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“Out of the open,” Quayle echoed in a tone that would accept no argument.
A black SUV pulled to the curb and squealed to a stop. The marshal gestured for the senator to get in first, which he did. This vehicle seemed a lot more than merely bullet resistant.
When the men were inside, Sellitto said to the driver, “Federal building.”
“Yessir.”
The Suburban galloped off, bounding hard on the uneven streets. No one wore belts and Talese had to grip the handhold firmly.
“Okay.” The senator looked pointedly at the detective.
Sellitto said, “You’re familiar with the crane accidents in the city.”
“Sure. A domestic terror outfit wants affordable housing units.”
“No. That was a cover. To keep us focused away from what the unsub’s really got in mind.”
“Which is?”
“You dead.”
Talese nodded slowly. So perhaps his concerns today were not so paranoid after all.
“Who is it?”
“We know the identity of the mechanic. But not who’s hired him.”
“My family …”
“They’re safe. We have a team in your house.”
“He’s … This man? The mechanic? Where is he?”
“We don’t know. We’re looking for him now.”
“How did you find out?”
“The cranes were sabotaged with drones. DHS gave us a map of other flights. He flew one over the block you live on, in Brooklyn, and also near your office here.”
“Jesus.”
Peter said, “You should know, Detective. An hour ago, little longer, we were on our way to a meeting and it looked like somebody was following us. I made him and he turned down another street.”
Sellitto pulled out a notebook, a battered one like detectives in TV shows always use. “Description.”
Talese and Peter gave it to the detective.
“Is there any reason somebody would want you dead? Whistle-blowing? Any old prosecutions that may’ve come back?”
“No …”
But he was looking out the window, reflecting: Was what he’dthought of earlier possible? That someone wanted him dead because of his vote for the tax bill?
“I have no idea. I mean, yes, I put a lot of bad guys away. It was years ago. But a few of them were sociopaths. I can track down their names and see if anybody’s been released lately.”
Sellitto looked his way for a moment, then tucked the pad away and pulled out his phone.
Talese said, “I’m scheduled to go on TV in an hour. Can we stop at the studio?”
