Free Clint Faraday Mysteries collection A Muddled Murders Collector's Edition by CD Moulton Page A

confused.
    “ So we
wouldn’t look past that. If we did – and I damned well WILL – we
might find things they don’t want found.”
    “ Such
as?”
    “ Who he
worked for.”
    Tonio looked even more confused. “The
Bernardino mob.”
    “ I
really, really, REALLY don’t think so!”
    “ Why
not?”
    “ Because
that would bring in another much bigger and stronger mob looking
for why he was hit. He was asking too many questions about the
wrong person.”
    “ Maybe
that’s the object? Make it look like that to get at the Barnardino
mob?”
    “ Uh-huh.
Exactly. I think maybe I’ll try to see who in the Bernardino mob
crossed them and needs a diversion – like having the whole bunch
wiped out.”
    “ Better
you than me, Mon!”
    Clint
gave him the finger. Clint was sure he knew who, but didn’t
know who .
    Yet.
     
    “ What did
you find?” Al asked.
    “ He was
hit by a professional, then the place was set up to let us know he
was a hit man for the Bernardino mob. We’re supposed to drop it
because it was strictly a mob deal and it’s better all around if
they handle those things themselves. Saves taxpayers a bundle by
not prosecuting something that you can’t hope to get a conviction
on anyhow.”
    “ I can
see that, but you said ‘supposed to,’ so you won’t?”
    “ Nope! I
want to see how certain people react to a couple of little
discrepancies in the case,” Clint explained ... getting a feeling
of accomplishment from the look on Al’s face.
    Me, you ain’t gonna manipulate that way, turkey! He thought.
    “ But ...
but ... I don’t ... discrepancies?”
    “ Uh-huh.
It’s pretty obvious what this is supposed to accomplish, just not
quite clear who’s trying to use it ... or why.
    “ Well,
I’ll get on back to Bocas!”
    “ BOCAS!?!
I mean, what’s ... why Bocas?”
    “ Because
that’s the last thing they’d expect. The answers are there, but
they don’t want those answers found,” Clint explained like Al was a
slightly retarded child. “At least, SOME of them they don’t want
found.
    “ Amateurs! Marko had THAT part right! I’ll see you in a few
days, I guess. I’ll have to come back here.” He walked off with
Al’s mouth hanging open with a dead fish expression on his
face.
    “ But ...
you know who did it?”
    “ Yup!”
    Al actually staggered. He looked like he’d
have a heart attack any second. That made Clint feel good!
     
    “ Yo,
Judi! Got some work to do,” Clint greeted as he got out of his boat
onto his deck. “First, a gallon or so of coffee.
    “ It’s
gonna get hairy, I think. I don’t think they’ll come after you, but
be careful. I’m not going to stay here. Maybe I’ll check into the
Sagittarius until this is over. Maybe stay with that author
character over on sexta. I’m invited. I don’t want this place shot
up or firebombed or whatever. I’m used to it and kind of like it as
it is.”
    “ You know
who, but don’t know who? What did you mean by that? You don’t make
any sense a lot of the time. I take it you mean you know who did
it, but not who for or something? Maybe ... oh. Alias?”
    “ Yeah.
Either he’s a part of the Barnardino mob or is part of a rival mob
who wants them eliminated from competition or whatever. They’re
going to manipulate me into getting Marko to do the job for
them.”
    “ They
are?”
    “ Uh-huh,
but maybe the rival mob gets removed at the same time – or maybe
only one or two cruds who think, as Marko says, they can think. I
want to call Marko first thing and get him to find out who Al
really is.”
    “ He’s the
one who wants to find where Marko is?”
    “ Well....
He’s the one who wants Marko to think the Bernardino mob wants to
know where he is so they can have him hit.” Clint thought for a
minute, then grinned and said he wanted that coffee now. He fixed
the pot, then called Marko.
    “ Greetings, Marko! Clint Faraday. This one is
real.
    “ Marko,
find out who Al Stewart, the name he’s using