"What brings los federales out of the woods?" Dean asked, rising and shaking his hand.
"I'm just checking on David Dean, latest mob burglary victim. Sorry to hear about your house being hassled. Is your stepfather okay?"
"He's a survivor, and now he's the hero of the neighborhood. The widows will be fawning all over him-even more than usual." He paused as Winston laughed. "What's your read on why Nota busted into my place? I can't believe he thought I'd have a map to Baratto just lying around."
Winston thought a minute. "There's no telling. These guys aren't subtle and you were the only contact to Vinnie they knew about. When they want something, they act like a tank battalion and go get it."
"That's a lot of heat for a lousy two or three million. That must be coffee money for those clowns."
"Yes," Winston answered. "But it's a lot more than the money-pride's involved here. The Colombians don't want to deal now because they don't trust the family and the family doesn't trust the Colombians. The street's a mess until they get to the bottom of this business." He smiled. "We just want to keep it that way."
"That doesn't answer how Nota knew about me," Dean said.
Winston just shrugged. "Beats me. But let's hope now they're satisfied you're not the one to lead them to Baratto."
"Fine with me. I'd just as soon get back to purse snatchers and pot smokers and leave the big boys to you."
"I understand from Anderson the other case is closed...the Byrne matter? Nothing new has popped up on that, has it?"
"It's officially closed. There were a few loose ends, but no real evidence." Dean sipped the last of his cold coffee. "We thought we could lock the file drawer on this case when a body washed up, but no such luck. Norfolk has closed their investigation too."
Winston frowned. "What do you mean by officially?"
Dean explained he'd promised Cynthia Byrne a report, detailed beyond the usual, in an effort to help her in obtaining a death certificate. "Moonlighting a bit" was how he explained it. He didn't add that he'd mailed the report to Cynthia that morning.
Winston seemed to ponder this, then formed his words with care. "I don't want to stick my nose in your cases but it's vital to my case that heat stays high between the mob and the suppliers. Any hint that we're looking at Byrne or anyone else as having taken that money stops the war and our leverage goes out the window." Winston had more to say but held off as Rita came by, handing him a cup of coffee.