to a music therapist touring the place, but she had to be snooping around. There’s no telling what she found out.”
“You’re panicking for no reason. You’ve told me that Beth Avery’s maternal family has never displayed an interest in her.”
“Before she ran away from the hospital. Something has changed. I’ll have to deal with Quinn and Eve Duncan as well as Beth. Now, will you cooperate or not?”
“I might consider it. What do you wish me to do?”
“Send me all the Beth Avery records.”
“I believe you realize that is impossible. After all, they are confidential. You wouldn’t want me to break my Hippocratic oath. They are quite safe with me. Anything else?”
Pierce was viciously cursing, and it took a moment for him to answer. “Leave town. Disappear. Go back to Germany for a while. Show off for the natives how well you’ve done.”
“It’s a global society. It wouldn’t be long before I could be found.”
“But it would take time, and I’d be able to finesse the problem out of existence before that time ran out.”
“‘Finesse’?” He chuckled. “What a word to describe the act I assume you mean. Very amusing.”
“I’m not amused. Will you disappear until I tell you it’s safe to come back?”
“I’ll think about it. But it’s not at all convenient. My new book just came out last week, and it has a chance to make the New York Times bestseller list with the right promotion. I have a signing at Century Mall tomorrow.”
“Then leave right after the signing. I’ll have Stella make the reservations for you. Just tell me where you want to go.”
“Ah, the lovely Stella. If you’d lend me her company for a month or two, I might be persuaded to find a sunny beach in some out-of-the-way island chain.”
“It can be arranged.”
“But lust can’t compare with the Times at my stage of life. Sad but true. Besides, I have no problem acquiring women. You’ve forgotten what a talented man I am.”
“What do you want? I’ll give it to you.”
Desperation, Gelber recognized. It pleased him that he could make the arrogant son of a bitch dangle on his string. He would probably eventually give in to Pierce’s demands. He had no desire to be caught up in the mess that appeared to be looming for Pierce if he didn’t locate Beth Avery soon. He would do better to make himself scarce and be out of the range of the tornado. He would make a discreet exit and only return if he found that it was to his advantage.
“Let me think about it.” Actually, it might make his new book sell even better if there were hints that he was involved in such a notorious case. Only hints, there had to be a balance. “Suppose we get together and discuss it before my signing tomorrow.”
“You can call me.”
“Breakfast is better. If I decide to accede to your request, I’d want to leave at once, directly after my autographing. I’d require that you bring a cashier’s check for $800,000 to take care of expenses on my journey.”
“What?”
“Don’t squeal. I know how well you’ve been doing all these years. It’s time you shared. After all, I’m giving up a generous income to accommodate you.”
“I’ll think about it. Bring the records.”
He ignored the demand. “It would probably be better if we met in private. There’s a small motel north of Los Angeles where I occasionally go when I wish to have a discreet liaison with a client.”
“You mean fuck your patient.”
“Don’t be crude. Be there at seven in the morning. It’s the Twin Branch Arms and I’ll be in Room 7 unless I call and tell you different.”
“How do you expect me to get a cashier’s check at that hour?”
“You’re a man of influence in the community. Call one of your banker friends. You can arrange it.”
“You actually think I’m going give you that money.”
“I actually do. Good night, Pierce.” He hung up.
He smiled with satisfaction as he stood up from his easy chair and went into the bedroom to shed his robe and get dressed. Not a bad deal. He might have saved his own ass by this move, and he’d managed to stick it to Pierce.
But he had to go to the office immediately to retrieve those Avery records and hide them. Pierce had been too insistent. He wouldn’t give up easily after Gelber had held him up for that money. Perhaps he’d put the computer records in a safe-deposit box in his bank in Geneva. He’d