Free On Broken Wings by Francis Porretto Page A

told me about your hunting licenses."
    Smalley nodded. "One of my little innovations in law enforcement. It's cut down considerably on the overtime here in District G, while providing a much needed increment in our discretionary revenues. And I suppose you're here to inquire into the availability of one for yourself and your associates?"
    Tiny nodded.
    "You do realize that Mr. Bonham already has one for the whole of District G? He's made considerable use of it. Seeing how similar your operations are, I question whether it's really worth it to you. The fee is not small."
    "No, Commander," Tiny said, "I was hoping to interest you in another little innovation."
    The policeman waited. Tiny rose and went to the large map of Buffalo on the wall behind him. He indicated a spot about a quarter-mile north of the northern boundary of District G.
    "Are you familiar with Vallares Arms, Commander?"
    Smalley nodded.
    "It is, of course, in District F, not G," Tiny said. "But it's close to your jurisdiction, and Jake and I both wondered whether you might ever have taken an interest in it."
    Smalley's face had gone blank. "What kind of interest might I have that would be served by a pitched battle between your two gangs and the District F police, however close it is to my district?"
    "Forty-five apartments, Commander. Upper middle class Hispanic families. The sort of people that don't trust banks. Domestic safes. Jewels. Precious metals. Some cash. Who knows, maybe a lot of cash. Not enough to make your nose twitch even a little?"
    "Get to the point. How is this supposed to work?"
    Tiny chuckled. "Come now, Commander! You have an entire district police force plus two heavily armed packs of bikers to work with. Surely you and I and Jake can come up with a way to put the Vallares Arms at our disposal. Would Commander Lawton respond to a request for backup from you for, say, a large street disturbance that you couldn't get under control with your own forces?"
    Smalley pursed his lips. "Of course he would."
    "And when the action was over, the arrestees would be processed through District G, wouldn't they?" Tiny waited for Smalley to nod. "So all we really need is a large enough disturbance just your side of the northern edge of the district to draw off the forces that would normally patrol that part of F. The rest is an exercise in routine police procedure."
    Smalley sat in silence for a long interval. Tiny knew he had sold his plan as thoroughly as it needed to be sold. He waited for the policeman to convince himself.
    "You make an attractive case. But the fee for this license will be beyond the usual. To make the risks worthwhile, I'm going to need a slice of the take."
    Tiny nodded. "I expected that."
    "When shall we meet again to discuss details?"
    "How much time do you need to do the planning, Commander?"
    The policeman appeared to calculate. "Give me a week."
    "Done." Tiny strode forward, hand extended. Somewhat to his surprise, Smalley took it. Tiny shifted his grip to a knuckle-cracker and bore down with all his strength. The big cop gasped and staggered. Tiny followed through mercilessly, driving Smalley to his knees.
    "Your vision does you credit, Commander. So does your strength. But I tell you now, I'm as wary of you as you are of me. And if you decide to try to fuck with me, you'll find that I and my associates know quite a lot about fucking as well. Not to mention whom to fuck with. You have my name. I have your name. I also have your home address. I know where your wife works, where your children go to school, and last but not least, the address of the lovely flat you rent for your lovely mistress. Do we understand each other?"
    Face white with pain, Smalley nodded and hissed assent. Tiny let him up and moved smoothly back to the door to the office.
    "Very good, Commander. In a week, then."
    He let himself out and hurried down the corridor toward the street exit. As soon as he was out of the building, he wrenched off his tie, shoved