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“No. Because you’re what—thirty-five? And because you look like a cop. The three guys who are going to sit on Payne are his age.”

“And white?”

I can’t let that pass.

“Tiny Lewis is as black as you are,” Wohl said coldly. “He’s also as old as Payne. He’s one of the three. And since we’re on this sensitive minority kick, Hay-zus Martinez is the second one. That means only one of the three will be what these scumbags would call a honky.”

“No offense, Inspector. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

“Okay. I hope not. But just for the record, the only color I see in a cop is blue.”

“Yes, sir.”

Wohl saw that Carter looked genuinely unhappy.

Did I have to jump on his ass that way? Was it because this whole thing has got me more upset than I should let it?

The elevator door whooshed open again. The Highway cop with the shotgun, who had been leaning against the wall, straightened, and then relaxed when he recognized Captain David Pekach.

“Inspector,” Pekach said, somewhat stiffly. “Sergeant Carter.” He nodded at the Highway cop standing against the wall.

Martha Peebles, smiling a little uneasily, stood behind him.

Nice-looking woman, Wohl thought.

“Hello, Dave.”

“Inspector, I don’t think you know Miss Peebles,” Pekach said, slowly and carefully, as if reciting something polite he had memorized, and then he blurted, “my fiancee.”

“No, I don’t,” Wohl said, and, catching the look on Martha Peebles’s face, decided, I’ll bet that’s the first time he ever used that word. Confirmation came when he looked at Pekach, whose face was now red.

“How do you do?” Martha Peebles said, offering Wohl her hand.

Classy, Wohl decided. Just what Dave needs. “I’m very pleased to meet you,” Wohl said.

“Honey,” Pekach went on, “this is Sergeant Carter and Officer Hughes.”

They nodded at one another.

> “I hope I’m not intruding, Inspector,” Martha Peebles said. “Matt Payne’s father is an old family friend.”

“We were at the Roundhouse, and they told me I’d just missed you; that you were coming here,” Pekach said. “We were already on our way here when Sabara called and told me what happened.”

“I’m sure Matt will be delighted to see you,” Wohl said. “Why don’t you go on in? I’d like a quick word with Dave.”

He pointed toward Matt’s door. Martha walked to it, opened it a crack, peered in, and then pushed the door fully open and went in.

Pekach waited until the automatic closing device had closed the door and then looked at Wohl.

“Well, what do you think?”

“About the security arrangements for Matt or Miss Peebles?”

Pekach flushed again, and then smiled.

“Both,” he said.

“Frankly, I can’t see what a beautiful woman like that sees in an ugly Polack like you, but they say there’s no accounting for taste.”