The Second Girl(90)

“Okay. Stand by for a sec,” she says, and then I hear scuffling, like she’s moving somewhere else.

I hear a door shut.

“What do you have?”

“You already know that I gave the location where you got Cordell Holm, so don’t try to pull all that top secret shit and not share anything with me. If you’re going to be like that, then I’ll give the information to someone else that’ll want it.”

“Understood,” she says politely.

“I know Cordell Holm got arrested in the house and so did one of his mopes, a kid named José. He’s the brother of Angelo. You remember Angelo, right?”

“Yes, of course.”

“I got this information from a very reliable source, and don’t ask who it is, because the source will not make itself available to you or, for that matter, to me anymore. According to the source, Angelo called in the hit on Edgar Soto through his brother José, and it was cleared through Cordell.”

“But without a source—”

“Let me finish. Cordell approved the hit, but used someone outside to do it. The officer who got shot. They called him Officer Tommy.”

“What?”

“It’s good information. You can trust that. The officer was a frequent guest at the brothel. He had himself a Latina girl there. I’m sure if you talk to some of the girls, put together an array, and convince them it’s in their best interest, they’ll identify him. Another thing I know well, because despite what you might think, I was good at my job—”

“I never meant to give you the impression—”

“You can apologize later. Listen now. You got Angelo and Viktor in jail, Cordell Holm on good charges, and this boy José, who was involved in Amanda Meyer’s abduction and probably rape. I’m sure you all got some other good stuff out of that house, and those boys are facing serious time. You set up debriefings with them through the U.S. Attorney’s Office, one after the other, and it’ll only be a matter of time before they all start rolling on each other.”

“This is incredible, Frank, but I really need your source of information.”

“Don’t ask that again, because it’s not going to happen. You have to work for this one. It might take a little time, but it’ll pay off, because everyone rolls.”

“Will you be available to give a statement?”

“Donna, close the f*cking Edgar Soto case with some good legwork. I’ve seen your legs. They can work. I’ve given you everything you need to know, so be the hero and do it all yourself.”

I disconnect.

We’ll see how she plays it. I have a feeling she likes the idea of making a name for herself.





Eighty-three



I’ve got a nice chunk of coke on the glass table to chop up. I can’t think of anything better to do today.

The doorbell rings and I nearly fall out of my seat.

I peek through the curtain.

Fuck. It’s Leslie.

I run toward the door, but remember the coke.

“Who is it?” I ask like an idiot.

“Frankie, it’s Leslie.”

I look back in the living room. I can’t let her in yet.

“Leslie, just a minute. I’m not decent. Just wait a second.”

“Okay, then,” she says.

I run back to the living room, look at the chunk I’ve been cutting up. It’s gotta be more than an eight ball. I look around the living room and see the Washington City Paper on the coffee table.

I grab it.

“Be right there,” I call out.

I open up the paper and put it on the floor near the glass table. I tip the table over it and scrape the coke into the newspaper with the razor, drop the razor in, too, fold up the paper, and slip it under the sofa cushion. I move a couple of pillows from the other side of the sofa to the cushion that covers the paper.

The glass table still has white powder residue on it, so I brush it with the palm of my hand and lick it off. I look at the palm of my hand. No powder. I wipe the saliva on my pants and check my nose in a hallway mirror.

I open the door.

“I’m sorry,” I say. “Come in.”

“I can’t right now, but thanks.”

“I have coffee.”

“Maybe another time. I took a detour on the way to the office. I just thought I’d try you at home, since I haven’t been able to get you over the phone.”

“I meant to call back, but it’s been a little crazy.”

“I can imagine. I’ve seen the news, and Ian Gregory called me. He told me everything. Damn, you really got her back.”

“And you doubted I could?”

“No, of course not, but you know this world. You know the odds.”

“Yeah…”

“You did good, Frankie. That’s all I wanted to say. And despite all the shit you recently put me through, I’m really proud of you.”

Her smile might just feel better than the drugs.

“Does that mean I’m forgiven?” I say.

“You’re forgiven, but on probation.”

“I’ll take that, then, ’cause I like the idea of having you as my parole officer.”

“Don’t think that I won’t step you back if I have to.”