Jesse sat beside Brian Kelly with the windows open in an unmarked gray Ford that belonged to the Boston Police Department. They were a half block up Tremont Street from Development Associates of Boston. It was a hot, clear, day.
"OCU got no surveillance on Gino Fish?" Jesse said.
"Nope. He's down the list," Kelly said.
"How come?" Jesse said.
"Everything in his part of the city is quiet," Kelly said. "Commissioner likes it."
"How come it's so quiet?"
"Gino's a good administrator," Kelly said. "There's not much street crime on Gino's turf. Commissioner hates street crime."
Jesse looked at the brick-and-brownstone rehab that was spread over the South End like brocade.
"Doesn't look like a street-crime neighborhood."
"It isn't anymore."
"And Gino cleaned it up?"
"Not really. Economics did that. But Gino keeps it that way," Kelly said. "Him and Vinnie."
"So I guess you people aren't going to be a big help."
"Can't give you manpower. Happy to offer advice."
"Why should you be different," Jesse said.
"You spare anybody?"
"I got twelve people," Jesse said.
"How are they at covert surveillance?"
"Not much call for that in Paradise," Jesse said.
A black Lexus sedan with tinted windows pulled up in front of Development Associates and sat at the curb, its motor idling.
"This is exciting," Kelly said.
The car sat for five minutes and then Vinnie Morris came out of the office and up the steps and stood outside the car. In a moment Gino Fish came out with the good-looking young man. The young man locked the office door, and they came up the steps together and got into the backseat of the Lexus. The door closed. The Lexus pulled away from the curb.
"You want to follow them?" Kelly said.
"Alone?"
"We got nobody else," Kelly said.
"I don't want to let him know," Jesse said. "We can't tail him in one car."
The Lexus turned up Dartmouth Street and disappeared. On the sidewalk in front of the office, Vinnie Morris fiddled with a Walkman on his belt for a moment, then put on the earphones and turned and walked up Tremont Street with his hands in his pockets.
"You want to commit an illegal burglary?" Kelly said.
"Not yet," Jesse said. "Place is probably alarmed."
"Probably," Kelly said. "You got a plan?"
"I don't want to tip him," Jesse said. "I want him conducting business as usual."
"And?"
"And I guess all I can do is come in every day and watch him. See what develops."
Kelly's hands were resting on the steering wheel. He drummed his fingers for a moment.
Kelly said, "I'll help you when I can."
"We do and it's your collar," Jesse said.
"Whose ever collar it is, it would be a pleasure to haul him off."
"And, it'll be our secret," Jesse said.
"Meaning?"
"Meaning your captain doesn't find out you're cheating on him. And nobody else on the job knows I'm chasing Gino."
"You think he's got a cop on his tab?" Kelly said.
"What do you think?"
"I think guys like Gino usually do."
"That's what I think, too," Jesse said.