Read Flesh and Blood for Free Online

house, Tannenbaum turned up toward Ninth Avenue, then headed north, toward Central Park.
    â€œPrecinct atmosphere’s beginning to get on my nerves, Frank,” he explained. “Did that ever happen to you?”
    â€œAll the time.”
    â€œI can take the streets, but the cophouse is a sewer,” Tannenbaum added. “Was it like that in Atlanta?”
    â€œIt’s always like that, if you have a taste for working alone.”
    Tannenbaum took a deep, relaxing breath. “When are you going to get rid of that hillbilly accent? I figured that’d be history by now.”
    â€œThings cling,” Frank said.
    â€œYou should hear my brother-in-law,” Tannenbaum said. “Sounds just like a goddamn redneck.” He laughed. “He tells me you guys have a liquor down there named Rebel Yell. Is that true?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œCan you get it up here?”
    â€œNever tried.”
    Tannenbaum looked at him seriously. “What, you don’t get sentimental about the old home place?”
    Frank said nothing, and the two of them walked silently to Columbus Circle. Tannenbaum bought a frank from a street vendor, then strolled over to one of the benches at the edge of the park and sat down. He lifted the hot dog slightly before taking the first bite.
    â€œI’d miss these,” he said.
    Frank leaned back on the bench beside him. A young woman walked by quickly, then darted into the street. She reminded him of Karen’s sister, and for a moment he wanted to run after her, warn her, say the one thing he’d always wanted to say to his own daughter: Be whatever you like, but do not be a victim.
    Tannenbaum took a sip from a can of soda, then carefully wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin.
    â€œI hear you live with a pretty classy woman,” he said.
    Frank continued to watch the young woman as she threaded her way through the thickening traffic.
    â€œDoes she know Covallo?” Tannenbaum asked.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œSo this business between you and Covallo, it’s strictly professional?”
    â€œYes, it is,” Frank said coolly.
    â€œHey, I got to ask, Frank,” Tannenbaum said, almost apologetically. “If you’re going to be in on this case, I don’t want any secrets between us.”
    â€œShe came to me this morning,” Frank said. “She was at a party at Karen’s last night. I’d never seen her before. Does that satisfy you?”
    â€œNo problem, Frank, believe me,” Tannenbaum said. He took another bite of the hot dog and chewed it rapidly, his eyes darting right and left as he watched the street. “Nothing personal,” he added after he’d finished. “It’s just that I can’t let anybody burn my case. You were a cop, you know what I mean.” He took the manila folder from his pocket and offered it to Frank. “Here. Check this out. It’ll get you started.”
    â€œWhat is it?”
    â€œLab report,” Tannenbaum said. “The basic stuff.”
    â€œI’m not working the case, Leo,” Frank reminded him. “I’m just trying to get the body released.”
    Tannenbaum continued to press the folder toward him. “Take it. When you’ve read it, you’ll know why we’re holding on to the corpse.”
    Frank tucked the report under his arm. “Where’s the body?”
    â€œStill in the cooler,” Tannenbaum said. “The problem is, we got a few wrinkles.”
    â€œWhat kind?”
    â€œIt’s all in the report,” Tannenbaum said. “As far as the body, we’ll probably hold on to it for as long as we can.” He shrugged. “Unless you come up with some long-lost cousin.”
    â€œWhat about children?” Frank asked immediately.
    â€œNo heir apparent of any kind,” Tannenbaum said. “Not even your friend Covallo could come up with a bloodline that was still