She was indispensable to the criminals the same way she was to Coburn, and Hamilton, and to the Department of Justice. What The Bookkeeper perceived her to know or to have was as good as a bulletproof vest.
But Coburn had no such protection.
She was his protection.
Chapter 35
Coburn?”
Coburn pressed the pistol more firmly against VanAllen’s neck. “Pleased to meet you.”
“I was expecting Mrs. Gillette.”
“She couldn’t make it.”
“Is she all right?”
“She’s fine. Just tied up at the moment.”
“That’s not funny.”
“It wasn’t supposed to be. I’m just letting you and the sharpshooters who’ve got me in their night vision sights know that if they kill me, Mrs. Gillette and the kid will stay perpetually lost.”
VanAllen gave a small shake of his head. “You made yourself clear to Hamilton, who made himself clear to me. There aren’t any sharpshooters.”
“Tell me another one.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Wireless mike? Are you talking for the benefit of everybody out there listening in?”
“No. You can search me if you don’t believe me.”
Coburn deftly stepped around VanAllen, but kept his pistol aimed at his head. When he came face-to-face with the man, he sized him up. Desk jockey. Unsure. Out of his league.
Threat to him, next to nil.
Dirty or clean? Coburn would guess he was honest, because he appeared not to have either the guts or the cunning to be on the take.
Which is why Coburn believed the man truly didn’t know about the sniper on the water tower over Coburn’s left shoulder at seven o’clock. Or the one in the caboose window at four o’clock. Or the one he’d spotted on the roof of the apartment complex three blocks away.
That shooter would have to be extremely good, and the angle was lousy, but it could be done, and after blowing Coburn’s head off, the bastard would have all the time in the world to get away.
Either VanAllen was really good at playing dumb, or he truly was in the dark, which was even more alarming.
“Where are Mrs. Gillette and the child?” he asked. “They’re my chief concern.”
“Mine, too. Which is why I’m here and she’s not.” Coburn lowered the pistol to his side.
VanAllen followed the motion, looking relieved that he was no longer staring into the bore. “You didn’t trust me?”
“No.”
“What reason have I given you not to?”
“None. I’d just hate to leave you out.”
“You mistrust everybody.”