Page 212 of Callan

It’s not like I wanted a dozen dead bodies. But I expected more than this.

“Do you know who it was?”

“No. But I got the missing piece.”

“No way,” I say, things not making much sense. “Where are you? I’ll pick it up.”

“No need to. I’m on my way. A couple of blocks away.”

“Okay. I’ll see you downstairs.”

I drape my coat over my shoulders and tuck my phone into my pocket, thoughts spinning in my head.

Who leaked the information?

I didn’t know I’d make the call this morning.

Nobody knew.

I didn’t even tell Hudson.

He checks his house for bugs every day. And I have mine swept for bugs daily.

I just got in.

I hadn’t talked to anyone.

My feet take me to the elevator, and soon after, I walk out of the building, and my car and driver enter my line of sight.

He opens the door for me, and I instruct him to wait as I see my man pacing to my ride.

He slides into the bulletproof car, and I shut the door. The driver and my bodyguard wait outside.

“It took a while, didn’t it?” he says, smiling and reaching inside his coat.

He extracts a beautiful necklace with a huge pink diamond.

“You checked it,” I say, taking it from him.

“That’s where I was. It’s the original.”

I take it and drop it inside my suit jacket.

“So tell me. What happened?”

He gives me the address.

A place in Queens.

“A house I’m not familiar with,” he says. “It’s been on the market for a while and has never had any showings. The owner is a man who lives in Florida. He probably has no idea his house has a for sale sign on the front lawn.”

“Was Beverly with you?” I murmur, and he searches my eyes.

“No. But I thought about her as well,” he says, as if reading my mind. “You know I’ve been in this business for a long time and can vouch for this woman. She gave us a tip and wanted this to work out as much as you wanted it to work out.”

I wanted that guy dead. And I’m still not sure whether I’m dealing with the father, the son, or the nephew.

“Go on.”

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