You guys been roughing up civilians too long, I said. Whatever you had to start with, youve lost.
Fuck you, Fatso said.
Curly Bo was on his hands and knees, his head lolling, as he tried to clear the buzz from his brain.
Who is it wants to know what Im doing? I said.
Fuck you, Fatso said.
Soldiers Field Development, perhaps?
Fuck you, Fatso said.
Maybe I could beat it out of you, I said.
Maybe you couldnt, Fatso said.
I stood for a minute and thought about it.
Youre right, I said. Maybe I couldnt.
I went past them and got in my car and drove away. In the rearview mirror I could see them still on the ground as I turned onto the down ramp and headed out.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Rita had sandwiches and coffee sent in, and we ate lunch together at a cherry-wood conference table in her office. From where I sat I could look through Ritas big window and along the south shore to the narrow arch of land on which Hull dangled into the Atlantic.
As I recall, I said, when you were working in Norfolk County, you had an office with one wooden chair.
And a view of my file cabinet, Rita said.
And a lot of young male ADAS fresh out of law school hanging around the door with a clear interest in your body.
Rita smiled, and said, Those were the days, my friend.
She took a small bite of her tuna-fish sandwich and chewed it in a ladylike manner, and swallowed gracefully.
You ever sleep with a redhead? she said.
Im not sure, I said.
Lost count, have we?
I had a ham and cheese sandwich on light rye. I ate some.
Come to think of it, Rita said, so have I.
I drank some coffee. Good for us, I said.
Yeah, Rita said. Better than being able to remember the only one, in detail.
Theres only been one for a while, I said.
Im painfully aware of that, Rita said.
Moving on, I said. What did you find out about Soldiers Field Development?
Not a hell of a lot, Rita said. They do real estate development-office buildings, motels, malls, stuff like that. Nathan Smith was on the board of directors.
Oh ha!
Oh ha? What the hell is Oh ha?
Combination of oh ho and ah ha, I said. I believe in variety.
Me too, Rita said. Do you say oh ha when you encounter a clue?
Or ah ha! Or oh ho! Depends on how many clues I have to react to.
Well, its not been much of a problem in this case, Rita said. Why are you so interested in Soldiers Field Development?
Theres been people following me since I took this case, I said. Theyre connected to Soldiers Field Development.
And now Nathan Smith turns up on the board, Rita said.
Yes.
Rita smiled.
Oh ha! she said. So how does this help my client?
If she didnt kill him, someone else did. Im looking for the someone else.
And how does this do that? Rita said.
I dont know yet, I said. What I know is that somethings going on with Soldiers Field Development that is connected to this case.
Rita picked up her coffee and stood and went to the window and looked out, sipping coffee.
Are you thinking? I said. Or showing me your butt?
Both, Rita said. I think better standing, but I havent put in all those hours on the StairMaster to hide my butt under a bushel.
The StairMaster has paid off, I said.
Thank you. What do you think about the connection between a banker and a real estate developer?
It might involve money, I said.
Rita turned slowly and looked at me over the rim of her coffee cup.
Wow, she said.
Its magic, isnt it, how I can read people?
Magic.
The bank is a family business, I said.
Thats what Im told, Rita said.
Has it always been just Smiths running it?
I dont know.
Can you find out? I said.
Isnt that what were employing you to do?
Its a waste of my talent, I said. The premier law firm in Boston must have a dozen people who can research that faster than I can. But Ill bet none of them can take a punch.
I havent punched all of them, Rita said. But I get your point.
So, can you find out how many partners the bank has had?
That werent family?
Yes.
And you want to know this why?
Because hes got a partner now, guy named Marvin Conroy.
Youre suspicious of him?
Not really. But over the years Ive
learned to look for pattern so I can see variation, if any. Marvin Conroy might be a variation. If he is, I want to know why.
Makes sense, Rita said.
So can you do that?
Sure.
CHAPTER TWENTY
I leaned on the heavy bag and watched Hawk hit the speed. His face was expressionless, with a hint of amusement, the way it always was. He hit the bag with one hand, and then with both. He used his elbows. He appeared to be entirely relaxed, pleasantly absorbed in the music and movement of the bag.
Im going to drop in on Felton Shawcross, I said. At Soldiers Field Development.
Good, Hawk said without shifting his focus.
Want to go?
Sure. They still tailing you?
Not unless theyve gotten better at it.
Figure Brink Tyler was the one they was worried about?
Yes.
So now that you seen him they dont see no reason to follow you?
Maybe. Or maybe they are going to try another approach now that Ive confronted the followers.