I'm a fool to kill you

SEVENTY-FIVE

Hargrove came back into the squad room.

‘An officer saw Holman leaving with Miss Gardner.’

‘Does he know where they went?’

‘No.’

‘Damn it!’

‘What’s this about, Eddie?’ he demanded.

‘Come on,’ I said, ‘I’ll explain on the way.’ I headed for the door.

‘On the way where?’ he asked, trailing after me.

‘I don’t know!’

We were in Hargrove’s car, driving around aimlessly, trying to see if Holman had stopped somewhere close by with Ava.

‘You think Holman works for Napolitano?’ he asked. ‘That’s crazy.’

‘You have never seen the ring he wore on his right hand?’

‘Well, sure. .’

‘What does it look like?’

Hargrove thought.

‘Damn it, I can’t remember!’ he said, finally.

‘Come on, Hargrove,’ I said, ‘a trained observer like you? You can’t tell me you can’t-’

‘It was silver!’ he said, suddenly.

‘Ah,’ I said, ‘silver like the ones on your desk in the evidence bag? Like Napolitano’s gold one?’

‘But Napolitano’s in jail,’ Hargrove said. ‘Why still go after Ava?’

‘Because,’ I said, ‘with Napolitano’s lawyers he’ll probably be out by morning.’

‘So even if we manage to save her he’ll be after her again.’

‘I don’t think so,’ I said, thinking of Giancana.

‘Why not?’

‘Wait,’ I said, suddenly struck by a thought. ‘Head for the Sands.’

‘Why?’

‘Is Holman a killer?’

‘Yesterday I would’ve said no. But that ring. .’

‘Maybe it doesn’t mean what we think it means,’ I said. ‘Maybe it’s not made guys that wear it, just. . guys who have worked for Napolitano for a certain amount of time.’

‘What’s your point?’

‘If he’s not gonna kill her himself, he’s got to take her to someone who will.’

‘And where do we find that guy?’

‘At that Sands.’