Free Five Points by J. R. Roberts Page A

foam from his mustache with his finger and said, “What’s that?”
    â€œI checked the morgue at the Telegraph —went back quite a few months. Seems you’re making it hard for the criminal element in New York to make a living. ”
    â€œThat’s just my job,” Byrnes said.
    â€œNevertheless, it’s impressive. Think if I stay away a couple of years again and then come back, the streets will be clean of crime.”
    â€œNot much chance of that,” Byrnes said, “but it’s a nice thought.”
    â€œWhat about you?” Clint asked. “Any luck?”
    â€œI can think of two or three fences who might be able to handle the volume of merchandise we’re talking about,” Byrnes said. “I’m going to talk to them.”
    â€œMind if I come along?” Clint asked. “Looks like I don’t have that much to do until the stuff gets here.”
    â€œI’m going to go and see Ma Mandelbaum down in Little Italy right from here,” Byrnes said. “Don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t tag along.”
    â€œCan I have a drink first?” Clint asked. “Kind of dry in that morgue.”
    â€œSure,” Byrnes said. “There’s no hurry.”
    Angie brought Clint his beer, set it down, and made sure she bumped him with her hip as she was leaving. Byrnes noticed, but said nothing.
    â€œI sent a message to a friend of mine,” Clint said. “Thought he might be of some help.”
    â€œBat Masterson, you mean?”
    â€œNo,” Clint said, “not that message. I sent one here in town. Well, to Brooklyn, actually.”
    â€œBrooklyn?” Byrnes said it as if it were some foreign country he hated. “What’s this friend’s name?”
    â€œDelvecchio,” Clint said. “He’s a private—”
    â€œI know who Delvecchio is, Mr. Adams.”
    Clint wondered what happened to “Clint”?
    â€œI would think you’d pick your friends a little more carefully.”
    â€œHe’s been a big help to me during my other visits, ” Clint said. “What’s your problem with him?”
    â€œHe plays both sides,” Byrnes said. “In my book you’ve got to pick a side. If you don’t, then you might as well be bent.”
    Clint didn’t say anything. Byrnes seemed real intense about this, and Clint didn’t want to get on the man’s bad side. He also didn’t want to insult Talbot Roper’s friend.
    â€œI’ll keep that in mind, Captain.”
    Byrnes finished his beer, wiped away the foam again, then seemed to relax.
    â€œI’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t mean to tell you who your friends should be. It’s just . . . if I were you, I’d be careful of Mr. Delvecchio. That’s all I’m saying.”
    â€œI appreciate it, Captain,” Clint said. “I mean it, I’ll keep your words in mind.”
    â€œYou finish your beer,” Byrnes said. “I want to talk to the bartender a moment. Then we’ll go and see Ma Mandelbaum. She is known as the Queen of Fences.”
    â€œSounds like somebody who’s going to be interesting to meet,” Clint said.
    â€œInteresting is the least of it,” Byrnes said.

TWENTY-FOUR
    Bethany got to the Belvedere Hotel just in time to see Clint Adams leave and go to the tavern next door. When she hurried over and peered in the window, she saw him joining Captain Byrnes at a table. There was no way she could go in and talk to him, not while he was with Byrnes.
    She was just going to have to wait.
    Clint finished his beer as Byrnes came walking back over.
    â€œYou ready to go meet the only female fence in Manhattan?” Byrnes asked.
    â€œI’m ready.”
    He stood up and the two men walked to the door. Clint waved at Angie and signaled to her that he’d see her later. At least, he hoped she understood what he was trying to