I was surprised when Cedrick opened the door for me when I arrived and waved me inside. What was he doing in Billy's place? I smiled, which made him roll his eyes and I wondered if it was the memory of Hunk.

I stopped short. Billy and Annie were sitting on the sofa and Lu was standing by the window . . . again.

So damn distracting.

I tossed my hat on a chair and sat. Billy had a nice place. Another surprise, he seemed more . . . Best Western.

"Drink?" Lu was handing a glass to Annie.

Billy was sitting with his head back, a sling over one arm.

"Yeah, I think I need one," I accepted a drink and swallowed it right down.

"Can I get an explanation?"

"Billy and I were nabbed by the cops," Annie blurted.

"Was that who answered the phone at your place?" I asked.

"That was you who phoned?"

Lu handed me another drink. "Yeah . . . by the way you need a new door."

Annie frowned questioningly.

"You said we had to talk, Tres. This is all about Shamus isn't it?" Lulu went back to the window and stood quietly, cradling her drink.

"It's all coming together and it's all falling apart, Lu. I spoke to Lorne Order and he was waiting on warrants to make his arrests in Chinatown. A solid source has suggested Donovan and some bent cops as the group behind all the warring that's been going on. There may even be a Fed involved. They were all planning on busting up the gangs and taking over themselves."

Annie jumped in. "The men that nabbed us were cops. Conner O'Shea was leading them."

"Lorne said Billy was supposed to be with me." Her face glowed a light pink. "How did you get away by the way?"

She explained the whole episode in detail like she was writing the story in her mind. Lu finally waved a hand and thanked her.

"You said gangs, plural. That means the Irish, right?"

"C'mon, Lu, after all that's happened? I went over all about Smith and the Chinese thugs and Daisy again. I included all the information about AJ, Madame Yu, the ambush the shootings. Lorne's sortie into the Dancing Duck . . . everything. She knew a lot of it but getting it all at once painted a more complete picture.

She nervously finished her drink and set the glass on the sill. "And you think Brody is the one making a move in the Irish."

"Actually, Lu, I don't suspect Brody."

She paused, looking at me then strode to a table across the room and opened her purse, taking out an envelope. Her expression was filled with uncertainty but she walked back and stood in front of me.

"You don't suspect Brody?"

"Not anymore. I do think he was trying to get Myna's muffin secrets and get into that business himself. He had the banker Winks on side with a mobile bakery service but I don't believe Brody is your traitor."

"You're wrong. It was Winks and Shamus doing the deal. Brody brokered the deal but it depended on Shamus getting that recipe right. That's why he went to Doc U.B. Well."

"But Ubie told me his family had been threatened."

She gave me a look that told me I was being thick. "He's a mobster, Tres. Of course he threatened, but there is a difference between a threat and carrying it out. Shamus was keeping secrets. Brody brought the muffin to be analyzed, Ubie wouldn't have been nearly so cooperative otherwise."

"Well what about the fact it was Bruce that seduced the secret out of an employee at the place Myna ordered her supplies."

"Bruce, he was hired by Shamus to-"

I could see this might be a distraction, something I didn't need right now. "Listen, all that doesn't matter anymore. What matters is getting this out in the open. The mob days are done, Lu and the Tong will never be the same with cops running the show. I need you to go public with whatever you know so we can bury the cops too."

She fingered the envelope, looking hard into my eyes, and then held it out to me.

"What's this?"

"It's a list I've kept of mob activities and the names of the cops Shamus had inside the force . . . Donovan's name is there too. It was uh- insurance." She came and sat beside me then she whispered close.

I nodded, staring at her. "I think anything we had to talk about was said a long time ago."

There was an awkward moment and I could see Annie leaning toward us suspiciously. I looked at the list and shook my head; the town was rotten to the core.

"This list is dynamite but it has to come from you. My position right now is hardly one of trust."

"I don't think I can do this, Tres. Brody has been- he's been loyal to me forever. And Buck . . ."

"I can get you a meeting with Caroline Grace and if you give her all this and whatever else you know, Lu, she'll blast it all over the front page of the Pillar Times and this whole mess will end."

"You might not want to hear this but Caroline Grace was ready to do business with Shamus."

"She admitted it to me, in her own way."

"Then why would she do this, she doesn't want to be connected to any of this."

"She won't. She'll control the story and besides, she isn't mentioned anywhere. Shamus is dead and whoever inside the mob wants control isn't interested in the muffin business."

We sat silently while she clenched and unclenched her fingers, staring at the carpet. I held my breath hoping I had made a strong enough case for her co-operation.

"Lu?"

"Tres . . . can I really trust you?"

"Babe, aside from Brody I'm probably the only other man in your life you can trust."

Billy's head came up but he saw Annie look at him and he just put his head back down.

I put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. "Lu, believe me, this is the right thing to do."

"Too bad it wasn't the right thing a long time ago."

I chuckled and took my arm away. "We had our moments . . . time to have one more together. Can I set up the meet?"

Her lips touched my cheek briefly. "Make the call."

***************

Caroline's secretary sounded as dismayed as she did when we first met. I didn't think I was on her top ten list but she put the call through.

"Yes, Mr. Gunn? Have you called to tell me how much money I'm wasting on you?"

"I'm crushed, Caroline. I know my reports have been uh- sporadic but I have valid reasons."

"I know about your secretary . . . I am sorry about that but do you see how we are communicating at the moment? Would that have been so terribly hard to do?"

"No. You're right; it's just that things have been moving so fast I didn't- uh, have the time?"

"You're asking me? And I haven't seen any sign of this speed you are referring to."

"You might have if you had come clean about what you were doing behind my back with your mystery gang."

The silence was deafening.

"Just give me your report please, Mr. Gunn."

"Well, grab on to something because I've got a story that will sell more papers for you than a Republican in the white house again."

I told Caroline what I had and who would back it up totally in a face to face meeting. She asked a few perfunctory questions but I knew she was excited at the prospect and it didn't take long to get an agreement and a time.

"You won't regret this, Caroline. Thank you. I'll have Mrs. McGinty in your office on time."

"I do hope I can count on that."

"Tell you what; if I'm late I'll pay for dinner out of my own pocket."

"What dinner? What are you-?"

"The dinner you are letting me take you to for getting the biggest scoop in Pillar history. By the way, did you send flowers?"

The line was dead.

I hung up and looked at Lulu. "Okay? This is the right thing, Lou."

"I know."

"So," I stood and clapped my hands. "You guys should all stay right here. Lorne will be back from Chinatown soon. Give Myna a call, let her know you're here and she'll get him to make arrangements for . . . whatever."

Lou walked me to the door and held my arm.

"Billy and Annie . . . they're . . .?"

"A couple, yes, Lu. They are. You have to get through this then start examining your own life."

Just as I was about to leave, Brody came in, with Bruce or was it Buck? With a face that looked worse than mine, after my visit from Smith, I'm guessing Bruce... it really didn't matter. 

I grabbed my hat and told Lu I would be back to take her to the meeting. I enjoyed the look on both those palooka's mugs as I passed them by.  I'll leave it to her to fill in the details. I had some errands to run. 

***************

Unger was surprised again when I plopped down the cash I had promised.

"Mr. Gunn! You astound me yet again. Possibly this is why I have such affection for you." He scooped up the bills and they disappeared inside his jacket.

"Your credit has been restored, my friend."

"Good, 'cause I'm going to use some of it right now."

Unger shifted uncomfortably and wet his lips. "I may have misspoke."

I told Unger I wanted what he had on all the cops inside the precinct that were bad.

"My dear fellow, it seems that your recent activities have upset even my formidable resources. I regret to say I have been shut out for the time being."

"You can't get me the info." My tone brought his bodyguard out of the shadows.

"I am afraid no, Tres."

"Tell King Kong there to feel the breeze."

He glanced to the side and smiled. "Myles is simply a deterrent shall we say."

"Yeah, sure. Let me know if your formidable resources hear anything, Unger. Better still, contact Federal Agent Lorne Order."

***************

"Evelyn."

"Tres, oh my God!" She strutted over and threw her arms about me, planting a moist kiss on both cheeks. "I'm so sorry about what happened to Daisy. Did she get the flowers I sent?"

"I don't know, Eve, I don't pay much attention to that stuff. I'm sure she did and I'm sure they were great."

"Hmm. So you are here why?"

I handed her a roll of bills and watched her mouth flop open. "You don't owe me this much, Tres."

"I know. I'm picking Daisy up from the hospital and I want to treat her to a big meal. She was nuts about the last one she had here and I'd like you to lay on something real nice."

"Are you eating too?" She counted the money.

"Yes I'm eating too, what do you think?" She counted again. "Eve!"

"Just kidding, Tres. Lighten up. Of course I will do that for you- oh and Dixie says hi."

I must have blushed because a few of the other girls all broke into laughter.

***************

One final call then Lulu to the meeting. Raven answered on the second ring and I asked if CrookedSmile was there.

"He's working and can't be disturbed." I pictured that dog sitting patiently.

"Okay. Raven look, all I need to know is if any Irishmen or cops came around to visit him."

"Nobody has visited."

"Okay, great. Listen I hope the gallery works out. Just don't let that Coal Bone scam you. Thanks for your time. See you."

At least the Gallery wouldn't become part of the gang war mess.

**************

As we entered the office Caroline greeted Lulu with a smile I'd never seen. They shook hands and both sat on a small divan against the wall.

"Right on time, Caroline." I beamed and rubbed my hands together.

"Yes, you were. Mrs. McGinty and I have some talking to do"

"Right, I know." I grinned at them both.

"Alone, Mr. Gunn."

"Oh . . . alone . . . okay then when should I come by-?"

"Call my secretary. She'll keep you apprised." I was dismissed.

I thought, to hell with it. I'll head to the hospital, look in on AJ and the ladies then check Daisy out. We'll go and have that dinner and we can talk - maybe about cleaning up the office.