Leverage in Death (In Death 47)

She wanted to do the search personally, bit back the impulse by reminding herself of priorities. “I’ll get a team to the garage now, get out the APB on the vehicle. This is good.”

He waited until she had before nudging the wine on her. “We’ll take five, you and I—and while we do,” he continued before she could object, “I’ll tell you I’ve been in touch with Feeney.”

“What’s he got?”

“I’d imagine a raging headache by this time. He, Callendar, and two others have been working on cleaning, scanning, piecing together. It’s slow, tedious work. The odds are long they’ll get much of anything, you should know that. If anything can be recovered, they will. He and Callendar are going to take four hours in the crib, then get back to it.”

“Okay.”

“They’ve dug into the portables Iler had—and there you’ve got

the financial information, his own portfolio, that sort of thing. Nothing on his contact lists, as yet, no link to Silverman. However, they dug up the ’link conversation with Banks.”

“You should’ve led with that.” She popped up, paced to the board. “That’s big.”

“He deleted it, but nothing’s ever gone. Deleted, added some filters and so on. It took some doing, but you have the conversation.”

“I need to hear it.”

“It’s on your unit now.” Roarke leaned over, cued it up.

She heard Iler’s voice answer cheerfully. Well, hello, Jordan.

Hi there. We need to chat.

About what?

About Quantum and Econo, about stocks and explosions.

After a tangible hesitation, Lucius answered, A terrible thing, isn’t it? Another disgruntled employee. Your ex was injured, wasn’t she?

Cut the bullshit, Lucius. I’ve had the cops at my door, and they wondered—pointedly—if I’d shared any of the information Willi passed on to me with anyone.

Listen, Jordan—

No, you listen. I told the cops I hadn’t, played it cool. But that can change. I did you a favor, Lucius.

I paid for the favor.

Not enough. If you want me to hold the line I’ve taken with the cops, I want a cut of what I imagine is a substantial profit. Let’s say two hundred fifty thousand. Consider it insurance.

This is ridiculous. You can’t prove you told me anything, and you certainly can’t prove I had anything to do with what happened at Quantum.

Do you want the cops poking around, Lucius? I covered for you, and I’ll go on covering for you. For a cut.

I had nothing to do with—

Don’t care. Pay the insurance, Lucius, in cash, and your worries are over.

We need to discuss this. Not over the ’link.

Happy to. I’m at Thad and Delvinia’s bon voyage right now. You can meet me here.

Not in public, for God’s sake, not at a party. Let me think. I’ll get back to you.

“Follow up conversation coming next,” Roarke told her.

You took your time, Banks answered.