Levy considered me for a moment, then took out a pad.

Is she credible?

She knew Byrd had been charged in the Bennett murder and about the trumped-up confession Crimmens used to make his case.

Have the police interviewed her?

They went to her apartment, but I don't know if they reached her. She wasn't home when I went back to check.

Which officer was that, Marx?

Bastilla.

Alan grunted again and wrote something.

All right. I'll try to see the Casik woman, too. Tell me how to find her.

He copied her name and address as I gave him directions, then tapped at the pad with his pen.

Here's what I can do. I'll request Byrd's criminal history not just the arrest record, but the complete history. The DA shouldn't object, and if she does, well, there are others who won't.

Why the history?

Perhaps an officer who arrested him turns up on the task force. Maybe an attorney who once represented him now works for Leverage. You never know what you might find.

I nodded. The big gun rolls into action.

I'll see if I can find out what Marx is up to. Maybe I can get more information from the inside than we've been able to get from the outside.

We. I didn't bother to correct him.

Let's get back to Tomaso for a second. Do you know which detective is in charge of the case?

That would be Crimmens.

Ah.

Levy smiled as he made the note, then looked back at me.

Had they identified any witnesses? Anyone see or describe the killer or a vehicle?

No witnesses by the time they cut me free. They had already started the canvass. They were striking out.

Evidence recovered at the scene?

Nothing they mentioned in front of me. Alan, look, I have to get going.

He put away his pad and pushed back from the table.

I know you have to go, but listen you should be careful. Byrd had these pictures. That much is an undeniable fact. The man didn't just find them on the side of the road.

Didn't we go through this before?

Yes, but Tomaso has caused me to reconsider. Even if Byrd wasn't a party to the murders, the person who gave those pictures to him was, and Byrd and that person were connected. That man is still out there.

I know.

You don't want to end up like Tomaso, do you?

Alan, I have to go.

If Byrd was connected to someone at Leverage, maybe we'll find the connection through his record. In the meantime, stay away from Marx. You should lay low for a while, Elvis. Don't give these people an excuse to arrest you.

They could have arrested me yesterday.

They might still change their minds. Give me a chance to find out what they're doing before you get yourself in worse trouble.

We reached the door, and I watched him go to his car. It was a lovely car, and he waved as he got in.