I was a hundred percent sure Reagan was behind all the grief in this case but I had no real proof. He hadn't reacted well to my theory but it was a, he said she said and even with Alice's material his position carried more clout than mine at the moment.

Against the warning I peered cautiously out the window again, seeing nothing useful and my promise to Verna was weighing heavily. She came out of her bathroom and looked at me with eyebrows raised.

"All set?"

"I'm not happy with this, Hart. I don't want to have an escort to and from work for the rest of my days."

"Surely you'll retire at some point." My attempt at a light remark landed like a cannonball and she strode the length of the loft to the elevator that I rarely get to use. I ran to keep up.

Harry was at the counter when we came in and I saw immediately I was persona non grata. I scanned the booths and spotted the plainclothes guys reading a paper over coffee. I pecked Verna's cheek, threw an apologetic smile at Harry and left.

Since I had spent my CI coupon in one accusatory meeting, setting myself up as bait, I was at a loss with what to do. With misgivings, I went to my office, prepared to spend a day cleaning. Surprise, Hart!

He sat at the mess behind my desk and greeted me with a sarcastic observation about my housekeeping.

"Who the hell are you?" I picked my way through the litter and opened the window for some fresh air.

"Don't recognize me? I'm crushed."

I took another look. "Roe's apartment."

"Bingo."

"What are you doing here? What do you want?" I wished I could get to my desk and my oft forgotten weapon.

"I'm here because I think we have a common goal and I want your help."

"I'll listen . . . first, get out of my chair."

His name was Morris Dysart and he admitted being a one-time CI for the Feds - Reagan specifically. He revealed that he had been ordered to take out Roe, Alice Comfort and me."

"Ordered?" I swallowed, realizing it was like getting a coffee to him.

"My leash was very short with the Feds and Reagan held it. A case of do or die . . . literally."

"Reagan ordered the hits personally?"

"Nah, all very blind. Phone messages where to pick up packages and then instructions about what or who to do. No names or faces."

"What happened?"

"Roe was first and he was dead when I got there. When I saw you I knew the whole thing was a frame and I split."

"And Alice?"

"Not me either and before you ask the answer is no, I didn't shoot up your car."

I took a moment to sneak the desk drawer open and see that my gun was gone. Morris smiled and set it on the corner of the desk. "I wasn't sure about my reception."

"I'm still not," I said putting it back in the drawer. "Just what do you mean by help?"

********

Morris, extremely dangerous criminal that he was, had a surprisingly nice personality and he explained how his contacts in the Street Riders were getting suspicious of their suppliers. This came to a head when Roe was discovered to be a mole . . . the inference in his voice was that my poking about exposed that revelation.

I smiled modestly. "That was a pure fluke. I knew nothing about the Feds or arms trafficking. I was hired to find Roe."

"By Alice."

"How do you know that?"

"She has been gathering information on the Riders for years. It might have started with Roe, and it still might have been her priority but she got wind of the arms business and began digging into that. I guess you noticed that during your investigations."

I didn't know if he was baiting me or it was an innocent statement. I pursed my lips and faked an informed shrug. "Never know what you're gonna find once you start."

"Right. Well that's where I need your help. I need all the material she's collected on the Riders."

"Like that'll happen!" I brushed at some fingerprint dust on my phone and made a bigger mess. "Why?"

"I want to edit them out as much as possible before using it to get that bastard Reagan."

"Edit? They're trafficking arms"

"They're just transporters, Hart. They aren't the source and they aren't the buyers."

I brushed my fingers together and just managed to get the dust on both hands. What was that stuff made of?  And why the need to protect the Riders? " Even if what you say is true I doubt very much she shares your concern for that gang. Roe might have been the perpetrator but you can bet they all shared the details and the jock talk. They are all guilty in her eyes."

"That's it?"

The tone made me quickly modify my answer. "I'll ask, okay. It's all I can do."

"And if she should agree?"

"I'll let you see it but no way am I giving you her material. She won't agree anyway."

"But you will tell me what she says."

"Sure, how do I find you?"

"I doubt you could. I'll call you." He ploughed through my belongings on the floor carelessly and left. At least he didn't slam the door.

I doubt you could! That smarted.

********

My first thought was to call Meadows and let him know about Dysart. My first action was to go and visit Alice first. Always cart before horse. She was standing by her hospital bed dressed and putting things in her purse.

"Are you being released?"

"Hello, Mr. Hart. Yes, doctor says go home, rest and he gave me some pain meds in case I needed them."

"May I arrange a cab and take you home . . . I'd like to have a talk."

"I thought our business was finished."

"Just a couple of things I'd like to go over."

"If this is about your fee--"

"No, nothing to do with that. Let me go down to the desk and arrange a cab."

*******

I had begun by telling Alice everything I knew, how I found out and what had taken place all along the way. She listened without interruption, sitting rock still, only her mouth tightening at intervals. When I was done she sat quietly looking at her folded hands for a long time. I found I had been holding my breath and wheezed unceremoniously.

"Sorry."

"Mr. Hart, it took me a long time to understand what really happened to me that day. I stayed in a state of shock for some time, refusing to even talk to anyone - my parents included. I left home before they could have me institutionalized; I was still only in my teens. I have spent all these years trying to cleanse my mind of that day. Collecting the material I have was a big part of that process."

"Can I ask what you planned to do with it?"

"I planned on surrendering it along with myself after killing Harland Roe - assuming you or someone found him."

Well I didn't have to drag that out of her! I suggested that now that Harland was dead and she had reconnected with her mother there could be a better solution for the use of the material.

"Not the way that man you spoke about wants to use it. Never. That entire gang of criminals need to pay for everything they did and are still doing."

"How about we go and see Detective Meadows, let the police choose the best way to proceed? You've spent so much time on this, Alice maybe now you should close this book and open a new one with your mom."

"And your friend?"

"Definitely not my friend and I'll worry about him." Ballsy, Hart.

********

We spent a couple of hours with Meadows while he scanned and recorded all the information Alice had amassed over the forty odd years. A few stand out items he immediately had members of the squad run down as fast as they could.

"I have to say, Miss Comfort, this is amazingly thorough work for a- a- well for a non-police person." He gave me a weak look. "I mean, these numbers for example are extremely accurate from our own records. I wish we'd had them when you first came to me, Hart."

"You have them now and Alice has agreed to wash her hands of the case and leave it to the pros."

"At some point there will be a need for you as a witness, Miss Comfort." Meadows smiled, gently issuing the warning.

She nodded and asked if that was all, stood and headed for the door. Not one for long goodbyes. I darted after her, I had promised to drive her to her mom's. Yes drive. I broke down and got a rental.

Alice actually thanked me on the way, saying it was definitely a load she felt lifted. I patted her hand.