“And he’s found some, I gather?”
“There’s going to be a meeting in Carlucci’s office at half past nine. There’s a couple of things supposed to happen before then.”
“What kind of things?”
“Jesus, Harry, don’t you understand ‘no questions’?”
“Sorry, I’m just trying to be useful. You say Coughlin sent a Highway car after you?”
“Nice try,” Callis said. “Yeah, Coughlin sent a Highway car for me. Period, that’s all I can give you now. When the meeting is over, I’ll probably be able to tell you what’s going on.”
“Okay.”
“Now let me finish my shave and get a fresh shirt.”
“Nothing I can do right now?”
“Not a thing,” Callis said.
Harry had almost made it to the door when Callis had another thought, tangentially connected with the Five Squad.
“Harry?” he called.
“Yes, sir?”
“Tell Phebus I’ll want to see him sometime this morning. I don’t give a damn what else he’s got on his plate, I want him around here this morning where I can lay my hands on him in ten seconds. Capisce?”
“Yes, sir.”
“If he asks why, tell him I want to know what’s going on with the Leslie case.”
“Yes, sir.”
Assistant District Attorney Hormel went immediately to the office of Assistant District Attorney Anton C. Phebus. He had not yet come to work.
He walked back down the corridor thirty minutes later and found that Mr. Phebus had come to work, and to judge by the briefcase in his hand was about to leave it.
“Where are you headed?”
“For a conference with the Goddamned Nun.”
“What does she want?”
“Haven’t the faintest. Some deal, certainly. She’s determined to see that Leslie gets no more than a slap on the wrist.”
“Well, you’re going to have to postpone it.”
“Why?”>
“Because Tony said he wants you around here all morning where he can lay his hands on you in ten seconds.”
“Did he say why?”
“He said he wants to talk to you about the Leslie case. He’s in his Mr. Super-DA-Man role. Coughlin, he announced like a happy child, had sent a Highway car for him in the middle of the night, and he’s on his way to a meeting in the mayor’s office.”
“What’s that all about?”
“He said something about dirty cops, but what I think it is, is that he thinks Carlucci is liable to ask him about the Leslie case.”