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〃Everything's supposed to go through me。 Otherwise； I won't know what's going on around here。〃
〃Take a look at it if you like。 It's the Morrow file。〃
〃I'm not allowed in Brownley's office when he's not there； and neither are you。〃
〃For Christ's sake； Slater。 I'm on a special assignment with Henderson and Sanchez。 You know that； because Brownley filled you in when he assigned Gonzalez to work with you。 What do you want from me？〃
〃I want you to follow the chain of mand； Sergeant。 You're no better than anyone else around here。〃
Hoke nodded； realizing suddenly why Slater was so angry。 He had not been asked by Brownley to attend the meeting about the cold cases； nor had Brownley； in all probability； consulted him about their selection。
〃Okay； Lieutenant；〃 Hoke said。 〃I'm supposed to send Brownley a weekly progress report。 I'll see that you get a Xerox of it next week。 Okay？〃
〃See that you do。 And don't go into the major's office again when he's not there。〃
Hoke got up and smiled。 〃e on； Slater。 I'll introduce you to my girls。〃
Hoke took him to the interrogation room； introduced the girls； and then handed his daughters two dollars apiece。 〃Lieutenant Slater'll show you where the cafeteria is downstairs； and vouch for you so you can eat there。 I've got to leave the station for a while； so you girls can have lunch down there。 Try the special。 On Saturday it's usually macaroni and cheese。 Isn't that right； Lieutenant？〃
〃I don't know。 I don't eat in the cafeteria。 I've got an ulcer。〃
〃Anyway； girls； go with the lieutenant。 I appreciate you taking the girls down； Slater。〃
〃That's okay。 I'll just go and get my jacket first。〃
〃When'll you be back； Daddy？〃 Sue Ellen asked。
〃As soon as I can。 It's a little emergency。 Nothing for you to worry about。〃
Eighth Street was only one…way at Ninth Avenue； so Hoke drove west on Seventh Street； turned south on Ninth Avenue； and took the first empty parking space he could find。 He put his police placard on the dashboard and walked to the corner。 Ellita was on the sidewalk； outside the pass…through counter of the tiny supermarket cafeteria。 Music blared from a radio on a shelf behind the counter。 Ellita was wearing tight Jordache jeans with a U…necked white muscle shirt。 Her bare golden arms were devoid of the bracelets and gold watch she habitually wore。 Her gold circle earrings dangled from her ears； however。 It was a mon Miami joke that doctors could always tell Cuban baby girls when they were delivered at the hospital： They were born with their ears already pierced。 Hoke had never seen Ellita in tight jeans before； but she looked good in them； he thought。 The full skirts she wore on duty had disguised her voluptuous figure。 Ellita smiled when she saw Hoke； and he noticed that she wasn't wearing lipstick。
〃We can't talk here；〃 she said。 〃Where's your car？〃
〃Around the corner…〃
Ellita took his arm and started toward the corner。 She stopped abruptly。 〃Just a second。 Let me borrow that dollar。〃
Hoke gave her a dollar bill。 Ellita passed it through the window to the old lady behind the counter； said something in rapid Spanish； and rejoined Hoke by the supermarket entrance。 They walked to the car。
〃Where's your purse？〃 Hoke said。 〃Did you leave it back there on the counter？〃
Ellita shook her head； bit her lower lip； and began to cry。
Hoke unlocked the door and Ellita got into the front seat。 Hoke got behind the wheel and took the placard off the dashboard。
〃There should be some Kleenex in the glove partment；〃 he said。 He slid the placard under the front seat。
〃I'll be all right。〃 Ellita wiped her eyes with the backs of her fingers。 〃I called you； Sergeant； because 。 。 。 because I didn't know what else to do。〃
〃You can call me Hoke； Ellita。 After all； we're partners； and this isn't an on…duty situation…or is it？〃
〃You know how much I respect you； Sergeant…〃
〃Even so； I'm only ten years older than you。 I'm not your father； for God's sake。〃
Ellita started to cry again。 Hoke opened the glove partment and found a purse…sized package of Kleenex。
〃Here。〃
Ellita wiped her eyes with a tissue。 Her familiar perfume and moschate odor was overwhelming within the confines of the car； especially with the windows rolled up。 Hoke started the engine and switched on the air conditioning。 As Ellita raised her arms to blow her nose； Hoke noticed the damp tufts of jet…black hair beneath her arms。 Ellita didn't shave her armpits； that was something else he hadn't known about his partner。 It had been a long time since Hoke had spent any time in the front seat of a car with a weeping woman。 He found Ellita's underarm hair a little exciting； and remembered again that he hadn't been laid in more than four months。 After Ellita's problem was straightened out； there might still be time to drive over to Coral Gables and give Loretta Hickey her money； and maybe set up something 。 。 。
〃All right；〃 Ellita said calmly。 She sat back and looked straight ahead； staring at a red Camaro parked in front of them。 The bumper had a strip on the right side reading； DIE YOU BASTARD。 On the other side of the bumper was the logo for the Cuban Camaro Club。 〃My father threw me out of the house； Hoke。〃
Hoke grinned。 〃How could he do that？ You pay the rent on the whole house； you told me。〃
〃You don't understand。 In a Cuban family； he's the father； and it's always his house； his rules。〃
〃What did you do？ Did you have an argument； or what？〃
〃This is embarrassing。 But if I can't tell you； I guess I can't tell anyone。 The trouble is； I told my mother； and I should've known better。 She told my father and he threw me out of the house。 I don't have my purse； my pistol； my checkbook； my car keys…nothing！ All of a sudden； there I was； outside of the house on the porch。 He locked the door； and I couldn't get back in。 I waited awhile； then I knocked on the door because I could hear my mother crying inside。 I said； 'I'm your daughter； and I've got to get my things。' He said； 'I have no daughter。' Then he wouldn't say another word。 He gets like that sometimes。 He's very stubborn and unreasonable。 Last year； when he flew up to Newark to visit my aunt…his sister…he got into trouble with the airline because he wouldn't fasten his seat belt。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃He thought if he fastened the belt； people would think he was afraid。 He finally fastened it when the stewardess told him the captain used his； too。 But for a while there； they were radioing for clearance to taxi back to the terminal。〃
Hoke smiled； shook his head； and took out his cigarettes。
〃But he's my father； Hoke。 He's made up his mind； you see； and now he won't change it。 Maybe； eventually； when he gets used to the idea； he might change it； but right now he's angry and bitter。 He thinks I've betrayed and disgraced him； which I guess I have； but right now I need my checkbook； weapon； badge； and car。〃
〃He knows； doesn't he； that a cop's supposed to have his…her weapon with her at all times？〃
〃Of course he knows that； but at the moment he isn't thinking rationally。 Later on； after my mother works on him； he'll calm down a little； but it'll never be the same between us again。〃 She shook her he