The First Rule - Robert Crais Page 0,87
Jakovich, and Rina and Yanni, and the rest of it. She had been completely out of the loop.
“Frank didn’t have anything to do with the gun deal. Jakovich told me that himself. Frank and his family were collateral damage. Darko went in because of the nanny.”
“Ana Markovic? You’re telling me those people were murdered because of a twenty-year-old nanny?”
“Her sister stashed the old man’s grandson with Ana to hide him from Darko, but Darko found him anyway. Darko thought he could use the kid to force Jakovich into a deal, but he was wrong.”
“How old is this child?”
“Ten months. A baby.”
“And where is he now?”
“With me. Darko was holding him at the scrap yard, but now he’s with me.”
Walsh wet her lips again, and her jaw flexed. As if there was too much information to process, and the swell was lifting her too high and too fast to catch her breath. She finally nodded.
“Okay. I’m listening.”
“Jakovich wants Darko. Darko wants the guns. I have something they both want, and I’m using it to play them against each other. I believe I can put them together with the weapons.”
“How?”
“Jakovich thinks I’m going to buy the guns, and Darko thinks we’re going to steal the guns. They each think I’m going to double-cross the other.”
“Jesus, Pike, are you an adrenaline junkie or what? What’s our timeline here?”
“Later today. Darko’s on board. I’m waiting to hear from Jakovich. I need three things to make it happen.”
“Let’s hear it.”
“I haven’t been working alone. The people who are helping me, they get a pass. In writing. I get a pass, too. In writing. Absolution from any and all charges arising out of our activities in this matter, now and in the future.”
“This isn’t a double-oh license to kill.”
“I’m not finished. I need seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, and I’ll need it in a few hours. Darko promised to front the cash, but he may or may not deliver. If he doesn’t, I can still make the play on Jakovich, but he needs to see cash.”
“Jesus. Three-quarters of a million dollars?”
“If I can’t show Jakovich the cash, he won’t show me the guns.”
She nodded, slowly.
“Okay. I understand. I think I can make it happen.”
“One more thing. I get the boy. You’re going to supply him with a U.S. birth certificate and full citizenship, so I can place him with a family of my choosing. This placement will not be a matter of state or federal record. No record will exist that his biological family can use to find him.”
Walsh was silent on this point even longer than when he asked for a pass on the killings. She finally shook her head.
“I don’t know if that’s possible. I mean, even if I wanted to, I don’t know if it’s legal.”
“I don’t care if it’s legal. I just want it done.”
Walsh let out a long sigh. Her fingernail ticked on the console between them, as precise as a metronome. She finally nodded.
“I’d better get started.”
Pike returned to his Jeep and drove back to Cole’s. Cole, Stone, and Pike spent the rest of the morning getting together their gear. When it happened, it would happen fast, and it started at ten minutes before noon.
Pike’s cell vibrated, and now it was Jakovich.
He said, “You have this money?”
“I can get it in four hours.”
“Cash.”
“Yes. Cash.”
“And Michael. I will want Michael.”
“If I get the guns, Michael is yours.”
“Yes, he is mine.”
“Where do I meet you?”
“Here. On the boat. I will be here.”
They agreed on a time, then Pike hung up and immediately called Kelly Walsh.
“It’s on.”
42
WALSH AND FOUR AGENTS from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms arrived at Cole’s house an hour later. Two stayed with their cars, but two male agents came in with Walsh-a tough-looking Latin guy named Paul Rodriguez and a tall lanky guy named Steve Hurwitz. Hurwitz was wearing an olive green Special Response Team jumpsuit. SRT was the ATF’s version of SWAT. They spread through Cole’s living room with an air of watchful suspicion, as if someone might jump out of a closet. Jon Stone had brought in a large box of his surveillance gear, and Cole was helping him set up. Cole was shirtless, but had strapped on a bullet-resistant vest. Pike couldn’t blame them for being wary, especially with the cash.
Seven hundred fifty thousand dollars in cash didn’t take up much room. It could be packed in four shoe boxes, and fit in a single grocery bag.
Walsh carried the money in a gym bag