The Assassin (Badge of Honor 5)

Mr. Baltazari then raised his glass, and Mr. Rosselli followed suit.

"Health and long life," Mr. Baltazari said.

Mr. Savarese smiled.

"What is it the Irish say? 'May the sun'-or is it the wind?- ' always be at your back.' I like that."

"I think 'the wind,' Mr. S.," Mr. Rosselli said.

"I think it's the sun," Mr. Savarese said.

"Now that I think about it, I'm sure you're right," Mr. Rosselli said.

"It doesn't matter, either way," Mr. Savarese said graciously.

"The cherrystones and the swordfish for Mr. Savarese, right?" the maitre d'hotel asked. "And for you, sir?"

"What are you eating, Ricco?" Mr. Rosselli asked.

"Lamb chops."

"Same for me," Mr. Rosselli said. "Sometimes swordfish don't agree with me."

"How would you like them cooked, sir?"

"Pink in the middle."

The clams, on a bed of ice, were served. While they were eating them, Mr. Savarese inquired as to the health of Mr. Baltazari's wife and children, and Mr. Baltazari asked Mr. Savarese to pass on his best respects to Mr. Savarese's wife and mother.

The clams were cleared away, and the entree served.

Mr. Baltazari made a gesture, and a folding screen was put in place, screening the table from the view of anyone in the front part of the restaurant.

"Open another bottle of the Fiore e Fiore," Mr. Baltazari ordered, "and then leave us alone."

Mr. Savarese delicately placed a piece of the swordfish into his mouth, chewed, and nodded.

'This is very nice, Ricco," he said.

"I'm glad you're pleased, Mr. S."

"It has to be fresh," Mr. Savarese said. "Otherwise, when it's been on ice too long, it gets mushy."

"That was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico two days ago, Mr. S."

'Tell me why you told Joe Fierello to make the police officer a good deal," Mr. Savarese said as he placed another piece of swordfish into his mouth. "Tell me about the police officer, is what I want."

"I was going to call you this morning, but then Carlo called and said you was coming, and I figured it could wait until I could tell you in person."

Mr. Savarese nodded, and then gestured with his fork for Mr. Baltazari to continue.

"I try to keep my eyes open," Mr. Baltazari said. "So when I saw this cop flashing a wad in the Warwick

"How did you know he was a police officer?" Mr. Savarese interrupted.

"I can tell a cop, Mr. S.," Mr. Baltazari said, a bit smugly. "So I checked him out."

"How?"