Gone Tomorrow - Lee Child [52]
“Where is he now?”
“Walking home from Saint Vincent’s Hospital, probably.”
“Is this something you really want to be telling to an NYPD detective?”
“He fainted. I helped. That’s all. Talk to the witnesses.”
“Whatever, it’s going to put the cat among the pigeons with Lila.”
“She thinks gun ownership is compulsory in Virginia. She probably thinks mugging is compulsory in New York. She grew up with propaganda.”
We got out of the elevator in the lobby and headed for the street door. Lee asked, “But if all of this is so innocent, why are there feds involved?”
“If the story is true, then an American soldier met with a Red Army political commissar back during the Cold War. The feds want to be absolutely sure it’s innocent. That’s why HRC’s response was delayed by weeks. They were taking policy decisions and putting surveillance in place.”
We got into Lee’s car. She said, “You aren’t agreeing with me all the way, are you?”
I said, “If the Hoth family business is innocent, so be it. But something wasn’t innocent. That’s for damn sure. And we’re saying that other something brought Susan Mark to the exact same place at the exact same time. Which is a hell of a coincidence.”
“And?”
“How many times have you known a million-to-one chance turn out a winner?”
“Never.”
“Me either. But I think it’s happening here. John Sansom is a million-to-one against, but I think he’s involved.”
“Why?”
“I spoke to him.”
“In Washington?”
“Actually I had to follow him to North Carolina.”
“You don’t give up, do you?”
“That’s what he said. Then I asked him if he had heard the name Lila Hoth. He said no. I was watching his face. I believed him, and I thought he was lying, too. Both at the same time. And maybe he was.”
“How?”
“Maybe he had heard the name Hoth, but not Lila. So technically, no, he hadn’t heard the name Lila Hoth. But maybe he had heard the name Svetlana Hoth. Maybe he was very familiar with it.”
“What would that mean?”
“Maybe more than we think. Because if Lila Hoth is telling the truth, then there’s a kind of weird logic working here. Why would Susan Mark bust a gut on a case like this?”
“She had sympathy.”
“Why would she in particular?”
“I don’t know.”
“Because she was adopted. Born out of wedlock, presumably wondering about her real folks from time to time. Sympathetic to other people in the same situation. Like Lila Hoth, maybe. Some guy was very kind to her mother before she was born? There are a lot of ways to interpret a phrase like that.”
“For example?”
“Best case, he gave her a warm coat in winter.”
“And worst case?”
“Maybe John Sansom is Lila Hoth’s father.”
Chapter 32
Lee and I went straight back to the precinct. Jacob Mark had finished his business with Docherty. That was clear. And something had changed. That was clear too. They were sitting opposite each other across Docherty’s desk. Not talking anymore. Jake looked happier. Docherty had a patient expression on his face, like he had just wasted an hour. He didn’t look resentful about it. Cops are accustomed to wasting time. Statistically most of what they do leads nowhere. Lee and I walked over to them and Jake said, “Peter called his coach.”
I asked, “When?”
“Two hours ago. The coach called Molina and Molina called me.”
“So where is he?”
“He didn’t say. He had to leave a message. His coach never answers his phone over dinner. Family time.”
“But Peter’s OK?”
“He said he won’t be back anytime soon. Maybe ever. He’s thinking about quitting football. There was a girl giggling in the background.”
Docherty said, “She must be some girl.”
I asked Jake, “You OK with that?”
Jake said, “Hell no. But it’s his life. And he’ll change his mind, anyway. The only question is how fast.”
“I meant, are you happy that the message was for real?”
“The coach knows his voice. Better than I do, probably.”
“Anyone try calling him back?”
“All of us. But his phone is off again.”
Theresa Lee said, “So we’re satisfied?”
“I guess.”
“Feeling better?”
“Relieved.”
“May I ask you a question about another subject?”
“Shoot.”
“Was your sister adopted?