The Chase Read Online Free PDF Page B

never in his pub.”
    “Wouldn’t be sanitary,” Turtleneck said.
    “I’m reassured,” Nick said to Kate. “How about you?”
    She shrugged. “It’s your life.”
    Ten minutes later Kate returned from a walk on the beach as Nick emerged from the pub. They grabbed their bags and headed to the dock just as the ferry was arriving.
    “What did he say?” Kate asked.
    “He gave up the buyer. Duff figures the son of a bitch has had the rooster long enough and that it’s fair game now. Somebody is bound to steal it eventually. At least this way, Duff will make some money.”
    “I thought he’d refuse to give you the name out of spite.”
    “I started off by telling him that I was sorry about what I did, that I was young, ambitious, and cocky. He told me that I still am and that’s what he’s always liked about me.”
    “See? Sometimes being honest pays off.”
    “Yes, but it doesn’t pay nearly as well as dishonesty. Look how much Duff just earned.”
    “So who has the bronze rooster now?”
    “We’ll find out once you’ve wired the first million to Duff’s bank account.”
    “He doesn’t trust you?”
    “Of course not,” Nick said. “He knows me too well.”
    • • •
    It was a bright, beautiful day in Mallaig, but it was after one in the morning in Los Angeles when Kate reached Jessup. She knew Jessup’s phone was secure, but she was still careful.
    “We’ll have the name when the money is wired into his account,” Kate said.
    “How much money?” Jessup asked.
    “A million.”
    Silence on Jessup’s end.
    Kate imagined him not liking this, staring down at his bare feet, shaking his head. Best not to tell him about the second million, she thought. After all, why give him the bad news now when lots of things could happen in the meantime … like nuclear destruction or an uprising of zombies.
    “I’ll need wiring instructions,” Jessup said, sounding as if his sphincter muscles were painfully contracted.
    “So how’d that go?” Nick asked when Kate disconnected.
    “He’s transferring money from the slush fund in the Caymans to Duff’s account.”
    “Did he sound happy?”
    Kate did a small grimace, and Nick gave a bark of laughter.
    The call from Duff came through at three P.M . Kate and Nick were drinking coffee in a café in Mallaig, checking the Internet for possible flights home. Nick listened to the name Duff gave him, and promised the second payment would be made upon confirmation of the information he’d just received. His voice stayed calm and matter-of-fact with Duff, but Kate could see Nick’s eyes narrow ever so slightly.
    “So?” Kate asked when Nick pocketed his phone.
    “Carter Grove has the rooster,” Nick said.
    “Whoa! I didn’t see that coming. I think we should scrap the operation. I have a rule against stealing from the White House chief of staff.”
    “Ex–chief of staff,” Nick said.
    “Him too,” she said.
    Kate kept the bad news to herself for the twenty or so hours it took her to get back to Los Angeles and meet with Carl Jessup face-to-face. She arrived at LAX at 5 P.M. and took a shuttle bus to pick up her car at the Parking Spot on Sepulveda Boulevard. She met Jessup at the In-N-Out Burger next door to the parking structure. They ordered fries, shakes, and 3×3s—burgers with three meat patties and three slices of cheese. The 3×3 was an unadvertised delight on In-N-Out’s secret menu. They ate them in the front seat of her car.
    “Canceling the operation is out of the question,” Jessup said. “We have to get the rooster back.”
    “You will,” Kate said. “Right after you arrest Carter Grove for stealing the damn thing.”
    A glob of sauce oozed out of her 3×3 and dripped onto her jeans.
    Jessup handed her a napkin. “Even if we could get a search warrant, which is highly unlikely, the last thing we want to do is reveal that not only was the Smithsonian broken into, and that we covered up the crime, but that the man responsible for