„You know him,“ Mia said.

One of the boys nodded. „Yeah, we seen him around.“

Abe looked down at the young boy who cradled a basketball under one arm. The young boy stared back, defiantly. „He didn’t do nothing wrong.“

„We didn’t say he did,“ Mia said quietly. „Now, where can we find him?“

The boys looked down at their feet. „Don’t know.“

Abe sighed. „Okay, boys, everybody against the fence. We’re going to call in a couple of cruisers to take you downtown.“

The boy with the ball stomped. „We didn’t do nothin’. Why we gotta go downtown?“

Mia shrugged, her cell phone in her hand. „You’re material witnesses in a murder investigation. Don’t you guys watch Cops?“

„Damn,“ one of the others whined. „My momma’s gonna kill me if I go downtown again.“

Abe kept his voice stern. „Then tell us where to find this guy and we’ll go away.“

The boy with the ball scowled. „His name’s Aaron Jenkins. Doesn’t even go to King anymore. Lives three blocks up.“ He pointed a skinny finger. „That way.“

„There’s a lot of buildings three blocks up ‘that way.’“ Mia pointed in the same direction the boy had. „A little more information would be right friendly-like,“ she added, her expression sarcastic and dry.

The boy’s scowl deepened. „It’s the only building on that block with a green stoop. Old lady sits there all damn day, spyin’ on us.“

„Wears a poky-dotted cap, can’t miss her,“ another added, rolling his eyes. „She’s got the evil eye, y’know?“

Mia’s mouth quirked up. „Thanks,“ she said, then held out her hand to the boy with the ball. „Can I?“

Clearly he didn’t believe she could make it. He pushed her the ball and she caught it with one hand. Then from well into three-point range, she closed one eye and sent the ball sailing right through the hoop. The boys stood open-mouthed and Mia just grinned. „Stay outta trouble, boys, okay? I’d hate to take you downtown for real.“

Abe could hear their exclamations as they walked away. „Where did you learn to play?“

„My dad.“ Mia shrugged. „He wanted sons and all he got was daughters.“

Abe thought that was pretty sad, but let it go. They walked in the direction the boys had indicated, Abe remembering the cold look in Kristen’s eyes the night before when she’d revealed her father was still alive and thought the trouble between Kristen and her father was a lot more complicated than a father who really wanted a son.

„Green stoop, old lady with the evil eye…“ Mia muttered as they came up to the building, where sure enough an old lady with a polka-dotted cap sat eyeing them suspiciously. Even Mia’s best smile did nothing to sweeten the old lady’s grimace.

„This looks like the place,“ Abe agreed. „Let’s cross our fingers Aaron Jenkins is home.“

They found the Jenkins apartment and knocked. A woman holding a toddler on one hip opened the door and her eyes widened at the sight of them. „What is it?“

„We’re looking for a young man named Aaron Jenkins, ma’am,“ Mia said politely.

The woman shifted the baby on her hip. „He’s my son. Why? Is Aaron in trouble?“

Mia shook her head. „We just want to talk to him.“

She looked over her shoulder uncertainly. „My husband is at work.“

„This will only take a few minutes,“ Abe reassured her. „Then we’ll be on our way.“

„Aaron!“ she called and the young man in the photo appeared from one of the bedrooms. He took one look at them and started to move backward.

„We only want to talk to you,“ Mia said and he paused.

„I didn’t do nothin’.“

„Aaron,“ his mother snapped. „Get over here.“ Feet dragging, he complied.

„You delivered a package Friday afternoon,“ Abe said.

Aaron frowned. „So what? I didn’t do nothin’ illegal.“

„We didn’t say you did. Where’d you get the package, Aaron?“ Mia asked.

„From some white guy. He gave me a hundred bucks to deliver the box.“

„What did he look like?“ Abe asked.

Aaron shrugged. „I don’ know. He had a jacket with a hood, so I couldn’t see his face.“

„Was he old? Young?“ Mia pressed.

Aaron huffed impatiently. „I said he was wearin’ a hood. I couldn’t see his face.“

„Was he in a car?“ Abe asked.

„Nope, a van. A white one. Had a sign on the side. Had a little plug on it“

Abe frowned. „A plug?“

„Yeah, like you plug in the wall. Had a cute little happy face on it. The sign said… Banner Electronics.“ Aaron nodded, pleased with himself. „That’s all I know.“

Abe frowned harder. It wasn’t the same van. Mia looked up at Abe, troubled. Then she turned her attention back to Aaron. „How did you know where to deliver the box?“

Aaron shrugged. „He gave me the address, then told me to tear it up, so I did. Listen, that’s all I know.“ He looked at his mother. „Can I go now?“

Mrs. Jenkins jiggled the baby on her hip. „Can he?“

Mia nodded. „Yeah, sure.“ She was quiet until they’d reached the street. „That equipment that sandblasts stone? It can also make rubber signs.“

„Magnetized to stick on a van.“ Abe blew a bream up his forehead. „Dammit.“

Mia rolled her eyes. „I spent hours looking at florists. He’s no florist. That’s why Jack didn’t find any flowers or pollen in the van. He can be anything he wants to be. Shit“

Abe’s cell phone trilled. A look at the caller ID had the hairs rising on the back of his neck. „What’s wrong, Kristen?“

Kristen’s voice was shaky. „I got another box, Abe. Mclntyre’s caught the boy who dropped it off. He’s holding him until you get here.“

„We’ll be right there,“ Abe said grimly, then turned to Mia. „Call Jack and tell him to meet us at Kristen’s. I’ll give Spinnelli the heads up. Our humble servant’s hit again.“

Sunday, February 22,

10:00 am.

„Oh, my God.“ Kristen’s face drained of color as Jack slid the contents of the envelope onto her kitchen table. „It’s Angelo Conti.“

Mia put a comforting arm around her shoulders. „Don’t faint on us now.“

„I never faint“

Abe remembered she’d said the same thing the night they met at the elevator, after he’d scared her nearly senseless. But she’d shown them she was made of sterner stuff and Abe felt pride at her strength. Keeping his distance was costing him, but he knew she wanted to maintain her professional persona. Her hair was neatly tucked and pinned, although the pins he’d removed the night before were still scattered on the countertop where he’d left them.

„There aren’t any Polaroids,“ Jack commented. „Just Conti’s student ID card from Northwestern University. Why?“

„I don’t know.“ Abe reached for the letter. „ ‘My dearest Kristen. Angelo Conti is dead. His crime was initially one of depraved indifference, crashing into Paula Garcia’s car while intoxicated. But his blatant disregard for human life led him to beat the poor woman to death. His father’s blatant disregard for the United States legal system caused Jacob Conti to taint the jury. Angelo Conti walked away a free man, at least until you would have tried him again. But if his original crimes weren’t enough, he compounded them by publicly assassinating your character, and that could not be allowed. I hope his death is a signal to all who would make a mockery of the judicial system and its servants. As always, I remain Your Humble Servant’“

Abe looked up to find Kristen gingerly lowering herself into a chair. „What’s the P.S.?“

„It’s a license plate number.“ Abe passed her the letter and her brows knit in confusion.

„It’s not mine,“ she said. „That doesn’t make any sense.“

„I think we need to talk to the delivery boy,“ Mia said and Abe nodded.

He and Mia went out to Mclntyre’s cruiser where the boy waited in the backseat.

„His name is Tyrone Yates,“ Mclntyre offered. „His parents are on their way.“

„I didn’t do nothin’,“ Yates growled.