From Manhattan With Revenge Boxed Set by Christopher Smith Page B

with him, but instead he chose
to take another job.   He thought his
father had more time.   He was
wrong.   He died while Alex was
away.   Alex regretted that and when
he asked me if I agreed that he made a mistake, I told him that he did.   He knew better.   He should have been there.”
    It was the correct answer.   He took a step closer and she took a step back.   Watch his hands.
    “I’m not here to hurt you.”
    “Even if you were, I’d kill you first.”
    “I’m here to help you.”
    “Help me with what?”
    “I work for Katzev.”   He raised his eyebrows as if in bemusement.   “Strike that.   I used to work for Katzev.   Now, he wants me dead just like he wants
you dead.   If we talk frankly, we
might be able to help each other.   I
think that would be a smart idea.”
    “How do I know you’re not working for him now?”
    “You don’t.”
    “Well, there’s a balm of reassurance.   Take your hands out of your pockets.”
    He did.
    “Who are you?”
    He looked around him.   “We should get a cab,” he said.   “I’ll tell you what you want to know inside.   Right now, we’re too exposed.”
    “Can’t handle it?”
    “After what happened last night, I’ll admit I’m on edge.”
    “What happened last night?”
    “They came after me.   I’m lucky to be alive.”
    “I wonder how lucky I am that you are?”
    He didn’t answer.
    “How did you find me?”
    “Do you want the 101 version, Carmen?   I used my contacts.   You were seen at LaGuardia.   You were followed to your apartment on
Fifth and Eighty-First.   Done.”
    “Bullshit.   I wasn’t
followed.”
    “Sorry, but you were.”
    “Nobody followed me.   I would have known.”
    “Apparently, you didn’t, because you were followed, just as you
and Alex were followed to Bora Bora.”   He paused.   “Which you also
knew about.   Right?”
    Obviously, she didn’t know.   Point taken.
    “I received a call from Alex not long before his death.   It was just before you went to the
island.   He told me he was in love
with you, which concerned me.   You
have a reputation for being arrogant.   I told him to stay away from you.”
    “I wish he had.   He’d be alive now.”
    “We don’t know that.   All we know is that Alex and you were targeted, and now so am I.   Why?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Then maybe we should help each other figure it out before each
of us winds up dead.”
    “What’s your name?”
    He didn’t answer.
    She sighed.   “What
do you want me to call you?”
    “Jake.”
    “Jake?”
    “You got something better?”
    “I’m Carmen Gragera,” she said.   “But you already know that.   We’ll call you Jake for now.   When you’re comfortable telling me the
truth and that your name is probably Hamlisch, or worse, we’ll likely be on
better terms.   As for now, you’re
Jake.”  
    She nodded at the street.   “So, Jake, let’s grab that cab so you can tell me everything you think I
need to know.   I’m eager to hear.”

 
 
 
 
    CHAPTER TWO

 
    In the cab, they told the driver they were new to the city and
that they just wanted to drive around and enjoy the night.   The driver, a middle-aged woman with
dark hair pulled back in a thick braid, was happy to oblige.
    “I’ll give you the full show,” she said.
    “Perfect,” Carmen said.   “Would you mind a bit of music?”
    “What type?”
    “Dance?”
    “You got it.”
    “Thanks.”  
    The driver turned up the volume and they drove down Fifth.   The thump, thump, thump of the driving
dance beat was just loud enough to conceal their voices.   It would be awhile before she trusted
this Jake person, but his hands had yet to dip back into his pockets and he was
correct about Alex’s chief regret.   Her hand was still around her gun.   She was ready to act if she thought for a moment that he was a
shill.   Still, she had to give him a
chance because if he was legit, he might have