“What’s in the box, anyhow?” Van asks Trenton as I approach.
“Nothing you need to worry about,” he replies with a smile.
“Oh, come on, don’t be like that,” Van says with a pout.
“I’m not saying that to tease you. You don’t need to know so the police can’t make you a witness to anything later. We’ve got some things going on the next couple of days. The less you know, the less you can say.”
“So, what did you bring me along for, anyhow?” Van seems to accept his explanation and changes the subject. “Is that something you can tell me at least?”
“Don’t worry, it’s nothing dangerous,” I reassure her as I join them and stand right beside Van. “What do you think, Trenton? We’re about the same size and hair color.”
“You should both wear hats tomorrow, and those surgical masks people are always using at the hospital. With your nose and mouth covered and something to shade your eyes, she’ll definitely pass,” Trenton confirms.
“I need you for an alibi tomorrow,” I explain to Van. “You’re going to go with Trenton to the hospital to visit Maximo during the day, while I handle some other business.”
“That’s all I have to do? And you’re really going to give me five grand?” Van looks at me in wide-eyed surprise. “I was sureyou were going to ask me for something freaky…” she trails off as she turns her attention back to Trenton.
He barks a laugh and says, “Are you disappointed?”
“Maybe a little.” She gives him a mischievous smile. “But no, really, that’s no problem. I can definitely play the grieving fiancée while you do whatever it is you need to do, Constance. I hate that this happened to your man. He seems like a good guy.”
“He is,” I reply. “Trenton, tonight I need you to get one of the SUVs ready and swap out its license plate. Use one that Maximo wouldn’t mind getting rid of, in case we need to junk it. All I need you two to do tomorrow,” I add as I turn to Van, “is go to the hospital and be seen visiting Maximo. I’ll use the burner to text you as soon as I’m done and Trenton can bring you back. It’s as easy as that.”
“You sure confronting Irina by yourself is the best idea?” Trenton asks me.
“I’ll have Jamie and some of his crew stay nearby in case things go sideways. I’m going to make her meet me someplace very public, so she’ll feel safe. Maybe out at The Westchester, if she’ll agree to it.”
“Parking is kind of tight in their lot. You want to make sure there isn’t too much collateral damage,” Trenton warns me.
“I’ll make her meet me early so it won’t be crowded,” I reassure him. I have no intention of dragging anyone else into this mess. That’s part of the beauty of my plan. I can pull the trigger on it at a moment I choose.
Leonard walks back into the kitchen carrying an ancient gray Nokia phone. “This one is charged up and ready. It’s primitive, but it can call and text. Do you need something fancier?” he asks me.
“No, that’s perfect,” I reply as I take it from him. I open up the messenger app in Maximo’s phone and stare at Irina’s number, mentally preparing myself to make the phone call.
“Before you call, just a thought,” Trenton interrupts me. “Don’t go to the Westchester Mall. They have a paid parking lot. You’d get photographed going in and getting your ticket, then you’d have to stop on the way out and pay. That’s a lot of extra problems if you’re trying to make a quick getaway.”
“Good thinking,” I compliment him as I rub at my temples. The stress of the last few days has given me a headache. “Where would be a better place, an open lot that I can get in and out from quickly?”
“How about where the old Walmart used to be up in White Plains? It’s just up Route Twenty-Two, ten minutes away tops. Tell her to just park on the street outside. They have some shitty surveillance systems that will pick you up nearby, but if we swap your tags out and you wear a hat and mask, they won’t be able to identify you well enough to get past the alibi we’re setting up.”
“That should work. I’ll need to tell her what I’m driving…” I mutter as I think out loud.
Trenton interrupts my train of thought by saying, “No, ask her what she will be driving. Don’t give her the option of getting the drop on you. Make her get there first and then you arrive. Don’t give her any advantage.”
“I can see why Maximo keeps you around.” I give a resigned shake of my head. “I’m glad you’re here to help me plan this.”
“Maximo would walk you through all of this if he were here. Everything I know about our business I learned from him. If I didn’t help you through this, he would skin me alive when he wakes up.”
“All right. I think I’m ready. I’m going to go into his office to make the call. Trenton, come with and listen in to see if you hear anything worrisome.”
“Whatever you say, boss.” Trenton grins at me as he follows me out of the kitchen. That’s the first time it really dawns onme. Jamie, Trenton, Leonard, the entire crew…they seem to be taking directions from me as naturally as they do from Maximo.
Did I earn their respect by killing Kirill Volkov, or by killing those guys who tried to kidnap me? Whenever it happened, I’m glad they have my back.
Once we’re in Maximo’s office Trenton closes the door behind us and I punch in the number on the burner Nokia Leonard gave me. I take a deep breath to try and stifle the butterflies that have exploded into flight in my stomach.
“You need me to do it?” Trenton asks. He must be able to see my struggle from the pained expression on my face.
