Night Fall

I hoped he meant the bartender at Dresner’s.

“You up on this?”

“As a matter of fact, I am. Ambassador Bodine has barred John O’Neill from returning to Aden because he wasn’t behaving. Personally, I think-”

“She’s full of shit. That’s what I think. But that doesn’t leave this office. Anyway, as you probably know, we got some people over there-FBI and NYPD task force guys. Well, they’ve requested a few more.”

“There’s probably enough there now.”

“That’s what Bodine said. But O’Neill got permission to send a few more in exchange for him getting kicked out and not making a fuss.”

“Bad deal. He should make a fuss.”

“Career Feds do what they’re told. Anyway, Koenig has recommended you to join the team over there.”

“Where?”

“Aden. Port city of Yemen.”

“Is this for real?”

“Yeah. It’s right here. This is considered a hardship assignment, so the good news is that this will give your career a big boost.”

“That’s really good news. But I’m not sure I deserve this.”

“Sure you do.”

“How long is this plum assignment?”

“Couple of months. I mean, the place really sucks. You speak to any of the guys who’ve been there?”

“No.”

“I did. It’s like a hundred twenty degrees in the shade, but there is no shade. The good thing is that there’s a woman behind every tree. But there are no trees. The hotel’s nice, though. We got a whole floor in a nice hotel. The bar is okay, according to these guys. You can’t take women up to the rooms either. But you’re married, so that’s no problem. Also, unmarried sex is a capital offense, punishable by beheading. Or is it stoning? I think she gets stoned to death; you get your head chopped off. Anyway, you’ll get briefed over there. You should pay close attention.” He added, “This is a good career move.”

“For who?”

“You.”

I replied, “As tempting as this sounds, I’m afraid I have to take a pass.”

Captain Stein looked at me through his cigar smoke, then said, “We can’t force you to take this assignment.”

“Right.”

“It has to be voluntary.”

“Good rule.”

“But I have the feeling if you don’t take it, your contract may not be renewed. I mean, I can’t say that because it sounds like coercion.”

“I wouldn’t interpret it as coercion. Sounds more like a threat.”

“Whatever. Hey, it could be fun. Take the job.”

“I teach two courses at John Jay. I need to be there on the Tuesday after Labor Day. It’s in my contract.”

“We’ll try to get you back in time. Talk it over with your wife.”

“I can tell you right now, Captain, I’m not going to fucking Yemen.”

“Did I mention the extra pay? And ten days administrative leave when you get back? Plus the a

“Sounds great. I can think of a few married guys with kids who need the money. If there’s nothing further-”

“Hold on. I gotta tell you a few more things that can help you decide.”

“Look, Captain, if you’re going to tell me that my wife’s career will be screwed up if I don’t take the assignment, then that’s unethical and probably unlawful.”

“Yeah? Well, then, I won’t say that. But that’s the way it is.”

I didn’t reply for a while, and we stared at each other. I said, “Why does Koenig want me out of town?”

“He doesn’t want you out of town. He wants you off the fucking planet. And it wasn’t the beeper thing, sport. And I’ll tell you this-whatever he’s got on you is good. And whatever he’s got on your wife is very good. He was royally pissed off at both of you, and he wants you someplace where you have lots of time to think about how you pissed him off.”

“Well, you know what? Fuck him.”

“No, Corey, not so much fuck him, but more, I think, fuck you.”

I stood without being dismissed and said, “You’ll have my resignation on your desk within the hour.”

“That’s your call. But talk to your wife first. You can’t resign without a note from your wife.”

I started to leave, but Captain Stein stood and came around his desk. He looked at me and said in a quiet voice, “You’re under the eye, kiddo. Watch yourself. That’s friendly advice.”

I turned and left.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Kate was not at her desk when I left Stein’s office, and I asked her cube mate, Je

Ms. Lupo replied, “She had a meeting with Jack in his office. I haven’t seen her since.”

Apparently Jack Koenig and Kate Mayfield had more to talk about than David Stein and John Corey had. I didn’t like the smell of this.

I went to my workstation, which I hadn’t done prior to my meeting with Stein. There was nothing new on my desk and nothing urgent on my voice mail. I punched up my e-mail. Usual garbage, except for a message from the FBI travel office in Washington that saidContact this office ASAP, Re: Yemen.

“What the hell…?”

Harry Muller looked up from his computer and asked, “What’s up?”

“Bad horoscope.”

“Try mine. I’m a Capricorn. Hey, what did you do yesterday?”

“I was sick.”

“Stein was looking for you.”

“He found me.”

Muller leaned toward me and asked, “You in some kind of trouble?”

“I’m always in trouble. Do me a favor. Kate’s in with Koenig. When she comes out, tell her to meet me at that Greek coffee shop down the street. Parthenon, Acropolis, Sparta-whatever.”

“Why don’t you leave a note on her desk?”

“Why don’t you just do me a favor?”

“Every time I do you a favor I feel like I’m an accessory to a felony.”

“I’ll bring you back some baklava.”

“Make it a corn muffin.”

I stood and said to Harry, “Keep this to yourself.”

“Toasted, with butter.”

I made a hasty exit for the elevator. On the way down, I thought about what my instincts were telling me to do. First, get out of the building in case Koenig wanted to speak to me after he grilled Kate. Second, the next person I needed to speak to was Kate, alone and away from the Ministry of Love. These were good instincts.

I got off the elevator, went out on Broadway, and walked south toward the World Trade Center.

The coffee shop-the Acropolis-had the advantage of high-backed booths, so the customers couldn’t be seen from the street. Also, the horrible, ti

I took a seat at an empty booth in the rear.

I had the feeling that things were closing in on me-that I shouldn’t use my cell phone or my office phone, or my e-mail, or even my apartment phone. When the Feds get on your case, you’re toast.

The waitress came over, and I ordered coffee.

“Anything with that?”

“Toast.”

I was on my third cup of coffee, leaning out into the aisle to see the front door, when Kate came in. She spotted me, walked quickly to the booth, and slid in opposite me. She asked me, “Why are you here?”

“Obviously, we need to talk. Alone.”

“Well, Jack is looking for you.”

“That’s why I’m here. What did you two talk about?”

She replied, “He asked me if I was looking into the TWA case. I said I was. He thanked me for being so forthright, then he asked me if you were looking into the case, too.” She hesitated, then continued, “I said you were. Then, he wanted some details, so I told him what he probably already knew about everything that had happened from the night of the memorial service to now.” She paused, then added, “That’s what you suggested. Right?”

“Right. How did he handle the truth?”

“Not too well.”

The waitress came, and Kate ordered a chamomile tea, whatever that is.