Running Dark by Joseph Heywood Read Free Book Online Page B

thought. “What do you get out of this?” he asked.
    For the next hour she explained, and though he didn’t agree with some of her assumptions and theories, he realized that if she knew as much as she claimed, she could be the key that would finally open the Garden Peninsula to the law. All she wanted in return for her cooperation was that the Garden normalize for a few years so the kids now in elementary school could grow up in an environment where locals were not always pitted against all outsiders—DNR, trolls, sportfishermen—anyone “not from the Garden.” Her intensity was palpable. “You realize if they catch you down there alone, they might kill you,” she concluded.
    She had given him enough tidbits to convince him she was worth the risk. “I can’t promise anything,” he said, knowing the go, no-go decision was his.
    â€œYou just take the offer where you have to and when you’re ready, put an ad in the Manistique classifieds.” She handed him a piece of paper that read matthew 7:7.
    â€œYou run this and a date, time, and place, and I’ll be there to talk,” she said.
    â€œMatthew seven-seven?” he asked.
    â€œAsk, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
    â€œI thought you weren’t subtle.”
    Cecilia Lasurm smiled.

7
    MARQUETTE, DECEMBER 19, 1975
    â€œ . . . you’re well suited for this secret squirrel stuff.”
    Attalienti had moved to Cosmo Metrovich’s office in the Marquette DNR building adjacent to Marquette Prison, which had been built before the turn of the century and housed some of the state’s most dangerous criminals. The architecture of the regional office featured a strange roof with hooked ends that resembled the beaks of birds of prey. Officers referred to the regional office as The Roof.
    It was almost closing time and Fern LeBlanc, Metrovich’s long-legged secretary, gave Service the once-over before ushering him to the captain’s office, which looked out toward Lake Superior a few hundred yards away.
    Service closed the door and stood in front of the captain’s desk at parade rest.
    â€œRelax,” Attalienti said. “Coffee?”
    â€œHad my daily ten-cup ration,” Service said, sitting down.
    â€œMake your contact?”
    â€œYessir,” Service said, quickly relating the specifics of the visit from Cecilia Lasurm.
    The acting captain listened impassively, his hands on the blotter in front of him, and when Service had finished, asked, “What do you think?”
    â€œI think we’ve never had an opportunity like this before and maybe we won’t have another one.”
    â€œHow do you want to proceed?”
    â€œI spend time with her, pick her brain, and look over the area.”
    â€œHow will you beat the crow line?”
    â€œI don’t know yet,” Service said, “but to maintain secrecy once I have a plan, I don’t think I should reveal it, even to you.”
    Attalienti grinned. “I think maybe you’re well suited for this secret squirrel stuff.”
    â€œI want to take two weeks, longer if needed.”
    The acting captain looked surprised. “Two weeks is a heckuva long time to arrange coverage for your area.”
    â€œThis is either worth doing right or not doing at all. We have time now, and you said we won’t start the real operation until April. If I’m going down there, I don’t want to waste my time.”
    â€œIf you can take the pulse of that place, you won’t be wasting your time, but operating alone carries inherent risks.”
    â€œUnderstood,” Service said.
    â€œNot just the risks to you, but to the woman as well. You have to get in and out of there without footprints. We can’t implicate her.”
    â€œShe wants to do this, and so do I. My gut says it’s the right thing to do.”
    â€œDo you always