cellophane wrapper, and popped the candy into his mouth: Speaking of negative campaigning…
Were we speaking of that? Compton asked, with a quick, cynical smile. They would have come to it sooner or later.
We are now, he said. We all know Bones weakness.
Women.
ODell shook her head. That wont help. We just donthave the timeeven if we could find somebody willing to dig into it, itd take weeks.
Kent was shaking his head. Not really. Not if the cops look into it and if somebody tips the papers that the cops are looking into it.
Why would they? Wyte asked.
Cause of the woman, Kent said, sitting back, savoring his little nugget.
Marcus… ODell said.
James T. Bone is fucking Marcia Kresge. And has been for a while.
ODells mouth had literally fallen open. Youre kidding me.
Kent shook his head: Nope. I saw her one night at Bones placeI was in the ramp, Id been over at Casper Allens, about his idiot trusts.. .
Casper lives right downstairs from Bone, ODell said to the others.
… and shed been fuckinsomebody, believe me. And as shes getting into her car, who should come out after her, carrying something? James T. Bone.
The cops need to know that, Wyte said, with an effort at sincerity. I mean, even if we werent trying to… to
… help Susan, theyd need to know that. Dans death is worth millions to her, and opens the top job for her lover.
Thats what I thought, Kent said, leaning back on the couch, sucking on the cinnamon.
Two hours later, ODell ushered Compton into the elevator, the last of them to go, and stepped pensively back into her apartment. Kent was a rat: shed have to remember that. Starting now. The other two should be okay…
She spotted her rifle case, dumped in the corner Saturday morning. The case was empty: the Garfield sheriff still had the rifle. She picked it up, carried it back to a storage closet, and slipped it inside. Stuck on the wall of the same closet was an instant-open gun safe. Acting on impulse, she jabbed at the number pads, rolling her hand like a piano player, and the door popped open. Inside lay an OfficersModel Colt. She took it out, pulled the magazine, pulled the slide back to make sure the chamber was empty, let it slam forward.
She moved slowly through the apartment, dry-firing the pistol from various hiding spots and corners; corny but fun. After ten minutes, she carried the pistol back to the safe, reseated the magazine, and shut the safe door.
Shed have to get out to the range one of these days; she was losing her edge.
MARCIA KRESGE WAS GETTING COMFORTABLE ON James T. Bones couch: Are you going to get the job?
I dont know. ODells pretty strong.
How about McDonald?
We can handle McDonald.
Good. Hes an asshole. ODell, you know, smokes dope.
So what? Bone said. So do you.
Im not trying to get to be a bank president, Kresge said.
I dont think thats enough to disqualify her, Bone said.
It would if she was arrested for possession, Kresge said. The board wouldnt touch her with a ten-foot pole.
Youd really wish that on her? Bone asked with real curiosity.
Id like to see you get the job, Kresge said. And I could fix the bust.
How?
Weve got the same dealer, Kresge said.
Bone laughed despite himself. Howd that happen?
She shrugged, not seeing anything funny in the coincidence. You know, we all hang out at the same places, and word gets around. This guy, Mark, used to be a waiter at The Falls. Hes working his way through college.
Selling grass?
Grass, speed, acid, coke, heroin, ecstasy. PCP probably. Anyway, he deals to Susan. If somebody tipped off thepolice, maybe they could catch him making a delivery. You know, socialite dope ring. The cops would like that.
What if they got your name? Bone asked.
She shrugged. Id get rid of everything before I tipped them, and I wouldnt buy any more. Whatre they going to do? If they even got my name, Id sue their butts off if they let it out.
Listen, Bone said, now serious, leaning toward her: Forget it. I swear to God, Marcia, if anybody tips off the cops about Susan, Ill whip your ass.
Oooh… that could be fun, she said lightly.
No. It wouldnt be fun, he snapped.
Sometimes he frightened her, just a bit, she thought. But a bit more than she found pleasant. Youre not gonna get this job by looking pretty, you know, she snapped back.
I know that. Im working on it, he said.
I could talk to a couple of people.
Anything you could do Id appreciate… but let me know first.
Hey: If I go into bankers-wife mode, I could probably deliver two or three votes off that board. That damn Jack OGrady has been trying to get my pants off for fifteen years: I bet he could pull a couple votes for you.
I think Jacks already with me, Bone said. But encouragement would be good.
Even if I have to take my pants off?
How big a change would that be? he asked.
A pause. Then Kresge, smiling prettily, said, Really great fuckin thing to say, Bone.
Tell you the truth, Im surprised the police havent spent more time with you. Youre not the most discreet person in the world, and you werent divorced when Dan was killed.
I can be discreet when I wanna be, she said. Look at us.
Okay.
Besides, a woman copdidcome around and talk to meSherrill, her name was. Last name. She had that big- titlook you go for. And hell, I told her everything.
But not about us.
She didnt ask.
Bone stood up, turned. Anyway: I think McDonalds in trouble. We know ODells gonna get a certain number of votes, and Ill get mine, but its McDonalds that are up for grabs.
Hows McDonald in trouble?
This copLucas Davenport, assistant chief…
I know him, actually.
He thinks McDonalds involved. Ive talked to him a couple of times and hes a smart guy. Hes talking to McDonalds pals and the word is getting out. If theres even a whiff of involvement, the boardll drop him like a hot rock.
So anything that would encourage Davenport to look at McDonald.. . that would help.
As long as it didnt turn back on us.
Ill see what The doorbell rang, and Kresge turned her head.
Bone stepped across the room and opened the heavy paneled door. Kerin Baki was there, struggling with an oversized briefcase. As she brought it in, her glasses slipped down her nose, and she jabbed them back as though theyd mutinied. She saw Kresge on the couch and said, Mrs. Kresge. Have you spoken to Mr. OGrady?
We were just talking about that, Kresge said pleasantly. Your boss was giving me a very hard time.
