“I watched him fight his way up to top dog,” Norton said. “The gang’s what he’s got.”
“Would he put a hit on her for what I told him?”
Zutter rubbed his chin as he and Norton studied each other. They both shook their heads.
“
He’d want to talk to her, squeeze what she knows out of her.”
“If he ordered the hit on Lyle, he already knows,” Eve pointed out. “And if he did, she followed his orders. Would he take her out now?”
“More get her out,” Norton said. “Maybe he did already. Get her gone somewhere until he figures things settle.”
“So, either way, he’s not going to execute her.” Eve stood in the wind, calculating while the neon on the tat parlor began to buzz like a small swarm of bees. “If he didn’t order the hit, squeezes out she was part of it, does he follow the code, have a trial?”
“That’s how he rolls. He’ll gut her himself if it comes to that, but not before they stand her up, make her blubber first.”
“Okay. Sit on the place, tag me if you see anybody leave and head to the underground. That’s a couple blocks west, right?”
“Affirmative.”
“And where’s Wet Dreams from that entrance?”
Now Zutter pushed back his uniform cap, scratched his head. “First tunnel to the right, next left. It’s not down deep. LT, you shouldn’t oughta go down there without a force.”
“Just getting the lay. Appreciate the assist.”
“It’s what we do in this little piece of heaven on earth, right, Zut?”
“You got it.”
Roarke slid behind the wheel. “A couple blocks west, is it?”
“Yeah, then we’ll take a trip to Wet Dreams.”
“Darling Eve, life with you is a never-ending series of them.”
“Funny.”
She directed him to park in a loading zone, switched on the On Duty sign. From the trunk, she studied her choices, and took out two serrated-edged knives, passed one to Roarke.
“Thank you, darling. It’s just my size.”
She knew him, knew he could handle himself. Knew he’d enjoy it.
“What’re you carrying?”
He opened his coat, took from the inside pocket a police-issue stunner.
“Jesus, I should arrest you.”
“Promise you will when we get home.” He leaned in to kiss her. “You know how it thrills me.”
“Still funny,” she muttered. “Keep it handy.”
“You think he might just order that hit?”
“The minute I went in looking for her, she was in the crosshairs. I lean toward the uniforms’ opinion,” she added. “If she was following his orders on Pickering, he’ll hide her until things cool off. But…”