Downfall by Jeff Abbott Read Free Book Online Page B

wife. I shouldn’t have agreed to do your dirty work.”
    “And you have Holly to consider.”
    “Yes. I have everything; you only have the little world you’ve built for yourself.”
    “ I am a little world made cunningly ,” Belias said.
    “What?”
    “John Donne. You lack a poetical soul, Glenn; read a book now and then. You’re right. But you have benefited tremendously from my little world.”
    “Have I?” Glenn’s stare was steady. “When you ask me to risk everything I’ve earned, I wonder.”
    Belias smiled. “Earned?”
    Roger laughed.
    Belias touched Glenn’s jaw. “You have nothing without me.”
    “It’s occurred to me you have nothing without me . Without us . All of us.”
    Belias let ten seconds tick by. “Did Diana call the bartender by name? Was he wearing a name tag?”
    “No. But if he works at that bar, then we know where to find him, and he has no idea where to find us.”
    “But he could have seen your car.”
    “I’m sure he didn’t.”
    Roger made an unconvinced noise in his throat.
    Glenn closed his eyes, and Belias reached down and opened one of Glenn’s eyes with his fingertips.
    “Look at me. Him helping her to the point of killing the Russian would suggest he did know her.”
    Glenn was silent.
    “So we have an unknown in the equation now.”
    “The bartender was just some guy who interfered.”
    “Oh no, I don’t just mean him.” Belias nearly laughed. “I mean you . You hiring thugs, you and Holly lying to me, you failing to follow my incredibly simple orders regarding Diana.”
    “Can we speak privately?” Glenn’s gaze slid to Roger.
    “Roger. Give us a moment, would you?”
    Roger left, shutting the door behind him.
    “I sense honesty is about to break out all over,” Belias said.
    “I don’t think your orders make sense anymore.”
    “Mutiny. Of the bountiful.” Belias sat down. “You must still love Holly, breaking my most important rule to be sure you did the job and she didn’t risk a broken nail.”
    “Holly’s a good thief and good shot. A kidnapping is different.” Glenn closed his eyes.
    “You’re still in love with her.” Belias patted his heart. “Very touching. I’m getting misty.”
    “Could we not discuss her?”
    Belias tapped his finger against his own lip. “And you seem more worried about Holly now than when you were married to her. That’s psychologically very telling, Glenn.”
    “What are you now, my therapist?”
    “I don’t need to see into your soul. I own it.”
    Glenn started to speak and Belias shushed him. “I want to know where this Rostov lived.”
    “I…I don’t know.”
    Belias sat down at the computer. “It won’t take me long to find him. Try to rest, Glenn. I want that brain of yours functioning at peak capacity tomorrow. You know how I rely on your advice.”
    Roger came back into the room, and Belias gestured him toward Glenn.
    “John…I’m sorry.” Glenn spoke in a tone that made Belias wonder if he were apologizing for more than one mistake. He started to sit up, and Belias nodded at Roger, who grabbed Glenn’s arm and slid the needle home—using the syringe Glenn had meant to use on Diana.
    Glenn closed his eyes and fell into a regular, drowsy pattern of breathing.
    “He needs to be in a hospital,” Roger said.
    “When I say so,” Belias said, eyes locked on the laptop’s screen. “He’s never disobeyed me before. I want to know what’s special about today.”

8
    Thursday, November 4, late evening
    I HAVE KILLED BEFORE NOW.
    I have killed to save my son, to save myself.
    But I have never killed before in public. With witnesses.
    It changes everything.
    I’d just gotten my life back to seminormal, and now I might lose it all again.
    I sat in the still quiet of the police interview room. The video camera lens watched me. This is what happens when you show yourself as not fitting inside the borders of everyday life, such as taking out two armed assailants.
    My jaw felt bruised;