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“Thank you,” she says.
She takes out her phone and seems to be checking her emails and messages. I’m not surprised she doesn’t take the weekends entirely off. I never do either.
Klein makes a sound like she burnt herself on the coffee. But when I glance at her I see her reaction was about something she is reading on her phone.
“The DA is putting out a press release,” she says.
“Because we slept together?” I say dryly. I can’t conceal a grin when Klein looks at me.
“That’d be something,” she snorts. “But no. The heading isStrategic Crackdown on Organized Crime.” She shakes her head as she continues to read on her phone. “This is going to be… controversial. Looks like they’re using the attack at the courthouse to justify a big increase in budget. But some of these things sound borderline unconstitutional. I expect we’ll hear from the ACLU pretty soon after this goes out.”
I’m not totally surprised that Nicoletti would do this. Why not use an extremely violent act that happened in broad daylight to his advantage?
“You don’t agree with it?” I ask.
“It seems opportunistic,” she says. “I don’t agree with stoking fears to push the limits of people’s rights. It’s like the Patriot Act all over again. I don’t see how this isn’t going to be abused in some way.”
She takes another sip of her coffee. I plate the omelets and set one down for her then sit down with her to eat mine.
“I feel like we’re treading into dangerous territory,” she says.
I silently eat. I know she’s talking about the DA’s office. But it could also describe our situation. I don’t have to wonder what my family would think about me basically sleeping with the enemy. And if anyone in the press or her office found out, it could get tricky for her too.
“I guess the other thing that bugs me,” Klein says after swallowing her first bite, “is that we don’t even know who was behind the attack on the courthouse. To claim we need these provisions without some proof or at least a suspect.”
Klein looks at me, her mind is running through calculations. Then she continues.
“I’m assuming the Italians were not involved,” she looks me in the eyes.
I look back, but I don’t respond.
“You’re not that stupid,” she says. “Do you think the Russians were behind it?”
I consider whether I should respond. But I can already tell that Klein doesn’t think it was the Russians.
“No,” I say. “The Bratva have basically disappeared. I’m not saying they’re not dumb enough to send a shooter out in broad daylight, but it’s not their style and they’ve been quiet since the bust.”
“Then if it wasn’t the Italians and it wasn’t the Russians,” Klein plows on, “then someone either wanted to kidnap some of the prisoners or they wanted to set one or both of you up for the scrutiny an attack like that would bring.”
I nod. I don’t disagree with Klein. But I’m curious where she’s going.
“It could be another gang,” Klein continues. “The Polish Brotherhood? Irish Mafia?”
I nod again. She clearly knows a bit more about Philadelphia mobs than someone outside of her work.
“Or another gang. One of the Motorcycle Clubs? An extremist group?” Klein eats some more of the omelet. “And if the list of suspects is going to be complete, I would have to include the possibility that it was someone on the inside. Someone with ties to the court. Or even someone else in politics. The DA is up for re-election and something like this could make him look bad.”
It’s interesting listening to Klein think out loud, trying to figure out who could possibly be behind it. I’ve had some of the same suspects in mind as well. I know why I want to know who was behind it. They’ve killed one of my men and kidnapped the other. I’m surprised she’s thinking about it so much herself instead of trusting the police to figure it out.
“You should be a detective.”
I get up and wash my empty plate in the sink.
“If we find out who’s behind it,” she continues, ignoring my comment. “The DA won’t be able to keep using it as an excuse for blanket overreach and militarizing the local PD.”
“We?” I tease her. I take her empty plate and wash it in the sink.
“I know you want to find out who’s behind this even more than I do,” she says. “We should work together. I share what information I’m able to find. You share what information you’re able to find. We’ve got complimentary resources.”
