“You’re holding out on me.”
“No. He got antsy and amnesia at the same time. He’s scared of Malone.Andof El Paso. Says he has evil eyes.”
“What else about him?”
“Nothing else.”
“That’s it? He’s a twenty-year-old with evil eyes? That describes my nephew. I need more than that.”
“Well, that’s all I’ve got. Look, I’m busy here, juggling with one hand. I need to go.”
“Wait.” Mitch rapidly strung together everything Tucker had told him and added it to the agent’s sudden haste to conclude. “When a snitch dries up, he or she is replaced. Pronto.”
Tucker said nothing.
“Jim? I’d bet my left nut that one of your undercovers got a sudden hankering for Ristorante Italiano’s pasta.”
Nothing.
Mitch persisted. “Your new person spotted El Paso. He recognized him from the description your first snitch and I provided, right?” He waited, then said, “Your stone silence confirms I’m right. So tell me where the knife-wielding little bastard went after our fight.”
Tucker swore lavishly. “Mitch, I can’t.”
“Youcan. Please.”
After more obscenities, the agent sighed. “It was too late to order dinner. My person had tiramisu and coffee.”
“Was Malone still in residence?”
“Yes. After closing, my person hung around and spied El Paso slinking in through the kitchen door in back. About fifteen minutes later, he left by the same door and headed down the alley. My person followed, but lost him in the dark.”
“So you don’t know where El Paso lays his head?”
“No.”
“Swear?”
“Swear.”
Mitch believed him, but only because the agent soundedfrustrated, too. “Okay. Keep me posted. If I change phones, you’ll get a text. Otherwise, use this number to reach me.”
“Hold on,” Tucker said. “I have a question foryou.”
“No, the cut across my gut wasn’t fatal, but thanks for asking.”
“Not that. Tell me about the restaurant’s new menu item.”
Mitch’s heart thumped. He glanced toward the closed bedroom door separating him from the main room. “What about it?”
“Buzz is that it was quite a dish. Ahotdish.”
“Who gave you that?”
“The paid snitch. Before he dried up, he was very animated on that particular topic. Told me that for the better part of the evening Malone himself oversaw that it was served just right. Sat at the table where it was being served for maybe ten minutes. Gave personal attention to it.”
Mitch realized he was grinding his teeth. “Did your snitch get its name?”
“‘Mr. Malone’s guest.’ That’s it.”
