Knox looked like he was about to fly out of his chair.
Jason fought to temper his response. “You could have handed it over two days ago and saved us all a lot of trouble.”
“Well, I didn’t. Let’s not dwell on the past. Would you like to hear my offer?”
“Wait. Does the video identify who was making the appraisal? And who hired him?”
Frederick rolled his lips in and out. It was probably a nervous habit. But it made him look like a panicked fish. “Probably.”
Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. And prayed for restraint. Because he really wanted to hit the man. “Frederick,” he said, like he was speaking to a young child, “how are you sure Gus’s killer is on the video, but you’re not sure if the other men are? Have you actually watched the video?”
Frederick sighed, not unlike a child. “I was hiding in the basement on top of some boxes near one of the narrow windows near the ceiling.”
“Why is that significant?”
“Because there was a crack in the window. The window was covered in tape, so I couldn’t see out, but my position allowed me to hear everything in the basementandoutside.“ His face turned more somber. “I heard your friend. When they killed him. He didn’t go down without a fight.”
Jason exchanged a look with Knox.
“And the video?” asked Knox.
“I waited a long time before I left the basement. I wanted to be sure they were all gone. When I came out . . . it was obvious where they fought with Mr. Branch. There was some blood . . .” He looked like he was going to be sick, then snapped himself out of it. “Anyway, when I was glancing around, I saw his phone. It wasstillrecording. It was set on a rock nearby. A branch covered part of it. I guess that’s why they didn’t see it. There’s no way the men knew it was there or they would have taken it or smashed it or something.”
Jason pinched the bridge of his nose again. “So, you stopped the video and took the phone. But by the time you got home, the phone locked. And you don’t have the password. You haven’t seen what’s on the video.”
“No. I haven’t. But the phone wasright there. There’s no way it didn’t catch what happened. Isn’t that what you want? To find the men responsible for your friend’s murder?”
Knox looked at Jason. “If he’s making it up, he deserves an Academy Award,” Knox said, as if Frederick wasn’t still sitting at the table. “Wouldn’t hurt to look at the phone.”
“Wait, wait, wait,” Frederick said. “I’m not offering it for free.”
Their food arrived. Frederick shut his mouth. At least he knew when to clam up.
Frederick’s claims had almost squelched Jason’s appetite. But when the waiter set down the plate of bacon, the aroma coaxed him into a few bites.
After the waiter left, Knox dove into his pancakes. With his mouth half-full, he nodded toward Frederick, gesturing with his utensils as he spoke. “Frederick, buddy. You go ahead and ask what you want. But the otherfancysecurity agent“ he pointed his fork at Jason, “and I, will acquire that phone one way or the other.”
If it was possible for a man to smile in a threatening manner with a mouth half-full of strawberry pancakes, Knox just pulled it off.
Frederick stiffened.
Knox looked pleased.
“Go ahead and tell us what you want for it,” Jason said. “But I’ll warn you, I’m not feeling generous right now.”
Frederick fidgeted with his napkin, presumedly collecting his thoughts. “Protection. That’s all. I want protection for myself, my men and my belongings while we move everything from the orphanage basement onto my boat,The Mermaid. I’ll take everything back to my house on another island. I can keep it protected there.”
Knox wiped his mouth with his napkin. “You do realize Drakos hired us?”
“Yes. And he thinks he has some kind of right to my father’s things. But he doesn’t.” He tossed his napkin on the table. “Look, talk Drakos into agreeing, or don’t. I don’t care how he feels about it. I just want what belongs to me. And, with the items off Isadora Island, Drakos will no longer be in any danger. So, you will have accomplished your goal in protecting your client, and you will have video proof of who killed Mr. Branch.” He sipped his cappuccino with more confidence than a moment ago. Apparently, he was pleased with his speech. “So, gentlemen, what do you say?”
Jason and Knox entered one of the lobby elevators and let the doors close. Jason leaned against the back wall and palmed his eyes. Knox pressed the button for the third floor.
“I do not like that guy,” Jason said.
“Me either, but forget about him for a second. Before we get to the room, I have questions for you.”
Jason lifted his hands from his eyes. “What?”
