W Is for Wasted

argue the point. Give it some thought. If you decide we have a deal, we’ll meet again.”
    “And if I don’t call you, the deal is off?”
    “That’s correct.”
    Linton stood for a moment, debating with himself.
    Pete said, “Don’t decide right now. Let it sit. If I can’t deliver my end, I’ll let you know.”
    Linton shook his head and backed up a step before he turned away. Pete watched as he retraced his steps, hands in his coat pockets. Wind blew spray, like a fine mist, across the breakwater, wetting the concrete so that Linton left a brief set of shoe prints in his wake.
    • • •
    The real hurdle Pete faced was talking Willard Bryce into playing his part, which was critical to the overall success of his scheme. Pete called Willard the next morning as soon as he calculated Mary Lee had left for work. They agreed on a time and Pete swung by and picked him up at the designated corner like a couple of spies. As with Linton Reed, Willard was a man who loved to self-dramatize. Why else go to such lengths when they were the only ones who gave a shit? Small talk back and forth on their way to the beach, where they parked and sat in the car.
    Willard said, “I don’t understand why we had to meet. I thought our business was done. I have your report and I’ve paid you everything I owe.”
    “I’ve been thinking it might be a smart move to check Mary Lee’s work space. Maybe there’s information to be picked up in a place she thinks is safe from prying eyes.”
    “Stop right now. This has gone far enough.”
    “Just listen to what I have to say. She feels comfortable at work, right? She’s relaxed. She assumes you have no access to the lab, so she might leave stuff around. Might be notes back and forth between her and this Pensky fellow.”
    “You said there was nothing going on.”
    “I said I didn’t
think
there was. I said there might be other explanations. All I’m saying now is it won’t hurt to look.”
    “I won’t do it. How the hell would I manage that? I can’t ask for her ID and go off for an hour. Are you insane?”
    “You don’t have the stomach for it, I’ll handle it myself. Here’s how I see it. There’ll be a couple of swipe locks—one to get into the building, the other to get into the lab. All you have to do is get me her ID and her PIN. You have any idea what that is?”
    “It’s 1956. She uses that for everything. The ID I can’t help you with. She takes it with her when she goes to work. How else would she get in?”
    “Then get it when she’s not at work,” Pete said, patiently. Willard was a moron. Did the man have no imagination?
    “I never know when she’s going in. Especially lately. It could be any hour.”
    “Does she sleep at night?”
    “Of course she sleeps at night. What kind of question is that?”
    “Where’s her ID badge when she’s asleep?”
    “On top of the chest of drawers.”
    “Why don’t you take it then and leave it outside your front door. I’ll pick it up, go into the lab, have a look around, and then return it when I’m done. Won’t take an hour and I’ll put it back where I found it. All you have to do is pick it up off the welcome mat and return it to the chest of drawers. She’ll never know it was gone. I’ll contact you first chance I get and tell you what I found.”
    “When would you do this? Go into the lab.”
    “Haven’t decided yet. I’ll pick a date and let you know.”
    “I don’t like it.”
    “I don’t like it any more than you do. You have a better idea, I’d love to hear it.”
    “I don’t need a better idea. I never asked for any of this in the first place.”
    Pete lapsed into silence. He knew from past experience that once you persuaded somebody to cross the line the first time, it didn’t take much to talk ’em into doing it again. Willard wasn’t nearly as scrupulous as he pretended.
    Willard’s face had darkened to that brooding look, triggered by his insecurities. “Actually, anything she has at work, I’d never know about.”
    “Exactly. And you can’t go there yourself because if she woke up she’d know you were gone. Aside from that, you’d be too conspicuous thumping across campus on that one leg of yours.”
    For some reason, Willard laughed at that and Pete knew he’d won.
    • • •
    Pete’s next meeting with Linton Reed took place in the parking lot at Ludlow Beach, roughly across the street from the Santa Teresa City College running track. It had taken some