Part 29 (2/2)

John and Tommy were held without bail.

The two hired a West Side attorney named Danny O'Connor, known more for his boisterous talk than for his ability to win. They pleaded not guilty and admitted to nothing, not even to their lawyer. There seemed to be no connection between the deceased and the accused, and both the press and police shrugged the murder off as yet another drug-related homicide.

”Have you gone to visit them yet?” Michael asked, cutting into his steak. It was the first time either of us had talked about the shooting since dinner began.

”The day after the arrest,” I said, jabbing a fork into a cut of grilled salmon. ”For a few minutes.”

”What did they have to say?” Michael asked.

”The usual small talk,” I said. ”Nothing with any weight. They know enough not to say anything in a visitors' room.”

”What about Nokes?” Michael said. ”They talk about him?”

”John did,” I said. ”But not by name.”

”What'd he say?”

”All he said was 'One down, Shakes.' Then he tapped the gla.s.s with his finger and handed me that s.h.i.+t-eatin' grin of his.”

”How do they look?” Michael asked.

”Pretty relaxed,” I told him. ”Especially for two guys facing twenty-five-to-life.”

”I hear they hired Danny O'Connor to defend them,” Michael said. ”That right?”

”That's temporary,” I said. ”King Benny's gonna move in one of his lawyers when the trial starts.”

”No,” Michael said. ”O'Connor's who we want. He's perfect.”

”Perfect?” I said. ”The guy's a fall-down drunk. Probably hasn't won a case since La Guardia was mayor. Maybe not even then.” I said. ”The guy's a fall-down drunk. Probably hasn't won a case since La Guardia was mayor. Maybe not even then.”

”I know,” Michael said. ”That's why he's perfect.”

”What are you talking about?”

”You covering this story for the paper?” Michael asked, lifting his beer mug and ignoring my question.

”I'm a timetable clerk, Mikey,” I said. ”I'm lucky they let me in the building.”

”Anybody at work know you're friends with John and b.u.t.ter?”

”No,” I said. ”Why would they?”

”You didn't finish your fish,” Michael said. ”You usually eat everything but but the plate.” the plate.”

”I'm still used to my old hours,” I said. ”Eating dinner at five in the morning and breakfast at eleven at night.”

”You should have had eggs.”

”I will will have a cup of coffee.” have a cup of coffee.”

”Order it to go,” Michael said, waving to a waiter for the check. ”We've got to take a walk.”

”It's pouring out,” I said.

”We'll find a spot where it's not. Down by the piers.”

”There are rats down by the piers,” I pointed out.

”There are rats everywhere.”

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THE RAIN WAS falling in soft drops, loud blasts of thunder echoing in the distance. We were standing in an empty lot along the gates of Pier 62, West Side Highway traffic rus.h.i.+ng by behind us. Michael had thrown his raincoat on over his suit. His hands were stuffed inside the side pockets and his briefcase was wedged between his ankles. falling in soft drops, loud blasts of thunder echoing in the distance. We were standing in an empty lot along the gates of Pier 62, West Side Highway traffic rus.h.i.+ng by behind us. Michael had thrown his raincoat on over his suit. His hands were stuffed inside the side pockets and his briefcase was wedged between his ankles.

”I'm going in to see my boss in the morning,” Michael said, the words rus.h.i.+ng out. ”I'm going to ask him to give me the case against John and Tommy.”

”What?” I looked at his eyes, searching for signs that this was nothing more than the beginning of a cruel joke. ”What are you going to do?”

”I'm going to prosecute John and Tommy in open court.” His voice was filled with confidence, his eyes looked square at me.

”Are you f.u.c.kin' nuts?” I shouted, grabbing his arms. ”They're your friends! Your friends friends, you heartless f.u.c.k!”

A smile curled the sides of Michael's lips. ”Before you take a swing, Shakes, hear me out.”

”I should shoot you just for talking about s.h.i.+t like this,” I said, easing my grip, taking in deep gulps of air. ”And if anybody else hears it, I'll have to open a freezer door to shake your hand.”

”You decide who else knows,” Michael said. ”Just you. You'll know who to tell.”

”You take this case, everybody's everybody's gonna know!” I shouted again. ”And gonna know!” I shouted again. ”And everybody's everybody's gonna be p.i.s.sed.” gonna be p.i.s.sed.”

”You'll take care of all that,” Michael said. ”That'll be part of your end.”

”Do something smart,” I said. ”Call in sick tomorrow. It might save your life.”

”I'm not taking the case to win,” Michael said. ”I'm taking it to lose.”

I didn't say anything. I couldn't couldn't say anything. say anything.

”I've got a plan,” Michael said. ”But I can't do it without you. I can work only the legal end. I need you to do the rest.”

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