telling Salter about the reporter, then decided that the reporter, like Gregson, was irrelevant. Might even inhibit Salter.
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Salterâs scheme for conducting his own investigation had not gotten off the ground. He had thought about it until his brain hurt without seeing how he could get to first base with no one aware of his actions. Now he had been handed a walk. So, more or less to propitiate the gods, he felt he ought to acknowledge his good fortune by telling someone he was grateful. He closed the door and called Orliff.
Orliff said, âAre you pleased? I thought you were twiddling your thumbs.â
âYeah, I was. As a matter of fact, I am pleased. Iâve got a little notion about this case, something about it that struck me at the beginning.â
âThat right? Did you tell Mackenzie, or Marinelli?â
âI tried to a couple of times, but I got the feeling I was butting in.
âSo nowâs your chance.â
âI didnât tell you my idea, did I?â
âNo, you wrote it on a piece of cigarette paper, and I swallowed it so it would stay imprinted on my brain. What idea?â
âSorry, sorry. I was thinking aloud. So you think I should accept this assignment?â
âDo I think what? Youâre a staff inspector, Charlie, not a special agent. You do what youâre told.â
Orliff put down the phone and dialed Calvin Gregsonâs office. The lawyerâs secretary told him that he was on his way to Hazelton Lanes to see a shirtmaker, but she could reach him on his cell phone.
âTell him to meet me in Holt Renfrew in thirty minutes,â Orliff said, thinking how nice it was to be able to give orders to a guy like Gregson when you had something he wanted.
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Gregson had added a dark blue brocade vest to the suit and the riding shoes. The two men found a place to drink coffee on the lower level.
âI think youâre fixed up,â Orliff said. âIâve got them to put Salter on the case.â
âWhoâs he?â
âA staff inspector, not a regular member of Homicide, but heâs handled a couple of sensitive cases successfully. Heâs his own man.â
âA lone wolf?â
âMore of an odd duck. But heâs the one I would want if it were me.â
âKnows how to tread carefully, does he?â
âThatâs his nature. If he smells a cover-up, though, you wonât be able to keep him quiet.â
âI told you there isnât any cover-up. We just want the right answer as quickly and quietly as possible. Can you do one more thing for me? Ask Salter to come and see me as soon as he can.â
âYou want me to tell Salter to report to you? At your office, maybe? With his shoes shined? You hear what you are saying?â
âRight. Sorry. I understand. Right. Sorry. You had no hand in
it. You really are a crafty bastard, arenât you? How come youâre not a lawyer?â
âPoor guidance counseling in high school, I guess. Or the wrong high school.â
7
âI donât need a teammate,â Salter said. âWhen I need one, Iâll ask you for one.â
Marinelli shook his head. âWe work in pairs, Charlie, remember? For a lot of reasons. Backup, mainly.â
âIn case of a fight? Who the hell is going to start something here? One of Lucasâs Granite Club pals?â
âNo, in court. You need someone to cover your ass, you know that, someone to testify you didnât use undue violence when you got that old lady in an armlock. We are getting too many complaints.â
âIf I see any trouble coming, Iâll call for help.â
âIâm serious, Charlie. The order comes from the chief.â
âSo assign someone to me, but keep him in your office until I need him.â
âThereâs a guy just joined us. Heâs not long on the force but he had a lot of experience overseas before he came