Free North of Nowhere by Steve Hamilton

activities on his behalf are strictly confidential, Alex. You know that.”
    “Leon, for God’s sake, it’s me, okay? I was your partner.”
    “You were my partner, yes.”
    “Look, I told you—”
    “It’s okay, Alex. I don’t hold that against you. I’m just saying, you know I can’t discuss this with you.”
    “Leon, I don’t care what—” I stopped, made myself slow down. Maven was right, it’s all in how you react to things. Leon’s putting on his one-man show, which always drives me nuts. So I should just stop letting it get to me. “I’m just making conversation,” I said. “I wouldn’t ask you to divulge any information that would jeopardize your relationship with your client.”
    “Fair enough,” he said. “Thank you.”
    “But I was there last night, when you called him. He told us that you had followed them to a hotel. And then I think he was getting ready to accuse us of covering for Swanson. Or accuse Jackie and Bennett and Gill, anyway. I was just the innocent bystander. Me and Kenny.”
    Leon took a manila folder off his desk and opened it. “Those were the five other players at his house last night.”
    “Yes,” I said. “Until the men with the guns joined us.”
    “I’ll ask Chief Maven for a copy of the police report. I understand you were the only man who could help them with physical descriptions.”
    “I sort of figured Vargas would ask you to look into it,” I said. “I told Maven to expect to hear from you.”
    “How did he react to that?”
    “I don’t know. Maven doesn’t let himself react anymore. Doctor’s orders.”
    “I’m sure we’ll get along fine,” Leon said. “I know you and Maven never hit it off.”
    “I’m not on his Christmas card list, no. But that’s not what I’m worried about. I’m just wondering what Vargas is gonna ask you to do now. Is he thinking his wife and Swanson were behind this?”
    Leon looked up at me.
    “I know, I know,” I said. “You can’t share that information. I was just wondering, okay? It’s just natural human curiosity.”
    “I understand,” he said. “I do. You were there. It’s natural.”
    “He’s gonna have you running all over the place, isn’t he. Trying to get to the bottom of this.”
    Leon just shrugged at that.
    “I’ll save you some time,” I said. “I’m the guy you’re looking for. It was all my idea.”
    “Come on, Alex. This isn’t a joke.”
    “You’re not doing your other job anymore? The snowmobile thing? And the outboard motors in the summer?”
    “I’m a private investigator, Alex. Full-time.”
    “This office has to cost some money. Do you have any other clients besides Vargas? I mean, you don’t have to tell me any names…”
    “Most of my time is going to Mr. Vargas right now,” he said. “He’s keeping me busy, believe me.”
    “Leon, I hope he’s not going to ask you to do anything stupid, okay? That’s all I’m saying. He seems like the kind of guy who could do that.”
    “You know I always play it straight, Alex. Straight down the middle.” Another thing that only Leon would say.
    “What does your wife think about all this?”
    “She’s letting me give it a shot,” he said. “She wasn’t so sure about it at first. But hey, she knows how much it means to me. I’m lucky to have her.”
    “That’s true,” I said. “Kids are okay?”
    “The kids are good.”
    “Say hi to them for me.”
    “I’ll do that.”
    “I’ll let you get back to work.”
    “Fair enough,” he said. “I’m glad you stopped by.”
    “Me too,” I said, getting up. I shook his hand. “I’ll see you again soon.”
    “Alex,” he said. “You know that you’ll always be my friend, right?”
    I looked at him. The late afternoon sun came in right over his shoulder, casting a long shadow across his desk. “Of course,” I said.
    “You know my first priority has to be to my client,” he said. “And my second priority has to be the official channels of law