The October List

curious exactly what?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘Oh, hey. I’ll bet you will be. Betcha five bucks. Want to take me up?’
    ‘Hey, fuck off, mister,’ Daniel said, moving forward an inch or two.
    Joseph held up a hand as if warding off a blow. Grinning, cringing. Playful. ‘Just take a peek. Pretty please? I’m begging you.’ He lifted the shopping bag.
    Gabriela’s head swiveled toward Daniel as Joseph reached into the bag and withdrew a windbreaker, black and blue like the water of New York Harbor at dusk. It was a child’s size. He also displayed a plastic doll, similar to Barbie. But the dress had been removed from the toy. The beige flesh glowed in a band of sunlight.
    Gabriela screamed.
    Joseph frowned broadly. ‘The ears. The ears!’ He tapped his own. ‘That was noisy.’
    She raged, ‘Where did you get those? That’s Sarah’s jacket! And her doll!’ She stepped back and grabbed her cell phone.
    Joseph said, ‘Oh, about the phone. Just think about why I might not want you to make any calls. Is that too much of a stretch? I’ll vote it isn’t.’
    ‘What the fuck is this?’ Daniel barked.
    Joseph wagged a finger his way but said nothing.
    Her voice cracking, Gabriela repeated, ‘Where did you get those? Where is she? Who are you?’
    ‘So many, many questions … Let’s take ’em one at a time. I got the jacket from Ms Sarah. That’s a no-brainer. And where could she be? Where do you think? With some friends of mine. As for question number three, I’ll hold off on that for the time being.’
    Gabriela lunged, grabbing him by the lapels. This caught Joseph off-guard and he stumbled back, an angry frown replacing the smirk. Daniel restrained her.
    Then the slick grin was back on Joseph’s face. ‘Re-lax! Little Sarah’s fine.’
    Daniel eased closer yet. Joseph opened his coat and jacket and displayed the butt of a pistol. ‘More show-and-tell! So settle down there, Cowboy.’
    Daniel, eyes wide, stepped back.
    Gabriela gasped as she stared at the weapon.
    Joseph looked Daniel up and down. ‘And who exactly are you , Cowboy?’
    ‘I’m a friend.’
    ‘Friend. Okay. Let me see your wallet.’
    Daniel hesitated, then dug into his pocket and handed him a wad of cash. Hundreds and fifties. Probably a thousand dollars.
    ‘That’s what goes into a wallet. That’s not a wallet.’
    ‘Take it.’
    ‘I don’t want it. I want your wallet.’
    Gabriela shouted, ‘Where’s Sarah? What’ve you done?’
    Joseph tapped his ears again. ‘Let’s not draw too much attention to ourselves. This’ – he tapped the pistol – ‘is even louder than your hysteria. Now, Cowboy, wallet.’
    Daniel handed the supple leather over.
    ‘No, no …’ Gabriela was crying now.
    As he flipped through the billfold, Joseph seemed to be memorizing various facts. He slipped out one of the business cards and examined it. ‘The Norwalk Fund. Sounds lucrative.’ He handed everything back. ‘Here you go, Cowboy Dan, a resident of Eighty Five Franklin Street. Nice area. That’s all I want for now. But if I ever do have need of a loan, glad to know you’re sooo willing to part with your cash.’ Then to Gabriela, ‘Now, about Ms Sarah. The reason she’s visiting my friends is because of your boss. Which maybe you figured out. Charles Prescott disappearing. Which troubled me mightily. You’ve heard from the police about that, I imagine?’
    ‘Yes, but what does—’
    A finger to his lips silenced her. ‘Yes’ll do just dandy. Don’t say any more unless I ask. Okay?’
    She nodded, her hands clenched.
    ‘Now, if the fine constabulary of the city of New York calls you again, don’t talk to them. If your phone rings and you don’t recognize caller ID don’t pick up. If they leave a message don’t return their calls. If they stop you on the street and ask you anything, from the time of day to where to buy good donuts when they’re on break to details about your boss’s underwear preferences, tell ’em you’re not saying anything until you see your lawyer. If I find out you’ve been talking to the police I won’t be happy. And that means Ms Sarah won’t be happy.’
    ‘Stop it! Quit playing these fucking games!’ Gabriela swallowed and stared at the windbreaker and doll. ‘How do I know you have her? Maybe you stole them.’
    Joseph carefully rolled the blue windbreaker up and slipped it into the bag, dropped the doll on top of it. ‘Here’s what’s happened. Your ex-husband, Timothy,