Known Devil

“Right,” I said.

“And Loquasto provided you with this valuable intelligence because…?”

I hated to lie to McGuire. He’s a good boss, and he’s supported Karl and me at times when others were calling for our heads. But there was a limit to what he’d put up with, and I was pretty sure that one of his detectives engaging in conspiracy to commit murder was outside that limit.

“It’s in his best interest,” I said. “He believes, just like we do, that Wilson is behind the Delatassos’ attempt to take over the Calabrese territory. If Wilson’s out of the picture, Loquasto figures that Ro

“It makes sense, boss, when you think about it,” Karl said.

McGuire looked at Karl, then back at me. “So why don’t the Calabreses just go after Wilson themselves?”

“It would take a pitched battle for them to overcome all the firepower that Wilson’s got protecting him,” I said. “Loquasto didn’t come right out and admit it, but I’m pretty sure Calabrese hasn’t got the troops to do the job. He’s been hurt pretty bad in the war with the Delatassos.”

“So he wants us to do his dirty work for him.” Judging by his face, McGuire’s ulcer had taken a turn for the worse.

“It’s a win-win, haina?” Karl said. “We want Wilson bad as Calabrese does – maybe more. And if we can take him out of play before the election–”

“Which is eight days away,” McGuire said.

“Which is eight fuckin’ days away,” Karl said, nodding, “it could make all the difference in the world.”

“Or none at all,” McGuire said sourly.

“We won’t know for sure unless we can pull it off,” I said. “But one thing’s for sure, boss – if we don’t do something, and quick, Wilson’s go

“You know I don’t.” McGuire ran a hand slowly through his thi

Karl and I looked at each other, but didn’t say anything.

“For what it’s worth, I believe you,” McGuire said. “I think Wilson’s hiding in that big house on Lake Scranton. Shit, who else around here could afford that kind of security – and who else would need it?”

“Then what’s–” Karl began, but McGuire waved him silent.

“But asking the Chief to send twenty, thirty cops out there, including SWAT, based solely on the unsubstantiated word of a known criminal… I just don’t think it’s go

“It’s still worth a try, dammit,” I said. “If he says no, we’re no worse off than we are now.”

McGuire’s expression had turned bitter. “You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But, like I said, there’s another problem.”

McGuire moved around a couple of objects on his desk that didn’t need moving, and that’s when I felt icy fingers touch my spine. The boss doesn’t usually hesitate to say what’s on his mind – about anything.

“I’ve been hearing things, the last couple of weeks,” he said. “Nothing definitive – it’s what you’d have to call circumstantial evidence, but it still bothers me. Some people that the Chief’s been seen having lunch with, a few things he’s said at meetings, the fact that he’s talking about retiring next year – to Bermuda.”

“Holy fucking shit,” said. “You think the Chief of Police is in Wilson’s pocket.”

“Can’t prove a damn thing,” McGuire said. “But, yeah, I do. So you see the problem. I ask the Chief to authorize a big raid out on Lake Scranton, and he’s go

“He’ll tell Wilson we know where he is,” I said.

“Fucking Wilson’d turn that place out there into Fort Knox,” Karl said. “You’d need an armored division to take it.”

“Either that, or he’ll just disappear again,” I said. “And if he does, what do you figure the chances are we’d find the bastard again, before election day?”

McGuire snorted. “Snowball in Hell – if the odds are even that good.”

“Which means we’re fucked,” Karl said.

“No,” I told him. “It means we’re royally fucked.”

We got sent out on a call that turned out to be a false alarm. A woman living on Kaiser Avenue reported a werewolf prowling around her house. Karl and I didn’t turn up any werewolves, but we did find a guy from the neighborhood – he could’ve used a haircut and a beard trim, but he was still human – who liked to peek through windows. We sent the jerk home with a warning that Karl reinforced with a little bit of vampire Influence.

It was about time for our break then, so we headed for Jerry’s Diner, which was nearby. The mood I was in, I almost hoped somebody would try to stick the place up while we were there.

I was stirring sugar into my coffee when a thought occurred to me. “Karl, that Influence you laid on the peeping tom a little while ago….”

He put down his mug of Type O and looked at me. “Yeah?”

“Could you use it on Wilson’s guards? Maybe get them all to drop their guns and take a nice nap?”

“All of them?” He shook his head slowly. “No way, Stan. If there’s a technique for controlling a bunch of guys all at once, I never heard of it. I’d have to do them one at a time, and I don’t think it would take long before the others tumbled to what I was up to. They’d open up on me – and since those fuckers work for Wilson, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are packing silver bullets.”

“Shit,” I said. “Well, it was worth a try. I was hoping you could put them under your spell long enough for us to–”

“Wait – what did you say?” Karl was looking at me with an odd expression on his face.

“Just this crazy idea that you’d be able to–”

“I know what you meant,” he said, and stood up abruptly. “I’ll be right back.”

I watched as he went to the rack near the front door where Jerry keeps all the free print material that’s available for customers to take. I thought I remembered several books of realty listings, as well as the Pe