from exertion. He ran a hand over his scalp, feeling the prickly hairs just starting to emerge on the sides.
The elevator opened into the living room, and Peja and Smith hesitated before stepping out, balking at the sight of the mayor, naked except for the sheet around him, sitting in his oversize leather chair.
“What the hell are you waiting for?”
The two men entered and sat. Peja looked tired and miserable. Smith just looked worried.
Henry looked back and forth between the two men. “What in God’s name is going on? Why are you here?”
Smith began to speak, then thought better of it. Peja said, “Bernal’s dead.”
Henry turned his attention to Smith. “True?”
Smith nodded.
“Jesus Christ. What happened?” Henry leaned forward in his chair, glaring at Smith. “Goddamn it. Tell me you didn’t bump him.”
Smith was avoiding eye contact by staring over Henry’s shoulder. “I followed Bernal, like you said. A cab picked him up at his house a little after ten thirty and headed north. I found a cab, not so easy to do in his neighborhood, and the cabbie found Bernal’s cab and tailed it. The farther north we got, the foggier it got, so it was hard to keep the other cab in sight, but easy for us to stay hidden, if you follow. So he gets out of the cab—what?—about three blocks from the river. I make my cab go past him and go right for another block before letting me off. Trying not to tip him, you know?
“I figured Bernal was going to the river, so I looped around. It was foggy as hell there. Barely see your hand in front of your face, you know? So even though I knew basically where he was, it was hard to be sure. So I found a spot just under the bridge and waited and listened. Then this other gink comes. I can hear him walking down towards the river and then stop, and then I can hear them, him and Bernal, having a chat. I couldn’t really make out what they were saying, so I thought about trying to get closer, and then they suddenly start coming up the hill towards me. So I kind of hid behind this pillar, even though there’s really no need because the fog is so thick.
“Anyway, they go up on the bridge, and I follow as close as I can, you know, trying not to make noise. So I get up there and I can hear them talking, but again, I can’t really make out what they’re saying. Then, like that, they’re done and someone is coming my way. So I just start walking towards them, like I’m out on a stroll. I walk past him and I realize that it’s goddamn Frankie Frings.”
“You’re joking.”
“I’m not. It was Frings. I just kept on walking until I came to Bernal. I can tell as I get close to him that he’s in a panic. You know how you can kind of tell?” Smith looked at Henry for confirmation, trying to get the mayor on his side. Henry nodded.
“Anyway, I get up real close so that he can see my face, so he knows who I am. Well, he gets a look and pulls away and takes a jump. He just threw himself over the railing and was gone.” Smith stopped and looked at Henry, who was rubbing the sides of his face with both hands.
“What were they talking about?”
“Like I said, I don’t know.”
“What would you guess?”
“Jesus, Mayor, I have no idea. It could have been anything.”
“And, Peja, why are you here? Are you his insurance that I don’t kill him?”
Peja laughed nervously. “No, sir. We figured you’d probably want something done.”
Henry sighed. “Where’s Frings now?”
Peja and Smith looked at each other. Peja said, “We’re not exactly sure. I’d guess that he’d go back to Nora Aspen’s flat.”
“You’d guess,” Henry mocked. “Listen to me. You get Feral over here first thing in the goddamn morning. I need someone who isn’t going to ball everything up.”
Henry stayed in his seat for a while after the two men left. Bernal’s talking to Frings could only mean bad things. The question was, how bad? The Poles would sign tomorrow, if he could keep things under control until then. When that was tied up, he could focus his attention on Frings and even play a little rough with the girl if that was what it was going to take.
CHAPTER SIXTY-NINE
Cold and wet, Frings entered the apartment at the