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“How did you get this stuff into Algiers?”
“If you know who loads the Liberty ships in New York, you can figure out who unloads them here.”
Canidy nodded, and thought, And a crate here and a crate there that goes missing, or isn’t listed on a manifest…doesn’t exist. Nice.
“How do you get to come in and out of here? They let you?”
“Not everyone. We have to wait till a German named Müller is away or otherwise distracted.” He paused. “We have always run an import-export business. Olive oil, tomatoes, and more out. Merchandise in. It is overlooked now because you can always find someone willing to look the other way if it is to his advantage.”
He held up his right hand and rubbed his thumb and index finger together.
“Why didn’t you tell me you did this—that you ran boats here?”
Nola grinned.
“You didn’t ask.”
Canidy made a sour face.
“I don’t think it’s funny.”
“Look,” Nola said reasonably, “I would have. But you were interested in Porto Empedocle.”
Canidy stared at him.
Dammit. He’s right. That’s when I thought we were going to bring the professor out that way.
“I thought that that was where we’d bring out Professor Rossi.”
“Rossi?”
“Yeah. Know him?”
Nola shook his head.
Canidy said, “He’s at the university here—”
“Yes,” Nola said. “His sister is my cousin’s neighbor. They used to sometimes have dinners, then play cards. Dr. Napoli and Dr. Modica, too, but no longer. I hear both are dead.”
“I thought you said you didn’t know Rossi?”
“I don’t. I said his sister—”
“Jesus Christ!” Canidy exploded.
What is it with this guy?
He should be a lawyer!
Or maybe I should ask better questions…
I’d better start again.
“Sorry, Frank,” Canidy said, and took a deep breath.
“Can you get me to Rossi?”
[ FOUR ]
