Two traffic lights later: “Backing away from all that, I’ve got plenty of mundane local issues to deal with. Like finding out if any non-antique .22s are registered to Loony Charlie Rutger, scanning the moniker files for particularly nasty Montes, somehow getting lists of subs who worked Borodi, and checking for violent felony backgrounds.”

“Abundance of riches,” I said.

“I’d rather have cash.”

CHAPTER

15

Reed and Binchy listened to their instructions out in the hall because four people can’t fit in Milo’s office.

“Sean, I need you to pay a personal visit to an outfit downtown called Beaudry Construction. The object is to get their employment list going five years back. I’m talking names of every single yahoo who worked for them, not just at the Borodi site. In a perfect world, you’ll find our boy Monte. Beaudry’s going to jerk you around because everyone connected to the job signed confidentiality forms, but Nguyen tells me that doesn’t hold water in a criminal case.”

“So we can subpoena them,” said Binchy.

“Once we have a case, we can. Problem is, we need the list for that. But threaten them with whatever you think will work, they still don’t budge, contact the state compensation board and back-reference the job for tax paper. You up for all that?”

Someone else might’ve taken offense.

Sean flexed a Doc Marten. “You bet, Loot.”

“You can go now, Sean.”

“On my way, Loot.”

Reed had watched the exchange, expressionless. His blond crew cut was fresh, he had on the usual blue blazer, khakis, white shirt, and rep tie.

Milo turned to him. “Moses, any theories about how we might break through that confidentiality bullshit and find out who these DSD yokels are? The general feeling is they’re Arabs but no one can say why. I’ve already tried the Internet. Zippo.”

Reed said, “I could cold-call all the Middle East consulates, ask to speak to someone associated with DSD, see if anyone reacts. If that doesn’t work, I move on to the embassies in D.C.”

“Why don’t you start with D.C., in case some consulate type sets off an alarm. See if you can find some old directories for when DSD was there, maybe the number’s listing’s been forwarded.”

“Will do, Loo. In terms of your Internet search, did you check oil-business sites?”

“No. Do it. Your time situation okay?”

“Got plenty of time,” said Reed. “Only one case pending, that stupid-guy shooting on Pico.”

“Two fools in a bar? Thought you closed it.”