Dresden Files Reread - Fool Moon Chapter 10

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Marcone's role in the setting was already reintroduced in an earlier chapter, but he and Hendricks are physically described here, and Marcone is sitting in Harry's chair, which probably isn't the best way to start things off. Interestingly, this is Marcone's most consistent misstep in dealing with Harry. Dresden, like the series itself, is deeply conflicted about systems of power and authority. I think one some level he thinks he'd be happy to be a cog in the machine, if only he could find the right machine, and on another level he sees himself as a free-wheeling rebel, a professional thorn in the side of the very concept of organization. And of course there's a whole other level on which, especially prior to Changes, he hates himself to such an extent that he couldn't really feel comfortable respecting any authority willing to work with him. (He says as much, with regard to religion, in White Night, but I think it's more broadly true). Marcone probably picked up on all three layers of this during the soul gaze in Storm Front, but his own temperament and preferences cause him to overfocus on the first one. He makes unnecessary power plays which set Harry against him to a greater extent than would otherwise be the case - he hates it when anyone asserts their power. But also, Harry's dislike of Marcone spikes every time Marcone suggests any kind of cooperation between the two of them, because literally the only thing Marcone can do to make Harry think less of him is to express a willingness to work with Harry. Such are the depths of Early Books Dresden's self-loathing. 

As an aside, Marcone mentions offhand that he thinks the police should be privatized, which from where I'm standing is by far the grossest thing he's done or said in the entire series. Honestly I'd forgotten this was an opinion he'd ever expressed, and I hope his whole thing here is that they'd be easier to corrupt. 

Naturally, Harry orders Marcone out of his office, but Marcone wants to make him an offer, put him on retainer, with high pay, low hours, and a clause in the contract explicityly stating that he would not be asked to engage in any unlawful activities - in exchange for Harry signing this contract, he is willing to share what he knows about the case. It's a tempting offer, as it would basically sort out all Harry's financial problems forever, while occupying very little of his time, allowing him to do the work he cares about rather than taking virtually every case that comes his way because he needs the money. But he can't see his way clear to formally tying himself to Marcone under any terms. He rejects the offer, and tells Marcone that if he's worried about being the next target, he's right to be, and it's in his best interests to tell Dresden what he knows, contract notwithstanding. Dresden is pretty aggressive about this, trying to regain some ground over Marcone sitting in his chair, and likely over the soul gaze in the previous book. 

There's some banter back and forth, where Harry tells Marcone how horrible and criminal he is, and Marcone tells Harry how unreasonable he's being. Harry also gets pretty graphic about how Spike was killed, and eventually Marcone's self-interest wins out over his dislike of being refused, and his desire for a more sustainable working relationship with Dresden, and he suggests Harry look into the name Harley MacFinn and the Northwest Passage project. 

After Marcone leaves, Harry sits at his desk for a while, thinking about how scared Marcone must be, to try something like this to get Harry on his side, and how he can't really bring himself to hate Marcone, because Chicago is objectively a safer place with him in charge of most of its criminal activity, and that's more important than how much more money organized crime is making. He doesn't trust him but, recognizing that Marcone has every reason to give him good information, he gets to work following up on the new lead. 

A small note on the narration: I can work with Marcone being read as fancy and educated, even though he's neither, but Marsters has him sounding vaguely British here, and I can't with it. Outside of (unconfirmed) military service, I don't think he's been outside of the greater Chicago area in his life. 

That's what I've got for you this week. Well, maybe not this week, there will probably be another post in a few days, but it's what I've got for this chapter. Stay tuned, for that and the angel fiction thing. Until then, be gay, do crimes, and read All The Things.