Page 45 of Witness 8

‘He was a fiercely intelligent actor. During one of Adler’s acting classes, she instructed her students to imagine that they were chickens and the atomic bomb was about to fall on them from the heavens. Well, as you can imagine, the class got up and they were running around, clucking and flapping their imaginary wings in a cacophonous panic. Except one student, Brando. He didn’t run around. He calmly spread his legs and hunkered down on the floor. Adler asked what the hell he was doing. Why wasn’t he afraid of the oncoming atomic Armageddon? Do you know what he said?’

At first Charlie didn’t react. Then he shook his head, said, ‘No.’

‘Brando said, “I’m a chicken. I’m laying an egg. What the fuck do I know about atomic bombs?” ’

The man smiled. Charlie was too petrified to move.

Just then, the man’s phone rang. He smoothly removed a black cell phone from his inside pocket, hit answer and placed the device at his ear.

‘Good evening,’ said the man. ‘Mr. Christmas speaking.’

‘You’re always so polite,’ said the voice on the line.

‘Manners cost nothing, my friend. May I be of assistance?’

‘I heard about a job in New York. A lawyer. New York’s Finest are floating the paper in the open. Fifty grand, flat fee. No expenses. Thought I should let you know.’

‘Not to be impolite, but it’s a little below my paygrade.’

‘I realize that, but, you know . . . It’s a tough economy.’

‘Someone in New York will pick it up. That’s not my usual territory.’

‘Well, that’s the thing,’ said the voice on the line. ‘Jimmy the Hat knows this guy. Nobody in New York will touch it. I heard there’s people flying in from all over.’

Mr. Christmas took another sip of coffee, then said, ‘Whom?’

‘The guys you might expect. Mid-level earners, but one in particular who is very much in your paygrade. I didn’t think the job would be for you, but I didn’t want you to hear about it afterwards and get pissed at me. Thought I should at least give you the option.’

‘That is most considerate of you. I’m just engaged at the moment, but give me a little time to think about it, if you wouldn’t mind, and I’ll call you back.’

‘Sure thing.’

Mr. Christmas ended the call and turned his attention to Charlie.

‘This has been pleasant, Charles, but I’m afraid time is short, and I have to bring our meeting to a conclusion. You know Chicago sent me. They want the files you took with you when you left so abruptly.’

‘Files? I haven’t stolen any files. I haven’t taken a dime from Mr. Moresco—’

‘You are being indicted in Chicago for fraud. You are out on bail and yet you’ve managed to move states. Mr. Moresco correctly believes the FBI don’t want to put you in prison – they want Mr. Moresco. You have access to a large amount of his personal financial information. Enough to cause him some considerable legal concerns. We can’t have you making a deal for your freedom. I need you to give me Mr. Moresco’s files.’

‘I don’t have anything . . .’ said Charlie, sweat now running down his face.

Mr. Christmas held up a palm to silence Charlie and then approached him, slowly. He moved like a cat, each stride delicate and in perfect balance.

‘Charles, normally at this point things would get unpleasant. But, as I said, I don’t have a lot of time. Torture is a blunt tool. People will say anything for the pain to stop. We can begin that process and before the end you will have told me where I can find the files. I will know if you are lying. Unless you’re Marlon Brando, you’re not going to be able to fool me. If you want to play dumb, that’s your choice. I will cut off your hands, then your feet, put out your eyes and then things willreallyget nasty. Or, you can tell me what I wish to know, and I can make things easier. I can give you a shot that will make you drowsy and then you will fall asleep, quite peacefully. I like you, Charles. I like your home. I like your coffee. And you have been co-operative and polite. Please choose quickly.’

He turned away from Charlie, moved to the medical bag on the dining table and twisted open the clasp. He spread the top of the bag open and removed a syringe, and a vial of clear liquid, which he set on the table. Next, he took out a hammer and a saw, and put them on the table as well. With each item that came out of the bag, Charlie’s eyes widened, his heart rate went up and his chest began to pump air through his trembling lips.

‘It’s in the first drawer of my desk. There are no other copies,’ said Charlie.

Moving to the hallway, and then the study, Mr. Christmas found a pen drive in the desk drawer, brought it back to the kitchen and inserted it into a small laptop he had in his bag.

Charlie watched him with dead eyes.

‘Thank you, Charles,’ said Mr. Christmas. He picked up the syringe and the vial in his left hand and stepped behind Charlie.

‘I have money. I could give you twenty million, right now. You could disappear, pretend you never found me,’ said Charlie.