
    An hour later, showered and dressed and looking like two million dollars each, we walked into the reception area of Soldiers Field Development and gave my name and asked for Felton Shawcross.
    “A moment, please,” the receptionist said.
    She looked at Hawk as if hoping for his name, too. Hawk didn’t respond. She excused herself and went through a door behind her desk and in a few moments came back along with a tall guy in a blue suit. He eyed Hawk as he approached.
    “My name’s Hatfield,” he said to me. “What did you wish to see Mr. Shawcross about?”
    “Nathan Smith,” I said.
    Hatfield frowned. “Who?”
    “Hard name,” I said. “Nathan Smith.”
    “Does Mr. Shawcross know Mr. Smith?”
    “Doesn’t everybody,” I said.
    Hatfield frowned again, and stood for a minute. He appeared to be thinking.
    “I’ll check with Mr. Shawcross,” he said.
    I nodded at the receptionist.
    “I thought she already did that,” I said.
    “She checked with me,” Hatfield said.
    He had a thin sharp face. He looked formidable when he frowned. Which is probably why he frowned.
    “And you are?”
    “I’m the director of internal security,” he said.
    I looked at Hawk. He grinned.
    “Internal security,” he said.
    “Wait here,” Hatfield said and went back through the door behind the reception desk. Hawk and I went through it right behind him. He turned and started to say something. Hawk hit him with his left fist and Hatfield fell over backward. We were in a corridor. There were offices along the corridor. At the end of the corridor was a glass door that said FELTON SHAWCAOSS in black letters. We went in. Shawcross was sort of a fleshy guy with his black hair slicked back. He was wearing a charcoal pin-striped suit and a black shirt with matching satin silk tie. His face was wide and his mouth was small under his big nose.
    “What the fuck are you doing?” he said.
    “I believe we are bursting into your office uninvited,” I said.
    He leaned back in his chair. “Where’s Hatfield?” he said.
    “My associate persuaded him to let us in,” I said.
    Shawcross nodded.
    “Well,” he said. “You’re in. What do you want?”
    Hawk leaned against the wall next to the door. I stood in front of the desk.
    “Why are you worried about me talking with Brinkman Tyler?” I said.
    “Tyler?”
    “Tyler. You had people following me for days until I talked with Tyler, then they made a move on me.”
    “I didn’t have anyone follow you,” Shawcross said.
    Behind me I heard people come through Shawcross’s door. I glanced back. Hatfield was one of them. The right side of his face was already starting to swell. With him were three other guys in blue suits.
    “Internal security,” Hawk said.
    I said, “You think?”
    Hawk grinned.
    “You all right, Mr. Shawcross?” Hatfield said.
    “I’m fine,” Shawcross said. “Before you throw them out, let’s hear what these gentlemen have to say.”
    Hawk stayed by the door. The Internal Security Squad ranged along the wall on the other side of the room. I took a seat in a green leather chair with little brass studs showing on the face of the arms. I crossed my legs and admired my ankle for a moment.
    “Nathan Smith has been murdered,”