Teo had been busy, too. “I had a buddy check Greer’s record. He’s not a career criminal. A DUI, a bar brawl, and my friend thinks he remembers a domestic abuse complaint that was later dropped. But he’s been in enough trouble that he won’t want more.”

I hoped he was right.

Just before four, Bismarck and I parked in front of a vacant lot at the end of the block. I’d been told to bring my canine buddy, and I appreciated his warm bulk beside me. I walked halfway up the block to join Teo, who had parked closer to the house, a Mediterranean-style two-story, with a fountain spurting half-heartedly in front.

“I got here about half an hour ago,” Teo said. “Two of the crew are still working, but one of the other guys just left. A blond, not your guy.”

“He’s not my guy.” I paused, and then went for it. “You’re my guy.”

He smiled a little, but he was still staring up at the roof.

I stared, too. “What’s the plan?”

“If you recognize him, we can confront him here, or we can follow him and confront him wherever he stops.”

This neighborhood was either on its way up or down. I couldn’t tell. Some of the houses, like this one, were well cared for, but others were run-down and in need of more than a new roof. Still, it didn’t look like a street where anybody would give us trouble.

“I say give the neighbors some excitement. Unless the second guy on the roof hangs around.”

“Let’s wait in my car and see.”

We climbed in, and I settled back while keeping my eye on the roof. Bismarck panted over my shoulder. I hoped he wasn’t drooling.

“Did you ever do stakeouts?” I asked. “Before you joined the K9 unit?”

“Nothing in the world more boring.”

“Try getting little girls to take a bath and brush their teeth.”

“That bad?”

“Last night Noelle lost her first baby tooth when she was brushing, so after I tucked her in, I had to get on the internet and see what the going rate is for the tooth fairy. Every day I fly blind. I know so little.”

“What is the going rate?”

“What did your parents give you?”

“Fifty cents?”

“You and I were cheated. Just so you know, these days the proper amount is tied to the S&P 500.”

“You’re kidding.”

I slapped my hand over my heart. “I’m not. The amount goes up with the health of the economy. You think I didn’t do my research?”

“So what did you get?”

“I was born after you, and my father has more money than King Midas. But he was careful not to spoil me.” I paused, but he poked my shoulder with his fist. “A dollar, okay? Two for molars, but guess what kids today are getting?”

“A Porsche and a vacation home in the mountains?”

“Four bucks. And get this. Some parents give up to twenty.”