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n ten days。〃
〃What if you can't link Mattiece？ What'll you write about the story？〃
〃Depends on how far I get。 We could've run that story about Verheek and Callahan； but why bother。 It was a big story； but they had nothing to go with it。 It scratched the surface and stopped。〃
〃And you're going for the big bang。〃
〃Hopefully。 If we can verify your little brief； then we'll run one helluva story。〃
〃You can see the headlines； can't you？〃
〃I can。 The adrenaline is pumping。 This will be the biggest story since〃
〃Watergate？〃
〃No。 Watergate was a series of stories that started small and kept getting bigger。 Those guys chased leads for months and kept pecking away until the pieces came together。 A lot of people knew different parts of the story。 This； my dear； is very different。 This is a much bigger story； and the truth is known only by a very small group。 Watergate was a stupid burglary and a bungled cover…up。 These are masterfully planned crimes by very rich and smart people。〃
〃And the cover…up？〃
〃That es next。 After we link Mattiece to the killings； we run the big story。 The cat's out of the bag； and a half a dozen investigations will crank up overnight。 This place will be shell…shocked； especially at the news that the President and Mattiece are old friends。 As the dust is settling； we go after the Administration and try to determine who knew what and when。〃
〃But first； Garcia。〃
〃Ah； yes。 I know he's out there。 He's a lawyer in this city； and he knows something very important。〃
〃What if we stumble across him； and he won't talk？〃
〃We have ways。〃
〃Such as？〃
〃Torture； kidnapping； extortion； threats of all types。〃
A burly man with a contorted face was suddenly beside the table。 〃Hurry up！〃 he yelled。You're talkin' too much！〃
〃Thanks； Pete；〃 Gray said without looking up。 Pete was lost in the crowd； but could be heard yelling at another table。 Darby dropped her sandwich。
〃He owns the place；〃 Gray explained。 〃It's part of the ambience。〃
〃How charming。 Does it cost extra？〃
〃Oh no。 The food's cheap； so he depends on volume。 He refuses to serve coffee because he doesn't want socializing。 He expects us to eat like refugees and get out。〃
〃I'm finished。〃
〃Gray looked at his watch。It's twelve…fifteen。 We need to be at Judith Wilson's apartment at one。 Do you want to wire the money now？〃
〃How long will it take？〃
〃We can start the wire now； and pick the money up later。〃
〃Let's go。〃
〃How much do you want to wire？〃
〃Fifteen thousand。〃
* * *
JUDITH WILSON lived on the second floor of a decaying old house filled with two…room student apartments。 She was not there at one； and they drove around for an hour。 Gray became a tour guide。 He drove slowly by the Montrose Theatre； still boarded and burned out。 He showed her the daily circus at Dupont Circle。
They were parked on the street at two…fifteen when a red Mazda stopped in the narrow driveway。 〃There she is；〃 Gray said； and got out。 Darby stayed in the car。
He caught Judith near the front steps。 She was friendly enough。 They chatted； he showed her the photo； she looked at it for a few seconds and began shaking her head。 Moments later he was in the car。
〃Zero for six；〃 he said。
〃That leaves Edward Linney； who probably is our best shot because he clerked there two summers。〃
They found a pay phone at a convenience store three blocks away； and Gray called Linney's number。 No answer。 He slammed the phone down and got in the car。 〃He wasn't at home at ten this morning； and he's not at home now。〃
〃Could be in class；〃 Darby said。We need his schedule。 You should've picked it up with the others。〃
〃You didn't suggest it then。〃
〃Who's the detective here？ Who's the big…shot investigative reporter with the Washington Post？ I'm just a lowly ex…law student who's thrilled to be sitting here in the front seat watching you operate。〃
What about the backseat？ he almost said。 〃Whatever。 Where to？〃
〃Back to the law school；〃 she said。 〃I'll wait in the car while you march in there and get Linney's class schedule。〃
〃Yes； ma'am。〃
* * *
A DIFFERENT STUDENT was behind the desk in the registrar's office。 Gray asked for the class schedule for Edward Linney； and the student went to look for the registrar。 Five minutes later； the registrar walked slowly around the corner and glared at him。
He flashed the smile。 〃Hi； remember me？ Gray Grantham with the Post。 I need another class schedule。〃
〃The dean says no。〃
〃I thought the dean was out of town。〃
〃He is。 The assistant dean says no。 No more class schedules。 You've already gotten me in a lot of trouble。〃
〃I don't understand。 I'm not asking for personal records。〃
〃The assistant dean says no。〃
〃Where is the assistant dean？〃
〃He's busy。〃
〃I'll wait。 Where's his office？〃
〃He'll be busy for a long time。〃
〃I'll wait for a long time。〃
She dug in and folded her arms。 〃He will not allow you to have any more class schedules。 Our students are entitled to privacy。〃
〃Sure they are。 What kind of trouble have I caused？〃
〃Well； I'll just tell you。〃
〃Please do。〃
The student clerk eased around the corner and disappeared。
〃One of the students you talked to this morning called White and Blazevich； and they called the assistant dean； and the assistant dean called me and said no more class schedules will be given to reporters。〃
〃Why should they care？〃
〃They care； okay？ We've had a long relationship with White and Blazevich。 They hire a lot of our students。〃
Gray tried to look pitiful and helpless。 〃I'm just trying to find Edward Linney。 I swear he's not in trouble。 I just need to ask him a few questions。〃
She smelled victory。 She had backed down a reporter from the Post； and she was quite proud。 So offer him a crumb。Mr。 Linney is no longer enrolled here。 That's all I can say。〃
He backed toward the door； and mumbled； 〃Thanks。〃
He was almost to the car when someone called his name。 It was the student from the registrar's office。
〃Mr。 Grantham；〃 he said as he ran to him。 〃I know Edward。
〃He's sort of dropped out of school for a while。 Personal problems。〃
〃Where is he？〃
〃His parents put him in a private hospital。 He's being detoxified。〃
〃Where is it？〃
〃Silver Spring。 A place called Parklane Hospital。〃
〃How long's he been there？〃
〃About a month。〃
Grantham shook his hand。 〃Thanks。 I won't tell anyone you told me。〃
〃He's not in trouble； is he？〃
〃No。 I promise。〃
They stopped at the bank； and Darby left with fifteen thousand in cash。 Carrying the money scared her。 Li