Hedging (A Smith and Wetzon Mystery)

on the plane, then grabbed the box of diamonds, but Bill wouldn’t let go. Laura Lee came off the plane, as we’d planned, moved toward the limo. Jason was screaming, telling us to get on the plane. And I saw Bill’s face. He knew—” She shuddered and put her hands over her face.
    Silvestri put his arm around her shoulders. “Where do Weaver and the priest come into this?”
    Judy Blue stood. Her blue pantsuit was wrinkled. Coffee stained the edge of her sleeve. Her eyes were bottomless, tired. “Let’s go. I don’t want to have to tell this twice.”
    “Go where?” Silvestri was dubious.
    “It’s almost over, Silvestri, so for once, will you do as I say?” It was clear that Agent Blue had reached the end of her patience.
    Silvestri reached into his inside pocket and opened his palm. He had a collection of tiny metal spools. He smacked them down on the conference table. “Look familiar?”
    Agent Blue picked one up. “Hmmm. What do you think, Gelber?”
    Gelber picked up another, rolled it between his fingers.
    “Outdated,” he said.
    Agent Blue smiled. “Funny how these things are obsolete as soon as they’re manufactured.”
    Leaving Agent Gelber with the spools, they followed Agent Blue through the sparsely occupied cubicle room and out a door at the far end. Gelber caught up a minute later, a bulge in his pocket.
    Another corridor. Agent Blue knocked, then held a door open for them. A woman in black, pants and sweater, high heeled slides, came out of an adjoining bathroom, running her fingers through her cropped hair. Her face was drawn and pale. Her eyes, dull, took them in, not comprehending. Widened.
    “Wetzon, darlin’!” she shrieked, rushing forward.

54
    “I THOUGHT you were dead.” Laura Lee’s face was mottled with tears.
    “I thought you were dead,” Wetzon said, hugging her friend.
    Silvestri cleared his throat.
    “Silvestri, darlin’,” Laura Lee said, “I’m goin’ to have to give you a hug, too.” Which she proceeded to do. She pulled back and considered Silvestri and Wetzon. “You guys!”
    “Uh huh,” Wetzon said.
    With a broad, absolutely boyish grin, Silvestri became almost mush with Laura Lee. He liked Carlos fine, but Wetzon knew he thought Laura Lee was special.
    Agent Gelber appeared, carrying a cassette recorder. He set it on the conference table and plugged it in.
    “What’s up?” Silvestri said.
    Judy Blue gave him a cool look. “Listen, Silvestri, you’re only here out of courtesy. We’ve debriefed Laura Lee. We know Leslie and Laura Lee want to go over what happened. We just want to catch anything we haven’t caught till now.”
    “I think there should be a lawyer present.”
    “Christ,” Judy Blue said, rolling her eyes. “Would you believe a New York cop thinks there should be a lawyer present?”
    “Don’t say another word, Les.”
    “All right, Silvestri. Nothing said in this room will be used against either Ms. Day or Ms. Wetzon in court.”
    “Or elsewhere.”
    “Or elsewhere.”
    “Turn it on, Gelber,” Judy Blue said, pulling out a chair.
    “Not so fast,” Silvestri said. “I want it in writing.”
    Agent Blue stared daggers at him, sighed. “Gelber, get it done and I’ll sign it.”
    “It would be nice if you would leave the room while we’re waiting,” Silvestri said.
    “Nice try, Silvestri.” Judy Blue settled herself in her chair.
    Laura Lee tilted her head. Some of her old sparkle came back in her eyes. “Well, I swear, Silvestri darlin’, you have even more in your genes than I figured.”
    Everyone looked at Silvestri, who smirked like a teenager.
    “Laura Lee is a master of sexual innuendo,” Wetzon told Agent Blue. “Can we have some water in here?”
    “When Gelber comes back.”
    “May I use that bathroom?”
    “Go ahead.”
    Wetzon went into the bathroom, held the door an extra second, enough time for Laura Lee to slip in after her. They locked the door behind them, Silvestri’s guffaw ringing in their ears.
    “Fuck!” Judy Blue yelled the word that was probably a no-no in the old Hoover rule book for FBI agents.
    Laura Lee put her arms around Wetzon. “I’m sorry I dragged you into this mess.”
    “Hell, what are good friends for?” Wetzon turned on both water taps full force. She perused her friend. “You’re a shadow of your former self.”
    “You’re lookin’ a little peak-ed yourself, darlin’. Consider all the gelato we can put away buildin’ ourselves up again.” Laura