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〃Because she returned a thousand already。〃 He turned sideways and pointed to the top of a brown envelope in his jacket pocket。
〃Doesn't the envelope say one thousand and seventy？〃
〃It says that； but there's only a thousand in it。 She told us you've got the other twenty…four。〃
Hoke looked at Loretta。 She stared back at him with a determined expression； but there was a tic in her left eyelid。
〃When you lose something； and somebody finds it； the finder gets to keep it；〃 Hoke said。 〃If you 'found' Loretta's thousand； that's her tough luck。 But you'll never find my twenty…four。 I've got it； and you've lost it。〃 Hoke put his pistol out on the table； turned on its side。 Holding onto the grip； he used his free hand to cover the weapon with a paper napkin。 〃Your trouble is； there's no way you can ever prove I've got it。〃
〃We've got the serial numbers written down…〃
〃Did you tell Jerry Hickey you had the serial numbers written down； too？〃
The man said nothing； meaning he had。
〃He took it anyway； didn't he？〃 Hoke said。 〃If you were dumb enough to use a junkie like Jerry as a courier； you deserve to lose the money。 Write it off to experience； and forget about it。 But I'm not going to forget what you two bastards look like。 From now on； any time I see you…either one of you…you're going to jail。〃
〃On what charge？〃 the smaller man said； lifting his chin。 〃You don't even know our names。〃
〃I could bust you right now for making a disturbance in a public place； resisting arrest without violence； and for carrying a concealed weapon。 Now both of you get the hell out of here！ You stay； Loretta。〃
The two men looked at each other for a moment。 Then they backed away。 They walked to the gate； stopped； and looked over at the table。
〃You should've warned me； Loretta；〃 Hoke said； forcing a grin。 〃I'm not as convincing a liar as you are。 They'll talk to you some more； your friends over there； but if you can really convince them that I've got the money； it'll be all yours； safe in your lock…box。 I don't want it。 Like I said； all I want is the house。〃
〃I'm afraid of them； Hoke。〃
〃I'm not。 But you should be。 When they tell their bosses what happened； they might try for some kind of retaliation against me； but I think they'll write it off instead； or cover it out of their own pocket if they have to。 To you and me； it's a lot of dough； but it isn't that much to them。 So do we have a deal on the house？〃
Loretta stared at him； then at the two men in the distance。 〃I don't have any choice。 That's what you're saying。〃
〃That's right。 And if you decide to leave in the morning； leave the key in your fake rock； but put it in the back yard； near the back door so I can find it。 Put all the mortgage papers and stuff on the dining room table； and when you send me your new address in Atlanta； I'll see that you get a legal lease on the house。〃
Loretta shook her head and stood up。 〃I can't figure you out； Hoke。〃
〃It's simple； really。 I need the house。 And I'll take good care of it for the next four years till you e back…if you decide to eback to Miami。〃
〃I don't know what I'm going to do。 Nothing worked out the way I planned。〃
〃Nothing ever does。 You'd better go。 Your friends are getting impatient。 Just stick to your story； whatever it is you told them； and they'll let you go。 At least I hope so； for my sake。 I need the house。〃
Loretta started to say something else； changed her mind； and turned abruptly away。 She joined the two young men at the gate and they left together； one on either side of her as they headed for the parking lot。
Hoke returned his pistol to its holster。 He forked another oyster； and then put it down again。 His appetite was gone。 His stomach burned and his throat was constricted。 He was letting the woman get away with murder…and with the money she had killed for as well。 But the fact was that his case against her was weak on a number of counts and probably wouldn't make it past a grand jury； despite everything he'd just made her believe。 She'd be back out in no time； and laughing at him。 The two slimeballs were still in town； but they would learn the true meaning of police harassment； and he knew every trick in or out of the book。 Within six weeks； or two months at the most； they would leave Miami； move to Yuba City； California； and consider their new home a paradise。
Hoke didn't like himself very much。 He never had； now that he thought about it。 Still； a man had to take care of his family。
At least he had the house in Green Lakes。
Ellita and the girls would love living in Green Lakes； especially after staying at the Eldorado for a few days。 Later on； after they got settled； he could go down to the Humane Society and pick up a puppy for the two girls。 He would make them take care of the dog； too； teach them something about responsibility。
On Thursday he would send Ellita down to the water department and Florida Power to put down their deposits and to get the name changed on the service。 The phone could wait； a cop always had a little priority when it came to getting a new phone。 Yes； Thursday would be plenty of time for The deposits。 By that time they'd be finished reading all the cases and they could start working on a few of them that were getting colder every day。
Hoke took one of his oysters； still in the shell； over to the pelican and offered it to him。 The pelican turned its bill and head away； refusing the oyster。 Either he doesn't like the horseradish； Hoke thought； or he doesn't like me。
Hoke paid his tab。 Then he borrowed the phone at the bar； called his lawyer； and told him he was ing over to get a lease made up for his new house。
22
When Hoke got to the station on the following Monday morning； he paused to read the bulletin board before going to his office。 A new promotion list was posted。 Slater had been promoted to captain； Bill Henderson had made mander； and Armando Quevedo had been promoted to Sergeant； now that Henderson's sergeancy was open。
The new rank of mander was a promise； after the city manager vetoed the colonelcies the new chief had wanted。 The rank of mander was to be higher than a sergeant but lower than a lieutenant； something like a warrant officer in the army。 Each division in the department had been allotted one of them。 A mander would be entitled to a salute and a 〃Sir〃 from the lower ranks； but wouldn't be in mand of any men or task force。 His major function would be paperwork； plus taking the responsibility for property and keeping track of it； thereby relieving captains and lieutenants of these irksome chores。 This would give the latter more time for supervisory duties； and allow them to get away from their desks more often。
Major Brownley would never get that eagle for his uniform now； Hoke thought； but he was happy about Henderson's promotion。
Henderson was in the little office； glowering into a Styrofoam cup of coffee。
〃Good morning； sir； mander Henderson； sir；〃 Hoke said； throwing Henderson a salute。
〃Fuck you；〃 Henderson said。 〃I don't know why they picked me。 You and two other guys outrank me by date…ofrank； and I didn't take any exam or ask for this promotion。〃
〃We'll find out when we talk to Will