Page 54 of Tangled
“How’d you tie him to Petrov?” Brad asked.
“He transferred twenty grand to an account managed by Petrov,” Sabina replied. “We’re assuming he wanted to tie up loose ends.”
“With Petrov’s failure, is it possible he’ll send someone else?” Kara asked.
Sabina hesitated. “I don’t think he’ll have the chance. I know we’re not 100 percent certain that the Wolf really does just want to avenge Gracie’s death. If we decide to believe that, though, I doubt Katz will let Simms go unpunished.”
“I agree that Katz won’t let Simms go unpunished if he was involved in Gracie’s death,” Scarlett said. “But if he only sent Petrov after me, and wasn’t involved in Gracie’s death, then Katz would have no reason to harm him.”
“Even if Rathwell or someone from Sussurri killed Gracie, my guess is that neither Katz nor the Wolf will let Simms’s attack on you go,” Sabina said.
“Why?” Kara asked.
Sabina shrugged. “I don’t know why Gracie meant so much to the Wolf, but my gut is saying that he respects that Scarlett is looking for the same answers. That it’s the two of them, and only the two of them, who cared enough about her to ask the questions.”
“Yes, but I don’t want to kill whoever did it,” Scarlett said, making a face.
“Your desired results may differ, but you both want the same thing. You want to know what happened to your friend,” Brad said.
“If Katz is now on Simms’s trail, has someone warned him?” Scarlett asked. “I’m not particularly inclined to offer much mercy, but I also don’t want to send a man to his death. Or can we turn the bank information over to the police to do something with? He may prefer going to jail for hiring a hit man than waiting around for the Wolf to intervene.”
“Is the bank account information even enough to have him brought in?” Brad asked.
Sabina shook her head. “With Gracie’s case already closed and the hit man dead, Simms can pretty much say whatever he wants about the money transfer and there’s no one to dispute him. Ava and Leo are working on a few leads, though, and we’re confident we can gather enough evidence in the next several days to build a case that the LAPD can’t ignore.” She paused, then added, “In terms of warning Simms, I think we’re already too late. It’s been a few days since Petrov’s death. Katz is good at what he does, and my guess is he’s already found Simms. I’m not saying he’s dead, but I’d wager that he and Katz have already met.”
“Then why bother giving us the information in the first place?” Scarlett asked.
“If Katz learns that Simms wasn’t involved in Gracie’s death, then he gave us what we need to build the legal case against him—a much longer process than his vigilante justice, but no less effective in protecting you,” Sabina said.
“Does that mean we should assume Halliwell was involved in Gracie’s death since Katzdidkill him?” Brad asked.
“I think that’s a safe bet,” Sabina replied. “Although how, I’m not sure yet.”
“Back to Simms,” Kara said. “Either the Wolf takes care of him, or we do. Either way, you’re protected, Scarlett. Assuming, of course, the DA’s office takes the case.”
Sabina pursed her lips.
“What?” Scarlett asked. Then, when Sabina looked at her in surprise, she added, “Kara gets that same look when she has an idea that she’s not sure is a good one.”
Sabina flashed her sister a look, then grinned. “That’s true, she does,” she said, then hesitated. “We have a businessman, a hit man, a corrupt cop, a madam, and a drug kingpin involved inthe life, and possibly death, of a woman who, in the minds of all except the Wolf, is of no consequence. I’d like to think the police will be interested, but I’m not willing to bet on it.”
“It sounds like you know someone who might be,” Kara said.
“There’s a reporter that Chad and I have worked with before, Jessica Kilkenny. She used to be a techie, like me, until her friend was killed and her death covered up by several local politicians. Since then, Jess has focused on uncovering corruption and has broken several stories. She’s very good at what she does.”
“Wasn’t she the one who broke that story about the people trying to frame the vice president?” Brad said.
Sabina nodded. “Among many others, yes.”
“Would she be interested in a story like this?” Scarlett asked.
“Interested? Yes,” Sabina said. “I haven’t talked to her in a few months, though, so not sure if she’s working on something else right now.”
“Assuming she’s available, would we be able to give her enough to get the story out before the Wolf annihilates everyone involved?” Brad asked.
“Since we don’t know the Wolf’s end game, I don’t know the answer to that,” Sabina replied.
“You don’t think we know the Wolf’s end game?” Kara asked, her voice incredulous. “Because I’m pretty sure he’s willing to kill anyone who might have been involved in Gracie’s death. And even those not involved, but who may or may not know something about it.”
