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〃What can she tell you？〃
〃I don't know。 I just wonder where he got the money and the white lady； that's all。 There's something weird about this case； and I'm not ready to close the file on it yet。 Don't you think it's a little unusual for a white boy to take a room in a black woman's house in the black Grove？〃
Ellita smiled。 〃Not for a junkie。 Besides； aren't you trying to get me a garage apartment in the black Grove？〃
〃But you'll be paid for living there。 It isn't the same thing。〃 Hoke recalled his reflections of a moment before； about Ellita's color； but decided to keep his counsel。
〃Maybe Jerry was paid to live there； too；〃 Ellita said。
〃That's another question I could ask； I suppose。 Well； look； I'll be back this afternoon； and if I'm not back； I'll call the desk and give Eddie a number where you can call me。 Then tonight we'll fix the stew and all have dinner； the way we did last night。 I enjoyed that。〃
Hoke turned to Sue Ellen and Aileen。 〃Remember； Ellita's going to be on police business。 So you do whatever she tells you； understand？〃
Hoke's daughters assured him that they did。
Hoke parked in front of the Coconut Grove Library； the only attractive public building in the Grove。 With its fieldstone facade； curving wooden walkway； and the shady branches overhanging the weathered steps； the building looked as though it had grown out of the ground。 A police officer was sitting in his squad car reading Penthouse。 The officer； still in his early twenties； was so absorbed by the magazine he didn't look up until Hoke tapped him on the shoulder。
〃Open the back door。〃 Hoke showed the officer his shield。 〃I'm Sergeant Moseley。 Homicide。〃
The officer clicked up the door lock； and Hoke slid into the back seat。 The officer picked his cap up from the seat； slapped it on his head； and shoved his magazine under the front seat。
〃What's up； Sarge？〃
Hoke looked across the street to Peacock Park。 A women's softball game was in progress。 The harbor was filled with anchored Hobie Cats and other small sailboats with furled sails。 Two bearded； shirtless men holding their shirts in their laps； their faces raised to the sun； sat on the stone wall that bordered the park。 Hoke looked back at the officer。 〃How long you been assigned to the Grove？〃
〃About six weeks now。 I like it better'n Liberty City。 I got hit with a rock during a fracas at Northside Shopping Center。〃 The patrolman pointed to a jagged red scar on his chin。 〃Fourteen stitches。 After that； my squad leader thought I might be a little prejudiced； so he had me transferred to the Grove。 Best thing that ever happened to me。 I been working days； and things've been pretty quiet pared to Liberty City。 Some chain and purse snatching； a little loitering； that's about it。 On Friday nights there's been a kind of teenage invasion from all over； but I haven't been on nights yet。〃
〃Did you know a kid named Jerry Hickey？〃
〃Uh…uh； but my partner might。 He's been in the Grove for 'most three years。〃
〃Where is he？〃
〃Up at Lum's。〃 The officer pointed up the sloping street。 〃He's getting himself a Lumberjack burger。 At first； we used to eat together； but now； when we take a break for a sandwich or coffee； we take turns。 That way； Red said； somebody's always with the radio。〃
〃In other words； you two don't get along。〃
〃I didn't say that； Sergeant。 We get along fine。 I've learned a lot from old Red。〃
〃Okay。 You go up to Lum's and get old Red and tell him I want to talk to him。 Then you can stay in Lum's and get your own Lumberjack burger。〃
〃I was plannin' on a tuna fish。〃
The officer started up the mild incline； and Hoke wondered how this incredibly stupid young officer had managed to get through the police academy。 But perhaps he expected too much； the kid wasn't so much dumb as he was young； that was all。
The police car was nosed into the curb； so Hoke recognized 〃old〃 Red as he limped down the street from Lum's。 Red Halstead was thirty…nine； and he had been shot in the foot by a woman he had tried to disarm before she could pump her last bullet into her husband's inert body。 As a consequence； Halstead had worked in Property for more than a year。 The woman's husband had died； and she had been given ten years' probation by a sympathetic judge。 But Halstead； after narrowly missing out on a disability discharge； had endured the necessary therapy and the boring job in the Property office and had finally regained his old job on the street。 The widow had married a man a lot wealthier than her dead husband。 Now she lived in a condo in Bal Harbour。
Hoke got out of the car and shook hands with Halstead。 〃Hoke Moseley； Red。 I remember you from Property。 How's the foot？〃
〃Fine； Sergeant； 'cept when it gets cold； but I haven't had to worry much about cold weather lately。 It's eightyeight already； and it's only ten A。M。〃
〃Sorry to interrupt your break。〃
〃That's okay。 I was finished anyway。 Who's dead？〃
〃A kid named Jerry Hickey。 He died from an overdose at home。 But he used to hang out around Peacock Park。 I thought you might know him； or know someone who did。〃
Halstead nodded。 〃I knew him。 He had an allowance of some kind from his father； the drug lawyer。 Some of the kids around here would hit him up for small change once in a while。 He also sold weed； but I never caught him with any； and I must've shook him down three or four times。 He was also a junkie； and he hung out sometimes with Harry Jordan。 Jordan used to be a Hare Krishna； but was kicked out of the cult for skimming off the top； or something like that。 But he kept his yellow robes； and now he's in business for himself。 Instead of just skimming； he keeps everything he begs now。〃 Haistead laughed。 〃They should've kept him on and just let him take his percentage。 But Jordan's straight…I mean he's not into dope。 I don't think he even drinks。 He's something of a guru around the Grove。 He lives on Peralta； over in the black section。〃
〃1309 Peralta？〃
〃I don't know if that's the number； but I know where he lives on Peralta。 He lives in a garage out back。〃
〃A garage apartment？〃
〃No。〃 Halstead shook his head and grinned。 〃A garage。 What's going down？〃
〃Not much of anything。 I'm doing a little backtracking； that's all。〃
〃You just want to talk to somebody who knew Hickey； right？〃
〃That's it。〃
〃Well； Harry Jordan knew him as well as anybody。 He used to crash at Harry's； but I think he had a room somewhere here in the Grove besides。 I could tell you how to get to Harry's； but the easiest way would be to just drive by。 You could follow me。 When I pass the house I'll flash my turn signal once and keep going。 The garage'll be around to the back。 I won't stop； because if I did； everyone in the neighborhood would know you were a cop。〃
〃Okay。 And thanks； Red。〃
Hoke trailed two hundred yards behind the police car and followed it down Main Highway； parallel with Grand Avenue。 Halstead signaled and made a right turn into the black Grove。 After two more blocks； Halstead slowed； flashed his signal； and then accelerated。 Hoke made a sharp turn into a dirt driveway beside a pink two…bedroom house and parked in the backyard。
A girl； sixteen or seventeen； was sit