As he spat out each noun, Stephanie flinched. He noticed it, turned and touched her hand briefly, let go.
'If something comes up on the disk that concerns you,' he said, 'rest assured I'll let you know.'
'We need to know now. Herbert's information could give us some direction.' I turned to Milo. 'Did you tell him about our friend the bartender?'
Milo nodded.
'Everything?'
'Don't bother being subtle,' said Huenengarth. 'I saw the masterpiece your junkie bartender produced and no, it's not me. I don't hack up women.'
'What are you talking about?' said Stephanie.
'Stupidity,' he told her. 'They've got a description of a murder suspect--someone who may or may not have murdered this Herbert character-and they thought it bore a resemblance to yours truly.'
She put her hand to her mouth.
He laughed. 'Not even close, Steph. Last time I was that thin was back in high school.' To me: 'Can we get to work now?'
'I've never stopped,' I said. 'Do you have any information on Vicki Bottomley?'
Huenengarth waved a hand at Milo. 'Tell him.'
'We've done phone traces from her home to the Jones house and Chip's office.'
'We?' said Huenengarth. o 'Him,' said Milo. 'Federal warrant. Next week he sprouts a fucking pair of wings.'
'Find anything?' I said.
Milo shook his head. 'No calls. And none of Bottomley's neighbors have seen Cindy or Chip around, so if there is a link, it's pretty damn hidden. My intuition is she's got nothing to do with it. She's certainly not the main poisoner. Once the chips fall, we'll see if she fits in, anywhere.'
'So where do we go now?'
Milo looked at Huenengarth. Huenengarth looked at me and held his hand out toward the couch.
'Been sitting all day,' I said.
He frowned and touched his tie. Stared at everyone else.
Milo said, Any more federal doublespeak and I'm outa here.
All right,' said Huenengarth. 'First, I want to reiterate my demand of total discretion--total cooperation from both of you. No improvisation. I mean it.'
'In return for what?' I said.
'Probably enough technical support to bust Cindy. Because I've got federal warrants on Chuck Jones, and with a two-minute phone call I can include Junior and everything he owns in the deal. We're talking audio, video, home, place of business--they go bowling, I can have someone peeking from behind the pins. Give me two hours alone in their house and I can rig it with peep-toys you wouldn't believe. Got a camera that goes right in their TV so when they're watching it, it's watching them. I can toss the house for insulin or whatever crap you're looking for and they'll never know it. All you have to do is keep your mouths shut.'
'Cassie's room is the one that needs to be rigged,' I said. And the bathroom connecting it to the master bedroom.'
'Tile walls in the bathroom?'
'Tile walls and one window.'
'No problem-whatever toys I don't have at hand, I can have delivered in twenty-four hours.'
Milo said, 'Your tax dollars busy at work.'
