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“And one ,” said Billy “Lemme borrow your coat”

Billy approached the brownstone and started up the stairs He hit the buzzer and waited

“Hello?” A voice through the intercom

“Mayor’s security detail,” Billy said,sure the embleht be watching “I need to talk to him”

“The mayor isn’t here”

“We drove him here, dumbass I need to speak with him”

The light in the foyer came on A tall, wide e in his jacket at the hip He was ar called a dumbass

The htly “Why don’t you call him?” he said

“See, that’s the problem,” Billy said as he leaned in and pushed the door fully open He stepped forward and drove a quick jab into thenoise before losing the capacity to make any noise at all

“Green, green,” Billy called into the radio attached to his collar while siainst the railing of the stairs and keeping the door propped open with his foot

The other detectives, followed by blue suits, swarmed up the stairs

“Keep your hands on the railing, feet apart,” said Billy before handing the big guy over to one of the uniforms “He has a piece on his left hip”

And a sore throat

Billy led the way inside The lighting was dim, and the air smelled of incense A staircase led up to the second floor Next to it was a door to what looked like a closet The faint sound ofbass—came from below

“Crowley,” said Billy, “clear the main floor Sosh—”