Lifeguard - James Patterson [50]
Stratton didn’t have the art. Someone had double-crossed him.
Chapter 57
I HAD A SUDDEN sinking feeling. This was going to be bad. “Listen, Ellie,” I said, “I haven’t been entirely truthful with you.”
Here eyes narrowed. “Oh no. What is it?”
I swallowed, uneasily. “I think I might know someone who was involved.”
“Okay,” she said, “and you were going to share this with me when, Ned? Another old friend?”
“No.” I shook my head. “Actually . . . my father.”
Ellie blinked a couple of times. I could see her trying to remain calm. “Your father! I know he has a record, Ned. But just how in the hell is he involved with seven murders?”
I cleared my throat. “I think it’s possible he knows who Gachet is.”
“Oh,” Ellie grunted, staring incredulously at me, “I thought it was something important, Ned. Is it possible you could maybe have told me this, say, before I threw my career away by bringing you here?”
I told her how Mickey never made a move without him, my conversation with him at Fenway Park.
“Your father knew you were going to visit Dave?” Ellie asked, wide-eyed.
“No,” I said. The thought was too gruesome. Even for Frank.
“You know, from what you’re telling me,” Ellie said, “we’re going to have to bring him in.”
“It won’t do any good,” I said. “First, the guy’s a pro, Ellie. He’s spent a quarter of his life in prison. Second, there’s nothing to play against him. He’s sick, Ellie. Dying of some kidney disorder. He’s not going to roll over. He was willing to let his own son take the fall.
“Anyway, he’d never have killed them. Mickey was like a son to him. Now he’s lost two because of his messes.” The image of Dave’s body came back to me. “Not to mention me.”
Ellie kept surprising me. She reached out and took hold of my hand. “I’m sorry, Ned, I truly am, about your brother.”
I wrapped my fingers around hers. I looked into her face and braved a smile. “You know I don’t have those paintings, don’t you, Ellie? You know I didn’t kill any of those people. Mickey, Tess, Dave . . .”
“Yes,” Ellie said, nodding, “on all counts.”
Something changed for me as I looked into those soft blue eyes. Maybe it was the way I had seen her at Stratton’s party. Adorable but so brave, standing up to him. Or what she was doing for me now. The risk she was taking. It felt so good, after so long, to have someone on my side.
“Ellie?” I said.
“Yes,” she murmured. “What now?”
“Don’t arrest me for this. . . .”
I placed a hand on her cheek and kissed her gently on the lips.
Chapter 58
I KNEW THAT wasn’t the smartest thing to do. I half expected her to jump up and shove me away: Have you lost your mind?
But she didn’t. Ellie just sort of lifted her chin and parted her mouth, and her tongue danced around mine a little, soft and warm. The whole thing took both of us by surprise. Suddenly I had my arms around her and I was pulling her against me, until I could feel her heart beating against my chest. You know, sometimes it takes just one kiss to find out if the sparks are really there. They were.
I held my breath as we let go. I was scared of what she was going to say. I brushed a wisp of hair out of her eyes.
Her eyes were sort of blinking—as though maybe she wasn’t sure about what had just happened, either.
“It’s not right, Ned.”
“I know. I’m sorry, Ellie. It was just that it was so good to finally hear that you believe me. And you were looking so cute up on that terrace. I guess I was overwhelmed.”
“Not that.” She looked at me and curled a little smile. “That part was great. I was just thinking about Stratton. He’s got these amazing new acquisitions. If he did this theft for the insurance, why press finding the stolen art? He’s got what he wanted.”
“Maybe he wants them back,” I said. “You know, have his cake and eat it, too.”
“Listen,” she said, focusing herself, “don’t get attached to this, Ned. This was basically a handshake. To reflect our new working agreement.”
I tried to pull her close again. “I was hoping we might take it straight to contract form?”
“Sorry,” she sighed. “Call me old-fashioned, but you