“Don’t mention it.”
“Perhaps you could explain in more detail?”
“Someone placed several remote devices in the Coulters’ car that caused the vehicle to behave as it did. We figured this out because while it appears the devices were designed to falloff once triggered, one of them got jammed in the undercarriage and was still there.”
“Then there was nothing Sara could have done to stop the accident from happening.”
“Not a thing. That’s what I meant by official, in case you were wondering.”
“The news should give her some comfort. But you haven’t explained who the culprit is yet.”
“If you’d give me a chance, I’m about to get to it.”
“I most humbly beg your pardon for interfering with your presentation.”
“That’s better. Do you remember Sasha Maslov?”
“The hit man who worked for the Russian mob?”
“One and the same.”
“If you’re going to tell me Maslov was behind it, I’m going to have serious concerns about the department’s competency. Maslov’s been dead for nearly a decade.”
“It’s been five years, not ten, and of course, he’s not responsible.”
“Then what does Maslov have to do with any of this?”
“If you recall, Maslov was killed while driving on the FDR.”
“That’s right. Didn’t his car end up in the river?”
“I’m glad to see your memory hasn’t completely deserted you. After we pulled the car out, my people found a device connected to the brake line that turns out to be identical to the device found on the Coulters’ car.”
“Why do I have the feeling you’re going to tell me you never caught Maslov’s killer?”
“Because we never caught Maslov’s killer.”
“Hence, knowing but not knowing who did it.”
“Gold star. We’re pretty sure whoever it was has alsobeen involved in several other ‘accidents,’ but where no devices were found.”
“Have you tried seeing if there are any links between the victims? That could help point to who did it.”
“Wow, weneverthought to do that,” Dino said, laying it on thick.
“And?”
“Eighty percent of the victims were involved in organized crime, and those who weren’t were being pressured by someone who was.”
“But why target Hillary and Sa—” Stone stopped himself. “Oh, no. You’re thinking this has something to do with Jack.”
“I’m thinking it has something to do with Jack. And you should be, too.”
Stone sometimes forgot about Jack’s Johnny Fratelli past.
“I was under the impression he wasn’t involved in that world anymore,” Dino said. “But now I’m starting to think I was wrong.”
“As far as I know, you aren’t. You haven’t told your detectives about his past, have you?”
