The Wizard of Death by Richard; Forrest Page B

the only member of the legislature whose spouse has protested the helmet law. I’ll believe anything.”
    â€œTed Mackay knew Junior Haney.”
    Bea placed her trowel on the patio and brushed her knees. “That doesn’t make sense. I know he sometimes travels in strange company, but are you trying to tell me that the senate majority leader of this state was friends with a convicted felon who was a member of a motorbike gang?”
    â€œI didn’t say friends, only that he had met Junior and was alone with him for at least five minutes during the last helmet protest.”
    â€œHave you told Rocco?”
    â€œNot yet. I’m going to phone him now.” As they started for the house he put his arm around her.
    â€œLyon, I’ve heard about those bike gangs, and how they have old ladies or debs, or whatever they call them, and they all go … and did they, or did you, or …”
    â€œNo, but after I call Rocco—your weed propagation has given me a great idea.”
    He awoke to a heavy pounding on the door. “Who is it?”
    â€œThe man is downstairs and won’t go away,” Kim said from the hallway. “He says you two take an awful lot of naps.”
    Bea moaned deliriously and turned to Lyon. “What’s up?”
    â€œRocco’s downstairs.”
    â€œAnd pacing like a bear,” Kim said. “But tell Bea to wash the dirt off her knees.”
    Rocco paced the long country-style kitchen as a glaring Kim sat on a stool with her arms akimbo.
    â€œDamn it all, Kim. I haven’t used a rubber hose in weeks.”
    â€œOn the blacks or whites?”
    â€œOnly the blacks; the bruises don’t show so easily.”
    â€œComes the revolution, you’re going to the wall—if we can find a wall high enough.”
    â€œCome on, you two,” Lyon said as he poured coffee from the electric percolator.
    They squeezed into the breakfast nook while Lyon, balancing his coffee cup, paced. He recounted the previous day’s events. He started with the helmet protest and the fact that Mackay had met Junior Haney, and then continued with Fizz Nichols’s admission that he had acted as backup during Junior’s first meeting with Rainbow, and had in fact seen Rainbow and followed him back to the hotel.
    â€œWhat are Fizz and Wiff doing now?” Rocco asked.
    â€œThey promised me that as soon as they were in shape they’d cruise Hartford to try to locate the hotel where Fizz trailed Rainbow. Then they’ll call me.”
    Rocco drummed his fingers on the table as Kim stared icily at the thumping hand. “We have a motive for Mackay already, and now we have knowledge that Mackay knew Rainbow. We could probably find witnesses to that effect.”
    â€œFor the first time we have a living witness who actually saw Rainbow.”
    â€œNow that we know that Mackay and Rainbow are one and the same,” Bea said.
    â€œIt’s possible,” Lyon replied. “It could be happenstance. After all, Mackay was the one the state police took me to see. Then again, it is a further step toward Mackay.”
    Rocco brought his fist down on the table. “Damn it all, I think Mackay is Rainbow! But how do we prove it? You say Fizz saw Rainbow?”
    â€œIt could be Mackay,” Lyon responded. “Except for an age discrepancy. He says Rainbow is about thirty-five.”
    â€œBut he saw him from a distance,” Bea said. “A little hair dye, a change of clothes …”
    â€œCould be,” Lyon said. “Do we have any pictures of Ted in the house?”
    It didn’t take long for Bea to find several pictures of Mackay. Ted and Bea during the signing of a bill, Ted at a political rally. On the assumption that the shot that killed Llewyn and the one that missed Bea were politically motivated, Ted stood to gain the most, Lyon thought.
    â€œFizz thinks he can I-D Rainbow?” Rocco asked.
    â€œHe