Free Hate is Thicker Than Blood by Brad Latham Page B

you.”
    “All right. Keep him there.”
    The two stood and waited, silent, worry in the wife’s eyes as she stared at The Hook. Finally, Agitino padded up. “Yeah?”
     he asked.
    “You’re Red Agitino?”
    “That’s right. Who’re you?”
    “My name’s Lockwood. I’m with the police.” Again he flashed the wallet. His shield looked much like the ones used by the New
     York police department.
    “What do you want with me?”
    “It’s private. Can just the two of us talk?”
    His wife’s eyes filled with care, but Agitino seemed unruffled. “If you like. I can come out there.”
    “Be careful, Red,” she cried, hand out as if to stop him.
    “It’s okay, Reenie,” he told her. “This guy’s all right. I can see that.” He opened the screen door, and waved his arm toward
     the street. “After you.”
    They reached the sidewalk, and Agitino turned to the right and walked a few paces. “Okay,” he said, as easy as anyone could
     be under the circumstances, “what’s it all about?”
    “Maria Nuzzo.”
    Agitino broke his stride, then recovered and continued to walk. “Yes?”
    “You know who she is.”
    “I read about her in the
Daily News
. Shot dead, wasn’t she?”
    “You know she was.”
    “Hey, wait a minute—” Agitino spun toward The Hook.
    “I’m not accusing you of anything, Red,” Lockwood told him. “I just assume you’ve read every word you could find on her death.”
    Agitino’s face went blank. “I don’t get you.”
    “I know you were her lover.”
    Agitino seemed stung, then swiveled his face to the right, out of Lockwood’s vision. “You’re crazy.”
    “Maria talked.”
    Agitino wheeled back and looked him over. “Let me see that police card again.”
    “You don’t have to worry about me, Red.”
    “The card.”
    Lockwood brought it out, and this time Agitino grabbed it to study. You’re a liar!” he said angrily. “You’re no cop. You’re
     with an insurance company!”
    “Yes. An investigator for them.”
    “You lied to me.”
    “I find I get a quicker response if people think I’m with the police. In the end, the results are the same.”
    “You’re a phony, and your story is phony.”
    “You’re telling me you weren’t Maria Nuzzo’s lover.”
    “I’m telling you I didn’t even
know
Maria Nuzzo.”
    “I’m trying to find her killer, Red. That’s all I want.”
    Agitino glared at him, and said nothing.
    “I have reason to believe her husband killed her. Frankie Nuzzo. And one of the reasons he did it was because he found out
     she was cheating on him. With you.”
    “I’m going home.” Agitino turned, and started walking back to the house.
    “Nuzzo is a gangster, Red—a killer! He should be off the streets. You know that. You’ve got to know all about him.”
    “Buzz off.”
    “He belongs in the chair, Red. If you don’t help me, Maria’s blood will be on your hands as well.”
    Agitino’s face went crimson with anger, and he lashed out with a short right that caught The Hook by surprise, and threw him
     back a few feet. “Leave me alone!” Agitino cried. “I’m going home, and I don’t want to see you again. I’ve got a shotgun in
     the house, and if you ever try to bother me anymore, I’ll blast your head off and tell the cops you were a prowler!” With
     that he turned and walked back to the house.
    The Hook stood there a moment, then wearily headed back to his car. It had been a long day.

CHAPTER
TEN
    Hook Lockwood allowed himself a good long sleep. He’d be damned if he’d make Mr. Gray happy, and at this point, what with
     the hours he’d been working, and the company he’d been keeping—Nuzzo’s boys and the like—Transatlantic was getting him cheap.
     Much too cheap.
    It was nearly eleven when he strode to the breakfast table room service had wheeled in, the morning’s papers lying alongside
     the silver tray. He was about to read the
Herald Tribune
when he saw the headline and photo on the front page