“Did Graff know the big picture?”
“Yeah, he did.”
“Were you the first point of contact?”
“No.”
“What if I said I don’t believe you?”
Nicoletti was shivering uncontrollably. “Get me to a hospital, you sick motherfuckers!”
“Just as soon as you talk.”
“The approach was made to a woman first. And she approached me. That’s how it all began. I swear to God.”
McNeal knew who he was alluding to. “A woman?”
Nicoletti nodded.
“I need a name.”
“Do you work for her?”
Jack shook his head.
“I don’t know her name.”
McNeal aimed his gun at Nicoletti’s other knee. He fired two shots. The screams echoed through the mine.
Nicoletti passed out again.
Peter slapped him repeatedly until he came to. He yanked at Nicoletti’s hair, keeping his bleeding nostrils above the water. “You’re not checking out on us yet, pal.”
Nicoletti’s eyes rolled around in his head. He began to moan and sob as new waves of pain took hold.
“I need a name. I won’t stop until you give me the name.”
“Feinstein! Karen Feinstein. She runs a black ops crew.”
Jack looked at Peter, whose face was filled with pent-up fury.
Peter said, “Company name?”
“Fein Solutions, motherfucker!”
“Is she connected to Graff?”
“They go way back. We all go way back. Agency. Look, man, I need fucking medical help or so help me God . . .”
“So, you did the wet work required by Feinstein or Graff?”
Nicoletti scrunched up his eyes and began to scream. “Yes! Yes! Motherfucker!”
Jack took Nicoletti’s cell phone out of his pocket, tapped in the eight-digit code, and pulled up all the contacts. Three contacts. He saw Graff. Feinstein. But there was a third name that caught his eye. “Tell me about Ted Outcrow?”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“I don’t know the guy. Karen knew him. And she gave me his number. For emergencies.”
“It’s a weird last name.”
Nicoletti nodded as he began to sob, shaking, bleeding.
“So, was Karen contacted by Ted Outcrow?”
“Karen was the only one who knew Ted’s true identity. That’s what I know. It began with Ted making the call to Karen. That’s all I know, man. I didn’t have any dealings with him. Nothing direct.”
“This is a bullshit name, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know, man. I’m cold. I need to go to a doctor.”
McNeal pressed his foot hard into Nicoletti’s right knee as Peter did the same with the left.
Nicoletti writhed in agony.
“Tell me the truth! Who the fuck is this guy?”
“I can’t say any more. Ask Karen.”
“We will, don’t worry. But now we’re asking you.”
Nicoletti shook his head wildly, as if having a fit.
Peter gave a knowing look to Jack.
Jack bent over and grabbed Nicoletti’s right foot as Peter grabbed the left. They dragged him a few more yards deeper into the cave.
Nicoletti’s face partially submerged in the shallow water.
The brothers got to the edge of the mineshaft. They lifted Nicoletti up over the rim, holding him headfirst, slowly lowering him down.
Nicoletti’s head dangled into the darkness.
Nicoletti struggled. “What the fuck are you doing, you sick fucks?”
Jack held on tight. “I want a name. You know this person’s real name.”
Nicoletti writhed frantically. He began to scream, calling for his mother.
McNeal and his brother held on tight. “You’re going to tell us everything you know about this guy. Or we drop you. You know how deep it is down there?”
“Motherfuckers!”
“Give me a name! Right. Fucking. Now.”
“You’re out of your fucking minds! Go fuck yourself!”
“Last chance, tough guy. Give me a name.”
Nicoletti thrashed like crazy.
“We need a name?”
“Woodcutter! Woodcutter is the name! Now let me up!”
“What?”
“Woodcutter!”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“That’s what Karen said he was called.”
“You’re saying Ted Outcrow’s name is Woodcutter. Is that a nickname?”
“It’s a fucking anagram.”