Well, the kid fucked up, sorry about that was the first thing Malone thought. This was immediately followed by, Now he has to do it all himself, and finally with a sudden insight: If Wohl knows the kid can examine that building by himself, then there was no reason for him to send me over there in the first place. Except maybe to compare what the both of us had to say; in other words, to see if I am as smart as the kid. I’ll be a sonofabitch.
Jason Washington was standing by the door to Wohl’s office.
“Got a minute, Inspector?” he asked.
“Yeah, sure,” Wohl said. He looked over his shoulder. “You two go on in.”
Captain Mike Sabara and Captain Dave Pekach were in Wohl’s office, sitting on the couch in front of a small coffee table.
“Slide over, Dave, and make room for Malone,” Sabara said, “otherwise we’ll have Washington on here with us. Malone isn’t nearly as broad in the beam.”
“Your pal McFadden was looking for you, Payne,” Pekach said as he made room for Malone. “Did he find you?”
“When was he looking?”
“Last night.”
“Yeah. And he came looking for me again this morning. I am to be the best man at his wedding.”
Christ, Malone thought, maybe I’ll get the worst possible scenario. If McFadden and Payne are pals, that’s just as dangerous as McFadden telling his lieutenant he saw me staking out Holland’s body shop. Damn!
“Are you going to ask me to be your best man, David?” Sabara asked innocently.
“What?”
“Well, a nice Polish boy like you can’t just go on living in sin indefinitely, can you?”
“Fuck you, Mike!” Pekach flared.
What the hell is that all about?
“If you feel that way, you can just get somebody else to be your best man,” Sabara said.
“Goddammit, knock it off!”
“Play nice, children,” Wohl said, coming into the room.
“He’s always on my ass about Martha,” Pekach said.
“Get off Captain Pekach’s ass about Martha, Captain Sabara,” Wohl said.
“Yes, sir,” Sabara said, seemingly chastised. “What time is it, David?”
Without thinking, Pekach held up his wrist and opened his mouth.
“Nice watch, Dave,” Sabara said innocently. “Where did you say you got it?”
“You sonofabitch!” Pekach flared.
It was too much for Wohl; he started to laugh, and when he did, Payne joined in.
Pekach looked like he was about to erupt, but finally started to laugh too, shaking his head.
“You bastards!”
“Show Malone your watch, Dave,” Wohl said.
Pekach looked uncomfortable, but finally held up his wrist. Around it was a heavy gold strap attached to a gold Omega chronograph.