Chapter 86 Section IX

The sharp ringing of the phone broke the tense atmosphere in the room. Giordano and his son exchanged uneasy glances. "Maybe McKittrick," Frank said. "Damn it, it better be him." Giordano picked up the phone. "Tell me." He frowned. "Who the hell are you talking about—" He stared at Decker. "Who? What makes you think he's..." "It was me," Decker said, "a friend of mine, to see if I'm okay." He took the microphone from Giordano and said into it, "So you're in the right place. Yes, very good." "Nearly missed it," Esperanza said in a calm voice from the other end. "I didn't dare to get too close, lest your driver see the headlights of the taxi. It's hard enough."

"Where are you?" "Outside the post office—pass by here on the High Road." "Call back in five minutes." Decker put the phone back on the cradle and turned to Giordano. "Just in case." "Do you think someone on the phone can save you fool when I think you're in my way?" "No." Decker shrugged. "But before I die, I know that my friends will connect with my other friends, and you will soon be on my way, and that will let me die without regret." The room fell silent, and even the rain that hit the floor-to-ceiling windows seemed to have suddenly become silent.

"No one dared to threaten my father," Frank said. "That Luigi thing definitely sounds like your father is threatening me," Decker said. "I came here in good faith to discuss a bilateral issue, and instead of being respected, I was forced to..." "A bilateral issue?" Giordano asked. "Diana Scolari." Decker paused, adjusting his emotions.Everything depends on what he says next. "I want to kill her for you." Giordano was dumbfounded. Frank stepped forward. "A lot of us want to kill her for what she did to Joy." Decker still maintained a stiff expression.He dared not reveal the relief that welled up in him.Frank used the present tense.Beth is still alive.

"You want me to believe that you wanted to kill her after you slept with her?" "She lied to me. She used me." "This sucks." "It's about her. I want to find her. I want her to be punished." "Then we should tell you where she is?" Frank said. "And where's Brian McKittrick. He used me too. He offended me. It's not the first time. He's got to pay for it." "Well, you can count him as your enemy, too," said Frank. "We've got a lot of people looking for them both." "Looking for—I thought he was working for you."

"That's what we used to think. He was due to report yesterday, but he hasn't heard anything. Has he gone back to work for the Federal Court Enforcement Service? If she turns up in court tomorrow..." "Frank," Giordano said, "how many more times do I have to tell you to shut you up?" "You guys have no secrets from me," Decker said. "I know she's going to testify against you tomorrow. If I can find out where she is, I'll fix it for you. She'll let me get close to her." ,so……" The phone rang again. This time both Giordano and Frank focused on Decker.

"It's your friend again," Giordano said. "Let him leave us alone." Decker picked up the phone. "I'm going to speak to Nick," said a haughty New England accent.It's Brian McKittrick.