Three to Get Deadly (Stephanie Plum 3)

Vinnie was immediately at the door. “This better be good news.”

“I want to know about Mo's boyfriend. The one you saw in New Hope.”

“What about him?”

“How do you know they were lovers? Were they kissing? Were they holding hands?”

> “No. They were excited. I don't mean like they had a hardon. I mean like they were charged. And they were looking at pictures of each other. And this other guy was as queer as a three-dollar bill.”

“Did you see the pictures?”

“No. I was across the room.”

“How do you know they were of Mo and his friend?”

“I guess I don't, but I know they were dirty.”

“Must have been one of those psychic things,” Lula said. “Like the Great Carnac.”

“Hey,” Vinnie said. “I know dirty.”

No one would argue with that.

“Were you ever able to get a name?” I asked.

“No,” Vinnie said. “Nobody knows nothing about Mo. He must not go through the regular channels.”

“I need to talk to you in private,” I said to Vinnie, motioning him into his office, closing the door behind me. “I have a new network I want you to tap.”

Vinnie practically got drooly when I told him where I wanted him to look.

“That Mo!” he said. “Who would have thought?”

I left Vinnie to his task, and I borrowed Connie's phone and dialed Morelli.

“What do you know from my two assailants?” I asked Morelli.

There was a pregnant pause. “We didn't get anything from either of them. They got a lawyer, and they walked.”

I sensed there was more. “But?”

“But we did some background checks and came up with an interesting association. If I tell you, you have to promise not to act on it.”

“Sure. I promise.”

“I don't believe you.”

“This must be excellent.”

“I'm not telling you over the phone,” Morelli said. “Meet me at the luncheonette across from St. Francis.”

Morelli ordered a coffee and sandwich at the counter and carried it to the booth. “Been waiting long?”

“A couple minutes.”

Morelli ate some of his sandwich. “When I give you this information, you have to promise not to jump out of your seat and act on it. We have men in place. You barge in, and you'll screw everything up.”

“If I stay away from the site will you promise to bring me in when Mo comes forward?”