Read Online Deadly Diamonds by John Dobbyn - Free Book Online Page B

Coyne’s increasingly sour mood showed that he had his share as well.
    I excused myself and went into the hallway to make a call. There was no answer at the office. Mr. D. never carried a cell phone, so I dialed up the cell phone of my secretary, Julie.
    â€œJulie, was Mr. Devlin at the office when you left?”
    â€œNo. He left right after you. He said he had something to do before meeting you.”
    â€œAnd that was what?”
    â€œHe never said. He’d made a couple of calls on his private line. I could see the lights on my phone. Then he left.”
    â€œHow was he?”
    Silence.
    â€œJulie, how was he? Speak.”
    â€œI didn’t like how he looked. His face was red. He looked like he could have a stroke any minute. I even tried to get him to sit, but—Then he said—”
    â€œWhat, Julie?”
    â€œTell Michael this one’s all mine.”

CHAPTER NINE
    When Michael left the office, Lex decided there was no time for anything but the direct approach. The longer the lie about Matt was allowed to fester, the more indelibly the stain would set.
    He called the number for Collini’s bar in the North End. The bartender took his name and put him through to Packy Salviti.
    â€œYeah, what?”
    â€œMr. Salviti, My name’s Lex Devlin. You and I have some business to do. I suggest we meet.”
    â€œOh, yeah? Just like that. What business do I have with you?”
    â€œI represent Monsignor Matt Ryan.”
    Silence.
    â€œI want you to understand two things. I know you’ve got your hand in this. Frankly, I don’t give a damn about your business. You have nothing to be concerned about from me.”
    â€œOh, there’s a relief. I can stop shakin’ in my boots.”
    Lex heard laughter on the other end. That meant he was on speakerphone, and Salviti was playing to his gang of thugs. It also meant that nothing constructive would come of that conversation. He needed Salviti alone.
    â€œI’m a lawyer, Salviti. I’ll give you some advice. No charge. If I were you, I’d take that phone off speaker and treat this as a personal call. I told you I represent Father Ryan. Like I said, we have business. It’s personal business you may not want broadcast to every baboon in the cage over there.”
    â€œWho the hell do you think—?”
    â€œI’m the one who can do you some good if we sit down and talk. We can do it alone or it can happen in a police interrogation roomunder an arrest warrant for subornation of perjury. I prefer alone, but the other’s looking more attractive all the time.”
    There were three seconds before Lex heard the speakerphone click off.
    â€œWhat do you want to talk about?”
    â€œLet’s meet and see how the conversation develops.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œThis afternoon.”
    A few seconds’ pause.
    â€œI’ll be here.”
    â€œI won’t. The sooner you get over the idea you’re dealing with the class idiot, the more we’ll be able to do for each other. Someplace neutral and public. Boston Common. Corner of Charles and Beacon Streets. I’ll be on the bench. Five o’clock.”
    The beginning of rush hour brought a flow of professional suits and tourists by the bench area on one of the busiest sections of Boston Common. Lex knew none of them, but he got a feeling of security in their presence.
    The sun was just down. The chill that followed made it all the more difficult to control the urge to catch the first cab out of there. This was not an arena in which he felt on solid ground. He knew he was about to bargain with the devil on a matter in which he was blind-sided from every direction.
    It was a quarter past five, and the prospect of a dead end was looming, when he heard the repeated blast of a horn from a black Lincoln stopped at the curb on Charles Street. The driver seemed to be summoning him to the passenger side with the window down.
    Lex