Page 100 of The Accomplice
I looked around for someone watching me. I couldn’t see Carrie, but I guessed she had already been here. I turned my attention to the view finder.
‘I see it.’
‘There’s a rail at the bottom that goes around it. You’ll find something tucked in behind the base of the view finder.’
I walked over to it. Sure enough, in the base, there was a little black book.
‘A book ?’
‘My journal. The rest of it. Read it. And if you still want to help me after that, then I’ll trust you.’
She hung up.
I opened the journal and read as I started walking back to the car. By the time I reached the Mustang I knew why Carrie had run.
And the pieces of the story I wasn’t sure of suddenly made sense. Gaps had been filled in. For the first time I had the real story, or most of it. The rest I could fill in on my own.
I called Carrie.
‘I’m in. I know what happened. I know what you’ve done. I’m still here for you. We can win this case together. Truth is, Carrie, I need you. The Sandman has Kate.’
‘What ?’
‘You have to come to court tomorrow. You will get arrested for jumping bail, but don’t worry. Everything will work out fine. If you don’t come in tomorrow, Kate is in real danger. He said he would kill her if you are convicted. He loves you.’
‘Oh my god.’
‘I won’t let anything bad happen, I swear it. I think we can win. But I need you in court. Can I count on you ? My partner’s life is on the line, here.’
‘I’ll be there. And, Eddie – thank you.’
‘I just wish you’d told me the truth sooner. I understand why you didn’t, but we have to trust each other now.’
‘I trust you. I’ll be at court in the morning.’
I ended the call, looked out at the black river coated in swirling columns of light. There is something about water at night that calms me. Makes everything clearer. The half-truths and missing pieces of information had all come to me now. What I didn’t know in that moment was what I should do. There could be no mistakes. Kate’s life was on the line.
I gazed out at the East River, let things play out in my mind.
There was great risk to it all. Especially to Kate.
I closed my eyes and listened to the wind and water.
When I opened them, I’d made a decision.
First, I called Denise.
‘You know someone in Company Records, right ?’
‘I know the manager, the assistant manager and two of the clerks,’ she said.
‘Could you get them to open up for Bloch in the next half hour ?’
‘Are you kidding me ?’
‘Let the manager know that if he helps us, we can make it worth his while.’
‘Got it. He’s a friend and I think he’ll help.’
