The Collectors

Chapter 15

Daniel had left the apartment and returned to his home, unable to make a decision as to where else to go or what to do. Without the cards he had no scam to run. Without the woman he had no relationship. When she had time to sort out what he'd said there would be no relationship anyway. So why was he just sitting here? When the phone rang he automatically answered it and listened with growing concern as Connie's frightened voice hastily described her predicament before the line went dead.

He knew the Russians were not to be taken lightly, even if they had proven themselves not to be MENSA material. Should  he just forget it and walk away? Holly and the old man had let him off the hook after what he'd done to them; maybe helping Connie would kind of pay that forward. But how to help?

Holly and the old man... why not?

The Week Before Christmas

"You aren't going to believe this," Jacob said, handing the phone to Holly. "Our friend Daniel is back home but has had an attack of conscience." She put down the scissors she was using to cut the wrapping paper and answered, making a puzzled mouth and eye expression at Jacob.

"What are you saying? Connie called you and she said the Russians were in Malcom's office? When?"

"Yesterday when I got home."

"Yesterday!"

"Yes, I called her and told her everything but she said she couldn't talk and hung up so I came home. She called again only this time she was shouting into the phone that the Russians were at the office. She said something about Malcom bleeding from the head and then the line went dead. We have to do something."

"We? What's your stake in this?"

"Let's just say I've had an epiphany. Look, there's no time to waste, what can we do?"

"Call the police, it's what you should have done instead of calling me."

"But I thought you- your friend didn't want any police involvement?"

Holly's mouth set in a grim line and she counted to ten, shaking her head. "You're right. I guess he'd rather bleed to death."

"You don't have to be like that. I just thought—"

"Look, Daniel, don't play altruistic with me. You don't want the police involved any more than Malcom."

"We have to do something..."

"Meet us at the DeWhitt building, we're leaving now." She hung up and gave Jacob a shrug. "You with me?"

In an instant he was out of the room and back with his pistol strapped under one arm and a thickly padded vest over his shirt. A knife hung in a scabbard at his hip and he wore thin leather gloves with the knuckles cut out.

She left her Christmas presents on the table and clapped her hands with delight. "La Puma?"

"La Puma."

"Let's go then."

"Ready when you are, darlin'. I've also put the cards away in a safe place in case that little worm has another scheme up his sleeve."

The chill preview of winter wind continued to lash the street in front of the building. The weather change brought bulging black clouds over the city, sagging between the taller structures and threatening to burst. Litter swirled like confetti and when Holly and Jacob stepped out of their car the door nearly bent backwards.

Daniel was inside the lobby waiting and he helped spin the revolving door against the stiff wind as they entered.

"My God, what brought this on?" Holly fingered her tangle of hair out of her face.