The October List

word about the investigation and skipped early. But not to Switzerland. We don’t know where. So we need to get the names and addresses of those thirty-two clients.’
    ‘You didn’t find anything at the office?’
    Surani explained, ‘We know he flew to St Maarten yesterday about six p.m. He disappeared after that. The authorities down there can’t find him. Now we’re hoping you’ll cooperate. We need to know where he went.’
    ‘Tell us what you know,’ Kepler said emphatically, dark eyes narrow.
    ‘I don’t know anything!’
    ‘You probably do, Gabriela,’ Kepler said with a sardonic tone. ‘For instance, did you know he had a house in Miami?’
    ‘His beach house. Of course.’
    ‘There! See? You did know something. And yet you didn’t volunteer it. Let’s keep going. How about other houses – overseas is what we’re particularly interested in. Or any friends or romantic partners he might be staying with.’
    She was looking down at the sharp shadows on the sidewalk, the sunlight falling stridently on leaves.
    ‘Ms McKenzie?’
    She looked up. ‘What?’
    Kepler asked more bluntly, ‘Does Prescott have any homes outside of the country? Does he visit anyone in particular in any foreign countries?’
    ‘He … no, not that I’ve ever heard of. He goes to the Caribbean a lot. I mean, he has clients there .’
    The look on the cops’ faces said, We know he does.
    Some of them among the infamous Thirty-Two, of course.
    ‘Come on, Gabriela, keep going. You’re on a roll!’
    Daniel said, ‘Why don’t you lighten up? You just delivered some pretty tough news. And I don’t think you handled it very well.’
    The cops ignored him yet again. It was Surani, the easier-going one, who continued, ‘Think back, Ms McKenzie. Any references to trips he’d taken? People he was going to see?’
    ‘Ah, ah,’ Kepler said, ‘looks like you’re thinking of something. Share. Come on.’
    Daniel glared at him. But the cop kept his eyes fixed on Gabriela’s face.
    She said, ‘You mentioned St Maarten. When he was down there he sometimes flew to St Thomas. I don’t know who he met with – maybe one of those thirty-two special clients you mentioned. All I know is that this man was from Europe and he lived in St Thomas nine months out of the year. And he had a big yacht, a huge one. I think “Island” or “Islands” was in the name of the boat.’
    The cops looked at each other, as if they were intrigued by these crumbs.
    ‘Okay, we’ll check that out,’ Surani said.
    Kepler nodded. ‘Good job, Gabriela. I knew you had it in you.’
    Daniel seemed to want to slap the smirk off the detective’s face.
    She asked Surani, ‘Have you talked to Elena Rodriguez? Charles’s other assistant?’
    ‘Yes, an hour ago,’ Kepler answered. ‘She wasn’t any more helpful than you were.’
    Surani handed her his card. ‘If you can think of anything else, give us a call.’
    She took it but then her hand dipped. And her face revealed yet more dismay. She stared at the policemen. ‘But, my God. I just realized … I mean, my job? What am I going to do for money? My salary … And my retirement funds?’
    Surani glanced at Kepler, who at last showed a façade of sympathy. ‘I’m sorry to say, but Prescott cleaned out all the company accounts late last night. Payroll and retirement too. He moved close to twenty-five million into a bank in the Caymans and then it vanished. There’s nothing left. Not a penny.’

CHAPTER
9
     

10:00 a.m., Saturday
30 minutes earlier
     

 

 
     
    The two made their way past the Sheep Meadow in Central Park and under the bows of trees lit by unfiltered sun. The leaves still clung to branches and the configuration of tissue and vein was as busy and colorful as a Jackson Pollock painting, changing shade and glow constantly; the wind was persistent.
    Her purse over her shoulder, Gabriela carried in one hand the Tiffany bag that Daniel had brought her, and in the other a paper sack containing a walnut cream cheese bagel for her daughter.
    ‘Let’s go that way,’ she said, nodding.
    Soon they were at the reservoir, walking wide of the path to stay clear of the many manic runners. A serious race walker, with his camel gait, overtook many of those jogging.
    The conversation had turned substantive, typically morning-after-meeting, and Daniel asked about her history with Prescott Investments. She added with some passion, ‘I love the work. I mean, really love it. I was