“yougottobetold?you’reanexperiencedman,itsaysintherecords.iwantadetailedstatementofthisman’smovementsforthepasttwenty-fourhours.maybelonger,butthatmuchatfirst.iwanttoknowwhathedideveryminuteofthetime.iwantitsignedandwitnessedandchecked.iwantitintwohours.theniwanthimbackhereclean,tidy,andunmarked.andonethingmore,sergeant.”

hepausedandgavegreenastarethatwouldhavefrozenafresh-bakedpotato.

“—nexttimeiaskasuspectafewcivilquestionsidon’twantyoustandingtherelookingasifihadtornhisearoff.”

“yes,sir.”greenturnedtome.“let’sgo,”hesaidgruffly.

gregoriusbaredhisteethatme.theyneededcleaning—badly.“let’shavetheexitline,chum.”

“yes,sir,”isaidpolitely.“youprobablydidn’tintendit,butyou’vedonemeafavor.withanassistfromdetectivedayton.you’vesolvedaproblemforme.nomanlikestobetrayafriendbutiwouldn’tbetrayanenemyintoyourhands.you’renotonlyagorilla,you’reanincompetent.youdon’tknowhowtooperateasimpleinvestigation.iwasbalancedonaknifeedgeandyoucouldhaveswungmeeitherway.butyouhadtoabuseme,throwcoffeeinmyface,anduseyourfistsonmewheniwasinaspotwhereallicoulddowastakeit.fromnowoniwouldn’ttellyouthetimebytheclockonyourownwall.”

forsomestrangereasonhesatthereperfectlystillandletmesayit.thenhegrinned.“you’rejustalittleoldcop-hater,friend.that’sallyouare,shamus,justalittleoldcop-hater.”

“thereareplaceswherecopsarenothated,captain.butinthoseplacesyouwouldn’tbeacop.”

hetookthattoo.iguesshecouldaffordit.he’dprobablytakenworsemanytimes.thenthephonerangonhisdesk.helookedatitandgestured.daytonsteppedsmartlyaroundthedeskandliftedthereceiver.

“captaingregorius’office.detectivedaytonspeaking.”

helistened.atinyfrowndrewhishandsomeeyebrowstogether.hesaidsoftly:“onemoment,please,sir.”

heheldthephoneouttogregorius.“commissionerallbright,sir.”

gregoriusscowled.“yeah?what’sthatsnottybastardwant?”hetookthephone,helditamomentandsmoothedhisfaceout.“gregorius,commissioner.”

helistened.“yeah,he’shereinmyoffice,commissioner.ibeenaskinghimafewquestions.notco-operative.notco-operativeatall...how’sthatagain?”asuddenferociousscowltwistedhisfaceintodarkknots.theblooddarkenedhisforehead.buthisvoicedidn’tchangeintonebyafraction.“ifthat’sadirectorder,itoughttocomethroughthechiefofdetectives,commissioner...sure,i’llactonituntilit’sconfirmed.sure...hell,no.nobodylaidagloveonhim...yes,sir.rightaway.”

heputthephonebackinitscradle.ithoughthishandshookalittle.hiseyesmovedupandacrossmyfaceandthentogreen.“takethecuffsoff,”hesaidtonelessly.

greenunlockedthecuffs.irubbedmyhandstogether,waitingforthepinsandneedlesofcirculation.

“bookhiminthecountyjail,”gregoriussaidslowly.“suspicionofmurder.thehasglommedthecaserightoutofourhands.lovelysystemwegotaroundhere.”

nobodymoved.greenwasclosetome,breathinghard.gregoriuslookedupatdayton.

“whatchawaitingfor,creampuff?anice-creamconemaybe?”

daytonalmostchoked.“youdidn’tgivemeanyorders,skipper.”

“saysirtome,damnyou!i’mskippertosergeantsandbetter.nottoyou,kiddo.nottoyou.out.”

“yes,sir.”daytonwalkedquicklytothedoorandwentout.gregoriusheavedhimselftohisfeetandmovedtothewindowandstoodwithhisbacktotheroom.

“comeon,let’sdrift,”greenmutteredinmyear.

“gethimoutofherebeforeikickhisfacein,”gregoriussaidtothewindow.

greenwenttothedoorandopenedit.istartedthrough.gregoriusbarkedsuddenly:“holdit!shutthatdoor!”

greenshutitandleanedhisbacktoit.

“comehere,you!”gregoriusbarkedatme.

ididn’tmove.istoodandlookedathim.greendidn’tmoveeither.therewasagrimpause.thenveryslowlygregoriuswalkedacrosstheroomandstoodfacingmetoetotoe.heputhisbighardhandsinhispockets.herockedonhisheels.

“neverlaidagloveonhim,”hesaidunderhisbreath,asiftalkingtohimself.hiseyeswereremoteandexpressionless.hismouthworkedconvulsively.

thenhespatinmyface.

hesteppedback.“thatwillbeall,thankyou.”

heturnedandwentbacktothewindow.greenopenedthedooragain.

iwentthroughitreachingformyhandkerchief.