Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven Attacked

Andrew didn't wait until he was in the office to read today's New York Times.He bought a copy at the corner newsstand, and on the front page was Freddie Olson's hastily written article on the Pentagon bulletin half an hour before the blackout.Because a destroyer of the Iranian Navy was traveling too close to the Sixth Fleet near the Strait of Hormuz, a cruiser of the US Navy fired a warning gun at it.The warning gun did not cause any damage to the destroyer, but the relationship between the two countries became increasingly tense. Andrew hoped that Officer Pileg had read the article as well.In the early afternoon, he called Valerie to inform her, who didn't know it, that an F5 tornado had devastated a small town not far from her parents' home.But Valerie didn't have to worry about her parents when she heard the news. Even if Andrew had a motive to lie to her to make her feel at ease, he had already found out that Arcadia was safe and sound.

Considering that there were some things he couldn't tell Valerie yet, Andrew called the florist again, ordered a bouquet of peonies, wrote a short and affectionate blessing on a card, and sent someone to send it to her along with the bouquet.Tonight, he will take good care of Valerie. The remainder of the afternoon was devoted to the investigative work.A few brief words from the police officer the night before had left him in deep thought.Why not try to change the course of events? He had only postponed the argument for a few hours to avoid arguing with Olsen, but this time they had a more heated argument.

In order to buy a good ring before the proposal, even though he walked into another jewelry store at that time, it was strange that he still bought the same ring in the end. Does he really need to be so step-by-step, trying to avoid benefiting from the known experiences of his previous life?Maybe on his next trip to Buenos Aires, he'd be able to silence the man who might have given the crucial confession.If he could succeed in getting Major Ortiz to do his bidding and tell him all he wanted to know, his report would be given the front page as soon as his superiors read it, and he could be on the newlyweds' table. Take Valerie on honeymoon the next day.

What if all over again?Andrew scribbled down such a sentence in his notebook... Who hasn't imagined such a possibility?Fix your mistakes and start over.Life is offering him a second chance... So you're not messing around in Novi Sando, are you?A deep voice in his heart asked softly. Andrew tried to get the thought out of his head.He packed his things and was ready to go back before Valerie came home.Then his phone rang, and the operator put him through a call. An officer from the police station wanted to talk to him. "You're good," said Sergeant Pileg, straight to the point. "You're almost right."

"almost?" "It wasn't the collarbone of my colleague that was broken, but the leg bone, but it seems to be more troublesome. I don't want to lie to you. When I read the newspaper this morning, I did suspect that you were a good liar. See TV After the horrible news about the tornado that was broadcast on the Internet, I still believed in my judgment. Until about an hour ago, I got in touch with my friend who works in District 6. He did some research for me and asked me Confirmed that a colleague from the cavalry in the afternoon was indeed hit by an ambulance. Guessing, you can't guess all of that right."

"Yes, it is indeed impossible." "We should meet again, Mr Steelman." "How about tomorrow?" "It should be more time-saving to take the elevator down directly. I'm in the lobby of the newspaper office where you work. I'll wait for you." Andrew took Pilleg to the Marriott bar.The police officer asked for a glass of Scotch, and Andrew ordered a Fernet-Coke without thinking. "Who would want you dead?" asked Pileg. "Why do you laugh at that question?" "I've started making the list but didn't expect it to be this long."

"We could start in alphabetical order, if that helps you," Pileg said, pulling out a small notebook. "My first thought was Freddie Olsen, a colleague in the office. We both disliked each other, although I reconciled with him yesterday out of an abundance of caution." "Hate is stubborn. Do you know why he hates you?" "Work-related jealousy. In recent months, I've snatched several topics from him." "Wall Street would be a catacomb if we killed every time a co-worker stood in your way. But anyway, anything is possible. Other than that?"

"I've had three death threats letters." "You're a queer fellow, Steelman, and you're saying that as if you've got some brochures..." "It does happen sometimes." Andrew gave Pileg an overview of his investigative activities in Asia. "Do you still have the letters?" "I've turned them over to the police." "Go get them back, I want to see them tomorrow." "They're all anonymous letters." "Nothing is anonymous today. We can always find something like fingerprints." "It's probably mine, and those policemen's."

"Professional police officers know how to sift through information. Do you still have those envelopes?" "I think so, why do you ask?" "The postmark on the envelope is very informative. Letters of this type are usually written in a state of rage, and angry people are not always cautious. The person who wrote the letter may have sent these threatening letters not far from home. While the investigation will be lengthy, we have to identify the parents who have adopted children through this orphanage and then verify their addresses." "It didn't occur to me."

"Because you're not a police officer as far as I know. One office colleague, three threatening letters, you tell me the list will be long, who else?" "I am currently conducting an equally delicate investigation into the misconduct of certain military personnel during the Argentine dictatorship." "Are you specifically investigating certain people?" "A retired Air Force major was at the heart of my story. He was suspected of being involved in the Air Force killings, but the courts had cleared his past. I used his experience as the main thread of the story."

"This guy, have you met him already?" "Yes, but I couldn't get anything out of him at the time, and I hope to get him to admit it next time I go to Argentina." "If I'm to believe your wild statement, you've made this trip in the past, haven't you?" "Yes, that's right." "I suppose you can't change the course of things?" "That's what I was thinking last night, but now that you're sitting in front of me, and now that we're having this conversation that we haven't had before, it just proves to me that change might not be impossible." Pileg twirled the ice cubes in his glass. "Let's be honest, Steelman. You've proven yourself capable of some kind of prophecy, and if I believe your story without reservation, there's always a step I can't take. About your personal story , let’s start with a version that’s easier on me.” "Which one are you talking about?" "You told me that someone is going to murder you, and because I saw that you do have an intuition for predicting, I decided to help you. It can also be regarded as helping you who feel that you are in danger." "If you think it makes things easier... Going back to what we were talking about, I don't think this retired Argentine air force major is going to come after me to New York." "But he could send his men against you. But why choose him as the main line of your story?" "Because the materials my boss in the writing department gave me mainly revolved around this retired major." otherwise, no matter how informative the reports are, even with horrifying details, they will be just a series of cold dates and events in the eyes of readers.' I actually repeated her words! She really had reason to believe this person would be a good entry point into a narrative about how ordinary people can become real assholes, manipulated by the government or fanatical populism. Over time, it would be quite an interesting story. topic, don't you think?" "Your boss, have you never suspected her?" "Olivia? There is no doubt that she has no reason to hate me. We get along very well." "Very good, how good is it?" "what do you want to say in the end?" "You're going to be married soon, aren't you? I don't think your male colleagues in the office will be jealous." "You are mistaken, there is no ambiguity between us." "But she, she may see it differently than you do." Andrew thought about the question asked by the police officer. "No, frankly I don't think it's possible." "Since you said so, let us exclude your Olivia first..." "Stan, Olivia Stein." "With an e at the end of the name, or without an e?" "Without." "Thank you," the officer wrote the name in his notebook, "and your fiancée?" "What, my fiancée?" "Mr. Reporter, according to the experience I have accumulated in my long career, apart from murders committed by mental illness, there are generally only two types of murders, murders for profit and murders of passion. I have three questions for you: you owe people money, Or were you a witness to a crime?" "Neither, what's your third question?" "Have you ever cheated on your wife?" The officer ordered another scotch, and Andrew told him something that might have something to do with his murderer... Andrew hadn't driven his Datsun for several months because of his heavy workload.It's supposed to be dusty and parked on the third basement level of the parking lot not far from the Marriott bar.The battery is probably dead, and Andrew doesn't think the car's tires are in great shape either. He made an appointment at lunch with an auto mechanic to have the car towed to Simon's. Like every time he took the car to Simon, Andrew knew Simon would scold him for not taking good care of his car.He would remind Andrew how much time and effort his mechanic had put into repairing the car, how difficult it was to satisfy him, and conclude that such a collectible car should not be left behind. In the hands of those who know how to cherish.It would take him twice as long to get the car back in good shape, like a primary school teacher confiscating a pupil's toys as punishment, but Andrew's Datsun was returned as shiny as new when it was returned the same. Andrew left the newspaper office and walked across the street.At the entrance of the parking lot, he greeted the doorman, who was too busy reading the newspaper.As he made his way down the escalator, Andrew heard a noise behind him that seemed to be treading the rhythm of his footsteps, probably an echo. A solitary neon tube glowed faintly, illuminating the lowest level of the underground car park.Andrew walked along the passage to parking space 37, which was the narrowest parking space in the entire parking lot, just sandwiched between two pillars.Opening the door and squeezing into the car in such an environment is impossible without a certain level of gymnastics, but the corresponding advantage is that few drivers can park the car in this position. He reached over to the hood of the car and found that his Datsun was dirtier than he expected.He tried the tires again with his foot, and it seemed that the car should be towed out without any damage.The trailer should not be late, Andrew fumbled for the key in his pocket.When he walked around the pillar and leaned over to open the door with the key, he suddenly felt someone coming behind him.Before Andrew could turn around, he felt a baseball bat hit his waist firmly, and he bent down in pain.His immediate reaction was to sideways and face his attacker, but the second blow landed him in the stomach and he fell to the ground holding his breath in pain. Andrew fell to the ground curled up, barely able to see the appearance of the visitor, who pressed a baseball bat to his throat, forcing him to lie on his back. If someone came to see his car, let him take it away, anyway, it can't start now.Andrew shook the key, the man stepped on his hand hard, and the key fell to the ground. "You can take the money, please don't hurt me." Andrew begged while taking out the wallet from his coat pocket. The baseball bat slings the purse across the lane with stunning accuracy. "Fool!" yelled the attacker. Andrew thought to himself that the stranger who attacked him was either a lunatic, or had mistaken the target and mistook him for someone else.If so, it's best for him to understand the situation as soon as possible. He moved his body slowly, and finally leaned his back against the door of the car. The baseball bat shattered the car window, and then the second whizzed and landed a few centimeters from Andrew's head, knocking off the rearview mirror of the car. "Stop it," Andrew yelled, "what did I do to you, bastard?" "You just remembered this question now? Then me, what did I do to you?" Well, this man is undoubtedly a lunatic, the stunned Andrew thought. "It's time for you to pay the price." The visitor raised his baseball bat again as he spoke. "Please," Andrew moaned, "I don't understand you at all, I don't even know you, I'm sure you must be mistaken." "I am fully aware of who I am dealing with. A shameless person who only worries about his own future, a bastard who never thinks about the people around him, and a complete scum of society." The tone of the visitor became more and more threatening . Andrew quietly reached into his coat pocket and found his mobile phone.He fumbled with his fingertips to find the button that would make an emergency call, but he soon realized that in the third basement car park his phone had no signal at all. "I'm going to break your hands, I'm going to shatter your shoulders, I'm going to destroy you completely." Andrew heard his heart beating violently, it seemed that this unreasonable weirdo would not stop until he was killed.Should have tried his luck again, but the adrenaline rushing through his veins made his heart pound at a goddamn rhythm.He was trembling all over, and he might not even be able to stand at this moment. "Don't be so pretentious, eh?" "Please think about it in my shoes," Andrew replied. "Strange that you have the audacity to say that! Yes, I'd love you to think for me in my place. If you had thought for me, we wouldn't be here now." The man swung his baseball bat Pressing against Andrew's forehead, he sighed. Andrew watched as the baseball bat rose a little above his head, then fell so violently on the roof of his Datsun that it immediately dented. "How much did you get? Two thousand, five thousand, or ten thousand dollars?" "What are you talking about?" "Stop pretending to be innocent! Are you trying to tell me that it's not about money at all, you're just fighting for honor? That's right, you do have the most beautiful job in the world, don't you?" tone added. Suddenly there was the sound of a car engine and clutch, and two lights pierced the darkness. The attacker hesitated for a moment; in desperation, Andrew stood up violently and rushed towards the man, trying to strangle him by the neck.The man flung him off effortlessly, punched him hard on the jaw with his fist, and sprinted for the escalator, narrowly missing the oncoming trailer. The car mechanic got out of the car and approached Andrew slowly. "what happened?" "I was attacked just now." Andrew rubbed his face and replied. "So, I came just in time!" "It would have been better if it had been ten minutes ago, but I still have to thank you, I think your presence saved me from a disaster." "I hope your car does too, it looks like the guy smashed your car pretty hard too. But anyway, it's better than it's you." "Yes, though I know there are people who won't agree with you." Andrew sighed, looking at his Datsun. "Naturally, I came prepared. Where's your key?" asked the repairman. "It should be on the ground." Andrew groped with his feet while answering. "Are you sure you don't need me to drive you to the hospital?" the mechanic then asked. "Thank you, no major damage, except for my pride." By the light of the trailer, Andrew found his key chain next to a pillar and his wallet not far from a Cadillac.He handed the keys to the mechanic and told him he couldn't go with him.He scribbled the address of Simon's on the trailer receipt and handed it to the mechanic. "Do I need to say anything to the other party?" "Tell him I'm fine and I'll call him tonight." "Get in the car, I'll give you a ride outside the parking lot, no one knows if that lunatic is still wandering around; you should report to the police." "I can't describe the appearance of that person to them. The only thing I can say is that the person is much shorter than me. Of course, this is not because I am boasting about my height." Andrew returned to his office after breaking up with the repairman on the street.The pain in his hip was beginning to subside, but he still felt something like hard cement clamping down on his jaw.He had no idea who the assailant was, but he suspected that he might have misidentified him, and the thought made him even more nervous. "When did your accident happen?" Pileg asked. "During the end of the year holidays, between Christmas and New Years, I was alone in New York." "He looks quick, doesn't he? A family father who plays baseball with his kids on the weekends. If you're getting an anonymous letter from a father who expresses anger like this, I No surprise at all. Speaking of which, can you still not describe his face clearly?" "It's too dark in the parking lot." Andrew said and looked away. Pileg put a hand on his shoulder. "Did I tell you how many years I was in the police force before I retired? Thirty-five years and a little more. That's a long time, isn't it?" "Yes, I can imagine." "So how many criminals do you think I have interrogated in my thirty-five years of career?" "Do I know it will matter?" "Frankly, I can't even count myself, but what I can tell you is that even after retirement, I can tell at a glance that someone is hiding something. Whenever someone tries to get away with smooth talk, his words and actions There's always something in there that will give away his secret." "what?" "Body language never lies. Frown, blush (like you are), purse your lips, or wander your eyes. Have your shoes been waxed?" Only then did Andrew raise his head. "The wallet I picked up in the parking lot wasn't mine, it was the attacker's. He probably left it while fleeing." "Why didn't you tell me about it just now?" "I'm ashamed to say I got put down by a guy who was a head shorter than me. And looking through his papers," Andrew went on, "I found out he was a teacher." "What does this change?" "He is not a tall and rough man. There must be a reason for him to retaliate against me. It should be that my reports have hurt him." "Do you still have his ID card?" "It's in a drawer in my office." "Then let's go to your office now, it's only across the street anyway."