“Don’t get your balls in an uproar. He’s a friend of a friend and I owed a favor. We gotta do favors in our business, am I right?”
“We’re not in the same business, Sandy, and you’re the attorney of record.”
“That’s a technicality. What’s your interest anyway? Last I knew, woods cops didn’t fuck with civil suits.”
“We don’t, unless there’s some related criminal activity.”
“You so low on work you gotta chase employment cases?”
“Bear poachers, Sandy. Bear poachers,” he repeated, and hung up. Let the sleazy little bastard stew on that for a while.
His last task was a call to Wisconsin.
“Ficorelli,” the Wisconsin warden answered on his cell phone, his voice barely audible.
“Wayno, it’s Service.”
“You still on that case?”
“Until I nail somebody,” Service said.
“I hear what you’re sayin’,” Ficorelli said. “How’s Limey?”
“Haven’t seen her in a while.”
“She’s a hot one, eh?”
“Am I interrupting?” Service asked.
“No, I’ve got my binocs on a slimeball trolling for muskies on a closed lake. What’s up?”
“There’s a Wisconsin guy we’re interested in. He lives in Marinette County, a place called Harmony. He worked at the Enstrom helicopter factory in Menominee. I know that’s not your turf, but I thought one of your guys could—”
“My guys, my ass. I’m on it,” Ficorelli said. “What’s this dirtbag’s name?”
“Charley Fahrenheit.”
“That an alias?”
“Nope.”
“Okay, I’ll crank him through the computer and get back at you. This is a hurry-up deal, yes?”
“Kind of urgent.”
Ficorelli laughed. “With urgent and pregnant there ain’t no kind of. Is or isn’t. Cut me a couple of days?”
“Thanks, Wayno.”
“Am I just scratching for scent or do you want me to rattle cages?”
“Just scratch—for now.”
“Not a problem. Remember, I’d like to join you guys up in da Yoop, be a real woods cop like you when I grow up.”
He doubted Wayno would ever grow up, but there was something about his irreverence and spunk he liked. “I remember.”
Newf looked up when he pushed back from the desk. “I’ve had enough fun for one day. How about you?”
She lifted her butt and stretched.
As they passed LeBlanc’s desk he said, “If that red dog comes around tonight, I expect you to kick its ass.”
Fern LeBlanc said, “What if I prefer diplomacy to warfare?”
Service grinned. “Sorry, I was talking to my mutt.” It had been a very long day.
21
It was nearly dark when he drove up the driveway and parked, his eyes alert for the marauding red dog. He was so focused on the dog that it didn’t immediately register that the interior house lights were on. Had he forgotten to turn them out? Possible, he decided. He’d been less than alert when he and Newf left. As they walked toward the back door a low growl rolled out of Newf. Her ears were flat. At the back door he heard music inside, Norah Jones singing “Turn Me On.” Nantz had discovered Norah recently, and her tunes always turned Nantz on.
He tried the door. It was open. He’d never failed to lock it before. His hand went to his SIG Sauer. He unsnapped his holster, and thumbed the safety off. No way he’d left the door unlocked. Somebody had gone inside; but if they’d broken in, why were the lights on, music playing?
Moving cautiously down the hall he heard a voice call out, “It’s okay if youse gotcher gun out, as long as it’s da right gun.”
He peeked into the living room. Honeypat Allerdyce was seated on the couch, a glass of wine in hand. Her hair was cut short and done up. She wore a blue skirt and jacket, and navy blue stiletto heels. Gold earrings dangled from her ears. He couldn’t remember ever seeing her dressed up. Usually she was wearing nothing or close to it. Now she looked like a stockbroker or something. The metamorphosis was astounding.
“Detective,” she said, saluting him with her glass. “There’s wine on the counter in the kitchen. I hoped you’d be here earlier. I didn’t want to sit on the back porch. We wouldn’t want the neighbors gettin’ the wrong idea, hey? I hope you can forgive me for letting myself in.”
“Honeypat,” Service said. He didn’t ask how she got in. The Allerdyces didn’t need keys. In all the years he’d known her, she had never looked like this. She looked to be about 40 max, and this came as a surprise.