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“Are you calling me off?” Billy asked

“No, no” The Wiz drew a line in the air “Absolutely not”

Absolutely not, because that would be even worse for the Wiz, telling a detective not to investigate a cri public official That could es The Wiz was far too cautious a politician to ever let soo on his record

“Everything you do from this moment on will be carefully scrutinized,” said the Wiz “Reporters, BIA, the IG, defense lawyers—everyone’s gonna put you under ait’s okay with me if you don’t wanna push this If you wanna stick with theelse alone We’re not Vice cops We don’tjohns and hookers”

Billy didn’t respond, just waited him out

“You fuck this up,” said the Wiz, “it could be the last arrest you ever make It could tarnish your father And your sister You could get into all kinds of hot water over this You don’t need it, Billy You got a bright future”

When it was clear his speech was finished, Billy turned to the Wiz “Can I go do my job now?”

The Wiz dismissed him with a scowl a

nd a wave of the hand

Billy got out of the car into the sting of the cold air and headed for the brownstone

BILLY AND HIS partner, Detective Kate Fenton, approached the black SUV parked by the corner, the one carrying the mayor’s security detail Billy approached the driver’s-side door, his star in hand

The tintedrolled down A burly ed man turned toward the detectives as if annoyed

“You’re parked in front of a fire hydrant,” said Billy

“We’re security for the mayor”

“That exempts you from traffic laws?”