Friday December 27th, 9:32 A.M. Manhattan
Secure Office - Little West 12th Street
Kelli was staring at the video display wall when Larsen walked in. He walked over, sat down at the workstation next to her and nodded. “So, how was your trip to Saratoga Springs?”
“Good, I guess. It’s still a little strange for me, spending holidays with Kevin’s parents and not my Mom. I suppose I’ll get used to it though. How was your Christmas?”
He took a deep breath, turned toward the video wall, and typed something on his keyboard and a new photo popped up on the center display. “Busy. While you were gone, I continued to monitor that tracking device you placed on Cordero’s car. I noticed that the car hadn’t moved Monday,” he said as he stood and walked to the display.
“That doesn’t mean anything. He could have switched cars,” she said and followed him.
“That’s what I thought too, at first, so I went to the warehouse around three in the morning, on Christmas. The car still hadn’t moved. I parked a block away, walked to the corner, and watched the place for about half an hour. When I didn’t see anyone walking around the place, I went in.”
“Without any backup? Are you suicidal or something?”
“There was nothing to worry about, the place was deserted. Anyway,” he continued, turning back to the screen, “I found his car, and most importantly, I found Cordero,” he said and pointed at the screen.
Kelli looked to where he was pointing and stepped back, almost falling over the workstation behind her. “Is—is he dead?”
He turned to look at her, a frown on his face. “His throat was slit, and yes, it was a necktie.”
“It doesn’t make any sense. Why would Garcia have this guy killed? He was one of his top guys, his hitter. Shit, he’s the one who shot and almost killed me.”
Larsen nodded and walked back around the workstation. “I have a theory on that, but I don’t think you’re going to like it,” he said and sat. “I think maybe someone saw you, after the hit, and told Garcia.”
Kelli felt her knees start to buckle and caught the edge of the console. “If that’s true, then he’ll come after me again. Or worse, he’ll go after Kevin,” she said and reached for the desk phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling Kevin to warn him. He used Dan to get to me this last time, and now he’s dead. I can’t let that happen to Kevin,” she said and punched in Kevin’s cell number.
Larsen reached across the desk and ended the call. “There’s no reason to warn him, at least not until we have something more substantial. We don’t even know if that’s why Cordero was killed, hell, for all we know, he could have just pissed Garcia off.”
“And what if you’re wrong. What if he’s already sent someone after Kevin? What if they already have him?” She moved the phone to the other side of the desk, punched in Kevin’s cell number again, and waited. To her relief, he answered on the second ring.
