'His wife didn't make it out of the country. They snatched her and they killed her.'
'He tried to stonewall? Wouldn't pay the ransom?'
'He paid four hundred large. They killed her anyway.' His eyes widened. 'Your ears only,' I added.
'The death isn't being reported, so that part of it shouldn't get out on the street.'
'I understand. Well, that makes his motive easier to grasp. He wants to get even. Any idea who they are?'
'No.'
'But you figure they'll do it again.'
'Why quit on a winning roll?'
'Nobody ever does.' He helped himself to more vodka. At both of his regular places they bring him the bottle in an ice bucket, and he drinks great quantities of it without paying much attention to it, just drinking it down like water. I don't know where he puts it, or how his body processes it.
He said, 'How many bad guys?'
'Minimum of three.'
'Splitting four tenths of a mil. They might be taking cabs a lot themselves, don't you think?'
'I had that thought myself.'
'So if somebody's throwing a lot of money around, that would be useful information.'
'It might.'
'And the drug dealers, especially the major players, should get the word that they're at risk for kidnapping. They might just as easily grab a dealer, don't you think? It wouldn't have to be a woman.'
'I'm not sure about that.'
'Why's that?'
'I think they enjoyed the killing. I think they got off on it. I think they used her sexually, and I think they tortured her, and then when the novelty wore off they killed her.'
'The body showed signs of torture?'
'The body came back in twenty or thirty pieces, individually wrapped. And that's not for the street, either. I hadn't planned on mentioning it.'
'I'd just as soon you hadn't, to tell you the truth. Matthew, is it my imagination or is the world turning nastier?'
'It doesn't seem to be lightening up.'
'It doesn't, does it? Remember the Harmonic Convergence, all the planets lining up like soldiers? Wasn't that supposed to signal the dawn of some kind of New Age?'
'I'm not holding my breath.'
'Well, they say it's always darkest before the dawn. I see what you mean, though. If killing's part of the fun, and if they're into rape and torture, well, they won't pick some raggedy-ass dope dealer with a beer gut and a five o'clock shadow. Nothing queer about these fellows.'
'No.'
He thought for a moment. 'They'll have to do it again,' he said.
'They could hardly be expected to quit after a score like that. I wonder, though.'
'If they've done it before? I was wondering the same thing myself.'
'And?'
'They were pretty slick,' I said. 'I get the feeling they had some practice.'
FIRST thing after breakfast the next morning I walked over to the Midtown North station house on West Fifty- fourth. I caught Joe Durkin at his desk, and he caught me off balance by complimenting me on my appearance. 'You're dressing better these days,' he said. 'I think it's that woman's doing. Elaine, right?'
'That's right.'
'Well, I think she's a good influence on you.'
'I'm sure she is,' I said, 'but what the hell are you talking about?'
'That's a nice-looking jacket, that's all.'
'This blazer? It must be ten years old.'
'Well, you never wear it.'
'I wear it all the time.'
'Maybe it's the tie.'
'What's so special about the tie?'
'Jesus Christ,' he said. 'Did anybody ever tell you you're a difficult son of a bitch? I tell you you look nice and the next thing I know I'm on the fucking witness stand. How about we start over? 'Hello, Matt, it's great to see you. You look like shit. Have a seat.' Is that better?'
