Bennett was his usual lovable self. He looked at my bruised jaw and the new mark by my eye like it was something he stepped in.

"Are you sure you can handle this?"

"Nope, but I'll give it my best shot. You can count on me." I smiled confidently, unaware of how it looked, and proceeded to get my information and instructions.

"You say he gave you his name? Not very professional for a kidnapper."

"The intention was meant to cow me, I'm sure"

"So what is it?'

"Nelson DiGregorio."

I coughed and gaped at him. "And you weren't cowed?"

"Should I be?"

"Nelly Dig is a local mobster with fingers in every crime you could imagine. How the hell did your future son-in-law know him?" Five thou was looking pretty paltry all of a sudden.

Bennett frowned and made a nasty sound. "I have no idea. He said he was an acquaintance. Does it matter?"

"Jesus, Bennett, the guy's a killer surrounded by thugs . . . also killers."

"So you won't-"

"No! Bloody right." I massaged my sore eye. "And if you're smart you'll call the cops and forget your damn company."

********

Did everyone have a key to my office? The two dangerous looking suits that lounged in my only chairs just watched me as I arrived.

"That's my chair if you don't mind," I said to the one sitting behind my desk. Surprisingly he stood and let me squeeze past him. "So how can I help you gentlemen?"

"We're here to help you, Mr. Hart."

Polite, nice start. "And how would that be?"

"By notifying your next of kin if your nose stays in Mr. DiGregorio's business."

Less polite and more authoritative. "Where does it say I have my nose in his business?"

"Your association with Smythe-Frye, which by the way just ended." The talker, the one still seated, emphasised his edict by banging staples through my tiny pile of business cards.

"Then uh, you'll be very happy to know I already did that . . . end my association with Smyth-Frye."

"Right. We're just making the rounds to make sure it stays that way."

I stayed sitting as they left, pondering that final shot and feeling the sick lump building in my gut.

********

"They broke his arm, Richard."

"Aw, geez. Verna I'm so sorry. Is he okay?"

"They broke his arm."

"Right, right. What about you?"

"I wasn't there. I came in a few minutes later. This is not a joke any more, Richard. Harry called the police."

"He what, oh shit. Verna where are you now?"

"Home."

"Keep your door locked, I'm on my way over."

"Why, do you think-?"

"Just lock your door."

My office was only a ten minute drive to Verna's apartment. I made it in nine, parked as close as I could and ran the rest of the way. I rang the bell repeatedly, getting no answer so I buzzed the super and smiled up at the camera.

"Hi, remember me, Miss Scott's friend? Listen. I know she's home but I don't think her buzzer is working. Could you let me in, please?"

"Buzzers are all working, sure she wants to see you?"

"Yes, she does. She knows I'm coming but she's not answering her phone either and I'm concerned."

The door clicked open and I smiled a quick thank you as I passed his open apartment door and ran up the stairs. Verna peeked through a slit as she opened the door then unhooked the chain and let me in.

"Hart you're scaring me."

"I'm- Verna I'm sorry. Really. I never took the job with Bennett. I told him no! I don't know why these guys suddenly showed up. Two were in my office before I even got back!"

"I'm scared."

I tried to hold her but she moved away, her arms wrapped tightly around her.

Where's Harry, still at the hospital?"

"No, he's home . . . or should I say the diner."

"What, he's back working with a broken arm?"

"He never said anything to the police you know. He called in a moment of unthinking anger. He just told them it was an argument with customers and he didn't want to place charges."

"What! Why?"

She sat down, shivering. "Because they told him they would- would go after his family and friends."

"Harry doesn't have a family."

"Exactly . . ."

It took a mental hammer blow to smarten me up and I knew why I had felt so sick in my office.

"Nobody is going to hurt you, Verna. Nobody."

She looked up. Those eyes! Those- those magnificent eyes! "What can I do?"

"You don't have to do anything but keep your door locked. I'm gonna take care of this."

"Hart, don't. What are you going to do? Just call the police and tell them."

"Don't worry, Verna and since Harry is back at work I'll be back for my Thai Shrimp."

********

Twice in one month was new ground for me and Sweet Pappy Sabathia. Didn't matter to his security, I still had to suffer the search before being granted an audience.

"Richard Hart, again so soon. I hope this isn't to complain about what you learned last time."

"Not at all, Pappy. That was solid info as you well know. This is about a turn that case took that has become seriously personal."

Bless his soul, Pappy listened to my whole spiel without impatience or interruption and when I finished he sat chewing on his lip.

"I can give you the information you want, Richard but I would highly recommend you don't take it. Nelly Dig is way out of your league and I would hate to lose you as a customer."

"Pappy, you know as well as I do that calling the cops won't change a thing in the end."

"But you will?"

"I'm going to start with those goons that hit Harry and threatened Verna then work my way up as necessary."

"Ah, Richard, such a romantic. You have seen too many movies I think."

"Just give me what I need, Pappy and I'll look after me."

He leaned forward and took my hand in both of his. "Richard, I will give you what you want and without a charge." His shrug said, because he knew He wouldn't get paid later.

I waited and he told me what I needed to know then he let go of my hand and sat back with a resigned sigh.

"I'll be back, Pappy and you will get every dime I owe you. Thanks, man."

********

Stringbean gave me a filthy look when I asked for Tattoo and I returned it with a hand signal. The two women I had seen last time I was here were also back - or maybe still here and they were arguing again.

"Whatta you want, Gumshoe?" Tattoo leaned on the counter and frowned at me.

"I have a business proposition."

An hour later and some of the worst liquor I have ever tasted, Tattoo actually shook my hand. For a sizeable cut of my latest retainer, he would help me put the fear of God into DiGregorio's goons. I worked out a plan with him and a location to carry it out then I left to do my part.

It was a heck of a risk and if Verna or Harry ever found out I could kiss her and my Thai Shrimp goodbye. The phone call, from Pappy's information, was anonymous, short and to the point. Harry had decided to go to the police was my message. Now, praying things would go as expected, I called Tattoo, hustled over to the diner and sat in my car, watching.

Stakeouts can be a nightmare but providence stepped in and this one was mercifully short. The car pulled up and the two suits that had visited my office climbed out and went into the diner. Moments later a Druid came out and drove the car around into the lane behind the shops. When it appeared again, I followed.

Just like the movies. An abandoned warehouse near the waterfront. Uncomfortably close to where Desmond was found in his post hole I noticed as I pulled up beside the suit's car and went inside. It looked like it might have been an old machine shop of some kind with steel girders, chains and pulleys traversing the high ceiling.

Oil stained outlines and mounting bolts studded the floor in several places; location of heavy equipment at some time. Perched on a couple of crates with their hands tied behind their backs, the two suits watched me cross the floor and stop in front of them.

"You're a dead man, Hart. You know that don't you."

"Why don't we discuss your condition first. You broke my friend's arm after visiting my office with your warning. Wasn't enough just to tell me was it?"

"It'll be more than a broken arm when we get out of here."

I turned to Tattoo. "When they get out of here? Such optimism!"

Uncertainty crept into the speaker's bravado. "You can't do anything, you'd never get away with it."

"Why?"

The two men exchanged worried glances. "Our boys would hunt you down."

"Your boys don't even know who we are or that you guys are even missing. Aren't you curious about the fact that we didn't bother to conceal our identity?"

The realization played over their faces in a dance of amazing emotions. I wished I had brought a camera.

"One of you will carry a message back to Nelly Dig that if he doesn't back off of my friends and the Smythe-Frye family and if Felicia Smythe-Frye isn't sent home unharmed, I will systematically reduce the ranks of his mob until he is the last man standing and then I will end that likelihood faster than he can count to one."

Behind me I heard the shuffle of feet and a soft chuckle from the Druids. I was playing my role to the hilt and instead of treating it as serious drama, they giggled.

"The other one of you doesn't get to leave, so you can decide between you who stays and who goes." I waved the Druids back across the warehouse out of earshot of the suits.

"You're a piece of work, Gumshoe." Tattoo's face cracked in a huge grin.

"P.I. school one-oh-one. The bolder the stance, the better the chance."

He shook his head and glanced back at their prisoners. The animated conversation was comical since they couldn't use their hands for emphasis and their heads and feet bobbed furiously.

"Wonder who'll win?"

"Doesn't matter. This is where the rest of our deal comes in."

"Sure you wanna do that still? Be better if they just disappeared."

"I want Nelly to see my threat not just hear about it."

Tattoo shrugged and nodded to his crew. "You care which one?"

"See if they decided. If not, you choose."