Sleight of Hand

CHAPTER Forty-Nine

At 10:30 a.m. The Scene was deserted except for a handful of alcoholics who were nursing drinks at the bar. Peter Perkovic found his boss going over the books in the back office. Orlansky looked up when Perkovic walked in. Perkovic looked upset.

“What happened?” Orlansky asked.

“Gregor is dead.”

“How did he die?”

“They’re saying cardiac arrest, but I saw his chart when I went to the hospital. There was nothing wrong with his heart.”

“So?”

“There are ways. An injection of potassium would be my choice.”

“There will be an autopsy?”

Perkovic nodded.

“Can you get the results?”

“Of course, but potassium poisoning is virtually undetectable.”

Orlansky stared into space and Perkovic waited patiently. Orlansky came back to Earth.

“Charlie?” he asked.

“A dead Gregor cannot talk to the police. And Charlie would know that it would upset you to learn that he told Gregor you had said it was okay to threaten this woman.”

“I agree. Talk to me as soon as you know the results of the autopsy.”