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now he wouldn't accept any fish unless the breading was removed。 Every time Hoke came to Captain Billy's； he looked for the pelican。 He was always glad to see that the bird was still there。
The short luncheon menu was printed in black ink on a polished empty coconut。 Hoke's teenage waiter； wearing a T…shirt that read i EAT IT RAW AT CAPTAIN BILLY'S； sauntered over to Hoke's table。
〃For now；〃 Hoke said； 〃just bring me a pitcher of Michelob draft。 I'm waiting for a friend； and we'll order later。〃
Hoke took out his notebook； glanced through it； and then listed on a blank page the points he wanted to make with Loretta Hickey。 The possibility that she might not show up never entered his mind； although he had finished four of the six glasses of beer the pitcher held before she arrived at one…thirty。
Loretta was wearing a lemon…colored silk blouse and a green linen suit skirt。 She carried the matching jacket over her left arm。 Her dark green lizard purse matched her pumps。 The purplish eye shadow she was wearing made her cornflower blue eyes seem paler； and her bare arms were very white and lightly freckled。 Hoke waved to her when she came through the gate； and she crossed the gravel patio slowly； teetering slightly in her high heels。
The wooden benches to the hatch…cover tables were affixed permanently to posts driven into the ground； so Hoke just got to his feet and nodded when she reached the table。
〃It's hot out here； isn't it？〃 she said； as she sat across from Hoke。
〃A breeze es and goes； and a beer helps。〃
〃I'd rather have a drink； I think。〃
〃They just serve wine and beer here。〃
〃A white wine spritzer then。〃
Hoke handed her the coconut shell menu and signaled the waiter。
〃What're you going to eat； Hoke？〃
〃The fried clam sandwich is always good； but I'm going to have a dozen oysters on the half…shell。〃
〃Bring me a cup of the conch chowder；〃 Loretta told the waiter。
〃And bring the lady a white wine spritzer and another pitcher of beer for me。〃
The waiter left； and Loretta took a package of Virginia Slims out of her purse。 Hoke leaned across the table and lighted her cigarette with a paper match。
〃This has been a hectic morning for me；〃 Loretta said； watching him。 〃That's why i'm a little late。〃
〃That's okay。 It's been hectic for me； too。 I got a court order this morning and had a temporary seal put on your new lock…box at the Coral Gables International Bank。〃
〃You what？ You had my lock…box opened？〃
〃No； I didn't say that。 I had it sealed so that no one can open it。 A temporary seal； that's all。 I can get the seal removed at any time； and I won't have to open it first。〃
〃I don't understand…〃
〃That's why I invited you to lunch； Loretta； so I could explain some things to you。 The box is sealed temporarily； and it won't be opened until after the indictment。 If I do ask for an indictment； they drill it open if you won't turn over your key； and then they'll also charge you for the drilling fee。〃
〃What's this all about； Hoke？〃
〃Jerry Hickey。 I don't know how much money's in your lock…box； but I think it'll either be nine thousand or twentyfour thousand bucks。 But you left a thousand of it on Jerry's dresser。 Not a large sum for drug dealers either way； but a big score for Jerry Hickey and a woman with a small business going down the tubes。 If there was more than twenty…five thousand involved； the guys Jerry ripped off might've looked for him a little harder。 And if there had been much more than that； you'd have been afraid to kill Jerry。〃
〃Kill Jerry？ Me？〃 A hint of dampness appeared above the lipstick on her upper lip。 〃Jerry died from an overdose； and you know it！〃
〃Let me tell you what happened； Loretta。〃 Hoke held up his hand as the waiter approached the table。 The waiter brought the conch chowder and the oysters on a tray。 He also gave them silverware； wrapped in paper napkins。 He placed Loretta's wine spritzer in front of her。 Hoke poured the last of the beer into his glass and topped it off with a head from the fresh pitcher。 The waiter put the empty pitcher on his tray。
〃Anything else？〃
〃Bring me some freshly grated horseradish；〃 Hoke said。
〃Yes； sir。 I'll be right back。〃
Hoke squeezed lemon juice on his oysters and shook a few drops of Tabasco sauce on each oyster。 Loretta sat rigidly on her bench； with her back。 straight and her hands in her lap。 Her cigarette； forgotten in the abalone shell ashtray； sent up a thin column of smoke。 Perspiration was dotting her upper lip。
The waiter returned with a saucer of horseradish and two packets of oyster crackers in little plastic bags。 Hoke put a spoonful of horseradish on each oyster。
〃I'm off on some details； Loretta； but I can give you a broad outline。 The missing details will e out during the investigation。 Jerry was a bag man for some dealers in town。 His father probably got him the job to give him something to do； or perhaps as a favor for one of his clients。 Most of his clients were dealers。 Jerry ripped off the dealers。 I don't know what his motivation was。 For all I know； you put him up to it； or suggested it。 Jerry probably didn't know himself； because junkies never make longrange plans。
〃Then he came to you and asked you to hide the money for him； and maybe to hide him as well。 You needed this money for your business。 The whole amount； I mean。 You were already two payments behind in your bank loan； and you didn't know what to do about getting any more。 At any rate； when Jerry trusted you with the money； you rented a lock…box and put it away； except for a thousand bucks。 Then you went home and made love to Jerry that night。 Or at least you tried to。 When a junkie's got his fix； he's not all that interested in sex。〃
Hoke forked an oyster into his mouth； chewed for a moment； and then took a long swig from his glass of beer。
〃But you had another little trick to get him aroused； didn't you； Loretta？ Only this time you had a different variation。 You slipped a Nembutal suppository into his ass along with your finger。 I think he had shot up already。 Then； when Jerry fell asleep； you gave him a second shot of heroin in the same punch…mark he'd made before。
〃The bination killed him。 Good shit； and prescription…quality Nembutal。 More than enough to kill a skinny run…down junkie like Jerry Hickey。〃
Hoke ate another oyster and took another swig of beer。
〃That's the most preposterous story I've ever heard；〃 Loretta said。
〃But it's a hell of a story； isn't it？ A weird case like this one'll make the front pages； not just the local section。 Harold Hickey's name'll e into it； too； so when I take it to the state attorney's office； they'll love to pry into your ex…husband's activities。 This will give them the excuse they need。〃
〃Why are you doing this to me； Hoke？ What have I ever done to you？〃
〃I don't have to do anything at all； Loretta。 What I'd like to do is something for you instead。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃A proposition。 What do you pay on your mortgage at Green Lakes？〃
〃My house； you mean？ The mortgage is one sixty…eight a month； but it goes up every year when the taxes change。 What's this got to do with anything？ I never did anything to Jerry； and you can't prov