The Short Drop Read Online Free PDF Page A

send me up the river. Guess it didn’t go over well.”
    “No. It did not go over well at all. But I’m glad it worked out the way it did. I’ve come to realize it was a mistake. I am sorry for the part I played in what happened to you.”
    The apology caught Gibson off guard. He felt a strange sense of gratitude simply to hear someone apologize at last. He also resented it almost immediately. Yes, it was unexpected and might feel good, but what difference did a ten-year-old apology make?
    “So you were just some innocent pawn—is that what you’re selling?”
    “No.” Abe shook his head. “I don’t believe ignorance is enough. I was ignorant, but only because I allowed myself that luxury. Because I didn’t ask the questions that I should have. My loyalty misled me. I knew it was wrong, but I ignored my instincts. I am far from innocent.”
    “So what, then?” Gibson asked. “You and Girl Friday back there track me down so you can get that off your chest? A little Sunday morning confessional? Do you feel better?”
    “It does feel good. I’m surprised at just how good. But that’s not why I’m here.”
    Toby appeared with menus and a pot of coffee. He flipped over the cup in front of Gibson and filled it. He seemed uneasy and gave Gibson a look that asked if he should do something. Gibson shook his head imperceptibly. Whatever was happening here, Gibson didn’t want to involve Toby.
    “I’ll be back in a few minutes, gentlemen,” Toby said.
    When he was gone, Gibson scratched under his lip with his thumbnail and pointed a finger at Abe. “So why are you here?”
    “I’m here for Suzanne.”
    He felt cold, sharp teeth brush the nape of his neck, and the hair on his arms stood up uneasily. It was the first time someone had said her name to him in years. Even his ex-wife knew better than to bring her up.
    “Suzanne Lombard.”
    Abe nodded. “I want you to help me find out what happened to her.”
    “Suzanne is dead, George. That’s what happened.”
    “Probably. Probably that’s true.”
    “It’s been ten years!” Gibson felt his voice rising out of his control. Probably? The word scalpeled its way into Gibson, anger giving way to unthinkable despair. Suzanne was dead. She had to be. It had been ten years. The alternative was so much worse; remaining alive would not be a mercy under such circumstances. No . . . if she was alive, that meant she was hidden. And if she remained hidden after all that time, then someone had gone to desperate lengths to do so. There were no happy answers as to why; only nightmare images conjured in his mind.
    “Why? What’s in it for you? Hoping to get back in Lombard’s good graces?”
    “No. He and I are through.”
    “Then what? Old times’ sake?”
    “My reasons are none of your business.”
    “You’re going to have to do better than that. If you don’t want anything from Lombard, then why go to all this effort to find his daughter? If you’ve got something, why not just hand it over to the feds and be done with it?”
    It was George’s turn to stare at him. Gibson didn’t trust him, but the man gave good stare—hard, like the fender of an old pickup.
    “For Suzanne. I’m surprised at you, Gibson.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Suzanne loved you better than anyone.”
    Gibson was suddenly on the verge of tears. Abe saw it and gave him a kind smile.
    “That girl adored you. Followed you everywhere. And I saw the way you took care of her. Like she was your own sister. We all saw it.” Abe wiped at something under his eye. “This bad blood between you and Benjamin—does it really extend to Suzanne?”
    Gibson shook his head and covered his mouth with a firm hand to keep from saying more, losing the fight to maintain his composure.
    “Then help me. I don’t know about you, but I need to know. I watched that girl grow up. I need to know what happened to her. I want to sit across from the man who lured that beautiful wisp of a girl from her