Cat On A Hyacinth Hunt

Chapter 40

Command Performance

Matt's doorbell rang.

He rushed to answer it, thinking it might be Temple. Somehow he expected she would have to be as drawn to him as he was to her.

"Oh."

"You were expecting the Avon lady, maybe?"

"No. Just someone I knew. Better."

"And how many people in Las Vegas do you know better than I?"

She had him there. "Oh, about four."

"May I come in?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Sit down?"

"Uh, please."

"I can see you're really connected today. Something happen I should know about?"

"Probably lots of things."

The element of surprise had lost its sting. Matt pulled one of his second-hand chairs to the sofa table and gazed at the police lieutenant expectantly, a good student.

She wore her usual neutral clothing as a wall does its paint. It was hard not to see her and think of business, except when she sang at the Blue Dahlia, and that incarnation was such a 180-degree turn from her daily persona that it seemed a mirage.

"What can I do for you?" Matt asked.

"A lot maybe." Molina bit her lip, a tentative gesture he'd not seen in her before. "I need you to finger your attacker."

"You've got her in custody?"

"No. But we've got a lead on her, and she may be involved in a lot more than razor cuts."

"You make her sound like a barber."

"Barbers got their starts in medieval times as surgeons, blood-letters, do you realize that?"

"I've heard some history of the red-and-white striped barber pole. What does that have to do with what you want me to do?"

Molina laughed. "Nothing. Just a little social history. You'll need to get off work, I'm afraid.

You can have your supervisor call me, if necessary."

"Night work?"

"That's your police force at their best. I want you to accompany me to a show."

"Is this like a date, Lieutenant?"

"It could look like that. We'll be undercover. Look normal. Nothing fancy."

"And what do I do at this show?"

"Point out this woman, this Kitty O'Connor, if you see her."

"You know she'll be there?"

Molina shook her head.

"Has this something to do with Effinger's murder?"

Molina shook her head again, shocking Matt.

"If it isn't about Effinger's murder, what on earth is it about."

"He was a little man in a big world. Maybe he loomed larger in your smaller world, but the police have other things to worry about."

"And you think this Kitty O'Connor may . . . also ... be involved in these larger things?"

"Maybe." She stood up. "Tomorrow night at ten. I'm afraid it has to be the 'adult' show.

Sorry."

"I think I can survive a little frontal nudity nowadays."

"Especially after the Blue Mermaid." Molina grinned. "You living in this town has got to be one of God's biggest jokes."

"What do I wear?"

"Whatever fits a night downtown. Not to worry. I'm bringing my weapon. And reinforcements. All you have to do is keep your eyes open and point out the suspect."

"That's what they told Judas Iscariot."

"No kissing. You had your chance, and apparently you blew it. And you've already collected your thirty pieces of silver, plus a little extra interest." She glanced at his side as delicately as a doe. "Feeling okay?"

"It only hurts when it rains." He suddenly remembered Temple's unshed tears. Eternal rain.

"Lucky you live in Las Vegas, then." She smiled as she left, her Mona Lisa smile, which was not warm, not amused, but somehow mocking, and especially self-mocking.

Should he tell Temple? he wondered.

No. She had enough to worry about without adding Molina's authoritarian games to her burdens.