if he wished his wing tips were shinier. “Mr. Matlock, sir, we didn’t
know you were involved, we had no idea, didn’t know she was related
to you–”
“No, of course you didn’t, Mr. Hawley. Do come in, gentlemen,
and meet my daughter.”
He leaned over her and lightly touched his fingertips to her
cheek. “Becca, here are two guys who want to talk to you, not batter
you like the NYPD detectives, just talk a bit. You tell them
when you’re tired and don’t want to talk anymore, okay?”
“Yes,” she said, her voice so thin Adam swore she was fading
away right before his eyes. If he hadn’t been worried sick, Adam
would have enjoyed watching Thomas turn his power onto the FBI
guys, but he didn’t. Now Adam wondered how Thomas knew Tel-lie
Hawley, a longtime FBI guy who had a reputation for eating
crooks for breakfast. He never cut anyone any slack. He was sometimes
very scary, sometimes a rogue, admired by his contemporaries
and occasionally distressing to his superiors.
“Hey, Adam,” Hawley said. “I guess I’ll find out soon enough
why you’re here. Where’s Savich?”
“He and Sherlock will be in a bit later.” Adam nodded then to
Scratch Cobb, a tough-looking little man who wore elevator shoes
that brought him up to Adam’s chin. He got his nickname years
before, when it was said that he scratched and scratched until he
found the answers in a high-profile case. “Scratch, good to see you
again. How’s tricks?”
“Tricks is good, Adam. How’s it going, my boy?”
“I’m surviving.” Adam took Becca’s hand and lightly squeezed
it. He leaned close and whispered in her ear, “The guy standing to
the left has hemorrhoids. The big one with the mean eyes, Hawley,
will want to cross the line, but he doesn’t dare try it, not with your
dad here. Actually, he has five dogs and they rule his house. Now,
go get ’em, tiger.”
If she were a tiger, she thought, she was a very pathetic one, not
worthy of the name, but still– She smiled, she actually smiled.
“Hello, gentlemen,” she said, and her voice wasn’t as paper-thin
now. “You wanted to speak to me?”
“Yes,” Hawley said, stepping forward. Adam didn’t move, just
smiled a feral smile at him that could make a person’s teeth fall out.
“Adam, I’m not going to bite her. I’m a good guy. I work for
the United States government. You don’t have to stand guard.”
“I’m supposed to be protecting the lady, Tellie. The thing is, I
screwed up, and the bad guy got her, drugged her, and dumped her
right in front of One Police Plaza.”
Hawley nodded, then said, “Okay, so you’re not going to
budge.” Hawley continued smoothly, coming one step closer,
watching Adam from the corner of his eye. “This guy who kidnapped
you and drugged you and put you out of his car, who is he?”
“First thing,” Adam said, “is for Savich to find that apartment
Krimakov rented. Then -we send our own people over to Crete and
take the place apart.”
“Agreed,” Thomas said. “Let’s do it. Now, Becca,Tommy the Pipe,
Chuck, and Dave will all be here to protect you until we get back.”
“No,” Becca said, coming up on her elbows. “I’m coming with
you.”
“You can barely walk,” Adam said. “Lie back and calm down.
No way our people will let him get near you again.”
“No more orders, Adam. Now, sir, there’s no way you’re going
to face this alone.” Becca calmly pulled the IV lines from her arms.
She pushed back the hospital sheets and swung her legs over the
side of the bed. “Give me another drink of water, ask Sherlock to
buy me some clothes, and we’re out of here. An hour. That’s all I
need.”
“I think,” Thomas said slowly, stroking his long fingers over his
chin, “that there is perhaps a bit too much of me in you.”
Becca grinned at him. “That’s what Mom told me, many times.”
“Then I’d best clear your leaving town with our local cops,”
Thomas said, and wanted to pat her cheek, but didn’t because she
wasn’t a little girl anymore and she barely knew him. The thought