The Four Corners of the Sky_ A Novel - Michael Malone [183]
Annie recalled how earlier (was it today?) she’d said something similar to Georgette about Daniel Hart. “I don’t even know him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him.” What an astonishing thing that a line from a movie, and such a ridiculous line, should feel like the right answer to so much. “I love him,” she blurted out. Then speechless, she looked over at Dan.
“Love who?” Red-faced, Brad set down his briefcase. “A, what’s going on here? What are you talking about?”
Annie looked to Dan for help.
With a frown, he slid out his wallet, flipping it open to show a large police badge. “Mr. Hopper,” he began in a professional tone. “I’m with Miami Vice. Sorry about the undercover thing but I had three warrants for major felonies on Jack Peregrine and I had a tip his daughter was meeting him in St. Louis.” Dan pulled steel handcuffs from the back of his jeans. “Lt. Goode here is under arrest for aiding and abetting in the escape of a wanted criminal.” He shook his head solemnly at Annie. “Love’s no excuse for crime. She’s implicated in Peregrine’s felonies, including—just today—grand larceny and international fraud. Possible spying. That makes it treason.”
Brad’s mouth dropped. “Treason?”
Dan shook the cuffs. “Could be. But Lt. Goode claims that you’re actually the one who sneaked her father out of St. Louis. Is that true? Because harboring a felon’s a felony. ’Course, it’s your constitutional right not to answer.”
With a queasy nervous smile, Brad glanced from Annie to Hart and back to Annie. Then, with his eyes blinking rapidly, he swore to the Miami detective that he had never been involved in any act that might even remotely have aided or abetted Jack Peregrine.
Dan asked if Brad was accusing Annie of lying.
With a reproachful look at his not yet ex-wife, Brad advised her to cooperate with the police.
Annie picked up Brad’s briefcase, shoved it at his midriff. “Will you just get out of here?”
“A, come on. If I went to jail, it could kill Mama Spring,” he whispered.
“That bitch will outlive us all,” Annie predicted.
Brad’s face puckered. “Don’t start.”
“Brad, the extra month I promised you? You can forget it. We’re signing those divorce papers.” He looked caught between anger and a puzzled relief. She added, “I’ll be in jail in a month anyhow. And I hope you go too.”
Dan clicked the handcuffs on her. “I wouldn’t be surprised. But Hopper here could cut a deal. ’Course he can’t testify against you if you two are still married.”
Brad was indignant. “I’d never testify against Annie.”
“Can I cut a deal, testify against him?” Annie asked.
Brad’s eyes darted everywhere, looking for an angle. He turned a solemn look on Annie. “Let’s don’t get personal.”
She scoffed. “Don’t get personal? We’re married.”
“Well, maybe you’re right, we shouldn’t wait a month.” In fact, Brad said, he wasn’t going to argue with Annie anymore about proceeding with the divorce. He’d sign right away. He did have to think about his responsibilities to his family and to Hopper Jets. He did have to consider the firm’s reputation and—
Annie interrupted him. “Oh Brad, just shut the fuck up.”
“I don’t like to hear you talk that way,” said the handsome pilot.
Dan laughed. “Okay, Lt. Goode, let’s go. We got some cellmates waiting for you—some wino hookers, four or five skinhead bull dykes, half a dozen paranoid crackheads, you know, the regulars. Don’t leave town, Hopper.”
Brad’s eyes squeezed shut as if he hoped to make everything go away.
At Annie’s handclap, Malpy jumped into her arms. Dan picked up her duffel bag and led her out of the room.
“Annie,