“This time what happened is that they took off,” I said.
“Maybe,” Belson said. “Maybe something else.”
The sergeant came back and reported that the building was empty.
“Okay,” Belson said. “Canvass the neighborhood, see if you can learn anything.”
The sergeant nodded.
“When they left, how they left, where they went, whatever,” Belson said.
“We’re on it,” the sergeant said.
“And take off the armor so your people don’t scare the neighbors to death.”
The sergeant grinned.
“Some of my people look better with the armor on,” he said.
While the neighborhood was being canvassed, Belson and I walked through the building, opening drawers, looking in wastebaskets. We didn’t find anything.
“Could get the scientists in here,” Belson said.
“Prints?” I said.
“Whatever,” Belson said.
“It appears to me that this place was rented furnished,” I said.
“So there might be quite a few prints?” Belson said.
“An embarrassment of riches,” I said.
“You’re probably right,” Belson said. “But I’ll have them take a look, anyway. Makes them feel important.”
The sergeant came back into the building.
“Left a couple days ago,” he said. “Took a few boxes. In some kind of rental van. One guy thinks it might have been a Ryder. Nobody got an idea where they went.”
“I’ll check the rental van,” Belson said. “We’ll see who owns this building and who they rented it to. Something might turn up.”
“So you don’t need us no more, we’ll pack up and go home,” the sergeant said.
“Thanks for stopping by,” Belson said.
The sergeant looked at me.
“You carry a gun,” he said. “I seen you take it out when you went in the house.”
“Seemed like a good idea at the time,” I said.
“You ain’t a cop,” he said.
“Not anymore,” I said.
“He’s a private license,” Belson said. “He’s been working on this case longer than I have.”
The sergeant nodded.
“Just asking,” he said.
When he was gone, I said, “Alert to any transgression.”
Belson nodded.
“Probably make lieutenant before I do,” Belson said.
“Might help,” I said, “if you take the lieutenant’s exam.”
“Fuck the lieutenant’s exam,” Belson said.
“Your position remains consistent,” I said.
“Ain’t gonna change,” Belson said. “I’ve been a cop a long time. I don’t need to prove myself in some fucking exam.”
“You do if you want to make lieutenant,” I said.
“Fuck lieutenant, too,” Belson said.
I grinned.
“No wonder we get along,” I said.
Belson looked at me without expression.
“Who says we get along?” Belson said.
63
If you didn’t know you were Jewish,” I said, “would you know you were Jewish?”
Susan looked at me carefully.
