When Darkness Falls

Alicia sounded somewhat surprised to hear from him, but she took his phone call nonetheless. She was pleasant enough in thanking Theo for doing all that he could to keep Falcon from harming the other hostages. Theo was never one for small talk, however, so he cut to the chase.

“I’m calling because there are things Falcon told me while I was stuck in that motel room with him. Things that I think you should know.”

She hesitated, as if not sure how to respond.

“Did you hear me?” said Theo.

“Yes, sorry. What kind of things are you talking about?”

“Personal stuff. Family matters.”

“Do you mean my family?”

“I don’t mean the Sopranos.”

“There’s no need to be sarcastic about it.”

“Sorry, but being a smart-ass is kind of like therapy. It’s about the only thing that separates me from the guys who tell the mayor’s daughter that they’re sorry and then blow their brains out.”

“I have no idea what you mean by that.”

“That makes two of us. But look, what I called to tell you is that Falcon talked plenty before he killed hisself. I haven’t gotten into the details with anyone yet. Not the police, not the newspapers, not even Jack.”

“Do you plan to share with them?”

“Right now, I ain’t got a plan. I think you and me need to talk about it first.”

“What could we possibly have to talk about?”

“For starters, a guy named Sikes.”

“Are you talking about the guy who deposited two hundred thousand dollars into Falcon’s safe deposit box in the Bahamas? Do you mean that Sikes?”

“Sort of. Dude used a phony name, you understand? So maybe you’d like to know who this Sikes really was.”

Again, she paused. “Falcon told you who Sikes was?”

“Yup.”

“Who was it?”

Theo laughed. “Not so fast. I had to work real hard to get that information out of Falcon. Real hard.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I don’t work for nothing.”

“Are you asking me for money?” she said, suddenly indignant.

“Money? Nah. That wouldn’t be right.”

“Then what do you want?”

“Well, I hope I don’t sound too much like Falcon the crazy man,” he said with a light chuckle, “but I just want to meet with you.”

“Why?”

“Because this is too important to discuss over the telephone.”

“And if I refuse, then what?”

“Then you’ll never know who Sikes is.”

“You do want money, don’t you?”

“Like I was saying, this is way too important for you and me to handle over the telephone.”

There was silence, as if she were mulling things over. “All right. I think I’d like to talk with you, Theo.”

“Good. Let’s say eleven o’clock tonight at my bar. I own Sparky’s Tavern down on-”

“I know Sparky’s,” she said.

“Cool,” said Theo. “And if you decide to come, you’ll know Sikes.” He said a quick good-bye and ended the call with a touch of the speakerphone button. His use of the handheld receiver had made it impossible for Alicia to know that she was on speaker.

“Did I do good, boss?” asked Theo.

Jack was sitting across the table from him. “You were perfect,” he said. “Just perfect.”

chapter 64

J ack reached Sparky’s Tavern around ten forty-five p.m. Tuesday was not Jack’s regular night, as it was common knowledge that a visit to Sparky’s was best followed by at least a full weekend of detoxification. Tonight, however, he made an exception.

Theo was blowing on his old Buescher 400 saxophone and just finishing up a set when Jack entered the tavern. A few appreciative regulars stood to applaud Theo’s efforts, but most of the patrons kept right on drinking, talking, and laughing, as if Theo were little more than elevator Muzak. Sparky’s was not a true jazz club by any stretch, and on most nights, it was whatever the paying clientele wanted it to be. If the Latino band of bikers craved a little meringue with their cerveza, so be it. If the pretty redneck girls raced to the jukebox for yet another round of the electric slide, it wasn’t Theo’s place to stop them. Any bartender worthy of his honorary degree in pop psychology could see that Sparky’s struggled with a multiple-personality disorder Sunday through Thursday just so that Theo could pay the rent and do Charlie Parker proud on the weekends.

Theo stepped down from the stage to meet Jack at the bar. Jack had a beer, and Theo drank bourbon, which told Jack that he was done playing for the night. Theo never drank alcohol when he was performing, but he sure made up for it when he wasn’t. Time passed quickly, as it always did for Jack at Sparky’s. By eleven-fifteen p.m., it was pretty clear that Alicia would be a no-show.

By eleven-thirty p.m., it was equally clear that Jack’s plan was working perfectly.

“Well, look who’s here,” said Theo, pointing with a nod toward the door.

Jack swiveled his barstool to see a handsome Latino coming toward him. He was built like a football player, had the haircut of a marine, and bore the chilling expression of a racist cop who’d just spotted a busload of rap musicians doing eighty in a thirty-five-mile-per-hour zone. He walked up to the bar, ignored Jack, and spoke directly to Theo. “You Theo Knight?”

“Who wants to know?”

“My name’s Felipe.” He didn’t offer a handshake. “I work for Mayor Mendoza.”

Jack said, “Did the mayor send you?”

Felipe didn’t even acknowledge the question. “I need to talk to Theo.”

“He’s cool,” said Theo, speaking about Jack. “These days, I don’t talk to anyone without my lawyer at my side.”

Felipe wouldn’t even look at Jack, seemingly determined to keep the lawyer out of the picture. “The mayor just wants to talk to Theo.”

“What about?” said Jack.

Felipe’s gaze finally shifted toward Jack, but the look in his eyes made it clear that only big hunks of humanity named Theo were welcome. “The mayor said that Theo would know what it’s about.”

“Fine,” said Theo. “Let’s talk. Where is he?”

“On his boat.”

“That’s rough. Dixie Highway’s a bitch by boat.”

“He wants you to come to him, asshole.”

Theo glanced at Jack. “He must have been talking to you, counselor. Because the last guy who talked to me like that ended up swallowing his teeth.”

Jack raised his hands like a boxing referee. “Time out, guys. Can we take the testosterone level down just a wee bit here?”

Theo locked eyes with Felipe. Jack didn’t like the way the conversation was going, but he respected Theo’s street smarts. If the big guy took an immediate dislike to someone, it was usually for good reason. Jack said, “How do we get to the mayor’s boat?”

“There’s no we,” said Felipe. “It’s just Theo.”

“If he doesn’t go, I don’t go,” said Theo.

Had it been up to Felipe, Jack would have expected to hear something along the more profane lines of “Go take a flying leap.” But Felipe obviously had his orders, and returning without Theo was not an option. “Fine,” said Felipe. “The both of you can come.”

“I need five minutes,” said Theo. “Let me close out the cash register.”

“I’ll meet you in the parking lot,” said Felipe. He turned and headed toward the door.

Theo removed the cash drawer from the register and went to the back room. Jack followed him. An elderly woman was seated at Theo’s desk. She looked up hopefully, then reacted quickly to the expression on Jack’s face. It was as if she’d seen that same look of disappointment too many times before.

“I told you she wouldn’t come,” she said.

“It has nothing to do with you,” said Jack. “She just doesn’t want to get involved in the whole Bahamian bank-account mess. Alicia didn’t even know you were going to be here waiting for her.”

“So, if I invite her myself, do you think she will agree to see me?”

Jack and Theo exchanged glances, neither of them sure how to answer that question. “I think we’ll know more after we talk to the mayor,” said Jack.