to do something stupid—like try to overturn the verdict in the Lukatis case?”
“Hardly,” I said. “Tony Lukatis is dead.”
Her reaction told me she didn?t know about Tony Lukatis yet. That made sense, since the
homicide was being investigated outside her jurisdiction.
“What happened?” she asked.
“We?re not sure yet,” I said. “Our guess is that he tried another dope run and it went sour.”
“Where?”
“South of here. We should have the autopsy report by now. He may have been in it with
Longnose Graves.”
“What? Never!”
“How come you?re so sure he wasn?t?”
She held up one finger and said, “Graves isn?t in the trade,” and then a second, “and if he
were, he wouldn?t go near Tony Lukatis.”
“Why?”
“Because Mr. Stoney wouldn?t like it.”
“And Graves and Titan get along, that it?”
“An uneasy peace, but it seems to work for the sheriff. That?s not my business, anyway,
Kilmer.”
“You could make it your business.”
“Not and stay in office. We?re getting off the subject, anyway.”
“If Lukatis financed the Winslow run, I?d like to know where he got the hundred grand or so
in front money it took. That?s what we?re talking about, hot off the boat.”
“He was financed by his connection,” she said with a shrug.
“Did you prove that in court?”
“It?s what Winslow testified.”
“So he was the main witness?”
“Yes. And the arresting officers.”
“Do you think Lukatis was really the guilty one?”
It was an insult, a question I was sorry I asked as the words were coming out of my mouth.
Her expression said how big the insult was. She looked shocked and angry.
“I?m sorry,” I said hurriedly. “I withdraw the question.”
“It was a strong case and a good one and I did the best I could with it, which is how I handle
every case, Mr. Kilmer. I talked at length with Tony Lukatis. He was arrogant and
