The Lazarus Trap by Davis Bunn Page B

Internal Affairs caught her taking a bribe from a local vice czar. The woman loved to gamble beyond her means. The woman also lost. The money had to come from somewhere. Because she was one of the first women to earn a detective’s shield, the force had let her quietly resign.
    â€œWe don’t have any choice,” Terrance replied.
    â€œExplain that one to me.”
    There had been nothing the press could pin a story on. Which of course was what the Baltimore police had wanted. But they let word slip out quietly. When Don had come up with the idea of hiring Wally Walton, it had taken Terrance’s sniffer hounds less than a day to come up with the goods. Walton was dirty. The Baltimore authorities had spread the quiet word far and wide. Walton was bad news.
    Terrance replied, “Things are in motion now. The exec who actually pulls the corporate strings has to be the key player.”
    â€œMeaning Don Winslow.”
    Don stopped at a traffic light and stared at him. Terrance said to the phone, “That is correct.”
    â€œSo he won’t have time for me.”
    â€œPrecisely. Plus, one of us must stand watch over Jack Budrow. I can’t. He despises me.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI’ve never quite been able to figure that one out.”
    â€œThis way you’re talking,” Wally said. “Does this mean you’re going to play it straight with me?”
    â€œI can’t think of any other way to work this through.”
    She mulled that over, then decided, “I guess I can live with that.”
    â€œSo what do you have?”
    â€œMaybe nothing. You haven’t heard anything from Haines, have you?”
    Terrance’s chest was clutched by a titanium vise. “What?”
    â€œVal Haines,” she repeated. “Any word from the guy?”
    â€œYou have got to be joking.”
    Don was watching Terrance now more than the road. “What’s going on?”
    Terrance waved him to silence as the woman continued. “Like I said, it’s probably nothing. But he didn’t spend the night in the hotel.”
    Terrance turned his face to the side window, concentrating fully. “Are you sure?”
    â€œI got a couple of friends on the force up here. You’ll be hearing from somebody later today. The official word is, the guy is history. But they went into the hotel yesterday afternoon and found that the guy’s bed wasn’t touched.”
    The car turned into the office building’s parking garage and halted in the executive space. Don cut off the motor. And waited.
    Terrance was unable to move. “This is confusing.”
    â€œMaybe not. You told me the guy was a night creature.”
    â€œYes.” Terrance laid his forehead upon the cold glass. “Particularly when he’s up there.”
    â€œRight. So maybe he got lucky. Found himself a more pleasant place to sleep.”
    His thoughts emerged in congealed lumps. All the documents had been structured to point at Val as the thief. Outside counsel and the auditors had been brought in. The files were now in the hands of the authorities. The scheme was in public play. Terrance forced himself to straighten. There was a damp spot where his forehead had rested on the glass. “We have to be certain.”
    â€œNYPD is setting up a citywide alert.”
    â€œThey can’t find him.”
    â€œYeah, well, like I said. Most likely he’s not anywhere to be found.”
    â€œNo. You don’t understand.” Terrance’s breath was so constricted he could only find air for one word at a time. “The authorities cannot find Val Haines.”

WHEN VAL REENTERED THE HOTEL, THE CLERK WATCHED HIS approach with an impersonal gaze. Vince’s hair was cropped as close to his head as his graying goatee. The bones of his temple, jawline, and cheeks were as pronounced as his steely muscles. His skin was pocked from beneath his left eye to his ear, like he