That's a police building, you moron. It's filled with police officers.

I still have to do it.

You're beyond stupid, Cole. They don't have a word for what you are. Forget it. I am so pissed off right now

I drove another block, then pulled into a parking lot where a group of teenagers crowded a falafel stand. I parked behind the stand, but left the engine running. The smells of cumin and hot oil were strong.

I know what I'm asking, but I have to keep Lou out of this for now and I don't want Lindo to know. I believe Marx, Bastilla, and Munson aren't trying to find the person who killed those seven women. I believe they know who that person is, or suspect they know, and they're trying to protect him.

Starkey's face softened. The hard vertical line between her eyebrows relaxed as the weight of what I was saying settled, but then she shook her head.

Marx might be an asshole, Elvis, but he's a deputy chief of police. Munson and Bastilla they're top cops.

They appear to be protecting Nobel Wilts.

The tip of her tongue flicked over her lips.

The city councilman. Councilman Nobel Wilts.

Yes.

You're telling me you believe a city councilman killed these women. That's what you're saying. Am I confused?

I don't know. I'm not telling you Wilts is the killer because I don't know. I've been digging into Marx, not Wilts, but you can't rule out Wilts just because he looks normal. A lot of these guys look normal.

Thank you, Cole, I know that. I studied fucked-up people when I worked on the bombs. High-functioning people are just as fucked up as everyone else they just hide it better. What do you have?

I described Marx's history as a fixer for Wilts, and how at least two of the fixes were for assaults against women. I went through everything Ida Frostokovich told me about Wilts meeting her daughter on the day Sondra was murdered, and described how Marx and Munson had been the original investigators. I told her how Marx had run interference for Leverage Associates when Darcy and Maddux were investigating Debra Repko's murder, and that Wilts was a Leverage client and had arranged for Leverage to manage Marx's run for the council. Starkey grew pale as the overlaps added up, and made only a single comment when I finished.

Jeez.

Yeah. That's what I said, too.

Starkey rubbed hard at the sides of her face, then studied the kids around the falafel stand as if she thought she might have to pull them out of a lineup.

I guess it's possible. You don't have any proof?

Nothing.

You think Marx and these guys are hiding the proof.

They're lying. Things that might be proof are disappearing. People who should be involved are being cut out. You tell me.