Swimsuit

“Not long after that trip to Florence, Gina told me about the Alliance, including the fact that Jan was an important member.”

The travelogue of Western Europe had ended. Henri's posture straightened, and the tempo of his voice changed from languid to clipped.

“Gina told me that the Alliance was a secret organization composed of the very best people, by which she meant wealthy, filthy rich. She said that they could use me, 'make use of my talents' is the way she put it. And she said that I would be rewarded handsomely.

“So Gina didn't love me. She had a purpose for me. Of course, I was a little hurt by that. At first, I thought I might kill her. But there was no need for that, was there, Ben? In fact it would have been stupid.”

“Because they hired you to kill for them?”

“Of course,” Henri said.

“But how would that benefit the Alliance?”

“Benjamin,” Henri said patiently. “They didn't hire me to do hits. I film my work. I make the films for them. They pay to watch.”

Chapter 85

Henri had said he killed for money, and now his story was coming together. He had been killing and creating films of these sexual executions for a select audience at a premium price. The stagelike setting for Kim's death made sense now. It had been a cinematic backdrop to his debauchery. But I didn't understand why Henri had drowned Levon and Barbara. What could possibly explain that?

“You were talking about the Peepers. The assignment you took in Hawaii.”

“I remember. Well, understand, the Peepers give me a great deal of creative freedom,” Henri said. “I picked Kim out from her photos. I used a ploy to get information from her agency. I said I wanted to book her and asked when would she be returning from – where was she shooting?

“I was told the location, and I worked out the rest: which island, her time of arrival, and the hotel. While I was waiting for Kim to arrive, I killed little Rosa. She was a tidbit, an amuse-bouche -”

“Amuse what?”

“It means an appetizer, and in her case, the Alliance hadn't commissioned the work. I put the film up for auction. Yes, there's a market for such things. I made some extra money, and I made sure the film got back to the Dutchman. Jan especially likes young girls, and I wanted the Peepers to be hungry for my work.

“When Kim arrived in Maui for the shoot, I kept watch on her.”

“Were you going under the name of Nils Bjorn?” I asked.

Henri started. Then he frowned.

“How did you know that?”

I'd made a mistake. My mental leap had co

Why would Gina betray Henri, though? What didn't I know about the two of them?

It felt like an important hook into Henri's story, but I gave myself a warning. For my own safety, I had to be careful not to tick Henri off. Very careful.

“The police got a tip,” I said. “An arms dealer by that name checked out of the Wailea Princess around the time Kim went missing. He was never questioned.”

“I'll tell you something, Ben,” Henri said. “I was Nils Bjorn, but I've destroyed his identity. I'll never use it again. It's worthless to you now.”

Henri got up from his seat abruptly. He adjusted the awning to block the lower angle of the sun's rays. I used the time to steady my nerves.

I was swapping out the old audiotape for a new one when Henri said, “Someone is coming.”

My heart started tap-dancing in my chest again.

Chapter 86

I shielded my eyes with my hands and looked in the direction of the trail stretching through the desert to the west, saw a dark-colored sedan coming over a hill.

Henri said, “Right now! Take your things, your glass and your chair, and go inside.”

I did what I was told, hustled back into the trailer with Henri behind me. He unhooked the chain from the floor, put it under the sink. He handed me my jacket and told me to go into the bathroom.

“If our visitor gets too nosy,” Henri said, hiding the wineglasses, “I may have to dispose of him. That means you'll have witnessed a murder, Ben. Not good for you.”

I squeezed into the tiny washroom, looked at my face in the mirror before flicking off the light. I had a three-day beard, rumpled shirt. I looked disreputable. I looked like a bum.

The bathroom wall was thin, and I could hear everything through it. There was a knock on the trailer door, which Henri opened. I heard heavy footsteps.

“Please come in, Officer. I'm Brother Michael,” Henri said.

A woman's authoritative voice said, “I'm Lieutenant Brooks. Park Service. This campsite is closed, sir. Didn't you see the roadblock and the words 'Do Not Enter' in giant letters?”

“I'm sorry,” Henri said. “I wanted to pray without being disturbed. I'm with the Camaldolese monastery. In Big Sur. I'm on retreat.”

“I don't care if you're an acrobat with the Cirque du Soleil. You have no business being here.”

“God led me here,” said Henri. “I'm on His business. But I didn't mean any harm. I'm sorry.”

I could feel the tension outside the door. If the ranger used her radio to call for help, she was a dead woman. Years ago, back in Portland, I'd backed my squad car into a wheelchair, knocked over an old man. Another time, I put a little kid in my gun sights when he'd jumped out from between two cars, pointing a squirt gun at me.

Both times I thought my heart couldn't beat any harder, but honest to God, this was the worst.

If my belt buckle clanked against the metal sink, the ranger would hear it. If she saw me, if she questioned me, Henri might feel he had to kill her, and her death would be on me.

Then he'd kill me.

I prayed not to sneeze. I prayed.

Chapter 87

The ranger told Henri that she understood about desert retreats, but that the campsite wasn't safe.

“If the chopper pilot hadn't seen your trailer, there would be no patrols out this way. What if you ran out of fuel? What if you ran out of water? No one would find you, and you would die,” Lieutenant Brooks said. “I'll wait while you pack up your gear.”

A radio crackled, and I heard the ranger say, “I got him, Yusef.”

I waited for the inevitable gunshot, thought of kicking open the door, trying to knock the gun out of Henri's hand, save the poor woman somehow.

The lieutenant said to her partner, “He's a monk. A hermit. Yeah. He's by himself. No, it's under control.”

Henri's voice cut in, “Lieutenant, it's getting late. I can leave in the morning without difficulty. I'd really appreciate one more night here for my meditation.”

There was silence as the park ranger seemed to consider Henri's request. I slowly exhaled, took in another breath. Lady, do what he says. Get the hell out of here.

“I can't help you,” she said.

“Sure you can. Just one night is all I ask.”

“Your gas tank is full?”

“Yes. I filled up before I drove into the park.”

“And you have enough water?”

The refrigerator door squealed open.

The ranger said, “Tomorrow morning, you're outta here. We have a deal?”

“Yes, we do,” Henri said. “I'm sorry for the trouble.”

“Okay. Have a good night, Brother.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant. And bless you.”

I heard the ranger's car engine start up. A minute later, Henri opened my door.

“Change of plans,” he said, as I edged out of the washroom. “I'll cook. We're pulling an all-nighter.”

“No problem,” I said.

I looked out the window and saw the lights of the patrol car heading back to civilization. Behind me, Henri dropped hamburger patties into the frying pan.