Hooked

his apartment and wipe all traces of Tawny from the building. But if he had to, Linc’d wake up every judge in the city.
    “You know, my first inclination is to say go ahead, get one. But why go to all the trouble? I have nothing to hide.” He smiled at Linc, then at Dennis. “Follow me.”
    The two men followed Benny down the hall, passing the open door of the empty office. Desk neat, computer closed. Point made. Tawny wasn’t hiding in there.
    Benny slipped a key card into a hidden slot and what looked like a panel sprang open. No knob. The lacquered crimson walls and carved mahogany furniture gleamed in the dimly lit apartment, giving the place a warm, cozy ambience. Flowery perfume wafted in the air. If Tawny was right about Cooper’s penchant for trying out his girls, this small suite struck the right tone.
    Mario Russo had entered the building and never left, but seeing him sitting at the table having a drink with a sexy blonde took Linc by surprise. The three seemed chummy, like old friends.
    Linc had seen the crime boss on television many times, though never in person. He couldn’t believe this was the same man. In person, Russo’s shrunken appearance visually verified what everyone said about his numbered days. Linc could almost smell his decay.
    Benny grinned at Linc’s surprised reaction to Russo’s presence. “My wife, Eileen, and Mario Russo,” he said, introducing them. “We were having a drink. I’d ask you to join us, but I know you guys are forbidden to drink on duty.”
    Linc never wanted a drink as much as he did now. He ran his tongue across his dry bottom lip. “Thanks, but no thanks.”
    “Look around,” Benny said. “It’s a small place. You can see no one’s here. If you’d like to check the rest of the building, I’ll have Charles show you around.”
    Linc’s heart skipped a beat. Tawny wasn’t here or Cooper wouldn’t offer a tour. Of course, he could be calling his bluff, but Linc doubted it. Had Harry’s man in back of the building caught her leaving? If so, with whom? Surely Clauson would have sounded the alarm. “I’d like to see the room Ms. Dell rented this evening.” He didn’t mean to put so much sarcasm into his request, but that’s the way it came out.
    Benny was about to answer when Mario Russo stood. “If you don’t mind the interruption, Benny, I think you should have a lawyer and they should have a warrant. There’s no reason for them to come into your home at this hour and search it.” Russo turned to confront Linc straight on, steady and unflinching. “Nothing this gentleman mentioned suggests probable cause, does it, Officer Walsh?” His mouth curled into a lopsided grin.
    Russo meant to demean Linc. He ignored the slight. “We have Ms. Dell’s prints at the scene of a murder.” There hadn’t been time to corroborate Tawny’s prints or anyone else’s, but they didn’t know that. “Enough reason?”
    “Whose murder?” Benny asked.
    Linc matched Russo’s stare. “In case you haven’t heard, Mr. Russo, the victim was in your employ. Richard Martell.”
    Russo didn’t break eye contact. “Of course I heard. Rick’s wife called me as soon as she found out. Besides working for me, he was related by marriage. I’m still in shock.”
    “I’m sorry for your loss,” Linc said with forced politeness. One less crook in the city was nothing to be sorry for. Russo acknowledged the words of sympathy with a nod.
    “We also have witnesses who saw a man who fits the description of your employee’s friend, Mr. Cooper, a—” Linc pulled out a notebook to feign checking the name, although he knew it by heart―“Reginald Cart. We found his prints in Mr. Martell’s office also.”
    Russo snorted. Linc found the reaction interesting. Had Russo insisted Cart wear gloves? If so, Cart’s prints wouldn’t be in the office, and Russo knew it. “He’s the roommate of Cooper’s office manager, I believe.”
    “Why would Reggie have anything to do with this Martell man?” Benny asked.
    “I have the answer to that, Benny,” Russo said, without skipping a beat. “Mr. Cart sometimes makes deliveries for me. He picked up some papers from Rick today.” Turning to Linc, he said, “Could be when your witnesses saw him.” Russo lit a cigarette, inhaled deeply.
    Benny’s eyes zeroed in on the cigarette, and he started to say something. Instead, he sighed and kept his mouth shut. Linc bet smoking was prohibited at Upper Eighties.
    “Small