Free A Walk Among the Tombstones by Lawrence Block Page B

three."
    "Splitting four tenths of a mil. They might be taking cabs a lot themselves, don't you think?"
    "I had that thought myself."
    "So if somebody's throwing a lot of money around, that would be useful information."
    "It might."
    "And the drug dealers, especially the major players, should get the word that they're at risk for kidnapping. They might just as easily grab a dealer, don't you think? It wouldn't have to be a woman."
    "I'm not sure about that."
    "Why's that?"
    "I think they enjoyed the killing. I think they got off on it. I think they used her sexually, and I think they tortured her, and then when the novelty wore off they killed her."
    "The body showed signs of torture?"
    "The body came back in twenty or thirty pieces, individually wrapped. And that's not for the street, either. I hadn't planned on mentioning it."
    "I'd just as soon you hadn't, to tell you the truth. Matthew, is it my imagination or is the world turning nastier?"
    "It doesn't seem to be lightening up."
    "It doesn't, does it? Remember the Harmonic Convergence, all the planets lining up like soldiers? Wasn't that supposed to signal the dawn of some kind of New Age?"
    "I'm not holding my breath."
    "Well, they say it's always darkest before the dawn. I see what you mean, though. If killing's part of the fun, and if they're into rape and torture, well, they won't pick some raggedy-ass dope dealer with a beer gut and a five o'clock shadow. Nothing queer about these fellows."
    "No."
    He thought for a moment. "They'll have to do it again," he said.
    "They could hardly be expected to quit after a score like that. I wonder, though."
    "If they've done it before? I was wondering the same thing myself."
    "And?"
    "They were pretty slick," I said. "I get the feeling they had some practice."
    FIRST thing after breakfast the next morning I walked over to the Midtown North station house on West Fifty-fourth. I caught Joe Durkin at his desk, and he caught me off balance by complimenting me on my appearance. "You're dressing better these days," he said. "I think it's that woman's doing. Elaine, right?"
    "That's right."
    "Well, I think she's a good influence on you."
    "I'm sure she is," I said, "but what the hell are you talking about?"
    "That's a nice-looking jacket, that's all."
    "This blazer? It must be ten years old."
    "Well, you never wear it."
    "I wear it all the time."
    "Maybe it's the tie."
    "What's so special about the tie?"
    "Jesus Christ," he said. "Did anybody ever tell you you're a difficult son of a bitch? I tell you you look nice and the next thing I know I'm on the fucking witness stand. How about we start over? 'Hello, Matt, it's great to see you. You look like shit. Have a seat.' Is that better?"
    "Much better."
    "I'm glad. Sit down. What brings you here?"
    "I had the urge to commit a felony."
    "I know the feeling. There's hardly a day goes by that I don't get the urge myself. You got any particular felony in mind?"
    "I was thinking of a class D felony."
    "Well, we got lots of those. Criminal possession of forgery devices is a class D felony, and you're probably committing that one at this very minute. You got a pen in your pocket?"
    "Two pens and a pencil."
    "Gee, it sounds as though I better Mirandize you and get you booked and printed. But I don't suppose that's the class D felony you had in mind."
    I shook my head. "I was thinking of violating Section Two Hundred Point Zero Zero of the Criminal Code."
    "Two Hundred Point Zero Zero. You're gonna make me look that up, aren't you?"
    "Why not?"
    He gave me a look, then reached for a black looseleaf binder and flipped through it. "It's a familiar number," he said. "Oh, right, here we are. 'Two Hundred Point Zero Zero. Bribery in the third degree. A person is guilty of bribery in the third degree when he confers, or offers or agrees to confer, any benefit upon a public servant upon an agreement or understanding that such public servant's vote, opinion, judgment, action, decision or exercise of