'Between you and me,' I said. 'You got any thought who killed Clive?'
'You used to be a cop,' Becker said. 'When a rich guy dies, who's first on the list?'
'His heirs,' I said.
'Un-huh.'
'Any more horses been killed?' I said.
'Nope.'
'You think there's a connection?'
'I wasn't getting pressure, might be something I could look into.'
'I'm not getting any pressure,' I said.
'Yet,' Becker said.
'What do you know about Security South?' I said.
'Just what I already told you.'
'Is what you told me something you know or something they told you?'
'Something they told me,' Becker said. 'At the time, I had no reason to look into it.'
'And now?'
'Next year's an election year.'
'Not for me,' I said.
'Look,' Becker said. 'I'm a pretty good cop, I do say so. But I got a wife never worked a day in her life, I got a few years left until I'm eligible for a pension, I got a daughter in Memphis I send money to pretty regular. You bring me stuff that can't be ignored, I won't ignore it.'
He picked up his Coke, and drained the bottle and put it back down slowly on his desk.
'Can you say 'stalking-horse'?' I said.
Becker almost smiled.
'Best I can do,' he said.
TWENTY-NINE
THE BATH HOUSE Bar and Grill was jumping. It was crowded with couples dancing, couples sitting at tables with their heads close together. The bar was packed two or three deep. Tedy Sapp was at his table, alone, drinking coffee. As I pushed through the crowd, people moved out of my way. Those who looked at me did so without affection.
'Back again,' Sapp said as I sat down across from him. 'You're not a quitter.'
'New client,' I said.
A waiter came by and poured Sapp some coffee. He looked at me. I shook my head.
'Nothing to drink?'
'Long day,' I said. 'It'll make me sleepy.'
Sapp glanced around the room.
'What do you think of the scene?' he said.
'Not my scene,' I said.
'It bother you?'
'Nope.'
Sapp looked at me for a time.
'Nothing much does,' he said, 'does it?'
'Way the patrons acted when I came in, I figure I'm not their scene, either.'
Sapp grinned.
'You don't look like a gay guy,' Sapp said.
'Neither do you,' I said.
'I know. That's why I do the hair color. Trying to gay up a little.'
'You got a partner?'
'Yep.'
'What's he do?'
'Ophthalmologist.'
'So you're not looking to meet somebody.'
