Black Ghosts by Victor Ostrovsky Page B

while. But you’ve got the contacts, the know-how. Look at me, man. I’m not going anywhere. I need you to help me. As a friend. More than that, your country needs you.”
    Edward didn’t say a word. He turned and went looking for Kelly in the bistro. He found her at his desk, in the little office, doing some accounting.
    â€œListen, Kel, I’m going to New York for a couple of days.”
    She smiled, her dimples deepened. “Is Natalie going with you?”
    â€œNo, she’ll stay here. You’ll be okay minding the store?”
    â€œSure, no problem.” Kelly clipped some receipts together, filing them away as they spoke. Something was still bothering Edward.
    Larry had Natalie bring him the phone, then she disappeared into the bathroom to take a shower. Soon the sound of running water could be heard. Larry dialed a number, then listened for several seconds. He heard a series of beeps. He punched in a second number, then waited again until someone came on the line. Larry spoke urgently, then listened. As Edward returned, he was just hanging up.
    â€œWho was that?” Edward asked. The fact that Larry was on the phone surprised him.
    â€œI talked to Donoven.”
    â€œFrom here?” Edward looked alarmed.
    â€œDon’t worry. I rerouted the call.”
    â€œOkay. So what did he say?”
    â€œWe were right. That was the hit.”
    â€œDoes he have anything else?”
    â€œHe said he has, but he wants to be paid before he says what.”
    â€œDid you ever screw him?”
    â€œNo, but that’s the kind of guy he is. He’s coming to New York; the Foundation is sending him to check for loose ends after the hit. I set up a meeting for you with him.”
    â€œYou did what?” Edward almost went through the roof. “How could you do that without asking me? What kind of security arrangements did you make? What the hell do you think you’re doing, waltzing in and rearranging my life?”
    â€œCalm down, Edward. He was on his way to the airport. I was lucky to get ahold of him. He gave me a phone number where you can reach him in New York. You set up your own security, damn it. What the hell do you take me for? And one more thing, and I will say it only once. If I had any choice it wouldn’t be you, okay? However, I don’t, and neither do you.”

CHAPTER 5
    Ritz Hotel, New York City
February 20
14:00 hours
    Â 
    New York no longer tempted Edward; now it bothered him at best. He remembered when the heartbeat of the big city vibrated through him as he walked its marble canyons, blending into the endless streams of mentally cocooned individuals. In no other city or culture had he run into so many people struggling to manifest their individuality, so often compromised by sheer numbers. In those days, he was able to marvel at it all, but now it was just a big apathetic city with an attitude.
    He called Robert from his room at the Ritz. Robert King was an old comrade-in-arms from military intelligence. After leaving Alpha 27 he joined the NYPD and rather quickly made detective.
    â€œLook, Edward,” the man said, drawling out the words in his Boston accent, which had brought him more than one strange glance in his work. “I wish I could help, but I’m not involved in that investigation.”
    â€œI understand.” Edward paused for a second. “I don’t really care much about the investigation and who did it. I need to find out more about what actually took place, and I don’t mean the garbage you guys feed the media.”
    â€œEdward, is there something I should know about this thing? Is there something here we should be looking into?”
    â€œDon’t turn cop on me, Bob.”
    â€œThat’s what I am, man. If you know something, tell me. We lost some good men on that bridge and I sure would like to nail whoever did that.” There was a slight hesitation, then he said, “Edward, I want