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〃Did he have piles？〃
〃No。 He had diverticulitis； but no piles。 He was a little young to have diverticulitis already； but it wasn't bad enough to bother him。 About forty percent of us over forty have got diverticulitis； but most of us don't even know it。 I've got it myself； but it doesn't bother me because I don't eat tomatoes； cucumbers； or anything with little seeds。 You avoid little seeds； you won't have a problem。〃
〃If Hickey didn't have piles； why would he use Nembutal suppositories？〃
Doc Evans laughed。 〃Maybe he wanted to get high and have a good night's sleep at the same time。 Nobody knows how a junkie's mind works； Hoke； but they'll try damned near anything。 I can remember； a few years back； when they were all smoking banana skins。 They'd bake the skins in the oven； scrape off the inside； and roll cigarettes。 There was no dope in the bananas at all； but they got high anyway。〃
〃I remember that。〃
〃If you want a nice sleepy high； Hoke； mix paregoric with some pot。 Then when it dries； you've got a smoke that'll make you high and sleepy at the same time。 It's a lot cheaper than heroin and Nembutal。 I don't know what else to tell you； Hoke。 Do you need the autopsy report right away？〃
〃No。 Not right away。〃
〃In that case； you'll have to wait three or four days before we can get it typed。 We're a little swamped over here right now。〃
〃That's okay。 I can wait。〃
〃Fine。 Why don't we have lunch？〃
〃I can't today； but I'll call you。 In the meantime I just have one more question； Doe。 My daughter's got a strip of gold glued to her bottom teeth。 The orthodonist put it on too tight； and I can't get it off。 Is there some kind of solvent I can get to remove it？〃
〃Jesus Christ； Hoke！ A solvent strong enough to dissolve gold would burn holes in her gums。 When we have lunch； just bring your daughter by the morgue； and I'll take it off for you。 After twenty years in pathology； I could make a fortune by repairing the iatrogenic work done here in Miami。〃
〃What kind of work？〃
〃I'm busy； Hoke。 Remind me； when we go to lunch； and I'll tell you more than you want to know。 It's one of my pet peeves。〃
〃Thanks； Doc。 I'll call you soon。〃
〃See that you do； or I'll call you。〃 Doc Evans hung up。
Hoke drove to the Greyhound station； identified himself； and picked up six cardboard boxes that he loaded into the back seat of his car。 The boxes were sealed with gray plastic tape and were heavier than he had expected。 Possessions。 The six boxes containing his daughters' worldly possessions dissolved any lingering doubts； if he had ever had any； that their move was only temporary。 There was no disputing it； Sue Ellen would be with him for two more years； and Aileen for four。 At least when they were eighteen he could send them out into the world legally and get them off his hands。 But in the next two and four years it was still his responsibility to prepare them in some way to earn their livings。 He had never really thought about it before； but the responsibilities of fatherhood were mind…boggling or； to use the current term； seismic。
When he got to Coral Gables； Hoke found an unmetered parking space on Murcia and walked to the International Bank of Coral Gables。 He showed his shield to the uniformed bank guard； a frail； white…haired man who had a long…barreled 。357 magnum in a low…slung leather holster。 Hoke told the old man he would like to talk to the bank officer who handled old accounts and made loans。
〃That could be either Mr。 Waterman or Mr。 Llhosa…Garcia。〃
〃I think I'd rather talk to Llhosa…Garcia。〃
〃That's him back there。〃 The guard pointed。
〃Thanks。 If you got a lighter gun； old…timer； your kidneys wouldn't hurt you so much at night。〃
〃I know； I know！〃 The old man cackled and slapped his holster。
There were several desks behind a mahogany rail in the back of the lofty； cavernous room。 There were four desks in a column of twos in front of each officer's larger desk。 Four busy young women occupied the desks in front of Mr。 Llhosa…Garcia's； and the loan officer was talking into a beige telephone； the same color as the blotter in his leather desk pad。 The banker had thick； curly gray hair surrounding a mottled bald spot； and a narrow； carefully trimmed black mustache。 His round face was sallow； and there were dark half…circles beneath his brown eyes。 He was wearing a vest over his shirt and tie； but when he noticed Hoke approaching his desk； he got to his feet； took the suit jacket from the back of his chair； and slipped into it with an easy practiced motion。 He indicated the customer's seat with a courteous gesture and sat down again in his well…upholstered leather chair。
〃Yes； sir。〃
Hoke placed his badge and ID case on the blotter。 Llhosa…Garcia read the ID card first and then examined the badge。
〃Homicide？ I've never seen one of these badges before。 Is it solid gold？〃
〃Gold…plated。 Maybe at one time； when gold was thirtyfive bucks an ounce； they were solid gold； but if so it was a long time ago。 I've never checked into it。〃
The banker nodded。 〃How may I help you； Sergeant Moseley？〃 There was no trace of accent in his voice； which surprised Hoke a little。 This guy； apparently； had been in the United States a long time。
〃I've got an irregular request。 I want to get some information on one of your accounts。〃 Hoke opened his wallet and took out the blank deposit slip he had removed from Loretta Hickey's checkbook。 He smoothed it out and passed it across to the banker。 Llhosa…Garcia read the name and address printed on the slip； frowned； and then placed the slip on the blotter so Hoke could easily pick it up again。
〃I'm afraid I don't understand 。 。 。〃
〃There's not much to understand。 Mrs。 Hickey has an account here。 She's a businesswoman in the Gables； and she has been for several years。 What I'm interested in are any and all transactions she's made during the past few days…say； the last week。〃
Llhosa…Garcia shook his head and smiled。 〃We don't give out information like that about our clients。〃
〃You do if there's a court order。 I'm conducting a homicide investigation； and this information may or may not prove to be important。 But I need it anyway。 Sometimes； to save taxpayers' money； and in the cause of justice； we cut a few corners to expedite matters。 For example； you； as a banker； have to report all cash deposits of ten thousand dollars or more to the federal government。 Isn't that right？〃
Llhosa…Garcia nodded。 〃In most cases； yes； although there are certain transfers and revolving accounts that…〃
〃But you don't have to report any deposits of nine thousand； nine hundred； and ninety…nine。 Isn't that also correct？〃
Llhosa…Garcia laughed。 He sat back and clasped his hands behind his head。 〃Who told you that； Sergeant？ This is a venerable bank。 One of the founders was William Jennings Bryan； and he ran for the Presidency three times。〃
〃And he lost three times。 You know； things have changed a good deal since Bryan hyped real estate in Coral Gables。 I want…I need…to know what kind of transactions Mrs。 Hickey made in the last few days。 Any information you give me will be confidential； just between the two of us； and I won't contact my friend in the