The Devil’s Punchbowl

‘Why is it here?’

‘Why, it’s the money you asked for.’ Sands gives me a theatrical hug, then says sotto voce, ‘For the cameras, mate.’ Then loudly again: ‘Like you said, you have the biggest job in town, and that’s why we pay you the big bucks.’

‘You’re not serious.’

‘Just smile and say thank you,’ he whispers. ‘So your daughter keeps breathing.’

Given no choice, I accept it. ‘Thank you,’ I mutter. What else can I do? Seamus Quinn could be upstairs with a knife, waiting for a signal from Sands.

Jonathan Sands pats my arm and walks down the steps as lightly as Fred Astaire, and again I sense the fluid efficiency of his motions. He waves airily.

‘I wish you the pleasure of the evening. And I look forward to hearing from you.’

Only now do I realize that his upper-crust English accent has returned. The working-class Irish has vanished like a vapor trail, like it was never there at all.

As I stare after him, he stops and calls, ‘Oh, if you’re worried about the grieving widow, rest easy. If I wanted her out of the picture, she’d be room temperature already. The lad too.’

My face must betray something, because he adds, ‘Sure, I heard every word you said to her tonight. I know she doesn’t have my property, so ring her up and tell her to get a good night’s sleep. In fact, if you find the disc before morning, I’ll toss in a few quid for the widows and orphans’ fund.’ He smiles at the thought, then gives me a parting shot in his native accent. ‘Have a grand night altogether, now.’

With that, Jonathan Sands strolls off down Washington Street, the massive dog walking at his heel like a royal escort. When Sands pauses to study the smooth trunks of the crape myrtles in the pink glow of the streetlamps, the dog stops and sits beside him. As I watch, a long, black car glides soundlessly up to him, gathers up him and his dog, and rolls quickly out of sight, making for the river.

As I stare at the blackness where the taillights faded, I realize that I’m shaking uncontrollably. I can hardly grip my key to get it out of the lock.

I’m no stranger to threats. I’ve confronted dangerous men in my life, some of them psychopaths. A few vowed to avenge themselves upon me for criminal convictions or for the executions of relatives. I once shot a man dead to prevent him from killing my daughter in retribution. But never have I experienced the paralyzing terror I felt while listening to the clear and passionless voice of Jonathan Sands.

God, what Tim must have suffered before he died.

With shaking hands I take out my cell phone and call Julia Jessup. I’m three minutes late, but she answers, sounding like she’s close to hyperventilating. I don’t know what Sands’s promise to leave Tim’s widow alone is worth, but I must protect my own family now. After instructing Julia to seek refuge with Tim’s parents, I carry Sands’s briefcase inside, lock the door behind me, and race up the stairs to Annie’s door. In the night light’s glow, I see her tucked into the bow of my mother’s larger form beneath the covers. Relief washes over me, but fear quickly burns through it. As I watch my sleeping daughter, a disturbing certainty rises from the chaos in my mind. Tim was right about ‘Mr X.’ Jonathan Sands is not like anyone I’ve ever faced before. I’ve dealt with the man for nearly a year and not once suspected his true nature. But there’s no time for self-recrimination now. Or for doubt. Sands may have convinced himself that I’ll be like the others he’s bought off or threatened into cooperating with him, but in twenty-four hours he’ll know different. Before I can act, though, I must get my daughter to safety.

Hurrying down the stairs, I lock Sands’s briefcase–which is indeed full of cash–in the safe in my study, mentally ticking off the obvious obstacles: The house will be watched. My phones will be tapped–cellular and landlines. The house may be bugged or even covered by video cameras, considering that Sands was waiting for me when I got home. He could be checking my e-mail, text messages, and any other form of digital communication. So…what options remain?

For some people, mortal danger brings paralyzing confusion. For me–after the first minute of panic–it brings clarity. So it’s with utter certainty that I pick up my kitchen telephone and dial my father’s home number. The phone rings three times, and then a mildly groggy baritone voice answers, ‘Dr Cage.’

Even before I speak, something in me arcs out over the wires, instinctively reaching for the protection of blood kin. ‘Dad, it’s Penn.’

From three miles away, I feel him come alert in the dark. ‘What’s the matter? Is Annie all right? Is it Peggy?’

I let some anxiety bleed into my voice. ‘Annie and Mom are fine, but something’s wrong with me. My heart’s racing. I think I’m having a panic attack.’

‘Tachycardia? Is it a stress reaction?’

‘No, it just started a couple of minutes ago. I’m a little short of breath, and my pulse is about a hundred and ten. I feel like I may throw up. I guess maybe I’m worried about taking that balloon ride in the morning.’

There’s a brief silence. ‘We’d better go down to my office and get an EKG on you.’

‘No, no, I think it’s just anxiety. I had to fly in a goddamn helicopter today. I think I just need some Valium or something.’

‘A helicopter? Hmm. Maybe you’re right. Do you have any Ativan there?’

‘No. Do you think you could bring me something? I’d come there, but I don’t want to drive while this is going on.’

I hear him grunt as he heaves himself out of bed. ‘I’ll pull on some clothes and get my bag. I want to listen to your chest.’

I press my palm so hard against my forehead that my arm shakes. ‘Thanks, Dad. I appreciate it. The front door is unlocked. Just walk in. I’ll be in my bathroom.’

‘Okay.’

I should hang up, but I can’t help adding, ‘Try to hurry, okay?’

‘I’m on my way.’

13 (#ulink_bc80c5e7-9d4e-54cf-bc90-ec15e22f68e3)

Linda Church hugs the toilet in the ladies’ room of The Devil’s Punchbowl Bar and Grille, shuddering as she retches into the bowl. She’s supposed to be seating patrons, but she can no longer carry out the basic functions of employment. Two minutes ago she received a text message from Tim, but the message made no sense. She wipes her mouth with toilet tissue, then flips open her phone and reads the letters again, being careful to hide it from the hidden camera above.

Thiefwww kllmmommy. Sqrttoo.

The message came from a number she doesn’t recognize, not even the area code, but this is the strongest proof that Tim sent it. He’s told her that one of his security tactics is to use the phones of strangers when their attention is elsewhere. He’s even stolen cell phones for this purpose. But this message has taken her to the edge of panic. Kllmmommy? Sqrttoo? It almost sounds like an order to kill Julia and the baby.

‘No,’ she whispers, as the possibility that this message might have been meant for someone else sinks into her bones. ‘Not possible. He loves that baby. He loves Julia.’

Linda hears footsteps enter the restroom. She grabs the handle and flushes for cover, and cold spray hits her face.

‘Linda?’ asks a worried voice. ‘It’s Ashley. Are you okay? Janice said you really look like shit.’

‘I’m okay, Ash. Stomach flu, I think. I’ll be right out.’

‘Yuck. I’ll tell Janice.’

‘Thanks.’

Linda frantically plays back the sequence of events that brought her here. Four hours ago, Tim walked past the door of The Devil’s Punchbowl whistling ‘Walking on the Moon,’ by the Police. The song was a coded signal, arranged last night after Tim met with Penn Cage. If Tim had whistled ‘Every Breath You Take,’ it would have meant, ‘Get out now. Don’t wait for anything.’ ‘Walking on the Moon’ meant Linda should work until the end of her shift, then throw her cell phone in the river, get into her car, and drive three hours to New Orleans, to her aunt’s house. Tim would call her in transit using a pay-as-you-go cell phone he’d bought at Wal-Mart, and she would answer with the same type of phone. Hers was in her car now, under the front seat.

‘Walking on the Moon’ was supposed to signal that everything was going according to plan, but the moment Linda recognized the tune, her insides had started to roil with apprehension. She’d forced herself to keep doing her job, even though she had to remain on the boat an hour after Tim’s shift ended. She’d almost snapped at midnight and simply run down the exit ramp as he left the boat, but that would have busted them for sure.

‘I shouldn’t even be here,’ she says almost silently, ever conscious of the hidden microphones. The Devil’s Punchbowl usually closes at 11:00 p.m., but Sands has ordered all the food service to run on extended hours during the Balloon Festival.

The door bangs open again, and Ashley calls, ‘Darnell just came by and asked why you weren’t on duty. She’s on the warpath. You’d better get back out there if you can walk.’

Sue Darnell was the personnel manager, a cast-iron bitch from Dallas. ‘Almost done. I’m just fixing my face.’

‘Down there? I’m looking at your heels, girl.’

‘I’m coming, Ash! I got vomit on my blouse.’

‘It’s your funeral, honey.’

Don’t even think that, Linda says silently. With a handful of tissue she wipes clammy sweat from her face and forehead, then gets to her feet and checks her uniform for any signs of vomit. She was lucky.