Page 39 of Delusional

As the developer opened the door, I continued: “Google it. The blood of the horseshoe crab is blue. And while you’re at it, maybe you want to google some more accurate philosophical quotations.”

I couldn’t hide my smile as Arnold Marks sped off the lot. I’d wanted to get into his head, and it looked like I’d just signed a long-term lease.

CHAPTER 45

TOM OWENS TRIED to tune out the complaints and gripes so he could focus on the mission. He was a little relieved that Pry wasn’t with him and the others. He was already waiting at the end of the alley on the next block. At least Owens didn’t have to put up with the big man’s bullying and crude remarks.

Ellis Warrenton said, “I look ridiculous.”

Kimmy smiled and said, “Why? Because you’re wearing actual work clothes?”

Ellis was dressed in tan coveralls with a name tag they’d found on the sidewalk near their house in Yonkers. The tag was bright white with the name “Juan” written in red. There was nothing on the name tag that indicated what store Juan worked for.

Owens didn’t jump in on the insult. He himself was dressed in a long coat with a cap and a plaid scarf that could cover his entire face once he entered the building. They had refined the plan slightly. Kimmy would call Pry to tell him when to take out the box that sent the video signal to the security company. At the same time, Owens intended to walk into the lobby of the building, then into the reception area for Virtual Spaces. He would be carrying a soft-sided briefcase crammed with a combination of C-4 and black powder. Owens had nuts and bolts in the briefcase too, packed around the outside of the explosives to act as shrapnel when the bomb detonated.

Although the weather was cold and they were hours behind schedule, Owens still felt confident that the plan would work. He couldn’t even explain how their day had been delayed so many times. But this would work out. As the late-afternoon crowds in Midtown Manhattan grew, it might even help the overall effect. More bodies meant more media attention.

Ellis continued to complain about his uniform.

Owens said, “You don’t have to wear it for long. You’re only a backup. You don’t even have to go inside unless there’s a problem. But if you do have to go inside, you’ll fit right in wearing that.”

Ellis gave Owens a look and said, “Why do I have to fit in as someone named Juan?”

Kimmy said, “Because we couldn’t find a name tag that said ‘Dick.’”

Owens noted by the look on Ellis’s face that Kimmy had said something insulting, but he wasn’t certain exactly what. Hanging out with these guys was starting to improve his interactions with people, but a lot of things still went completely over his head.

Ellis ignored Kimmy and turned to Owens. “Are you sure you can disable the security system? There won’t be any other backups?”

“There won’t be other backups. The owners of the building are too cheap to spring for extra hardware. It might’ve saved them a few dollars a month. We’ll see what kind of value the building manager thinks it is tomorrow.”

Ellis added, “It saves us a long stay in prison.”

Before Ellis could ask any other stupid questions, Owens said, “It’s getting late. Kimmy, call Pry. Let’s get started.” He picked up the heavy briefcase and tried not to show the strain it put on his right side. Then he walked casually down the sidewalk, leaving Kimmy and Ellis behind. He was careful to lift the scarf high onto his face and pull the blue wool hat lower around his ears. He didn’t look suspicious. He looked like someone who was tired of the cold weather.

As Owens approached the building, he realized he was a little nervous. That was unusual for him. He rarely felt anxious or remorseful or some of the other things he heard about all the time. He decided it was a good thing. He shouldn’t walk into something this important flippantly.

He hoped that idiot Pry had knocked out the connection box at the rear of the building.

Right before he got to the door, Owens took a deep breath and prepared himself. He’d gone through this a thousand times in his head. He’d studied the building’s schematics and knew roughly the schedule for the reception office of Virtual Spaces.

He couldn’t imagine what might go wrong.

As soon as Owens stepped through the door, he froze. A uniformed NYPD patrol officer was standing in the lobby, chatting with the security guard.

CHAPTER 46

I FELT LIKE my initial meeting with the mysterious man from Los Angeles had gone pretty well. But Gary Trilling seemed spooked by the whole ordeal. He clearly wasn’t used to threats, either direct or subtle. He was a businessman, not a cop. He’d never done anything wrong or crossed anyone. He lived in one of the safest areas of the country.

He couldn’t be expected to handle someone like Arnold Marks without being a little nervous.

Gary drove us back to his house in the van, with his brother in the front passenger seat and me sitting in the rear with Fido the llama directly behind. Gary said being at the car lot made him nervous, and he didn’t intend on opening for business again for at least a week. On top of everything else, he was deeply saddened by the death of his bookkeeper, Lillian.

As he drove, Gary kept hitting the same regret over and over.

“If I had sold the lot when Marks made me the first big offer, I’d have a hell of a lot of cash, and more importantly, Lillian would still be alive.”

Rob Trilling shook his head. “You have no way of knowing what would or wouldn’t have happened. None of this is your fault. It’s being done to you. Now both Mike and I are here to help you.” That seemed to calm his brother down.