'And now he won't,' Jesse said.
'No,' Ognowski said.
He paused and looked up at the ceiling, as if composing his next sentence.
Then he said, 'Many places in this world, people know Nicolas Ognowski, and they do what he says because they fear him.'
'And it's bad for business,' Jesse said, 'for anyone to kill Nicolas Ognowski's son and get away with it.'
Ognowski nodded.
'That is the truth of it,' he said.
'If anything happens to Galen or the two women,' Jesse said, 'I'll come looking for you.'
'You will not find me,' Ognowski said.
'How about they didn't do it and I catch the real killer later? How's that for business?'
'Could be better, but not so bad,' Ognowski said. 'At least there is blood for blood.'
'Even if it's the wrong blood?' Jesse said.
'I can always return,' Ognowski said.
'Next time would be harder,' Jesse said.
'Might be,' Ognowski said. 'Does not mean it wouldn't happen.'
'It might make more sense to give it a little time. Maybe between us we can come up with something.'
'What?'
'No idea,' Jesse said. 'But the two of us ought to be able to come up with something.'
Ognowski looked at Jesse for a time in silence.
'Give it a little while,' Jesse said.
Ognowski kept looking at Jesse. Finally he stood and walked out of the office without saying anything else.
45
SHE HAD WATCHED him for two weeks, and almost every night he came here, to the Gray Gull, and sat at the bar. He drank bourbon on the rocks, and often left with a woman. Never the same woman. He was a big man and handsome. He had big muscles and, she noticed, he always wore short-sleeved shirts that displayed them. She sipped her vodka and tonic. It was a Friday night and the bar was crowded. But she had time. And she was patient. She waited, and finally when a seat opened at the bar next to him she went down the bar and took it. He glanced at her and then swung around on his bar stool to face her.
'I haven't seen you before,' he said.
'I come sometimes,' she said.
'By yourself?' he said.
'Yes.'
'Can I buy you a drink?' he said.
'Yes,' she said.
'Vodka tonic?' he said.
'Yes.'
He gestured to one of the bartenders and ordered.
'You from around here?' he said.
'No.'
'Where you from?'
'Brooklyn,' she said.
'Brooklyn, huh?'
'Yes.'
'Jesus,' he said. 'You don't talk much.'
She smiled.
'Many men like that,' she said.
He nodded.
'Okay,' he said. 'How come you're up here from Brooklyn?'
'My husband had work here.'
'Husband?'
'Yes. No more.'
'You're not married anymore?'
'No,' she said.
The drinks came. He stirred the ice around in his drink with his forefinger before he picked it up.
'Looking for a new husband?' he said.
'No,' she said.
'What are you looking for?' he said.
'I like men,' she said.
He grinned and raised his glass to her.
'I'm one,' he said.
'Yes,' she said, and looked at him. 'Big muscles.'
He nodded.
'I try to stay in shape,' he said.
'You work?'
'Sure,' he said. 'Whaddya think? I do private security for a guy lives on the Neck.'
'You violent?' she said.
'Let's just say I don't look for trouble,' he said. 'But if someone else is looking for trouble, I'm happy to supply it.'
She nodded.
'That excites me,' she said.
'It does, huh?' he said. 'Wanna go someplace, see what else we can think of that's exciting?'
'I have a place,' she said.
'Excellent,' he said.
'I will go into the ladies' room for a moment,' she said. 'Then we go to my place.'
'You bet,' he said. 'What's your name?'
'Natalya,' she said. 'You?'
'Normie.'
46
THE SECURITY at the gate of the late Knocko Moynihan was just like the security at Reggie Galen's gate. But Jesse had called in advance, and the guard waved him through.
Robbie Moynihan opened the door, wearing black slingback heels and a short black linen sundress.
'Chief Stone,' she said.
'Mrs. Moynihan,' Jesse said.
'Oh, fah!' she said. 'I've told you and told you, call me Robbie.'
'Sure,' Jesse said.
He followed her toward the living room.
'Say it,' Robbie said.
'Robbie,' Jesse said.
'Very good,' she said.
She gestured for him to sit in a chair.
'Sit,' she said.
'Can you say Jesse?' he said.
She smiled.
'Sit, Jesse,' she said. 'Jesse, Jesse, Jesse!'
'Okay, Robbie, I guess we are pals.'
