Читать книгу Angel of Death - Christian Russell - Страница 10

CHAPTER SIX

Wednesday, October 14

In Yorkville on 77th Street there was an impressive villa. Only one window was lit somewhere on the first floor. Carefully, Thanatos pushed the door open. When he reached the hallway he looked at the coat rack. He was content to find that everything pointed to a single person living there. This is good, he said to himself. He knew from the dentist’s chart that his next victim was a banking consultant at Sellum.

He climbed up the stairs, gun in hand, and went along the hallway to the door where the light was coming from. He opened it slowly and saw Drumond at his desk leaning over some papers. He was as short as Druller. Thanatos leaped forward like a big cat and placed his hand over the man’s mouth while he was pointing the gun at his head.

“Listen, Phil!” he said gently. “I won’t do you any harm. You just have to be a good boy and work with me. Do you promise not to scream if I take my hand off?”

The little man, white as a sheet of paper, nodded.

“Look, Mr. Drummond,” Thanatos said. “A big mob guy needs an expert named after you to operate several banking transfers to the Cayman Islands. He’s got the expert and only needs the name.”

“What do you want from me?” Drumond whispered chokingly.

“I told you: just your name. Tell me, Phil, when did you last have a vacation?”

“Three years ago,” the little man answered.

“Got any relatives around here?”

“Just a brother, in Tampa.”

“Here’s what we’ll do: you’ll make two phone calls. One to the bank explaining that something urgent made you take a leave of absence for two months starting tomorrow. The second call will be to your brother explaining you’re leaving for the Cayman Islands for some secret federal transactions and won’t be able to contact him for a while.”

“What’re you going to do with me?” the man asked.

“Nothing bad. I’ve already told you: one of our men will borrow your identity for two months. Meanwhile you’ll be comfortably hidden somewhere: TV, liquor, and if you want, some fine chicks even. Then, after two months, we’ll let you go. You’ll claim the Mob have kidnapped you and you’ve just managed to escape. Can you picture that? The papers will roar: Drumond, the man who defied the Mob! If you’ve got any smart insurance, there might even be some money in it.”

“And if I say no?” the little guy ventured.

“In that case, I’ll have to let my bosses know about it. And that’s not good as they’ll send a garbage collector here, to be sure.”

“And if I cooperate, you won’t harm me?’ Drumond asked distrustfully.

“I promised you, didn’t I?” Thanatos reassured him. “Come, let’s make those calls now!”

They climbed down together. Drumond went ahead and Thanatos followed two steps behind, gun still in hand.

“Nice answering machine you’ve got there,” Thanatos said.

“The latest Panasonic,” the expert boasted.

Thanatos kept it in mind as something that might come in handy. While the man was speaking on the phone, he picked up a photo album from a small table and looked through it. By the time he finished, Drumond had made both calls.

“Nice dog,” Thanatos said pointing to a picture showing Drumond next to a Great Dane.

“That’s Trully. He died last year. I cared about that dog a whole lot,” Phil said somehow encouraged by the guest’s kindness.

Thanatos seemed a little embarrassed. He looked down. Only his gun was still pointing at Drumond menacingly.

“I’ve got him on tape,” Drumond went on. “Would you care to see it?”

“Sure, you can take the tape with you. There’s a VCR where we’re going. Who knows, maybe you and your beloved dog can get together again sometime.”

“What shall I take with me?” Phil asked.

“Absolutely nothing. You’ll get into these clothes,” Clyde said throwing him a bag. “We’re leaving when you’re ready.”

“Are we taking my car?”

“No, Phil. There’s a Ford Escort waiting for us.”