Operation Hell Gate - Marc Cerasini [89]
A bored guard looked up at their approach. "Can I help you?"
"Hi," said Jack. "My name is Norm Bender and this is my wife, Rita. I used to work for Felix Tanner at YankeeLife Insurance up in Boston before he moved over to Prolix. The wife and I were in the town and got to talking about old Felix, so we were wondering if we could pop in and pay him a visit?"
"One moment, sir. I'll see if Mr. Tanner is in the building."
The security guard lifted the receiver of his desk phone, dialed a four-digit extension, and spoke for a minute. When the guard hung up, he was all smiles. "Mr. Tanner's secretary told me to send you right up. Twenty-sixth floor, the elevator on the right."
"Thanks," said Jack, relieved the guard had not asked him for identification.
Jack and Caitlin were the only people on the elevator. When the doors closed she let out a breath. "Glad we freshened up at that restaurant. I want to look presentable. But what do I say?"
"You don't have to say anything. Let me do the talking. When Tanner sees me he's going to know I'm not Norm Bender." Jack's features darkened. "After that, it will be Tanner doing all the talking."
When the elevator doors opened on the twenty-sixth floor, a woman greeted them. "Mr. and Mrs. Bender? I'm Fiona Brice, Mr. Tanner's personal secretary."
Fiona Brice was a tall, poised, and elegant African-American woman, about thirty. She wore a scarlet Ann Taylor suit, her long straightened ebony hair in a French twist. A string of pearls circled her throat.
"Mr. Tanner is very pleased to hear from both of you. If you will please follow me."
She led them past a deserted reception desk and down a long, carpeted hallway. They passed by several offices, all furnished, yet strangely vacant. Jack saw no personal items of any kind on the desks, the walls, the shelves. The computers were idle, the chairs neatly tucked under the desks next to empty trash cans.
"As you can see, our staff is attending a special conference today. Only a skeleton crew is on hand."
Fiona paused to allow them to catch up. "Mr. Tanner's office is down this hall and around the bend. He occupies the corner office, with a view of Fifth Avenue."
Jack displayed a flashy grin. "That's Felix. He was always a corner office kind of guy."
As they approached the bend, Jack reached into his jacket, clutched the .45's handle. He was ready to subdue Felix Tanner the moment the man recognized he was a fraud.
At the corner, Fiona Brice paused again. She faced them, opened her mouth to speak — and Jack heard a muffled pop, followed by a supersonic crack.
"Get down!" Jack cried, pushing Caitlin to the carpeted floor.
Fiona Brice swayed on her high heels, startled. Then she dropped limply to the floor. Caitlin screamed when she saw the bloody hole in the back of the woman's head.
Somewhere a door opened, then slammed.
"Move!" hissed Jack, pushing Caitlin into one of the deserted offices, under a desk. Then he was gone, into the hall or another office, she didn't know.
Sick with fright, Caitlin cowered in the empty office. She heard voices speaking in a language she didn't recognize. A shadow appeared in the doorway. Then came the pounding chatter of an automatic weapon, filling the room. Caitlin whimpered as bullets chewed up the desk and shattered the plaster above her head.
20
THE FOLLOWING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 4 P.M. AND 5 P.M. EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME
4:07:35 P.M. EDT
Queens Boulevard
Sweating and tired, Liam realized he was approaching Queens Center Mall. The place was a typical suburban-type enclosed mall in the heart of the city's second largest borough. It catered to a young crowd, including many of Liam's mates. It also had a food court and air conditioning, both of which sounded great to Liam. He could even