I said. I rubbed my stomach tenderly. “Talk is his biggest weapon. What’s he saying about me?” McGill gave it the theatrical pause. “He’s saying you paid off Target and Josie Gonzales.” I shook my head. “That’s reaching, isn’t it? Did he say who furnished the money?” “He did from Rickett’s account. He admits he paid Deutscher a big wad of money for what Deutscher would label ‘investigation expense’ but which Jennings realized later had probably gone to buy the witnesses. He said that Deutscher gave you some money to do the actual paying off.” I smiled. “Jennings realized later? Is he trying to wriggle out of subornation that way?” “He seems to be trying to pin it on you, Joe.” “Get Deutscher,” I said. “We’ll have the whole damned thing out in the open. I’ve been under that cloud too long.” “Get Deutscher?” McGill looked at me steadily. “Where?” My gaze was just as steady. “Wherever he is. Unless he’s flown the coop. Didn’t you find him in ’Frisco?”
