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“No, sir,” Matt said. “As we came down Knight’s Road, off Woodhaven, a fellow in a stolen Grand Am ran the Red Lion stoplight, rammed into a Dodge Caravan, and took off running.”

“I saw that in the overnights,” McGuire said. “I thought Highway bagged that guy. You got involved in that?”

“I saw it. I had to.”

Quaire made another give me more gesture with his hands.

“It happened right in front of us. Lassiter called it in, then checked the people in the van, and I started chasing the guy.”

“And he gave you trouble?” Quaire asked, now seriously. “The face?”

“No, sir. While I was chasing him, I took a dive over a wire and scraped my face on a driveway. Then I tried going over a fence, and bruised my hand.”

“But you got the guy?”

“Yes, sir. Eighth District locked him up. But I’m going to have to go to Northeast Detectives to give a Detective Coleman a full statement. He only got the initial details for the affidavit ^3 last night.

“Why didn’t you give your statement last night?” Quaire asked.

“I wanted to get some antiseptic on my face.”

“So why didn’t you do the paperwork last night, after you went to the emergency room and got some antiseptic on your face?”

“I didn’t go to the emergency room last night. I went to Hahnemann this morning.”

Quaire nodded.

“Consider yourself as of right now on temporary assignment to Dignitary Protection,” he said, and added, to McGuire: “Getting Sergeant Payne to Northeast Detectives Division to give his statement is now your responsibility, Lieutenant.”

“Thanks a lot,” McGuire said.

“Captain, can’t I get out of that?” Matt asked.

"Ask Lieutenant McGuire,” Quaire said. “You are now working for him.”

“I’m working the Williamson job,” Matt said.

“You are now working the Stan Colt job, Sergeant Payne,” McGuire said. “Mr. Colt, who will arrive at approximately three-fifteen, told Monsignor Schneider, who told the cardinal, who told the commissioner, who told me, that he’s really looking forward to working with you.”

“What does that mean?”

Quaire and McGuire smiled at each other.

“I think,” McGuire explained, smiling broadly, “that when the monsignor-who apparently is one of your biggest fans- spoke with Mr. Colt, he told him about your many heroic exploits. I think Mr. Colt heard that when Harrison Ford was preparing to make the movie Witness he came here to spend time with a real, live Philadelphia homicide detective…”

“Jesus Christ!” Matt said.

“… and has apparently decided that what was good enough for Harrison Ford is good enough for him.”

“Harrison Ford is an actor. Colt is a goddamn joke!”

“Don’t let the monsignor hear you say that,” Quaire said. “Much less the commissioner.”

“And for that matter, I have one day on the job in Homicide. I am hardly an experienced-”

“Lie down, shut up, and take this like a man, Matt,” Quaire said. “You’re dead. The commissioner has spoken.”

“It’s a dirty job, Sergeant, but someone has to do it,” McGuire said, smiling broadly.