2.

IT WAS DECIDED I WOULD TAKE A LEAVE OF ABSENCE, WITH PAY. There would be no explanation and, I was told, if I was smart I wouldn’t offer one myself. “Let the New York cops continue their investigation,” said Reid. “They haven’t disclosed your identity in any way. Leave it at that. The alternative, you know, the alternative is they parade you in front of the bimbo, let her identify you.”

When I pointed out that it had been my job to find the killer of Heidi Telford and that I had done just that, Dick O’Connor shook his head until his jowls shimmied. “What you got is not enough to meet our burden of proof,” he said. “You know how it is: We’ve got to show beyond a reasonable doubt. But here, what do you have, really? Some gal in New York says it wasn’t Peter; you figure that means it was Jamie. You go to Jamie, try to beat a confession out of him. Only he doesn’t confess. ’Least, nobody hears him confess.”

He shrugged helplessly. “Which means, all we’ve got is you.”

“And,” added Reid, “you’re tainted.”