Straits of Fortune - Anthony Gagliano [13]
The Colonel looked me over carefully and nodded approvingly.
“You’re a good man,” he said. “I’m sure if you hadn’t shot that other officer, you’d be a detective by now. You’re right, the smut wasn’t the only reason, but it’s the only one I’m prepared to provide you with right now—that and a hundred thousand dollars.”
“Where’s Vivian?” I said. “Maybe she’ll tell me what’s going on here.”
“I don’t know where she is.”
“I hate calling you a liar twice in the same day, Colonel, but I’m kind of getting used to it. Save your money for your daughter’s lawyers. By the time they’re through, a hundred grand won’t even pay their bar bills.”
I stood up. The Colonel gazed at me and shook his head slowly. Then he stood and, despite the fact that it was not his habit, extended his hand. The gesture caught me off guard.
“Sorry I brought you out here, old friend. No hard feelings,” the Colonel said. He wore the faint smile of a man who is trying hard to be brave.
“What will you do now?”
“That’s no longer your concern.”
I thought for a moment. Something he’d said earlier was bugging me, and I’d almost forgotten it.
“You mentioned that Vivian had stolen some of your research,” I said. “Supposedly for Matson. He used the film for leverage, is that it?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“What would Matson want with your work? The closest he ever came to chemistry was working behind the bar at Monty’s.”
“Good-bye, Jack. It was nice of you to come. I hope I haven’t wasted too much of your time.”
Suddenly I was the one who wanted to protest. My curiosity was winning out over my common sense. I wanted to know more, but I knew damned well I should get out of there. The trouble fuse had been lit, and it was just a matter of time before the whole thing blew. I knew it, and yet it still took considerable effort to walk away.
“So long, Colonel,” I said, forcing the hollow words out. “I’m sorry I couldn’t help you out.”
“I was a fool to think you would.”
I started to say something, but he had already turned his back and was staring out at the yacht. I watched it with him a moment. Then I turned and walked toward the house and left him sitting there with the sunlight, the yacht, the bottle of scotch, a lot of money, and no way around the fact that he had a daughter who would probably have to go to jail. I was walking away from a lot of trouble, and I knew it. I only wished that doing it were easier than it felt.
Williams was outside standing by my car when I came out. The sun was in my face, and I lowered my shades.
“I told him you wouldn’t do it,” he said.
I went around to the driver’s side and unlocked the door without answering him. He took one step and placed his hand against the window.
“You’re a piece of shit, mister. Don’t let anybody tell you different,” he told me.
“You better have your blood pressure checked, Williams,” I said. “You’re about to explode. Now, get your hand off my car.” I pulled the door open, and he stepped away, watching me. I got in and started the engine. It was so hot I had to immediately roll down the windows.
“Look,” I said to him through the open window, “you know I used to be a cop, right? So listen to me: Have her go to the police. It’ll be loud and it’ll be messy, but eventually it’ll be over. That’s the best advice I can offer you.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know. The old man’s in trouble.”
“He’s not the only one,” I said. I gave him a salute and hit the gas.
As I drove away, I saw Williams standing in the center of the driveway still watching me, getting smaller and smaller as I approached the gate. Like me, I’m sure he sensed that there was something left unfinished between us. I just didn’t know what it was. One thing I did know was that I didn’t owe the Colonel anything. I didn’t owe Vivian anything, and for sure I didn’t owe Williams anything, but the feeling of incompleteness remained, made me restless. I turned on the radio and began working the dial east and west, wandering through the songs.