"l never ask him to play vigilante."

"Yeah, you do. You involve him in violence. When it suits your needs, you unleash him. Like he's a weapon of some kind."

"It's not like that."

"It is like that," she said. "It is exactly like that.

When Win goes out on these night errands, he doesn't hurt the irmocent, does he?"

Myron considered the question. "No," he said.

"So what's the problem? He is just attacking a different type of guilty. He picks out the guilty instead of you."

Myron shook his head. "It's not the same thing."

"Because you judge?"

' 'I don't send him out to hurt people. I send him out to watch people or to back me up."

"I'm not sure I see the difference."

"Do you know what he does when he night visits, Esperanza? He walks through the worst neighborhoods he can find in the middle of the night. Old FBI buddies tell him where drug dealers or child pornographers or street gangs hang out alleyways, abandoned buildings, whatever and he goes strolling through those hellholes no cop would dare tread."

"Sounds like Batman," Esperanza countered.

"You don't think it's wrong?"

"Oh, I think it's wrong," she replied steadily. "But I'm not sure you do."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Think about it," she said. "About why you're really upset."

Footsteps approached. Win stuck his head in the doorway. He was smiling like a guest star on the opening credits of the Love Boat. "Good morning, all," he said with far too much cheer. He bussed Esperanza's cheek.

He was decked out in classic, though fairly understated, golf clothes. Ashworth shirt. Plain golf cap. Sky-blue pants with pleats.

"Will you be staying with us, Esperanza?" he asked in his most solicitous tone.

Esperanza looked at him, looked at Myron. Nodded.

"Wonderful. You can use the bedroom down the hall on the left." Win turned to Myron. "Guess what?"

"I'm all ears, Mr. Happy Face," Myron said.

"Crispin still wants to meet with you. It appears that your walking out last night actually made something of an impression on him." Big smile, spread hands. "The reluctant suitor approach. I must try it sometime."

Esperanza said, "Tad Crispin? The Tad Crispin'?"

"The very," Win replied.

She gave Myron an approving look. "Wow."

"Indeed," Win said. "Well, I must be going. I'll see you at Merion. I'll be at the Lock Home tent most of the day." Renewing the smile. "Ta-ta."

Win started to leave, stopped, snapped his fingers. "I

almost forgot." He tossed Myron a videotape. "Maybe this will save you some time."

The videotape landed on the bed. "Is this . . . ?"

"The bank security tape from First Philadelphia,"

Win said. "Six eighteen on Thursday afternoon. As per your request." One more smile, one more wave. "Have a great day."

Esperanza watched him go. " 'Have a great day'?"

she repeated.

Myron shrugged.

"Who the hell was that guy'?" she asked.