Night Fall: A Novel by Nelson Demille

Author:Nelson Demille
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Thrillers, Fiction, General
Publisher: Warner Books
Published: 2004-07-15T03:21:42+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

Kate and I spent the rest of the day at 26 Federal Plaza, filling out paperwork, tidying up a few loose ends, and saying good-byes.

We went to the nurses’ office, where we got inoculations for diseases I’ve never heard of, and we each got a starter vial of malaria pills. The nurses wished us a safe and healthy trip, without a touch of irony.

As I was tidying up my desk, Harry Muller said to me, “I didn’t know you were volunteering for Yemen.”

“Neither did I.”

“You piss somebody off?”

“Koenig thinks I’m having an affair with his wife.”

“No shit?”

“She gets around, but keep that to yourself.”

“Yeah… and Kate’s going to Africa?”

“Tanzania. Embassy bombing.”

“Who did she piss off?”

“Koenig. He was coming on to her, and she threatened to file a harassment complaint.”

“This is all bullshit. Right?”

“Don’t start any rumors. Jack doesn’t like rumors.”

We shook hands, and Harry said, “Find those bastards who blew up the Cole.”

“I’ll give it my best shot.”

My last stop, without Kate, was the legal office upstairs where a young lady lawyer—about sixteen years old—gave me some papers to fill out and sign, including a power of attorney in the event I was abducted or missing. She explained, “If you’re dead, the executors named in your will have the power to settle your estate. But if you’re just missing, it’s like, a real pain in the ass. You know? I mean, Are you dead or alive? Who’s going to pay your rent and stuff?”

“Jack Koenig.”

“Who do you want to have the power of attorney? It doesn’t have to be an actual attorney. Just someone you trust to sign your checks and act on your behalf until you’re found, or presumed dead, or declared legally dead.”

“Who did Elvis Presley use?”

“How about your wife?”

“She’ll probably be in Africa.”

“I’m sure they’ll let her come home. Your wife. Okay?”

“You mean if I’m missing or kidnapped, my wife will have access to my checkbook, savings account, credit cards, and my salary?”

“That’s right.”

“What if I show up a year later and find out I’m broke?”

She laughed.

I’m not that used to being married, and this was a moment of truth. I asked the kid lawyer, “Who did my wife use?”

“She hasn’t been here yet.”

“I see… all right, my wife.”

She wrote Kate’s name on the document, I signed it, and it was notarized right there.

We slogged through some more crap, and she finally said, “That’s about it. Have a good trip. See me when you get back.”

“I’ll send you a postcard if I get kidnapped.”

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