ithankedhimsomemoreandhesaiditwasapleasureandwehungup.

ithoughtaboutitforawhile.thenoiseofthetrafficoutsidethebuildingontheboulevardmadeanunmusicalobbligatotomythinking.itwastooloud.insummerinhotweathereverythingistooloud.igotupandshutthelowerpartofthewindowandcalleddetective-sergeantgreenathomicide.hewasobligingenoughtobein.

“look,”isaid,afterthepreliminaries,“iheardsomethingaboutterrylennoxthatpuzzlesme.afellowiknowusedtoknowhiminnewyorkunderanothername.youcheckhiswarrecord?”

“youguysneverlearn,”greensaidharshly.“youjustneverlearntostayonyourownsideofthestreet.thatmatterisclosed,lockedup,weightedwithleadanddroppedintheocean.getit?”

“ispentpartofanafternoonwithharlanpotterlastweekathisdaughter’shouseinidlevalley.wanttocheck?”

“doingwhat?”heaskedsourly.“supposingibelieveyou.”

“talkingthingsover.iwasinvited.helikesme.incidentally,hetoldmethegirlwasshotwithamauser7.65m/m.thatnewstoyou?”

“goon.”

“herowngun,chum.makesalittledifference,maybe.butdon’tgetmewrong.i’mnotlookingintoanydarkcorners.thisisapersonalmatter.wheredidhegetthatwound?”

greenwassilent.iheardadoorcloseinthebackground.thenhesaidquietly,“probablyinaknifefightsouthoftheborder.”

“awhell,green,youhadhisprints.yousentthemtowashingtonlikealways.yougotareportback—likealways.alliaskedwassomethingabouthisservicerecord.”

“whosaidhehadone?”

“well,mendymenendezforone.seemslennoxsavedhislifeonetimeandthat’showhegotthewound.hewascapturedbythegermansandtheygavehimthefacehehad.”

“menendez,huh?youbelievethatsonofabitch?yougotaholeinyourownhead.lennoxdidn’thaveanywarrecord.didn’thaveanyrecordofanykindunderanyname.yousatisfied?”

“ifyousayso,”isaid.“butidon’tseewhymenendezwouldbothertocomeuphereandtellmeayarnandwarnmetokeepmynosecleanonaccountoflennoxwasapalofhimandrandystarrinvegasandtheydidn’twantanybodyfoolingaround.afteralllennoxwasalreadydead.”

“whoknowswhatahoodlumfigures?”greenaskedbitterly.“orwhy?maybelennoxwasinaracketwiththembeforehemarriedallthatmoney,andgotrespectable.hewasafloormanageratstarr’splaceinvegasforawhile.that’swherehemetthegirl.asmileandabowandadinnerjacket.keepthecustomershappyandkeepaneyeonthehouseplayers.iguesshehadclassforthejob.”

“hehadcharm,”isaid.“theydon’tuseitinpolicebusiness.muchobliged,sergeant.howiscaptaingregoriusthesedays?”

“retirementleave.don’tyoureadthepapers?”

“notthecrimenews,sergeant.toosordid.”

istartedtosaygoodbyebuthechoppedmeoff.“whatdidmr.moneywantwithyou?”

“wejusthadacupofteatogether.asocialcall.hesaidhemightputsomebusinessmyway.healsohinted—justhinted,notinsomanywords—thatanycopthatlookedcross-eyedatmewouldbefacingagrimyfuture.”

“hedon’trunthepolicedepartment,”greensaid.

“headmitsit.doesn’tevenbuycommissionersor’s,hesaid.theyjustkindofcurlupinhislapwhenhe’shavingadoze.”

“gotohell,”greensaid,andhungupinmyear.

adifficultthing,beingacop.youneverknowwhosestomachit’ssafetojumpupanddownon.