“They have pretty solid evidence,” McCann said slowly.
“Enough to convince any jury.”
Maurer looked at Gollowitz.
“What evidence?”
Gollowitz told him of Frances’s statement and about the gold pencil.
“We tried to get the pencil,” he concluded, “but they beat us to it.”
Maurer stiffened.
“What do you mean — beat you to it?”
“Seigel went out there with a bunch of boys and surprised Conrad and a couple of coppers who were digging up the pencil. There was a gun fight, and before Seigel could clinch it, a bunch of cops took them in the rear. We lost five of our boys.”
Maurer looked as if he were going to burst with fury.