WITH HIS ARM AROUND Paula, with her head resting on his shoulder, Bernhardt said, “You should go home. I’ve had some sleep. You haven’t. And you’ve had a shock.”
“How long’ve her lights been out?”
“A half hour. Maybe more.”
“I’ll give it another half hour.”
“Why?” he asked. “I’m just curious.”
“I guess I want to make sure she’s sleeping. It’ll help her, if she sleeps.”
“Okay …”
“I’m so goddamn mad at myself for not getting his license number.”
“Jesus, forget about it, Paula. You probably saved her life tonight.” He smiled down at her. “And without the police whistle, too.”
“It would’ve been interesting to see what the whistle would’ve done.”
“Next time.”
“So when do I get to carry a gun, like the boss?”
“No comment.”
A car turned into Noe from Twenty-sixth Street. Paula raised her head, looked. It was a small car, not the one Kane had used. Letting her head sink on his shoulder, a wonderfully secure sensation, she said, “Do you really think Kane’s fifty miles away?”
“I do.”
“Then what’re we doing here?”
“We’re cuddling.”
“Hmmm.
A companionable silence passed before Bernhardt asked, “Do you think Kane knows Diane recognized him?”
“I have no idea.”
“But what d’you think?”
“Alan—” Exasperated, she sharply shook her head. “I don’t know.”
“Okay …” Soothingly, he caressed her cheek, kissed the top of her head. “Relax.”
Another silence. Then, conciliatory, she asked, “What happens tomorrow, in the light of day?”
“First,” Bernhardt said, “I want to talk to my buddies at the police department. Then I want to talk to Diane’s father. Paul Cutler. If this thing—”
Across the street, lights suddenly blazed in Carley Hanks’s apartment. A figure stood at the big bay window. It was a woman’s figure. A terrified woman. Carley Hanks, desperate, shouting something unintelligible.
“Jesus—” Bernhardt threw his weight against the Honda’s driver-side door, swung it sharply open. At the other door, Paula was doing the same.
“No.” Bernhardt turned toward her, leveling a top-sergeant’s forefinger. “You stay here. On the phone.”
“But—”
“Do it, Paula.” Momentarily he locked eyes with her. Then he turned, sprinted across the street.