Chapter 2

* * * *

“Who the hell are you?” the man asked after he’d closed and locked the door, rearmed the security, and then walked into the living room of his condo. He was alone, which made one less problem Niko had to handle at the moment.

“There’s a bad line from some movie that goes, ‘Your worst nightmare.’” Niko replied with a dark smile. “In this case, it’s true. Please sit down, Mr. Barlow.”

“The hell I will.” Barlow frantically pulled his phone from his belt as he started toward the door.

“Now, now. Why are you so afraid of me? I’m only here to talk,” Niko said. He was beside Barlow beforethe man could punch any buttons, easily taking the phone from him. “Sit, shut up, and behave,” Niko added when it looked as if Barlow were going to call for help.

Barlow did, staring up at Niko. “You’re…You’re one of them.”

“Them?” Niko lifted an eyebrow in seeming amusement. “That sounds so derogatory. You should be more polite. Right?”

“Yes,” Barlow replied, shaking with fear. “Polite. I should be polite.”

“Very good. Are you that desperate for campaign funds that you decided to blackmail my employer?”

“No, no. I only wanted him to contribute. I swear.”

“Why do I doubt that?” Niko shook his head. “How do you feel about taking a ride with me to talk with him?”

“I’d…I’d rather not,” Barlow said, his voice quivering.

“I thought as much. But you will anyway. I suggest we use the back door. It’s much more private. Don’t you agree?”

Wordlessly, Barlow walked to the rear door of the condo, almost as if Niko was holding a gun to his head,which he wasn’t. At Niko’s gesture, he punched in the security code then opened the door. Niko gripped his arm as they made their way down a short hallway to the fire stairs and from there down twelveflights to the back door of the building. He retained his hold on Barlow’s arm until they were beside Barlow’s car.

“Keys,” Niko ordered, smiling when Barlow immediately handed them to him. “Now, get in on the passenger side.” He clicked the button on the key fob to unlock the car. For a moment, he thought Barlow might balk. But he did as he was ordered, staring straight ahead. Niko got in on the other side, started the car, and drove out of the lot onto the street.

“So,” Niko said in a conversational tone, “Tell me who else knows what Marta told you.”

“No one,” Barlow replied.

“Look at me, when you talk to me,” Niko said. Barlow did and Niko repeated his question. He received the same reply. “Very good. Now we’re going somewhere to discuss why you will never, ever repeat her words to anyone.”

* * * *

Nick turned on the TV the following evening, scrolling through the channels to one of the local news stations. He had to sit through two national news stories before the one he was waiting for came on.

“An update to the story we’re following on the apparent disappearance of Alderman John Barlow. His car was found in a convenience store lot, several miles from his home, with the keys still in the ignition. The two clerks at the store say he didn’t enter the premises. According to the police, surveillance cameras back them up. The cameras caught the car pulling into the lot, but then it drove out of view around the side of the building. The cameras don’t show anyone matching Barlow’s appearance leaving the lot on foot or in someone else’s car.” The reporter went on to relate more about the alderman, including the fact that his wife had hurried back to the city as soon as she heard Barlow was missing.

“Marta, when will you learn?” Nick said under his breath. “If you’re going to fuck around, at least make sure the guy’s not married.” He had the distinct feeling the reason she’d said what she had to Barlow was in an attempt to impress him. To let him know she was more than his piece on the side and he should take that into account and leave his wife to be with her. Kasper, you’d better have drummed it into her stupid head to keep her mouth shut from now on. If you haven’t, and it happens again, it will be the last time.

He continued watching the news until the weather report was over. It was supposed to stay in the high nineties for the next few days, with no rain in the forecast. That was fine with Nick. By the time anyonefound Barlow’s body at the bottom of the abandoned mineshaft, if they did, it would be a desiccated corpse.