Killers by Howie Carr Page A

paid City Hall a grand a month, which didn’t include the district cops and the building and zoning inspectors. Reilly was a cop, which was why whenever I duked him the grand, I always wondered how much of it actually ended up in the mayor’s pocket—$700 or $300? You give something to a cop, he thinks it’s all for him. That’s just the way it is. I don’t know who I’d use for a bagman if I needed one, but it sure as hell wouldn’t be a cop.
    I looked up at Reilly. He was waiting for me to offer him a chair. He’d be waiting for a while longer.
    â€œYeah, sure, I know you,” I said. “Didn’t I read something about you, Jack? Something about a wire?”
    â€œThe feds got me picking up a donation from another cop—”
    â€œCash?” I asked.
    â€œOf course, that’s why I was the one making the pickup. He wanted a promotion, that’s what he said. That’s what the feds told him to say. They wanted to flip me to go up against the mayor, but I stood up.”
    â€œDo any time?”
    He shook his head. “I got nolle prossed. I had a good lawyer.”
    â€œIt’s easy to stand up if you’re not looking at time, you know what I mean, Jack?”
    â€œWell, in retrospect that’s true I suppose. But at the time, when you get that target letter, you never know how it’s going to shake out, do you?”
    A good answer, delivered like a pro. But I still didn’t show my hand.
    â€œListen,” he finally said, “can I sit down? I have something I want to run by you.”
    â€œYou can run it by me standing up.” I looked over at Hobart, motioned to him to come over, and then turned back to this Jack Reilly. “First, though, I just want to check something, if it’s okay with you, Jack.”
    He nodded. He understood. I always wonder about guys who’ve been caught on wires, even if they had a good lawyer. I’m suspicious, just like with “unindicted coconspirators.” Maybe they got used to being taped. Maybe it was all a setup by the cops, to keep them on the streets with a short leash, very short. Hobart gave Reilly a quick frisk, pits to tits, and told me, “He’s clean.”
    I told him he could sit down now, and he did.
    â€œWhat do you want, Jack?” I asked.
    â€œYou know the casino bill that’s coming up for a vote?” he said. I told him I read the newspapers.
    â€œI’m working for some people who want it passed,” he said. “Vote’s very close right now. And, well…” He paused. “Every time somebody else gets killed, a few more of the reps get cold feet.”
    â€œAnd this concerns me how?”
    â€œThese people that have been killed, they worked for Sally?”
    â€œYou’d have to ask Sally,” I said.
    Reilly took a deep breath. “I don’t know Sally.”
    â€œAnd you think you know me?”
    â€œNot really,” he said. “But my employers really want to put a lid on this thing, at least until after the vote.”
    â€œWho are your employers?”
    â€œSome concerned citizens. They’d really like to see everything quiet down, at least until their bill gets signed by the governor.”
    I smiled. “You want to put a lid on a gang war so you can get a bill passed? I guess you don’t know much about gang wars, Jack.”
    â€œWhat my employers figure is, and I’m just passing on their thoughts, is that you and Sally are having a war to figure out who’s going to shake down the casinos once they’re built. These guys who are voting, they’re state reps, from the suburbs mostly. They can’t take this kind of heat.”
    â€œWhat’s your pitch, Jack?”
    â€œThe shooting stops, we make it worth your while.”
    â€œJust me, or Sally too?”
    â€œWhatever it takes to stop it.” He paused for a moment. “Look, I know how stupid I