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EIGHT

We didn&039;t see in any particular direction

I&039;d known Detective Sergeant Burt Reuy that brought him the fat envelopes full of cash whenever Stan needed a favor from the police department So it ith reluctance that Burt held open the car door and ent

I kneas an agent just by looking at hiray suit, the haircut, the standard-issue sunglasses all gave hilossy G-h, he flipped open his little badge wallet and said, "I&039;ent Dunn, Mr Swift Let&039;s you and I have a chat"

Dunn smoked a Pall Mall Burt drove

"You mind if I roll do?" I asked

"I mind," said Dunn

Hardass

"Let ?"

"I&039; to say this once I don&039;t have to say it at all I&039; if anted Am I clear?"

"You&039;re clear"

"Good" Dunn rolled the n just long enough to flick out his cigarette butt He lit another immediately I tried to breathe as little as possible

Burt turned his head, talked and drove at the saent Dunn here that you&039;re a reasonable sort, Charlie A good guy"

"I appreciate that, Burt"

"Mr Swift, your presence jeopardizes an ongoing investigation That&039;s all you need to know" Dunn puffed hard, blew so far ahile you have the opportunity We&039;re interested in bigger fish than you right now, but later on e&039;re ht in the net?"

If Jeffers was using his bank to ship currency offshore for Beggar, no wonder the Feds atching hi up the works I was out of ue, but I was never one to scatter just because soent Dunn" This sounded like the right way to talk to his type "But I have some responsibilities I can&039;t just skip town"

Burt frowned at me in the rearview mirror He wanted us all to be pals

Dunn shook his head like he was real disappointed "Your loyalty to Stan is admirable but misplaced He&039;s all washed up Orlando&039;s done with him It&039;s done with you too"

That was probably true, but I had to know "Where&039;s Stan now?"

Dunn raised an eyebrow "Well, if you don&039;t know, I certainly don&039;t either If I were Stan, I&039;d be on the next jet to Costa Rica"

Could be, I had to ad lot soot ahold of him But the fact was not even the Feds were interested in Stan Like Dunn had said, Stan ashed up, and I ashed up with hiuy as maybe dead but certainly wasn&039;t do banished I should just empty my safe deposit box and split

Burt drove us back to my car in silence

As I climbed out of the backseat, Dunn said, "I think we understand each other"

I nodded Burt walked me back to my car

"Sorry about all that, Charlie, but Feds, you know?" He shrugged "My hands were tied"

"Forget about it," I said "But I ht call you later I have souy? I ood to me, but that&039;s all finished Gaht be two outs, botto a toothpick instead of a Louisville Slugger, but you better reh Stanford"

I held his gaze just long enough so he&039;d knoas serious Then I gave his shoulder a squeeze, softened my tone a little "I just need some closure You answer a few questions, and I&039;m out of your hair that much sooner"

He chewed his lip but nodded "Sure, Charlie No promises, but call me I&039;ll tell you what I knohich isn&039;t a whole daot back in ent Dunn pull away before I retrieved the tape recorder

I pushed play

Tina: "What&039;s that?"

Snorting sounds

Tina: "I wish you wouldn&039;t do that It&039;s bad for you"

Jeffers: "Not now, Tina"

Shuffling sounds,

Jeffers: "If you&039;re worried abouttheir way in here and punchingto do?"

Jeffers: "I&039;ve got to call Beggar"

Tina: "Why?"

Jeffers: "I&039;ve got to tell hi Do you knohat he&039;ll do? He&039;ll sic that pet killer of his on et those books"

Jeffers (shouting): "Well for Christ&039;s sake Go after Swift He&039;s got the daun on him Don&039;t you think I want the books?"

Tina: "Calm down, Alan Don&039;t worry about Swift I&039;ll tell Styles to-"