Читать книгу Art and Murder - Don Easton - Страница 13

Roche saw the man and long-haired woman hurry into the café ahead of him. Earlier he had spotted them strolling around the park and ostensibly admiring every flower bed they came to. Another man he had seen in the park was a short distance away staring at a display case in a nearby store window.

Roche silently cursed himself for having been fooled by Kerin, then entered the café and took a seat.

* * *

Kerin entered the public washroom and a peek under the stalls told him he was alone. This time he made his call direct to dispatch and quickly explained the problem. He tapped his foot nervously as he waited while dispatch placed an urgent call to Interpol.

The feel of cold metal behind his ear told him he was no longer alone. He froze as a Latex-gloved hand reached for his phone. He released his grip on the phone and slowly turned around, facing the muzzle of a pistol.

The sound of police radios and voices from dispatch could be heard over the phone, then a dispatcher said, “We’ve connected with Interpol in Canada. They want to speak to you directly.”

For a brief moment Kerin clung to the hope that he was only being robbed, but that hope evaporated when his eyes shifted from the pistol to a watch with a gold-and-silver band being dangled in front of him.

Kerin knew he was going to die as he stared at the smiling face taunting him from behind the watch.

“Are you there?” came the dispatcher’s voice over the phone.

“You’re the Ringmaster!” Kerin yelled. “It’s —”

He was interrupted by the gunshot. Several urgent requests from the dispatcher for him to respond went unanswered.

* * *

In the café across from the park, Roche watched the couple who had entered shortly before he did. The woman flicked her long hair out of the way and placed her hand over her ear. She appeared to be listening intently. Her face registered panic, and a comment she made to her companion sent them both running from the café. Two men who’ d been outside on the sidewalk joined them as they raced to the park.

Roche waited a moment, then went to the doorway to look. At the park near the washrooms he heard a woman’s screams. Another couple who had been walking a dog stood staring at the commotion. Other people bolted from parked cars and ran toward the washrooms.

Roche apologized to the waitress and told her to cancel the tea he’d ordered. Then he left.