The Bannerman Effect (The Bannerman Series) (30 page)

Lesko offered no greeting. He didn't even look at Bannerman. “Where's Manley?” he asked Zivic.

“Unharmed and resting, Mr. Lesko. But probably not asleep.” Zivic gestured toward the monitors. “He is behind one of those doors you've been rattling.”

Zivic looked fresh and clean. Different suit. Same with Bannerman. Lesko felt like a pile of Covington's laundry. His mouth tasted like a crotch.

“Did he talk?” he asked.

Zivic glanced toward Bannerman who shrugged and nodded. Zivic reached for the map and rotated it toward Lesko. “He did indeed.”

There were eight rectangles within the two city blocks of Main Street alone. Five more on Railroad Avenue between Mario's restaurant and the commuter station across from it. Two at the Compo Shopping Plaza where Bannerman had his office. Two more at his condo complex. One at the town library, one at each of seven Westport schools, two each at the police and fire departments. The rest were scattered around Westport but not at random. Someone, probably Zivic, had written penciled notes near their locations.

“Or whoever,” Zivic answered.

“Bravo,” said Zivic. He glanced once more toward Ban-nerman who still had not spoken. There was a hint of I-told-you-so in Zivic's manner. “Please finish your thought, Mr. Lesko.”

“Then you agree with Mr. Manley.”

“That it's a load of crap? Yeah.”

Lesko snorted.

“You seem skeptical.”

“No one guy can be so dumb.” Lesko curled his lip. “He comes in with the worst possible plan, tries to recruit the worst possible people to do it, he practically hands out business cards and he tries to tell a drug dealer and killer like Hector Manley that if money won't get him interested, how about social justice.”

“But if he's not so dumb”—Bannerman leaned forward— “what then?”

“Fuck you, by the way.”

Bannerman ignored this last. “What then, Lesko? What else could he be doing?”

“Two things.” Lesko considered. “No, three. One is to tie you up in Westport, checking parked cars, now and then grabbing some poor son of a bitch who happens to be black and driving through town and strapping him to that table downstairs. Two is to get you to make dogmeat out of Hector's posse for even thinking about this.”

“And the third?”

“Go kill some Arabs.”

Bannerman and Zivic exchanged looks. From their expressions, Lesko thought, they'd reached the same conclusions.

“How does Urs Brugg figure in this?” he asked.

Bannerman's face showed nothing. He had seen Lesko's ear at the door, too late, but it had only been for a moment.

“It's another matter,” he said. “No connection.”

“It's connected with me. Elena's okay, isn't she?”

“She's mending. She's fine.”

“You going over, by chance?” His manner softened. “You going to see her?”

”I won't see her, no.”

“Then what's with her uncle?”

Bannerman sat back. “Lesko, you'll understand, won't you, if I don't share my every thought with you.”

“You're sharing too goddamned much already.”

Bannerman gestured vaguely toward the map, signaling a retum to the subject at hand.

“Anton said that you might return Mr. Covington's truck. It's on your way.”

”I might. What's that package in the laundry bin?”

“It's a sniper rifle. Silenced. A night-vision scope. It will help him keep One hundred and fifty-third Street clear for six hundred yards in either direction. There are also four phosphorus grenades. Don't get stopped for speeding.”

Lesko had guessed it. Pretty much. A thoughtful guy, Bannerman. Most guys would only refill the gas tank. Bannerman gives him a way to put a bullet up a dealer's ass from three blocks away or to cauterize a crack house. But what the hell, he thought. His pleasure. “I'll take it.”

“Just park it somewhere in Manhattan. Call him and say where it is.”

“What do I say about Hector and Ruby?”

“No one will see Ruby again. I haven't made up my mind about Hector. He'll be with us here for a while but please don't tell that to Covington or Detective Greenwald. I don't want anyone to know he's still alive. You can assure Coving-ton, however, that Hector will not bother him again. I'll call him myself before long.”

“No carving? Hector's face, I mean.”

“There's probably no need.”

“No need,” Lesko repeated, shaking his head. “Bannerman,” he asked, “do you begin to see why your average father doesn't want his only daughter hanging around with you?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. But she's safest here. You're welcome to stay yourself until we get this sorted out. I need to be away for a few days. You can keep her company.”

Lesko saw Zivic's jaw tighten at the mention of Bannerman taking a trip. He had the impression that they'd argued about it.

“This is about Urs Brugg?”

Bannerman gestured dismissively.

“Hey,” Lesko snapped. ”I know how to use a phone too. Why don't I call him right now and ask him?”

Bannerman tried a shrug of indifference. But Lesko was watching Zivic.

“Suit yourself,” he said. He scanned the room for a telephone, crossed to it, and dialed an outside line. An operator came on. He asked for directory assistance, Zurich, Switzerland. He could hear Zivic whispering. Bannerman sighing. Lesko gave the name.

“Put the phone down,” Bannerman said wearily. “Please.”

Lesko did not. “I’m listening.”

“It's a personal matter. It's the men who murdered Dr. Russo. Urs Brugg knows where they are.”

Lesko stared. An operator was telling him that the number was unlisted. He barely heard. He replaced the handset.

“Where?” he asked.

“As I said, it's personal. With me and with Urs Brugg. It's none of your affair.”

“Like hell it isn't. Elena . . . she's—”

“Elena,” Bannerman reminded him, “is someone you went to see exactly once after she was shot and haven't spoken to since. You have no claim on this. If you ever had one, you've lost it.”

Lesko wanted to hit him. He held his temper. “I'm going with you.”

“No.”

“Then I'll go myself. I still got that passport.”

“Go where, Lesko? Pick a country.”

“Elena will tell me.”

“No, Lesko.” Bannerman shook his head. “She won't. Nor will Urs Brugg. Because they both know that you'll get yourself killed and some of us along with you. We've had this conversation before.”

Lesko looked to Zivic as if for help. He saw none. “You didn't shut me out then,” he said, hating that Bannerman held all the cards. “What makes this different?”

“You had a claim then. Susan. You don't now.”

Lesko looked away. ”I tried to call,” he said, his voice softening. ”I didn't know what to say. I felt stupid. I hung up.”

Bannerman said nothing.

“What could I say to her,” he muttered.

It was not a question. Bannerman did not try to answer.

“It's more than that, isn't it?” Lesko turned his head. “It's my daughter.”

“There's that,” Bannerman acknowledged. “If you come home in a box I don't want to have to tell her how I allowed it to happen. I'm also not sure that I want you covering my back. Your heart might not be in it.”

Lesko looked as if he'd been slapped. “You think I'd . . .”

“Hesitate.” Bannerman chose the word for him. “You might not mean to.”

“Bullshit.”

If ever there were a time to hang back, to force the enemy to show his hand, to seize that hand and see who or what is on the other end of it, that time would be now. But Paul will hear none of it.
“Never let an enemy pick the time,”
he says.
“Never let him rest ” How often we've heard that The ques
tion is, however, how many others have heard it as well?

”. . . never let a partner down in my life.” Lesko was arguing. “That's twenty-five years, Bannerman. Don't fucking tell me—”

”I don't need you.”

“All right.” Bannerman raised a hand. “I'll think about it.”

“I'll wait.” Lesko folded his arms.

Bannerman's eyes turned cold. “Behave yourself, Lesko.”

“Will you do as I say?”

Lesko stopped. “Yeah.”

“No arguments?”

“Call them suggestions.”

“You're sure.”

“Try me.”

“Fine. Go see Elena. Leave tonight. Do that first.”

Lesko blinked.