The Steel Kiss (Lincoln Rhyme 12)

"Sure, nobody'd trust you. Think you were a CI or something."

"Well, that, yeah. But mostly, if this guy was actually connected, I can't really be seen talking to him."

"Oh, shit, sure. The parole thing."

"That's it."

"You need me to ask around?"

Nick raised his hands. "You can say no."

"Nick, I gotta say there was a lot of people in the 'hood who didn't believe it. They thought some other cop fucked you over 'cause you wouldn't play along. Everybody liked you. You were a golden boy. Sure, I'll help."

Nick slapped Freddy's arm and felt his eyes welling up. "Means everything to me, man."

"What kind of business you looking at?"

"Restaurant, I've decided."

"Yeah. Ballbreaker work. But there's money to be made. I do some Armenian restaurant deals. You ever have Armenian food?"

"No. I never have. Don't think so."

"You'd like it. Middle Eastern, you know. I do more shoe stores and clothes and prepaid phone card operations but some restaurants."

"My lawyer's looking for one."

"So this guy?" Energetic, Freddy drained his beer and ordered another.

"This guy I was mentioning? Yeah. He hangs in Flannigan's. Or did."

"Oh, then likely connected."

"Right. His first name starts with a J. And he's got a wife named Nanci."

"And that's it? That's all you know?"

"'Fraid so."

"Well, it's a start. I'll do what I can, man."

"One way or another I'll make it up to you."

"Don't worry about it." Freddy laughed. "Those were the days, high school. Going to Shea or up to the Bronx. Remember that feeling, early in the season? You--"

"Oh, Jesus. I know what you're going to say. You walk up the stairs before the game, into the stadium, and through the tunnel into the stands and there's the whole park in front of you like Saint Peter opened the gates."

"The smell of everything. Wet concrete, popcorn, beer, the grass."

"Fertilizer too, I think."

"Never thought about that. Yeah, probably fertilizer. You know, Nicky Boy, maybe it won't be that hard to find this guy, J, and his lady... What's her name again?"

"Nanci. With an i."

"Nanci. Since you went in, there's this thing called data mining."

"What's that?"