'Okay,' I said. 'I know there's something wrong with this case, Quirk knows it, and you know it. And we all three know that someplace up the family tree, the Bureau wants this case covered up.'
Epstein nodded.
'And so does Sonny Karnofsky,' I said.
Nod.
'And the link between them is Malone.'
'And the loose cannon rolling around in it all is you,' Epstein said.
'Humble but proud,' I said.
'You got someone watching your back,' Epstein said.
'I do.'
'Good,' Epstein said. 'Your theory say what the connection is?'
'Not yet,' I said. 'That's why I stopped by.'
'I got no theory,' Epstein said.
'No, but you could find out if there had been some connection between Karnofsky and Malone when Malone was working for the Bureau. Or if Malone was involved in the Emily Gordon thing. Or both.'
'I could do that,' Epstein said.
'And maybe you could find out what there is to find out about Karnofsky's family.'
'I could do some of that, too. And I'm doing this because?'
'Because you care about the Bureau,' I said. 'And this whole thing is frying your ass.'
Epstein was silent for awhile, as if he were thinking about things.
'You were a cop once,' he said after awhile.
I nodded.
'You remember why?'
'Yep.'
'And you quit.'
'Yes I did.'
'You remember why?'
'Yep.'
'I'm an organization man,' Epstein said. 'I don't want to quit.'
'So you can look into Malone and Karnofsky, and Karnofsky's family?'
'You think he's got a family member involved.'
'He made a passing allusion,' I said. 'And while you're at it, you might want to see if you got anything in the system on Leon Holton or Abner Fancy. I know Holton did time in the California prison system. And I'll bet Fancy has done time someplace. Fancy may be AKA Shaka.'
'Shaka?'
'Shaka.'
'Like in Shaka Zulu.'
'Just like that.'
'Where do these guys come in?'
I told him.
'I'll see what I can do,' he said. 'I cannot spend Bureau money entirely at my own discretion.'
'Me either,' I said.
'At least you're getting a fee.'
'Yeah.'
'How much you make on something like this?'
'Thinking of going private?' I said.
'Just curious.'
'For this particular gig,' I said, 'I've received six Krispy Kreme donuts.'
Epstein looked at me silently for a time. Then he smiled. 'Lucky bastard,' he said.
34
