The Passenger (The Passenger, #1)(82)

About eight thousand dollars.

You surprise me.

You didnt think I’d be that dumb.

No.

I didnt either.

What else do you own?

I did own a car.

They got that.

Yes.

What else?

I dont own anything else. I did own a cat. If you can own a cat.

They took your cat?

They just left the door open. I’m still trying to find him.

You owe back taxes.

They say I do.

Based on what?

Apparently on my lifestyle. My grandmother left me some money. I split it with my sister. It was the money I went racing on.

You dont think it’s odd that they would know that? That you went racing in Europe.

I guess I dont know what’s odd anymore. They pulled my passport too.

They pulled your passport?

Yes.

Kline spread one hand on the tablecloth and looked at it.

That’s bad isnt it? said Western.

Well, it means they think you’d leave the country if you had to.

The waiter brought the wine and uncorked it and placed the cork on the table and poured a bit of wine into Kline’s glass. Kline swirled it and smelled and tasted it and nodded and the waiter poured their glasses and set the bottle on the table. Kline tilted his glass toward Western. He couldnt seem to think of anything to toast.

You let him pour.

Yes. He knows me. Did you tell them where the money came from?

Yes.

What else did you tell them?

As in I hope to God you didnt tell them anything else.

Pretty much. You’ve been paying your income tax otherwise though.

Yes.

Here’s the problem. If you just ignore them then it’s only a misdemeanor. But if you file and pay your taxes but neglect to mention a sum of money inherited from your grandmother—for instance—then that is not a misdemeanor. That’s a false tax report and that’s a felony. It will put you in a federal penitentiary for a reckonable part of your definable future.

I think I heard that before somewhere. If I failed to pay any taxes I’d be okay. But if I paid part of my taxes I’m going to jail.

Something like that.

Why havent they arrested me?

They will. They’re still working on it. No federal agent assumes that a perp has only committed one crime.

What else do they think I’ve done?

I’d say that you would be more likely to know that than I would.

Wouldnt seizing my assets put me on the alert?

In order to get the State Department to revoke your passport they would have to make a move against you. They did.

I’m beginning to lose my appetite.

We could talk about something else.

Yeah.

Was it an expensive car?

It was a Maserati. Not a new one. A 73 Bora.

I dont really know anything about cars.

It’s probably worth about as much as a new Cadillac. Maybe a bit more.

Sorry.

I’m really on the run, arent I? Whether I know it or not.

I cant answer a question like that, Bobby. But you might want to try and protect yourself.

You dont think it’s too late for that.

I dont know. I just know that it’s not as late today as it will be tomorrow.

What would you do?

You know what kind of a question that is. If I were you I’d be teaching somewhere or building bombs or whatever it is that you people do.

Sure. What’s your own background? Other than the circus.

The circus is my background. I never even finished grammar school.

Really?

Really. Been married once. No children. Amicably divorced. I dont have any tragedies in my life to give it a form and destination outside of my control. I like what I’m doing. But I could be doing something else. I’ve been blessed. I’m not even sure I’d change the bad things. Here comes the food.

They ate mostly in silence. Like Debussy Kline took his food seriously. When he’d finished he leaned back and drained the last of the wine from his glass and sat turning the stem in his fingers and studying it. Then he set it on the tablecloth. Pretty damned good, he said.

Western smiled. Yes, he said. Thank you.

Kline bunched his napkin and laid it by. I cook at home, he said. But there are some things you just cant get quite right. I think it’s the stock. That’s where they have the edge.

The stock?

Yes. Unless you have an old rancid stockpot that you can just sort of throw every horrible thing into—rotten turnips, dead cats, whatever—and let it simmer for about a month—you’re at a real disadvantage. Do you want to look at the dessert menu?

No thanks.

Right. He picked up the wineglass again and turned it. A small drop had collected in the bottom. He tilted the glass and let the drop run to the rim. Bright as blood. He raised it and let it onto his tongue and set the glass back. Whatcha gone do? he said.

I dont have much choice. Go back to work. Try and get a little money ahead.

When was the last time you worked?

I havent worked since I came back from Florida.

Have you talked to them lately?

Taylor’s?

Yes.

I still have a job, if that’s what you mean.

That’s not exactly what I mean.

You think it’s likely they would attach my paycheck.