“springerishoppingmad.lawford,thedeputythatgottheletterthismorning,claimshetookitstraighttohisboss,butitmakesaguywonder.whatthejournalprintedlookslikeastraightreproductionfromtheoriginal.”

isippedcoffeeandsaidnothing.

“serveshimright,”ohlswenton.“springeroughttohavehandledithimself.personallyidon’tfigureitwaslawfordthatleaked.he’sapoliticiantoo.”hestaredatmewoodenly.

“whatareyouherefor,bernie?youdon’tlikeme.weusedtobefriends—asmuchasanybodycanbefriendswithatoughcop.butitsouredalittle.”

heleanedforwardandsmiled—alittlewolfishly.“nocoplikesitwhenaprivatecitizendoespoliceworkbehindhisback.ifyouhadconnectedupwadeandthelennoxfrailformethetimewadegotdeadi’dhavemadeout.ifyouhadconnectedupmrs.wadeandthisterrylennoxi’dhavehadherinthepalmofmyhand—alive.ifyouhadcomecleanfromthestartwademightbestillalive.nottomentionlennox.youfigureyou’reaprettysmartmonkey,don’tyou?”

“whatwouldyoulikemetosay?”

“nothing.it’stoolate.itoldyouawiseguyneverfoolsanybodybuthimself.itoldyoustraightandclear.soitdidn’ttake.rightnowitmightbesmartforyoutoleavetown.nobodylikesyouandacoupleofguysthatdon’tlikepeopledosomethingaboutit.ihadthewordfromastoolie.”

“i’mnotthatimportant,bernie.let’sstopsnarlingateachother.untilwadewasdeadyoudidn’tevenenterthecase.afterthatitdidn’tseemtomattertoyouandtothecoronerortotheortoanybody.maybeididsomethingswrong.butthetruthcameout.youcouldhavehadheryesterdayafternoon—withwhat?”

“withwhatyouhadtotellusabouther.”

“me?withthepoliceworkididbehindyourback?”

hestoodupabruptly.hisfacewasred.“okay,wiseguy.she’dhavebeenalive.wecouldhavebookedheronsuspicion.youwantedherdead,youpunk,andyouknowit.”

“iwantedhertotakeagoodlongquietlookatherself.whatshedidaboutitwasherbusiness.iwantedtoclearaninnocentman.ididn’tgiveagoodgoddamhowididitandidon’tnow.i’llbearoundwhenyoufeellikedoingsomethingaboutme.”

“thehardboyswilltakecareofyou,buster.iwon’thavetobother.youthinkyou’renotimportantenoughtobotherthem.asanamedmarlowe,check.you’renot.asaguywhowastoldwheretogetoffandblewaraspberryintheirfacespubliclyinanewspaper,that’sdifferent.thathurtstheirpride.”

“that’spitiful,”isaid.“justthinkingaboutitmakesmebleedinternally,touseyourownexpression.”

hewentacrosstothedoorandopenedit.hestoodlookingdowntheredwoodstepsandatthetreesonthehillacrossthewayanduptheslopeattheendofthestreet.

“niceandquiethere,”hesaid.“justquietenough.”

hewentondownthestepsandgotintohiscarandleft.copsneversaygoodbye.they’realwayshopingtoseeyouagainintheline-up.