Man locked everything, Hawk
said. Yep. No windows open, even if it be cool when he shut off the AC, most people like a little ventilation in the summer.
Its not a bad neighborhood, I said. But he was being pretty careful. Gun in the front hall. Round in the chamber.
Hawk nodded. He knew them, Hawk said.
Seems like it, I said.
He would have looked through the peephole, I said. And he would have unlocked the door when he saw them. The hall gun is still in the drawer. He wasnt afraid of them.
And he should have been, Hawk said. You figure the broad got shot because she was here?
Could be. Or it could be she was part of the whole deal. Whatever the whole deal was. Or it could be they wanted to kill her, and he had the misfortune to be on hand.
Going to call the cops? Hawk said.
Guess we got to.
We could just close the door and walk away.
Your fingerprints in the system? I said.
Course, Hawk said.
Mine too.
So give them a call, Hawk said.
CHAPTER FORTY
Well let the B and E slide, Quirk said. But corpses keep showing up in your area, we might cite you for littering.
We were outside, away from the smell, leaning on the fender of Quirks car. It was about six hours since wed found the bodies. The prowl car guys had arrived first and questioned us and told us to stick around. Some District 6 detectives came and asked us questions and told us to stick around. Crime scene people asked us questions and told us the detectives wanted us to stick around. Belson showed up after a while and asked us questions and told us to stick around and wait for Quirk. An hour and a half ago Quirk had ambled in and told us to stick around until he was through.
Anyone know the identity of the woman? I said.
Yeah, we talked with some neighbors. Name was Margaret McDermott. She was DeRosas girlfriend. Live-in. Been with him six, eight years, Quirk said.
He was looking at Hawk. Hawk smiled at him.
You bother me, Quirk said. I know you wouldnt have aced these two people, then come back a week later and called us.
Hawk smiled some more.
And I know that when youre with Snoop Doggy Dogg here, you may not be on the up-and-up, but youre probably not illegal.
Hawks smile seemed almost sweet as he listened to Quirk.
On the other hand, Quirk said, I hate to come upon a double homicide and find you lingering about and give you a bye.
I said, Im pretty sure he didnt do it, Captain.
Im pretty sure he didnt, too, Quirk said. But not because you say so.
My word is my bond, I said.
I dont know what the connection is between you two clowns, but I know youd cover for him.
White guilt, I said. My ancestors might have owned slaves.
Yo ancestors being bog-trotting paddies didnt have the money to own no slaves, Hawk said.
I looked at him sadly. You wouldnt understand, I said. Its a white thing.
Isnt this fun, Quirk said. Lemme get the other cops over here, give them a chance to listen.
I said, Were just working on our material, Captain.
And its really enjoyable, Quirk said. Oddly enough theres no warrants out on Hawk.
You sure? Hawk said.
I had it checked.
Embarrassing, Hawk said.
You got anything you can tell me about this thing? Quirk said.
Same as I tole the other six cops, Hawk said. I just along try to keep him from hurting himself.
Okay, you can drift, Quirk said. Spenser, Ill talk a little more with you.
Hawk nodded his head once, slightly, and walked away.
I talked to the same six cops he did, I said.
You used to be a cop, Quirk said. You know how we do this.
I nodded.
I dont know much more than I did after I shot the guy in Southie, I said.
You didnt know much before you shot that guy in Southie. Name was Kevin McGonigle. Twenty-three, two priors for strong-arm.
Good to start young, I said.
And finish that way, Quirk said.
I shrugged. Him or me, I said.
I know. Tell me what you know, Quirk said.
We were both leaning against Quirks car. Quirks arms were folded across his chest, and he was motionless except for the fact that the fingers on his thick right hand tapped gently on his left arm.
Okay, I said. Its a mishmash, but here it is, all of it.
I told him everything in sequence from the time Rita had called me about Mary Smith until Hawk and I had come to visit DeRosa.
You got a theory? Quirk said.
No.
If you count Nathan Smith, Quirk said, and I do, theres him, the broad from the bank
Amy Peters,
I said.
Tyler, DeRosa, the girlfriend, Kevin McGonigle.
Six, I said.
And all connected to you, one way or another.
Charisma, I said.
Six murders, Quirk said. And somebody threatens to beat you up and somebody hires McGonigle to clip you, and you got no theory?
Theres something being covered up, I said. And its connected to Nathan Smith.
Holy mackerel, Quirk said.
You asked.
Quirk nodded. We watched the body bags load into the MES van.
We find out anything, well tell each other, I said.
I known you a long time, Quirk said.
I didnt comment. Quirk wasnt really talking to me anyway. A couple of uniforms moved the small crowd out of the way as the MES van pushed slowly among them, hauling away the unpleasant remains of DeRosa and his girlfriend.