Ghosts of Manhattan by George Mann Read Free Book Online Page B

getting into the vehicle, Donovan noticed that the other man was missing the uppermost half of his left ear. "Affable enough, Inspector, as long as one pays one's due respects. Are you a respectful man?"
    "Respect has to be earned, Mr. Reece."
    "Yes. I believe it does. But it can also be bought." The man reached inside his coat and produced a brown paper envelope. He rubbed his hand over it in a bizarrely ritualistic gesture, and then placed it ceremoniously on Donovan's knee. Donovan picked it up, unfolded the flap, and looked inside. The envelope was stuffed with used bills. There must have been a thousand dollars in there. He closed his eyes for a moment, took a long draw on his cigarette.
    "The Roman would like to offer you a token of his respect. He understands that you've been finding things ... difficult ... of late, and would like to compensate you for your trouble. He's aware that you've been having problems sleeping, Inspector. Anyone in your position would. It's understandable. You've seen some terrible things. The state of poor Mr. Landsworth, for example. I'm sure you'd rather just blank the entire affair from your mind ..."
    Donovan grinned. So this was a payoff. Forget about the murder of an odious old politician and walk away with a cool thousand in dollar bills. Flora would be ecstatic with that. For a moment, he was almost tempted. But he was a better cop than that. He was a better man than that. And besides, he knew it would never stop there. Once he'd taken the Roman's paycheck, it would only be a matter of time before someone was leaning on him again. He knew how it worked; he'd seen it a hundred times before.

    Sighing, he laid the envelope neatly on the seat beside him. "You can tell the Roman that, whilst I appreciate his offer, my memory is in good working order, and I'm sleeping just fine." He took another long draw on his cigarette, listening to the sound of the paper crackling as he pulled the nicotine into his lungs. There was silence for a few moments, save for the hissing sigh of the steam vents at the rear of the car as it slid along the road.
    Finally, Gideon Reece spoke once more. "I'm not sure you fully understand what's being offered to you, Inspector Donovan. This is a gift. To refuse it would be to, well ... to fail to show respect." He paused, sucking thoughtfully on the end of his cigar. "We've already discussed the importance of respect. Landsworth had no respect." Another pause. He turned to regard the inspector and his eyes flashed with menace. "I'm sure that makes things clearer for you?"
    Donovan didn't answer. He understood only too well what was being intimated. He was being presented with an ultimatum: take the money and dine with the devil, or end up dead in a backstreet, or worse, with his pants around his ankles in a hotel suite like that poor bastard Landsworth. He knew it wasn't an idle threat. But somehow that only worked to strengthen his resolve. Now it was him or the Roman. And what was more, he knew they were getting nervous. Why else would they try to buy him off?
    Donovan glanced out of the window. They were in his neighborhood. He met the other's penetrating stare with a steady gaze. "Can I think about it?"
    Reece laughed again, a cruel, terrible laugh. He spread his hands in a placatory gesture. "Of course, Inspector. Of course." He waved his fat cigar beside his head, as if somehow plucking thoughts out of thin air. "But if I may, I'll leave you with some well-intentioned advice. Don't go against him. He's been at this game for a long time. A very long time. Longer than you could possibly imagine. He knows how to get what he wants." He smiled, leaning back in his seat. "I'll need your answer by midnight on Friday."

    Donovan nodded. "Then you can let me out here, Mr. Reece. This is my neighborhood, and I'd be thankful for the walk."
    Reece nodded and rapped on the glass. The vehicle swung toward the sidewalk and pulled to an abrupt stop.
    Donovan glanced at the