Dog Tags

CHAPTER 36

KEVIN BACON IS AT LEAST FOUR DEGREES BEHIND VINCE SANDERS. There simply isn’t anyone that Vince either doesn’t know or can’t instantly get to. Sometime I would like to test him, just for the fun of it. The problem is that Vince isn’t familiar with the concept of fun.

But I do know that if I asked him whether he could get me in to see the Dalai Lama, he would say, “Now you ask me? I just got off the phone with him.” Or maybe, “I don’t know him, but I can set it up through his sister-in-law, Shirley Lama.”

Of course, in real life it’s not that easy. First Vince has to show his obnoxious side, which is not a problem for him, since that is the only side he has.

I call Vince at home, and he answers with “What do you want now?”

“Did you ever consider the possibility that I might be just calling my good friend to say, Hope you had a good day?”

“That is not something I considered, no,” he says. “I feel so ashamed.”

“I forgive you, old friend. In fact, there may be a way you can make it up to me.”

“I’m all tingly at the prospect.”

“I need to talk to someone who understands the world oil market.”

“Why?” he asks.

“It’s in connection with a case,” I say, knowing what is coming next.

“A case that might prove to be newsworthy?”

“Yes, and if there’s a story that comes out of it, you will get the exclusive.”

“You got a pen?” he asks.

“Sure.”

“Call the Institute for Energy…”

“Hold on, I need to get the pen,” I say.

“You thought when I asked if you had a pen, I meant did you own one? I was asking if you had it ready.”

“Vince… Okay, I’m ready.”

“Call the Institute for Energy Independence, it’s in Manhattan on West Forty-eighth Street, and ask for Eliot Conyers. He’s the director.”

“And he’s knowledgeable about the oil market?” I ask, instantly regretting it.

“No, I just thought you two would make a nice couple. In case Laurie wises up and goes back to Wisconsin.”

Vince gives me the phone number of the institute, so after we hang up I wait ten minutes, and then call it. Three minutes after that I have an appointment for tomorrow morning with Eliot Conyers.

Vince is amazing.

I’ve been focusing my energies on the explosion in Iraq for a couple of reasons. For one thing, the prosecution is going to use it as evidence of Billy’s motive, claiming that he was getting revenge for what he thought was Erskine’s culpability that day in Iraq.

In addition, there is always the chance that what happened that day ultimately led to Erskine’s murder. According to Billy, the death of the newly appointed Iraqi oil minister enabled corruption to go on unchecked, with billions of dollars the prize. If Erskine was truly involved in that world, certainly subsequent violence could be expected for a variety of reasons.

But there is of course another possibility: that I am spinning my wheels, that the explosion in Iraq has nothing whatsoever to do with Erskine’s death. I won’t know that until it’s over, and maybe not even then, but it’s something I have to pursue.

Besides, it gives me something to do.