In Death 11 - Judgment in Death

get your ten million or anything else from me. Maybe you have a right to be angry with the way I backed out on you before."
    "Backed out? Backed out?" He pounded his fist on the table, shouting so that at the control station, Feeney's ears rang. "You betrayed me, stole from me. You threw my generosity back in my face. I should have killed you for it. Perhaps I still will."
    "You want payback, Ricker, for what I did, or didn't do, I'm willing to pay. I'm willing. I know what you're capable of. I respect that."
    For effect, Roarke added a slight tremor to his hand as he ordered a second round. "I've still got sources and resources. We can be an asset to each other. My connection to the NYPSD is valuable in itself."
    Ricker let out a short laugh. His chest was hurting from the pounding of his heart. He didn't want another whiskey. He wanted his beautiful pink drink. But he would finish first. Finish Roarke first. "I don't need your cop, you pathetic fool. I've got a whole damn squad in my pocket."
    "Not like her." Roarke edged forward, eager to deal. "I want her out, but until I convince her, she can be useful. Very useful to you."
    "She's barely useful to you. Rumor is you and she are having some marital difficulties."
    "Just some bumps. They'll pass. The ten million will help that," Roarke said as he took the second round of drinks. "It takes the pressure off. And I'll get her to resign before much longer. I'm working on it."
    "Why? As you said, a police connection's useful."
    "I want a wife, not a bloody cop. I prefer having my woman available at my convenience, not running around all hours of the day and night investigating cases." Scowling now, he drank deeply. "A man's entitled to that, isn't he? If I want a cop, I'll buy one. I don't have to marry one."
    It was better, Ricker calculated. Even better than he'd expected. He'd have Roarke's money, his humiliation, and his obligation. And he could hold all of them until he killed him. "I can arrange it for you."
    "Arrange what?"
    "Her resignation. I'll have her out in a month's time."
    "In return for?"
    "This place. I want it back. And there's a little matter of a shipment I'm expecting. The client I anticipated for it hasn't proved financially solvent. Take it off my hands for, we'll say, another ten million, turn the deed to this club over to one of my subsidiaries, and we'll have a deal."
    "What's the merchandise?"
    "Pharmaceuticals."
    "You know I don't have the contacts to deal in illegals."
    "Don't tell me what you do or don't have." Ricker's voice spiked, all but cracked. "Who do you think you are to turn your nose up at me." He lunged over the table, grabbed Roarke by the collar. "I want what I want!"
    "He's unstable. We need to move in." She was already striding out of the room when Feeney called out.
    "Hold on! Let it play out."
    "I can't stay up here."
    "I'm not turning up my nose," Roarke said quickly, nervously. "I haven't developed the sources for illegals distribution."
    "That's your problem. Your problem. You'll do what I say, all that I say, or get nothing. Take the deal or the consequences."
    "Let me think, for God's sake. Pull your men back. Let's not have any trouble in here."
    "Fine, that's fine. No trouble."
    Well, he's mad, Roarke thought. Stark and raving. The rumors of Ricker's instability hadn't touched on the reality.
    "Twenty million's a lot of money. But I'm willing to risk it to get what I want. And to... pay the debt I owe you. But I need to know how you'd work her out of the department without it coming back on me."
    It was Ricker's breathing that was audible now, but he didn't hear it. He picked up his whiskey, and his hand trembled, but he didn't see it. All he saw was the fulfillment of a long-cherished wish.
    "I can ruin her career inside of a week. Yes, in no time at all. Strings to be pulled. The case she's working on now... she annoys me. She insulted me. Laughed at me."
    "She'll apologize." Roarke all but crooned it. "I'll see to it."
    "Yes, she'll have to do that. Have to apologize. I won't tolerate anyone laughing at me. Especially a woman."
    He had to be pushed, Roarke thought. Gently and quickly. "She will. You have the controls. You have the power."
    "That's right. Of course. I do. If I let her live, as a favor to you, I'll take a fee for moving her off the case and out of the department. Misinformation, skewed data in the right computer. It works."
    Roarke rubbed the back of his hand over his mouth. "The cops who've been