“Yeah,” I said with a smile. “Just like you have so far?”
His face turned red. Dutch said, “Wrong, anyway. We?re talking about homicide, lots of it. It?s out of
your hands, Costello. It?s officially a police matter. As such, what we?re suggesting is your
cooperation.”
“I?ll tell it one more time,” he said, holding up a forefinger. “I don?t know who is doing this, or why.
And that?s all any of us will have to say on the matter.”
“That?s hardly what we call cooperation, counsellor,” Dutch said. Then he piped up, “Right now, I got
you down as an A-number-one client for a hit and an A-number-one suspect. You could be in a lot of
trouble, Mr. Costello. I could book you as a material witness for starters.”
“I?d be out before the desk sergeant cleared his throat,” Costello said.
“Where?s Turk Nance?” I asked.
“I barely know Turk Nance. „Why, is he missing?” Costello hissed, then, turning to Dutch, added,
“I?m leaving now and I?m taking my people with me.”
“I?m booking that bunch of muggers of yours for disorderly conduct,” Dutch said. “Seventy-five
bucks apiece.”
“Don?t be silly
“Disorderly conduct, period,” Dutch said. “You want to argue, we?ll see you all in court. Otherwise
you can pay the night judge on your way out. It?ll fix the holes in the ceiling.” He jabbed a thumb
toward the two bullet holes.
Costello turned back to me. “You, I know about. Your name came down from Cincy. I hear you?re on
the list, buddy boy. Way up. My wife?s uncle Skeet had a lot of friends.”
“I?m all torn up over your wife?s uncle Skeet,” I said. “I?ll make you a promise, wimp. I?m going to
send you up there with him. A Christmas present, so he doesn?t get lonely.”
“You know, you could work yourself to death, Kilmer.”
“I doubt even you?re stupid enough to knock over a Fed,” the Stick said to Costello.
“Sure he is,” I said. “He?s real stupid.”
“Maybe you ought to be on the list too,” Costello said to Stick.
“Love it,” said the Stick, and started laughing.
“You?ve been a flea bite to my family for a long time, Kilmer,” Costello said.
“Sure, that?s why you all ran out of Cincinnati,” I said with a leer. “You couldn?t stand the itch.”
“I suggest you back off,” he said coldly. “We?ve done nothing illegal here. This is none of your
business.”
“Everything you do?s my business,” I snarled. “I?ve made you my favourite charity.”
