idugoutthecarbonofmypropertyslipandturneditoverandreceiptedontheoriginal.iputmybelongingsbackinmypockets.therewasamandrapedovertheendofthebookingdeskandasiturnedawayhestraightenedupandspoketome.hewasaboutsixfeetfourinchestallandasthinasawire.

“needaridehome?”

inthebleaklighthelookedyoung-old,tiredandcynical,buthedidn’tlooklikeagrifter.“forhowmuch?”

“forfree.i’mlonniemorganofthejournal.i’mknockingoff.”

“oh,policebeat,”isaid.

“justthisweek.thecityhallismyregularbeat.”

wewalkedoutofthebuildingandfoundhiscarintheparkinglot.ilookedupatthesky.therewerestarsbuttherewastoomuchglare.itwasacoolpleasantnight.ibreatheditin.thenigotintohiscarandhedroveawayfromthere.

“ilivewayoutinlaurelcanyon,”isaid.“justdropmeanywhere.”

“theyrideyouin,”hesaid,“buttheydon’tworryhowyougethome.thiscaseinterestsme,inarepulsivesortofway.”

“itseemsthereisn’tanycase,”isaid.“terrylennoxshothimselfthisafternoon.sotheysay.sotheysay.”

“veryconvenient,”lonniemorgansaid,staringaheadthroughthewindshield.hiscardriftedquietlyalongquietstreets.“ithelpsthembuildtheirwall.”

“whatwall?”

“somebody’sbuildingawallaroundthelennoxcase,marlowe.you’resmartenoughtoseethat,aren’tyou?it’snotgettingthekindofplayitrates,thelefttowntonightforwashington.somekindofconvention.hewalkedoutonthesweetesthunkofpublicityhe’shadinyears.why?”

“nousetoaskme.i’vebeenincoldstorage.”

“becausesomebodymadeitworthhiswhile,that’swhy.idon’tmeananythingcrudelikeawadofdough.somebodypromisedhimsomethingimportanttohimandthere’sonlyonemanconnectedwiththecaseinapositiontodothat.thegirl’sfather.”

ileanedmyheadbackinacornerofthecar.“soundsalittleunlikely,”isaid.“whataboutthepress?harlanpotterownsafewpapers,butwhataboutthecompetition?”

hegavemeabriefamusedglanceandthenconcentratedonhisdriving.“everbeenanewspaperman?”

“no.”

“newspapersareownedandpublishedbyrichmen.richmenallbelongtothesameclub.sure,there’scompetition—hardtoughcompetitionforcirculation,fornewsbeats,forexclusivestories.justsolongasitdoesn’tdamagetheprestigeandprivilegeandpositionoftheowners.ifitdoes,downcomesthelid.thelid,myfriend,isdownonthelennoxcase.thelennoxcase,myfriend,properlybuiltup,couldhavesoldahellofalotofpapers.ithaseverything.thetrialwouldhavedrawnfeaturewritersfromalloverthecountry.butthereain’tgoingtobenotrial.onaccountoflennoxcheckedoutbeforeitcouldgetmoving.likeisaid—veryconvenient—forharlanpotterandhisfamily.”

istraightenedupandgavehimahardstare.

“youcallingthewholethingafix?”