「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.