'Just turn right into the alley.' He did as he was told, and d himself shoved against a wall. A hand searched. 'Hey, seventeen grand. You were right.'

'Who are you?'

'I'm a big black mother named Henry, and you wouldn't want to meet me in the showers on Rikers Island.'

Terry was terrified. 'I just did what I was told.'

'Which means you know too much. Regards from the Solazzos.'

The knife went up through the breast bone and found the heart, and Terry Mount slid down the wall.

It was early evening and March dark on Columbia Street, Brooklyn, as the Lincoln turned right and pulled on to a pier where a few coastal ships were tied up. Russo switched off the engine. Suddenly alarmed, Katherine Johnson said, 'What is this? Where are we, Jack?'

'This is the end of the line, Signora. You sure played me for a sucker.'

She managed a smile. 'Come on, Jack.'

'Come on, nothing. I've had your house searched. Found your little tape recordings of us. Not that I said anything, but you sure did. Just take it easy and flatter me, huh? You shouldn't have done that to me.'

'For God's sake, Jack, you've got to listen to me.' 'No, I'm done listening. And talking.'

A limousine pulled up behind. Fox got out and said to Falcone, 'Aldo, you make this good.'

'At your order, Signore.'

Fox got in the rear limousine and was driven away.

Katherine tried to open the door, but Russo was there, his great hand raised. Falcone cried, 'Leave it. I don't want bruising.' He found her neck and yanked her forward on her knees on the rear seat. Her skirt rose up.

'Go on, get on with it.'

He held her as she struggled. Russo took a box from his pocket, opened it, and produced a hypodermic. 'You'll like this, girlie. Best heroin on the market.' He jabbed her left thigh, then injected her again, this time in the right buttock. 'There you go.'