`I'd have to penetrate the Slayers.'
'You'd have to catch one and make him talk to you,' Connie said.
Catch a Slayer. It sounded like a lad's game.
'You could hide out until Ranger gets back,' Connie said.
What she meant was, I could hide out until Ranger gets back and eliminates Junkman for me. Ranger was good at solving problems like that. And it was tempting to let him solve mine, but that's not the sort of thing you do to someone you like. That's not even the sort of thing you do to someone you hate. Not when the problem is solved by murder.
I'd already been there, and it didn't feel great. I was pretty sure
Ranger had once killed a man to protect me. The man had been insane and determined to end my life. His death had been ruled a suicide, but in my heart, I knew Ranger had stepped in and done the job. And I knew there'd been an unspoken agreement between
Ranger and Morelli. Don't ask, don't tell.
Morelli was a cop, sworn to uphold the law. Ranger had his own set of laws. There were things that fell in the gray zone between
Morelli and Ranger. Things Ranger was willing to do if he felt it necessary. Things Morelli could never justify.
`I'll think about it,' I told Connie. 'Let me know if you hear from
Ranger.'
I'd parked in the small lot behind the bonds office. I left through the back door, got into the Lincoln, and I called Morelli.
'What's happening with Anton?' I asked. 'Did he make bail?'
It's set high. I don't think anybody's going to step forward for him.'
'Have you talked to him? Did he tell you anything interesting?
Like about Junkman?'
'He's not talking,' Morelli said.
'Can't you make him?'
'I could, but I misplaced my rubber hose.'
'You said Junkman was a hired gun, right? That he was from LA.'
'We're not sure if that information is right anymore. The source hasn't turned out as reliable as we'd hoped. We know there's a guy out there who uses the tag Junkman. And we know he's working his way through a list. That's really all we're sure of.'
'And I'm on the list.'
'That's what we were told.'
And that's what Anton confirmed. It would be helpful to know why I'm on the list.'
'Whatever the reason, it would help your cause if you'd quit your job and look like a non threatening housewife. Or maybe go away for a couple months. These guys have a short attention span.'
"Would you miss me if I went away?'
There was a long silence.
'Well?' I asked.
`I'm thinking.'