Bull Street (33 page)

The limo came to a stop between two Gulfstreams on the tarmac at Heathrow. “This is where we say good-bye for now,” Milner said. “You sure you don’t wanna come to Switzerland with me until we do a deal with Croonquist? I’m gonna have Sandy call him first thing in the morning to set it up.”

“No. I’ll go back to New York, keep up the front with Jack and Mickey.” Richard figured he’d take his chances Croonquist didn’t haul him in until Sir Reginald and Delecroix got to LeClaire to call the Feds off his back. And Jack to call off whoever had chased Richard in New York.

“Okay. We’ll see how things turn out. Whatever happens, it’s been a pleasure knowing you, kid. You’ll go far.”

Richard felt his throat go lumpy. He extended his hand. Milner took it in that great palm of his. “Thanks,” Richard said. “I’ve learned a lot from you.”

“I’m glad. And if this was my last deal, not a bad way to go out. We did a pretty good ham-and-egg.” He pointed to the G550 on Richard’s side of the limo. “That’s yours,” then pointed out his window, “this one’s mine.” He opened the door, turned to go. “Oh, I almost forgot.” He turned back. “I have a gift for you.” He pulled a bag out of his raincoat pocket and handed it to Richard. “I hope someday you get to buy a world-class stereo system.” He turned again, opened the door and left. Richard saw him hurry up the steps of a G450. The stairs were pulled up and the door closed within seconds of Milner getting inside. When would he see Milner again?

Richard opened the bag Milner gave him. It contained two boxes with Russian letters on them. He opened one. A 6C33 audio tube was in it. He laughed, then realized tears were falling onto his hands as he put it back in the box.

Milner collapsed into a seat on the G450, feeling drained, his lower back stiff. He sighed, loosened his tie, then reached into his breast pocket to feel the digital recorder. He reached with his other hand to hit the intercom button.

“Let’s get outta here,” he said to the captain.

“Right,” he heard back, and the engines started warming up.

He thought of calling Sandy, then realized at this hour he’d still be asleep in New York. Besides, he’d rather call him from a landline from Switzerland. Safer.

He pulled the digital recorder out of his pocket, unhooked the microphone, pulled the microphone wire out from under his lapel and curled it up. He rewound the recorder and hit “play.” He felt his chest constrict, his arms tense.
Nothing.
He rewound some more, then again. He felt a bolt of shock. There was nothing on the recorder. He tried to stand, as if he could run from the fact, felt himself jam against the seatbelt and plopped down again.
Damn.
The Devon guys said it was possible to jam a digital recorder with sophisticated equipment, no way to assure it was failsafe.
Now what?

His mind raced through the options he’d considered but dreaded having to pursue. Milner looked out the widow, starting to think it through, then his gaze settling on the other Gulfstream taxiing Richard toward a different runway, toward an uncertain future. He felt a stab of guilt, lowered his eyes.

New York City.
After he landed in New York, Jack saw Sir Reginald was calling him on his cell phone.
What the hell does the old fart want now?
He answered it.

“I say, old boy, how was your trip?”

“Uneventful. You miss me so soon?”

“Are you familiar with the old expression, ‘call off your dogs’?”

“Is there a point here?” Jack’s antennae were up.

“Do you remember our two young friends we discussed recently?”

Where was this going? “They’re at the top of my mind.”

“There’ve been some developments. I can explain later. I urge you to stand down with your plans for them. It could result in some severe complications for all of us.”

“I think I understand.”

“I sincerely hope you do, old boy, or it could result in your taking an extended holiday by yourself.”

Jeez.
He’d have to make a stop in Canarsie before heading back into Manhattan.

“Thought for a while there you’d run out on me,” Kathy said when Richard walked into their hotel room at the Waldorf, “maybe found a perkier girl.” She stood in a T-shirt and panties in the bedroom doorway, her hand on her hip. Her hair was a mess, eyes puffy from sleep.

All Richard could think was how beautiful she looked. Richard froze there just inside the door of the darkened room, watching the early morning light from the bedroom window play in her hair, on her skin.

“You gonna stand there all day, farm boy?” She smiled.

The smile he’d cross an ocean for. Richard walked over and kissed her. Her breath was musty, but she tasted great. She held onto him tighter than usual. “I have a lot to tell you,” he said after a moment.

“Later,” she said, pulling him toward the bedroom.

“You’re clean, young man,” Toto said. “I just talked to Jack. Have you seen the news?”

“Yeah,” Richard said. He sat on the bed in a hotel bathrobe, Kathy just finishing dressing. He’d seen the announcements. François LeClaire was identified as Source X. He’d turned in ten other Wall Street legal and investment banking professionals, all of whom had been arrested by 10 a.m. that morning. British and French authorities had arrested another four GCG and Schoenfeld & Co. back-office personnel. Harold Milner, who Roman Croonquist, SEC Director, Division of Enforcement, called “the central figure in this diabolical ring,” was nowhere to be found. He was believed to have fled the country. Walker & Company was granted full immunity, was cooperating in the case, and was reported to have been instrumental in convincing Mr. LeClaire to turn himself in.

“Come over,” Toto said. “Bring Kathy. Jack and Mickey are on the way. I’ll take you all through it when you get here.”

Jack and Mickey were already in Toto’s office when her assistant ushered Kathy and Richard in. Toto was standing behind her desk, looking like she’d been mugged, but beaming. Richard watched Jack for any signs. He felt a prickly sensation in his spine, tension in his forehead.

Toto said, “Holden was like negotiating with the Russians. He had nothing in the end, though. LeClaire had insisted upon full immunity for all directors, officers, employees and shareholders of Walker, as well as the firm itself. He admitted he was acting on his own, at least at Walker, and in concert with the cast of characters you saw get arrested this morning. And of course, Milner.”

“Did he say why he did it?” Jack said.

Richard held his gaze on Jack.
Nothing.

“Never talked to him. I saw part of his plea bargain agreement, though. They’re taking most of LeClaire’s assets in escrow for the eventual fines.”

“What about the potential for liability for Walker?” Steinberg said.

“I think you’re clear. The SEC, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office are all party to your immunity from criminal prosecution. There may be some civil lawsuits, but since LeClaire was acting on his own and the Feds have exonerated you, they shouldn’t cost you too much.”

Richard saw Jack shoot Mickey a look, then a theatrical exhale of relief.

Jack winked at Richard, and then Steinberg and he headed for the door. “Thanks again, Karen.”

Richard and Kathy stood around until Jack and Steinberg got on the elevators, waited another half hour downstairs in Shearson & Stone’s conference center, then left. Richard wondered what came next. Was he just supposed to sit around until Milner called? They decided to go back to the Waldorf.

After three days at the Waldorf, Richard knew something was wrong. He turned to Kathy and said, “Still no call from Milner. But that’s Jack’s second voicemail joking, ‘Honeymoon’s over, kids. Get back to the office.’ Like nothing ever happened.”

“When was the last time you tried Milner’s cell?”

“This morning. Still no answer.”

Kathy said, “I think something went wrong at Milner’s end.”

“I can’t decide if I want that to be true or not.”

She read his mind. “After everything you told me about him, he wouldn’t double-cross you or run.”

“Unless someone had something on him.”

“Like what?”

“You saw the news that Mary Claire was missing.”

“Yeah, I just figured they both ran after all.”

Richard shook his head, thinking.

After a moment Kathy said, “You try Croonquist?”

“I don’t have anything new to tell him. I told him last time I’d have this thing locked. And he hasn’t called me.”

Kathy looked at him for a long moment. She said, “Sounds like we could let it sit where it is. A stalemate with Sir Reginald and Delecroix.” She paused. “And Jack and Mickey.”

Richard shook his head. “Not with two dead bodies. And Sir Reginald, Delecroix, Jack and Mickey still out there. You know I’m gonna figure out a way to get these guys.”

Kathy narrowed her eyes. “Maybe it’s better to just leave it. You said yourself Milner and you had Sir Reginald and Delecroix boxed-in with the deal you cut in London, and you still have the data. Even if Milner ran, I can’t see anything that would jeopardize the leverage you have on those guys.”

“The data’s not enough proof without them admitting it all on tape and you know it. And I don’t have the tape.”

Kathy’s eyes were like hot coals. “Just leave it.”