Chapter 84
I WAS BEYOND beat. Even my reserves were gone. That’s why when I heard the theme to the TV show Green Acres, I hoped I was dreaming. But I wasn’t.
It didn’t matter if it was ten o’clock or three in the morning—I was out of it. But when I opened my eyes, I realized it probably wasn’t too late, because I saw that Mary Catherine was still awake, reading a Michael Connelly novel.
As I glanced at my phone, I noticed that the screen said No Caller ID. My gut said it was someone calling from a federal agency. Or blocking their number. When I answered the phone with a raspy “Hello,” my suspicions were confirmed.
A deep, male voice said, “Detective Bennett? Leland Ackerley, FBI in Bozeman, Montana. We met yesterday.”
“Yeah, yeah, I remember you. You’re the sane agent.” I’ll admit I appreciated the chuckle that earned me from the other end of the line.
“I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“Someone once told me to never admit if you were asleep. So I’m going to say no, it’s fine, I’m awake.” Then I added, “Now.”
I could hear the smile in Ackerley’s voice as he said, “I was just being polite. You left Montana awfully fast.”
“Wouldn’t you if you could?”
“I’m from Dallas originally. I prefer the cooler weather here.”
“I’m glad you woke me up to tell me how happy you are to live in Bozeman.”
Mary Catherine raised an eyebrow at the attitude I was giving the unknown person on the other end of the line. I scaled my sarcasm back.
“Oh, so you admit you were sleeping,” Ackerley said. Without waiting for a reply, he continued: “Actually, I don’t care if I woke you up. This is important.”
That made me physically sit up in bed. “I’m listening.”
“I heard from a couple of people inside the Bureau who think that Arnold Marks—real name, as we discussed, Arjan Marku—may be either headed to or already in New York City.”
“Really? Why would Marku come here? Because I spoiled his business plans?”
“Why not?”
“What kind of gangster gets so hung up on a real-estate deal that he’d chase a cop halfway across the country?”
“You’re being modest. You humiliated him. You cost him money. And you rubbed it in his face,” Ackerley said. “Look, I’m just giving you a heads-up. Agent Hadley’s told me a few stories about how he hasn’t gone after Marku because the guy’s given him a couple of Russian spies.”
I tried to control my voice. “Even after all the shit Marku pulled, Hadley is still defending him? Has he forgotten that someone died in the fire his informant started?”
“Allegedly started.”
“Oh, c’mon. I thought you had some common sense. At least compared to other FBI agents.”
Ackerley sighed and said, “Officially I can’t confirm or deny any of this. That’s why I called on a burner phone and blocked my caller ID. So keep your eyes open.”
I thought about it for a moment and then said, “Thanks, Ackerley. I appreciate it. I know this was a tough call for you to make.”
“Sometimes you gotta do what’s right and make the tough decision.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”