Deadman (28 page)

Mulheisen smiled and shrugged. “It doesn't make much difference,” he said. “I got Helen, anyway, and I'll get Service, one of these days. At least now I know who I'm looking for.” He looked at Jacky closely. “You ever get that feeling?” he asked. “Now you know. It may not be tomorrow, maybe not this year, but now the guy is running and the net is closing.”

Jacky Lee almost smiled. “Yeah, I know. Oh, by the way, Sally called. She was trying to get hold of you.”

“Oh yes?” Mulheisen said. “What did she want?”

Jacky eyed him blankly. “Nothing special, I guess,” he said. “She wanted to know if you were all right. Said you should call.” He handed Mulheisen a slip of paper with her name on it and a phone number. “See ya next time,” he said and left.

Antoni was bubbling. “This is great, Mul. Great. Definite proof that the mob is moving into the Northwest. This'll give the Northern Tier a boost. You'll see. I'll have you out here running the whole show.”

Mulheisen said they'd have to wait and see. Maybe it was on, maybe not. For now he just wanted to pick up his prisoner and get home.

“Ah, about the extradition,” Johnny said, “I'm afraid there'll be a delay.”

“What's the deal?” Mulheisen said. “I thought everything was all set.”

“Well, you know, Ms. Sedlacek is still in the hospital,” Johnny said. “She seems to be okay, physically, the doctors say, but mentally . . .” He shook his head. “She's babbling about ghosts, monsters, dead men. She has asked for counsel and she's retained the best lawyer in the state, and he says they'll fight the extradition. She's got plenty of money, apparently, and someone already seems to be working on her behalf back in Michigan. Hey, you know what'd be a great
idea, Mul? How ‘bout you ‘n’ me and the kid, we run over to the Salmon River for a day or two, catch some steelhead? You ever catch a steelhead on a fly line? It's fantastic!”

Mulheisen couldn't believe his ears. The part about Helen flipping out and at the same time starting to build a defense sounded about par for the course, but stand in a freezing river, fly-fishing? In this weather? Antoni assured him they would be toasty in their insulated waders.

Mulheisen thought about a red-haired woman with a frank, honest face and hearty laugh, to say nothing of an interesting physique, and replied, “If I'm getting into any Montana water in the next few days, it'll be hot water, my friend,” and he went out to call the number Jacky had given him.