“All the time.”
Stone sighed, sat back, sipped his bourbon, and waited for Dino to speak.
Dino took another tug at his Scotch. “Okay,” he said, “two Atlanta PD detectives met your man at the airport. He denied being in New York and showed them a flight plan from Charleston.”
“Anybody can run off a flight plan on a computer,” Stone said. “That doesn’t mean he flew it.”
“They called the FAA, but there was some screwup. Apparently, he did fly from Charleston, but they weren’t able to figure out when he got there.”
“And I’ll bet he has a Charleston alibi.”
“You got it,” Dino said. “And since we don’t have any evidence against the guy-no ID, no bullet-he can’t be touched.”
“So that’s why you were late?”
“No. I was at a meeting with Brian Doyle and the commissioner.”
“Subject?”
“Your pending bust.”
“It’s not my pending bust. It’s Brian’s; he owns it.”
“Yeah, I know, and that’s what worries me. I hear you got Tiffany to give you a chopper.”
“Shit! Was that mentioned at the meeting?”
“No, but I have other sources.”
“I think we need it.”
“I think you’re right,” Dino replied. “If there’s a way to fuck this up, Brian will find it. He’s a walking, framed copy of Murphy’s Law.”
“How did he ever make lieutenant?” Stone asked.
“You mean, whose cock was he…?”
“Exactly.”
“I think he did whatever was necessary.”
“It doesn’t speak well of the NYPD that they would promote the guy.”
“Look, you and I could name a dozen guys who got promoted above their level of competence,” Dino said.
“Yeah, we could. I just wish we didn’t have one of them running this bust.”
“All right, tell me who you’re worried about,” Dino said.
“Mitzi,” Stone replied, “and Hildy Parsons.”
“Oh, that’s right. Hildy is why you’re in this.”
“Exactly. But I’ve come to feel a lot for Mitzi, and she could get hurt.”
“You want me to be around when it goes down?”
“Yes, please. I’d like you at Rita Gammage’s apartment when the buy is made, and we’ll take it from there.”