I felt Murray nod. He and I leapt to our feet. Then the three of us rushed through the night. When we neared our car, I heard the barking of dogs in the distance. We jumped in and roared away.
Murray gasped several times then said, “Thanks.”
Jerry asked, “Where’s your car?”
“They won’t find it. I hid it where we used to come to drink when we were kids.”
“What were you doing there?” I asked.
He leaned forward so that his arms lay on the seat backs. “Spying.”
“Could you hear what they were saying?”
“Only bits and pieces. The windows were open but they had ceiling fans on. From what I could make out, they’re all mad at each other, and they’re all in on it.”
“Smith is a traitor?”
“Must be.”
“And Timmons and Ornstein are in it with Hopper.”
“Apparently.”
“In on what and mad about what?” Jerry asked.
“They’re mad about the bus crash. They’re all blaming each other for stupidity. Some of them are mad at Hopper for Skeen’s death. He said his drugs are harmless. Nobody claimed to know anything about Czobel. The only thing they agreed on is their hatred for Connor Knecht, but they were also worried about you, about the investigation. If they find you, you’re dead. They don’t know how many operatives you have, but they’re determined.”
“What about drugs?”
“They didn’t say much. The big thing is there’s supposed to be an attack on the stadium tonight.”
“By whom?”
“I don’t know.”
Jerry asked, “Why do an attack so close to the bus crash?”
“I heard Hopper order the stadium attack before the rest got there. We should call the cops and warn them.”
I said, “But Rotella’s in on it with them.”
“Call Connor Knecht and warn him.”
I did. Finished, I asked, “Why’d they arrest Hempil?”
Murray shrugged. “I think they’re going to try to pin everything on him.”
“Everything? Skeen’s murder, the bus crash, and Czobel’s death?”
“If they can’t pin it on you.”