Page 64 of Fade Out

White grabbed a passing waiter and said, “We need a cup of coffee here.”

“Vodka soda,” I said, changing the order.

The waiter blanched and scurried away. I doubted we’d be brought anything. White stared at me with obvious disgust, then asked, “Isn’t Rita Lindquist the woman you killed?”

“No. No, I didn’t kill her. She’s not even dead.”

“Then who did you kill?”

“Nobody. I promise.” Well, no one this year. Fortunately, I wasn’t drunk enough to let that slip.

“Why do you think Rita Lindquist is still alive?”

“Cause coins.”

White sighed. I knew I was being frustrating and not telling this the way it should be told, but I couldn’t help it. I took another run at it. “Rita was seen selling some rare coins she stole.”

“The dealer knew her and recognized her?”

“No.”

“There was a security camera?”

“No.”

“Then how do you know it was her?”

“Description.”

“Another description?’

I nodded.

“Did he describe her in detail?”

“He said she was busty. Oh wait, no, that’s wrong. I described Rita and Possum to the coin guy and he said they’d been there.”

He shook his head. “You really should consider another line of work. Let’s back up a little bit. Why didPossum—” The way he said Possum suggested he really didn’t believe there was such a person. “Why did Possum kill Richard Crisp?”

“For Rita.”

“And why did Rita want Crisp dead?”

“Revenge. Richard Crisp killed Gunner Lindquist.”

“Is that supposed to make sense to me?”

“Back in eighty-three, Lindquist was shot in the back of the head and thrown into the Chicago River.”

“Before my time.” White had not been with the 18th back then. “And how do you know this?”

“My understanding is that it’s common knowledge. So I’d say the more important question is why don’t you know it? Huh?”

“Tell me again what you’re doing here. Tonight. At this particular benefit?”

“I came to talk to the Buckmans. You see, it’s their daughter in the box.”

“Why did you kill their daughter?”