I CALLED the ex-cop who does the phone work. Met him in a midtown restaurant. Gave him an envelope full of cash and some new phone numbers to check. A new address too.
Called Lily. Waited an extra quarter's worth for them to get her to the phone.
"It's me. Could I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"If a teenage girl had a story, could you tell if it was the truth?"
She knew the kind of story I wanted her to validate. "It depends. I could probably tell if something happened, but not necessarily when. And I might have trouble identifying the source. You have a history?"
"All out of her mouth."
"I'll take a shot. Or maybe Immaculata could do it if you don't want to bring her here."
"It's not a job for Mac."
"Okay."
"Lily…I probably won't be able to make an appointment. She might be…annoyed. Not want to talk."
I could feel her shrug over the phone. "It happens."
"Thanks."
Called Davidson.
"Anything?"
"Nothing. My prediction? There'll never be a Grand Jury on this one. It's going to be marked 'closed, one arrest' and fade away. They know you had nothing to do with it."
"I owe you any money?"
"I'm good."
That was the truth.