"Guess so," the black man agreed. "Of course, I

could always take out a gum and shoot you."

Myron shook his head. "Not over something this small. Too many repercussions involved."

"Yeah. I didn't think you'd go for it, but I had to give it a whirl. You never know."

"You're a pro," Myron agreed. "You'd feel remiss if you didn't at least try. Hell, I'd have felt cheated."

"Glad you understand."

"Speaking of which," Myron said, "aren't you a tad high-level to be dealing with this situation?"

"Can't say I disagree." The black man walked closer to Myron. Myron felt his muscles tighten; a notunpleasant anticipatory chill steeled him.

"You look like a guy who can keep his mouth shut,"

the man said.

Myron said nothing. Proving the point.

"The kid you had in that picture, the one that got Leona Helmsley's panties in a bunch? He was here."

"When?"

The black man shook his head. "That's all you get.

I'm being very generous. You wanted to know if the kid was here. The answer is yes."

"Nice of you," Myron said.

"I'm just trying to make it simple. Look, we both know that Lipwitz is a dumb kid. Acts like this urinal is the Beverly Wilshire. But the people who come here, they don't want that. They want to be invisible. They don't even want to look at themselves, you know what I'm saying'?"

Myron nodded.

"So I gave you a freebie. The kid in the picture was here."

"Is he still here?"

"You're pushing me, Myron."

"Just tell me that."

"No. He only stayed that one night." He spread his hands. "Now you tell me, Myron. Am I being fair with you?"

"Very."

He nodded. "Your turn."

"I guess there's no way you'll tell me who you're working for."

The black man made a face. "Nice meeting you, Myron."

"Same here."

They shook hands. Myron got into his car and drove away.

He had almost reached Merion when the cellular rang.

He picked up and said hello.

"Is this, like, Myron?"

Mall girl. "Hi, yes. Actually this is Myron, not just like him."

"Huh?"

"Never mind. What's up?"

"That skank you were, like, looking for last night?"

"Right."

"He's, like, back at the mall."

"Where at the mall?"

"The food court. He's on line at the McDonald's."

Myron spun the car around and hit the gas pedal.

'Chapter 15 .

The Crusty Nazi was still there.