Lucas nodded and said, Whyn the hell did you tell Robles that you shot McDonald?
Just to jerk his chain, Bonet said. He called me up and he pretended to be all freaking out and worried, and the next thing I know, hes turned me in.
He pretended to be freaking out?
Yeah. Pretended. Hes a cold fish, Bonet said. Ill tell you what, I wouldnt be surprised if he did it, and he deliberately set me up with that talk on the net about how to kill McDonald. I mean, he started it, I didnt. And then he fed me to you.
Why do you think he might have done it? Sherrill asked.
Because of the way he plays with guns all the time, she said. I think if you pretend to be killing people long enough, pretty soon you want to try it. Dont you think?
Lucass and Sherrills eyes locked: theyd both killed people in gunfights. I dont know, Lucas said finally. Maybe.
Sherrill said, What do you mean, plays with guns? Hes always out shooting. You know, rifles and pistols and sometimes he goes out to Wyoming and shoots prairie dogs. He calls them prairie rats. Or prairie pups. And he does that whole paintball thing. You know, runs around in the woods in camouflage clothes with other guys and they shoot each other.
Robles, Lucas said.
Yeah. He doesnt come off that way, does he?
Have you ever done the paintball thing with him?
Nohe doesnt even know that I know about it. But I know a friend of his, and he saw us together, and he told me. I thought it was weird.
Huh. Lucas rubbed his chin, then looked at Sherrill. What do you think?
I think I should check with Amoco, Sherrill said. And maybe start talking to people about Robles.
Lucas pointed a finger at Bonet: If this checks out, well forget about it. But you keep your mouth shut about what happened. And what you told us. You dont talk to Robles about it, or anyone else. And remember whats at stake here. Im talking about mom.
Okay, she said, solemnly. A tear started in one eye.
Okay, Lucas said. And to Sherrill: Call Amoco.
ON THE WAY BACK TO HIS OFFICE, LUCAS BUMPEDinto an assistant public defender heading toward Homicide. She was carrying two briefcases, apparently full of briefs, which bumped alternately against her thighs as she walked. Her hair stood out from her round face in an electrocution halo. Her face was drawn with lack of sleep. on your way to see marcy sherrill? lucas asked.
She stopped and said, Yeah. But if youre not done with the rubber hoses, I could wait. Maybe catch a nap.
Were all done. We beat the truth out of her and shes innocent, Lucas said. Were turning her loose in a few minutes.
Really? The lawyer yawned and said, God, Ive gone to bed with men whove said less pleasant things to me.
Yeah, well… sleep tight.
Wont let the bedbugs bite, she said with another yawn, and humped the briefcases on down the hall toward Homicide. Had to see for herself.
LUCAS SAT IN HIS OFFICE, HIS FEET ON HIS DESK, AND added up the accusations. After a while he picked up the phone and called Sherrill. All done?
Yeah. She checked out with Amoco. Shes gotta do some paperwork, then shes outa here.
Whos loose? Besides you.
Tom Black is sitting in a corner, readingPlaygirl, she said. From somewhere behind her, her regular partner shouted, I am not. Black was gay, but still mostly in the closet.
Why dont you guys come on down? Ill tell you about it, Lucas said.
Almost time to quit.
Itll take ten minutes, and we wont do anything until tomorrow.
BLACK, PRETENDING TO BE DISGRUNTLED, SLUMPED in one of Lucass two visitors chairs, while Sherrill looked out the window at the street.
Lucas was saying,… if somebody accused, say, Sloan of deliberately setting out to murder somebody, and actually doing it, Id say, Nope, he couldnt do that. The idea might occur to him, but someplace along the way, he just wouldnt do it.
So? Sherrill asked.
Weve got too many people to worry about, all of them with motives. So what we do is, we go around to people who know them well, and ask for a confidential assessment. Could they do it? Would they do it? What would have to be on the line for them to do it?
Black cocked his head to one side and thought about it for a moment: Thats weird.
And it could ship us off in a completely wrong direction, Sherrill said. Youve already decided Bone didnt do it, because you like him.
No, Lucas said, shaking his head. I do like him, but I havent decided anything about him.
But if you like him, youre sort of predisposed not to believe bad stuff.
Black ticked a finger at her: Psychobabble, he said.
Sorry, she said. Then, What about ODell and the kaffiyeh? Whos gonna check that?
Ill ask her, Lucas said.
Tomorrow?
Yeah. He yawned. Tomorrow.
NINE
MARY WASHINGTON CALLED AT NINE-THIRTY, AND when Weather Karkinnen picked up the phone, Mary said, Oh good, youre still up, and Weather rolled her eyes and lied: Just barely.
Henri asked about you again today. Hes interested, Washington said.
Oh, my God, Mary, why dontyougo after him? Exasperation, but also a little tingle of pleasure?
Cause Im Lets have a couple beers and go bowling, and Henris Lets have a couple of glasses of champagne and talk about monoclonal antibodies.
Well, thanks for the news, Weather said.
Would you go out with him if he called?
Henri was six three and had big eyes and long black eyelashes, was thin as a beanpole, balding, and spoke with a French accent. People who knew him well said he was almost too smart: Weather liked him. I dont know, Mary, she said. Im still pretty messed up.
I think Im gonna suggest he give you a ring, Washington said.
Mary… Like being trapped in a high school locker room.
Then maybe you can introduce me to one of those cops you know; somebody who bowls.
WEATHER HADBEEN READING THE WALL STREET JOURNAL when Mary called. When she got off the phone, she yawned, tossed the paper in the recycling pile, and headed for the bedroom.
Weather was sleeping again, finally. Her problem had been no less difficult than Lucass, but hers had less to do with errant brain chemicals. Her problem was plain old post-traumatic shock. Shed pulled the academic studies up on MedLine, knew all the symptoms and lines of treatment, recognized the symptoms in herselfand was powerless to do anything about them.
The unbreakable barrier was Lucas Davenport.
Shed never really been in love with anyone before Lucas. But shed been in love with him, all rightshed recognized all those symptoms too. Then the shooting…
Thered always been something in Lucas that was hard, brutal, and remote. Shed been sure she could reach it, smooth it out. He needed that as much as she did: he didnt know it, but his taste for the street, his taste for
