Dirt

Amanda Dart, he thought. She has betrayed me. I told her everything to save myself, but she has betrayed me.

“‘Your pension plan, medical insurance, and profit-sharing are cancelled with immediate effect; your stock options are withdrawn; your signature is no longer valid on any Infiltrator bank account; all Infiltrator employees will immediately be informed that your instructions are no longer to be followed. Two weeks’ severance pay will be wire-transferred to your personal bank account after, and only after, possession of all Infiltrator property has been surrendered.’” Purvis handed him the letter. “It’s signed by the chairman of the board,” he said.

“I don’t believe it,” Peebles mumbled, starting to read the letter.

“Give me your keys to the building and your office. your medical insurance card, and your credit cards,” Purvis said.

“How dare you speak to me that way!” Peebles sputtered. “I am your superior…” He faltered.

“Not any more,” Purvis said. He turned to the two security guards. “Gentlemen, clean out his pockets.”

One of the guards grabbed Peebles and pi

Peebles obeyed. “There has been some mistake here, and I will remember your conduct,” he said to Purvis through clenched teeth.

“Get his coat,” Purvis said to the secretary. The woman obeyed, and Purvis handed the coat to Peebles. Peebles put it on. “Tell his deputy that he is in charge until further notice,” Purvis said to the secretary, then he turned back to the two guards. “Escort Mr. Peebles from the building.”

The two guards frog-marched Peebles through the newsroom, down two flights of stairs, and out of the building. A moment later, he found himself standing alone in the parking lot.

Still unable to believe what had just happened and trying to preserve some semblance of dignity, Peebles got into his Bentley and drove home to Beverly Hills. As he pulled into his driveway and got out of his car, a man suddenly appeared, along with another uniformed security guard.

“I’m from the Infiltrator’s leasing company,” he said, snatching Peebles’s keys from his hand. “The lease on the Bentley has been cancelled.” The man detached the car key and returned the ring, which now held only a house key, to its owner. As Peebles watched, aghast, the man drove away in the Bentley.

Peebles turned to the security guard. “What do you want?” he said.

“I’m to escort you from the company’s house when you have retrieved your belongings,” he said.

Cursing under his breath, Peebles opened the front door of the house and walked in. The place was empty. All furnishings, draperies, and pictures had been removed. He walked down the hallway to his bedroom, his heels echoing on the bare tile floors. In the middle of the otherwise empty bedroom sat half a dozen suitcases, packed.

“I’ll give you a hand,” the guard said.

Shortly, Peebles was standing on the sidewalk, his luggage stacked beside him.

“Your house key,” the guard said.

Peebles handed it to him.

“I’ve been told to give you a message from your father-in-law: If you ever return to Britain he will make it his business to see that you regret it for the rest of your life.” He got into a car parked at the curb. “Do you want me to radio my office to call you a cab?” he asked.

“Thank you, yes,” Peebles said.

“Consider it done,” the guard said, and drove away.

Peebles stood on the sidewalk and tried to organize his thoughts, but it wasn’t working.

Finally the cab came, and the driver loaded his luggage.

He didn’t bother holding the door for Peebles, who let himself into the cab. “Where to, Mister?”

“I haven’t the slightest idea,” Peebles said, staring out the window into the middle distance.

Chapter 58

The tape was suddenly ripped from Arrington’s mouth. “Ow, you son of a bitch!” she screamed. A blow caught the side of her head and knocked her off the sofa. Her eyes were still taped, and she couldn’t see it coming.

“Shut up until you’re spoken to,” Tommy Bruce said. “Does Barrington know where you are?”

“Yes,” she said. “He’ll be here any minute.” She took another blow, to the other side of her head.

“Don’t lie to me,” he said.

“What do you think, Tommy?” Charlie asked. “Are we going to have a visit from Barrington?”

“Nah,” Tommy said. “She just stopped by here for a minute to pick up something; she’s been living at his place. Isn’t that right, Arrington?”

Arrington said nothing. She hunched up her shoulders, hoping to avoid another blow.

“What are you doing now, Charlie?” Tommy asked. “I thought you wanted to fuck her.”

“I’m just addressing Federal Express packets to the New York Times and the IRS,” Charlie replied. “As soon as we confirm the money’s in the bank, I’m going to ship them. I’m sending one to the cops, too, just for the hell of it.”

Tommy laughed. “Why not? It’ll give us something to read about in the papers for months to come. I wish I could see Hickock’s face the first time the IRS calls.”

“There,” Charlie said, “all done. Now, let’s have a look at Miss Arrington.”

Arrington heard him coming toward her and she flinched in anticipation of another blow, but instead something clicked loudly, he grabbed her clothing, and she felt her blouse and bra being cut away.

“Not bad,” Charlie said, pushing her prone on the couch. “Now let’s see the rest.”

Arrington aimed a kick at his voice, but Tommy grabbed her ankles and held them while Charlie went to work on her skirt with his knife.

A car pulled up around the corner from Arrington’s apartment building and two young men got out. They were sharply dressed and finely barbered, and they moved with complete confidence. They walked around the corner and into the building.

Jimmy, the doorman, who was resting in a lobby chair, sprang to his feet. These men didn’t look as though they belonged in his building.

“How ya doin’?” one of the men said as he swung a pistol at Jimmy’s head. He stepped over to the prone doorman and held the pistol to Jimmy’s forehead. “Answer me fast, or I’ll spread your brains all over this nice floor. Where’s the passkey for Nine-A?”

“Desk drawer,” Jimmy managed to say. “There’s a tag on it.”

The other man opened the drawer. “Got it,” he said. “We better take this guy with us.” He grabbed Jimmy by the collar, hustled him across the room, and dumped him into the elevator.

“Nine, please,” his friend said, gri

Jimmy began to come to. He got an arm under him and pushed himself back into the elevator. Painfully, he reached up and pushed the button for the lobby.

Arrington was putting up the best fight she could with her hands taped behind her. She was naked now, and she struggled to get a foot free so that she could kick, but Tommy held them fast.

“Why don’t you just relax,” Charlie’s voice said softly. He was close enough that she could feel his breath on her face. Quickly she pulled her head back and aimed her forehead at the voice. There was a cry of pain as she co