Nautilus hit send.
He studied the message, realized he’d put Logan in Crandell’s sights, picked up his phone. Ten rings later, Logan answered.
“Pace, this is Harry Nautilus. You were right about Shuttles. He’s rotten. I got him to admit he planted the knife.”
“Son of a bitch,” Logan grunted.
“But Shuttles got a shyster and clammed up tight. Listen, Pace, I’m trying to work a scam on the guy pulling Shuttles’s strings, a guy goes by the name of Crandell, big hard guy, square built, curly blond hair. You ever see him, like Shuttles was driving, maybe stopped to talk to a guy like that, said he was a friend?”
“I’m sorry, Harry.”
Nautilus pulled his handkerchief, patted sweat from his forehead.
“Why I’m calling, Pace. I just sent a fake message from Shuttles telling this guy you dug up all the ugliness, are pressing for a cut.”
“You knew where to send the message?”
“E-mail, Pace.”
“Oh shit, of course. Listen, Harry, it makes me feel stupid that all this shit went down and I never saw anything.”
“You saw the bag floating in the gutter. That opened the door. But Crandell thinks you’re messing with his plans. He may want to take you off the board, and he can do it. You’re at home, right?”
“Watching the tube.”
“Get out now. Go somewhere. A motel, Pace. I’ll pay. Go there and hang out until tomorrow.”
“Harry, what can I do to help? I’ll do anything. Tell me how to help you track down this Cran-”
“There’s nothing to do but get out of there, Pace. Now.”
“What are you trying to accomplish, Harry? Clue me in.”
Nautilus sighed, time wasting.
“Someone’s life may depend on me finding Crandell. I figure this Crandell’s got a place away from things. But close enough to town to keep his hand in his action. Pace, get off the phone and git.”
“What are you going to do, Harry?”
“I don’t know, Pace. Listen, I got to hang up.”
“Shuttles is slick, Harry, the little bastard is one-”
“Get out!” Nautilus yelled and slammed down the phone.