“My turn already?” Daeng said as he opened his eyes.
“I need your help.”
“Now?”
“Yeah. Now would be good.”
Logan led him back to Aaron. The kid was still lying on the floor, not having moved an inch.
“Is he dead?”
“No.”
Daeng glanced at Logan. “This isn’t exactly keeping a low profile.”
“I thought we could use this to our advantage.”
“This should be interesting.”
“The train’s got to stop again in the next hour or so, right?” Logan said. “I was thinking that might be a good time for Aaron to get off, and forget to get back on. Do you know anyone in this part of the country?”
“I know people in all parts of the country.”
Logan had hoped as much. “Someone who could meet us in the middle of the night, and take possession of our friend here?”
Daeng looked at Aaron for a moment. “That could be arranged.”
“Excellent.” Between Daeng and Dev, Logan was creating a network of people stashers. Whatever it took, he guessed.
“His friends are going to come looking for him,” Daeng said.
Logan shook his head. “Not until morning.”
“You can’t count on that.”
“They were drinking, so I gotta think they’re going to be out for a while.”
“What about him?” Daeng asked. “He wasn’t sleeping.”
“True,” Logan conceded. “We should put him someplace out of sight until we hand him off. One of the bathrooms would work. And while we’re waiting I’ll see if he’s up for a chat.”
Daeng let out a quick, low laugh. “I wouldn’t mind having a man like you working with me. Maybe we should talk when we’re done with this.”
Logan moved around, and got his hands under Aaron’s shoulders. “Help me carry him.”
34
Logan tied Aaron to the toilet with some twine they found behind the snack counter, then closed himself in the bathroom with him. Daeng was still working on finding someone to meet up with them while also standing guard in the passageway in case any of Aaron’s buddies showed up.
Once Logan was satisfied the kid wouldn’t be able to break his bonds, he slapped him across the face a couple of times. Finally, Aaron groaned, and his head lulled back, then his eyes opened.
When he saw Logan, he tensed. “You have no idea who you’re messing with. Let me go. Now!”
“You know, Mr. Williams, or was it Mr. Dean? Anyway, one of them said something similar to me when I had them tied up in Santa Monica. And yet, I’m still here.”
There was a flicker of surprise in Aaron’s eyes.
“And if I remember correctly,” Logan went on, “your friend Ryan said I should have let him go, too, not long before he died in front of me last night.”
Aaron couldn’t let that one go. “What are you talking about?”
Logan shrugged. “He decided not to cooperate.”
“You’re lying.”
“Really? Did he show up back at your place on the river after his shift was over? You know the one I mean. That space you sanitized with one of your friends before heading for the train.”
Aaron stared at him.
“You left in a cab, dropped your friend off, then took two duffle bags to a deserted building and had them burned. Come on, you remember this, right?”
Aaron was gaping now.
“Then that meeting you had in a fourteenth floor office? And the guy you met with, you know where he went after?”
“Stop,” Aaron said, his voice a whisper. “They’re going to kill me.”
“Actually, I’m not going to give them that satisfaction,” Logan told him.
Aaron stared at him. “What do you mean?”
“I mean you might die, but it won’t be at their hands. It’s the age old choice, Aaron. Answer my questions truthfully and you live. Don’t and I throw you off the train.” Before the kid could respond, Logan added, “You may not believe Ryan’s dead right now, but you’ll certainly believe it the second you’re flying through the air before your head smacks into the ground.” He paused. “Where’s the girl?”
“I don’t know what you’re—”
“Don’t be stupid, Aaron. Where is she?”
Aaron seemed to be assessing his options, so Logan gave him a moment, knowing if he were halfway smart, he’d realize he only had one. Finally, he said, “Chiang Mai. Or should be by now.”
“How did they get her there?”
“Drove. By van.”
That made sense. If they were going to transport her that far, it was the only means they could use that would avoid unnecessary questions. The clean up crew could just take the overnight train to join them.