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Torelli's features darkened "Kid You just made the last mistake of your life"

"God," I said "I wish"

Thoainst the back of Torelli's head and said in a pleasant voice, "Lose the iron, nice and slow"

Torelli stiffened in surprise and wasted no ti for his other two goons I could see a pair of feet lying toes-up in the hallway, but there was no other sign of them

I stepped up to hiet out Don't come back"

He regarded ether, nodded once, and began gathering up his un and stuck it down the front of his pants, just like you're not supposed to do He walked quietly over to stand beside s made

They departed, half carrying the poor bastard with the broken hand, while the two in the hallway staggered along, barely recovered fro choked unconscious

Once they were gone I turned to face Demeter "Where e?"

"I was questioning your motives," she said

I shook my head "Helen You knoho I am You knohat I do Yeah, I think Marcone is a twisted son of a bitch who probably deserves to die But that doesn'tout the deed"

She stared at me in silence for ten or fifteen seconds Then she turned to her desk, drew out a notepad, and wrote so on a piece of paper She folded it and offered it to o

"Promiseyou can to help him"

I sighed Of course

The words tasted like a rancid pickle coated in salt and vinegar, but I ed to say them "I will You have my word"

De more

"It ht not"

"That's o," I said I nodded to Thoo"

"Dresden," Demeter said as I walked to the door

I paused

"Thank you For handling Torelli He would have hurt soht"

I glanced back at her and nodded once

Then Thomas and I headed for the suburbs

Chapter Twelve

M arcone's business interests ide and varied They had to be when you're laundering ascompanies, import/export businesses, investment firms, financial businesses of every description-and construction companies