The October List

expression. ‘This Tweetie Pie, I was saying, this little bird told me that Charles was so paranoid he didn’t keep the list on computers. He said if the Mossad could be hacked, then he could be hacked. So he only had hard copies. And he kept one in New York. It’s here somewhere. You get to find it.’
    ‘How?’
    Joseph held up a finger. ‘Maybe you know more than you think you do.’
    ‘I don’t! Maybe some other employees heard of it, but—’
    ‘Elena Rodriquez, his nod to Affirmative Action? The occasional temps? The bookkeeper? No, you were the only one worked that close to Mr Charles Prescott. He told me that. He said there was nobody like Gabriela. So you’ve got to be the little gal who can. I need you to find me the October List.’
    He turned his eerie gaze at Gabriela probingly. ‘And there’s something else I want. The initial fee I paid Charles. I want it back. Four hundred thousand dollars.’
    ‘Fee?’ Gabriela asked. ‘There is no upfront fee at Prescott. We get an annual percentage of the portfolio …’ And then she nodded and added with disgust, ‘But I get it: These’re the special clients you’re talking about. These thirty-two.’
    ‘Exactly!’
    ‘But if you’re secret how would I know where any money for … you people is?’
    ‘Oooo, that stung.’ Joseph pretended to pout.
    Daniel said, ‘Listen, Joe. Be realistic. If her boss took off he’d take the cash with him.’
    ‘“Joe”?’ The man looked around broadly.
    ‘Joseph.’
    ‘Oh, moi .’ He smiled. ‘Charles left town pretty fast. According to my sources, when Prescott heard there was a warrant he bailed and didn’t get all the money he could have. Maybe the police found some of it. But I’ll bet there’s a lot more. And I’m hoping for your sake – and Ms Sarah’s – that you can hit the jackpot. Now, Gabriela, let’s get some more ground rules set. First, like I said, no police. And a cone of silence with everybody else: Your ex-husband, your best friend, your hairdresser. Everybody.’
    ‘You’re despicable!’
    Joseph said to Daniel, who looked like he was considering slugging the man, ‘Sorry you walked into the middle of this. But you get the picture. You don’t seem stupid. You keep your mouth shut too. You agree to that?’
    ‘Yeah.’
    Joseph laughed. ‘If looks could kill.’ To Gabriela he said, ‘Now, it’s nearly noon. I’ll need the list by start of business Monday, so I’ll give you – I’ll generously give you – until six tomorrow to find it. Sunday. But about the money – that’s a different story. In case everything falls apart and the police come knock, knock, knocking on my door, I’m going to need that cash in my hot little hand, so I can jump ship. That I want by six p.m. tonight.’
    ‘ Tonight? Impossible!’ she said, gasping. ‘Four hundred thousand dollars?’
    ‘For Sarah’s sake you better figure out how to make it extremely possible.’
    Then, with an edge of resolve in her voice, Gabriela said, ‘I’m not doing anything until you let me talk to my daughter.’
    ‘You can’t talk to her.’ Joseph opened his phone and displayed a video. ‘But …’
    Daniel and Gabriela looked down. The cute blond girl was sitting watching TV cartoons. Oblivious to the shadowy forms of two adults in the background.
    ‘How could you do this?’ she raged once more.
    Joseph sighed, looking bored, and put the phone away. ‘Time for a pop quiz. Now, what’s the most important ground rule?’
    ‘No police.’ The words sounded as if uttered underwater.
    ‘Hooray, you get an A plus.’ He picked up the bag containing the doll and the sweatshirt. ‘Oh, and by the way, somebody’ll be watching you. Every minute. You do believe me? No need to answer. See ya.’ And he was gone.

CHAPTER
10
     

10:30 a.m., Saturday
45 minutes earlier
     

 
     

 
     
    Light bore down on the foursome in Central Park. Stark light, painful.
    Putting away his NYPD gold shield, Naresh Surani glanced at Daniel Reardon, ignored him and asked Gabriela, ‘Have you heard from Charles Prescott today?’ Even the brilliant sun couldn’t warm the detective’s gray complexion.
    ‘My boss? No. My God, is he all right?’ Her eyes eased toward Daniel. The other detective, Brad Kepler, had noted him too but was ignoring him as efficiently as his partner was.
    ‘When was the last time you saw him?’ tanned Brad Kepler asked.
    ‘Yesterday, at work. In the morning. Then I went to a