And why Wexlersh and Manuello, in particular?
‘So you might as well stay there in Sherman Oaks,’ Lonnie said, ‘because I imagine your people will bring the McCaffreys straight back there.’
Dan wanted to know more, but he couldn’t talk freely with Seames breathing down his neck. He said, ‘Well, thanks anyway, Lonnie. But I think it’s inexcusable that you don’t know where your operative is or what’s happening to your clients.’
‘Huh? But I just said he was—’
‘I’ve always thought Paladin was the best, but if you can’t keep track of your agents and your clients, especially clients whose lives might be in jeopardy—’
Lonnie said, ‘What’s wrong with you, Haldane?’
‘Sure, sure,’ Dan said for Seames’s benefit, ‘they’re probably safe. I know Earl’s a good man, and I’m sure he won’t let anything happen to them, but you better start running a tighter ship there or, sooner or later, something will happen to a client, and then there goes the whole agency’s license.’
Lonnie started to say something more, but Dan hung up. He was desperate to get away from there, to find another phone and get back to Lonnie to hear more details. However, he didn’t want to appear eager to depart, because he didn’t want Seames to come with him. And if Seames thought that Dan knew where Laura and Melanie were, there would be no hope of leaving alone and unobstructed.
The FBI agent was staring hard at him.
Dan said, ‘They don’t know anything at Paladin.’
‘Is that what he told you?’
‘Yeah.’
‘What else did he tell you?’
He wanted and needed to trust Seames and the Bureau. He was, after all, a cop by choice, and he believed in authority, in systems of law and enforcement. Ordinarily, he would have given Seames his trust automatically, unthinkingly. But not this time. This was a twisty situation, with stakes so high that the usual rules did not apply.
‘He didn’t tell me shit,’ Dan said. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Something’s got you really scared all of a sudden.’
‘Not me.’
‘You just broke into a sweat.’
Dan felt it on his face, cool and trickling. Thinking fast, he said, ‘It’s this knock I took on the forehead. It feels okay, and I forget about it, and then all of a sudden the pain starts up again so bad it makes me weak.’
‘Hats?’ Seames said.
‘What?’
‘At the Sign of the Pentagram, you told me you’d hurt yourself while trying on hats.’
‘Did I? Well, I was just being smartass.’
‘So … what really happened?’
‘Well, see, usually I don’t think very much or very hard. Not used to it. Big dumb cop, you know. But today I had to think so hard that my head got hot, blistered the skin right off.’
‘I believe you’re thinking hard all the time, Haldane. Every minute.’
‘You give me too much credit.’
‘And I want to warn you to think hard about this: You’re just a city cop, while I’m a federal agent.’
‘I am acutely aware of your exalted status and the hovering ghost of J. Edgar Hoover.’
‘Though I can’t meddle in your jurisdiction on just any excuse, I can find ways to make you wish you’d never crossed me.’
‘I never would, sir. I swear.’
Seames just stared at him.
Dan said, ‘Well, I guess I’ll be going.’
‘Where?’
‘Home, I guess,’ Dan lied. ‘It’s been a long day. You’re right: I’ve been working too much. And this head hurts like hell. Ought to take a few aspirins and make up an ice pack.’
‘All of a sudden you’re no longer worried at all about the McCaffreys?’
‘Oh, well, sure, I’m concerned about them,’ Dan said, ‘but there’s nothing more I can do right now. I mean, this mess here, it’s sort of on the suspicious side, but it doesn’t necessarily indicate foul play, does it? I figure they’re safe with Earl Benton. He’s a good guy. Besides, Mr. Seames, a homicide cop has to have a pretty thick skin. Can’t start identifying with the victims, you know. If we did that, we’d all be basket cases. Right?’
Seames stared, unblinking.
Dan yawned. ‘Well, time to have a beer and hit the sack.’ He crossed to the door.