The Witness (Badge of Honor 4)

Matt considered that a minute, then replied, “No. I don’t think so.”

“Let’s lake it apart and see what we need,” Coughlin said.

Matt opened the telephone recorder and removed the tape cassette and handed it to Coughlin.

Brewster C. Payne reached for the telephone and dialed a number.

Mr. Arnold, please,” he said. “Brewster Payne calling.” There was a brief pause, and then he went on: “Jack, for reasons I would rather not get into, I need another telephone line installed in my son’s apartment, in the Delaware Valley Cancer Society Building on Rittenhouse Square, right away.” There was another pause. “No, I don’t mean first thing tomorrow. In the next hour or so is what I had in mind.”

Matt saw Denny Coughlin smiling.

“No, I am not kidding,” Brewster Payne went on. “You told me, Jack, to call you if I ever needed something. This is that call.” There was one last pause. “Two hours would be fine, Jack. His name is Matthew M. Payne and it’s the apartment in the attic. Thank you very much.”

He turned somewhat triumphantly from the telephone.

“Two hours, Denny.”

“You are an amazing man,” Coughlin said.

“How kind of you to recognize that,” Payne said smugly.

Patricia Payne groaned.

“I wonder where we can get one of these?” Coughlin said, examining the tape cassette.

“I bought that in the electronics store on Walnut and 15th,” Matt said.

“Okay. We’ll take Officer Martinez with us when we go, and he can bring it back. Until we get another tape in there, just don’t answer the phone. Better yet, take it off the hook.”

He picked up his drink and drained it.

“Patty, Brewster,” he said. “Matt’s in good hands. You have nothing to worry about”

“Good try, Denny,” Patricia Payne said. “But not a very successful one.”

“Let’s go,” Coughlin said. He looked al Matt Payne. “I’ll check in with you later, Matty.”

“Thank you, Uncle Denny.”

“Have you got any special orders

for me, Chief?” Sergeant Carter said.

“No. You know what to do. Do it.”

“Carter, why don’t you and I take a run past Mr. Monahan’s house?” Malone said.

“He’s al Goldblatt’s, sir. I checked.”

“I want to check the arrangements at his house,” Malone said tartly. “I know where he is.”

“Yes, sir.”

“It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Payne,” Malone said. “Mr. Payne.”

“It was nice to meet you, Lieutenant,” Patricia Payne said, “and you too, Sergeant Carter. Thank you.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Carter said.