Fat Tuesday(111)

"You're turning murderer?"

"Executioner for crimes committed."

"That's not up to you."

"Apparently it is."

"Leave it to Internal Affairs."

Burke laughed again, more bitterly than before."They're as corrupt as the rest. Even if they sniffed out the traitor, do you think they'd turn him over to the D.A.? Hell, no. Nobody in the N.O.P.D is going to do a goddamn thing except heap cover-up onto cover-up and line their own pockets in the process."

"There are some honest cops, too, Basile. One fewer now that you resigned."

"Those few can't change things."

"Will more killing bring Kev Stuart back?"

It occurred to Burke that he'd never seen his young partner this earnest about anything. He was desperate, and so jittery he'd almost developed a facial tick.

"What are you doing here, Mac?"

"I told you."

"What you told me was bullshit. You didn't stick your neck out for me because you admire me. It's not like we were blood brothers.

There's something wrong with this picture. What is it?"

Mac's eyes shifted away from Burke's for several seconds before reconnecting."I'm into a loan shark for fifty grand."

"I see," Burke said, putting the pieces together."It's starting to make sense now. Duvall found out about your debt and offered to pay it off if you delivered me and his wife to him. That explains your desperation."

"What could I do, Burke? They threatened to hurt Toni."

Burke grabbed him by the front of his shirt."Did you lead them here?"

"No, hell no." Mac wrestled himself free."I was supposed to meet them last night, but I failed to show. I hoped to find you before they found me. They don't know where I am."

'"Well, they'll find out. See you, Mac. Good luck."

Burke tried to move past him, but Mccuen blocked him again.

"Basile, I swear, I wouldn't risk coming through that goddamn swamp to find you if this was just about money. My parents-in-law would cover my debt if I asked them to. There's much more to this than you know."

"Yeah, and I'm sure it makes for interesting conversation, but right now I'm a little pressed for time." Burke was worried about Remy being alone in the shack. He'd been away much longer than he'd anticipated.

Besides, nothing Mac said would sway him. The guy was untrustworthy.

What guarantee did he have that Mac hadn't led Bardo and a team of assassins straight to him? He would retrieve the boat where he'd hidden it on the bank, then return to Dredd's shack with dispatch. He wasn't worried about Mac tracking him. He would be easy to shake in the labyrinth of bayous.

Mac grabbed his arm."I can help you, Basile. We can help each other."

"You're only interested in helping yourself. Now get the hell out of my way."

"I can't let you go through with this."

"You can't stop me."

When Burke tried to shove him aside, Mac reached toward the small of his back.

"Jesus, Mac, no!"

But he needn't have worried about Mac shooting him. Before Mac could get a grip on his weapon, Burke heard a gunshot. Mac looked at Burke with stunned surprise, then his eyes went blank and he pitched forward.

fredd heard the car's approach."Haven't had more than three customers this week," he said to himself."This morning, I'm doing a land-office business."

According to Gregory's schedule, Duvall's men were right on time.

Maybe the boy was seeking redemption after all.

Two car doors were heard opening and shutting, then footsteps crunched through gravel."Good morning," a voice called out.

"Same to you, *," Dredd said beneath his breath, not loud enough for his visitors to hear.

"They biting this morning?"

That from a second voice. Dredd didn't respond to it either. He had arranged it so that Duvall's heavies saw an old man sitting with his back to them on the end of the pier, feet dangling above the water, fishing pole in his hand. His plan was for them to figure that the geezer was hard of hearing.

They didn't venture into the store, where they doubtless thought Gregory was cowering, waiting for the action to unfold. Instead, they came toward him along the pier. One, Dredd discerned by his footsteps, was significantly heavier than the other.

"You must be Dredd."

Dredd didn't move.

"What are you using for bait?"

He estimated they were ten feet away from the end of the pier now Close, but not close enough.

"Is he deaf or what?" he heard one ask the other in an undertone.

"Hey, old man," the first voice said."We're going fishing. We need to buy some supplies."

Still Dredd waited, motionless and silent.

"Son of a bitch must be deaf."

"Or else he's ignoring us just to be ornery. Hey, old man! I'm talking to you."

During his police career, Dredd had frequently relied on human nature to assist him in doing his job. Homo sapiens acted on ancient impulses, which made them predictable. Dredd was counting on bullies being unable to resist a chance to bully.

"Maybe he needs a little prodding," suggested one.