Stuart Lipwitz put his hands on his hips and uied to look threatening. ' 'This is the last time I'll ask you nicely.

Leave the premises."

"That wasn't nice."

"Excuse me?"

"You said it was the last time you'd ask me nicely,"

Myron explained. "Then you said, 'Leave the premises.'

You didn't say please. You didn't say, 'Kindly leave the premises.' Where's the nice in that?"

"I see," Lipwitz said. Beads of sweat dotted his face.

It was hot and the man was, after all, in tails. "Please kindly leave the premises."

"Nope. But now, at least, you're a man of your word."

Stuart Lipwitz took several deep breaths. "You want to know about the boy, don't you? The one in the picture."

"You bet."

"And if I tell you if he was here, will you leave'?"

"Much as it would pain me to leave this quaint locale, I would somehow tear myself away."

"That, sir, is blackmail."

Myron looked at him. "I would say 'blackmail is such an ugly word,' but that would be too clichT. So instead I'll just say 'Yup.' "

"But" Lipwitz started stammering "that's against the law!"

"As opposed to, say, prostitution and drug dealing and whatever other sleazy activity goes on in this fleabag?"

Stuart Lipwitz's eyes widened. "Fleabag? This is the Court Manor Inn, sir. We are a respectable "

"Stuff it, Stu. I got pictures to take." Another car pulled up. Gray Volvo station wagon. Nice family car. A

man about fifty years old was neatly attired in a business suit. The young girl in the passenger seat must have shopped as the mall girls had recently taught him at Sluts "R" Us.

Myron smiled and leaned toward the window. "Whoa, sir, vacationing with your daughter?"

The man splashed on a classic deer-caught-in-theheadlights look. The young prostitute whooped with laughter. "Hey, Mel, he thinks I'm your daughter!?' She whooped again.

Myron raised the camera. Smart Lipwitz tried to step in his way, but Myron swept him away with his free hand.

"It's Souvenir Day at the Court Manor," Myron said. "I

can put the picture on a coffee mug if you'd like. Or maybe a decorative plate?"

The man in the business suit reversed the car. They were gone several seconds later.

Stuart Lipwitz's face reddened. He made two fists.

Myron looked at him. "Now Stuart . . ."

"I have powerful friends`," he said.

"Ooooo. I'm getting scared again."

"Fine. Be that way." Stuart turned away and stormed up the drive. Myron smiled. The kid was a tougher nut to crack than he'd anticipated, and he really didn't want to do this all day. But let's face it: There were no other leads and besides, playing with Big Stu was fun.