“Detective Oliver Weeks,” he said, “Eighty-eighth Squad.”
“Sit down,” Halloway said. “Please,” and gestured to a brown leather wingback chair studded with brass buttons. Ollie sank into the chair.
“How can I help you?” Halloway asked.
“One of your salesmen was murdered on Christmas Eve,” Ollie said. “His name …”
“What?” Halloway said.
“Yes, sir. His name’s Jerome Hoskins. From what his wife …”
“Oh my God!” Halloway said.
“From what his wife tells me, he sold books in your northeast corridor.”
“Yes. Yes, he did. Forgive me, I’m … forgive me.”
He was shaking his head now, demonstrating how overwhelmed he was. Little white-haired guy in a gray flannel suit and a bow tie with red polka dots on a black field, shaking his head and looking appalled and overcome with sudden grief, all of which seemed somewhat phony to Ollie. Then again, he’d never met a book publisher before.
“Did his territory include Diamondback?” he asked.
“Yes, it did.”
“Lots of bookstores up there, I guess.”
“Not many. But enough. We’re a small firm, last of the family publishing houses in this city, in fact. We’re constantly trying to expand our market.”
“You sell your books for cash, Mr. Halloway?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t understand the question.”
“Hoskins had seven hundred dollars and change in his wallet. Seemed like a lot of cash to be carrying around.”
“I have no idea why he would have …”
“Any idea why he might have been carrying a gun?”
“Diamondback is a dangerous section of the …”
“Tell me about it.”
“Perhaps he felt he needed protection.”
“Do all of your salesmen carry guns?”
“Not to my knowledge. In fact, I didn’t knowJerry carried one until this very moment.”
“How many salesmen are there?”
“Including Jerry, only five. As I told you, we’re a small firm.”
“Is Mr. Wadsworth still alive? Or Mr. Dodds?”
“Both dead. Christine Dodds is the sole stockholder now. Henry Dodds’s granddaughter.”
“How about you? Are you a member of the family?”
“Me? No. No, what gave you that idea?”
“Well, you being thepublisher and all …”
“Oh, that’s just a title,” Halloway said airily. “Like President or Vice President or Senior Editor.”
“Pretty important title, though, huh?”
“Well … yes.”
“Who are these other four salesmen? I’ll need to talk to them.”
“Jerry was the only one based here, you know. In this city.”
“Where are the other ones?”
“Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, and California.”
“Can you give me a list of names and phone numbers?”
“Yes, of course.”
“And the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the bookstores Mr. Hoskins visited in Diamondback.”
“I’ll ask Charmaine to get those ready for you,” he said.
Charmaine, Ollie thought. A slender wraith who weighs a ton and a half bone dry. He watched as Halloway picked up the receiver, pressed a button, and told his receptionist what he needed. There was something crisp and efficient about his motions and the way he rapped out instructions. When at last he replaced the receiver on the cradle, he seemed to suddenly realize that Ollie had been observing his every move. He smiled pleasantly. “She’ll have those for you when you leave,” he said.
“Thanks,” Ollie said. “Tell me what you know about Jerry Hoskins, okay?”
