Free Miami Massacre by Don Pendleton Page B

you've hit it. Narcotics, illegal booze, hot money, gambling, any channel where the bucks run fast. He also, incidentally, had quite a reputation as a dealer in women."
    "White slavery?"
    Dunlap smiled and shook his head. "Not that we're aware of. No, that was part of his public relations routine. He wined, dined, and bedded his visiting royalty in a truly regal manner, and he had quite a discerning eye for feminine beauty. According to a couple of phone conversations we tapped into last year, he was quite proud of his hostly image. Liked to brag that he had the hottest stable in the country."
    "The young woman, Jean Kirkpatrick," Wilson mused, ". . . chances are pretty good, then, that she was part of Balderone's girl operation, right?"
    "Your report states that she was there to model swimwear," Hannon said, looking up quickly. "Did you check that out thoroughly?"
    Wilson nodded. "Yes, sir, I did. The boutique shop in the lobby confirmed her story. She was wearing one of their suits when the shooting occurred. But it's starting to smell. With Balderone straddling both worlds . . ." He sighed. "Such a beautiful kid. Dammit. I guess I better question her again."
    "It can keep," the captain said. "Right now we'd better start trying to get a line on this Bolan character. And half of the Dade Force is tied down on that music festival out at the raceway."
    "Count me into your foot force," the federal man volunteered.
    "Thanks. Uh, you were saying something a while ago about the guy in Los Angeles."
    "Brognola? Yes, he was very close to the Bolan case out there. Left word for him to call. Possibly he can fill us in on the Bolan M.O. in ways that others can't. I thought it might be helpful."
    "Hell, yes," Harmon quietly agreed.
    "Who's Brognola?" Wilson inquired.
    "Justice Department," Dunlap explained. "He has actually spoken with Bolan and . . . well, I guess he was even working
with
him toward the big Mafia bust out there!" He aimed a pencil toward a manila folder on the desk. "That
Project Pointer
report there tells all about it."
    "Doesn't sound exactly kosher," Wilson commented uneasily.
    Dunlap shrugged. "Sometimes we have to go for the end, and not the means. I guess Brognola figured the Mafia was the greater enemy. That's our big hangup right now, anyway, you know. Federally speaking." He smiled. "Not to put down the local cops, you understand, but we're not nearly as interested in everyday street crime as we are in the big underworld combines."
    "I hope you're not speaking of the present case," Hannon said heavily. "This is no everyday street crime staring at us. We have one goal, and that's to prevent a hot war from erupting on our streets. Agreed?"
    The federal agent showed his usual cheery smile and said, "I'm yours to command, Captain." He got to his feet and headed for the door. "I'll be upstairs. I want to stick close by in case Brognola calls. But yell if you need me."
    Hannon nodded his head and Dunlap went on out. Wilson said, "I get the feeling that guy knows more than he's telling us. You get that feeling?"
    "Hell, I'm sure of it," Hannon replied dismally. He went over and closed the door, then returned to the desk and sat down with a heavy sigh. "The Justice Department would like to play footsy with Bolan, and that's the whole truth of the matter. Maybe not the department
per se,
but someone up there with authority is trying to make intercessions with the police forces around the country. You don't see the FBI getting all lathered up over Bolan, do you?"
    "What do you mean, what kind of intercessions?"
    "They're suggesting it might be in the greater national interest if we just try to
contain
Bolan. Sort of turn our backs, you know, unless he really gets out of line."
    "And what does he have to do to really get out of line? I mean, sure, so far today all he's done is gun down a couple of people who were peacefully passing the time of day around the old swimming hole. Where do we draw the line? When Miami Beach