The October List

got to try to find his money. Or at least a place where it might be, so we can tell him we’re getting close. That could be enough – if we can give him something specific – to buy more time.’
    Her shoulders slumped and she nodded back at the building. ‘If there’s nothing in the office, then I don’t know where else we could find any clues to—’ She abruptly stopped speaking.
    ‘What?’
    Frowning, Gabriela said, ‘Last night, when I met you?’
    He smiled. ‘I remember.’
    ‘I’d left work early for that meeting about negotiating the warehouse lease in Bankers’ Square? The rush job? I had some files with me.’
    ‘Right. I was thinking you were quite the workaholic. What’s in them?’
    ‘Open items for the accountant. Some business, but some personal of Charles’s. If I find something in them, we can at least tell Joseph we’ve got a lead.’
    ‘Then let’s get to your place. Fast. We don’t have much time.’
    They hurried toward the uptown street, to catch a cab.
    Daniel was lifting his arm to flag one down when a voice from behind them barked, ‘Hold it right there.’
    They stopped, exchanged surprised glances, then turned around.
    Gabriela blinked and looked at the two detectives with unbridled anger. She whispered to Daniel, ‘No, we can’t wait! We have to get to my place now!’
    She regarded the cops. ‘Detective Kepler and …’ She looked toward the other one, smaller, his grayish complexion.
    ‘Surani.’
    Kepler gestured the cab to keep going.
    ‘No!’ Gabriela barked.
    The driver hesitated and then, responding to the detective’s angry glare, sped off to pick up another fare.
    Surani asked, ‘Have you heard from your boss?’
    ‘No. I don’t know anything more about where he’s gone. I would’ve called you if I found out anything.’
    ‘Would you?’ Kepler asked. ‘You weren’t too busy?’
    ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Her voice was flint.
    ‘Hanging out in your apartment, watching TV?’ the detective shot back. ‘Who knows what you’ve been up to?’
    She asked, ‘How did you find me here? You’ve been following me?’
    ‘We were at Prescott Investments. Someone fitting your description was spotted walking away from the place. We thought we’d take a stroll around this beautiful neighborhood. And see if you happened to be here. After committing a felony.’
    The more relaxed of the two, Surani, said, ‘There was a report that somebody maybe broke into the Prescott office just now.’
    ‘What?’ she asked, frowning.
    Kepler regarded her closely – and cynically. ‘Was it you?’
    ‘I—’
    ‘Don’t lie.’
    ‘No,’ Daniel said firmly.
    Gabriela turned to look at Daniel, who was easing forward to the officer. ‘Gabriela wanted some personal items. But we saw there was a police seal, so we left.’
    ‘Yeah?’ Kepler asked.
    ‘That’s right,’ Gabriela said, looking around, as if Joseph was nearby, coolly observing this conversation.
    Oh, and by the way, somebody’ll be watching you. Every minute …
    ‘Look, we have to go. I don’t have time for this.’
    Kepler continued, paying no attention to her protest, ‘There was an officer in front of the building. Why didn’t he see you go into the lobby?’
    ‘I don’t know,’ Gabriela said stiffly. ‘If he was supposed to be guarding the place, ask him.’
    Kepler snapped, ‘What the hell were you looking for?’
    ‘Some personal things. You heard that. A checkbook, some bank statements of mine. Nothing you’d be interested in. Nothing having to do with Charles.’
    ‘And you didn’t break the crime scene seal?’
    ‘Of course not.’
    ‘It’s a crime, you know,’ Surani said.
    ‘I assumed so. That’s why we left.’
    Kepler said ominously, ‘I’ve got an officer going through the place now. Just to see if anything’s missing.’
    Daniel said, ‘This’s been a tough time for her. Couldn’t you just give her a break?’
    Kepler seemed to be practicing his skills at ignoring people. He looked Daniel up and down with what seemed to be contempt, then moved away, pulled out his cell phone and made and received several calls.
    Surani stood nearby, less hostile, but at attention as if to grab them if they tried to escape.
    She glanced at her watch. Daniel too looked down at it. ‘The time,’ she whispered. ‘The deadline …’ Her jaw was trembling. ‘We have to get those files in my apartment!’
    The deadline was forty-five minutes away.
    ‘We really