Shadow Prey

guys got Uzis in their armpits.”
    “All it takes is a guy on a rooftop with a deer rifle,” said Lucas.
    “Ah, shit,” said Daniel. He whacked the desktop with an open palm. “We can’t take a chance. We’ll talk to Clay’s security people. And let’s put some people around his hotel. Up on the rooftops, in the parking garage. Just put some uniforms in street clothes . . . . Christ, the guy is a pain in the ass.”
    “We oughta take a look at the hotel too,” Lucas said. He was still moving around the office, thinking about it. The idea fit: but how could the Crows get at Clay? “Look for a hole in the security . . . .”
    “I still don’t think it’s Clay. It’s gotta be something they could plan for,” Daniel said. “Keep thinking about it. Let’s get some more ideas going.”
     
    The meeting broke up, but ten minutes before the press conference, Daniel called them back together.
    “I’m going to tell you this quick and I don’t want any argument. I’ve been talking to Clay and his people, and the mayor. Clay will come here and will make the announcement about the identification of the Crows. He’ll pass out the photos.”
    “God damn it,” said Anderson, white-faced. “That’s our work . . . .”
    “Take it easy, Harmon. There’s a lot going on here . . . .”
    “They bought the information from us, is that right?” Anderson demanded. “What’d we get?”
    “You won’t believe it.” Daniel smiled a self-satisfied smile, spread his arms and peered at the ceiling, as though receiving manna from heaven. “You’re looking at the new Midwest on-line information-processing center . . . .”
    “Holy shit,” Anderson whispered. “I thought Kansas City had that wrapped.”
    “They just came unwrapped. We’re doing the deal right now.”
    “Our own Cray II,” Anderson said. “The fastest fucking machine ever built . . .”
    “What a crock of shit,” said Lily.
    “Let’s try to keep that opinion to ourselves,” Daniel said. “After the press conference, Clay wants to talk to the team. I think he wants to give us a pep talk.”
    “What a crock of shit,” Lily repeated.
    “Did you suggest that he might be the target?” asked Lucas.
    “Yeah,” Daniel nodded. “He agreed with me that it was unlikely, but he also went along with the idea of a screen of cops on the buildings around the hotel. And his guys are looking for holes in the security.”
     
    Four advance men arrived ahead of Clay. One waited outside City Hall, where Clay’s car would unload. The other three, guided by a cop, walked the hallway to the room where the press conference would be held. Lucas and Lily, lounging outside the door of the conference room, watched them coming. Two of the men stopped, a pace away.
    “Police officers?” he asked.
    “Yeah,” said Lucas.
    “Got an ID?”
    Lucas shrugged. “Sure.”
    “I’d like to see it,” the advance man said. His tone was courteous, but his eyes were not.
    Lucas looked at Lily, who nodded and flashed her NYPD case. Lucas handed over his ID. “Okay,” said the advance man, still courteous. “Could you point out the other plainclothes people inside . . . ?”
    It was quick and professional. In five minutes, the room was secure. When Clay arrived, he got out of his car alone, but two more advance men blocked either end of the car. The mayor came out and met Clay at the car, and they walked, chatting as casual friends, into City Hall. If any of the newsies noticed that the two men were walking throughan invisible corridor of professional security, none of them said anything.
    Clay and Daniel did the press conference together, the mayor beaming from the wings. Anderson and an FBI functionary passed out photos of the Crows.
    “An hour from now, the Crows won’t be able to go on the streets,” Lucas said as the conference ended.
    “We’ve had Shadow Love’s face out there, and that hasn’t gotten anywhere . . .” Lily said, when he got in the car beside her.
    “We’re tightening down. It’ll work, with a little time.”
    “Maybe. I just hope they don’t pull some shit first. We better get down to Daniel’s office for this meeting with Clay.”
     
    Sloan, Lucas, Lily, Anderson, Del and a half-dozen other cops had been waiting ten minutes when Daniel and Clay arrived, trailed by the mayor, two of Clay’s bodyguards and a half-dozen FBI agents.
    “Your show, Larry,” Daniel said.
    Clay nodded, stepped