Stone Barrington 27 - Doing Hard Time

bar.”
    “Thanks, I’ll do that.” Harry took a seat at the bar, ordered a drink, and asked for a menu.
    •   •   •
    A couple of blocks away, Teddy sat at his computer and saw a flag from the public records page of the Los Angeles County website. “Uh-oh,” he said aloud. “Not good.” Intriguing, though. How, he wondered, would anyone know to search that particular record in looking for him?
    “Betsy,” he called.
    She came out of the bathroom.
    “Did you tell anyone that we got married?”
    “No,” she said, then went back into the bathroom. A moment later she came out again. “Wait,” she said, “I called my ex-husband, because I knew he’d start looking for me if I left town without telling him. He’s never been able to accept the divorce and keeps trying to win me back.”
    “So, you thought if you told him you were married, he’d let go?”
    “Exactly. Was it the wrong thing to do?”
    “Maybe. I’m not sure.”
    “Could someone find us because I told him that?”
    “Probably not, but it could help someone who was looking. Now that I think of it, I don’t believe we should go to Michael’s anymore.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because when recording our marriage, I used Michael’s as a home address.”
    •   •   •
    Harry Katz had an excellent dinner at Michael’s bar, but questioning the bartender about the existence of a Barnett or Burnett employee got him no further. He asked for a check.
    His cell phone went off, and he answered it. “Harry Katz.”
    “Harry, it’s Pete Genaro.”
    “Hi, Pete.”
    “Where are you?”
    “At a restaurant in Santa Monica. Charmaine’s ex-husband said he got a call from her and that she said she had gotten married. I believe that Billy Burnett changed his name to Barnett and married Charmaine under that name. There’s a marriage recorded, and it gives his address as the address of this restaurant.”
    “Harry, I had a call from Burnett, and he knows somebody is on his trail again. This is not good for you, and I think you should break off your investigation.”
    “But, Pete, I feel I’m getting close, here.”
    “Harry, the closer you get the more danger you’re in. Have you forgotten what I told you about the last two guys who did what you’re doing?”
    “No, and I had a conversation with the LAPD about that. One of the investigating detectives was somebody I knew.”
    “And how are they doing in their investigation?”
    “They’re completely stymied.”
    “That should tell you even more about Billy Burnett.”
    “I see your point. Do you want me to come home?”
    “Do this, Harry: trace Burnett if you can but don’t approach him. Just let me know where he is, and I’ll pass it on to Majorov, then it’s his problem.”
    “All right, Pete, if that’s what you want.”
    “That’s what I want, Harry.”
    “Then you got it.” Harry paid his check and left the restaurant. It was a pleasant night, and he decided to walk a bit. He wondered if Billy Burnett had used a nearby address for his marriage certificate and might, perhaps, live a few doors away, but he had no further information that might tell him where.

Kerry Smith, deputy director for investigations at the FBI, took the call from Lance Cabot.
    “Kerry, I have some new information on one Yuri Majorov,” Lance said.
    “What, where he’s buried, maybe?”
    “According to my information, from a source I respect, Majorov is not only alive, but is, at this moment, at the New Desert Inn, in Las Vegas.”
    “What’s your source?”
    “Giving you that wouldn’t help you, and my source wouldn’t reveal his source.”
    “So this is a third-hand rumor? If you believe it, why don’t you do something about it?”
    “I suppose you could characterize it as a rumor, but pursuing Mr. Majorov is not within the purview of my charter. I have now done my duty as a citizen, having reported the information to a responsible law enforcement official, and that splashing sound you hear is me washing my hands of this matter. Good day to you, Kerry.” He hung up.
    Kerry sighed, went to the contacts menu on his computer, and clicked on the number of the agent in charge for the FBI office in Las Vegas.
    “This is AIC Carney.”
    “Good morning, Arch. This is Kerry Smith.”
    “Hello, Director.”
    “Arch, have you ever heard of a man called Yuri Majorov?”
    “Ummm, that may sound familiar.”
    “Arch, it’s okay if you’ve never heard of him.”
    “In that