Page 90 of Mastermind

“The Acropolis Building. They had a generator and battery backup in the sub-basement.”

“Who was in there when the event happened?”

“Only its residents. There’s no public access,” she replies.

“What about the residents?” I ask.

“What about them?”

“Have they been interviewed?”

“Yes. Anything else?”

“Could I see the interviews?”

“I’ll look into it. You have to understand that the Acropolis is one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in the city. It’s not as easy as going door to door. I have to go now. Please call the switchboard here if you need anything else.” She shuts her laptop, gathers her posters, and leaves.

The fact that she didn’t offer her cell number, which I already have from an email, was her polite way of telling me to go to hell.

“She seemed nice,” Theo replies.

“I’m not used to having bureau people be so hostile.”

“You know it’s because of me, right?”

“Not all of it. I’ve stepped on a few toes.”

“Perhaps. I didn’t want to say anything before, but I have reason to suspect that once this is all over, you’re going to be put into an uncomfortable position,” he says.

“What do you mean?”

“Because of me. See, even if we catch Heywood, we have to remember that he wants me stopped. And others have been eager to help him. I know it from Myanmar. The bill’s coming due,” he explains.

“Don’t be so dramatic.”

Theo leans on the table and lowers his voice. “I’m not. You’ll see. But I want a promise from you when they come and ask about me.”

“What’s that?” I ask, worried where this will go.

“I want you to tell the truth,” says Theo. “Every correct action. Every questionable one. Just be honest.”

“Okay . . .”

“Because they’re going to get me, one way or another. We can’t let them get you, too.”

“Whatever,” I reply. “But it’s not going down like that. You’ve already done so much.” I point to the hot spot on the map. “Now, let’s go find out if Heywood slipped up.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

FRONT ROW

The Acropolis Building, on the south end of Central Park, is one of the newer, ridiculously tall and thin skyscrapers that’s started to appear along the Manhattan skyline. I don’t know if they’re a sign of skyrocketing property prices or some new construction techniques, but as I stand on the sidewalk, craning my neck to look at the top of the building, it looks like an impossible object—something that should not exist.

Theo gets out of our FBI SUV and momentarily glances up. “It’s tall,” he says before heading to the front of the building.

It’s tall. For Theo, everything is a one or zero. But I’m certain if he saw an ant walking the wrong way on the sidewalk in front of the building, he’d stare at it for half an hour, asking how it’s possible.

I join him in front of the entrance. He’s looking at an app on his phone and making an odd face, which is Theo’s tell for something’s suspicious.