Vertical Run by Joseph Garber Page B

himself to explore the alternative explanation to Helen’s behavior.
Maybe she is on their side. Maybe she wants you dead the same as everybody else
.
    Nonsense. He’d spent five years working as hard as he could to turn the marriage into a success.
    How hard has she worked?
    Shut up! I don’t need this!
    You know what they say about guys who argue with themselves, and then lose.…
    Dave growled and rolled over, trying to find a more comfortable posture. As he turned, the radio that he’d taken, together with sixty-seven dollars, from the corpes of Ransome’s backup man, slipped away. He retrieved it and placed it close to his ear. The volume was low. Sooner or later American Interdyne’s technical staff would be coming back to the computer room. Dave didn’t want them wondering where that odd noise—
sounds like a walkie-talkie to me, Frank
—was coming from.
    A conversation was in progress: “… like someone had dropped a ketchup sandwich and smeared it all over the floor. Half of New York City must’ve stepped on the poor bastard’s face.”
    Another voice answered. “Aww, man, that’s nasty. That’s just a nasty way to go. Somebody’s gotta call Don … Robin and get us some goddamned orders around here.”
    “Negative. Robin’s on personal radio silence. We don’t speak to him until he speaks to us.”
    “Aww, man. The cops are letting people back into the building. I don’t know what the hell we’re supposed to do, but I think we should get our hairy asses out of here.”
    “Not without orders.”
    “Screw the orders, man. And another thing, screw only Robin and Partridge knowing what this happy horseshit is about. I mean, man, so we’re supposed to ice this guy, right? No big deal, they say. Just an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay, right? Yeah, no big deal. Well, man, if it’s no big deal, then why the hell won’t they tell us whatit’s all about? Christ, it ain’t like we don’t all have clearances or something. But, uh-uh, no questions, Robin says. No answers, Robin says. Well, bullshit is what I says. You know what I think? I think this guy, the subject, has got something on somebody. I mean he knows some bad shit about one of the big boys. And whoever that big boy is …”
    “Belay that!” Dave knew the voice. It belonged to Partridge.
    “No, man, listen …”
    “At ease, Warbler. And don’t call me ‘man.’ ”
    Hmm. Sounds like Partridge is as much of a hard case as Ransome
.
    Warbler’s voice dripped sarcasm. “Well, excuse me.
Sir.”
    “Warbler, if you’ve got a problem with the chain of command, I am the man to resolve it for you. And if any of you men have a problem with your duty, I’ll be pleased to discuss it with you one on one. Otherwise, you know what your job is, and that’s all you need to know. Am I understood, gentlemen?”
    Second-in-command. Partridge is Ransome’s second-in-command
.
    Someone mumbled, “Yessir.”
    “I didn’t quite hear that, soldier.”
    “Sorry, sir. I said yes, sir.”
    “Clear the channel.” It was Ransome’s voice, cool enough, but not quite as cool as it had been. “This is Robin. Our friend has got another radio.”
    “Son of a …”
    “I said clear the channel. In case you have forgotten, that translates as zip your lip.”
    Sounds a mite touchy, doesn’t he
.
    “Point number one: Momentarily, I will be issuing a code change. On my mark we will go to Xylophone Delta Niner. Point number two: I want everyone back to their assigned stations immediately. Point number three: I require a medical kit for personal use. Point number four: We need a cleanup team on the second floor, in the restaurant. A body bag will be required.”
    “You tagged him, Robin?”
    “Negative. The bag is for Oriole.”
    “Aww, man …”
    “Zip it!” Dave heard a snap. Ransome inhaled deeply and blew out. He’d just lit a cigarette.
Well, we all have our little weaknesses
.
    “Mr. Elliot, I trust you are