“I’m assuming Crane is home. I’ll convince him to come out and talk to me.”
“You sure he’ll do that?”
“I doubt he wants me to come in after him. I’ll be nice. When you’re done, you call me, and I’ll bring him back. How long do you think you’ll need?”
“No telling. I have no idea what’s going on up there. If he leaves his computer on and doesn’t have any security systems running, it’ll take about fifteen minutes. If not, who knows?”
“All right. Once I get him out, use the key card to get in. You do your thing. We’ll make sure he doesn’t get back in until you’re done.”
“Okay. What about the bad guys outside?”
Alex hadn’t taken his eyes off Crane’s building the whole time Beck spoke.
“We’ll take care of that, too.” Beck turned to the others. “While I’m with this asshole Crane, the rest of you get into position to cover those two SUVs. Ciro, you and Joey take the one at the west end of the block. Manny and Demarco, you do the same for the one at this end. If they try to stop me from taking Crane, or follow us in their cars, or make any move to go into the apartment, you make sure they don’t. Clear?”
“No,” said Ciro. “Stop how? You want us to take them out, or just the vehicles?”
“Let’s try not going to jail tonight. Blast the crap out of their tires. Maybe pump a few shots into the engines, a couple over the roofs to keep them in the cars, and then disappear. Don’t get into a gun battle. Position yourselves near the corners so you can take a fast fade.
“The precinct is just a few blocks away so the cops will show up quickly. Figure around three, four minutes after you start shooting. That should give you enough time to make it back to the cars, or jump in a cab, or just walk out of here. I’ll leave the keys to this car under the floor mat.”
And then, Beck’s plan evaporated.
Up the block Alan Crane walked out of his building, heading their way. Gregor Stepanovich emerged from the SUV parked east of Crane’s building and intercepted him in the middle of the block.
30
Gregor asked him, “Where you going?”
“To eat. What am I now, your prisoner?”
“Mr. Markov thinks you might need someone to watch out for you. You should be grateful.”
Crane rolled his left shoulder and said, “Yeah, I’m real grateful. I can hardly use my fucking arm thanks to you. Exactly what do you mean by ‘watch out’ for me? If you want to watch out for me, you can come watch me eat.”
Crane stepped around Stepanovich and continued walking.
Gregor fell in next to Crane.
“I asked you once, now I ask again. Where you going?”
Crane stopped and pointed south. “Jeezus fucking Christ, Gregor, a couple of blocks. Over to Harrison. It’s a restaurant over there.”
“I walk with you. Make sure you get there safe.”
Crane shook his head. “Unbelievable.” They started walking together. After a few steps he said to Stepanovich, “You’re not really planning to sit with me while I eat are you?”
“Don’t worry.”
*
Beck watched them talk, and then continue walking together toward Greenwich Street. Crane didn’t look very happy about Markov’s man walking with him.
As they approached, Beck said, “Guys, hunker down. Better they don’t see us.”
Manny sauntered off away from the Porsche.
Demarco said, “How the hell is Joey going to get out of sight?”
Ciro started to laugh. Beck started to laugh. Joey B gamely tried to hunch down in the backseat, which made everyone laugh harder.
Luckily, Stepanovich and Crane walked past them on the other side of Greenwich and never bothered to look at the Porsche.
Still smiling, Beck said, “Okay, calm the fuck down. So much for that plan. Alex, take off now. Get into the building with your passkey. Get to work on that computer.”
“I should go into the basement. Check his alarm system first.”
“Okay, whatever. Just go now. Work as fast as you can. Demarco, go follow those two and call me when they end up wherever they’re headed.”
Alex and Demarco left. Beck slid over to the passenger seat. He looked out onto the street to find Manny, who was leaning back in the shadows on Hubert Street. He motioned for Manny to get in the Porsche.
As Manny slipped behind the wheel, Beck turned in the passenger seat so he could talk to everybody at once.
“Okay, you guys, hang in here. The goal is the same. Give Alex enough time to do what he has to. Position yourselves near those SUVs. If those guys make a move, stop them.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Go wherever that fucker ends up and keep him there until Alex is done. Maybe we can pull this off without shooting up the neighborhood.”
Manny asked, “You going to pick up Alex, or you want me to?”
“We’ll see. You guys might be busy keeping those assholes in the SUV out of play.”
Beck watched Alex slip into Crane’s lobby. With his long herringbone overcoat, Buddy Holly glasses, and backpack, he looked like he belonged in the trendy loft building.
Beck’s cell phone rang. Demarco told him, “The guy from the building just settled in at a table near the front of a restaurant called Harrison. Place is small, but a shitload of people in here. He ordered a drink. He’s checking out the menu. Looks like he’s going to take his time with his meal. Baldy walked him to the door and left.”
“Okay, good. See if you can get a seat at the bar where you can keep an eye on him. When it looks like Crane’s ready for dessert, call me. If Alex isn’t done, I’ll come to the restaurant and sit on him. I’ll tell Alex to call you when he’s finished. You stay at the bar and signal me when Alex calls you.”
“Got it.”