Bloody River Blues

that!”
    “Clear the chambers on those weapons,” McIntyreshouted to the actors. “Put the safeties on and set them in the van here.”
    Sloan stormed up to McIntyre, who ignored him.
    Another man got out of the car, studying the smoke and destruction around him. Detective Bob Gianno looked at the director. “Are you Anthony Sloan?”
    “Damn right I am; do you know what you’ve just cost me? This scene—”
    “You’re under arrest for violation of the Missouri state laws governing possession of illegal weapons. Would you hold out your hands, please?”

Chapter 17
    STACE STACEY SMOOTHED the tufts of graying hair above his ears and said with utter calm, “I’m afraid you’ve made a mistake.”
    He sat in the office of Ronald Peterson. Beside him was a fidgeting, furious Tony Sloan, who stared with particular contempt at the collection of windup toys littering Peterson’s desk.
    “Mistake?” Peterson asked Stace. “Oh, I don’t think so. . . . But first, I want to make perfectly clear that you are not being charged with any federal crime whatsoever. We have noticed an apparent violation of federal law but are withholding any decision to proceed. Under Missouri law possession of automatic weapons not registered by the BATF is a state violation. Our colleagues in Maddox have decided there’s probable cause for your arrest. They’re the ones who’ve acted on that. It was not a federal agency. The ATF merely took custody of the weapons temporarily.”
    “You’re a prick,” Sloan said.
    “You understand what I’m saying to you?” Peterson cocked an eyebrow enthusiastically.
    “I understand that we’ll never make a movie again in this state. That’s what I understand.”
    Peterson shrugged. “You’re not under arrest so you can speak to me without a lawyer present.”
    “I understand already!” Sloan barked.
    “Please continue, Mr. Stacey.”
    “I’m qualified as a class-three federal firearms dealer.” Stace set a small piece of paper on the desk, next to a tiny walking football. “That’s my license. I think you know perfectly well almost all property and arms masters in Hollywood are class-three dealers.”
    Peterson glanced at the license momentarily. “I don’t doubt you, sir. It’s the weapons I’m concerned about.”
    “Every one of those guns is registered, tax stamps have been duly bought and I have a right to transport them over state lines. The—”
    “Actually, that’s not quite accurate. BATF notice is required . . .”
    “No, sir, it is accurate.” Diminutive Stace Stacey clearly dominated the conversation despite his calm, unfazed voice. “The notice is generated by the firearms rental company. I rented those weapons from Culver City Arms and Props. They’re on the Motion Picture Association computer link to BATF’s Washington office. I’m surprised I have to be telling this to a U.S. Attorney.”
    Peterson took scrupulous notes. He looked up, frowning. “Unfortunately we can find no record of the notice.”
    “I’m a good friend of Steve Marring in the BATFdistrict office on the Coast. I suggest you give him a call immediately.”
    “It wasn’t a BATF-initiated operation. Several FBI agents were on the set looking for one of your employees—”
    “Pellam,” Sloan spat out.
    Peterson hesitated and then said coquettishly, “Yes, as a matter of fact, it was Mr. Pellam. How did you know that?”
    Sloan, sloe-eyed with fatigue, rubbed the bridge of his nose. When he did not respond Peterson continued, “My agents noticed the machine guns and reported their presence to me. Naturally, we’re concerned about such weapons falling into irresponsible hands—”
    Stace said pleasantly, “I heard not too long ago about a man in San Francisco selling fully automatic Uzis to high school students. I’d think you might be more concerned about situations like that.”
    “A tragedy, I’m sure. But my bailiwick is Missouri.”
    “I’ve had about enough of this,” Sloan shouted. “You’ve cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars. I’m calling my lawyer—”
    Peterson shook his head. “Mr. Sloan . . . Oh, by the way, I really enjoyed Helicop . I figure it cost me about two hundred bucks after buying the kids all those toys for Christmas. But I did enjoy that movie.”
    “Why are you doing this to me?”
    “Are we reaching an understanding?” Peterson asked heartily.
    “Understanding?”
    “Have I explained to you how I learned about those