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to the announcement in the papers； or if you want to invite some of Jerry's friends； you should call Minrow。〃
〃Jerry didn't have any friends that I know of。 I tried to make a list for you； and couldn't think of anyone。 But I'll call Mr。 Minrow。 There should be some flowers； even at a cremation。〃
〃Okay； then； Loretta。 I'll pick you up at your house Monday night about eight…thirty； depending on the traffic。〃
〃All right。〃 Loretta reached across the counter to shake hands。 Hoke held her hand with both of his； pulled her toward him； and kissed her on the lips before he released her hand。
He turned toward the door when he heard the highpitched girlish giggle from behind the bamboo curtain。
Hoke stopped at a Greek restaurant on his way back to his car and ate a Greek salad for a late lunch。 It wasn't enough； and he was still hungry； but he decided to let it do until dinner。 He showed the cashier his badge and asked her if he could use the phone。 He dialed Henderson at home； and Bill answered。
〃I'm glad I caught you。 I didn't think you'd be back from the zoo yet； and just took a chance。〃
〃We didn't go。 Marie took the kids to Bloomingdale's instead。 They hadn't seen the new store yet； and she just got her Bloomie's card in the mail。〃
〃You should've intercepted it； Bill； and cut it into little pieces。〃
Bill laughed。 〃It's in her name； not mine。 And Marie's flush right now。 She just sold the same house she sold three months ago； and picked up an identical four thousand in missions。 The same house； at the same price。〃
〃I don't get it。 How'd she sell the same house twice？〃
〃Marie says the house sells itself。 The entire interior； every damned room； is paneled in cypress； and the wood's waxed and polished。 People flip when they see the paneling。 Then when they buy it and move in； the wood's so damned dark they have to keep the lights on all the time； even at high noon。 If they painted the paneling； the house would be ordinary； so they can't do that； you see。 But a woman； spending her days in a dark house like that every day； gets depressed after a couple of weeks。 So they sell it again； and move。 Marie says she'll probably sell the house again before the end of the year。〃
〃At any rate； you won't get stuck for her Bloomie's bills。〃
〃No way。 So what's up； Hoke？〃
〃I'd like to talk to you。 Can you meet me at the Shamrock for a beer？〃
〃I guess so。 But I want to look at some Toros this afternoon。〃
〃Toros？〃
〃The mowers。 I've been thinking about buying me a riding mower； and Toro's supposed to be the best。 If I had a Toro riding mower； I could probably get my son to mow the lawn。 Kids love to ride these things。 In fact； if I had a mower； I wouldn't mind doing the lawn myself。〃
〃Why not tell Jimmy that he can't use the Toro until he takes a shower after P。E。？〃
Henderson laughed。 〃Because that would probably work； and then I'd never get to ride it。〃
〃I need to talk to you for a while； Bill； but I don't want to interfere with your afternoon。〃
〃I'll meet you at The Shamrock in a half…hour； Hoke。 There's no hurry about the Toro。 It was just something I was going to do； that's all。〃
〃Thanks； Bill。 In a half…hour then。〃
Hoke hung up the phone； thanked the cashier； and walked back to the bus station to retrieve his car。
Hoke was pleased with himself； by his boldness。 He hadn't known in advance that he was going to kiss Loretta； but she had leaned right into it。 If that fucking Asian woman hadn't been there； the kiss would have lasted a lot longer。 For a moment； he had forgotten all about Ellita and the girls； he had almost changed the date from Monday to tonight。 He drove to The Shamrock； parked in the dirt lot in the back； and went into the bar。
14
The lighted clock in The Shamrock said two…thirty。 Henderson was already there； sitting at the bar with a light Coors draft in front of him。 Two men in three…piece suits were at the end of the bar talking about cars。 They looked like used…car salesmen； but Hoke knew that they were both detectives with the Metro Police Department。 Prince was on the jukebox； singing 〃Head。〃 The two elderly men who had played the song…one was an investigator for the D。E。A。； Hoke didn't know the other one…were listening to the lyrics； frowning with concentration。
Hoke ordered a draft Michelob for himself； and then he and Henderson moved to a table in the corner by the front window。
Hoke told Henderson about the arrival of his daughters； and then told him about Ellita's pregnancy and about checking her into the Eldorado。 Henderson's fixed smile didn't change； but he listened attentively； and he didn't touch his beer while Hoke was explaining。
〃Right now；〃 Hoke finished； 〃they're over at the Fifth Street Gym watching Tony Otero work out。 So far； I haven't had enough time to think everything out； and I don't know what to do about Ellita。 That's why I wanted to talk to you about it。〃
〃The situation's newer to me than it is to you； Hoke。〃 Henderson sipped his beer。 〃Ellita'll be okay； I think。 In the long run she'll be in a healthier situation。 No one in her thirties should still be living at home。 A few years back； she'd've been fired for getting pregnant； but not now。 She can work till she starts showing； and then she can get an authorized maternity leave； married or not。 Then； once the baby's born； she can be back to work within a month or two。〃
〃I don't know what to tell Willie Brownley； or whether I should tell him or not。〃
〃It's not your problem； Hoke。 Our new assignment's only for two months； and if Ellita's only seven weeks preg。 nant； she's not going to show anything for another two or three months。 Besides； it's up to her to talk to Willie； not you。 Her being pregnant sure as hell won't interfere with our assignment。 There's no danger involved； and if it ever looks like there might be； we can always leave her in the office。 Or something。〃
〃Ellita won't ask for any favors； Bill。 She may not be a libber like your wife； but we can't patronize her just because she's knocked up。 She wouldn't stand for it。〃
〃In that case〃…Henderson widened his metal…studded smile…〃we'll have to be subtle。〃
〃You're about as subtle as a hurricane。〃
〃What about you？ You've already given her the weekly reports to do； and you had her type Morrow's confession。 I could've done that； you know。〃
〃Ellita types without looking； and you and I both have to look。 There's another thing she told me。 The battery went dead on the tape recorder when we were talking to Morrow； and she saved our ass by getting the battery changed out in the hall。〃
〃Jesus； I didn't know that。 I just thought it was a bad time to take a piss。〃
〃I didn't know either； till she told me last night。〃
〃Don't tell Brownley anything about the pregnancy。 We've got to hang onto Ellita； Hoke。〃 Henderson shook his head。 〃Do you really think she was a virgin； and got knocked up her first time out？〃
〃I'd like to believe it； Bill； but I can't。 She's thirty…two years old。 I don't see how she could live in Miami for twenty years and stay a virgin。 I don't doubt that this Bruce guy she picked up was a one…night stand； but she must've experimented at least a few times b