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“I can ask,” I promised, “though I did just get back from a different FBI task force. I bet my captain would like to actually get some use out of me.”
“Certainly,” he agreed. “But you should see it. The ocean comes right up to the edge of the property, and then I have this infinity pool that is separated from the Jacuzzi by only a small rock wall you can climb right over. It’s very decadent.”
“Oh yeah? You get laid there a lot?”
“I have, yes. But I’ve never taken anyone I loved there, and if you let me, I want to give it to you so only you have the power to say who’s allowed in it from now on.”
“You’re just going to give me one of your homes?”
“Yes, if you’ll allow it.”
“How ’bout you just put my name on it too, and I’ll put your name on the greystone I own in Lincoln Park?”
“You own a greystone?”
“Yeah. It’s nice too. I mean, it’s just a small row house, but it’s really pretty.”
“Why don’t you live in it?”
“I need to get some more cash to finish the renovations.”
He scowled. “How long have you been fixing it up?”
“Couple years. The thing is, the contractor keeps finding more and more things wrong with it, but I’m just not ready to give up on it yet. He even offered to take it off my hands.”
“How nice of him.” Aaron smiled, but it wasn’t a nice one. “What’s his name, baby?”
“Don’t do that,” I warned him. “He’s Jimmy’s cousin, so I know he’s not screwing me. He’s a really good guy. It’s just trashed.”
“I’m sure it is.” His grin turned positively evil. “The contractor’s name, please.”
“Parrish Remodeling,” I said, studying his face. “So, you don’t really want half of it, do you? Too small-time, right?”
“No,” he insisted. “I would love if you put my name on it. Really. As I said before, your sense of quid pro quo makes me delirious. To you, it’s not the amount of money, it’s the thought. It’s the doing things together. I’ve never had that before, with anyone, and to have someone finally get it, understand how I see the world … you have no idea what kind of gift that is.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh yes,” he said, leaning in.
I moved sideways so he missed me.
“Duncan!” He was incredulous.
“Look.”
He spun around, and there, flashing in the bottom-right corner of the screen, was a chat window. We couldn’t get out, but they could get in. The flashing yellow box was a lifeline.
Aaron didn’t take any chances and immediately asked for the supervisor. Once he had the right person, once Lisa Deems was on the line with us, he asked her to put us through to law enforcement and to ignore any other communication coming from the same server or from Buona Sera.
The typed-back, Absolutely, sir, was very nice to see.
FIFTEEN
We saw the FBI, state police, and Sedona police come to the front gate of the resort. I’d had no idea before that point that Clay Wells had a helicopter. But he did, and Aaron and I watched it fly away from inside the room. His men watched from the ground. They made the smart decision to open the gate, and once everyone was in, Aaron and I came out, squinting in the early morning light on a beautiful Sunday in Sedona.
Agent Summers arrived with the FBI contingent, and while Aaron went over what we had found on the tape, including Nick McCall, she explained it turned out, the DEA also had Wells under surveillance, and between the two of them and what we’d found, he would certainly be going away once they caught him.
Aaron was thrilled, but getting me to the hospital and eating were on the top of his priority list. Agent Summers said she would get me there immediately, and he thanked her graciously, but refused.
