And when you started back, you reported that you were coming back empty? He gave that gun to someone, Mason said. Id like to find out who it was, and pushed past the reporters. He met Della Street coming out of the courtroom, drew her to one side. “Everything under control?” Oh, quite. I dont think he hesitated more than a day or two after Mix disappeared before he assumed full direction of the unions affairs. But then, someone had to. Good girl, Mason said approvingly. Hold on for a minute. And you understand that the first was the night the canoe had been rented? And then Cowls X-ray beam came lurching over to Devine. And the mans features became unreadable. He lingered, one, two, three beats. He took in the injuries and the man himself. Probing, digging, creeping into unopened pathways that Devine might unknowingly have, like back doors on firewalls. Cowl had built a serious empire. To do that, you had to be smart and ruthless, more of the latter than the former, actually, because you essentially had to take what someone else had and not give a crap when they financially croaked. professional maturity I think it was just somebody trolling or something, he said vaguely. I couldnt really understand it. It was all over the place. And I have no idea who sent it. Della Street threw the door open. I need your help. I couldnt judge this mans intentions for saying that. Certainly there were some at the rally who wouldnt have minded seeing it happen. They’d turned out to boo and ridicule her. They’d come to support Dorsey. Others just wanted some excitement, the kind you could talk about to your grandkids.Oh, yes, kids, I was there the night that congresswoman got killed. Two shots. One in the head and one in the chest. Never forget anything like that no matter how old you get. Does Derek know that? Dino asked. She came and made a nest in his lap.You and everyone around you are so attuned to my needs, she said. Talented and hard-charging. But why did you come all the way out here to ask me questions? I was there all day. Ill be there tomorrow. And my understanding was she died by suicide, so why are the police involved? Thats correct. Trip nine-seventy-one she is. She was connected to Brad Cowl, who has disappeared. I saw him. Well, thats a relief, Stone said..